Jungian archetypes in modern psyche

My study aims to assess the relevance of Jungian concept of archetypes for the psyche and mental health of modern individuals. The research material is the works of C.G. Jung and his followers. Method: Philosophical reflection based on the analysis of literature. It was the dawn of 20th century, when Jung made a discovery that consciousness is capable not only of receiving, but also of providing relevant content – images and ideas from the past collective experiences of humankind. He called these phenomena “archetypes” from Greek words arche meaning “first” and typos, meaning “imprint” or “pattern”. They function as forms for accessing and understanding the unconscious ideas. Collective unconscious, which is a container of all archetypes, is “a living system of reactions and aptitudes that determine the individual’s life in invisible ways – all the more effective because invisible.” (CW 8, § 339.) From the moment of birth, archetypes are present in all humans, remaining at the deep level of the unconscious. They represent the unalterable structure of a psychic world  and emerge as symbols, experiences and feelings that correspond to either inner or outer situations in our lives. Jung claims that archetypes are psychic universals, usually religious in their nature, so their appearance releases the numinous energy, which perspires our dreams and fantasies, as well as our conscious experiences.  Modern archetypes are variations on the universal phenomenon – different cultures a may form a variety of archetypal images that all share the same origin. Archetypes represent the idea of wholeness and balance of the psyche, however they include not only positive, but also destructive or “shadow” aspects of human nature. Ignorance is dangerous – because of the dichotomous nature and the power that archetypes possess, their recognition and understanding is a relevant part of mental development and health.