The concept of holding the tension of opposites is central to the Jungian journey of individuation. Our psyches are pulled between opposing forces, such as the conscious and the unconscious, light and shadow, masculine and feminine, or rationality and intuition. These opposites are archetypal in nature and cannot be fully integrated or reduced into one; they represent fundamental dualities.

The tension between these opposites holds the potential for transformation. When we resist collapsing into either side, a “third” transcendent element can emerge - a new insight, symbolic understanding, or creative resolution. This is not merely a rational synthesis but a leap into the unknown, a true transformation of consciousness. This creative "third" is akin to an evolutionary movement, something unforeseen and transformative, that deepens our awareness and unlocks new potential.

From the perspective of quantum-physics, wave-particle duality defies logic. Energy can be described as either a wave, an expansive and flowing form, or as a particle, a discrete, localised point. However, we cannot observe both aspects simultaneously, emphasising an intrinsic either/or nature to our observations. Yet both descriptions are true, suggesting reality is more complex than our conceptual frameworks.

Non-dual thinking recognises that the opposites we perceive are constructs of the mind's way of organising and understanding the world. These distinctions, however, do not reflect the deeper, unified nature of reality. In non-dual philosophy, there is no sharp separation between subject and object, self and other, or spirit and matter. The interplay of opposites is part of a dynamic, interwoven reality that transcends binary thinking.

It’s not that opposites don’t exist, but rather that they are complementary expressions of a greater whole, not separate contradictory forces. For instance, light and darkness are not truly separate but exist along a spectrum of experience, just as waves and particles in quantum physics are complementary ways of observing the same underlying energy.

Written for @jungsouthernafrica

Image Credit: Flower of Life, Kelly Heaton

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