Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth

Looking into "how to" do shadow work on oneself, i came across this book as a recommendation.This book turned out to be so much more than that. The techniques can be practically used by anyone trying to look within for answers. Be it to spiritual question or a practical day to day problem. I literally "devoured" a book after a long time. It was an eye opening experience. As an attempt to lucid dream, i started taking notes of my dreams since the last few days. The idea was to bring the dreams to a "conscious" level. The notes stayed there in the journal without me doing anything with them. While reading the book, i picked a particularly bizzare one and used the techniques to try to analyse it. Before i was finished however, i realised the not so bizzare ones had equally profound messages for me.I couldnt have imagined anything equally or more profound than my meditation practice in bringing me closer to conscoius awareness. This book changed that for me.Although my meditation practice has brought a sense of wholeness over the past few years, i realised it left some parts of my "being" undernourished. It gave me the insight into why after years of trying to calm my mind and having made significant progress, why sometimes parts of me come up which i can barely recognize about myself.I have not read any other book on dream analysis or active imagination before this one so I am not in a position to compare. However, after reading several books and spending plenty of time on self development, i feel this book will always be one of the few that hold a potential to bring an actual change in my life.I recommed it to anyone who seeks answers and realises that the only place where they can be sought is "inside" oneself.

This book can't be read casually; you can do that, but then it will give you a casual and limited understanding. But if you try the exercises, they can bring you face to face with a new world. I haven't read a more powerful book than this. A word of caution: please seek out a therapist before embarking on this journey, otherwise, things can feel scary. You need a trained specialist around you, to hold you when things begin to take forms that you can neither predict or imagine. Highly recommended!

I think his understanding of Hinduism and it's philosophies is marred by the use of his Christian framework. There is a certain amount of distortion of key ideas, that can be a bit annoying if you're Indian. Also, ngl, some parts of active imagination especially, seem like an invitation to descent into craziness. But overall, some concepts are certainly thought provoking. They can be used as jumping-off points to launch your own understanding of self, universe and the meaning of life. Overall, definitely an interesting book.

I am not a book person but i started reading wid Robert Johnson's editions ...n ds book is simply the best i read so far. Even for a layman it is beautifully written that u vl b completly engrossed n excited to know more.

Interesting Insights. Book will give you a lot of work to do. Can help you understand yourself better. Go for it.

Map for inner exploration

Interesting read

Very informative and detailed book on dream work. It is quite helpful.