The Holy Grail and its quest is a legend that has had a powerful impact on our civilization and culture. The Grail itself is an ancient Celtic symbol of plenty as well as a Christian symbol of redemption and eternal life, the chalice that caught the blood of the crucified Christ. The story of the Grail sheds profound light on man's search for the supreme value of life, for that which makes life most meaningful.

Writing in a clear and readable style, two leading women of the Jungian school of psychology present this legend as a living myth that is profoundly relevant to modern life. We encounter such universal figures as the Fool (the naive young Perceval), the Wise Old Man (the Hermit Gornemanz), the Virgin Maiden (Blancheflor), the Loathly Damsel, and such important themes as the Waste Land, the Trinity, and the vessel of the Grail. Weaving together narrative and interpretation, the authors show us how the legend reflects not only fundamental human problems but also the dramatic psychic events that form the background of our Christian culture. Emma Jung--analyst, writer, and wife of the famous psychologist C. G. Jung--researched and worked on this book for thirty years, until her death in 1955. Marie-Louise von Franz, also eminent in the field of depth psychology, completed the project.

Title no. 83 in the series Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts. Unique insights into cat symbolism and individual psychology. Edited transcript of lectures presented at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich. THE CAT is a Romanian fairy tale of some complexity and great charm. It is the story of a princess who, at the age of 17, is bewitched and turned into a cat. Along with those in her palace, she is cursed until an emperor's son from another kingdom, searching for fine linen, finds her and accomplishes the necessary task to free the princess and her people from the curse. With erudition and earthy humor, Dr. von Franz deftly dissects the disparate archetypal themes involved in this tale, relating the themes to both individual and collective psychology.

C.G. Jung's work in his later years suggested that the seemingly divergent sciences of psychology and modern physics might, in fact, be approaching a unified world model in which the dualism of matter and psyche would be resolved. Jung believed that the natural integers are the archetypal patterns that regulate the unitary realm of psyche and matter, and that number serves as a special instrument for man's becoming conscious of this unity. Written in a clear style and replete with illustrations which help make the mathematical ideas visible, Number and Time is a piece of original scholarship which introduces a view of how "mind" connects with "matter" at the most fundamental level.

In this engaging commentary, the distinguished analyst and author Marie-Louise von Franz shows how the Feminine reveals itself in fairy tales of German, Russian, Scandinavian, and Eskimo origin, including familiar stories such as "Sleeping Beauty," "Snow White and Rose Red," and "Rumpelstiltskin." Some tales, she points out, offer insights into the psychology of women, while others reflect the problems and characteristics of the anima, the inner femininity of men. Dr. von Franz discusses the archetypes and symbolic themes that appear in fairy tales as well as dreams and fantasies, draws practical advice from the tales, and demonstrates its application in case studies from her analytical practice.

The medieval alchemists were as interested in the discipline of psychological and spiritual transformation as they were in the transmutation of lead into gold. In fact, Jung's study of alchemical texts uncovered a symbolic language that expressed many of his own insights into psychological processes. Here, von Franz examines texts by the 16th-century alchemist Gerhard Dorn, to show the relationship between alchemy and analytical psychology.

Of the various types of mythological literature, fairy tales are the simplest and purest expressions of the collective unconscious and thus offer the clearest understanding of the basic patterns of the human psyche. Every people or nation has its own way of experiencing this psychic reality, and so a study of the world's fairy tales yields a wealth of insights into the archetypal experiences of humankind. Perhaps for foremost authority on the psychological interpretation of fairy tales is Marie-Louise von Franz. In this book - originally published as An Introduction to the Interpretation of Fairy Tales - she describes the steps involved in analyzing tales and illustrates them with a variety of European tales, from "Beauty and the Beast" to "The Robber Bridegroom". Dr. von Franz begins with a history of the study of fairy tales and the various theories of interpretation. By way of illustration she presents a detailed examination of a simple Grimm's tale, "The Three Feathers", followed by a comprehensive discussion of motifs related to Jung's concept of the shadow, the anima, and the animus. This revised edition has been corrected and updated by the author.

Fairy tales seem to be innocent stories, yet they contain profound lessons for those who would dive deep into their waters of meaning. In this book, Marie-Louise von Franz uncovers some of the important lessons concealed in tales from around the world, drawing on the wealth of her knowledge of folklore, her experience as a psychoanalyst and a collaborator with Jung, and her great personal wisdom. Among the many topics discussed in relation to the dark side of life and human psychology, both individual and collective, are:
- How different aspects of the "shadow"--all the affects and attitudes that are unconscious to the ego personality--are personified in the giants and monsters, ghosts, and demons, evil kings and wicked witches of fairy tales
- How problems of the shadow manifest differently in men and women
- What fairy tales say about the kinds of behavior and attitudes that invite evil
- How Jung's technique of Active imagination can be used to overcome overwhelming negative emotions
- How ghost stories and superstitions reflect the psychology of grieving
- What fairy tales advise us about whether to struggle against evil or turn the other cheek

Dr. von Franz concludes that ever rule of behavior that we can learn from the unconscious through fairy tales and dreams is usually a paradox: sometimes there must be a physical struggle against evil and sometimes a contest of wits, sometimes a display of strength or magic and sometimes a retreat. Above all, she shows the importance of relying on the central, authentic core of our being--the innermost Self, which is beyond the struggle between the opposites of good and evil.

Creation myths are the deepest and most important of all myths because they are concerned with both the basic patterns of existence and the ultimate meaning of life. In this book, an eminent Jungian analyst examines the recurring motifs that appear in creation myths from around the world and shows what they teach us about the mysteries of creativity, the cycles of renewal in human life, and the birth of consciousness in the individual psyche. Among the topics discussed are:
-- why the creative process is often accompanied by anxiety,
-- depression, loneliness, and fear of the unknown
-- the meaning of creation motifs such as the egg, the seed, the primordial being, the creative fire, the separation of heaven and earth, and the four stages of creation
-- creation symbolism in the alchemical opus of medieval tradition
-- how creation-myth motifs appear in the dreams of people who are on the verge of a leap forward in consciousness

"Today there is much discussion of the liberation of women," writes Marie-Louise von Franz, "but it is sometimes overlooked that this can only succeed if there is a change in men as well. Just as women have to overcome the patriarchal tyrant in their own souls, men have to liberate and differentiate their inner femininity. Only then will a better relationship of the sexes be possible." It is this timely theme that Dr. von Franz explores in her psychological study of a classic work of the second century, "The Golden Ass " by Apuleius of Madaura. The novel recounts the adventures of a young Roman who is transformed into an ass and eventually finds spiritual renewal through initiation into the Isis mysteries. With its many tales within a tale (including the celebrated story of Psyche and Eros), the text as interpreted by Dr. von Franz is a rich source of insights, anecdotes, and scholarly amplification.

In twelve essays--eight of which appear here in English for the first time--the internationally known analyst Marie-Louise von Franz explores important aspects of psychotherapy from a Jungian perspective. She draws on her many years of practical experience in psychotherapy, her intimate knowledge of Jung's methods and theories, and her wide-ranging interests in fields such as mythology, alchemy, science, and religion to illumine these varied topics:
- Projection
- Transference
- Dream interpretation
- Self-realization
- Group psychology
- Personality types
- Active imagination
- The therapeutic use of hallucinogenic drugs
- The choice of psychotherapy as a profession
- The role of religious experience in psychological healing

The author attempts to describe the phenomenon of projection and how a projection can be withdrawn and integrated. The book shows the role of projection in the history of religion and in science as well as how projection works on a primitive level. This leads to the discussion of the projection of evil, the reality of demons and of helpful spirits. The cure for projecting one's own qualities onto others is reflection. The latter is not possible through efforts of the ego alone, but needs the support of the Self. Projection is the greatest problem in politics, social groupings, and in all human relationships.

The chief disciple of C. G. Jung, analyst Marie-Louise von Franz uses her vast knowledge of the world of myths, fairy tales, visions, and dreams to examine expressions of the universal symbol of the Anthropos, or Cosmic Man--a universal archetype that embodies humanity's personal as well as collective identity. She shows that the meaning of life--the realization of our fullest human potential, which Jung called individuation--can only be found through a greater differentiation of consciousness by virtue of archetypes, and that ultimately our future depends on relationships, whether between the sexes or among nations, races, religions, and political factions.