Huh? Individuation?

Individuation is a process of intensely personal self-discovery.  It may be initiated at any time, typically at a mature stage of life when one has the opportunity and experience behind them to evaluate and question one’s transpersonal place in the universe.  It is a process that may have many levels of depth as self-deceiving layers are identified and peeled back to gain insights into who someone truly is and who he or she feels they are meant to be.  As a process of examining one’s place in the world and one’s interactions with oneself and others, it is not something that can be directed or provided as a formula.  Each person must follow his or her own path and come to his or her own conclusions.  It is an iterative process, with each level of discovery potentially launching a new round of inquiry and building up a sense of self understanding that increases self-actualization.  It is a process that once started, does not end as understanding only continues to deepen as further self discoveries are made.

More than introspection, it starts with an effort to understand oneself and proceeds to explore soul purpose or place in the world.  It is an umbrella term to describe the effort to answer the questions “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”  By its nature, individuation is a personal quest that not only will be a different process for each individual, but also will yield completely unique results.  It is not a taxonomy of traits or a personality analysis, but rather an exploration and celebration of the individual that each of us is.

Self-actualization may be a measure of how comprehensive a person has individuated, but even that is a stretch as I do not think that there is a comparative scale.  The idea of comparing degrees of individuation would challenge the individuality of the process.  Even without a conscious effort to seek it, I believe that everyone individuates to the degree that they are driven to do so.  For some, this may be very little and they may enjoy a contented perspective of themselves and their role with little or no need to drill down into the matter.  For others, they may be restless to discover answers to questions about themselves that are not immediately obvious or necessarily answerable.

Hypnotherapy, particularly Integrated Imagery Regression Hypnosis can help start or deepen a journey on the path of individuation.  You remain in control at all times as the hypnotherapist facilitates your access to your own subconscious.  Meanwhile, Handwriting analysis is a way of checking in with your subconscious.  Not what you write, but how you form the letters and place them on the page are direct ideomotor indicators of subconscious traits, feelings and concerns that can help situate you on the individuation road.

References

Kappas, J.G. (2009). Professional hypnotism manual: Introducing physical and emotional suggestibility and sexuality (5^th Ed.). Tarzana, CA: Panorama Publishing Company.

The Centre of Applied Jungian Studies. (n.d.).  The conscious living programme: Individuation. Johannesburg, South Africa: Author.