ABSTRACT
“Called or not called, God shall be there.” Words to that effect were carved in stone above the door of Carl Gustav Jung’s house. Confession begins in heightened self-awareness when aspects of our private story emerge in the painful predicaments of life. It may lead to much more than simple relief from shame or guilt. Full confession pursues a relevant response to these troublesome experiences—one that explores our unfinished business, our shadow side, the vices of our cognitive emotional habits, our estrangement from our true self, or whatever terms we choose to characterize these troubles—creating the possibility of new experiences capable of transforming our lives into something different, richer, and better. Confession points to the constructive practice of a compassionate life based upon acceptance and forgiveness, both for ourselves and for others. For Jung and a host of others, the potential for spiritual encounter awaits us at each step.
