10. The Self (Ether)

Let us summarize now the square, which is a symbol of human psyche and character.

This square contains four psychological states.

• Conscious State,
• Unconscious State (or Complementarity State),
• Strong Self-Esteem State (or Power State),
• Soft Self-Esteem State (or Vulnerable State).

The above state form two opposing pairs:

• Conscious State—Unconscious State,
• Strong Self-Esteem State (or Power State)—Soft Self-Esteem State (or Vulnerable State).

The square, as our psyche, we can divide into two triangles that symbolize ours:

• Consciousness, and
• Unconsciousness.

Our Consciousness, that is, Conscious Triangle, consists of three psychological states:

• Conscious State,
• Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State), and
• Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State).

Our Unconscious, that is, Unconscious Triangle, consists of three psychological state:

• Unconscious State,
• Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State), and
• Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State).

Strong Self-Esteem State (Power State) and Soft Self-Esteem State (Vulnerable State) are on the border between Consciousness and Unconsciousness. That is, between Conscious and Unconscious Triangles. So, these States can belong to both Conscious and Unconscious Triangles.

All in all, the above square and its elements symbolically represent our psyche. Thanks to this square, it is easier to imagine how the various processes in our psyche can take place. Among others, if we use this symbolic square, we can show difference processes between Consciousness and Unconsciousness, and between the four psychological states which I mentioned above.

Symbol of the square also allows us to look at our psyche as one whole, which consists of many elements. Among these elements, we can mainly distinguish:
— Conscious and Unconscious Triangles, and
— four psychological states that symbolically represent different areas of the psyche.

However, all the elements of the square form one whole, which is just our square. This whole, which is covered by this square, we can describe as another psychological state. This state we can describe as a state in which we are completely integrated with ourselves. Or using similar words, we can say that we are then with ourselves: connected, reconciled, united, coherent, attentive, etc. Or we are accepting ourselves, and we are open to ourselves. So, it is a state of balance between our four main psychological states, and between our Conscious and Unconscious. The state in which psychic energy (or libido) circulates in our psyche without disturbances, and we also use the least of this energy, or we waste it the least.

To name this state, I will use the term postulated by Jung, which is “The Self”. The Self, in general, represents the whole of the psyche. That is, Consciousness and Unconsciousness combined into one.

Personally, at one point, the Jungian idea of the Self, I associated with the fifth Element, which was distinguished by ancient philosophers. This Element is called “ETHER” or “Aether”. The Ether represents the Element from which the universe is composed. The word “Ether” is also associated with quintessence (in Latin, quinta essentia). That is the fifth essence, the etheric fifth Element, uniting the four basic Elements (or classical Elements).

We can read about the Ether, for example, at the web-pages:
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eter_(filozofia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)

Thus, like the Self, the Ether combines different factors into one whole. According to Aristotle, Ether combines four basic Elements, namely Air, Earth, Water, and Fire. In relation to the Mandala of Characters, we can say that the Self or Ether is the Element that connects four basic psychological States and unites them into one common State.

At this point, it appeared a very interesting conclusion. Because it turns out that the idea of “Ether” introduced by Aristotle is very useful to express the idea of the “Self” introduced by C. G. Jung. All in all, both these great ideas fit the Mandala of Characters very much.

In the figure below, I symbolically present the Self (or Ether) in relation to the Mandala of Characters.

Our symbolic square inscribed in a circle, as the Self (Ether), is differently located for each type of character. On the Mandala of Character, the Self will be set at a different angle for each type. So, the square of the Self will rotate around the Mandala. That is, it will turn twelve times because the position of each type is analogous to that on the clock-face.

The vertex of the square of the Self, which indicates Conscious State will point out the place on the Mandala to which Conscious State best fits.

I would like to point out here that the square of the Self is divided along the diagonal into two triangles. This arrangement we can associate with a compass needle. Each type of character has its compass of the psyche. The needle of this compass is pointing the Conscious State of a given type.

So, Conscious State for individual types of Mandala of Characters:
— is located in a different place on the Mandala,
— that is, for each type Conscious State is pointing, figuratively speaking, a different “hour on the clock-face”,
— this “clock-face” is located on the Ancient Typology; therefore, Conscious State will also be pointing a place on the area of one of the four main Elements.

The associations mentioned above of the Mandala of Characters to the clock-face and compass can also be very useful for us to imagine how our psyche works. So, we can treat the clock-face and compass as other symbols to help us understand our psyche world.

So, all in all, I presented the square of the Self above, and earlier the parts of this square. That is, Conscious and Unconscious Triangle and four psychological states.

In the next part, I will present how the square of the Self is located for individual types of the Mandala of Characters.

References: