Hopeless Conflict and the Manifestation of SELF

By: Marie-Louise von Franz

“If we can stay with the tension of opposites long enough —sustain it, be true to it—we can sometimes become vessels within which the divine opposites come together and give birth to a new reality.”

— Marie-Louise von Franz

Marie-Louise von Franz (1915–1998) was a Swiss psychologist and scholar known for her work in depth psychology, particularly as a leading collaborator of Carl Jung. She dedicated her career to exploring the symbolic and archetypal dimensions of the psyche, emphasizing their manifestation in dreams, fairy tales, myths, and alchemy.

A pioneer in the psychological interpretation of fairy tales, von Franz argued that these stories reflect the collective unconscious and provide insight into human psychological development. Her books, including The Interpretation of Fairy Tales and Alchemy: An Introduction to the Symbolism and the Psychology, are considered essential texts in Jungian studies.