Editorial

This Issue of The Journal of Analytical Psychology embodies two new elements. The first is that the main part of its contents consists of the printed versions of five lectures planned in 1975, and delivered in London early in 1976, to commemorate the centenary of Jung's birth. The lectures were so well received that each was given twice. They have been adapted by the authors for publication now, as the editors believe that readers will appreciate having them in this lasting form.

Anniversaries of whatever kind are apt to evoke strong emotions; we all know this from clinical work, from private experiences and from political observation. Among those emotions there may be pleasure and a sense of achievement, or there may be a revival of sadness about what is as yet far from satisfactory; yet sometimes sadness stimulates renewed effort.

This issue adds to the papers by Gerhard Adler and Michael Fordham published in the Centenary Issue of July 1975, by giving further examples of the work and thought of analytical psychologists in London. Their lectures are complemented by Vera von der Heydt's paper, ‘Jung and religion’: it is particularly fitting that a work by one of our members who knew Jung personally should appear in the same issue as the lectures which break new ground. It is on the wide and deep subject that was of so much concern to him and which is still of central importance to many of the people who seek a sense of values and a meaning in life.

The second new element in this number of The Journal is that, having been elected to work as one of the two editors, I take this opportunity of introducing myself as such. The honour and the responsibility were of course not undertaken without much misgiving. It is unlikely that readers will find themselves either aghast or impressed by dramatic changes in policy or practice. It is my intention to continue, with Dr Plaut and the assistant editors, to welcome originality as well as competence in the contributions that are