| An alchemical hermeneutic methodology gives form to this thesis through the author's experience of falling apart and her journey to re-envision wholeness. This research seeks to answer how falling apart, viewed through a psychologically polytheistic lens, might lead to the integration of one's complexes and help form an alternate meaning of wholeness. A theoretical framework of polytheistic psychology ties together the concepts of archetype, complex, and image to uphold the view of a multidimensional self. Through this lens, complex-integration replaces the pathological dimension of falling apart with an insightful journey of self-exploration. The author's experience of breaking apart leads to an examination of the complexes and archetypes that contribute to her individuality, namely the archetypal relationship between Demeter and Persephone and the characteristics of the child archetype. This work demonstrates how a psychologically polytheistic view of wholeness can lead to self-acceptance and a broader vision of wholeness. |
