Understanding the Moments That Touch and Transform Our Lives

Who hasn't experienced that eerie coincidence, that sudden, baffling insight, that occasional flash of extrasensory perception that astonishes? Can these events be dismissed as mere chance, or do they have some deeper significance for us?

The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this classic explores the inter-relationship between these meaningful coincidences and our intuitive sense that we are part of some deep oneness with the universe -- a oneness called Tao in Eastern philosophy and synchronicity in Jungian psychology. By relating the concepts of Tao and synchronicity, Dr. Bolen reveals important links between psychology and mysticism, right brain and left, the individual and the external world. The Tao of Psychology provides the key for each individual to interpret the synchronistic events in his or her life and gives fresh insight into the relationships, dreams, and flashes of perception that transform our existence.

Best-selling author and Jungian analyst Jean Shinoda Bolen's vivid grasp of the story and the characters in The Ring of the Nibelung brings Richard Wagner's mythic four-opera cycle to life. The Ring Cycle has a hold on our imagination like no other operatic work, because it is archetypal, and has the power of myth as well as music, to reverberate in the psyche. As in her acclaimed Goddesses in Everywoman and Gods in Everyman, Bolen shows how myth illuminates psychology, and more -- Ring of Power goes beyond the psychology of the individual, to examine dysfunctional families and patriarchal institutions.

In "The Rhinegold", "The Valkyrie", "Siegfried", and "Twilight of the Gods", we see how the pursuit of power can be destructive to the personality and relationships. In "Freeing Ourselves from the Ring Cycle", Bolen describes how seeing the truth and acting upon what we know can liberate us, and lead to authenticity and individuation. "Beyond Valhalla: A Post-Patriarchal World?" provides a provocative and hopeful speculation on the possibilities of the return of the repressed feminine into society that is a millennial potential.

At some point after fifty, every woman crosses a threshold into the third phase of her life. As she enters this uncharted territory -- one that is generally uncelebrated in popular culture -- she can choose to mourn what has gone before, or she can embrace the juicy-crone years.

In this celebration of Act Three, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Jungian analyst and bestselling author of Goddesses in Everywoman, names the powerful new energies and potentials -- or archetypes -- that come into the psyche at this momentous time, suggesting that women getting older have profound and exciting reasons for welcoming the other side of fifty.

Jean Shinoda Bolen's celebrated work of female psychology that uses seven archetypical goddesses to describing behavior patterns and personality traits, as relevant and timeless today as when it was first published thirty years ago. Myths are fascinating stories that become even more intriguing when we realize that they can reveal intimate truths about ourselves and others. Jean Shinoda Bolen brings the Greek pantheon to life as our inner archetypes and applies the power of myth to our personal lives. Once we understand the natural progression from myth to archetype to personal psychology, and realize that positive gifts and negative tendencies are qualities associated with a particular goddess within, we gain powerful insights. Depending on which goddess is more active within, one woman might be more committed to achieving professional success, while another more fulfilled as a wife and mother. From the autonomous Artemis and the cool Athena to the nurturing Demeter and the creative Aphrodite, she teaches women how to decide which to cultivate and which to overcome, and how to tap the power of these enduring archetypes to become a better "heroine" in their own life story.

The companion volume to Goddesses in Everywoman reveals the powerful inner patterns, or archetypes, that shape men's personalities, careers, and personal relationships-offering a insights into Greek mythology, Jungian archetypal psychology, and into themselves and the people in their lives. A Jungian analyst, Dr. Bolen introduces our inner patterns in the guise of eight archetypal gods. From the authoritarian, power-seeking gods (Zeus, Poseidon) to the gods of creativity (Apollo, Hephaestus) to the sensual Dionysis, Dr. Bolen shows men how to identify their ruling gods, how to decide which to cultivate and which to overcome, and how to tap the power of these enduring archetypes in order to enrich and strengthen their lives. She stresses the importance of understanding which gods you are attracted to and which are incompatible with your expectations, uncovers the origins of the often-difficult father-son relationship, and explores society's deep conflict between nurturing behavior and the need to foster masculinity. In Gods in Everyman, Dr. Bolen presents us with a compassionate and lucid male psychology that will help all men and women to better understand themselves and their relationships with their fathers, their sons, their brothers and their lovers.

In this new book, Crones Don't Whine, Bolen's playful sense of humor and keen insight combine to offer women thirteen qualities to cultivate. Engage in these small practices and you're bound to be a happier person who's doing her bit to make the world a better place. "These qualities are not cultivated overnight," Bolen writes. Crone years are "growing" years, when women can devote their time, energy, and creativity to what really matters to them. Bolen offers us a blueprint: Crones don't whine. They're juicy, and they trust their own instincts. They don't grovel. They do meditate. They choose the path with heart. Crones are fierce about what matters most to them. They speak the truth with compassion. They listen to their bodies, reinvent themselves as needed, and savor the good in their lives. Turn to these thirteen brief pieces again and again, in bad times and good, alone and with others - because "Crones Together Can Change the World," as Bolen points out in an inspirational, call-to-arms bonus essay.

Serving as a call for women over 50 to empower themselves, these quirky, spiritual essays encourage women to stand up for their rights and desires by providing 13 positive mantras. This guide helps women live out their later years with gusto as they experience the benefits of meditation, learn to speak with honesty and compassion, listen to their bodies, and savor the world around them. Para llamar la atencion de todas las mujeres maduras, estos ensayos jocosos y espirituales proponen que las mujeres cultiven estas trece cualidades positivas para vivir la etapa de vejez con gusto. Porque las ancianas son atrevidas y confian en sus propios instintos, la doctora Bolen revela la importancia de-meditar; escoger un camino con el corazon; poseer la fiereza del que defiende lo que mas le importa; decir la verdad con compasion; escuchar el cuerpo; reinventarse a si mismas en funcion de sus necesidades; y saborear la parte positiva de sus vidas.

A unique combination of visionary thinking and practical how-to, "Urgent Message From Mother" is the most activist work to date from Jean Shinoda Bolen, a writer, analyst, teacher, and leader in the women's empowerment movement. This book seeks to galvanize the still-untapped power of women of all ages acting together to change our world. Bolen explores both the psychological and the scientific aspects of women as leaders together. She points to a UCLA study proving that women react to stress differently than men. Instead of the 'fight or flight' reaction, women have a 'tend and befriend' response as result of an increase in oxytocin, the maternal bonding hormone. From this and other compelling evidence, Bolen makes a strongly convincing case that now is the time for women to lead. And she points us toward the way to do it - gather with other women, see what needs to be done, and do it!

From fictional characters like Bridget Jones to feminist icons like Gloria Steinem, Jean Bolen's bestselling classic "Goddesses in Everywoman" has been widely read and soundly praised.

Now comes a new book written in the same spirit and with the same vitality. In "Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman," Bolen invites women and girls to discover the tenacity and courage of the Artemis archetype and how it can be tapped to live authentically.

To tell the story, Bolen delves deeply into the myth of Atalanta, the famous hunter and runner in ancient Greek mythology, a mortal woman who is identified with Artemis the Greek Goddess of the Hunt and Moon. Atalanta began life abandoned and left to die because she was born a girl. She faced the Calydon Boar and drew first blood; she was the runner who would demand to be beaten in a footrace by the man who could claim her as his bride. She exemplifies the indomitable spirit in competent, courageous girls and in the women they become. This is grit, the passion and persistence to go the distance, to survive, and to succeed.

She includes many real-life stories as well as mythological and fictional examples of women who are similar to Atalanta, including among others Princess Merida from the animated film "Brave" and Katniss from "The Hunger Games." Artemis and Atalanta are the means through which readers can navigate their own personal exploration to become their authentic selves. Bolen dedicates this book to women and girls who embody the archetype of Artemis, who discover her uncrushable spirit in themselves or others.

In Jungian analyst and activist Jean Shinoda Bolen's writing, symbol, archetype, soul work, and synchronicity come together with activism and the potential to change the world or save the planet when grassroots and enlightened leaders work together. In her latest book, "Moving Toward the Millionth Circle," Dr. Bolen inspires and enlists women to be millionth circle, heart-centered activists in order to energize a 5th World Conference on Women in the 21st Century. The conference is not a goal in and of itself, but a means toward valuing women and the feminine to bring about a tipping point.

"Moving Toward the Millionth Circle" is a sequel to Dr. Bolen's popular "The Millionth Circle" (1999) with a slightly different focus. Her first book describes how real change happens when a critical number of people adopt a new perspective with how-to sections on ways to create women's circles with a sacred center. While still about women's circles, her new book focuses more on activism and how these circles can help to sustain and support (and be a sanctuary for) women working for change in their lives and in the world.

In the face of the cultural myth that women fade away as they age, this book offers an historical look at women's potential to transform the third phase of their lives into one of wholeness and personal integration. This Jungian perspective on the mature woman looks to Greek, Egyptian, and Asian mythology for powerful archetypes of women in the third stage of life. The mythic origins of goddesses such as Metis, Sophia, Hecate, and Hestia are explored in order to illustrate how their intellectual, mystical, spiritual, intuitive, or meditative attributes can help women to forge more meaningful lives. Despue s de los cincuenta an os, la mujer entra a la tercera etapa de su vida-- la que normalmente no es respetada por la cultura popular. En contra del mito cultural que la mujer se apaga con maduracio n, este libro propone que las mujeres tienen la capacidad de trasformar la tercera etapa de sus vidas en una de unidad e integracio n personal. Esta perspectiva de la mujer usa los mitos de Grecia, Egipto y Asia como los arquetipos de mujeres maduras. Los ori genes de las diosas Metis, Sophia, Hecate y Hestia son discutidos para ilustrar como sus caracteri sticas intelectuales, mi sticas, espirituales, intuitivas o meditativas pueden ayudar a las mujeres a crear sus propias vidas significantes.

Face Life Threatening Situations and Find Hope"This book can be a companion to anyone in physical or mental pain and crisis." -Louise L. Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life When confronted with a life threatening condition, most people think that doctors have the final word. But, Jean Shinoda Bolen reminds us that the mind has a powerful effect on a prognosis and the process of healing. Everyone faces illness. Whether it's a personal health crisis or sickness a loved one is experiencing, none of us escape this life without encountering some form of illness or death. While we can try to ignore the reality, internationally known author and speaker Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen suggests we do the exact opposite: face it. By encountering the frightening world of serious illness and death, we can better uncover how it gives purpose to the journey of souls. Trust what you know in your bones. Dr. Bolen shares how what we learn often connects to what we know to be true. As a psychiatrist and Jungian analyst, Dr. Bolen has an acute understanding of what shapes a person, particularly as it relates to one's sense of balance and wholeness. Based on her knowledge and experience, she guides us to find the truth buried in our own bones. A tool for help and healing. While encountering sickness is inevitable, healing often seems harder to come by. We are left broken open when life threatening illness hits. While there is no single key to recovery, it is rare to find healing without first addressing the pain. This book serves as a guide to finding purpose in the pain. Read Close to the Bone and find: An insightful book for anyone living with a life-threatening illness Encouragement for facing illness by relying on the wisdom we all have within A supplemental guide for those who want to form support circles If books such as Invisible Acts of Power; When Things Fall Apart; or No Mud, No Lotus have helped you; then Close to the Bone is the next book you need to read.

With an uncommon geniality and good humor, bestselling author Jean Shinoda Bolen demonstrates how mythology can illuminate psychology. In this study, the respected Jungian analyst transcends the personal sphere to focus on the family and patriarchal society. Using Richard Wagner's four-opera cycle "The Ring of Nibelung" as a framework, the author investigates the psychological origins and destructive capacity of authoritarian institutions. Each of the four central chapters of the book examines one of Wagner's operas, which the author links to a particular Jungian archetype. In doing so, the book reveals profound truths about humanity, human relations, and society that can be highly transformative. In concluding, Shinoda Bolen outlines a possible post-patriarchal society and how each individual can help in forming it by living a life centered on authenticity.