The Heroism of Individuation
Colin E. Davis, November 13, 2026
Peter Kingsley points out that the Jungians who tell us never to identify with the prophet or any other archetype are forgetting that “average humanity” is also an archetype and that the idea that we should become well adjusted “normal” people is no less dangerous than becoming inflated by any other archetype. To identify with “mass man” is as destructive to oneself and the spirit of humanity as any form of inflated grandiosity. There will always be leakage, shadow, imbalance and missteps, but repressing the golden shadow is just as destructive as projecting the dark shadow.
With this said, I am going to suggest that the one who Individuates, who commits their entire being to inner maturation and the refining of the “Stone” is totally heroic. This is a form of heroism, and one that not only should we relate to, consciously and carefully, but it is a story and way of life that we really must share with the world, but of course keeping in mind that actions speak louder than words.
Let’s take Jung’s example. He was completely committed with every fiber of his being to the inner path, assisting and encouraging others on the path, documenting his entire process and creating works of art that encoded his process for his own sake and for posterity. This is what I am suggesting we take as our example. And it is what Melissa and I did for 12 years together and what I continue to do, now that she has passed on leaving me with the mission.
We do the Work, we push the cutting edge of our capacities, with 100% faith, with total integrity and fidelity, we document our process, and we make our own personal Life Art out of our process that we share with the world. We are the alchemists of our day and our work is the Great Work in every respect.
Christ is the western world’s example of the “Individuator” that we have had to look to, but his example was framed within a mythic viewpoint and externalized. Jung showed us how to interpret his example as an internal process and showed us the trajectory or telos of the western path of spiritual transcendence, the perennial tradition that stems from time immemorial, through the ancient prophets, the Gnostics and the alchemists and into the 20th century. Then he created his own updated Way and left us with his notes and his example for us to look at. Not to copy directly, but to look at and see what it looks like when a modern person commits to the Great Work.
So here we are now. As the West disintegrates, reaching the end of its life cycle, or at least this phase of its life cycle, we have Jung’s example which happens to be the exact process one needs to not only discover their own inner gold, heal their pathologies to the degree necessary, and live a sacred life, but it is the exact process that is needed for unearthing the living “leaven” that gives rise to new cultures. The path of individuation is an archeological process that digs deep down into the collective unconscious of humanity and pulls up the psychic stuff that rebirths human cultures and the psychic formulations that new cultures grow on.
So the inner alchemist is in every way a hero and even a Christ-like figure. We don’t let our egos identify with Christ directly, which obviously is a deadly mistake, but we relate to the archetype of the Self that Christ expresses. We allow ourselves to access and make use of this “alchemical archetype,” and we allow ourselves to recognize the immense importance of this Work and role.
But this role is for doers. To study the Great Work, to become scholars of esoteric traditions, Jungians or teachers does not necessarily make us alchemists. And it is not for materialistic advertising, for enchanting, or deceiving. And that is another aspect of this role. There is nothing to sell. Sure, human beings engage in business practices and receive money from society in some way, hopefully in the cleanest and non-parasitic way possible, but the Great Work has nothing to do with business. This is sacred practice of the absolute highest order and it cannot be contaminated with ego needs. Whenever the ego contaminates the Work, the alchemist looks within and without, sees that contamination, cleans it out and continues on, always aiming at the highest level of integrity.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits”.