Safe Haven p452-457 & some AA history for good measure

Good afternoon gents,

I feel like today is Monday for some reason, long weekends throw off my schedule a bit. But like a wise man said, "you are disturbed because you are disturbable".  This week we'll be reviewing Safe Haven p452-457. 

Last week, something intriguing was mentioned during the meeting about a letter Dr. Carl Jung wrote in reply to Bill Wilson. My friend Alex G. was found the letter and wanted me to share it with everyone. I've attached two versions of the same letter, one is in a much easier to read format (bigger letters) and the other is a picture of the original letter from the AA Archives (for the sentimental types among us).  

Some of you may not know this bit of AA history or need a refresher like I did. So, as you read the attached letter, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• In 1930, Dr. Carl Jung treated an american businessman by the name of Rowland Hazard. Dr. Freud, who was Rowland's first choice, had previously turned down the case because he was too busy. After many hours of treatment in Switzerland and continuos relapses, Dr. Jung concluded there was nothing more that he could do and told Rowland that his was a hopeless case. The only salvation for men of his type was to have some sort of spiritual experience, of which Dr. Jung had read about but was unable to recreate through the tools of psychology or psychiatry. In other words, he declared Rowland S.O.L. 
  
• In Desperation, Rowland found the Oxford Groups and gained a small measure of success in his struggle against alcoholism. While in the Oxford Groups, through a strange series of fortuitous events, he met Ebby Thatcher, Bill Wilson's high school chum who visited Bill in November of 1934 and planted the seed that eventually became Alcoholics Anonymous. 

• During that era (1930's), very little was known about alcoholism. Clinical and/or Institutional treatment meant sanitariums, lobotomy and/or incarceration. Religious institutions, on the other hand, viewed alcoholism purely as an issue of moral weakness. The Oxford Group was an evangelical group started by intelectual elites trying to live through the principles of 1st century Christianity. Though they had a few successes like Rowland and Ebby, this approach did not seem to be the answer for alcoholics (note that Ebby didn't stay sober long-term while I believe Rowland did).  

• On Jan 23rd of 1961, Bill wrote Dr. Jung a letter of appreciation, the attached letter was Dr. Jung's reply on Jan 30th of 1961 (he passed away in June 6th of that same year).

Quite a strange series of fortuitous events, no?

Happy reading,

David t.

Letter from Dr. Carl Jung to Bill Wilson

Dear Mr. Wilson,

Your letter has been very welcome indeed.

I had no news from Roland H. anymore and often wondered what has been his fate. Our conversation which he has adequately reported to you had an aspect of which he did not know. The reason that I could not tell him everything was that those days I had to be exceedingly careful of what I said. I had found out that I was misunderstood in every possible way. Thus I was very careful whem I talked to Roland H. But what I really thought about was the result of many experiences with men of his kind.

His craving for alcohol was the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness, expressed in medieval language: the union with God.*

How could one formulate such an insight in a language that is not misunderstood in our days? 

The only right and legitimate way to such an experience is that it happens to you in reality and it can only happen to you when you walk on a path which leads you to higher understanding. You might be led to that goal by an act of grace or through a personal and honest contact with friends, or through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism. I see from your letter that Roland H. has chosen the second way, which was, under the circumstances, obviously the best one.

I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society, cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil. But the use of such words arouses so many mistakes that one can only keep aloof from them as much as possible.

These are the reasons why I could not give a full and sufficient explanation to Roland H., but I am risking it with you because I conclude from your very decent and honest letter that you have acquired a point of view above the misleading platitudes one usually hears about alcoholism.

You see, "alcohol" in Latin is "spiritus" and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.

Thanking you again for your kind letter

I remain

Yours sincerely

C. G. Jung

Original Letter from Dr. Carl Jung to Bill Wilson