A pilgrim on this earth and under the heavens

Abstract

A pilgrim on this earth and under the heavens. – In this paper, the author (daseinsanalytic psychotherapist) pursues the quest for questioning the essence determination of human being, a concept which, among other things, forms the foundations of adequate psychotherapeutic care. This quest of questioning is driven by the directions of the Delphi Oracle, namely Know thyself and Nothing in excess. Drawing on the two phrases, the author strives to interpret the essence determination of human being as a being-in-the-world (Dasein), which exists as an openness to the meaningful world that springs from the entire meaningful context of Being. She reveals the meaning of the open way of human being as its way of realization of Dasein, on which one is not only accompanied by the appealing language of being, but also endowed with human speech. Mental illness thus could be seen as an freeless stagnation on this quest, as an impossibility for one’s soul to fulfil its essence, i.e. peregrinate and be open to what it encounters. Approaching mental illnesses and psychotherapeutic care by means of a dialogue shows that speech can be appealing and so reach to the relieving borderline between Concealment lethe and Unconcealment a-letheia, namely the place where the world always reveals a specific understanding.