The Book Of Symbols: Reflections On Archetypal Images (The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism)
The Book Of Symbols: Reflections On Archetypal Images (The Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism)
Reflections on symbols and symbolic imagery
The Book of Symbols combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history.The Book of Symbols combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history. The highly readable texts and almost 800 beautiful full-color images come together in a unique way to convey hidden dimensions of meaning. Each of the c. 350 essays examines a given symbol’s psychic background, and how it evokes psychic processes and dynamics. Etymological roots, the play of opposites, paradox and shadow, the ways in which diverse cultures have engaged a symbolic image—all these factors are taken into consideration.
Authored by writers from the fields of psychology, religion, art, literature and comparative myth, the essays flow into each other in ways that mirror the psyche’s unexpected convergences. There are no pat definitions of the kind
that tend to collapse a symbol; a still vital symbol remains partially unknown, compels our attention and unfolds in new meanings and manifestations over time. Rather than merely categorize, The Book of Symbols illuminates how to move from the visual experience of a symbolic image in art, religion, life, or dreams, to directly experiencing its personal and psychological resonance.
The Book of Symbols sets new standards for thoughtful exploration of symbols and their meanings, and will appeal to a wide range of readers: artists, designers, dreamers and dream interpreters, psychotherapists, self-helpers, gamers, comic book readers, religious and spiritual searchers, writers, students, and anyone curious about the power of archetypal images.
The Book of Symbols combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history.The Book of Symbols combines original and incisive essays about particular symbols with representative images from all parts of the world and all eras of history. The highly readable texts and almost 800 beautiful full-color images come together in a unique way to convey hidden dimensions of meaning. Each of the c. 350 essays examines a given symbol’s psychic background, and how it evokes psychic processes and dynamics. Etymological roots, the play of opposites, paradox and shadow, the ways in which diverse cultures have engaged a symbolic image—all these factors are taken into consideration.
Authored by writers from the fields of psychology, religion, art, literature and comparative myth, the essays flow into each other in ways that mirror the psyche’s unexpected convergences. There are no pat definitions of the kind
that tend to collapse a symbol; a still vital symbol remains partially unknown, compels our attention and unfolds in new meanings and manifestations over time. Rather than merely categorize, The Book of Symbols illuminates how to move from the visual experience of a symbolic image in art, religion, life, or dreams, to directly experiencing its personal and psychological resonance.
The Book of Symbols sets new standards for thoughtful exploration of symbols and their meanings, and will appeal to a wide range of readers: artists, designers, dreamers and dream interpreters, psychotherapists, self-helpers, gamers, comic book readers, religious and spiritual searchers, writers, students, and anyone curious about the power of archetypal images.
List Price: $ 39.99
Price: $ 22.58
Sally Adler "techne" said,
Wrote on October 7, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
A Perfect Complement to the Website,
I expected lots of great pictures, but this is so much more: the book is huge, it is beautifully bound (really nice paper – matte, cream, the photos look great and it opens nearly flat), fabulously designed (interesting edge tabs and multiple, brightly-colored, bound-in bookmarks), massive amounts of well-written text, and, of course, excellent citations. As soon as I can drag myself out of it, I’m making a gift list. The price makes it impossible to resist as a gift for anyone who has any level of interest in the subject (I should give it with a subscription to ARAS!)
Was this review helpful to you?
|bookhound99 said,
Wrote on October 7, 2011 @ 3:53 pm
If only The Red Book pages were bound with these dimensions…,
Every time I pick up a Taschen book, its excellent production quality makes me smile. No different for this current offering from them. At just a fraction under 7″ x 10″ the proportions of the book makes it most portable and a joy to handle on the go or in bed.
The ribbon markers are especially useful for contemplating a number of symbols discovered together taken from our own dreams or active imagination. There are a variety of images both ancient and contemporary to complement each entry, as well as sub-headings e.g.: under the Human World section, you will find sub-headings at the top left hand page indicating whether you have landed on “Human Body” or “Movement & Expression” or “Work & Society”. Goodness. This is the kind of care all books should be designed with. My copy came shrink-wrapped with a Taschen postcard tip-in.
The whole book appears deceptively simple but it is the text entries that are the most important. Each “brief” page of text offer profound commentary by the world’s art and mythology scholars, among others. When available, each entry ends with illustration captions and text credit to promote further individual research.
This book is highly recommended and should the reader need more information can find sample pages at both the Taschen and ARAS websites.
Was this review helpful to you?
|claudia c schmitt said,
Wrote on October 7, 2011 @ 4:45 pm
Beautiful, meaningful and so much more than I expected,
I appreciate this book so much that I am writing a review which is something I have never done. The scope and breadth of this book is astounding. I found myself especially moved by the carefully selected illustrations. The illustrations are both ancient and contemporary, abstract and concrete, simple and complex. Even if one were never to read a word of the text, the images alone would be worth the purchase of this book. The text of course adds even more meaning and depth. Enjoy.
Was this review helpful to you?
|