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ORIGIN OF THE CAMBRIDGE JUNGIAN CIRCLE LOGO

Gordon Rhead on the origins of his logo for the Cambridge Jungian Circle

For the May 1995 edition of ‘Full Circle’, Gordon was asked to comment on the logo. He said in a piece entitled: OUR LOGO AND THE I-CHING'S VIEW OF THE Cambridge Jungian Circle (CJC):

In July 1992 just before going to the preliminary meeting about the possibility of setting up a Jungian group I thought it might be amusing to consult the I-Ching. (I used the method described later by Hazel Guest in her talk of December 1994.) Knowing of Jung’s interest in the I-Ching and how he himself had ‘asked’ the book what it thought about its publication in the West, I wondered what it might have to say about Jung in Cambridge(!) The outcome of this ‘consultation’ is given below. The result rather surprised me.

Because my thoughts had been dwelling on this aspect of Jung’s work – yin yang, symbols and mandalas – I suggested the name ‘Circle’ to the meeting. Later the idea for the logo followed on from that. A circle could be formed by writing CJC with the last C backwards. This central motif was incorporated in a yin-yang symbol (white and black elements representing the conscious and the unconscious). At the same time the centre divided into four (an allusion to Jung’s four ‘orientations’). Rather strangely the whole thing took on an almost human form. It was even possible to read ‘CJC’. And the reflecting of the ‘sun’ (head) in the lower ‘sea of unconscious was, appropriately, brighter than the original … (A similar image, but even more human-like appears in ‘Jung and the Quaker Way’ by Jack H. Wallis).

This is what the 3000 year old text of the I-Ching had to say about the CJC just before its birth (from the only notes made before the meeting):

FENG: Abundance. The hexagram pictures a period of advanced civilisation. However, the fact that development has reached a peak suggests that this extraordinary condition of abundance cannot be maintained permanently.

The ruler is modest and therefore open to the council of able people. Thus he is surrounded by people who suggest to him the lines of action. This brings blessing, fame and good fortune to him and all the people.

..changing to HSIEN: Opposition. When people live in opposition and estrangement they cannot carry out a great undertaking in common; their points of view diverge too widely. In such circumstances one should not proceed brusquely, for that would only increase the existing opposition; instead one should limit oneself to producing gradual effects in small matters. Here success can still be expected, because the situation is such that the opposition does not preclude all agreement.