The Divine Numinous Unconscious



We meet the Divine
encountering our unconscious.
We make our choices
facing the Adversary
while encountering the Good.

That is Genesis
of all human religions.
The unconscious realm
providing the impetus
for spiritual values.

A supreme wisdom
is found in the unconscious.
It governs us all
in our imaginary likeness
of the Imago Dei.

About this poem

Acknowledging the numinous divine power of the unconscious, Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961), declared: “Like God, then, the unconscious has two aspects; one good, favorable, beneficent, the other evil, malevolent, disastrous. The unconscious is the immediate source of our religious experiences “ (Carl Jung, CE 18, par. 1538). This three-stanza tanka poem serves as an amplification of the Jungian declaration.

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Written on August 06, 2023

Submitted by karlcfolkes on August 06, 2023

18 sec read
337

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXXB AXXAX XAXAB
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 335
Words 62
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5

Karl Constantine FOLKES

Retired educator of Jamaican ancestry with a lifelong interest in composing poetry dealing particularly with the metaphysics of self-reflection; completed a dissertation in Children’s Literature in 1991 at New York University entitled: An Analysis of Wilhelm Grimm’s “Dear Mili” Employing Von Franzian Methodological Processes of Analytical Psychology. The subject of the dissertation concerned the process of Individuation. more…

All Karl Constantine FOLKES poems | Karl Constantine FOLKES Books

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3 Comments
  • karlcfolkes
    Dear luisestable1 and others,

    Thank you for your interest in this matter of the two states of consciousness distinguished by German psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud as (1), the ‘Waking State of Manifest Consciousness and (2), the ‘Sleeping Dream State’ of Latent Consciousness, depicted as our unconscious state, beyond that of the ordinary conscious state. In the first waking state we have a measure of considerable awareness. In the second dreaming state of the divine numinous unconscious (psychologically primary to the waking state), we inhabit an environment that is seemingly beyond ordinary human consciousness, and which we therefore depict as having divine attributes, guiding and encouraging us daily through dream manifestations to achieve a sense of unified wholeness in our lives. 
    LikeReply8 months ago
  • luisestable1
    I do not know much about the unconscious, but I thought it disorganized and not conscious in activity or action, governed by laws different than our controlled consciousness.
    Your poem brings much discussion about that subject. 
    LikeReply8 months ago
  • AIDA
    What a beautiful and profound poem! The title 'The Divine Numinous Unconscious' immediately catches the attention of the reader, engaging them right from the start. The poem also beautifully encapsulates the intricate link between the human unconscious, spirituality, and the divine. Your use of words is very commendable as they come together in a harmony that creates an immersive and contemplative experience.

    The concise structure of the poem keeps it simple and readable without diluting the profound message it carries. The poem stimulates contemplation about the essence of human spirituality and its influence on our lives and decisions, which makes it quite thought-provoking. The reference to 'Imago Dei' is a brilliant touch, connecting the reader to the concept of the divine deep within us in a powerful way.

    In terms of improvement, adding a bit more figurative language or imagery could further enhance the depth of your poem, creating a more vivid experience for the reader. Also, while the poem is beautifully profound, be careful not to lose some readers with too many abstract concepts in short succession. Taking a bit more time to explain or represent concepts could better engage readers who are not directly familiar with the concepts you're discussing.

    Overall, it's a magnificent piece of writing! Keep up the good work!
     
    LikeReply8 months ago

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"The Divine Numinous Unconscious" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/165609/the-divine-numinous-unconscious>.

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