This is an excellent introduction to Jungian dream interpretation as well as Active Imagination. You don't have to have a background in Jungian though...moreThis is an excellent introduction to Jungian dream interpretation as well as Active Imagination. You don't have to have a background in Jungian thought or psychology to get something from this book. It's a rich source for the layperson who simply wants to know themself better.(less)
I believe I finished this one in 2009. It was one of the first two books I read by Carl Jung. It was edited by Joseph Campbell, and I think he did an ...moreI believe I finished this one in 2009. It was one of the first two books I read by Carl Jung. It was edited by Joseph Campbell, and I think he did an excellent job of choosing which of Jung's writings to include in order to provide a well-rounded look at Jung's work, so that someone new to Jung can in a sense put it all together and get an idea what they want to know more about for further reading. This and Memories, Dreams, Reflections were recommended to me as good choices for someone new to Jung.(less)
If you were under the illusion and set on believing that Aran style knitting, as we know it today, has existed for centuries, this book may turn your ...moreIf you were under the illusion and set on believing that Aran style knitting, as we know it today, has existed for centuries, this book may turn your world upside down. If you just want to know how it might have come about and aren't married to any particular theory, you'll likely love this book. I love it, especially, as usual, the patterns, which even if I never knit them, I'll turn to for inspiration again and again. Ms. Starmore never fails to disappoint me.(less)
If you like to knit with color, this book goes into a few techniques, but not in great detail. It assumes one is an experienced knitter in that regard...moreIf you like to knit with color, this book goes into a few techniques, but not in great detail. It assumes one is an experienced knitter in that regard. The charts are what I bought this for, and of course the photos of Alice Starmore's knitted designs as well as some reference photos that show how she came up with some of her designs. She is truly a knitwear artist, with stunning color sense, a sense of knitting history that gives her an interesting perspective, and she's also a great photographer and nature lover. I recommend this and all her books, but especially along these same lines, I also recommend her book on Fair Isle Knitting, which is loaded with charts and inspiring photos. I don't have all her books, but of those I do have, I can't think of one that I regret buying, and I go back to them again and again.(less)
If you've ever wondered what happened to the Goddess in ancient belief and myth, why She vanished, as well as why women have been treated so abysmally...moreIf you've ever wondered what happened to the Goddess in ancient belief and myth, why She vanished, as well as why women have been treated so abysmally at certain times in history in nearly every culture, this makes fascinating and disturbing reading.
According to the author, in nearly every culture that has a phonetic alphabet, there was a kind of culture shock that occurred, first when the alphabet was developed and a lot of people became literate, and later when printing became common. These culture shocks came in waves accompanied by violence and/or oppression, especially against women. These periods of time, at least in the West, also coincided with the growth and spread of monotheistic religions that banished images as "graven" or evil, and reformations of those religions, particularly those that renewed the idea that images were bad and the written word was good. (Confucianism apparently arrived with similar shock waves in the East.) In addition to these effects coinciding with the spread of alphabetic writing and monotheistic religion, they also coincided with the spread of Cartesian ideals that put science and rational thought above faith, nature, irrational thought and the arts, and again with the rise of both atheism and Marxism.
I won't go into much detail, because really the details need to be read as they're presented in the book in order to make the most sense, and I feel that I have a loose grasp on them. This book bears rereading, for me at least. But I recommend it. Any tiny inaccuracies are excusable considering the amount of information the author sifted through to draw his conclusions.
Overall, the conclusions drawn make sense to me. The book doesn't promote illiteracy or a return to a more "backward" culture, as one might conclude before reading it. It promotes balance, much like what Jung would no doubt encourage, between rational and irrational, masculine and feminine, Logos and Eros, science and belief, and nature and civilization. It's easy to see how the spread of the written word and the banishing of images occurring at the same time created an imbalance that people didn't know how to adapt to. One hopes that our increased understanding of human psychology and our need for balance will help us to adapt better to the similar shock waves that occur as we continue to evolve.
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This is one of those books I hope I'll read again, maybe in five years or so. The reason is that I'm sure I would have gotten something different from...moreThis is one of those books I hope I'll read again, maybe in five years or so. The reason is that I'm sure I would have gotten something different from it at 20 than I did at 25, at 50 than I did at 55. If it had been published then and I'd first read it at 20, I can see how it would have been helpful to make it a ritual every few years of my adult life. Every woman has lived at least one of these stories. (Some of them men will have lived as well.) These are the stories that our life paths tunnel through, containing the archetypes that both drive us and grow us. What I love most is how the author illustrates that even the most painful experiences can also be necessary healing and growing experiences, all somehow folded together like one of those delicate pastries which, the whole time you're eating it, you puzzle over where the crust ends and the filling begins. That is not to say this book is all sweet dessert. In fact, there's a lot of darkness here, and that's an important aspect of it. It's been a life-changing book for me, and has come at a time of deep introspection (which is the reason I picked it up). This isn't light reading. It isn't really heavy reading either, but it pays to stop and digest each chapter.
There was a rather uncanny thing that happened to me while reading it, some of the chapters seemed to open up for me at times when I was dealing with, or was about to deal with, just those issues. I joked to friends that on Halloween I was reading the chapter on Skeleton Woman. It inspired me to commemorate the Day of the Dead this year, to honor my loved ones who've passed on. Shortly after that I learned of the violent death of someone I knew, and it seemed that reading that chapter had been just the dark medicine needed at that time. A few of the other chapters seemed to parallel similar stories in my life as well, though not with quite with that same impact. It's been a few days since I finished, and I still have this book resonating in my mind. (less)
I'm only through the first volume and part way into the second, but I can't bear to delay praising this two-volume set. This is an incredibly rich and...moreI'm only through the first volume and part way into the second, but I can't bear to delay praising this two-volume set. This is an incredibly rich and helpful collection of Barbara Hannah's lectures on the animus, bringing together years of her work. There is some repetition, entirely understandable considering the editorial task of bringing all this material together in two volumes. The editors have been meticulous in ensuring we don't miss anything and are careful to note where something may be repeated, as well as where psychiatric developments since the time of Barbara Hannah's lectures on the topic can reveal more about some of the cases discussed, particularly that of the medieval nun Jeanne Fery.
I'm happy that I already had grown to respect Barbara Hannah's presentation of Jungian material so that I knew to snatch up these books as soon as they were available.
I'm sure that some of this material repeats in other books in which Hannah discusses the animus, especially in Striving Towards Wholeness, which is still in my reading pile. But I'm getting more out of this collection than I've been able to find in bits and pieces as regards the animus in all my prior readings. The animus is difficult to find material on, since a lot of the writings on anima/animus have been more focused on the anima in men, and the animus can't be explored in precisely the same way. I used to try to replace anima with animus and male with female, thinking that would work to help me understand. It didn't. It's apparently more difficult for a woman to identify where her animus is influencing her in her day to day behavior and communications, and the animus presents itself somewhat differently than the anima to begin with. Barbara Hannah brings not only her work with Jung and other analysts, her extensive reading, and her work with clients to bear, but also her experience of the animus in her personal life and what worked for her in striving to come to terms with it.
I don't recommend this for someone who is new to Jung. There are much better ways to introduce yourself to Jungian ideas. (Robert A. Johnson is probably the simplest place to begin.) I think without a solid foundation, you'd find yourself floundering about in this material. But for anyone ready to explore the animus in depth, this should be required reading.(less)
As pure entertainment, this is a great book. It's not pure junk reading, though, since it deals with coming of age and choosing the path least travele...moreAs pure entertainment, this is a great book. It's not pure junk reading, though, since it deals with coming of age and choosing the path least traveled. There's a lot to ponder here, if you're the pondering type. Otherwise it's a fun book to speed through, visit another world for a while, go on a little adventure. Perfect escapist reading. You'll get out of it what you bring to it. I consider it one of Anne McCaffrey's best.
The main character, Killashandra Ree, has been studying music intently for ten grueling years, only to learn that she's judged not to have the vocal ability (because of an unfortunate, barely audible burr in her voice) to be an operatic diva, one who will sing lead roles or solos. Not being the type to settle for any less, she drops everything, leaves the music academy, and takes up with a charming off-worlder named Carrik, who takes her on a tour of her home planet, Fuerte, showing her how to live extravagantly and freely, enjoying herself for once in her, to this point, studious and dedicated life. Then she learns that he's a Crystal Singer, and she grows curious to know exactly what that is.
I won't say more, because it's so much fun to read the first time. I pick it up every few years when I want something light and fast to read.
As far as pondering goes, I can see Killashandra's character appeal as an exploration of my shadow, since I'm the complete opposite, not wanting the limelight at all. I'm not the adventurous sort either. So Killa's need to reach for top billing in her chosen occupation, and her drive to succeed at nearly all costs, is foreign territory to me. Perhaps that's what makes the story so intriguing to me through numerous readings.(less)
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