Product Description

Dark, earthy, and immensely powerful, the Black Goddess has been a key force in world history, manifesting in images as diverse as the Indian goddess Kali and the Black Madonnas of medieval Europe. She embodies the energy of chaos and creativity, creation and destruction, death and rebirth. Images of Her, however, have been conspicuously missing in the Western world for centuries—until now, when awareness of the Goddess is re-arising in many spheres, from the women's movement to traditional religion, from the new discoveries of quantum physics to the dreams of ordinary men and women. Why now particularly? The answer provided by Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson is bold and thrilling: the reemergence of the Divine Feminine in our time indicates our readiness to move to an entirely new level of consciousness. The reemerging Goddess calls for a shattering of rigid categories, a willingness to hold opposition. She calls us to marry reason and order to creativity, and to embrace the chaos that can ultimately lead to wisdom and transformation on personal and global levels.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #382169 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-06
• Released on: 1997-05-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Library Journal
According to the authors, the "Dark Goddess" is a female figure increasingly represented in the dreams and fantasies of modern people. The appearance of this creator/destroyer goddess who presides over both birth and death can lead the dreamer to a higher consciousness and greater engagement in living. The bulk of this book outlines the progress of patients undergoing analysis, describing the ways in which the Dark Goddess figure appeared in their dreams and fantasies. Unfortunately, Jungian analyst Woodman and clinical psychologist Dickson are clearly preaching to the converted. No attempt is made to explain the central importance of dreams, nor is evidence offered to support the supposed resurgence of the Dark Goddess. Patrons of most libraries will find better explanations of Jungian psychology from a female point of view in Jean Shinoda Bolen's Goddesses in Everywoman: A New Psychology of Women (LJ 7/84) or Clarissa Pinkola Estes's Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (LJ 6/15/92). For very specialized collections of Jungian depth psychology material.?Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, Wash.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Dancing in the Flames contains a veritable feast. . . . Powerful theoretical writing."—Psychological Perspectives



"This powerful book about the Dark Goddess is a rich and intimate exploration that brings together history, mythology, psychology, and religion. The authors have written a seed text that is wise, vigorous, and revelatory."—Joan Halifax, author of The Fruitful Darkness



"Dancing in the Flames gives us a remarkably rich and deep knowledge of the Dark Goddess. Her hidden presence in the psyches of men and women becomes visible through Marion Woodman and Elinor Dickson's perceptive insights. Seen and unseen, appreciated or denigrated, in history, myth, and culture as well as in individuals, the Dark Goddess carries transformative power and feminine wisdom, which are revealed in this beautifully conceived book that can affect the reader like a major dream or evocative poem."—Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., author of Crossing to Avalon and Goddesses in Everywoman

Review
"Compassionate -- well worth reading -- for anybody still in doubt about the failures of patriarchy or perplexed by current feminist revisions of Christianity and the surge in -- matriarchal religious alternatives." -The Toronto Star

"A remarkably rich and--beautifully conceived book that can affect the reader like a major dream or evocative poem." -Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., author of Crossing to Avalon





From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews

An often misunderstood Feminine force is raised to her place of honor
This is a profound exploration of the often misunderstood Dark Goddess and her ability to transform all of us. Marion Woodman leads us all in a deeper understanding of the often unseen & unappreciated aspects of the Feminine, so needed for a soulful life. The dedication of this book to Sophia says it all "Integrity in love is the only true guide to the wisdom that leads to freedom". Thank you Marion and Elinor for being the wise women who lead us all to freedom by giving our souls the rich sustenance of the numinous Feminine.

Crocodile in "Mud"
I like this book immensely. The imagine of a crocodile in mud has great imagery for me. Stuck in the mud! What a concept! The book is about transformation, transform the soul, thoughts and viewpoint. The first chapter blew me away. When I read, even if we had a bad mother that raised us, we will always be searching for the creative and loving mom. Our society has hit that peak a long time ago, where mothers turned to alcohol,drugs, food sex, shopping and fear.
We all have a need to know who we are and how the feminine, truly the feminine can affect us and everyone around us. The book is easy to read and you can get it with in the first few pages.I would reccommend this book for anyone on path of knowing. Men and woman!

Dancing in The Flames
I love Marion Woodmans insight! This is an easy read for Marions work, yet no less profound! If your interested in deep personal transformation Marion Woodman is a must in your library.