As you shall see, albeit the "journey" below well verboselly justifies the point of "A(No-Other) Psychanalytic Take on Evangelion's Cosmology," it does indeed by itself accomplish little more than offering a highly cryptic path towards integration (between "Adam" and "Lilith," to use NGE's vocabulary) and then individuation, like alchemy and tarot historically (and for further elaboration I'd recommend you reading "Psychology and Alchemy," by C. Jung, and "Jung and Tarot: An Archetypal Journey," by S. Nichols).
In fact, it's pretty common for media, literature and art in general to fantasize such, but things become clearer as always when put into context, namely that of character (instead of strictly narrative) development, and that's what I shall probably be doing in my next post, and you'll see how perfectly every new "trial" aligns with it (albeit differently between each). This might take a while though, because I may to rewatch the series for the third time.
Moreover, we already talked about Adam (1st angel) and Lilith (2nd angel) on my last post, therefore I'll be skipping them here.
Introduction:
I shall cite the word "numinous" occasionally, and before you wonder what it means in jungian context, allow me to explain: he basically classified it as a type of psychic content found in resources of religious or mythological nature (like here, albeit untraditional) which unconsciously points to self-integration and self-actualization. Under that light, it becomes therefore easy to see an "apotheosis" (or in this case: psychological individuation) as enough accumulation; integration of numinous aspects in the psyche (and please refer to my first post if you're already not following me). Things are going to get pretty convoluted now and I cannot hope to fetch mercy on you, unfortunely.
Analysis:
Sachiel: our 3rd angel's name literally means "Price of God," which is paradigmatic since he's the first one to challenge humanity directly, therefore making himself before all the "price" we must admit to ascend towards "godhood" (according to S.E.E.L.E's plans), or a "neon genesis evangelion" (i. e., "the Gospel's new genesis"). He is also uncoincidentlly the most humanoid-like after Bardiel (the 13th angel), Tabris (the 17th angel) and lilin (the 18th angel), of course.
Shamshel: our 4th angel's name literally means "Lonely Conqueror of God," which resembles Jung's hero archetype, and so by definition his concept of self; our total personality (including its conscious and unconscious traits). This is further advanced by its androgynous traits, whose body possesses in part both a phallus and vagina shape, representing an integration between both feminine (as in the anima archetype) and masculine (as in the animus archetype) aspects, proposed by the same author to be the back and bone of our psyche. Which part belongs to consciousness varies from one's primary gender though. In the end, Shamshel also seems to represent part of the price towards reaching the self; therefore individuation (or [w]holiness and whatnot).
Ramiel: our 5th angel's name literally means "Thunder of God," which is mythologically reminescent of Zeus, who was said to rain it from the skies when angered (in this case, probably as a metaphor to humanity's [or lilin's] previous "crimes" against NGE's Adam [and his offspring]).
Gaghiel: our 6th angel's name literally means "Roaring Beast of God," a creature reminescent of Leviathan said to have been created by Judaism's God and only prone to destruction by Him. Here, though, humanity achieves it, stepping further towards [w]holiness. This is basically nearly as much high a process of psychic inflation (please refer to my second post) we shall get until the nigh end.
Israfel: our 7th angel's name literally means "The Burning One," which is interculturally reminescent of "passion," but also "Hell," pointing to the ups and downs aced by Shinji and Asuka in order to defeat him. He's also the angel to sound the trumphtes announcing the Day of Judgment to mortals in Islamism, foreshadowing a descent from humanity's so wished apotheosis (inflation) from before (that is, a deflation, or the process of getting overwhelmend; feebled by one's unconscious, what like inflation tends to be temporary until reaching further, and then finally stable balance in the analytical process [to be mildly metaphorical]).
Sandalphon: our 8th angel's name literally means "The Brother," seemingly pointing to the fact humanity must kill its "brothers" (the angels) in order to achieve [w]holiness (who are in fact much like humanity in the end, as it will increasingly appear). Asuka and Shinji show an uncoincidentlly higher degree of cooperation in order to defeat him. Humanity must therefore unite against its numinous psychic matter (what's a bit redundant, because like already suggested in my first post, individuation presuposes integration [or self-reunion] of one's humanity before anything).
Matarael: our 9th angel's name literally means "The Premonition of God," whose character foreshadows the increasing bizarreness of the next angels. His eyes, whose liquid can destroy anything, might refer to Lacan's concept of the Symbolic, which in normal circumstances tends to override amy subject's (or "subjetive") sense of identity (please refer to the first post's comments). This is thus one step further towards deflation and eventually integration.
Sahaquiel: our 10th angel's name literally means "Ingenuity of God,". Jung noticed flying symbolisms (like the OVNIs, which became specially popular in the post-war period) were in all cultures often evoked by the human's psyche when in times of crisis, fear or anxiety, be it for good (angels) ou bad (demons), therefore it's mostly premonitivs like the previous angel. Maybe his "ingenuity" lies in descending from the sky, lowering itself to humanity, like all angels shall in a way or another be doing from here on. This showcases an identification of humanity with its numinous psychic matter (which seems to be subconsciously S.E.E.L.E.'s point).
Ireul: our 11th angel's name literally means "Terror of God," which can be taken literally for its divergent nature from all other angels before thanks to the attempt to establish direct contact with humanity by hacking NERV's intelligence (a pun certainly intended by Anno), therefore leaving more and more room for an "angelic resurgence" (inflation of unconsciousness against deflation of consciousness).
Leliel: our 12th angel's name literally means "Jaws of God," showcasing an engulfment of Shinji by his "imago Dei" (like further elaborated in my other posts), the psyche's innate drive to seek self-integration, following the theme of previous angels. This is the last step before the "punch-line" of this very long descent; deflation of humanity's psyche towards Adam, and finally itself (Lilith; lilin).
Bardiel: our 13th angel's name literally means "Humiliated Son of God," which is one of the most interesting ones because it showcases the low of humanity's integration with the shadow (the angels), as necessary it can be for individuation — "homo homini lupus" (i. e., humans are as "dubious" [to humanity] as the angels). You must remember this is the one Toji "piloted," after all.
Zeruel: our 14th angel's name literally means "Arm of God," a reference to the Bible's Cirviel, who was sent by God to help David slay the gaint Goliath. Taking matters into NGE again, this one uplifts humanity against its giant obstacles and resistances towards integration and individuation, particularly Shinji's. With its title mainly based on strength, he forces him to become maybe one of his strongest selves seen in the series in order to be defeated.
Arael: our 15th angel's name literally means "The Light of God," which is quickly obscured by the Spear of Longinus, also the weapon that according to tale faded Jesus's, therefore unleashing the binds (unconscious material) that held Lilith (consciousness). It uses its Absolute Terror Field (A.T. Field) as an attack rather than defense mechanism, probing into the target's mind and as a consequence torturing them. This angel is the most elusive of all because of its unclear strategic approach, seemingly more worried about researching our soul than attacking NERV itself (pun-intended?). It's also the one who comes closest to making our shadow submerge as a conseque of it. These facts begin portraying the true psychological nature of the angels in the series, demonstrating an almost complete sucessful assimilation of humanity's shadow (for which Asuka was notably still unprepared).
Armisael: our 16th angel's name literally means "Mountain of Judgment of God," which can be a reference to Moses's receipt of the holy biblic commandments on the mountain. It comes down to also chastise Rin out of her shadow, forcefully moving humanity more towards its "dawnfall". The halo and likewise parasite appearence of this creature says much of itself; likewise the process of individuation (and how it can feel like).
Tabris: Nagisa Kaworu, also known as Tabris, is one of the last angels, and beside Lilin, also the only one of truly humanoid-like (or "lilinic") figure, albeit possessing Adam's blood, therefore constituting in one individual the perfect integration (and at the end of his journey, individuation) of Adam and Lilith alike. At this point it should already be obvious the angels truly represent a pathway for humanity to come into contact with its other "self," in-between the many trials necessary for such fate to be accomplished. Like Jesus (according to tale) he sacrifices himself for us, despite the pain allowing Shinji and others to finally "ascend" psychologically, as the plot continues to promote the development of its characters.
Lilin: as a plot-twist which should not be surprising (if you are following me well), humanity itself constitutes an angel; the final trial stopping it from fully "integrating" (albeit dubiously, be it from Genji's or S.E.E.L.E.'s point of view, as commented on my first post) and becoming in a final surge of inflation "more than human". As in a mandala, therefore, the snake must bite its own tail (that is, its own constitution) in order to form the full circle, representative of wholeness and plenitude in multiple cultures according to Jung.
