Components of Individuation 1: What is individuation?

What is Individuation? Our English word comes from the Latin individuus, meaning undivided
or individual. The dictionary defines individuation as the process leading to individual existence,
as distinct from that of the species. This definition applies to both animals and humans. Jungs
usage focused on humans and the concept became central to his approach to psychology. The
concept of individuation plays a large role in our psychology. In general, its the process by which
individual beings are formed and differentiated; in particular, its the development of the
psychological individual... as a being distinct from the general, collective psychology.
Individuation, therefore, is a process of differentiation... having for its goal the development of
the individual personality. In later years, Jung amplified his definition in a series of essays,
describing individuation as
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The process by which a person becomes a psychological individual thats a separate,

indivisible unity or whole.
The better and more complete fulfillment of the collective qualities of the human being.
Practically the same as the development of consciousness out of the original state of
identity.... Its thus an extension of the sphere of consciousness, an enriching of conscious
psychological life.
Becoming an individual, and, in so far as individuality embraces our innermost, last, and
incomparable uniqueness, it also implies becoming ones own self. We could therefore
translate individuation as coming to selfhood, or self-realization.

Jung felt this process of self-realization was a natural transformation, something that the
unconscious had in mind, something meant to develop our individual personality. Jung also
regarded individuation as a solution to what he considered one of the major problems facing
modern people: How to link up consciousness to the unconscious; how to bring our ego mind
(consciousness) into a working relationship with our inner terra incognita, our unknown inner
terrain. Concern about this problem was not unique to Jung: thousands of years ago Taoist and
Buddhist practitioners had also seen its significance. Jung recognized this when he noted that ...
the individuation process ... forms one of the main interests of Taoism and of Zen Buddhism.
Coming from a Christian background, as the son of a Protestant minister, Jung also recognized a
Christian relevance to the concept, when he described individuation as ... the primitive Christian
idea of the Kingdom of Heaven which is within you.
Aware of Western cultures vaunting of individualism, Jung took pains to stress the difference
between individualism and individuation. The former concept is ego-driven and fosters
selfishness and lack of concern for others. Individuation is very much the opposite: Over the
years of inner work the process requires, the person experiences repeated crucifixions of the ego
as the ego confronts and assimilates contents of the unconscious. This long-term process brings
to birth a consciousness of human community precisely because it makes us aware of the
unconscious, which unites and is common to all mankind. Individuation is an at-onement with
oneself and at the same time with humanity, since oneself is a part of humanity.

So, far from being selfish, an individuated person feels deeper responsibility to support and serve
others and to foster peace, wholeness and integrity in the world.
Some Requirements of the Process of Individuation Mention of crucifying the ego brings up the subject of what individuation entails. Its challenging,
a task for heroes, not for the faint of heart or for those who cant stand against the crowd and be
different. Divisio (being divided not only from others but also within oneself), separatio (being
separated not only from family, friends and collective society, but also from the person you used
to be), solutio (watching the structures of your life dissolve), discrimination, self-knowledge, a
positive torturethese are just a few of the hardships likely to be faced in this work. Jung was
being honest about the task when he warned ...as always every step forward along the path of
individuation is achieved only at the cost of suffering.
Why such difficulty? Jung gives several reasons. First, we grow up under parents and society,
striving to become whats expected of us and the result is what Jung called the development of
the persona, or mask. In many cases, the persona is not our true self. Weve had to compromise,
adapt, even, in extreme cases, betray our authentic nature. The process of individuation requires
getting wise to this mask, that is, we have to face the fact that for years weve been living a lie.
And then we have to give up this lie, put down the mask and begin to change our life so as to live
more aligned with our authentic being. Such change almost inevitably elicits remarks, protests
from those who know us best, those most deeply invested in how we used to be, those likely to
be most affected by our shifting the parameters of daily life, i.e. our family and closest friends.
Second, individuation requires heroism because its hard to be different, to step out of the
mainstream conventional reality and march to ones own drummer. The work is not a herd
phenomenon. You arent going to find many people doing it. For this reason extraverts, who tend
to resonate with the collective and appreciate group activities, find the process harder than
introverts.
A third difficulty comes from the self-knowledge thats part of the process. Self-knowledge
means becoming conscious of the unconscious: facing our shadow and becoming aware of the
reality of our inner partner, the animus (for women), the anima (for men). The work of
individuation takes us through the swamplands of the soul in the nigredo phase. While Jung was
clear that the unconscious takes to us the attitude we take to it, for most people it takes a while (if
it ever happens at all!) to develop a cheerful attitude toward the unconscious.
By this point you might well be wondering Why bother? Yes, Jung put great emphasis on
achieving individuation but if its so difficult, why make the effort? Jung suggests multiple
benefits.
Benefits of Achieving Individuation
Lets mention the personal benefits first. Jung was explicit that the work of individuation was
absolutely indispensable because, through his contamination with others, the human being falls
into situations and commits actions which bring him into disharmony with himself.... there is

begotten a compulsion to be and to act in a way contrary to ones own nature. Accordingly a man
... feels himself to be in a degrading, unfree, unethical condition.... deliverance from this
condition will come only when he can be and act as he feels is conformable with his true self.
Achieving individuation allows us to be and act in conformity with our true self.
There are other personal benefits. If we stay on the path, stick with the work, we come to enjoy a
widened circle of consciousness. Our sense of separateness ends and we gain broader, more
intense relationships with others. We also experience the apocatastasis that restoration or
reconstitution of our being that makes the travail of the apocalypse seem well worth the
suffering. Life works better. We feel deep in our bones that what were doing, how were living,
with whom were living (our new circle of friends) is what our soul intends for us. The quality of
the people we draw into our life is better (like finds like). We know that the employment we take
up has purchase on our soul. Our values mesh with our lifestyle and our actions speak our soul
purpose.
We feel liberated from the unconsciousness of our parents, which permits our feeling ... a
genuine sense of ... true individuality. At the same time as we experience a greater feeling of
freedom from our past, we also experience an ... absolute, binding and indissoluble communion
with the world at large.
Which brings us to the societal benefits of individuation. Time and again Jung stressed in his
work that individuals matter. Anyone of us could be the makeweight that tips the scales, and
so, in our taking up the task of individuating, each of us is undertaking ... a healing with
universal impact and ... laying up an infinitesimal gram in the scales of humanitys soul.
Given the critical nature of our time, Jung would regard no individual activity to be more
meaningful and useful than becoming individuated.