Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives

Robert A. Johnson

ISBN 10: 0062511025 / ISBN 13: 9780062511027

Published by HarperSanfrancisco, 1994

About this Item

Seller Inventory # ABE-1665898986632

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives
• Publisher: HarperSanfrancisco
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062511025
• ISBN 13: 9780062511027
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Near Fine

About this title

Synopsis

In an African folk tale, the otherworldly enchantment of the heavenly woman nearly destroys a young man who is ultimately saved by the love of a plain girl from his village. Depicting the role of the anima - she who animates and gives meaning to a man's life - the tale teaches the lifesaving importance of distinguishing between the light anima of the heavenly vision that can incapacitate a man for ordinary life and the earthly dark anima that represents the human capacity for relationship. Lying with the Heavenly Woman explores this vital quest to understand and differentiate the varied role of the feminine in men's lives. With characteristic insight and clarity, pioneering Jungian analyst Robert Johnson illuminates both the elusive, often misunderstood inner feminine - the realm of meaning, feeling, and creativity and the outer embodiments of femininity - a man's relationships to people who represent the life-enhancing feminine archetypes - from mother and sister to friend, soulmate, and spouse. Johnson unfolds man's rich and multi-faceted anecdotes to femininity through myths, tales, and anecdotes that illustrate the interior and exterior feminine elements: mother, mother complex, mother archetype, sister, anima, wife, daughter, hetaira, sophia, friendship, and homo-erotic relationships. Failing to differentiate among the various feminine elements can lead to mid-life crisis, macho bravado, and even incest and suicide. Conversely, a true understanding of the nature and role of the feminine allows a man to realize his fullest potential for finding meaning within himself and fulfillment in relationship with others.

From the Back Cover

'Lying with the Heavenly Woman' is an exploration of the role of the feminine in men's lives. With insight and clarity, Jungian analyst Robert Johnson illuminates the inner feminine – the realm of meaning, feeling, and creativity – and the outer embodiments of femininity – a man's relationships to people who represent the life-enhancing feminine archetypes – from mother and sister to friend, soulmate, and spouse.

Illustrating man's relationship to femininity through myths, tales, and anecdotes, Johnson explores the dangers of failing to differentiate among the various feminine elements – from mid-life crisis and exaggerated 'masculine' bravado to incest and suicide – and shows how properly recognized these vital elements can allow a man to find meaning within himself and fulfilment in relationships with others.

Robert A. Johnson is a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst and the author of numerous books, including 'He, She, Owning Your Own Shadow', and 'The Fisher King and the Handless Maiden'.