Seven Sermons to the Dead

Here Jung explores 4 main themes: Gnosticism, Pleroma, Creation and Duality, and God & Abraxas. The text is full of references to Gnostic thought and manuscripts. It presents itself as the sermons of the ancient Gnostic Basilides in Alexandria, although it's a product of Jung's own imagination and reflective exploration. Pleroma is a Gnostic term for the fullness or totality that is the source of all creation. The pleroma represents the undifferentiated, primordial reality. The sermons touch on the emergence of different qualities from the pleroma, leading to the duality inherent in creation, such as light and darkness, fullness and emptiness. God is discussed as the personification of certain dominant aspects of the pleroma. The text also introduces Abraxas, a deity who transcends both God and the Devil, embodying both good and evil, life and death. One could argue that Abraxas is a metaphor for Biological Deep-Time.

The philosophical tension between unity and differentiation in Seven Sermons resonates with Jung’s later works, particularly Aion (1951), where he elaborates on integrating opposites within the self. This text also reflects Jung’s deep engagement with Gnostic thought, which profoundly influenced his exploration of archetypes and the interplay between the conscious and unconscious. The pleroma becomes a lens through which Jung articulates the dynamic relationships between the universal and individual, existence and non-existence, and the spiritual and psychological. It is both a mystical reflection and a psychological allegory, offering insights into the nature of human existence and the process of self-realization.

The work is organized around seven sermons, each of which explores key metaphysical and psychological themes such as the nature of pleroma (the totality of existence), the duality of opposites, and the process of individuation. Jung uses archetypal and mythological imagery to explore the necessity of balancing opposites-light and dark, creation and destruction-as central to psychological integration. The text also foreshadows his later theories of the self and the collective unconscious, emphasizing the human journey toward wholeness as a sacred and deeply individual process. Drawing on Gnostic concepts, Jung bridges ancient spiritual wisdom with his psychological insights, positioning The Seven Sermons as both a deeply personal document and a universal guide to the complexities of the human soul.

This updated edition offers a fresh, accessible translation of Carl Jung’s early scientific writings, originally intended for an academic audience. The translation is accompanied by a thought-provoking Afterword by the translator, which explores the philosophical foundations, historical context, and lasting impact of Jung’s ideas from his early clinical work under Freud to his later metaphysical philosophy such as Aion and Synchronicity. Beyond clarifying this work specifically, the Afterword situates it within the broader framework of Jung’s intellectual and clinical evolution, offering readers a deeper understanding of his early contributions in like of Schopenhauer, Einstein, Nietzsche and other influences on early Psychology. Supplementary materials, including a detailed timeline of Jung’s life and works, further contextualize his theories within their personal, cultural, and historical dimensions. This edition ensures that both newcomers and seasoned scholars can fully appreciate the origins and significance of Jungian psychology, from it's humble roots to it's modern implications.