If you are looking for a book that shows a step by step process for identifying and partnering with the emergence of the Self, this is it. Never condescending, always challenging, Raff uses well known alchemical prints to show the path to individuation which is really the art of identifying the guidance of the self and allowing the ego to partner with it, without impeding it. Bravo Jeffrey Raff for having such faith in your readers as to allow them to know what the Alchemists have always known: That everything that you need for your transformation in the eternal realm of this life is within you, simply waiting to be utilized and understood. Understanding this book, could change your life.

This analysand (4 years in Jungian analysis) finally found a post-Jungian book that breaks new ground. Students of alchemy, in any tradition, will find a treasure of meaning in these pages-- especially if you are interested in how alchemy and psychology relate to one another! Raff wells articulates the "transcendent function" in very understandable terms (even for a student not well acquainted with Jung's writings). He then postulates a concept of what he terms the "psychoid." And, that is exactly where the reader will find the pay dirt. I was especially thrilled to find a very concrete discussion of the individuation process using the 17th c. alchemical engravings by the German philosopher Lambsprinck. Raff precisely articulates & operationalizes--in psychological terms-- many of the symbols therein. Since I have been studying that particular set of alchemical symbols for ten years, I was thunderstruck with his discussion. I keep his work by my bed with a copy of my now worn out GOLDEN GAME by Stanislas Kolossowski de Rola. I could not put the book down because this author is a true Kabbalist, as well as a Jungian scholar/healer. Thank you Dr. Raff! What a treasure here!

Ignore the complexity of the title. This book is the newest and best handbook on finding your myth. If you are serious about living by guidance from an Intelligence equal to "God", read this book. You need little knowledge of Jung , as Raffe does a great job making him easy to understand. But the power in this book is his focus on the THREE REAL STEPS you must experience as the world of the sub-conscious guides you. Raffe proves this process from the history of Alchemical (read source of all modern chemistry) "scientists". Mystics from world religions are quoted in their experience of the Divine as an Alcemical process. Raffe shows you how you can emulate their process of letting the Ego find it's correct place in your life. My journey goes back 45 years, and this book puts it all together for those of us who seek enlightenment where our heritage is Ocidental. Synchronicity is my myth, and Raffe accurately brings Synchronicity into focus as a major source of finding the sub-conscious guides waiting to help you find your bliss. If you want to know the riddle of what is the "Last Desire" before enlightenment, read the book. The changes associated with the real "straight and narrow" path of one's myth Raffe proves are time tested and proven logically, through the evolution of Alchemy as both real science and the analogy of our soul development. Alchemy and Synchronicity are magic, and both are paradoxical. Raffe shows us how not to fear the often sudden and frightening changes that emerge in a life tuned to expect and accept paradoxical events. And it's done in a non-demoninational process that can produce wholeness and bliss while living in a world of chaos. Raffe is a genuine man, and this book is not the source of an empty fad. This is the real thing, as good as any book from all of the post Jungian writers.

This is truly a wonderful book and audiotape (don't just get the book). My daughter and I love listening and reading along. The music is very enjoyable and almost puts you into the story. I highly recommend them for gifts, too!

This book and cassette are excellent. My younger sister listened/read this cassette/book 8 years ago, and now that my sister is older, my own young kids have enjoyed this wonderful story and the sweet accompanying narration and music.

The story is beautifully narrated and the background tunes are catchy and fun. I would have liked the music better if it were a real orchestra instead of a sampler/synthesizer, but it is really enjoyable nonetheless. There is a good range of instruments and musical styles to listen to, and the story is interesting and engaging for children. I highly recommend this book for any young child. (And if the cassette is not included, then I would recommend buying that as well).

What a wonderful, engaging book and tape to open the world of music to our children! It is a lifesaver in the car that even the driver will enjoy! The story is sweet, the illustrations beautiful and the music is rich! Thank-you Catherine Meyrick and Michael Twinn!! What a gift!!

this is so good of a book its fun to read and the lion is a sucker for carrot stew kids of all ages will love this book

What a wonderful and fun story this is. I love reading this book to my daughter and have read it to her in whole or part dozens of times. Since it is a joy to read and the story flows page to page, I don't mind reading it to her again and again even if she'll only sit still for a few pages (she's currently only 6 ½ months old).
While I understand that to make finding things easier books for children get categorized by age (and this one is in the 4 to 8) don't be misled into thinking that this book isn't suitable for babies or toddlers, they simply need someone to read it to them. I love this book and if she chews and tears the pages I'll gladly buy another.

I've been reading this book to my first graders for years. It never fails to inspire lively discussion on such topics as friendship, sharing, trust, and a host of other worthy subjects. The story is fun, and the messages are gentle, but my six year olds never fail to pick up on them. This is a story that has been around since my childhood and it is as entertaining and fresh a story as it was then. I highly recommend this book.

_Analytical Psychology_ is one of the most succinct, miserly, and potent of all of Carl Jung's works. Most if not all of Jung's most important concepts are crammed into this slim volume. For experienced readers of nonfiction philosophy and psychology, this might be the best place to start reading Jung, especially if all you want is a crash-course in Jung's most important ideas. This is by no means an introductory-level book. For beginners, I would recommend Jung's masterpiece, _Modern Man in Search of a Soul_ (although that one's only slightly easier). _Analytical Psychology_ is for people who are already familier with Jung and want to reach the apex of his psychology, or for experienced readers who want to lean as much as possible about Jungian psychology in as little time as possible. Be forewarned that this book is extremely dense, yet this is a result of the inherent complexity of the subject matter, and not so much a result of bad writing or bad translation. Overall, I would say the knowledge contained in this book is well worth the effort. This book is packed with useful information that can actually improve the quality of your life, increase understanding and control of situations, decrease neurosis, and lead to overall enlightenment. Highly recommended.

This is one of Jung's finest although it makes some demands on the cerebral capacity of the reader. Its main benefit is that the Jungian notions here comes out in their full theoretical depth. It's imperative, namely, to get a thorough and deep understanding of Jungian psychology, otherwise you haven't understood it at all. Jungian psychology is plagued by this problem that the notions are shallowly understood. Not even the very central concept of the archetype is rightly understood in many quarters. But here Jung takes us to the deepest layers of his thinking. The archetype is described as a living complex within the psyche of the individual, as a reasonably autonomous personality with a certain conscious luminosity of its own. This goes for the god-complex, too, although, Jung underlines, this doesn't disprove the existence of a transcendental God. This book handles many important questions and constitutes in fact a survey of Jungian psychology: personal and collective unconscious, anima and animus, transcendental function, etc. As this book is Jungian psychology in a nutshell it could be recommended as introductory, provided that the reader is theoretically adept. In fact, I really recommend taking on this book early when studying Jung in order to avoid shallow miscomprehensions of his psychology. However, as the book thoroughly treats questions concerning the encounter with the unconscious, such as phenomena arising from the assimilation of the unconscious, it is very much directed towards professionals. This book will satisfy the appetite of any person with a theoretical disposition. /Mats W

This work is a comprehensive overview of Jung's major theories. The first essay reviews Jung's major discoveries concerning the unconscious contents of the human psyche: the personal and collective unconscious, Archetypes, and general approaches to including them in conscious awareness. The second essay deals with the specific issues involved in making the unconscious part of human consciousness through a process he called individuation.

In this work Jung suggests that there is a way for modern humans of Western descent to rekindle an experience with the unknown, transcendent reality. He challenges readers to reexamine their assumptions and preconceptions. He urges readers to examine their own experiences and to analyze them without prejudice or preconception, and Jung reports what he has discovered by so doing.

This volume is recommended to anyone who is ready to move to the next level in their reading of Jung; anyone who is involved with a process of psychological transformation and would like some guidance from a non-religious, "scientific" source, and anyone who desires an overview of Jung in his own words. Those unfamiliar with Jung's work might find this volume a bit intimidating.

Never have I seen anything quite like this. This is the definitive book on creativity. & When you don't create, ahhh, the ills that befall us. We fall into an addictive pattern trying desperatedly to recreate that atonement w/God. Failing that, one either drinks, or does whatever to replicate that feeling one more time. Again & again. This book revealed the essence alcoholism. Why certain people drink or create. Simple as that. I've reread this one @ least 2x now. Enjoy your journey.

This is a unique and courageous book, as heartening to the artist as to the addict in each of us. It is a marvelously distilled meditation on creativity's darkness en route to the light. Leonard has deftly woven literary, spiritual, and psychological treatments of the dark night of the soul into a seamless tapestry, and found precious meaning in some of the most devastating aspects of human experience. For anyone facing their own darkness, this book is a welcome and comforting companion, an inspiring guide, and a very wise friend.

This is actually an appreciation - not a literary review. I am an alcoholic in recovery and have an immense gratitude to Linda for writing this book. In her book I found answers, or rather experiences I could relate to, so similar and fitting to many issues burning and un-explained within me. My daimon has been enriched and my recovery program enhanced as a result of reading her great work. I have become a survivor (witness) to the road less travelled up the ladder out of the Abyss - I am no longer terrified to visit that void of darkness because I understand the burning issues of Creativity and Addiction parallels and inter-relations all that much better for reading her book. I am able, daily, one step at a time, to unshackle myself as a hostage to my addiction and choose to harness my creativity productively as a result of being a student of "Witness to the Fire". And I am a student of her work still, and always will be, due to my acceptance of my powerlessness over my lifelong disease and my need for every tool I can find to keep me healthy and strong. But I have chosen to let My Higher Power guide my daily existence and can therefore cope and be creative once more. Linda's book is constantly next to my bedside along with my "Big Book" and "My Recovery Book" - in daily use during my prayers and meditations. You helped save my life Linda - Thank You. Colin Tatham

This is a lay-persons guide to Jungian theory and shows you how to uncover hidden aspects of your personality, how to interpret dreams, develop creativity and improve relationships. It conveys the essence and spirit of jungian thought in a simple and effective way. Lots of interesting stuff on complexes, archetypes and integrating the personality. I found the discussion of the dynamics of relationships very helpful. I just think more focus on practical implementatiuon in the form of exercises would have been even more helpful, otherwise you'll have to read the book over & over again. Includes a good bibliography and index.

This book provides the clearest explanations I have seen yet of many of the stickiest concepts in Jungian psychology. The author's background in Jungian therapy and religious studies are blended together skillfully to produce a readable and instructive introduction to this fascinating subject.

The chapter on typology, a technique for understanding our inner selves and why we are not true to them, is one of the clearest I have ever read.

The concepts of persona, complexes, archetypes, shadow, Anima and Animus, etc., are presented clearly and directly. The author is always careful to ground the information in real-life language and experience, making it meaningful and applicable to the reader.

The book concludes with chapters on dream interpretation and active imagination, spurring readers to discover their own psychic process through the use of these powerful techniques.

While an introductory book, this work provides much to think about. The author's compassion and sense of humor are evident throughout. It is a worthy addition to the library of those interested in Jungian psychology and personal growth.

When this book was recommended as the pre-read for a Caroline Myss workshop, I was apprehensive. I thought it might be way beyond my comprehension. To my delight I found the book very readable, highly interesting, provocative in the ideas and sound in application. Have you ever read a book and wished it was a workshop? This is it! Encore, Pascal!

Although there are many excellent books and articles covering particular aspects of feminism and science, finding a comprehensive text is difficult. I was delighted to discover _Lifting the Veil_ a few years ago, and have been using it ever since as a text in a class I teach, "Feminist Perspectives in Science." It is written with great sensitivity, insight, clarity, and conviction. Shepherd advocates for greater gender balance in the ways science is conceived, practiced, and taught. Specifically she imagines a more inclusive science--inclusive not only of women and people of color, but also inclusive of certain qualities customarily associated with women and customarily undervalued in Western science. Each chapter features one of these qualities: feeling, receptivity, multiplicity, nurturing, cooperation, intuition, relatedness, and social responsibility. Her writing style is engaging and enjoyable to read. Endnotes, bibliography, and commentary within her text are exceptionally illuminating guides to the literature, and inspire and facilitate further reading. Especially important to me as a teacher is that my students like the book, and read it--even the most skeptical males.

Shepherd exposes male bias in science not in an accusatory way but simply by proposing a positive and appealing alternative-- "more creative, more productive, more relevant, and more humane"--noticing how a more "feminine," inclusive science is emerging already in a thousand different ways, and unveiling the places where it has all along been present but unseen. Her book seems to take into account, as if by design, most of the complaints about science voiced by my students. They find in this book a new face of science to which they can relate.

This is a wonderful book that details the difference between how men and women approach science. It demonstrates those charactoristics that women can uniquely bring to science. As a mathematician I was impressed with Dr. Shepherd's rigorous scholarship and enjoyed her interviews with living women scientists. I'm a father of a teenage girl who plans a career in science, and I appreciate the author's efforts to highlight the special ways that women contribute to the scientific effort.

Lifting the Veil shows the feminine perspective in science, instead of the normal male view. This is extremely illuminating, and makes the reader think of new things -- an alternate reality for many male viewers. There is an important message here: when we do not include the feminine perspective, we miss seeing part of reality. The author mixes philosophy, science, and feminism in a very readable way, filled with anecdotes and conversations with both women scientists and men who are not afraid of their feminine sides.

in my humble opinion, Ramana Maharshi was one of the greatest saints of the modern era. in this precious little book he speaks to us from the viewpoint of eternal Brahman, the ground of all being. this wonderful little book is a collection of questions his many visitors would ask. his answers are as close to true knowledge of the Divine as anything i've ever heard or seen. this book is an excellent introduction to the sublime words and methods of this modern saint. this could be a very important guide for the sincere spiritual aspirant who wants to finally know his or her true identity. these truths can take us where knowledge is known by direct perception and words alone utterly fail us.....

There are times in our lives that we need spiritual healing. Hungrily, we seek for self-discovery. We want to know how our
soul and the spiritual world can comfort us when we are so
vulnerable and want to seek an intellectual understanding on
self, mind, spirit, reality, truth and God. While there are
million books written for this very purpose, a simple dialogue
of Maharishi gives us a the basic guidlines about nature and
our existence. It is comforting to read, regardless of ones

previous beliefs about religion. It is a book to return over
and over again.
It is good soul food for students, couples and self-inquirer who seeks peace and harmony.

This is the central source book of all Sage Ramana's teachings. It is concise, clear, precise and to the point. The core of the Sages teaching is in Chapter One titled: "Who am I?" Sage Ramana rarely wrote instructions for spiritual seekers. "Who am I?" was compiled by a seeker Mr. Pillai around 1900. It is an invaluable Jewel to establish "THE TRUE IDENTITY".

We typically identify our selves with the body, mind and intellect. When asked by some one we say "I am so and so, 6ft tall, 180 lbs, doctor, accountant, son of so and so, grand daughter of so and so, resident of Texas etc." We are sick, happy, sad and poor etc. We seek happiness in the material world. All these are modifications of our mind and psyche. Play of the psycho-somatic apparatus. The true source of PEACE and HAPPINESS is to know your "Real and True IDENTITY." Sage Ramana says in the very first page of "Who am I?" that you negate all these forms of false identifications and what remains is "Pure Conciousness." This PURE CONCIOUSNESS devoid of modifications is the gateway to the heart of "TRUE IDENTITY." You are Pure Awareness. Awareness is infinite, eternal, free from concepts of space-time and is "THE ULTIMATE SPIRIT." We can signify it by "Existence-Conciousness-Happiness." "I am 'I'" is Self-Realization. Nothing else. Plain and Simple. "BE". There is no light to see in your meditation, no extra sensory perceptions, no reading palms! If you are trying to become or becoming something "you are mid-stream and sharks are circling around." Give up these gimmicks and don't be taken away from the "ETERNAL TRUTH."

The book also contains a number of chapters where questions posed by sincere seekers and the pertinent answers given by the sage are cataloged, edited and presented clearly.

This is a masterpiece that beckons: "ALL in ONE and ONE in ALL." Your religious faith could be Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islamism, Agnostic ...what ever "ism" you like. The "SAGE ESTABLISED IN THE ONE REALITY" beckons you with warm smile and open heart. Open your heart and SEEK the final PEACE & HAPPINESS. Here and Right Now.

Useful if you don't feel like poring over the Collected Works looking for some of Jung's theorizing on working a dream. You might also check out Jung's Dreams seminar.

Carl Jung says he has analysed more than 2.000 dreams per year, a very impressive number by anyone's standards. In his Dreams book, which a very good collection of many of his dreams experiments, he is after demolishing some Freudian's dreams concepts, mainly the one which asserts that the purpose of dreams is to fulfill infantile sexual wishes repressed in the unconscious, which don't find adequate outlet trough conscious activities.
To add content to this dispute, one has only to have in mind that Jung was a very ardent disciple of Freud in the beginning of his career, but the relationship turned sour after 1914 in the figthing for prestige at the foundation of the Psychanalisys in the beginning of the 20th century.
In Jung's view, dreams are not only wish fulfillers, but they are also compensatory vis-a-vis our daily conscious life. So, the purpose of them is to balance our conscious and unconscious life. So, if life is good, dreams are bad and vice-versa. At the end of his life, Jung said in one of his testimonials that by means of a very representative dream he closed a circle, which meant he got a balanced mental life between unconscious and consciousness.

Also, dreams should be taken not as isolated entities, but rather as a series of concatenated manifestations of the unconscious, something which could be represented by the ancient mandalas (Sanscrit for circle) of many peoples from the ancient world (mayas, hindus, polinesians, etc...), where the ultimate end is to attain a balance mind. Jung's theory of the unconscious is, in my opinion, pretty much more attractive than Freud's, specially in what it regards the timelessness of the unconscious and the unconscious collective.

Reading "Dreams" after reading Freud's "Interpretation of Dreams" is a magnificient experience and the winner is surely the reader, who gets the most of two of the most proeminent and polemical psychanalysts of all times.

About God, Jung said, I don't believe, I know.

As soon as you read 'Dreams', you will have a complete sense of his amazing insights, not only on the subject matter, but on the complete human pysche. And this includes, as I tried to hint at from the very beginning, the very meaning of our existence.

Perhaps there would not be a Jung today, if there had not been a Freud preceding him. But a completely ignorant educated man here says, having read them both, that Jung's proposal is far more clever, ellaborate, comprehensive and convincing.

Jung was a unique scholar, he had a very distinctive ability to blend a lot of knowledge from seemingly unrelated areas of science into pyschology. His biography is an essential starting point to understand how he managed to develop this quality, which I think was key to his original thinking.

'Dreams' is a book of rare brilliance. Thanks to Jung, for providing a 'basis' for all things.

This book was a really interesting and thought provoking first contact with the Jungian concepts of projection, anima and animus and the roles (positive and negative) they play in intimate, heterosexual relationships.

It was a really wonderful read with lots of good and easy explanations (theoretical and practical) of the concepts and it's manifestations. And a wonderful outline of a positive and workable approach to dealing with projections and what their purpose is (in a nutshell, first to break through the barrier that exists between to people and secondly and more often than not just a way of your unconscious to tell you what you have to work on with yourself {if you have strong bigger-than-life-women projections --> get in touch with your inner female/emotions. If you have bigger-than-life-men projections --> get in touch with your inner man/creativity/strive; if you have are heavily attracted to artistic partners it might be that your own artistic potential needs to be worked out).

On the more negative side:
It seemed to treat the male/anima side of the whole equation a lot more indepth than the female/animus part. And there is hardly anything about people who don't match their own gender archetype much or to be more concrete match their opposite gender archetype more than their own. Which might be a result of it being a bit dated by now and it's shortness of only 120 pages.

I as well enjoyed the treatment of at the time rather current discussions about if men and women both have anima and animus. Or if their occurence is gendered.

All in all an excellent introduction though!

Whenever friends plan to get married and we begin to think of gifts this book comes to mind. We were encouraged to read this when in couples counseling in the early months of our marriage 12 years ago. What a help it was for us. I realize that it would be good to read it again everytime someone we know begins those steps toward marriage.

Because of dreams and thoughts that would come to me , I stayed away from developing male friendships because I did not know that I had an unmet need for an emotional attachment with a man.I confused this emotional need with sexual desire so I kept my distance from all men. Not having an emotional attachment with my father left part of me unsatisfied and seeking that attachment. This book helped me see that my yearning was not for sex but for a closeness that was denied me as a boy.