The Image of an Oracle

by Ira Progoff

A study of a psychic by a depth psychologist.

372 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1964

About the author

The former director of Dialogue House, Dr. Ira Progoff has worked toward a dynamic, humanistic psychology as private therapist, lecturer, and group leader. He has served as Bollingen Fellow and as Director of the Institute for Research in Depth Psychology at Drew University. He was a leading authority on C.G. Jung, depth psychology and transpersonal psychology as well as journal writing.

Dr. Progoff completed his doctoral dissertation on the psychology of C.G. Jung from the New School for Social Research in New York City. His thesis was published in 1953 as Jung's Psychology and Its Social Meaning. He is best known for his development of the Intensive Journal® Program and the Process Meditation method.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am about a fifth of the way through the book and I am puzzled. I don't understand Progoff's hypothesis or methodology to converse with the spirits who speak through Eileen Garrett, a well known medium in the '50's to '70's (I'm not sure of the dates, so I will update later). Progoff seems to approach the spirit guides as parts of Eileen's psyche, as possible personalities of hers. I see the conversations as conversations with spirits who use Eileen as a channel through which they speak. One of the spirits could be a past life of Eileen's spirit, too.

Progoff recorded the conversations with the four spirits and after each conversation, he provides a psychological analysis of the conversation, section by section. It's going to be an interesting book to read. I hope to understand Progoff's hypothesis better and understand his methodology better as I continue reading.

For anyone interested in spiritualism, you might enjoy this book.