Alchemical Active Imagination: Revised Edition

Description

The medieval alchemists were as interested in the discipline of psychological and spiritual transformation as they were in the transmutation of lead into gold. In fact, Jung's study of alchemical texts uncovered a symbolic language that expressed many of his own insights into psychological processes. Here, von Franz examines texts by the 16th-century alchemist Gerhard Dorn, to show the relationship between alchemy and analytical psychology.

Marie-Louise von Franz (1915-1998)was the foremost student of C. G. Jung, with whom she worked closely from 1934 until his death in 1961. A founder of the C. G. Jung Institute of Zurich, she published widely on subjects including alchemy, dreams, fairy tales, personality types, and psychotherapy. Her works includeShadow and Evil in Fairy Tales,The Feminine in Fairy Tales, andThe Interpretation of Fairy Tales.

"Von Franz has a remarkable gift for interpreting and demystifying the difficult symbolism of religious visions, ancient myths, and fairy tales of the common folk. Whether explaining the psychic complexities of gender or racial conflict, or the survival value of our connection to other animals, von Franz is perhaps unsurpassed as the archetypal Jungian."- Library Journal