The Earth Has a Soul: C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life 1st Edition

The Earth Has a Soul: C.G. Jung on Nature, Technology & Modern Life 1st Edition
Author: C. G. Jung ID: 1556433794

Review

"In the excellent choices of Jung’s writings presented here, he shows us what we have lost and how we might find it again."—Joseph L. Henderson, M.D.

About the Author

Editor Meredith Sabini, M.A., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, teacher, and author. She is Director of Depth Psychology Programs, a continuing education providership in Berkeley, California, which specializes in dream seminars and self-care retreats for healing arts professionals.

Paperback: 248 pagesPublisher: North Atlantic Books; 1 edition (May 28, 2002)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1556433794ISBN-13: 978-1556433795 Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Best Sellers Rank: #151,970 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #56 in Books > Medical Books > Psychology > Movements > Jungian #118 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Movements > Humanism #192 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Nature Writing & Essays
You wouldn’t think that we’d need to read about the Earth having a soul. You’d think it would be obvious to us when we step outside and encounter sky, water, flora and fauna. Dr. Jung says, "Sometimes a tree tells you more than can be read in books." This is true, but as he also explains, the development of consciousness caused an estrangement between the modern mind and the Earth, and most of us no longer understand the language of Nature. In addition to this communication breakdown, many of us step outside only to encounter soulless suburban enclaves or cityscapes of cement, glass, steel. So we are also physically and psychologically removed from essential connections.

Dr. Jung was one of our "wise old men" and whether you agree with his findings or not, thinking about them will broaden your perspectives immensely. His approach–that the door to knowledge always opens inward–is not for everyone, and his language is not always crystal-clear. In some of his books, I’ve found myself floundering–not for lack of interest, but because of an often impenetrable density. (I have discovered that Marie Louise Von Franz is very good at decoding and clarifying his work.) However, the quotes in this book are well-chosen for easy access to Dr. Jung’s sometimes difficult thoughts, and each selection is clearly referenced so that you know where to look if you want to read further.

Jung’s respect and devotion for the Earth are evident on every page, but this isn’t ecological finger-wagging about Man’s folly in pursuit of wealth, warfare and technology. It’s about understanding why we do what we do, and correcting existing imbalances.
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was born in Kesswil, Switzerland, a wee lakeside hamlet that had changed little since the Middle Ages. His rustic upbringing gave him the gift of intimate contact with the natural world, a profound source of meaning for him: "Every stone, every plant, every single thing seemed alive and indescribably marvelous." Like his mother, Jung had the ability to access his archaic mind. He had an old soul that was intimately connected with all living creatures, and to the world of dreams. This gave him the unusual ability to observe people and events with extreme clarity, as they truly were.

From the sweet pinnacle of a tranquil, wholesome childhood, the rest of his life was a stunning downhill plunge, as the civilized world fell into ever-growing chaos and catastrophe — rapid industrialization, urbanization, population explosion, two world wars, mustard gas, atomic bombs, holocaust, the rise and fall of Hitler and Stalin. It was an excellent time to become a famous psychiatrist, because this new reality was a steaming cauldron of intense insanity.

Jung provided the world with a new model for understanding the mind. For almost the entire human journey, we had obeyed the laws of nature, like all other animals did. But with the emergence of domestication and civilization, we began violating the laws of life, snatching away some of nature’s power — power that did not belong to us. This cosmic offense created a break that shifted us onto a path of suffering. The gods are now punishing us for our immature and disrespectful impulses.

Jung left behind a huge body of writings, most of which are of little interest to general readers.
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