Many are Called – But How to Answer?

The word “vocation” means “a calling,” experienced as an inner voice that prompts us to follow a certain path in life. But “vocation” is more than an occupational aptitude or career path; it involves a sense of Destiny, of purposefulness – not merely blind Fate –that deepens our sense of self as we grow older. Jung’s theory of individuation suggests that we are each “called” to become distinct personalities, to become conscious of ourselves and our differences, both interpersonal and intrapersonal. But how can we answer this call in a world pressing more insistently for conformity for safety’s sake? What sort of heroism and personal responsibility is required for us to both hear and answer psyche’s call?