Carl Jung and the Paranormal, Part 6: Jung and Freud

Carl Jung

This posting is one of a 12-part series on paranormal experiences by the famous psychiatrist Carl Jung.

For the initial posting that began this series, click here.

In 1909, Jung visited Sigmund Freud in Vienna. Jung very much wanted his views on the paranormal, something that he, Jung, thought was very important.

Sigmund Freud

As they talked, it became apparent that Freud had no time for such far-out ideas. The more Freud talked, the more discouraged Jung became until he felt a very weird sensation in the area of his solar plexus. In fact, that region of his body actually became, as he called it, “tight and hot.”

Just as Jung became aware of those sensations a loud noise erupted from a bookcase standing very close to both men, startling them and making them jump. The noise was so loud, Jung thought the bookcase might fall on them but didn’t.

Feeling certain that the noise had a paranormal origin, Jung told this to Freud. He tried to explain how what had just happened was just a sample of such events but Freud would have none of it. When Freud continued to argue, Jung interrupted him and warned that another such noise was about to come from the bookshelf. Jung had no idea why he was so certain this would happen but he felt compelled to make that prediction forcibly.

The second Jung finished speaking, another loud sound exploded from the bookcase. When that happened, Freud just stared at Jung in apparent amazement.

Jung and Freud never spoke about that incident again and their relationship cooled considerably. It was at that point in their friendship, Jung believed, that Freud lost trust in him.

For other postings about Carl Jung’s supernatural journeys, go to the blog category titled, “Paranormal and Carl Jung.”