Psychological Transformation and Integration: The Convergence of the I Ching and Jungian Psychology in Supporting Cancer Patients

A cancer diagnosis brings not only physiological suffering but also plunges the individual into a profound existential crisis, often leading to the erosion of social connections and a loss of life’s meaning. While existing psychological models may lack cultural congruence for individuals from Eastern backgrounds, they also frequently prove insufficient for addressing the profound existential and spiritual threats faced by any patient globally when confronting a fatal illness. This theoretical analysis places the cosmological life-view of “producing and reproducing” from the Chinese classic, the I Ching , and Carl Jung’s theory of psychic integration, “Individuation,” within a single framework. The philosophical wisdom of the I Ching can be regarded as a unique manifestation of the individuation archetype in Eastern culture, providing indigenous cultural and spiritual guidance for cancer patients worldwide on their path toward psychological transformation and integration. This integrated framework offers robust theoretical support for understanding how cancer patients can convert a life crisis into post-traumatic growth and provides crucial insights for developing culturally adaptive psychological intervention models addressing patients’ deeper needs for meaning and spiritual transcendence. The ultimate goal is to advance psychological assistance from mere symptom alleviation to a profound reconstruction of life’s meaning and personality integration.