I remember when trump was elected the first time a snippet of a documentary I had seen years ago occurred to me. It was an interview with Marie Louise von Franz (one of Jung’s famous students). The interviewer asked what Ms. von Franz thought had happen in Germany prior to WWII. Her response was simply (well simple for a Jungian analyst of her caliber) that the entire country and fallen into or become possessed by the shadow. She didn’t quite come out and say it but what she was explaining was that the country had become possessed by the archetype of the shadow.

At the time I had first seen the interview I wondered what archetype the US (maybe the world) was possessed by, but after trump got elected I wondered if what was happening was a bit more than just an archetypal possession.

I’m not sure I put much thought into it beyond that until trump was elected the second time. I have now and I believe we are living through an alchemical transformation of the psyche of our nation. A transformation which has been going on for at least 50 years but maybe we (certainly I) never really noticed until now.

I realized today that the United States is on an alchemical journey much like what Edward Edinger described in his book The Anatomy of the Psyche, which is a guidebook of the psyche’s transformation through the analytic process. Drawing on Jungian theory, Edinger maps eight alchemical stages—calcinatio, solutio, coagulatio, sublimatio, mortificatio, separatio, conjunctio, and fermentatio—onto the developmental path of the psyche as it moves from fragmentation to wholeness. He argues that these symbolic operations describe not external chemical reactions but profound psychological experiences: confrontations with the unconscious, ego dissolution, purification of the personality, and ultimately the integration of opposites into a unified Self. The book serves as both a guide to inner work and a symbolic framework for understanding the psyche’s evolution through suffering, insight, and transcendence.

In Anatomy of the Psyche, Edinger describes mortificatio as a phase marked by decay, humiliation, and the breakdown of existing structures. This stage is essential for confronting the shadow aspects of the psyche, allowing for eventual renewal.

The Trump administration’s recent actions align with this stage:

• Erosion of Social Safety Nets: Proposed cuts to Medicaid and other assistance programs threaten to leave millions without essential services, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations. (WSJ)
• Restrictive Immigration Policies: The administration has intensified efforts to limit immigration, including revoking protections for certain groups and expanding detention facilities.  Not to mention the mass deportation of immigrants, and in some cases citizens, for unproven allegations of criminality without any due process.
• Suppression of LGBTQ+ Rights: Executive orders have rolled back protections for transgender individuals, reinforcing rigid gender binaries and undermining previous advancements in civil rights. (Wikipedia)

These policies signify a dismantling of inclusive structures, exposing underlying societal tensions and forcing a confrontation with collective shadow elements such as prejudice and inequality.

Christian Nationalism and the Illusion of Unity

The administration’s promotion of Christian nationalism, including the establishment of a task force to combat perceived anti-Christian bias, serves as a unifying yet polarizing force. (theatlantic.com)

While presented as a defense of religious freedom, these actions often marginalize other faiths and secular perspectives, exacerbating divisions and hindering genuine integration.

Coniunctio: A Distant Horizon

In alchemical terms, coniunctio represents the union of opposites and the emergence of a more integrated self. For the nation, reaching this stage requires acknowledging and reconciling its fragmented parts.

However, current policies suggest a resistance to this integration, favoring regression over progression. The path to coniunctio remains obstructed by deep-seated divisions and an unwillingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

Conclusion

The Trump administration’s recent actions embody the mortificatio stage, characterized by the breakdown of existing structures and the emergence of societal shadows. While this phase is fraught with challenges, it also presents an opportunity for profound transformation. Recognizing and engaging with these dynamics is essential for the nation’s journey toward psychological and spiritual wholeness.

The real question is simply this: is the current administration leading the country to a new integration of the national conscious and psyche that we want to have, or are we racing toward a new national identity we, and perhaps the world, doesn’t want to have?

Coming soon……Part II: Is there more to this story?