Samhain in Helvetia

 

This year I had the chance to spend some days in Switzerland. In the rural area of the German-speaking Canton of St. Gallen. Honestly speaking, it was the ideal place to spend before, during and after the Samhain. Walking around lake Constance, visiting castles, medieval libraries and gothic cathedrals, accompanied with fog, rain and also some sunshine (I was told that this was a very rare phenomenon for this time of the year). But from all the places I visited, the one that impressed me most was the Carl G. Jung House which is located in the lake Zurich. 

Some years ago I`ve got in my hands Miguel Serrano's book "C.G. Jung and Herman Hesse: A record of two friendships". It was from there that I was really impressed by the personality of Carl Gustav Jung and also from his way of living and his surroundings. Ofcourse I was already aware of his excellent essay WOTAN ( there he explains and analyze the National Socialist phenomenon), but it was through Serrano's book that I understood that Jung was not just another famous psychologist as oftently portrayed in the mainstream press, but also other things further than that. A mysticist and an artist.

Thats why in this thread from all the days, places and several photos I took,  I think it deserve a post of photos dedicated only to my visit in Jung Haus and also from the cemetary that his grave is located. Unfortunately, in the house it was forbidden to take any pics inside. So here I post photos from all around the house. But here I put the descriptions that Miguel Serrano gave from the house when he was met with Jung during the 1950's.  Believe me,  things inside, even after so many decades later,  is EXACTLY the same as Serrano described it. I showed this to a member of the house stuff that guiding us inside and she was really impressed of how truly accurate this descriptions are. 

Two intresting notes. The library of Doctor Jung is perhaps the most brilliant private library I have ever seen. Full of medieval or very old historical, mythological, mystical/magical and alchemical books. Most of them leather-bound,  placed in wooden shelves that goes up to the top of the room and you need a moving stair to see them. Also in a room I was find it suprizing that he had a bust of Homer and also the only pic of him was when he visited Acropolis Athens placed in a chair (I managed to take a pic of this from outside).

Ok, so here we go with the photos of both the house and the grave. All text taken from Miguel Serrano's above mentioned book.

Küsnacht/Lake Zurich  - THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE

"....I left immediately and arrived in time at his house in Küsnacht. Over the doorway of his house was written an inscription in Latin: Vocatus adque non vocatus, Deus aderit. [Called or not called, God is present.] "

"The inside of the house seemed dark and shadowy. I was greeted by the same woman I had seen with Jung in Locarno, and she introduced herself as Miss Bailey. She asked me to go up, and as I climbed the stairs, I noticed that the walls were covered with ancient drawings of medieval and Renaissance scenes."

"I then waited in a little room upstairs. In due course, Dr. Jung appeared and greeted me cordially, asking me to go into his study, which had a window overlooking the lake. In the center of the room was a desk covered with papers, and round about were many bookcases. I noticed some bronze Buddhas and over his work table a large scroll showing Siva on top of Mount Kailas. That painting forcibly reminded me of the many pilgrimages which I myself had taken into the Himalayas. We sat down beside the window, and Dr. Jung made himself comfortable in a large armchair opposite me."

"It was late when I left Jung’s house, and as I walked down towards the lake, I thought of our conversation and tried to put my feelings in order."

THE CEMETARY - A RESTING PLACE OF A MYSTICIST

"The Jung family tomb is at Kusnacht and we went there to visit it.  Standing on the gound is large round stone with  a cavity in the centre which catches rainwater. Nearby is another vertical stone engraved with the family crest.  The base of this stone is squared, and on each side is latin inscription: "First the terrestrial man of the earth, Second "The Celestial man of heaven". I believe these are taken from the writting of St Paul.  The part of the inscription is ofcourse the same as is found on the gate of Jung's House"