Placing Psyche is the first in a series of books that will explore the notion of cultural complexes in a variety of settings around the world. The continent of Australia is the focus of this inaugural volume in which the contributors elucidate how the unique geography and peoples of Australia interact and interpenetrate to create the particular "mindscapes" of the Australian psyche. While the cultural complexes of Australia are explored with a keen eye to the specificity of place, history, context, and content, at the same time it becomes obvious that these cultural complexes emerge out of an archetypal background that is not just Australian but global. This volume shows how cultural complex theory itself mediates between the particularity of place and the universality of archetypal patterns.

Placing Psyche is the first in a series of books that will explore the notion of cultural complexes in a variety of settings around the world. The continent of Australia is the focus of this inaugural volume in which the contributors elucidate how the unique geography and peoples of Australia interact and interpenetrate to create the particular "mindscapes" of the Australian psyche. While the cultural complexes of Australia are explored with a keen eye to the specificity of place, history, context, and content, at the same time it becomes obvious that these cultural complexes emerge out of an archetypal background that is not just Australian but global. This volume shows how cultural complex theory itself mediates between the particularity of place and the universality of archetypal patterns.

The twenty-first century could well be Jung's century, just as the twentieth century was Freud's. Jung predicted the demise of secular humanism and claimed we would search for alternatives to science, atheism and reason. We would experience a new and even unfashionable appetite for the sacred. Educated people, however, would not return to unreconstructed religions, because these do not express the life of the spirit as discerned by modern consciousness. The sacred has developed a darker hue, and worshipping symbols of light and goodness no longer satisfies the longings of the soul. The new sacred cannot be contained by the formulas of the past, but nor can we live without a sense of the sacred. We stand in a difficult place: between traditional religions we have outgrown and a pervasive materialism we can no longer embrace. These changes in our culture have come sooner than Jung might have imagined. In his time Jung struck many as eccentric or unscientific. But his works speak to our time since we have experienced the full gamut of Jungian transformations: the unsettlement of Judeo-Christian culture, the rise of the feminine, the onslaught of the dark side, the critique of modernism and positivism, and the recognition that the Western ego is neither the pinnacle of evolution nor the lord of creation. A new life is needed beyond the ego, but we do not yet know what it will look like. The outbreak of strong religion and terrorism are signs of the times, but these are expressions of a distorted and repressed spirit, and not, one hopes, genuine pointers to the future. What the future holds is uncertain, but Jung's prophetic vision helps to prepare us for what is to come, and this will be of great interest to analytical psychologists and psychoanalysts, as well as to theologians, futurists, sociologists, and the general reader.

In The Postsecular Sacred: Jung, Soul and Meaning in an Age of Change, David Tacey presents a unique psychological study of the postsecular, adding a Jungian perspective to a debate shaped by sociology, philosophy and religious studies. In this interdisciplinary exploration, Tacey looks at the unexpected return of the sacred in Western societies, and how the sacred is changing our understanding of humanity and culture. Beginning with Jung's belief that the psyche has never been secular, Tacey examines the new desire for spiritual experience and presents a logic of the unconscious to explain it. Tacey argues that what has fuelled the postsecular momentum is the awareness that something is missing, and the idea that this could be buried in the unconscious is dawning on sociologists and philosophers. While the instinct to connect to something greater is returning, Tacey shows that this need not imply that we are regressing to superstitions that science has rejected. The book explores indigenous spirituality in the context of the need to reanimate the world, not by going back to the past but by being inspired by it. There are chapters on ecopsychology and quantum physics, and, using Australia as a case study, the book also examines the resistance of secular societies to becoming postsecular. Approaching postsecularism through a Jungian perspective, Tacey argues that we should understand God in a manner that accords with the time, not go back to archaic, rejected images of divinity. The sacred is returning in an age of terrorism, and this is not without significance in terms of the 'explosive' impact of spirituality in our time. Innovative and relevant to the world we live in, this will be of great interest to academics and scholars of Jungian studies, anthropology, indigenous studies, philosophy, religious studies and sociology due to its transdisciplinary scope. It would also be a useful resource for analytical psychologists, Jungian analysts and psychotherapists.

Biblical stories are metaphorical. They may have been accepted as factual hundreds of years ago, but today they cannot be taken literally. Some students in religious schools even recoil from the "fairy tales" of religion, believing them to be mockeries of their intelligence. David Tacey argues that biblical language should not be read as history, and it was never intended as literal description. At best it is metaphorical, but he does not deny these stories have spiritual meaning. Religion as Metaphor argues that despite what tradition tells us, if we "believe" religious language, we miss religion's spiritual meaning. Tacey argues that religious language was not designed to be historical reporting, but rather to resonate in the soul and direct us toward transcendent realities. Its impact was intended to be closer to poetry than theology. The book uses specific examples to make its case: Jesus, the Virgin Birth, the Kingdom of God, the Apocalypse, Satan, and the Resurrection. Tacey shows that, with the aid of contemporary thought and depth psychology, we can re-read religious stories as metaphors of the spirit and the interior life. Moving beyond literal thinking will save religion from itself.

The twenty-first century could well be Jung's century, just as the twentieth century was Freud's. Jung predicted the demise of secular humanism and claimed we would search for alternatives to science, atheism and reason. We would experience a new and even unfashionable appetite for the sacred. Educated people, however, would not return to unreconstructed religions, because these do not express the life of the spirit as discerned by modern consciousness. The sacred has developed a darker hue, and worshipping symbols of light and goodness no longer satisfies the longings of the soul. The new sacred cannot be contained by the formulas of the past, but nor can we live without a sense of the sacred. We stand in a difficult place: between traditional religions we have outgrown and a pervasive materialism we can no longer embrace. These changes in our culture have come sooner than Jung might have imagined. In his time Jung struck many as eccentric or unscientific. But his works speak to our time since we have experienced the full gamut of Jungian transformations: the unsettlement of Judeo-Christian culture, the rise of the feminine, the onslaught of the dark side, the critique of modernism and positivism, and the recognition that the Western ego is neither the pinnacle of evolution nor the lord of creation. A new life is needed beyond the ego, but we do not yet know what it will look like. The outbreak of strong religion and terrorism are signs of the times, but these are expressions of a distorted and repressed spirit, and not, one hopes, genuine pointers to the future. What the future holds is uncertain, but Jung's prophetic vision helps to prepare us for what is to come, and this will be of great interest to analytical psychologists and psychoanalysts, as well as to theologians, futurists, sociologists, and the general reader.

The idea of the numinous is often raised in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic contexts, but it is rarely itself subjected to close scrutiny. This volume examines how the numinous has gained currency in the post-modern world, demonstrating how the numinous is no longer confined to religious discourses but is included in humanist, secular and scientific views of the world.
Questions of soul and spirit are increasingly being raised in connection with the scientific exploration of the psyche, and especially in the context of psychotherapy. The contributors to this volume are interested in exploring the numinous in the human psyche, in clinical work, world events, anthropology, sociology, philosophy and the humanities. They originate from multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural backgrounds, bringing a variety of approaches to subjects including:
- Witchcraft: the numinous power of humans
- Jung and Derrida: the numinous, deconstruction and myth
- Accessing the numinous: Apolline and Dionysian pathways
- The role of the numinous in the reception of Jung
"The Idea of the Numinous" will fascinate all analytical psychologists, psychoanalysts, and psychotherapists interested in investigating the overlap between therapeutic and religious interests.

The spiritual life is no longer a specialist concern, restricted to those who belong to religious traditions. The spirituality revolution is a spontaneous movement in society, a significant new interest in the reality of spirituality and its healing effects on life, health, community and well being. The Spirituality Revolution: The Emergence of Contemporary Spirituality recognises that we have outgrown the ideals and values of previous times and reveals an image of the spiritual situation of our era. Recent discoveries in physics, biology, psychology and ecology have begun to restore status to previously discredited spiritual visions of reality and this book illustrates the ways in which we might uncover a universal spiritual wisdom that could transform our splintered world. Topics explored include the current state of the Western experience of spirit, our need for spiritual guidance when we cannot turn to organised religion in their traditional forms, and the creative potentials of spirit in education, personal experience, contemporary philosophy and popular feeling for the environment. The Spirituality Revolution addresses a major social issue which requires immediate attention if we are to creatively respond to spiralling outbreaks of depression, suicide, addiction and psychological suffering. It is a much-needed contribution to the field, of great interest to analytical psychologists, counsellors, educators and social workers, and to all those interested in spirituality and the future of religion. David Tacey is Associate Professor in Psychoanalytic Studies and Reader in Arts and Critical Enquiry at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. He is the author of six books on spirituality, psychology and culture, including Jung and the New Age and Remaking Men.

Just as formal religion appears to dwindle to a minority interest, 'New Age' spirituality gathers increasing momentum and baffles us with its popular appeal. What is more, it has appropriated Jung as one of its spiritual leaders.
In his own trenchant style, David Tacey offers a theoretical and philosophical account of the New Age phenomenon and the archetypal imperatives that have brought it about. He also investigates the popular claim that Jung is a prophet or mystic, and argues that critics have been only too willing to concur with what the New Age has made of him, conspiring to turn Jung into a figure of ridicule. Jung and the New Age redresses the balance, while offering a wide-ranging discussion about the state of consciousness in the New Age culture, and the future of spirituality versus formal religion.

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Today's society faces many problems that cannot be solved by the application of reason, logic or medicine. Some of these include alcoholism, suicide, drug addiction and child abuse to name but a few. Many mental health problems are on the increase such as depression, phobias and anxiety with no obvious solution in sight.

In Gods and Diseases, David Tacey argues that the answers lie in leaving behind the confines of conventional medicine. Instead we should turn towards spirituality and to what he calls 'meaning-making', to make sense of our physical and mental wellbeing and explore how the numinous may help us to heal.

Carl Gustav Jung was the pioneering founder of analytical psychology, a form of analysis that has revolutionised the approach to mental illness and the study of the mind. In this anthology, David Tacey brings together a selection of Jung's essays from his famous Collected Works. Divided into four sections each with a brand new introduction, this book considers 17 of Jung's most important papers covering: the nature of the psyche archetypes religion and culture therapy and healing. This accessible collection is essential reading for undergraduates on analytical psychology courses, those on psychotherapy training courses, and students studying symbolism and dreams, or archetypal approaches to literature, cinema, religious studies, sociology or philosophy. The text is an informative introduction for general readers as well as analysts and academics who want to learn more about C. G. Jung's contribution to psychoanalysis, and how his ideas are still extremely relevant in the world today.

Today's society faces many problems that cannot be solved by the application of reason, logic or medicine. Some of these include alcoholism, suicide, drug addiction and child abuse to name but a few. Many mental health problems are on the increase such as depression, phobias and anxiety with no obvious solution in sight.

In Gods and Diseases, David Tacey argues that the answers lie in leaving behind the confines of conventional medicine. Instead we should turn towards spirituality and to what he calls 'meaning-making', to make sense of our physical and mental wellbeing and explore how the numinous may help us to heal.

The nature of masculinity is a popular subject for contemporary authors, either treated critically from a sociological standpoint, or analysed from a psychological and spiritual perspective.
In Remaking Men: Jung, Spirituality and Social Change, David Tacey argues that we must strive to bridge the gap between these separate traditions - masculinity should neither be hijacked by the spiritual, Jung-influenced men's movement, nor discussed merely as a product of socio-political forces.
Examining his own and other men's experience in a critical and lively discourse he evades the simplistic optimism of the "inner journey" approach and the chronic pessimism of contemporary academic arguments. This is a fascinating and very accessible look at masculinity for those who want to explore self and society with intelligence and soul.

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Carl Gustav Jung was the pioneering founder of analytical psychology, a form of analysis that has revolutionised the approach to mental illness and the study of the mind. In this anthology, David Tacey brings together a selection of Jung's essays from his famous Collected Works. Divided into four sections each with a brand new introduction, this book considers 17 of Jung's most important papers covering: the nature of the psyche archetypes religion and culture therapy and healing. This accessible collection is essential reading for undergraduates on analytical psychology courses, those on psychotherapy training courses, and students studying symbolism and dreams, or archetypal approaches to literature, cinema, religious studies, sociology or philosophy. The text is an informative introduction for general readers as well as analysts and academics who want to learn more about C. G. Jung's contribution to psychoanalysis, and how his ideas are still extremely relevant in the world today.

'The world today hangs by a thin thread, and that thread is the psyche of man' C. G. Jung Jung was the original anti-psychiatrist, who believed that the real patient was not the suffering individual, but a sick and ailing Western civilization. He was not interested in developing a narrow therapy that would help fit the individual into an untransformed society. His true aim, in all of his work, was a therapy of the West. David Tacey introduces the reader to Jung's unique style and approach, which is at once scientific and prophetic. Through a series of close readings of Jung's works, he explores the radical themes at the core of Jung's psychology, and interprets for us the dynamic vision of the whole self that inspires and motivates his work. Extracts are taken from Jung's autobiography, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, and from his collected works, including Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious and Civilization in Transition.

In The Postsecular Sacred: Jung, Soul and Meaning in an Age of Change, David Tacey presents a unique psychological study of the postsecular, adding a Jungian perspective to a debate shaped by sociology, philosophy and religious studies. In this interdisciplinary exploration, Tacey looks at the unexpected return of the sacred in Western societies, and how the sacred is changing our understanding of humanity and culture. Beginning with Jung's belief that the psyche has never been secular, Tacey examines the new desire for spiritual experience and presents a logic of the unconscious to explain it. Tacey argues that what has fuelled the postsecular momentum is the awareness that something is missing, and the idea that this could be buried in the unconscious is dawning on sociologists and philosophers. While the instinct to connect to something greater is returning, Tacey shows that this need not imply that we are regressing to superstitions that science has rejected. The book explores indigenous spirituality in the context of the need to reanimate the world, not by going back to the past but by being inspired by it. There are chapters on ecopsychology and quantum physics, and, using Australia as a case study, the book also examines the resistance of secular societies to becoming postsecular. Approaching postsecularism through a Jungian perspective, Tacey argues that we should understand God in a manner that accords with the time, not go back to archaic, rejected images of divinity. The sacred is returning in an age of terrorism, and this is not without significance in terms of the 'explosive' impact of spirituality in our time. Innovative and relevant to the world we live in, this will be of great interest to academics and scholars of Jungian studies, anthropology, indigenous studies, philosophy, religious studies and sociology due to its transdisciplinary scope. It would also be a useful resource for analytical psychologists, Jungian analysts and psychotherapists.

'Spiritual' forces aren't otherworldly or spooky things - they're the deeper emotional and psychological currents of this world. They are demystified in this book as the subtle and hidden forces that define human existence at its depths. there are many problems in today's society that cannot be resolved by the applications of reason, logic or medical science. these include child abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide. Numerous mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and phobias, are rising dramatically and there seems to be no solution in sight. In this book, David tacey argues that the solution lies in breaking free from the confines of modern medicine. Instead we must turn to spirituality, and to what tacey calls 'meaning-making', to make sense of our physical and mental wellbeing.

The How to Read series provides a context and an explanation that will facilitate and enrich your understanding of texts vital to the canon. These books use excerpts from the major texts to explain essential topics, such as C. G. Jung's dynamic vision of the self, pitted against an ailing Western civilization. Jung was the original anti-psychiatrist, who believed that the real patient was not the suffering individual, but a sick and ailing Western civilization. His true aim, in all of his work, was a therapy of the West. David Tacey introduces the reader to Jung s unique style and approach, which is at once scientific and prophetic. He explores the radical themes at the core of Jung s psychology, and interprets the dynamic vision of the whole self that inspires and motivates Jung s work."

Does the earth have a spirit or soul? Science and rationality have not taught us how to love or care for the earth. The mythic bonds to nature, such as those found in Aboriginal Australian cultures, appear to have real survival value because they bind us to the earth in a meaningful way. When these bonds are destroyed by excessive rationality or a collapse of cultural mythology, we are left alone, outside the community of nature and in an alienated state. Jung was one of the first thinkers of our time to consider the psychic influence of the earth and the conditioning of the mind by place. Inspired by his writings and those of James Hillman, the field of eco-psychology has arisen as a powerful new area of inquiry. Edge of the Sacred: Jung, Psyche, Earth contributes to global eco-psychology from an Australian perspective.

the spiritual quest is timeless and ongoing. For David tacey, the quest incorporates key issues such as the redefining of our human identity, a new consciousness about Aboriginal reconciliation, a recognition of youth culture and its spiritual directions, our quest for environmental integrity, and our responsibility to community and to each other. Ultimately, the quest is for a re-enchantment that enables us to overcome our alienation, allowing us, at the beginning of this new century, to build a more harmonious and integrated Australian society. Here, with great exuberance, is David tacey's visionary scholarship and devotion to purpose - clearing away the cobwebs and slander and overburden which have stifled and diminished the culture of spirituality in Australia. p>David's work is not just about spirituality; it is, in its function and its lilt, profoundly spiritual - vibrantly so - in that it cultivates and heartens and defends the deepest, most true and lovely possibilities for this country. - Michael Leunig

The idea of the numinous is often raised in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic contexts, but it is rarely itself subjected to close scrutiny. This volume examines how the numinous has gained currency in the post-modern world, demonstrating how the numinous is no longer confined to religious discourses but is included in humanist, secular and scientific views of the world.
Questions of soul and spirit are increasingly being raised in connection with the scientific exploration of the psyche, and especially in the context of psychotherapy. The contributors to this volume are interested in exploring the numinous in the human psyche, in clinical work, world events, anthropology, sociology, philosophy and the humanities. They originate from multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural backgrounds, bringing a variety of approaches to subjects including:
- Witchcraft: the numinous power of humans
- Jung and Derrida: the numinous, deconstruction and myth
- Accessing the numinous: Apolline and Dionysian pathways
- The role of the numinous in the reception of Jung
"The Idea of the Numinous" will fascinate all analytical psychologists, psychoanalysts, and psychotherapists interested in investigating the overlap between therapeutic and religious interests.