To Karl Kerenyi
Dear Professor Kerenyi, 12 July 1951
The rapid appearance and handsome format of Einfiihrung in die Mythologie came as a surprise.
It is pleasant to know that this book has now found its niche.
The experiences you are having will inevitably befall anyone who knowingly dips into the primordial world of eternal images.
He reaches beyond himself and bears out the truth of the old alchemist's saying: maior autem animae pars extra corpus est.
You are right : seen in relation to their archetypal background, banal dream-images are usually more instructive and of greater cogency than "mythologizing" dreams, which one always suspects are prompted by reading.
The case you report is very interesting: it is a consistent working out of the archetypal model.
I would be extremely interested to hear more details of your experiences sometime.
I can imagine that for a mythologist the collision with living archetypes is something quite special.
It was the same with me; only for me it was the encounter with mythology.
It means an intensification and enhancement of life-with a pensive side-glance at the genius vultumutabilis, albus et ater.
That the ripples of your life and work are spreading far and wide is in the highest degree gratifying and an occasion for hearty congratulation!
With very best regards,
Yours sincerely,
C.G. Jung ~Carl Jung, Letters Vol. II, Page 19
