Received: April 30, 2019 Revised: June 18, 2019 Accepted: June 20, 2019
Abstract
This study intends to investigate the characteristics of the jar and examine their symbolism in literature and further the symbolic meanings of the jars, which clients of various developmental tasks used during sandplay therapy. For middle-aged clients who had to go through an individuation process, the jar signified motherhood and femininity that bring a new change to an insecure relationship with the mother; or the waiting place where women spend long hours of patience and silence until their distress and torment are ripened and transformed. For adolescent student with the developmental task of reaching a rite of passage, the jar acts as a place for death and regeneration where independence from the mother is led to the growth of the ego. The jar represents new expectancy and hope. The jar serves as motherhood who embraces clients who were brought up by negative parents, and also as a vessel of the ego to encourage femininity to go on a journey for beautiful growth. This study is significant in identifying the various symbolic meanings of the jar.