Chicken Little: The Inside Story (A Jungian ... - Inner City Books

42 Chicken Little: The Inside Story
“Naturally I thought of working with a colleague,” said Brillig,
“but there was no one who commanded my respect. I was obliged
to fall back on my own resources. I resumed recording my dreams,
which I had woefully neglected. I spent hours reflecting on the images,
amplifying them, recording my thoughts and feelings. Well,
you know the routine—all those things one does as a matter of
course in analysis. I got back into active imagination. I started
painting again, playing with clay, carving wood. In short, I became
totally self-absorbed.”
“No offense,” said Rachel, “but I know people who would call
that narcissistic.”
Brillig smiled.
“My dear, who can deny it? To some extent self-involvement always
is. But unconscious narcissism is a far cry from a conscious
act of self-preservation. I dare say you will recall Christ’s admonition
to the poor soul he found working his garden on the Sabbath?
‘If you don’t know what you are doing, you are damned; if you do,
you are blessed.’ I knew I was in trouble, you see—deep schtuck,
as some would say—and when that happens, in my experience the
best way to get back on track is to turn the spotlight on yourself.”
“I think it’s to your credit that you recognized the problem,” offered
Norman.
“That’s as may be,” said Brillig. “In any case, I took on no new
patients. My practice slowly diminished, by attrition. When I had
found my way, I closed the door on that chapter of my life. That
was, let me see . . . Norman?”
“Twelve years ago?”
“Yes, so it was. Oh, I’ve kept my hand in, here and there, now
and then. Norman, for instance. We still work together, though not
in the usual way.”
I looked at Norman. He gave nothing away.
“And your interest in Jung?” asked Arnold.
Brillig shrugged.
“That has not flagged.”
“There is much talk these days of going beyond Jung,” I said,
“of breaking new ground.”
“My dear fellow,” said Brillig, “There is talk these days of many