In this presentation, Adrian will explore the life of this extraordinary man from 12th century Umbria, whose enduring relevance continues to resonate with contemporary issues such as the climate crisis and rampant materialism. By examining Francis’s life through the lens of his own poetry cycle and employing depth psychology as an interpretative framework instead of a hagiographical approach, Adrian hopes to offer new and challenging insights. These factors may influence our perspective on the individual whom Italians refer to as “the other Christ”; as well as inform our understanding of our own circumstances. Adrian will utilise Jung’s metaphor of the Night Sea Journey, described by Jung as “a kind of descensus ad infernos—a descent into Hades and a journey to the land of ghosts somewhere beyond this world, beyond consciousness, hence an immersion in the unconscious.” (The Psychology of the Transference, CW16, para, 455). This concept will be applied to two significant episodes in the life of Francis of Assisi: his failure as a knight following defeat in battle and subsequent imprisonment for a year; and his odyssey to the crusades, including his unsuccessful attempt to convert the Sultan and, upon his return, the departure of his order from his original vision. These pivotal events served as catalysts for Francis’s encounter with the realm of the Self, facilitating the integration of the Shadow, and culminating in his symbolic union with the anima, or feminine principle, personified as Lady Poverty.