Scan barcode
superracoon's review against another edition
Interesting for writers and artists but how these ideas are supposed to help anyone in pain is beyond me.
silvio's review against another edition
5.0
What a genius Jung was. Having immersed myself in classical tantrik thought recently - maybe the highest metaphysics humanity has to offer - I sometimes couldn't help but think that the West, including Jungian psychology, is getting lost in the details while not observing the full picture. But that's cool. And important, too. Jung's stream of thought is maybe one of the best bridges one can find between the East and West in the exploration of experience (well, almost nothing beats psychedelic exploration though). This is definitely a paradigm-shifter. My favorite chapter was the one on the individuation process. But all of the book is gold. Yes. Thank you.
eozcar's review against another edition
3.0
Omitiendo el rigor científico, con este libro aprendes a dormir con los ojos abiertos.
ryalcoll28's review against another edition
3.0
In the first chapter, Jung delineates the differences between the unconscious/conscious mind, and, in the process, discusses archetypes and the process of individuation (though the actual term "individuation" isn't mentioned until a later chapter). I was especially taken by his observation that in our worship of "Rationalism" we've lost a connection with the subconscious strata that "primitive" man was so in tune with and that this loss is translated into our inability to find a deeper/spiritual connection to the natural world, which, as Jung accurately predicted, could have devastating consequences for the planet/humanity.
The second chapter is also fascinating in that it explores common motifs and symbols and dives deeper into Jung's concept of archetypes. I especially enjoyed reading the different interpretations the author offers for common folk/fairy tales.
That being said, Chapter three loses me. The concept of the animus/anima is far-fetched and is grounded in sexist assumptions. This chapter also engages in the very thing Jung warns against in his opening chapter: a reductionist take on the universal meaning of particular symbols without regard to the individual.
Chapter four offers a compelling look at contemporary art in the context of Jungian psychoanalysis and makes the compelling case that abstract/figurative art is ironically more naturalistic than might be superficially apparent; it was an interesting read. Chapter 5, however, is one long case study, that (while interesting) seems to make a number of interpretive leaps. It also makes you wonder to what extent these psychoanalysts make up dreams that lend themselves to their particular interpretive framework; for instance, too many of them are narratively coherent, which, are nothing like the fragmentary and incoherent dreams I've experienced. I also think dreams are more a working out of things we're consciously anxious about/struggling with, but this is, of course, based on my own experiences.
Overall, while I don't necessarily believe a lot of what this book is suggesting about dreams and their relationship to the ego/unconscious, it has a lot to say philosophically about each individual's relationship to self; furthermore, it's an interesting study of myths, rituals, and religion, making it a worthwhile read if you're interested in anthropology, mythology, or religious studies.
The second chapter is also fascinating in that it explores common motifs and symbols and dives deeper into Jung's concept of archetypes. I especially enjoyed reading the different interpretations the author offers for common folk/fairy tales.
That being said, Chapter three loses me. The concept of the animus/anima is far-fetched and is grounded in sexist assumptions. This chapter also engages in the very thing Jung warns against in his opening chapter: a reductionist take on the universal meaning of particular symbols without regard to the individual.
Chapter four offers a compelling look at contemporary art in the context of Jungian psychoanalysis and makes the compelling case that abstract/figurative art is ironically more naturalistic than might be superficially apparent; it was an interesting read. Chapter 5, however, is one long case study, that (while interesting) seems to make a number of interpretive leaps. It also makes you wonder to what extent these psychoanalysts make up dreams that lend themselves to their particular interpretive framework; for instance, too many of them are narratively coherent, which, are nothing like the fragmentary and incoherent dreams I've experienced. I also think dreams are more a working out of things we're consciously anxious about/struggling with, but this is, of course, based on my own experiences.
Overall, while I don't necessarily believe a lot of what this book is suggesting about dreams and their relationship to the ego/unconscious, it has a lot to say philosophically about each individual's relationship to self; furthermore, it's an interesting study of myths, rituals, and religion, making it a worthwhile read if you're interested in anthropology, mythology, or religious studies.
mveldeivendran's review against another edition
5.0
There's this famous Buddhist parable that I'm often reminded from a book that I'd read few years ago. A Surgeon rushes to begin the work of saving the life of a man who got struck in the chest with a poison arrow but the man resists. He first wants to know the name of the fletcher who fashioned the arrow’s shaft, genus of the wood from which it was cut, name of the horse upon which he rode, and a thousand others that have no bearing upon his present suffering or his ultimate survival. The man needs to get his priorities straight that his commitment to thinking about the world results from a basic misunderstanding of his predicament.
We might be dimly aware that only acquiring conceptual knowledge will not help us move any forward but only a delusion of the same when it comes to dealing with the human problems in totality.
"In a period of human history when all available energy is spent in the investigation of nature, very little attention is paid to the essence of man, which is his psyche, although many researches are made into its conscious functions. But the really complex and unfamiliar part of the mind, from which symbols are produced, is still virtually unexplored. It seems almost incredible that though we receive signals from it every night, deciphering these communications seems too tedious for any but a very few people to be bothered with it. Man’s greatest instrument, his psyche, is little thought of, and it is often directly mistrusted and despised. 'It’s only psychological' too often means: It is nothing."
This book has great dynamic parts concerning some of the major lifetime works of Jung presented in laymen vocubulary for public consumption. The contents might give it all a new perspective to the fundamentalists on the both sides of rationalism and religionisms. I have lots to say but saying a lot would do nothing when we keep seeing the world as we are than as it is.
"If the reader should feel stimulated to work further on the investigation and assimilation of the unconscious—which always begins by working on oneself—the purpose of this book would be fulfilled."
Personally i feel I wouldn't have taken anything serious if I weren't troubled myself with the ideas of rationalism, postmodernism for absolute at certain phases of my life. I highly recommend people like Alan Watts, Emerson, Joseph Campbell before jumping into the Jungian Psychology.
We might be dimly aware that only acquiring conceptual knowledge will not help us move any forward but only a delusion of the same when it comes to dealing with the human problems in totality.
"In a period of human history when all available energy is spent in the investigation of nature, very little attention is paid to the essence of man, which is his psyche, although many researches are made into its conscious functions. But the really complex and unfamiliar part of the mind, from which symbols are produced, is still virtually unexplored. It seems almost incredible that though we receive signals from it every night, deciphering these communications seems too tedious for any but a very few people to be bothered with it. Man’s greatest instrument, his psyche, is little thought of, and it is often directly mistrusted and despised. 'It’s only psychological' too often means: It is nothing."
This book has great dynamic parts concerning some of the major lifetime works of Jung presented in laymen vocubulary for public consumption. The contents might give it all a new perspective to the fundamentalists on the both sides of rationalism and religionisms. I have lots to say but saying a lot would do nothing when we keep seeing the world as we are than as it is.
"If the reader should feel stimulated to work further on the investigation and assimilation of the unconscious—which always begins by working on oneself—the purpose of this book would be fulfilled."
Personally i feel I wouldn't have taken anything serious if I weren't troubled myself with the ideas of rationalism, postmodernism for absolute at certain phases of my life. I highly recommend people like Alan Watts, Emerson, Joseph Campbell before jumping into the Jungian Psychology.
dwjnv's review against another edition
5.0
Dari buku-buku Carl Jung, sepertinya ini adalah buku favorit saya. Buku ini ditulis tak hanya oleh Dr.Jung sendiri, namun oleh beberapa kontributor lain.
Dari gaya penulisan, buku ini lebih mudah dicerna daripada gaya penulisan buku-buku Dr.Jung yang lain. Buku ini menekankan mengenai pentingnya peran simbol-simbol kolektif. Alam sadar kita sangat terbatas, sehingga seringkali sinyal-sinyal perubahan/peringatan timbul dari alam bawah sadar terlebih dahulu. Di sini, simbol berfungsi sebagai perantara pesan dari alam bawah sadar ke alam sadar kita. Pada komunitas primitif, simbol-simbol ini seringkali muncul dalam ritus-ritus, upacara keagamaan, mitos, dsb. Hal ini membuat mereka cenderung memaknai kehidupan secara lebih utuh dan menyatu dengan alam.
Namun, pada era yang modern ini, alam sadar manusia semakin menjauh dari alam bawah sadar. Pikiran manusia sudah banyak terdistraksi oleh berbagai masalah mulai dari pekerjaan, sosial, politik, lingkungan dari media. Terlalu banyak informasi yang masuk. Pesan-pesan dari alam bawah sadar mencoba untuk hadir dalam bentuk yang berbeda, yaitu melalui simbol di mimpi. Tapi seringkali pada masa kini, mimpi hanya dianggap sebagai sekedar rongsokan bawah sadar saja. Sehingga, alam sadar semakin menjauh dari alam bawah sadar kita. Sebagai akibatnya, gejala neurosis dapat ditemukan dengan mudah pada manusia-manusia modern saat ini.
Melalui buku ini, saya memandang sosok 'shadow' manusia dalam sisi yang berbeda. Ego, shadow, anima/animus, Self--semuanya bersifat paradoksial. Bila semuanya terhubung dengan baik, maka seorang manusia dapat menjadi entitas yang seutuhnya dan lebih memaknai hidupnya.
Dari gaya penulisan, buku ini lebih mudah dicerna daripada gaya penulisan buku-buku Dr.Jung yang lain. Buku ini menekankan mengenai pentingnya peran simbol-simbol kolektif. Alam sadar kita sangat terbatas, sehingga seringkali sinyal-sinyal perubahan/peringatan timbul dari alam bawah sadar terlebih dahulu. Di sini, simbol berfungsi sebagai perantara pesan dari alam bawah sadar ke alam sadar kita. Pada komunitas primitif, simbol-simbol ini seringkali muncul dalam ritus-ritus, upacara keagamaan, mitos, dsb. Hal ini membuat mereka cenderung memaknai kehidupan secara lebih utuh dan menyatu dengan alam.
Namun, pada era yang modern ini, alam sadar manusia semakin menjauh dari alam bawah sadar. Pikiran manusia sudah banyak terdistraksi oleh berbagai masalah mulai dari pekerjaan, sosial, politik, lingkungan dari media. Terlalu banyak informasi yang masuk. Pesan-pesan dari alam bawah sadar mencoba untuk hadir dalam bentuk yang berbeda, yaitu melalui simbol di mimpi. Tapi seringkali pada masa kini, mimpi hanya dianggap sebagai sekedar rongsokan bawah sadar saja. Sehingga, alam sadar semakin menjauh dari alam bawah sadar kita. Sebagai akibatnya, gejala neurosis dapat ditemukan dengan mudah pada manusia-manusia modern saat ini.
Melalui buku ini, saya memandang sosok 'shadow' manusia dalam sisi yang berbeda. Ego, shadow, anima/animus, Self--semuanya bersifat paradoksial. Bila semuanya terhubung dengan baik, maka seorang manusia dapat menjadi entitas yang seutuhnya dan lebih memaknai hidupnya.
babettes's review against another edition
5.0
gonna be honest... lowkey changed my life. I was about to get into a very serious commitment but after a very eye opening dream I completely changed the course of my life and I am glad I did.
otherhorde's review against another edition
5.0
Carl and his posse of students/peers come together to teach you a ton of stuff about your dreams! Its rad, you should read it and learn about bettering yourself, and how to start to notice the messages you are leaving for you!
This book was written in 1961 though so theres a few hiccups
This book was written in 1961 though so theres a few hiccups
kc5thelement's review against another edition
5.0
A great introduction to Jungian shtuff. I learned an incredible amount about how I regard and consider myself and other people, and how they/we all do the same. Such a nice companion to the history of mankind in a way. A path that started with Mythago Wood so many years ago has led me here, and it continues...