Enantiadromia

I asked permission from Maureen, who posted on an astrology list, to cross-post her comments, copied below. Maureen picks up on the term enantiadromia from an earlier post on that list.

Although the earlier poster had defined the term, I looked it up in dictionary.com. It was not found there. So I did an extended google search on it. These were two of the definitions I found, one from an astrology site and the other from a psycho-therapist's publication:

Enantiadromia: A psychological phenomenon wherein, when one resists something long enough and hard enough, one becomes that thing by flipping violently to the opposite. After the Jews resisted the Nazis, they established one of the most militaristic states in the developed world. From: Definition of Jungian Terms, by Nancy R. Fenn

*This pendulum swing, or enantiadromia, is defined by the Greek Heraclitis as “Where the deepest point of saturation with darkness gives birth to a rapidly expanding point of light.”*
From: Dream Talk, by Ken Kimmel, M.A., C.M.H.C.

Notice that Kimmel's quote from Heraclitis suggests something quite different than Jung's definition (or at least, than how people are quoting Jung's definition, since I couldn't find Jung's original). More on this separately, later.

Maureen, in her post, contrasts wholeness (or the collective) with enantiadromia. Here's her post:

From: Maureen Press
Subject: Re: SATURN-URANUS OPPOSITION EXACT ON ELECTION DAY
Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 1:27 PM

In the larger picture, I think Americans are tired of being "spliced and diced" into ever smaller constituencies - "special interest groups" - and then being set against each other.

Obama was the first candidate to articulate a notion of national wholeness, at the 2004 Democratic Convention, where he spoke of finding a common ground, a common vision and a common purpose. In the upcoming months, I suspect this notion of community (also beautifully expressed by Hillary Clinton they day she formally ended her campaign) will become more and more important.

More than the concept of enantiadromia (which I have seen on two occasions!), I find much value in Jung's notion of the collective. Something has been brewing for a very long time in the unconscious of many people and Obama was the first to give it credible, public expression - his is a powerful message of unity.

Because I perceive him to be a healer - in this case, attempting to heal the divisions in America (between left and right, secular and religious, hawk and dove, etc), I would expect his presidency to include a number of conservative principles . . . because he is attempting to do more the build a bridge between differing perspectives, he is looking to create a completely new "third way" that can transcend the old opposites.

I don't know if this is possible, but I do know that people are hungry for it - especially at a time when people are beginning to understand that they have been divided - and picked clean by those doing the dividing.

At the more collective level of the two parties, I do see some enantiadromia being expressed. McCain is the antithesis of a "conservative" in his public persona, while Obama is far removed from the emotionally driven "bleeding heart" stereotype as one could get. Their policies may each be driven by their respective parties (party's?) traditional stands, but their public performances have enacted alot of the opposites.

Perhaps this gives the public a opportunity to understand some of the madness behind the Republican party's orientation, and some of the critical thinking (and intellectual heft) that grounds the Democratic Party.

. . . or this could all be wishful thinking :-)

It's strange to wake up in the middle of history, isn't it? To realize that were living in times that will define the direction of the world far into the future . . .

Thanks again, Claudia - and cf! - for your thoughtful reflections on this strange and wondrous times we're living in.

Maureen
(the view from Canada)