33. Marie-Louise von Franz on The Problem of the Eternal Child

In this episode we unpack, Swiss Psychologist, Marie-Louise von Franz's classic book, "The Problem of the Puer Aeternus" from a series of lectures she gave in 1959.

This book explores

-The Eternal Child Archetype

-The Mother Complex (Jungian)

-The Loss of Initiation Rituals in the Modern Age

Links to Reading & Articles mentioned

The Problem of the Puer Aeternus by Marie-Louis von Franz

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!

Host: Zach Stehura  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UnpackingIdeas.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: David Bloome

Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polyenso⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Time Stamps

0:00:00 Introduction

0:02:24 David’s Story Discovering the book

0:12:07 Characteristics of The Puer Aeternus

0:16:14 Commitmentphobia/Megalomania 

0:23:00 The Mother Complex

0:28:46 Enmeshment

0:37:45 Analysis of “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

0:40:47 Symbolism of the Boa Constrictor choking the Elephant 

0:46:00 Symbolism of the Little Prince Image

0:50:45 Symbolism of The Overgrown Baobob Trees

0:54:11 The Literal and Figurative Crash of Individuals suffering from the Eternal Child Complex

0:58:04 Von Franz’s Antidote to the Problem - Initiation Rituals 

1:02:02 Consequences of the Lack of Initiation Rituals in the Modern Age

1:06:00  The literal and Figurative crash of Societies Suffering from the Eternal Child Complex 

1:08:40 Jung’s Antidote to the Problem- Work

1:17:18 outro