An exploration of the dark or hidden aspect of the persona--what it is, how it originates, how it is formed, and how it can be used to bring wholeness to the personality. Now in trade paperback.
Owning Your Own Shadow
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From the Back Cover
'To honour and accept one's own shadow is a profound religious discipline. It is whole-making and thus holy and the most important experience of a lifetime.'
This powerful work from acclaimed Jungian analyst and best-selling author of 'He', 'She' and 'We' explores our need to 'own' our own shadow – the term Jung used to describe the dark, unlit part of the ego. Robert Johnson guides us through an exploration of the shadow: what it is, how it originates, and how it interacts and is made through the process of acculturation.
Johnson asserts that until we have undertaken the task of accepting and honouring the shadow within us, we cannot be balanced or whole, for what is hidden never goes away, but merely – and often painfully – turns up in unexpected places.
Robert A. Johnson is also the author of 'Inner Work', 'Ecstasy', 'Femininty Lost and Regained' and 'Transformation'.
About the Author
Robert A. Johnson, a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst, is also the author of He, She, We, Inner Work, Ecstasy, Transformation, and Owning Your Own Shadow.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
108 of 115 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book and describes in succint and everyday language, the struggle that each one of us faces. The struggle is described as that where all the areas of our psyches that we ignore and discard and disown as being 'unpleasant' or 'the dark side of our character' sooner or later come back out of the closet, and depending on the degree of repression and denial, unless owned, can be projected with resultant destructiveness. In one very down to earth passage the book describes the polarities and mixed messages we experience in or lives e.g. in business it's important to win, but every Sunday we are taught that humility is important; and how the real work is not to adopt one end of the polarity over another but to embrace both to create a healthy vibrant dynamic paradox. This is where the gold is found in our shadow. This is an excellent book. Very succintly and plainly put.
152 of 165 people found the following review helpful
By cambert
Format:Paperback
Your shadow is all of the bits of your psyche you don't like and don't admit to. Most of them are grim but one or two are the nice bits that you can't handle. Ignoring them doesn't make them go away but you do it anyway. This doesn't stop them demanding expression. Because you can't admit to them, you project them onto other people. You're seeing your own shadow when you look at others and so simultaneously fail to see them and yourself clearly. Result: general unhappiness and inauthentic living. The solution is to fess up, embrace all the bits you pretend aren't there, and take control of how you express them. You achieve this through balance and creative synthesis.
So far, so Jung. Unfortunately, this is as far as the author goes in this slim volume. Johnson presents an overview of part of the Jungian process of individuation. It's fine if that's all you want. If, however, you're struggling to integrate your own shadow, this will serve as little more than a theoretical starting point. Never knowingly specific, Johnson examines no case studies but simply floats charming phrases like 'creative synthesis' with no investigation into what these might mean in practice. He's happy to bob along on the surface of psychological abstraction; if you plan to learn to dive, you'll need a different instructor.
This lack of depth isn't necessarily a flaw, although it restricts the usefulness of the book to readers who want to learn a little of the theory of psychic shadows without engaging with their own. Much more off-putting are the numerous references to Christian scripture. These are what Johnson provides instead of case studies, how he exemplifies the principles he's trying to get across. Unlike Jung, though, he often seems not to recognise them as metaphor and mythology. Nor are they always especially relevant to the point at issue; by halfway through the book they felt more opportunistic than enlightening.
If you haven't come across the concept of the shadow self before, this book could interest you. Be warned though - it contains only directions *to* it, not a map *of* it. It's expensive too, for a text that's both physically and metaphorically thin. If you're already struggling with your shadow, better to look for something more direct and personally engaged - Jung himself, or the Taoists for instance. Under those circumstances, Johnson's book seems only frustratingly vague with a bit of sneaky preaching smuggled in.
So far, so Jung. Unfortunately, this is as far as the author goes in this slim volume. Johnson presents an overview of part of the Jungian process of individuation. It's fine if that's all you want. If, however, you're struggling to integrate your own shadow, this will serve as little more than a theoretical starting point. Never knowingly specific, Johnson examines no case studies but simply floats charming phrases like 'creative synthesis' with no investigation into what these might mean in practice. He's happy to bob along on the surface of psychological abstraction; if you plan to learn to dive, you'll need a different instructor.
This lack of depth isn't necessarily a flaw, although it restricts the usefulness of the book to readers who want to learn a little of the theory of psychic shadows without engaging with their own. Much more off-putting are the numerous references to Christian scripture. These are what Johnson provides instead of case studies, how he exemplifies the principles he's trying to get across. Unlike Jung, though, he often seems not to recognise them as metaphor and mythology. Nor are they always especially relevant to the point at issue; by halfway through the book they felt more opportunistic than enlightening.
If you haven't come across the concept of the shadow self before, this book could interest you. Be warned though - it contains only directions *to* it, not a map *of* it. It's expensive too, for a text that's both physically and metaphorically thin. If you're already struggling with your shadow, better to look for something more direct and personally engaged - Jung himself, or the Taoists for instance. Under those circumstances, Johnson's book seems only frustratingly vague with a bit of sneaky preaching smuggled in.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Someone Nice
Format:Paperback
An excellent book - Johnsons style is long in meaning and short in useless descriptions and words. Its more a picture than a book - a masterpiece like all his books. Its gently and smart written!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Really enjoyed this book, I just wanted an easy clear read about the shadow and I got it. Great book.
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. K. Petersen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect insight in underlayer of your behavior
Jungian explanation of shadow function clearly laid out on a layman's way.
Brilliant way of writing: uncomplicated, witty and from personal experiences combined with... Read more
Brilliant way of writing: uncomplicated, witty and from personal experiences combined with... Read more
Published 23 months ago by A. J. M. Broens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Balance and Harmony
If you would like to unravel who you really are or perhaps you question why you repeat dysfunctional patterns then you could find many answers in this excellent little book. Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2009 by book beaver
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