Carl Jung’s ideas are a topic for discussion in the world of Paganism. When the historical basis for hard polytheism was challenged in the 1960’s, believers latched onto Jung’s ideas of archetypes to legitimize their faith. The lasting implication is a rift in Neopagan philosophy.





Yoda: Archetype? Thought-form? Expression of the unknowable? Psychic entity?









Do deity actually exist or are they merely a part of our personal or collective unconscious? If I were to conduct a poll of 100 Neopagans, I imagine that approximately half would advocate hard polytheism, which is to say Deity actually exist outside the human mind. The other half would argue that deity are symbolic, archetypal, or are only real within the mind. So who’s right?Do deity actually exist or are they merely a part of our personal or collective unconscious?If I were to conduct a poll of 100 Neopagans, I imagine that approximately half would advocate hard polytheism, which is to say Deity actually exist outside the human mind.The other half would argue that deity are symbolic, archetypal, or are only real within the mind.





Let’s consider a metaphor to show that this situation is more likely complex than truly dichotomous. This appears huge divergence in ideology.Let’s consider a metaphor to show that this situation is more likely complex than truly dichotomous.





Well in my mind, I have a model of both my desk and myself. I can only know an event through my own internal model of the event. How do I know that I am at my desk typing this post?Well in my mind, I have a model of both my desk and myself.I can only know an event through my own internal model of the event.





In this mental model, my psychic representation also has a mind—it’s mind’ception, a mind within a mind. Here the situation becomes more complex.In this mental model, my psychic representation also has a mind—it’s mind’ception, a mind within a mind.











