CALL OF THE SELF
11:11 is a phenomenon unique to our times, emerging with the widespread use of digital clocks. Yet, this modern occurrence was set in motion nearly two thousand years ago. Seeing 11:11 is regarded by many as a spiritual wake-up call or a sign from the universe. While that may hold some truth, what it signifies is much more specific. 11:11 is the sign of the coming of the Self. It is a call from the Self to the ego to engage in the individuation process and manifest one’s true purpose. This call from the Self is none other than a call from the Sacred within. As Carl Jung noted, 'Is the Self a symbol of Christ, or is Christ a symbol of the Self?'
INDIVIDUATION PROCESS
Carl Jung dedicated his life to exploring the process of self-realization, developing the concept of the Self as the archetype of wholeness, representing both the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche. In contrast, the ego is associated with self-identity and conscious awareness, shaped by social demands and personal pursuits. The Self is broader, encompassing the totality of the psyche, including both the conscious mind and deeper unconscious forces. It includes unconscious drives, memories, and archetypal energies that influence our experience of the world. Individuation is the process of bridging the ego and the Self, bringing conscious and unconscious parts into harmony. It is an arduous journey of integrating both aspects of the psyche to become an undivided whole, for "a house divided against itself cannot stand."
REVELATION
11:11
After three and half days, life-giving breath came from God and entered them, and they stood up; all who saw them were terribly afraid.
Revelation 11:11 points to a moment of awakening, depicted as receiving the spirit of God—an alignment of the ego with the Self. “Three and half days,” written in Arabic numerals, is composed of the numbers 3 and 5, which together make 35. Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the Awakened One, at age 35, and Dante Alighieri also received his beatific vision at the same age. Considering seventy as the average length of a human lifetime, Dante exclaimed that he was at the midpoint of his life before embarking on his inner journey. Carl Jung concurred with this viewpoint and considered 35 to be the beginning of the second half of life. However, the significance of 35 lies in the fact that when you turn 35 (after three and a half days), you enter your 36th year—the number of completion, symbolized by the circle, as there are 360 degrees in a complete circle.
11:11 is not only a call but also a symbol containing an instruction. Viewed from another perspective, 11:11 can be seen as two equal signs (=), reflecting a central challenge of the individuation process: the reconciliation of opposites—two equal halves of a whole. In Jungian terms, reconciling opposites involves acknowledging and integrating contradictory elements within our psyche. For example, one might strive to harmonize their logical, structured, masculine side with their emotional, intuitive, feminine side. This integration fosters psychological balance, enabling a person to become more self-aware. Individuation requires holding and integrating opposing forces within oneself—good and evil, masculine and feminine, order and chaos. The process is not about eliminating what one considers the negative side of the polarity but about recognizing that both are required for wholeness.
PAIR OF OPPOSITES
One of the most well-known symbols that epitomizes the harmony of opposites is the Yin and Yang. Yin represents femininity, darkness, and receptivity, while Yang symbolizes masculinity, light, and activity. Within the circle, each half contains a dot of the opposite color, signifying that within every aspect of existence lies the seed of its opposite. This symbol illustrates that balance is achieved through the interplay of these forces, affirming that opposites are interdependent.
Similarly, in Western traditions, the hexagram—also known as the Star of David—is an equivalent symbol, consisting of two interlocking triangles pointing in six directions: above and below, left and right, front and behind, which represents three dimensions
Among the many symbols in the Book of Revelation, 666 is one of the most infamous. Through popular media, it has come to be known as the number of the devil. However, the actual passage refers to it as the “mark of the beast,” connoting an instinctual, animalistic nature. Unlike humans, beasts of the field do not possess the power of discernment; they do not contemplate the consequences of their actions but remain loyal to their unconscious drives. Human beings, on the other hand, weigh every choice we make—“to be or not to be?”
The sum of 6 + 6 + 6 equals 18, which is half of 36—the number of degrees in a single right triangle. Above without below, front without behind, and left without right—there is no complementary opposite to maintain harmony. This stance is antithetical to the Golden Rule: 'I will do unto you what I forbid you to do unto me'—the mindset of those who embody 666.
HEED THE CALL
To bring conscious awareness to unconscious content, one must contemplate the symbols the unconscious sends forth through dreams, emotions, and spontaneous thoughts. These symbols often arise from deeper, unresolved factors within the psyche, serving as attempts to communicate its inner conflicts. If seeing 11:11 has brought you here, I encourage you to heed the call and look within yourself. It is a call from God, and our very survival depends on it. In the words of Carl Jung, “We need more understanding of human nature, because the only real danger that exists is man himself. He is the great danger, and we are pitifully unaware of it. We know nothing of man—far too little. His psyche should be studied, because we are the origin of all coming evil.” In the end, the only one who can fully know a person is God within oneself.
Drawing from what William James calls “religious experiences” and the revelations I've received from my inner journey, the purpose of the Self Project is to explore concepts and symbols related to the individuation process and to share insights into the inner journey—making abstract ideas comprehensible and shedding light on the unconscious factors that shape our behaviors and psyche development. By examining these symbols and experiences, I hope to provide a guidepost for those on their own path toward self-discovery and greater wholeness.
To read more about the exploration of the symbols in the Book of Revelation pertaining to the individuation process, please visit: Three Story Bridge.