The Tao of Psychology [Paperback]

Dr. Bolen describes the nature of synchronicity (Jung's concept of meaningful coincidence) and its relationships with the Tao (the Way), ESP, the occurrences of life, flow, and many diverse wisdom teachings. Her language is straightforward, her book very readable. Within its few, tiny pages, it says quite a lot. The author makes a very interesting observation that there is a strong correspondence between ones inner state and one's outer circumstances. Which is the cause and which is the effect? Maybe, per her book, each is both. This leads her to conclude that we can change both simultaneously. On page 61, she writes: "Synchronicity holds the promise that if we will change within, the patterns in our outer life will change also. If the people and events of our lives are here because we have drawn them here, then what happens in our lives apparently by chance or fortune is not really accidental."

This parallels Jung's view that the therapist and patient become a dyad and progress together. Dr. Bolen quotes Jung on page 51, "'The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: If there is any reaction, both are transformed.' In some instances, each personality at that exact moment in time may be unusually susceptible to the particular "chemical" action of the other." This reciprocity is exemplified in romance. From pages 55-6: "When, in everyday life, a person "falls head over heels in love," the loved one has provided the "hook" that attracts the archetypal projection ...What is seen is an archetypal image that is a projection; put another way `Beauty is in the archetype of the beholder'...That person is then reacted to emotionally as if he or she were one and the same as the image." Indeed, such relationships are internally/externally reciprocal as well. Per page 59, "the projection may have a Pygmalion-like effect...in some way influencing her to take on the predetermined role...Synchronicity suggests that the outer world really does reflect the inner world, not just that it seems to."

In support of her thesis, Dr. Bolen describes the holistic view vs. the limited view using the famous "Dermis Probe" (Idries Shah's term and book title) of the blind men and the elephant (page 102) surmising that no extant religious view has all the answers. She asserts on page 76 that psychotherapy helps us to transcend our self-imposed limitations: "Often people have been programmed by overly critical or rejecting parents to accept a limited or negative view of themselves or to be suspicious or mistrustful of others...In order to grow, the mental limits are the handicaps that must be transcended."

Despite the existence of "Negative" synchronicity" (coincidental events that block, hinder, and frustrate what one is attempting),...when a person is following a path with heart, his or her dreams are usually nourishing...Synchronistically, opportunities seem to open fortuitously" (page 94). This seems to parallel Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow. She uses Jung's story of the Chinese rainmaker of Kiaochau, on page 98, and Plato's cave story (page 102) to demonstrate the application of this concept. Though, as she states on page 102, "We can never fully grasp what is boundless, infinite, and eternal," she provides an upbeat view of synchronicity and presents it in a manner that supports the use of free will to affect not only our inner selves (Eastern approach) but also our outer selves (Western approach) in an integrative manner-consistent with Jung's views of Individuation.

This is a great little book on synchronicity i.e. meaningful, but non-causal relationships between events both outer and inner. Dr. Bolen knows her stuff and in this text she manages to pack a lot of interesting information on Jung's notion of synchronicity and her own reflections on its relationship to the Tao and paranormal phenomenon.

This is a quick, educational, entertaining and very thought provoking read. While the book is short, there is a lot of good information. It is also easy to read and very understandable. You need to be a Jungian analyst to follow it unlike many other books on Jung's thought.

This book is also written from a personal perspective. I liked this aspect of it and for me it added value. I can't imagine anyone with an interest in Jung, Tao or the paranormal not finding this book interesting reading.

This book by Bolen reinforced my belief in what Jung talked about regarding synchonicity and circumambulation. A wonderfully written and warm book and easy to read. I learned more about what I already know to be true.