During the process of spiritual emergency, we could observe the spontaneous presence of “non-ordinary” states of consciousness, and the activation of the “archetypical dimension” of the psyche, with its symbols and “forces”.
These symbols or “archetypical elements” may appear to the consciousness in the form of images, in dreams, but also in the form of sensations experienced spontaneously in daily life or during spiritual practices (meditation, for example).
These symbols or “archetypical energies” can be perceived as positive or negative ones in their content by the person, but often in both cases they can be experienced as invasive elements for their intensity or singularity, and they can be difficult to manage in daily activities. In these cases it’s possible to experience a sense of confusion.
Therefore, a part of the journey often requires a process of meaningful integration of symbols and “archetypical forces” that appear from the unconscious on the way. The journey in itself is an important “archetype” with a profound message for the person who makes it.
To give a meaning to own experiences may help a person to proceed in a better way: when a person brings order to all that, he or she becomes an active part of the whole process. Furthermore, when the meaning (or the power) of the symbol is integrated by the person, it often ceases to be a source of disturbance.
If the “archetypical process” is very active, the person can seek the help of a psychoterapist who knows how to work with “archetypical elements” in spiritual emergencies.