This is an incredible exploration of an inner destructive 'self-care' system in early trauma victims, and an exploration of how, in early trauma, the This is an incredible exploration of an inner destructive 'self-care' system in early trauma victims, and an exploration of how, in early trauma, the numinous Self, in Jungian psychology expressed as the inner god or core of the personality, turns dark and destructive. It ends with four fairy tales that discuss this self-care system and the possibilities of redemption.
The only thing I wish he had expanded were what made up early trauma. It seemed to range from child sexual abuse experienced at eight to early emotional neglect in a two year old. The early emotional trauma was fuzzy for me – what constitutes such early trauma? Where is the line between early neglect – with such catastrophic results – and ordinary life limitations? Also, if this originates in the failure to mediate the ego in babyhood, why can this self-care trauma system also initiate when a child is eight or ten?
I was left with these questions after reading the book, but the overall substance of his argument was incredibly profound, and I'd like to read his second book on the subject – perhaps it supplies answers. ...more
This was an excellent historical investigation in the reality of psychedelic ointments throughout history, and its conflation with the fictional WitchThis was an excellent historical investigation in the reality of psychedelic ointments throughout history, and its conflation with the fictional Witch's Sabbat that was invented during the witch trials. Parts are dark and involve accounts of torture, but this is thankfully brief. There is a deep investigation into the types of herbs known to have psychedelic properties, the history of their use, the accounts where psychedelic ointments were documented, among other things.
My one quibble is that the author could not help using bad puns and other terribly overdone literary devices. It was as if he could not help himself. These are brief, but annoying, when they show up; most of the book is clearly and lucidly written. However, since they annoyed me so much, I will share the worst of them for your viewing pleasure:
"By now the psyche-magical ointment's role in validating the vetlua's visions vis-a-vis Venus's venery veers"
"Whether there is a kernel of truth to the cornstalk broom rite remains to be historically harvested."
"We can therefore end this study knowing that both positions – that of the skeptic and that of the romantic – simply do not fly. With or without magical ointments."
Thanks, but no thanks.
Other than this, the book is highly recommended. ...more
This is another fantastic book by Marie Louise von Franz that would honestly be a good starting point for anyone looking to dive into her work. She exThis is another fantastic book by Marie Louise von Franz that would honestly be a good starting point for anyone looking to dive into her work. She explains her reasoning for interpreting fairy-tales the way that she does in this series of lectures and goes into the method of her thinking. In her other books, she is expanding on this central technique, but does not explain it as clearly. ...more
This is a scholarly whirlwind of a book, a fascinating teasing together of fragments of information to show a tantalizing picture going back through tThis is a scholarly whirlwind of a book, a fascinating teasing together of fragments of information to show a tantalizing picture going back through the centuries. His explanation for the roots of the witch's sabbath was as sound as it could be given the lengths of time and space, not to mention the poverty of sources, he was dealing with. He tied everything together magnificently, and explained his methods clearly and well. ...more
Marie Louise Von Franz is always excellent. In these, the essay on Socrates was by far the strongest, though the essay on Descartes was also fascinatiMarie Louise Von Franz is always excellent. In these, the essay on Socrates was by far the strongest, though the essay on Descartes was also fascinating. Worth reading for her thoughts on Socrates alone. ...more
Interesting collection of essays and interviews. I have a difficult time with Marion Woodman – I do not agree with her distinction between The MasculiInteresting collection of essays and interviews. I have a difficult time with Marion Woodman – I do not agree with her distinction between The Masculine and The Feminine, but there are continuous nuggets in her work that are perceptive and valuable. Marie Louise von Franz, to me, is a far deeper and clearer thinker, but Marion Woodman is still important and cannot be easily dismissed. ...more
Excellent exploration of the fear of the feminine as it manifests in culture and in the psyches of men and women during different stages of developmenExcellent exploration of the fear of the feminine as it manifests in culture and in the psyches of men and women during different stages of development. The essays were fascinating. ...more
This was a fascinating and very convincing reconstruction of the Eleusinian and Dionysian Mysteries, looking into Ergot and mushrooms as psychedelics This was a fascinating and very convincing reconstruction of the Eleusinian and Dionysian Mysteries, looking into Ergot and mushrooms as psychedelics through which initiates had divine experiences. It also analyzes the myths as analogies of psychedelic herbs.
Interesting older book looking at the evolution of the tale that would later inspire Chaucer in his tale of Contance, from Folkloric roots to its evolInteresting older book looking at the evolution of the tale that would later inspire Chaucer in his tale of Contance, from Folkloric roots to its evolution into Romance. The arguments were well done, the beginning section, being from 1927, was dated and relied a lot on Frazer and unfortunately too relied on the casual racism of the time. Still, the ideas were fascinating and it was interesting to see someone trace the possible evolution of a tale over time. ...more
Very interesting book, exploring the relation between mythic symbols and child development, both child development gone right and also child developmeVery interesting book, exploring the relation between mythic symbols and child development, both child development gone right and also child development gone wrong. Also explored is the mother-infant bond, from the mother’s perspective (the mother projects the inner image of the divine child onto her baby, and the baby projects the archetypal mother onto her, creating the parent child double bond)...more
I realize this book is dated, but it was a lot of fun, weaving together strings of disparate ideas into one whole. She relies heavily on Frazer.
My maI realize this book is dated, but it was a lot of fun, weaving together strings of disparate ideas into one whole. She relies heavily on Frazer.
My main gripe with the book is the many (many) sections of untranslated German, French, and sometimes Latin. I wish there were translations in the footnotes, at least. ...more
Very good collections of essays, though some are better than others. Jung's introductory essay was fabulous, as was Marie Louise Von Franz's (of coursVery good collections of essays, though some are better than others. Jung's introductory essay was fabulous, as was Marie Louise Von Franz's (of course!). Some of the others were also quite solid. I found the essay at the end about Henry's analysis a little too pat. His analysis seemed to go too well, and did not explain how Jungian analysis would work in a more difficult case. With Henry's, him being 25 and just needing to be pushed a little, it was difficult to see if it really was the analysis or being pushed into the natural flow of life that was the crucial thing, and it seemed way too easy and quick.
Extremely interesting study that I wish had gone even more in depth. He does an amazing job clearly centering rape as a phenomenon in the psychology oExtremely interesting study that I wish had gone even more in depth. He does an amazing job clearly centering rape as a phenomenon in the psychology of males, firmly denying the deflection that males often engage in (ie: "She was being sexy at me. Therefore she secretly wanted it.") and also centering rape as an externalized psychological phenomenon whereby the man sacrifices his own anima ritualistically. Tragically, rapists are unable to self reflect and see that they are acting out something internal onto the world, that their soul is outside their body, and therefore innocent human women get victimized as the result. He also discussed the polarization of the male psyche into the hostile brothers, and how these warring factions in the ego lead to the sacrificial impulse.
I wish he had gone more in depth in the psychological section and connected it more with real case studies. One was referenced in depth, but more would have been ideal. I'm also not convinced about the archetypal connection between rapists and the dark mother. That section should have been fleshed out more. It's true that rapists often feel themselves to be victimized by dark, feminine forces (ironically as they themselves victimize women) but I cannot see what the archetype of the dark mother would want from this. This clearly seems to be something the dark masculine wants and is motivated by. ...more
This was a fascinating biography that illuminated not just Fromm-Reichmann's life, but also the turbulent early history of psychology, psychiatry, andThis was a fascinating biography that illuminated not just Fromm-Reichmann's life, but also the turbulent early history of psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy. If it feels as though Fromm-Reichmann is a bit too idealized in the first half, this is only because records of her life are scant – the second half does a brilliant job fleshing out the complexity that made her human.
This also includes details of Joanne Greenberg's experience of hospitalization and cure from schizophrenia by talk therapy, which she wrote about in her semi-autobiographical novel "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden."
Really interesting book, with so many illuminating details that make the period come alive. One of my favorites was reading about the warring factions that arose in psychotherapy, with Karen Horney taking to the streets of New York singing "Go Down, Moses." There were some very colorful personalities among the analysts and doctors. The book also contains a chilling account of Germany's slide into Nazism, which caused Freida to flee to America. There are so many layers in this book. ...more
This was a brilliant exploration of how women have been wounded through the patriarchal culture at large, as well as through their individual relationThis was a brilliant exploration of how women have been wounded through the patriarchal culture at large, as well as through their individual relationships with their fathers. Since she focuses on the culture as well as the individual, this is valuable even to women who have positive relationships with their fathers....more
The issues are very well laid out. This deals with civilization and the problem with the drive of aggression, which is very difficult to control, and The issues are very well laid out. This deals with civilization and the problem with the drive of aggression, which is very difficult to control, and how the nature of individual needs often runs counter to the needs of civilization, among other things. I'm not convinced by Freudian psychology, but simply because something is a crude tool doesn't mean it isn't useful, especially when wielded by a subtle and discriminating mind. ...more
Wow! Pay no attention to the reactionary reviews of those whose minds have been twisted by propaganda – read this book instead and encounter Margaret Wow! Pay no attention to the reactionary reviews of those whose minds have been twisted by propaganda – read this book instead and encounter Margaret Sanger in her own words. I am appalled by the amount she has been slandered, and the deliberate mishearing of her arguments. This is a passionate cry for birth control, stating the societal ills that come about when women cannot choose motherhood, and are forced to have sex and bear children against their will with no knowledge of their bodies, forced into increasing ill-health, forced to bear increasingly ill children. Her push is for a voluntary motherhood. Considering how society improved by leaps and bounds since birth control became common, can anyone doubt her words?
A note on racism and eugenics: It has become common to slander Margaret Sanger by claiming she is a racist and a eugenicist. The racism comes from an appallingly doctored quote. (It is not from this book, but it is relevant to show the extent of the propaganda applied against her) It is spread that Margaret Sanger said this: “We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population." Actually, the full context, in a letter that she wrote regarding her outreach to black ministers to help her reach the black community regarding birth control, was this: "We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members” which means the exact opposite of the doctored quote.
As for eugenics, while we have the value of hindsight regarding the role of eugenics in horrific historical movements such as Nazism, Margaret Sanger was not a Nazi. Furthermore, I think there is context to her views that people today are utterly missing. In her day, because birth control was banned, women with tuberculosis and syphilis would give birth, and their conditions would affect their children. Furthermore, women would give birth so frequently it would deplete their health, and the health of their children. This is the context for her perspective. Obviously disabled children born today should be cherished, and thankfully this is the modern position, but would any modern person consider it moral for a women to drink copious amounts of alcohol during pregnancy and shrug her shoulders at the resulting baby born with fetal alcohol syndrome? This does not mean the resulting baby is a lesser human or anything like that, but it does mean that women engaging in drugs and alcohol during pregnancy that can affect their children with lifelong conditions is immoral. This is more of the context of her perspective. It is immoral to force women to give birth in a situation where the birth destroys the women's own health, but also drastically affects the health of the baby with lifelong conditions and possibly death. I do not see how anyone could possibly be against such a position. ...more
Loading...
