Archetype of the Apocalypse: Divine Vengeance, Terrorism, and the End of the World

Ordered used book but I received an excellent condition one—as if it was a brandnew.

It's difficult to rate any of Edinger's work less than 5 stars. He was one of the greatest expositors of depth psychology and whatever he wrote contains profound insight into human and transpersonal psychology. I give this book 5 stars despite the fact that it trawls through the Book of Revelation with a fine-tooth comb and examines each image and symbol in great detail. I was hoping for a more general discussion of the apocalypse archetype and how it applies to modern civilization. This discussion does appear, but only in the book's introduction and final chapter. Rather than social or cultural commentary, most of the book then feels merely like literary criticism. When Edinger does discuss the individual and collective implications of apocalyptic imagery, and how this imagery is relevant in the modern world, the book really soars, and it becomes one of the finest analyses of its kind anywhere.Edinger contends society is in the grip of the apocalypse archetype, a great historical turning point, the "momentous event of the coming of the Self into conscious realization." He sees evidence for this in the widespread breakdown of social structures: in politics, religion, culture, social institutions, even in individual psychology. The apocalypse archetype moves through phases, like a grand initiation: the "revelation" -- a shattering insight accompanied by the flow of transpersonal images into consciousness; "judgement" in the form of an abrupt and profound awareness of the shadow; "punishment" manifested as individual anxiety in the midst of the transformation; and, finally, the coming of a "new world" through mandala and quaternity images, signifying a move toward a new wholeness.This new wholeness is by no means guaranteed for civilization. "The coming of the Self is always an upheaval," Edinger says, and he points out that our current transitional phase "bodes catastrophe for the stubbornly rationalistic, secular ego that refuses to grant the existence of a greater psychic authority than itself."To avoid disaster and navigate safe passage to a better world, Edinger repeats Jung's proclamation that, in our times, "nothing is more important than the existence of a certain number of individuals who understand what is going on." Hopefully the readers of this text and others like it can slice through the dark sea of unconscious noise and light the way to a healthy future for humanity.

Edward Edinger was one of the great Jungians: intelligent, perceptive, compassionate, and always understandable to the general reader, no matter how complex the material. He demonstrates all these qualities as writer, psychologist, and concerned human being in this fine book about the symbolic meaning of the Apocalypse. What does it mean to the human psyche? What does it portend? Why are so many people today enslaved & driven to destruction (both of themselves & others) by attempting to live outwardly what is essentially an inner process, one that's frightening but can also be liberating?Edinger delves deeply here, always providing a calm, guiding voice as he leads us down into the overwhelming powerful chaos & creation of the Unconscious. With the world moving at a faster & faster pace, drowning us in new information & urgency & fear, we're pushed ever closer to the edge of personal apocalypse; we have no safe place, no haven, as the world we've know, the world we've lived in for all our lives, seems to collapse around us. Old & comfortable illusions are stripped away, flayed from the flesh that insulates us from the vast changes that are everywhere. We have the choice of succumbing to the archetype of the apocalypse, and projecting our terrors outward onto scapegoats in a vain effort to save ourselves & our vision of the world as it should be ... or we can face up to it, and do the inner work that will enable us to grow beyond such terrors. What could be more pressing at this late hour?Most highly & urgently recommended!

Edward is in extraordinary form here. Read this book now. While there's still time.

I can't believe how receiving this book has moved me! It was is pristine condition (as I had hoped) but it was well wrapped not only inside a vinyl sleeve for protection but also having a light cardboard backing to protect the book when shipped in a padded media envelope. I opened the vinyl sleeve and was greeted by a sweet fragrance courtesy of a small clothes dryer pad that provided a pleasant aroma and a "handwritten personal thank you" note. Classy!!!!

I recently read Edinger's Ego and Archetype, which I really enjoyed. This book is comprised of spoken lectures, and books from lectures never seem to have the consideration needed to fully express an idea in a truly enjoyable sense. I would suggest this book to people who have a strong interest in the bible, I'm sure to them this would be a very interesting read. To people interested in Jungian psychology, I feel that there isn't a lot of new ideas in the book, just a one-by-one examination of the symbols in the book of Revelations.

This book is more bible heavy therefore boring at times and he could have said it with less words. It is not like his other books that are GREAT!

A must read for those who are wanting a deeper understanding of Revelations.

Muito satisfeita com a compra!

It’s just as good as I expected from this author.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book