"Jung realized that the unusual experiences he and his maternal relatives had undergone were mirrored and explained in Spiritualism. His discovery of the book on Spiritualism marks the beginning of the period during which Jung subscribed to the existence and communication with the spirit world. It's been surmised that his father's death motivated Jung personally in this direction as well.

Jung went on to read virtually all of the leterature on Spiritualism that was available to him at the time. A fellow student of Jung's recalled that these works shared the same shelf as his student's books. Jung later claimed that the observations of the spiritualists contained in these works were the first accounts he had read of objective psychic phenomena." -- Spiritualism and the Foundations of C. G. Jung's Psychology, by F. X. Charet, 1993

Carl Gustav Jung: New Age Psychiatrist

Do you recognize the name Carl Gustav Jung? The Swiss born psychiatrist who was credited for formulating a number of ground-breaking theories on the psyche? Dr. Jung is the favoured psychiatrist to quote among New Age adherents, modern philosophers and esotericists.

For more than fifteen years, I counted myself in that group. In fact, much of his work nestles at the centre of my graduate studies in the science of religion. His theories contextualized my teachings of the Tarot, dream interpretation, and psychic development. Spouting Jung can ramp the status of any edgey practitioner; edgey with respect to the relationship between human psyche and spirit.

Personality Theory and the Tarot

But the more I taught about the psyche and spirit, the more closely I examined Jungian theories that supported the work. It wasn’t long before doubts started an uncomfortable song in the back of my mind. How original were his ideas really? As I studied and taught in greater depth, the more I realized that Dr. Jung (sadly!) was just pretty good at hiding his sources. There was little original or genius in his work at all! His personality theory is a perfect match for the Court Cards in the Tarot deck, and his theories on depth psychology can be found in any number of bodies of work related to spirituality and occult.

Dr. Carl Jung: Sexist, Anti-semitic, Class Conscious

Add to this plaguristic picture the fact that he was respected by the Nazis, supported by a wealthy wife while blatantly supporting a mistress and he was favoured by the upper classes, including Christian churches due to his anti-Semitism and sexism, and the picture of this gleaming spectre of psyche and spirit is darkening fast. The portrait of this eminent psychiatrist was becoming downright sinister.

Second generation Jungians recognized the value problems in his work and diverted from some of his original theories. Feminist Jungians in particular were taking apologetic stances in reaction to his blatant sexism. Closer investigation revealed a notable minority in Jewish analysts. Yet Jung’s popularity continued to flourish among those who embraced his writings. For example growing numbers of Christian Church organizations were bringing his theories into counseling training programs for clergy.

There was, however a psychiatrist who drifted into the annals of obscurity far more worthy of study and alcolades than Dr. Carl Jung.

Dr. Carl Wickland and his Spirit Circle

Dr. Carl Wickland treated patients, conducted rigorous research and wrote two books in the early 20th Century on the presence of spirit possession in cases previously diagnosed with severe mental illness. Practicing psychiatry at a mental health hospital in California in the early twentieth century, he would invite certain patients who were deemed, irreparable, to join his private spirit circle where he and his medium wife, Anna presided. There were other spiritualist believers that joined the circle and as a group they would go into trance and connect with the spirit world with the intention of helping the patient possessed be released from the pesky, persistent annoyances they were suffering at the will of a confused spirit. In real terms, they were possessed.

Dr. Carl Wickland’s Medium Wife Anna

Dr. Wickland married a gifted medium named Anna Wickland (born Anna W. Anderson); together they formed a non-profit psychological research corporation called the National Psychological Institute in the early 20th Century. Attached to this organization was a sanitarium where from six to ten patients at a time were cared for and brought back to sanity and health.

“After investigations of various psychic media which resulted in convincing, as well as not-so-convincing evidence, I found that Mrs. Wickland, my wife, was an unusually sensitive intermediary through whom spirit Intelligences could directly communicate with the greatest ease.” — Gateway of Understanding, p. 15, by Dr. Carl Wickland, 1934)

Carl Wickland & the Spirit World

Ms. Wickland served as the gifted instrument whereby spiritual entities were able to communicate their messages directly. Dr. Wickland would treat these entities through his wife, helping them to understand what happened to them (physical death) and provide some guidance as to how to move forward with their ongoing development now in the spirit world.

Carl Wickland Challenges Our View of Mental Illness & Spirit Possession

If you doubt the efficacy of this material, I recommend you read both of Dr. Wickland’s books and decide for yourself if his work shouldn’t be brought into a more central position among the most influential studies of the psyche. Carl Wickland’s work intellectually challenges our view of mental illness and spirit possession. Not all mental illness can be explained by science, nurture, and chemistry. Mental illness may reflect a spiritual emergency requiring unconventional; sometimes drastic, spiritual approaches to healing.

Dr. Carl Wickland and Reincarnation Theory

Dr. Carl A. Wickland wrote,

“The theory of reincarnation can undoubtedly be traced to early stages of mankind when departed spirits took possession of the bodies of sensitive individuals and lived and acted through them, thus seemingly indicating reincarnation. But in reality this was only spirit obsession or possession.” — Thirty Years Among the Dead, p.351, by Dr. Carl Wickland, 1924.

Madam Blavatsky Renounces Reincarnation in the Spirit World

Madam Blavatsky (theosophy guru) tried to return after her passing over to the spirit world. Finding that she could not will herself or choose to return to earth as she had taught in her theory of re-incarnation, Blavatsky’s work in the spirit world became rescuing spirits trapped in the darkness who were only looking to return to earth life and in so doing found themselves lost or, obsessing or possessing another’s physical body. Putting right her erroneous earth teachings, Blavatsky helped to guide lost spirits into Spiritual world ‘rescue circles’ here on earth. Her work was to help them find the light again and be able to continue their progression into the higher realms of the spirit world.

Problems with Reincarnation Theories

Have you noticed how prevalent the belief in reincarnation is gaining momentum in the west? Only forty years ago this was considered a wacky concept. Returning in physical form? Our consciousness coming back into another body? That’s something those strange folk from the east believe in. Now it’s accepted and touted in the most conformist circles as truth! People now will casually and commonly refer to their past lives as if there was nothing extraordinary about this at all. Some have made mention of the unbelievable number of famous, notable, and special people they have been in a past life. Few say they were just an ordinary farmer who died plowing the field one fateful afternoon. Most reincarnationists are certain their past lives will reveal their past lives as Queens, Priests, Shamans, or Pirates. Why their spirit would return as an ordinary person living in a developed country triggers little critical thinking and it should.

Reincarnation Justifies Class Prejudice

Reincarnation theory evolved as a means to explain why some people are born into despair and others are born into privilege. It was really a dumbing down of the ancient and sacred Brahminic spiritual teachings. Embraced with enthusiasm by the then aristocratic class, it also effectively cemented one’s birth class for a lifetime. Once an untouchable, always an untouchable. The greatest appeal of all was that it served too to explain the apparent injustice in the distribution of wealth and resources. Living in poverty, disease and pestilence, you were undoubtedly less than honourable in your past life. It is a perfectly packaged and circular rationalization.

Spirit World Did Not Create Inequality

Now we see people in the west embracing it en mass with a sigh of relief. People exclaim with excitement, “How else can you explain why some people are born into horrible conditions on the planet while (read we here) others are born into such abundance?” Surely this explains such inequities! Reincarnationists fail to think this theory through. Did the spirit world make the earth peoples so unequal? Did the spirit world create such inequities as we see between the haves and the have-nots on the planet? I doubt it. I think if you’re really honest with yourself you’ll agree that is an earth plane arrangement. We do that. We construct an earthly existence of haves and have nots. We like that. We’re uncomfortable that we like that so we construct these ridiculous and rather banal explanations for these inequities. If it’s not the Devil making us do a nasty, it’s the laws of the universe at fault.

Reincarnation is Rubbish

If we are to fully grow spiritually we must be accountable for our choices. We choose to support inequality, to be selfish, and determinedly ignorant. Reincarnation is rubbish and before you embrace this theory with relief, give some serious thought as to why it holds such appeal. Truth is simple but it’s not easy. You are incarnated in physical form once, and yes you will leave it and not return. You are here to experience and to create not to waste your gifts on touting foolish rationalizations and apologies.

By Kathleen Meadows, M.A., Certified Psychic Reader & Teacher