Salzmann, M. (Paris). ‘La conjonction des opposés dans le travail sur l'ombre’ (The marriage of opposites in work on the shadow).  Cahiers jungiens de psychoanalyse,  59, 1989.

In this apparently straightforward paper the author grasps the Jungian knot of opposites and examines their place in the formation of the shadow and in its analysis as the first stage of individuation. Projection, experience of the external world, dissolution of participation mystique, the marriage of opposites in the symbolic function, are discussed in a clear and intelligible fashion—a fact for which the reader can be grateful, such is the complexity of the problem. Indeed, the author tells us that Jung continued to be vexed by the necessity of speaking of the marriage of opposites in human language at all when it is a process that takes place ‘in Mercurio’ and clearly outside conscious discrimination.

Basing her study on Jung's last major work on this ever-lasting concern, Mysterium Coniunctionis—itself drawn from the image, language and paradox of alchemy—the development of the shadow is shown to be the consequence of the emergence of consciousness. Implicit—‘in brief’—is the process of splitting and projection, conscious discrimination and volition being met by the unconscious compulsion to project the split-off opposite. This in turn creates ‘a second matrix’ reminiscent of earlier states with the essential difference that the contents are projected on to the external world in a dynamic, life-long, transitional relationship between merger and marriage. It is in these qualities of the shadow, where archetypal and developmental languages converge, that the author has devoted her attention, producing an interesting view of this fundamental concept. For example, culled from her reading of Mysterium Coniunctionis: ‘The illusions would not be so common if they did not serve some purpose and occasionally cover up