Testimonial

I came to Remo Roth's work on the unio corporalis just a year ago by way of my interest in the work of Marie-Louise von Franz. The deep meaning and function to which he ascribed 'the feminine' in his discussion, the thoughtful convictions he arrived at in this re-examination of the alchemic archetype of 'the Holy Wedding', suggested to me a new direction for our understanding of the process of personal integration. In order to expound further upon my conclusion, I'd like to explore some of the thoughts I had in this regard.  

Proponents of all disciplines realize that established claims and structures bear re-examination from time to time, but the weight of accepted opinion generally runs counter to the momentum this process requires. Patience with detractors is always needed.In addition to this fact, today higher truths, once lucid and approachable, have lost much of their currency due to improper presentation, in bondage to impersonal rituals presided over by self-appointed bodies of those who 'know better', be they religious, medical, depth psychological or otherwise. On the most basic level it can be stated that generally people just don't know what it means to operate as balanced individuals anymore, let alone creatively commune with one another. In light of this, new contributions in psychological research or in any other discipline which serves to address this crisis, especially investigations which challenge or extend the premises of pre-established models of wellness, should be welcomed with open arms. In time we will see how these new contributions can extend our vision of what is feasible in respect to our own health, indeed, in respect to the well-being of the Earth herself, the health of all creatures being irrevocably effected by our attitudes regarding – let alone our physical 'engagement' with – home planet Earth.  

An appreciation for the material of myth and symbolism and the inspiration they provide has been proven to revivify the psyche and even bring about a return to health in those who have been thought beyond help. As C.G. Jung admonished, we ought to view the modern movement away from attentiveness to an inner as well as an outer balanced life expression, and toward the replacement of this way of living with the prospect of a 'virtual world' -- with all of the inherant disconnection to nature and to the life of the individual imagination that this model implies -- as a time of reckonning for our species. With this in mind we recognize that a redoubling of any effort in the investigation of the deep material of symbolism, in order to perceive what new healing insights it can next furnish us with, to be a more than worthwhile occupation. Furthering our use of all that this healing 'well' has to offer, rather than stopping short of the finish line too early, is a pragmatic activity to say the least.  Our present day condition of spiritual stagnation stands before us as if to remind us at this critical juncture that we must forge a new avowal from the heart, thereby authentically re-commiting to the search for what it means to be whole. If any body of work can give us a head start in this direction we should be filled with enthusiasm. We need to find new standards by which to measure ourselves, ones which take into account the startling fact that we are beings with a predilection to become integrated beyond anything we have previously imagined! In this regard I believe the work of Remo Roth calls us to direct our best efforts toward fearless engagement with a broader perspective of what it really means to be whole.  

To those who might find argument with this work because it moves beyond the confines of a more strictly neo-platonic understanding of the archetype of the coniunctio, who might argue against this theory of 'The Holy Wedding', perhaps without even considering the positive effects the new paradigm might yield, I would ask: should we then believe, no matter what the discipline of study, that the completion of an investigation by one or more individuals in the past constitutes arrival at the ultimate theory? It is as if there were a magical spell upon some of us, who imagine, for instance, that C.G. Jung's ideas on the subject matter in question constitutes now and for all time the last evolution for a body of material with such vast and rich potential. Jung himself grappled with his own theory in regard to the coniunctio until his death, and he would not at all have condoned the idea that his last words in this regard be viewed as forever having the effect of confining others to one spot. The word 'confinement' conjures up the image of a sickbed, wherefrom an unhappy person cannot manage to rise up in order to resume the process of  living. Therefore, we cannot say that with this recent work on the archetype of 'the Holy Wedding', with its' far-reaching blend of both intellectual methodology and intuitive scope and grasp, Remo Roth has merely set out to go beyond 'the confines' of the work of Carl Jung and others. Instead, I would argue here that Roth presents us with a completely new work, incorporating as he does diverse speculation, for instance regarding the relationship of the deep material of quantum physics to his subject, deftly depositing us into another land of insight with some surprising implications.  

The poverty of present day consiousness can be understood to have its' roots in a deep-seated religious belief in the status of a lone 'Father God', devoid, on both earthly and spiritual levels, of nourishing contact with the body and the voice of the holy Feminine.This one-sided belief, fostered and maintained by the dogma inherant in some systems of religion, must now be definitively addressed on all levels of society. Much literature of today, both psychological and spiritual, deals with this very subject-matter as it is one of the pre-eminent topics of our time. The original insights which instigated much of this development arose, of course, from the methodology of depth psychology.Both eastern and western myths, motifs and ancient belief systems attest to the validity of a far more resonant 'God Model' than organized religion presently allows for, and it was one of C.G. Jung's greatest achievements to have returned this understanding to our ken by means of both extensive theoretical research and the practical application of his findings.  

Perhaps Remo Roth's thoughts on the 'Holy Wedding' will one day also be viewed as seminal, having provoked arrival at a different location. Such insights as his can prompt us to disengage from a place of paralysis, taking into account, as he does, the ramifications for our society of a theology conspiciously devoid of attention to the feminine side of creation. As we read his words, a strangely familiar intelligence is re-awakened in us regarding the true meaning of the latent symbolism in the alchemical story of the coniunctio. This story attests to the possibility of the ultimate achievement of intimate balance between the world of spirit and the earthly world – a world, according to Roth, also graced by endemic 'spirit', the very finding of which comprises a novel insight not previously disseminated prior to this astute investigation. Dr. Roth thus reconfigures the archetype of the 'Holy Wedding' for our time, perhaps in the process placing us in proximity to the very gold we have so avidly been seeking.  

The work presented by Remo Roth on his website and elsewhere in print addresses the condition of lovelessness which is now epidemic in our world. Clearly we must endeavour to rethink old conditionning if we are to find the inner harmony we so long for. It is encouraging that so many fellow travellers in business, academic and other circles have now opened their minds toward accepting the following template for the measurement of results in their prospective disciplines (a fact to which the newest discoveries of physics certainly appear to attest): in order to strategize for solutions to our problems we understand that we must engage the very best of our rational, linear intellect along with the deepest intelligence we have, namely, our intuitive faculty. If we are not courageous enough to risk assessment of our theories on both of these levels, and then to accept the raising of our own consciousness which arises as a result of this activity as proof of the efficacy of this model, wonderful chances for far-reaching discoveries of great import may simply pass us by. Great minds have always understood this principle and have not allowed mere tradition to constrain them, but we have arrived at a time when all of us deserve to be instructed and move forward with this type of knowledge. By means of a constructive use of our faculty of deep intelligence, of body-centered knowledge, we will be able to get out from under the hold that consumer driven industry has had on us and so reclaim our lives for ourselves, thus emerging as re-integrated beings. As more of us awaken to this process, we will doubtless one day celebrate the end of another unnatural split, that which has for so long persisted between the arts and the sciences, and finally experience the emergence of one combined, enduring body of discipline employed for the highest good. The visionary theories of quantum mechanics, the new physics and the depth psychological work of Dr. Remo Roth all attest that that day is set to arrive – the future is now.

K. Fredrickson

Vancouver, B.C., Canada