The Spiral Way: A Woman's Healing Journey

Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts #25

by Aldo Carotenuto, John Shepley (Translator)

Detailed account of a 50-year-old woman's Jungian analysis, during which she recovers her energy and sense of self-worth. The emphasis here is on the importance of dreams, which point the way at times of transition.

Genres: Psychology

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1986

About the author

Professor of personality theory at the University of Rome and the director of the Review of Analytical Psychoanalysis and the Historical Journal of Dynamic Psychology.

Reviews

[Andrés · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this review by giving The Spiral Way 4 stars, but as I thought about what to write I struggled to find why it isn't a 5 star book. So 5 stars.

Why? Well, as it turns out, for three main reasons. I learned a lot about a few things, and I liked his subject and how he presented it. I have read many Jung and Jungian books, and this is the first that has detailed the process of a person's analysis so as to help us understand not just the healing process, but also the analyst's roles, responsibilities and feelings. It was fascinating to me watching him see what the dream was speaking.

I have read all of these aspects before, of course, but not in this way, with concision and a straight to the point look at the legitimate criticisms that are justifiably brought against 'talk' therapy. Is it manipulation, with the therapist a kind of Mesmer? Why it isn't a science, and how to deal with that. (A: have a great broad education and pay attention to the dream as a guide to whether or not the educated guess is moving 'things' in the client in a way that is healing. Yes, the dream will tell when the direction of talk is not helping.)

What I learned, more than this though, is some aspects of myself, my Self and my partner. I will move forward with a greater understanding of all three. As a kind of confirmation of the value this book has for me at this time I was given several, perhaps even many, small and big synchronicities as I was reading. Some came about with other books I am reading, such as Bone: Dying into Life by Marion Woodman and RECOVERY 2.0: Move Beyond Addiction and Upgrade Your Life by Tommy Rosen, as well as with personal events.

His writing is clear and asks us to think about things without being heavy handed. I read this in less than two weeks at a time when I am more or less actively reading about 4 other books.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ‘consumed’ this book in just a few hours. That’s partly because it wasn’t very long (125 pages) but mostly because it was just so fascinating and helpful. I’ve read a great many books describing a Jungian analysis. This was the first where the analyst talked about how he did his work, what he paid particular attention to, and what he recognized as dangerous and avoided. My admiration for the profession and for my own analyst has been exponentially deepened by Carotenuto’s writing.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty involved reading