Received: October 30, 2018 Revised: December 5, 2018 Accepted: December 27, 2018
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the symbolic meaning of the staff from an analytical psychological perspective. The symbol of the staff may be seen as the world tree, as an axis connecting God and man. This is the driving force of individuation, which integrates human unconsciousness and consciousness while discovering and accepting the genuine Self. Humans realize Self through consciousness of the inner personality by constantly establishing a relationship with the inner world of unconsciousness. They desire to constantly communicate with God, and they want to live a symbolic life through transformation. As a spiritual guide, the staff is an archetype of the therapist. It also contains the meaning of the world tree praying for unity with God in the process of human personification. This study analyzed the staff that has transformed from alchemy to spirit, the staff that symbolizes the call of God in religious terms, the staff of the resurrected symbol that was reborn as the world tree, and the individuality realized through the symbolism of the staff. The symbolic meaning of the staff as a spiritual guide is an indicator of individuation that is constantly reborn by transformation and reproduction.