Libro: Conversations with Marie-Louise von Franz on Synchronicity and Numbers: Insights and Amplifications

Intriguing revelations from Marie-Louise von Franz’s final words on numbers and synchronicity

A special delivery from Jung’s postman:
Our newest title takes you inside fascinating conversations among Marie-Louise von Franz herself and her colleagues, and their work at the newly-founded Marie-Louise von Franz Institute for Studies in Synchronicity (MLFI) in Zurich from 1994 to 1998.

October 1993: Marie-Louise von Franz recounts a dream of “a new job.”
She is the new apprentice postman at the Bollingen post office! Her mission is to continue Jung’s work on number, quantum physics, synchronicity and depth psychology. She must deliver this “letter” to a new generation which still may not be ready for the message.

Conversations is this letter: a glimpse into the profound thinking and powerful intuition that brought us some of the most important Jungian scholarship ever written.

The editors, Robin Mindell and Christophe Le Mouel, present a series of seven conversations which explore the resonances and convergences of synchronicity, number, quantum physics, and Jung’s central concepts of depth psychology. Some conversations involve surprising revelations about her analytical work with Wolfgang Pauli. She shares her own reflections about the psyche’s progress toward death and what may come next. As von Franz was becoming increasingly ill with Parkinsonism, there is an urgency to these discussions. She knew her time was limited. This book captures her unyielding commitment to honoring Jung’s legacy and pushing forward the frontiers of depth psychology.

The editors essentially bring us into the room as von Franz works with her colleagues to formulate these ideas, at a time when neuroscience, chaos theory and quantum physics were still emerging fields. She refused to take more than minimal pain medication so that her mind would remain sharp as her physical body deteriorated. She expressed concern that the world might not yet be ready for the important message she was striving to deliver, but hoped that future generations might be receptive. This intimate view of “Marlus” is unlike any you will find in her other publications. She curses, she jokes, she shares her dreams, she serves treats, and sometimes she’s too exhausted to do more than nod her head.

Sadly, von Franz passed away on February 17, 1998, having continued her conversations about the nature of synchronicity almost to the very end of her life.

The book features detailed footnotes and a wealth of additional material that has never been previously published. The esoteric subject matter may be challenging, but any readers of Jungian psychology — especially those who want to deepen their understanding of synchronicity — will be rewarded, delighted and moved by this glimpse into the personality and process of Marie-Louise von Franz.