눈물: 개성화로 이끄는 치유의 상징

Tears: Symbol of Healing Towards the Individuation

This study examined the symbols of tears frequently experienced in the process of sandplay therapy from analytic psychological perspectives. This study presented general kinds of tears, their characteristics, and their symbolic meanings in diverse terms. Tears are means to express various emotions and there is one kind, but emotions hidden in tears indefinitely differ according to situations and those who shed tears. We need to be conscious of shadows through tears we shed by encountering ourselves we have hidden in our persona while leading an ordinary life. Tears have the function of purification and healing, and therefore the process of bringing out suppressed emotions in us and emptying our inner world while shedding tears leads to psychological rebirth. At this time, we experience a still point together with tears and emotions are purified and the energy of healing flows, facing a transformation point to individualization. We can achieve the individualization process through painful inner world introspection of shedding tears. Therefore, this study examined that tears was a mediator as a symbol of healing aimed at self realization.