Book Description

Through his bestselling books, noted author and Jungian analyst Robert A. Johnsonhas taken tens of thousands of readers on spiritual and psychological journeys toward inner transformation. In this, his fourth book, he shows how working with our dreams and active imagination can help us integrate our conscious and unconscious selves, thereby leading us to personal wholeness and a more satisfying life. Johnson brings his considerable skills as a therapist and teacher to this clear and easy-to-read guide. Through a practical four-step approach, he shows how we can transform our dreams and imagination into an active, creative part of our lives. Johnson calls his techniques "inner work" be- cause "they are direct, powerful ways of approaching the inner world of the unconscious." By using dreams drawn from real case studies, he guides us through a simple program for analyzing our own dreams. First he points out the symbols present in the dream, and then the particular images that may relate to our inner consciousness. In the third step, he shows how to bring these two elements together in a personally meaningful way. Finally, he explains how to use ceremony to translate the dream into a memorable, physical experience. Johnson also explains how to increase our knowledge of our inner selves through active imagination, which is a special way of using the power of the imagination to develop a working relationship between the conscious and unconscious minds. Once again, he uses a simple four-step exercise and supplements it with sample case studies and anecdotes that help us begin what could well be the most important undertaking in life. By making inner work a personal project, we can begin the journey toward integration of the total self and gain valuable insights into the emotional conflicts and desires that motivate us. Inner Work enables us to "search the hidden depths of [our] own unconscious to find the strengths and resources that wait to be discovered there." Robert A. Johnson is a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst in private practice in San Diego, California. He is the author of He: Understanding Masculine Psychology and She: Understanding Feminine Psychology, which have sold over 100,000 copies each. He has studied at the Jung Institute in Switzerland and at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in India, and he is sought as a speaker worldwide.