Swamplands of the Soul: New Life in Dismal Places (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysis) - Softcover

Hollis, James

  • 4.37 out of 5 stars
    1,089 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780919123748: Swamplands of the Soul: New Life in Dismal Places (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysis)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0919123740 ISBN 13: 9780919123748
Publisher: Inner City Books, 1996

Synopsis

Is the purpose of life to achieve happiness? Who does not long to arrive some distant day at that sunlit meadow where we may abide in pure contentment? In reality we know life is not like that; our road is often dreary, the way unclear. Much of the time we are lost in the dismal states of guilt, grief, betrayal, doubt, depression, anger, terror and the like. Is this all we can hope for? Perhaps not, says this author. The Jungian perspective, by encompassing both the meadow and the bog, asserts that the goal of life is not happiness but meaning. And meaning, though it may not be all sunlight and blossoms, is real. Swamplands of the Soul explores the quicksands where we have all floundered. It lights a beacon by showing what they mean in terms of our individual journey and the engendering of soul. For it is precisely where we encounter the gravitas of life that we also uncover its purpose, its dignity and its deepest meaning.

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Review

Life is a constant and cascading series of struggles large and small with the vicissitudes and setbacks of life. States of happiness and contentment are ephemeral and under constant erosion by states of guilt, grief, betrayal, doubt, depression, deprivation, anger, terror, and change. Swamplands Of The Soul: New Life In Dismal Places presents the Jungian perspective: By encompassing both the meadow and the bog, the goal of life is not happiness but meaning. And meaning, though it may not be all sunlight and blossoms, is nonetheless real. Swamplands Of The Soul explores the quicksands where we have all been entrapped from time to time. Swamplands Of The Soul lights a beacon by showing what these "quicksands" mean in terms of our individual journey through life and the engendering of soul. For as James Hollis maintains, it is precisely where we encounter the "gravitas" of life that we also uncover its purpose, its dignity and its deepest meaning. Thoughtful and reflective reading. --Midwest Book Review

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Inner City Books
Publication date
1996
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0919123740
ISBN 13 
9780919123748
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1
Number of pages
157
Rating
  • 4.37 out of 5 stars
    1,089 ratings by Goodreads