Erich Neumann Books

The modern world has witnessed a dramatic breakthrough of the dark, negative forces of human nature. The "old ethic," which pursued an illusory perfection by repressing the dark side, has lost its power to deal with contemporary problems. Erich Neumann was convinced that the deadliest peril now confronting humanity lay in the "scapegoat" psychology associated with the old ethic. We are in the grip of this psychology when we project our own dark shadow onto an individual or group identified as our "enemy," failing to see it in ourselves. The only effective alternative to this dangerous shadow projection is shadow recognition, acknowledgement, and integration into the totality of the self. Wholeness, not perfection, is the goal of the new ethic.

Contains essays that reveal a concern about the one-sidedness of patriarchal Western civilization. They discuss the psychological stages of woman's development, the moon and matriarchal consciousness, Mozart's Magic Flute, the meaning of the earth archetype for modern times, and the fear of the feminine.

The Origins and History of Consciousness draws on a full range of world mythology to show how individual consciousness undergoes the same archetypal stages of development as human consciousness as a whole. Erich Neumann was one of C. G. Jung's most creative students and a renowned practitioner of analytical psychology in his own right. In this influential book, Neumann shows how the stages begin and end with the symbol of the Uroboros, the tail-eating serpent. The intermediate stages are projected in the universal myths of the World Creation, Great Mother, Separation of the World Parents, Birth of the Hero, Slaying of the Dragon, Rescue of the Captive, and Transformation and Deification of the Hero. Throughout the sequence, the Hero is the evolving ego consciousness. Featuring a foreword by Jung, this Princeton Classics edition introduces a new generation of readers to this eloquent and enduring work.

This landmark book explores the Great Mother as a primordial image of the human psyche. Here the renowned analytical psychologist Erich Neumann draws on ritual, mythology, art, and records of dreams and fantasies to examine how this archetype has been outwardly expressed in many cultures and periods since prehistory. He shows how the feminine has been represented as goddess, monster, gate, pillar, tree, moon, sun, vessel, and every animal from snakes to birds. Neumann discerns a universal experience of the maternal as both nurturing and fearsome, an experience rooted in the dialectical relation of growing consciousness, symbolized by the child, to the unconscious and the unknown, symbolized by the Great Mother. Featuring a new foreword by Martin Liebscher, this Princeton Classics edition of The Great Mother introduces a new generation of readers to this profound and enduring work.

Unfolding the spiritual and mythical background of the pagan narrative, this book shows how the contest between the mortal maid Psyche and the great goddess Aphrodite over the god Amor yields insights into the psychic life of women.

In 1934, Erich Neumann, a prominent disciple of Carl Gustav Jung, explores the intersection of psychology and spirituality. The book delves into Neumann's innovative theories on the development of consciousness, emphasizing the importance of myth and archetypes in understanding the human psyche. By integrating Jungian concepts with his own insights, Neumann offers a profound examination of the evolution of the individual and collective unconscious, making significant contributions to both psychology and the study of culture.

The first volume of this previously unpublished work by Erich Neumann presents a fully annotated exploration of his philosophical and psychological insights developed between 1934 and 1940. Written during his early years as a disciple of Jung after fleeing Berlin for Tel Aviv, the text reflects Neumann's evolving thoughts and contributions to depth psychology. This significant work offers a unique perspective on the intersection of philosophy and psychology during a tumultuous period in history.

Exploring the intersection of analytical psychology with literature and art, this collection of essays by a prominent student of C. G. Jung delves into profound connections that reveal the psychological underpinnings of creative expression. The work highlights how Jungian concepts can enhance our understanding of artistic endeavors, offering fresh insights into both psychological theory and the artistic process.