Symbolism plays an important role in art therapy as we bring our unconscious thoughts to the forefront in the form of art.
What role do these symbols play in uncovering our deepest self? Carl Jung’s influence on art therapy provides insight.
Carl Jung and his influence on art therapy
Art therapy focuses on bringing the unconscious into consciousness through the use of spontaneous, judgment-free creative play. This theory of bridging the gap between what is conscious and unconscious to create one whole self is based on psychoanalyst Carl Jung’s work, as he theorises that becoming whole is a lifelong process — beginning with identifying unconscious aspects of the psyche.
How art therapy can connect you with your inner wisdom
In order to go through the process of healing, we must begin with the process of discovery. Art therapy takes us on an inward journey of discovery as the art therapist walks along with us. The process of discovery often looks like:
- Understanding the wound. Each wound is unique and different, and we must learn and understand our wound in order to discover what we need to heal.
- Going inwards. Our wisdom lies within, and it possesses the answers we need to heal.
- Healing. This is an active process and it is not without pain or discomfort. Healing involves feeling, acknowledging, honouring, and learning from our pain.
The art therapist’s role is to be present and provide support through the process, offering guidance, insight, and encouragement.
The following symbols may guide us in understanding our unconscious self and the feelings that arise during exploration.
1. Shadow work
We all have a ‘dark side’ to our personality: the parts of us we prefer not to acknowledge, the parts that embody negative personality traits, and the parts we keep hidden from others. This ‘shadow self’ — coined by Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung — is often subconsciously suppressed from the outside world, though it may reveal itself at unexpected and unfortunate times.
Jung theorises that the more we try to run away or hide from these negative tendencies, the less control we have over them. Without subjecting ourselves to exploring the shadow self, we may never correct it.
This is where Jungian shadow work comes in. Through Jungian shadow work, we tap into the dark side of the mind to integrate it into conscious awareness, thus enabling us to gain more control over it. We bring the negative aspects of our personality to the forefront instead of burying them so that we may begin to correct it.
Shadow work brings many benefits:
- Improved relationships. As we accept the shadow within ourselves, we become able to accept the flaws of others. This makes us more empathetic, and we are less likely to project our problems onto others. We become better communicators and relationships strengthen.
- Higher energy levels. Suppressing the dark side of our personality can be surprisingly draining. When we face our negative tendencies, it frees up a considerable amount of energy.
- Greater creativity. Jungian shadow work often unlocks creativity, as our improved mental wellbeing leads to frequent spontaneous creativity — a state that is no longer held back by negative forces.
2. The hero’s journey
The hero’s quest — a la Harry Potter or Luke Skywalker — is a common thread in stories and tales, featuring a hero embarking on an adventure. This hero typically comes out victorious in a monumental battle and returns home a changed person, reflecting the trials or challenges we may go through in life.
Professor Joseph Campbell’s theory of the hero’s quest involves 11 parts:
- The ordinary world. The status quo at the start of the journey.
- The call to adventure. An invitation or challenge arrives, disrupting the status quo and compelling the hero to embark on the journey.
- Refusal of the call. Fear, doubt, and insecurity creates trepidation at first.
- Meeting the mentor. Assistance arrives in the form of a mentor, helping the hero make a decision.
- Crossing the threshold. The hero goes past the point of no return as the challenge is accepted.
- Trials, allies, enemies. The hero starts to encounter a number of tests.
- Approach to the inmost cave. This involves preparation required for the ordeal.
- The ordeal. This is also known as slaying the dragon — it is the greatest fear of the hero.
- Reward. After the battle, the hero comes out on top.
- The road back. This success makes returning to old life difficult. The hero must learn to accept this.
- Return with the elixir. We return to ordinary life, though we are different and ready to share our tale.
The importance of this journey lies in that it has deep roots in human consciousness. The lessons of the hero’s quest are an effective tool for tackling our inner complexes and facing suppressed feelings.
When we recognise that we are on our own hero’s quest, we become able to pinpoint our stage of the journey, and we discover our ‘dragon’ that needs slaying. This makes the hero’s quest an effective tool in a therapeutic setting.
3. Persona and imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome is a feeling of inadequacy, self-doubt, and fraudulence. You may think: “Why did they give me a raise? I’m not as good as my coworkers.”
The psychological pattern of imposter syndrome leads you to doubt your accomplishments and skills, thus carrying a fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’. This leads to a lack of confidence, a reluctance to step up to the plate, and a feeling of vulnerability.
The field of Jungian psychoanalysis puts forward a theory about why we experience imposter syndrome. Our professional self requires a ‘mask’ as you make decisions, lead a team, or deliver projects. Therefore, we adopt what Jung calls a ‘persona’ as a directional, confident individual. We must do this even if our ‘true self’ is not inclined to act this way.
The detachment from the persona we show the world in our professional role, compared to our true self, creates a disorienting sense of imposter syndrome.
4. The interpretation of fairy tales
Jungian analytical psychology looks at fairy tales as a simple expression of human archetypes. These archetypes are universal, innate models of people, and they appear across fairy tales so we may better understand human nature.
The characters in the story mirror the basic patterns of the psyche. Jungian psychologist Marie-Louise von Franz describes fairy tales as “the purest and simplest expression of the collective unconscious psychic process… representing the archetypes in their simplest, barest, and most concise form.”
Art therapists are drawn to fairy tale symbols as a means of expressing motifs that appear in our lives, as we better understand how our shadow, hero, anima and animus appear in our lives.
Symbols as a catalyst for change
As symbols appear in everyday life, they act as a bridge between the conscious mind and the unconscious, allowing us to get in touch with our instincts in a way that can be beneficial for our wellbeing. These symbols, therefore, act as a catalyst for changing one’s self.
We find symbols in:
- Dreams and fantasies
- Life’s synchronicities
- Art and rituals
Bridging the gap between the conscious and the unconscious with art therapy
Symbols allow us to understand and navigate the inner workings of the unconscious. Art therapy allows us to navigate the symbols in our lives and use them as a catalyst for change.
Your art therapist will guide you in bringing these inner objects into conscious awareness as you ride through your infinite journey to wholeness. On this journey, you will bridge the gap between the conscious and unconscious, and begin to understand yourself on a deeply profound level.
How LAUREARTS works with their clients
LAUREARTS provides a safe, comfortable environment to confront and integrate your shadow self. Art therapy allows us to bring our unconscious side to consciousness through the creation of spontaneous material. Confronting your shadow takes courage, and an art therapist will support you through obstacles without judgment.
To learn more about online art therapy for creatives, or book a consultation, click here. For more tips from LAUREARTS, follow us on Instagram or Facebook.