The Collected Works of C.G. Jung: Aion: Researches into the Phenomenology of the Self v. 9, Pt. 2 (Collected Works of C.G. Jung)

"This book is a psychological classic - mostly because of the parallel drawn between the symbolical Christ-figure and one's honest self. In psychology the archetypal self usually represents the psychic totality, wholeness.

Just consider Christ as a symbol of this self! And then the whole Biblical-apocryphal story suddenly gets a new perspective to it. One is then tempted to attach greater interest in the living presence of the archetypal self than to the idea of the historical Jesus. It is said that man's greatest treasure is to be found within man, and not inside him. But only patience and honesty can lead to a synthesis of conscious and unconscious factors.

In their conscious mind people tend to have a fear of the uncharted unconscious. For in a modern society values mainly come from outside. The most intimate feeling-values are commonly repressed. For example sex is something one is supposed to practice without the fearsome ties like devotion or social guilt. It is far more important to just fit in, to be accepted... But in the long run self-deceptive ways never pay off."
~ Written on 2008-09-30

"Aion is one of Jungs last major works, and as such is concerned with the jungian themes of individuation and the creation of the "self". Its probably a good idea if your already versed in Jungs theories: for the sake of not repeating what hes written in earlier volumes he assumes a familiarity with his previous work. Infact I dread to think what a layman not familiar with Jung would make of this work which delves heavily into the symbolism of early Christianity, Gnosticism & Alchemy in order to explain the psyche. Better to start with something like "Archetypes & the collective unconcious" (also available in paperback here in the UK)if your interested in Jungs later thought. Those who are familiar with Jung though will find this an invaluable source complementing his other writings on western religion."
~ Written on 2000-11-03