participation mystique

is a peculiar kind of psychological connection with objects, consisting in the fact that the subject cannot clearly distinguish himself from the object but is bound to it by a direct relationship which amounts to partial identity.

Jung defines Participation Mystique as one of his basic definitions in Psychological Types, crediting it to Levy-Bruhl. . . .PARTICIPATION MYSTIQUE is a term derived from Levy-Bruhl. It denotes a peculiar kind of psychological connection with objects, and consist in the fact that the subject cannot clearly distinguish himself from the object but is bound to it by a direct relationship which amounts to partial identity. (Jung, [1921] 1971: paragraph 781). . . . .Jung used the term throughout his writings after Levy-Brühl's work was published in 1912. Jung referred to it consistently with the French terminology rather than using the English 'mystical participation' until Man and His Symbols was published after his death. . . . The further we go back into history, the more we see personality disappearing beneath the wrappings of collectivity. And if we go right back to primitive psychology, we find absolutely no trace of the concept of an individual. Instead of individuality we find only collective relationship or what Levy-Bruhl calls participation mystique (Jung, [1921] 1971: par. 12). (wikiepedia)

is an unconscious identity in which two individual psychic spheres interpenetrate to such a degree that it is impossible to say what belongs to whom.

As soon as the dialogue between two people touches on something fundamental, essential, numinous, and a certain rapport is felt, it gives rise to a phenomenon which Levy-Bruhl fittingly called participation mystique. It is an unconscious identity in which two individual psychic spheres interpenetrate to such a degree that it is impossible to say what belongs to whom. Carl Jung

is that level of experience at which it is man who lives, and not the individual.

The secret of artistic creation and the effectiveness of art is to be found in a return to the state of 'participation mystique' to that level of experience at which it is man who lives, and not the individual. . . Carl Jung

participation mystique, n.Definitions

participation mystique