Letter from C. G. Jung to Sigmund Freud, November 2, 1907

Burghölzli-Zürich, 2 November 1907

Dear Professor Freud,

I am suffering all the agonies of a patient in analysis, riddling myself with every conceivable fear about the possible consequences of my confession. There is one consequence I must tell you right now, as it might interest you. You will remember my telling you a short dream I

had while I was in Vienna. At the time I was unable to solve it. You sought the solution in a rivalry complex. (I dreamt that I saw you walking beside me as a very, very frail old man.)1 Ever since then the dream has been preying on my mind, but to no purpose. The solution came (as usual) only after I had confessed my worries to you. The dream sets my mind at rest about your + + + dangerousness!2 This idea couldn't have occurred to me at the time, obviously not! I hope to goodness the subterranean gods will now desist from their chicaneries and leave me in peace.

I don't know whether I am telling you anything new when I say that the history of Jensen's childhood is now clear to me. A very beautiful solution is to be found in the stories “The Red Umbrella” and “In the Gothic House.”3 Both, particularly the first, are wonderful parallels of Gradiva, sometimes down to the finest details. The problem is one of brother-sister love. Has Jensen a sister? I refrain from expatiating on the details, it would only spoil the charm of discovery.

Because of my services as an occultist I have been elected an “Honorary Fellow of the American Society for Psychical Research.”4 In this capacity I have been dabbling in spookery again. Here too your discoveries are brilliantly confirmed. What do you think about this whole field of research?

I have the liveliest hopes that you will come to Zürich during the Christmas holidays. May I count on receiving you as a guest in my house?

With best regards,

Yours very sincerely, JUNG