Meister Eckhart, C.G. Jung, and the Holy Grail

Synopsis

The greatest Dominican preacher, Meister Eckhart was the son of a nobleman and knight who lived in the land of Thüringia between 1260-1328. Eckhart grew up near the Thüringen forest and, like C.G. Jung, Eckhart read the most celebrated poem of his day by the time turned 15, Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival. We will explore the question of whether Eckhart fetched the Holy Grail for Medieval Europe in theology, and whether Jung did for psychology 600 years later. What is clear is that both authors were highly influenced by the legend of the Grail Quest. In this presentation, we will explore the mysteries of the Grail together and discuss how Eckhart shaped Jung’s Self-concept, his ideas on the birth of Christ within and how they differed. For instance, on the role of the shadow and perfection vs. wholeness, as well as how they related to the shadow, sexuality, the anima, God,…