Circumambulation in Jungian Psychology: The Path to Individuation

In Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, circumambulation is a metaphor for the process of individuation—the journey toward integrating all aspects of the self, including the conscious and unconscious mind. Unlike a linear path to self-improvement, individuation unfolds in a circular, iterative way, where a person revisits themes, symbols, and life experiences, gradually uncovering deeper truths about their psyche.

1. The Core Concept: The Spiral of the Self

Jung saw personal growth not as a straight path but as a spiral movement around the Self—the totality of the psyche, which includes both the known and unknown aspects of an individual. Instead of progressing in a direct line toward enlightenment, people orbit their deepest truths, approaching them from different angles over time. Each cycle brings them closer to wholeness, integrating repressed or unknown aspects of themselves.

Imagine a person repeatedly facing the same patterns in relationships, careers, or personal struggles. These recurring experiences are not meaningless repetitions but necessary re-examinations that allow for deeper understanding.
The process of circumambulation means we don’t “solve” life’s questions in one go—we move around them, gaining new insights with each pass.

2. The Unfolding of Circumambulation

Jung describes this process as a dialogue between the ego and the unconscious, where the individual constantly adjusts their perception of reality and themselves:

A. The Ego’s Limited Perspective

The ego (the conscious sense of self) believes it understands who we are. But in reality, it only represents a small portion of the psyche.
When the ego encounters something unfamiliar or unsettling, such as a dream, a personal failure, or a psychological crisis, it is forced to reconsider its self-image.

B. The Unconscious Pushes Back

The unconscious contains everything the ego ignores, represses, or has yet to integrate—such as hidden desires, traumas, or potentials.
It communicates through dreams, symbols, synchronicities, and projections onto others.
As the individual moves through life, the unconscious presents these hidden aspects in different forms, forcing the ego to engage, resist, or integrate them.

C. The Dance Between Conscious and Unconscious

Instead of a sudden revelation, self-discovery happens gradually.
At each stage, the person re-evaluates their beliefs, identity, and purpose.
Over time, they become more aware of their patterns, illusions, and deeper motivations.
The Self—the full, integrated being—pulls the individual forward, just as a gravitational center pulls an orbiting planet.

3. Symbols of Circumambulation in Myth and Religion

Jung believed that myths, religious rituals, and dreams encode this process. Circumambulation appears in sacred traditions worldwide:

Alchemical process → The Great Work of alchemy involved circular cycles of transformation, paralleling individuation.
The Labyrinth → In myths, heroes like Theseus navigate winding paths, representing the journey toward self-awareness.
The Mandala → A circular symbol of wholeness, appearing in Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jung’s own patients’ drawings.
The Ouroboros → The snake eating its tail represents the self-consuming, self-renewing cycle of individuation.
These symbolic journeys reflect the psychological necessity of revisiting, reprocessing, and reconciling different parts of the self over time.

4. The Fool as the Precursor to the Savior (Connection to Circumambulation)

Jung often emphasized that the Fool archetype is the first stage of transformation, embodying innocence, naïveté, and the ability to take risks without egoic resistance.

The Fool begins the journey blindly, wandering in circles, making mistakes, and experiencing suffering.
Through circumambulation, each failure and detour becomes meaningful, refining the Fool’s understanding of themselves.
Over time, the Fool transforms into the Savior, achieving wisdom and bringing balance back to the world.

This is why heroes in mythology (e.g., King Arthur, Christ, Siddhartha, and even modern characters like Neo in The Matrix) start as lost wanderers, failing before they reintegrate their fragmented self into something whole.

5. Final Insights: Why Circumambulation Matters in Life

In practical terms, Jungian circumambulation explains why:

We repeat mistakes until we learn the lesson behind them.
Dreams often return to the same symbols, revealing deeper meanings over time.
Midlife crises or existential struggles are not failures but invitations to re-examine and integrate hidden aspects of ourselves.
A person cannot simply “decide” to be wise; wisdom emerges through cycles of trial, error, and reflection.

To Jung, self-actualization is not about forcing a transformation, but about allowing oneself to orbit one’s deeper truths until they naturally integrate into consciousness.

Example of Circumambulation with Morality

Let’s take a moral dilemma that many people face: Honesty vs. Social Harmony—the tension between speaking the truth and maintaining peace in relationships.

Imagine a man named Alex, who is in his late twenties and values being a “good person.” His journey through circumambulation will show how he gradually refines his moral understanding over time.

Stage 1: The Naïve Idealist (Black-and-White Morality)

At this stage, Alex believes that honesty is always the best policy. He considers himself a moral person because he tells the truth, no matter the consequences.

If a friend asks for feedback on a project, Alex gives a brutally honest critique, believing that anything less is lying.
If his boss makes a bad decision, Alex openly criticizes it, thinking he is doing the right thing.
If his partner asks if she looks good in a dress, Alex answers factually, even if it’s hurtful.

At first, he feels morally superior—he is telling the truth, after all! But soon, he starts noticing a pattern:

Friends distance themselves from him.
He loses job opportunities because he speaks out too bluntly.
His partner feels hurt and argues that kindness matters too.

Alex suffers, but doesn’t understand why. He believes people just “don’t like the truth.”

Key Lesson: He believes morality is simple: “Truth = Good, Lies = Bad.” He sees no nuance yet.

Stage 2: The Compromiser (Moral Relativism & Self-Deception)

After experiencing rejection, Alex overcorrects. He now believes that being honest is dangerous and that social harmony is more important than truth.

He starts sugarcoating everything, telling people what they want to hear.
He avoids difficult conversations, thinking that keeping the peace is more important.
He suppresses his real opinions, believing that being liked is better than being truthful.

At first, things seem easier—fewer conflicts, smoother relationships. But after a while, he notices:

He feels fake, as if he’s wearing a mask.
He starts resenting others because he suppresses his true thoughts.
His avoidance of difficult truths causes deeper problems in his relationships and career.

Now, Alex suffers again. He thought he found the answer, but now he realizes that he is betraying himself.

Key Lesson: He swings to the opposite extreme and discovers that dishonesty—even for harmony—causes self-alienation.

Stage 3: The Integrator (Higher Moral Awareness)

Through repeated mistakes, Alex starts seeing the pattern in his behavior. He realizes that:

Brutal honesty destroys relationships, but
Complete avoidance of truth creates resentment and self-betrayal.

He begins refining his approach:

Instead of blunt honesty, he learns tactful honesty—saying the truth with wisdom and empathy.
Instead of avoiding conflict, he faces it skillfully, knowing that some discomfort is necessary for true relationships.
Instead of thinking morality is a simple rule, he realizes it’s an ongoing balancing act.

For example:

When a friend asks for feedback, instead of being harsh or fake, he gives constructive criticism: “I see what you’re going for, but maybe you could refine this part?”
With his boss, he chooses his battles and presents his opinions in a way that is both honest and strategic.
With his partner, he balances truth with kindness, ensuring that honesty strengthens rather than weakens their bond.

Now, he feels more aligned with himself and has stronger relationships.

Key Lesson: Morality is not about rigid rules but about navigating complexity with wisdom.

How This Relates to Circumambulation

Alex’s journey was not linear. He circled around the problem, each time refining his moral perspective:

Naïve Idealism (Truth at all costs → Alienation)
Overcorrection into Relativism (Avoiding truth → Self-betrayal)
Integration (Balancing honesty and harmony with wisdom)

Each time he thought he “solved” the problem, he encountered a new challenge that forced him to re-examine his beliefs. This is the essence of circumambulation—spiraling around the same core issue, getting closer to truth through experience and reflection.

Moral Growth Through Cycles

This cycle happens in all moral dilemmas:

Justice vs. Mercy → When do we punish, and when do we forgive?
Loyalty vs. Truth → Do we protect a friend even if they are wrong?
Freedom vs. Responsibility → How much of our desires should be sacrificed for the greater good?

Each time a person confronts these issues, they move closer to a deeper understanding, but they never fully “arrive” at a perfect answer—because life is too complex for fixed rules.

This is why moral wisdom is not about following rules but about developing the ability to navigate moral contradictions with increasing skill.

Conclusion: The Dance Between Order and Chaos

Circumambulation is not just about morality—it’s about how we learn anything deep. We move in circles around fundamental truths, each time seeing a slightly clearer picture.

For Alex, morality was not about blindly choosing between honesty and harmony but about learning when and how to apply them in the right measure.

Similarly, your own moral journey will involve repeating the same struggles, but with each cycle, you gain more depth, insight, and mastery.

This is why Jung believed that individuation never truly ends—we simply become better at walking the spiral.