Wednesday, September 5, 2012

"A confrontation with the unconscious"

 Carl Jung never had the confidence to publish The Red Book during his life, so he kept it hidden. Liber Novus (The Red Book) did not see the light of publication until 2009.
 The Red Book is an exploration of the unconscious of a man who dared to expose the intimate fabric of his thoughts, emotions and fantasies. As a result of this journey through the unconscious, Carl Gustav Jung  created unconventional characters, beautiful scenes and dialogues that reflect on different subjects.Aside from profound reflections, an important feat of this book is the potential to open your mind and fuel your imagination. You may find that some parts are incomprehensible, but the wisdom and the inspiring musings compensate for that lack of clarity.
  The book also includes illustrations-mandalas- made by Carl Jung (1875-1961). These mandalas are circular drawings  that, according to Jung, expressed his inner situation and allowed him to observe his psychic transformations. The symmetry of the figures that he created may have been related to his search for inner peace amid his emotional turmoil. .
 This is a book that delves into universal subjects: the balance between solitude and being in good social terms; the desire and the quest to develop our own inner life; the social forces that are in conflict with our own motivations; dreams and their significance. Jung opens up a vast universe of thoughts and ideas. The beauty of the images, and the richness of the metaphors and symbols contribute to a delightful read of exquisite literary value. You need to read it with an open mind, albeit some of the reflections will be welcomed by a pragmatic one as well.
 Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of this book is that much of its content has relevance today, almost one hundred years after it was written, a sign that human nature continues to struggle with the same dilemmas.
 I believe that this book is a testimony of Carl Jung's open minded approach to psychology. This openness  allowed him to create new paths and ideas in the development of psychoanalysis. Jung was a pioneer in the analysis and interpretation of dreams as a way to reveal the unconscious mind. He also developed the idea of the collective unconscious, archetypes and synchronicity.
 To finish this post I will share this link that has some of his inspiring, thought-provoking quotes.

18 comments:

  1. I would never have thought of reading this book before your review, but giving the background and how you describe the book, I am intrigued! Thanks for this review! I'll definitely look this one up.

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    1. Wow, Karen. I never thought I would have such an impact. Thanks for your encouraging feedback.

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  2. Interesting post, Julia! Like Karen, I hadn't thought of reading Jung before your review, but it is intriguing... especially for writers! Thanks for this!

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    1. Thanks, Kimberly. I do believe it is fascinating.

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  3. I've read a bit of Jung's work, but not this one. I'll have to find it.

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    1. I enjoy reading his thoughts and ideas. If you have anything in mind to recommend, let me know.

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  4. Thanks for the link to Divine Virtuousity and to what you rightly describe as thought-provoking quotes!! Amazing how Jung didn't have the confidence to publish this particular book and yet his quotes are telling him exactly how to to conquer such fears! Take care
    x

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    1. Good point. He did share the Red Book with friends and colleagues and people helped him to edit it, but they discouraged him from publishing it. Jung was a physician, a psychiatrist, and publishing it could have had a bad effect on his reputation.

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  5. I've never looked into his work. Thank you for sharing. Very interesting. Xx

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    1. Thank you for commenting, Michelle. I'm glad you find it interesting.

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  6. I'm an admirer of Jung's ideas, just read a little about him and some of his ideas. This book sounds wonderful. I also went to the site above and really enjoyed (and bookmarked) the quotes. Thanks, Juliana for a good share.

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    1. You are welcome, Elizabeth. Yes, I think it is a mind opener.

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  7. Hilary. I read your comment. I don't know why it does not appear here, but I read it from my inbox. Yes, I will contact you after I write that blog entry.

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  9. Thank you for sharing Carl Jung's work. I did not know about it, though I studied about him in my Psychology class.

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  10. Yes, Rachna. I believe psychology and literature are intimately connected...

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