The Way of the Image Quotes

“​There are two aspects to awareness. First there is consciousness, which is the knowing. That is, of course, a sine qua non. First of all, you have to know. If you don't know, there is nothing you can do about it. But the knowing is only the first phase. Some people are very good at this, and they know a great deal about themselves. But then comes the far more difficult phase, the phase of conscience. This is the application of what you are conscious of, meaning that true knowledge has consequences.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image

“To a man, the "other" is mostly woman, and the ultimate "other" is, of course, God.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image

“The Jungian definition indicates that neurosis is a compensation for one-sidedness.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image

“An image (or a dream) can be understood on two levels: the object level, which refers to people and situations as they really exist in the outside world, and the subject level, in which everything is taken on an inner level: that is, people and situations represent parts of the psyche--aspects of the personality.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image

“Active imagination is a very difficult, very powerful technique. It has a tremendous healing power if handled well, as well as a great potential for harm. Like a bad LSD trip it can over- stimulate the psyche, lead to over-identification with archetypal forces and lead to psychosis and institutionalization. It is, therefore, very important to know when it is prudent to use it and when it should be avoided. Of course, astute clinicians can form an informed impression without additional help, but we all sometimes can use guidance from the unconscious.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image

“Like the Sufi story, which tells us about a man who lost a valuable object inside his home but searches for it outside where the light is better, we too seek out convenient outposts from which to apprehend the movement of the Self.”
― Yoram Kaufmann, The Way of the Image