Jung and Shamanism in Dialogue: Retrieving the Soul/Retrieving the Sacred (Jung and Spirituality)

In this highly original and scholastically groundbreaking work, psychologist and educator C. Michael Smith explores the world of Shamanism and Jungian psychology by bringing them together in a dialogue: Jung's concepts are examined shamanically and shamanic concepts are examined from a Jungian perspective. Shamanism is considered to be a complex of practices of a magico-religious character concerned primarily with psychospiritual and psychosomatic healing.Addressing the need for a systematic dialogue between the psychology of Jung and Shamanism, Smith first provides an overview of the basic elements of classic Shamanism, drawing from the history of religions and cultural and medical anthropology. Then he examines Jung's life and development in terms of shamanic themes and parallels, and how Jung arrived at these psychological ideas through active imagination and other techniques. Finally, the author reflects on the clinical and cultural implications of this study on psychotherapy and spirituality today.