Bees, Honey and the Hive: Circumambulating the Centre: A Jungian Exploration of the Symbolism and Psychology

The symbolism of bees, honey and the hive intertwine, but at the core is the imagery of the circumambulation of the centre. For bees, this is a dynamic in the service of the queen bee and the preservation of the hive. In depth psychological terms, circumambulation is linked with mandala symbolism or the archetype of inner order, an archetype that Jung said was perhaps the most important.This work explores the alchemical union of opposites through symbolism related to the life and nature of the bee. Some particular opposites associated with bees, honey and the hive include those of love and war, sweetness and bitterness, the individual and multiplicity, light and dark, order and chaos, industry and laziness, earth and heaven-the sky, sun and moon, spirit and matter, fertility and sterility, regeneration and death.The author brings together her practical experience as a beekeeper and insights gained in her work in depth psychology, particularly through an appreciation of