The irruption of Vulcan Pon farr as unleashment of Jung’s shadow

Abstract

Vulcans are fictional, humanoid, extraterrestrial aliens, integral members and a founding race of the United Federation of Planets in the Star Trek universe. Vulcans evolved on their home planet of Vulcan, which orbits 40 Eridani A, a star that lies sixteen light years away from Earth. Vulcans epitomize logic and are highly utilitarian and stoical. Stoicism was promulgated by Zeno of Citium (c. 334–c. 262 bc), who taught that emotions should be restrained by self-control and fortitude since clarity of thought is crucial in understanding the universe. The desire for the attainment of pleasure is perceived as a temptation and an incorrect judgment. The four main tenets of Stoicism are simplicity of habits, endurance, self-restraint, and dedication to the community with patriotism and civic responsibility. Vulcan stoicism leads to asceticism; an almost monastic, disciplined abstention from material pleasures; and to a phlegmatic approach to life, with a comportment that is composed and selfpossessed, rarely excited to passionate action or to display emotion. This race is therefore in a state of equanimity, even-tempered and possessed of a deep emotional stability. Thus, “in accepting the inevitable, one finds peace”. Both male and female Vulcans experience pon farr, “the time of mating”. This is an extreme physiological reaction that storms through the Vulcan body in an uncontrollable and inexorable manner. Pon farr results in a “neurochemical imbalance”, “a growing imbalance of body functions, as if in our bodies huge amounts of adrenalin were constantly being pumped into our bloodstreams. . . . if it isn’t stopped somehow, the physical and emotional pressures . . . simply kill.” Moreover, once pon farr commences, Vulcans are “driven by forces . . . [they] cannot control to return home and take a [spouse]. Or die.” Other “hormonal and endorphin levels are dangerously high” too in this condition, as well as fluctuations in serotonin levels. Furthermore, there are also fluctuations in “cortical readings. One returns to normal levels, then another one spikes. It’s chaotic. As if the brain’s regulatory system had simply shut down”. This paper outlines the main rituals of pon farr.