Chapter 2: Romantic Love As Shadow Summary and Analysis

The most powerful projection that one ever makes is the act of falling in love. In Jung's early usage of the term, the shadow was defined as anything that lay in the unconscious part of one's personality. To fall in love is to project the most valuable form of self upon another human being. In some cases, this high octane love can be projected on an art or profession. Falling in love is different than loving. It is bigger-than-life and over the top.

One projects the golden part of one's shadow when falling in love. But when this feeling is turned upside down or when love goes wrong, there is no feeling more bitter in the human experience. When one is in love, the object of affection seems holy and God-like. When the...