On Dreams and Death

A must for thanatologists, psychologists who work with the dying and anyone for whom death is not merely an end.

This Jung quote sums up the theme of this book: "If there is something we cannot know, we must necessarily abandon it as an intellectual problem ... But if an idea about it is offered to me - in dreams or in mythic traditions - I ought to take note of it. I even ought to build up a conception on the basis of such hints, even though it will forever remain a hypothesis." Von Franz uses dreams, alchemy (Komarios to Cleopatra), and Egyptian mythology as exploratory tools to convincingly show that for the unconscious life after death is axiomatic. Incredibly it seems the individuation process may continue after death! Von Franzs style and elegance make this a book that you will want to read more than once. Also a very nice 8-page forward by Emmanuel Kennedy-Xypolitas.

This is a wonderful book about how the psyche believes in life beyond bodily death. It is full of stories, myths, and experiences that will wake you up. I have given away so many copies of this book that I always keep an extra on hand. I am glad it is back in print.