Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self

Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self, originally published in German in 1951, is one of the major works of Jung's later life. The central theme of the volume is the symbolic representation of the psychic totality thru the concept of the Self, whose traditional historical equivalent is the figure of Christ. Jung demonstrates his thesis by an investigation of the Allegoria Christi, especially the fish symbol, but also of gnostic & alchemical symbolism, which he treats as phenomena of cultural assimilation. The first four chapters, on the ego, the shadow & the anima/us, provide a valuable summation of these key concepts in his psychological system.