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C.G. Jung and the Sioux Traditions: Dreams, Visions, Nature and the Primitive
While visiting the United States, C. G. Jung visited the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, where he spent several hours with Ochwiay Biano, Mountain Lake, an elder at the Pueblo. This encounter impacted Jung psychologically, emotionally, and intellectually, and had a sustained influence on his theories and understanding of the psyche. Dakota Sioux intellectual and political leader, Vine Deloria Jr., began a close study of the writings of C. G. Jung over two decades ago, but had long been struck by certain affinities and disjunctures between Jungian and Sioux Indian thought. He also noticed that many Jungians were often drawn to Native American traditions. This book, the result of Deloria's investigation of these affinities, is written as a measured comparison between the psychology of C. G. Jung and the philosophical and cultural traditions of the Sioux people. Deloria constructs a fascinating dialogue between the two systems that touches on cosmology, the family, relations with animals, visions, voices, and individuation.
226 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2022
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March 11, 2023
The author was a Dakota Sioux intellectual who believed that Jung and his psychology was the best psychological lens for understanding the wisdom of Native American culture and communicating it to the West. I especially appreciate what this book teaches us about dreams, family, and animals.
The Sioux view of dreams always addresses the outer situation, whereas for Jung dreams can exclusively be about the inner psyche. As Deloria says, the Sioux view of dreams can help us "make considerably better use of dreams and understand our vocational responsibilities with greater precision." This is a really important insight. Not everything in dreams has to be symbolic; it must also be practical too.
The book teaches us about the Dakota Sioux high view of animals and how that is similar to and differs from Jung. The Sioux spent enormous amounts of time living in and studying nature - far more than any scientist ever could. Through vision quests, dreams, and communicating with animals the Sioux learned from animals about medicine, herbs, healing, and more. They understood all the nuances of each kind of animal and would only hunt an animal if the animal first gave permission. There are stories of how they would be unable to succesfullly kill animal even at close range if the animal did not desire to die at that time.
It was also interesting to learn about the intricate family structure that relieved the parents of having to assume sole responsibility for caring for their children. The aunts and uncles played the disciplinarian role. All extended family members played specific roles in supporting each other. Brothers and sisters didn't speak to each other out of respect and instead honored each other through actions. Sons-in-law didn't speak to mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law didn't speak to fathers-in-law. This aligns with what Jung said: "We ought rather to say that it is not so much the parents as their ancestors-the grandparents and great-grandparents who are the true progenitors, and that these explain the individuality of the children far more than the immediate, and, so to speak, accidental parents."
Deloria says, "many Jungians would correctly point out that the individuation process, particularly when realized in analysis, can indeed leave individuals with "special powers" of vision, intuition, and sometimes healing. Jung himself stands as an excellent case in point." If that resonates with you, then you will enjoy this book.
The Sioux view of dreams always addresses the outer situation, whereas for Jung dreams can exclusively be about the inner psyche. As Deloria says, the Sioux view of dreams can help us "make considerably better use of dreams and understand our vocational responsibilities with greater precision." This is a really important insight. Not everything in dreams has to be symbolic; it must also be practical too.
The book teaches us about the Dakota Sioux high view of animals and how that is similar to and differs from Jung. The Sioux spent enormous amounts of time living in and studying nature - far more than any scientist ever could. Through vision quests, dreams, and communicating with animals the Sioux learned from animals about medicine, herbs, healing, and more. They understood all the nuances of each kind of animal and would only hunt an animal if the animal first gave permission. There are stories of how they would be unable to succesfullly kill animal even at close range if the animal did not desire to die at that time.
It was also interesting to learn about the intricate family structure that relieved the parents of having to assume sole responsibility for caring for their children. The aunts and uncles played the disciplinarian role. All extended family members played specific roles in supporting each other. Brothers and sisters didn't speak to each other out of respect and instead honored each other through actions. Sons-in-law didn't speak to mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law didn't speak to fathers-in-law. This aligns with what Jung said: "We ought rather to say that it is not so much the parents as their ancestors-the grandparents and great-grandparents who are the true progenitors, and that these explain the individuality of the children far more than the immediate, and, so to speak, accidental parents."
Deloria says, "many Jungians would correctly point out that the individuation process, particularly when realized in analysis, can indeed leave individuals with "special powers" of vision, intuition, and sometimes healing. Jung himself stands as an excellent case in point." If that resonates with you, then you will enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review