A citizen of the world and a patriot, a Swiss William Tell who travelled to learn and returned to stay. A multifaceted man, he grew up in Paris and was educated by the Dominican Fathers, to whom he owed the linguistic structure that allowed him to face—and learn—nine other languages and various dialects.
The human goal is not to strive for perfection, but for completeness, as his grandfather C. G. Jung used to say. Romansh, one of the four Swiss languages, he learned at an older age in order to be a complete Swiss and to participate in the myths of that corner of land which, with poetic language, sings the enchantments, myths and tales of the Swiss mountains. These would become material for lessons and seminars.
Music, a lifelong passion, excluded no aspect: singing, dancing, composition and playing multiple instruments—piano, harmonica, the piccolo… yes, because the piccolo was essential for the Faschnacht, the Basel carnival which, though called a carnival, has a sacred essence for every Basel citizen and beyond…
And then there was water, not only the source of life, but for a Seebuebe, a lake boy, a place of adventures in a sailboat or swimming—so long as it was water. Walks in the woods and in nature to think and work analytically, or to practise full-heartedly with the piccolo. Meeting him was an eruption of culture, history, stories and deep listening. An exceptional psychotherapist, he was a meeting point and reference for students, colleagues and patients from all over the world. Never without humour, with which he loved to entertain: three children meet—one Swiss, one Italian, one French—and they ask how little brothers are born; for the Swiss child, it will always depend on the canton!
He loved young people, the future of humanity, and beloved by them, he represented a guiding light. Their questions and expectations were never disappointed. He had long been observing the dreams of the world, concerned for the future of humanity, yet never losing faith in the predominance of the creative and surprising aspect of the unexpected, against inner globalisation: because it is the individual, the unicum, who together with other individuals will bring the seeds to sprout.
Fiamma Acernese
