The primary function of an image-symbol is to get the attention of consciousness. It fascinates and thus focuses the attention of consciousness upon it until its contents are assimilated. Fear and terror characterize such an initial experience. Consciousness is gradually able to break the primordial archetype into constituent archetypes. As these less powerful archetypes are assimilated into consciousness they become concepts.
Concepts eventually become just so much neutral data.
As contents are made more conscious their energy levels diminish. Only fresh experience of the Universal Unconscious can release a new cycle of experience. Both forces are important, but each can become a danger. There are times when conservation is needed for survival just as there are times when only a transforming experience can save. The conservative tendency is at work in all forms of tradition and in settings where dogma and authoritative teaching are at issue.