Rumi & Self Psychology

by MA Roya R. Rad

Two astonishing perspectives for the discipline and science of self Rumi s Poetic language vs. Carl Jung s psychological Language. Rumi & Self Psychology (Psychology of Tranquility) combines the poetry of Rumi with Carl Jung's concepts of the self and explains notions such as self-discovery, self-actualization, self-liberation, self-determination, self-assertion, and self-knowledge. Each chapter offers an explanation from a self-psychology perspective, a series of Rumi's poems, and a series of famous quotes relating to the subject. This book combines the concepts of Rumi and Carl Jung to help the reader become familiar with the concept of self. This book will use a combination of psychological and spiritual approaches in an attempt to face, and communicate with the reader, the reality of the deeper layers of a person's being; the self's different aspects. Hopefully, it will help the reader in understanding the concept of self. The meanings of the poems of Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet who is said to be one of the most popular poets in the West as well as the East, are explained in this book. In addition, Carl Jung's concepts of self are combined in an attempt to form an explanation of an expanded and well-developed self. Jung was the Swiss psychiatrist who founded the concept of analytical psychology.

Genres: Psychology

100 pages, Paperback

First published July 23, 2008

Reviews

[Sarah]

This was such a treat.

[Ada Unal]

I’ve been reading Rumi for years, so I was intrigued by the premise of linking his work to self psychology. Rad makes a compelling case for how his poetry anticipates many modern psychological insights about identity and emotional development.

The book’s strength lies in its analysis of specific poems and how they map onto concepts like mirroring, self-cohesion, and transformation. Rad doesn’t force the connections, rather they emerge naturally from the text. I found myself returning to certain passages with fresh perspective, particularly around the idea of the wounded self and healing through connection.

There are moments where the framework feels slightly constrained for the breadth of Rumi’s mysticism, but that’s minor. The interdisciplinary approach is thoughtful and well-researched, offering genuine insight rather than superficial parallels.

If you’re interested in how classical poetry intersects with contemporary psychology, or if you want a deeper framework for understanding Rumi beyond the surface-level quotes that circulate online, this is a valuable contribution. It treats both subjects with the seriousness they deserve!