
Speaking of Jung: Interviews with Jungian Analysts Episode 135: Jung, Parzival and the Grail as Transformation
Jan 30, 2025
Join Paul Bishop, a University of Glasgow professor and scholar of Jungian studies, as he explores the profound connections between Jung, Parzival, and the transformative power of the Grail. He delves into Jung's fascination with the Middle Ages and the developmental journey of individuation present in Parzival's narrative. Bishop highlights the significance of failing to question, suffering's role in finding meaning, and the importance of embodied wisdom. He also draws parallels between Parzival and Jung's own writings, emphasizing the therapeutic value of revisiting classic texts.
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Middle Ages As Inner Task
- Jung saw the Middle Ages as a psychological task to be recovered within the self.
- Paul Bishop connects this recovery to Jung's interest in Arthurian legend and the grail.
Grail Equals Transformation
- Bishop argues the grail's core meaning is transformation, which parallels Jung's individuation.
- Understanding the grail legend clarifies Jung's notion that individuation is a quest for transformation.
Read The Predecessors
- Read medieval epics to unpack Jung's ideas because they share source material and themes.
- Bishop recommends engaging Parsifal, Faust, and Zarathustra to enrich understanding of the Red Book.











