The Archetype of Initiation [Paperback]

Robert L. Moore (Author), Max J. Havlick Jr. (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert L. Moore, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychoanalysis, Culture, and Spirituality at Chicago Theological Seminary, and a Jungian analyst. He co-authored with mythologist Douglas Gillette a widely acclaimed five-volume series on masculine psychology and spirituality (1990-93).

Product Details

• Paperback: 195 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris, Corp.; 1 edition (April 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073884764X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738847641
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #240,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Initiation from a Traditional/Existential/Analytic Viewpoint, June 4, 2001

By 

Randal Nerhus (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Archetype of Initiation (Paperback)

Following the line of thought of anthropologists Arnold van Gennep and Victor Turner and scholar of religions Mircea Eliade, psychoanalyst Robert Moore has added "THE ARCHETYPE OF INITIATION: Sacred Space, Ritual Process, and Personal Transformation."

Van Gennep began with the three passages (separation, liminal, and aggregation) of initiatory ritual. Turner expanded the concept of liminal (on the threshold) to include more specific dynamics of liminal space. Eliade, from his perspective, has emphasized the combination of hierophany (manifestation of the sacred) and kratophany (manifestation of power) as a necessary part of initiatiory ritual worldwide.

In this book Robert Moore details the need and role of ritual elders in creating and containing the sacred space required in all transformative initiations in human experience. Though the book is fairly specialized, it is written with a minimal amount of technical terms. "The Archetype of Initiation" was originally presented as a series of lectures and essays from 1984 to 1995.

Throughout the book I found the audience's questions matched my own and the Dr. Moore's answers made the concepts clearer. Also, myself having been prey to previous initiations that have been toxic, I found this book to be a beneficial guide to use before one submits to any initiation.

Psychotherapists, leaders in the Men's Movement, as well as people involved in youth counseling, prison rehabilitation, clergy, and even bewildered parents of teens will find this book very useful.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guidebook for the Dark Pilgrimage, October 4, 2001

By 

William Demaree (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Archetype of Initiation (Paperback)

No one understands male psychology better than Robert Moore. In this compilation of lectures, he offers comforting (and sometimes not so comforting) explanations of what happens at those terrifying but oh so necessary transitions in our lives. As one who is now in the "belly of the whale," I can say that this book has helped me understand how and why I got here, it has helped me understand what I am experiencing, and it has given me guidance for what I can/will/must do when this dark period of my life is over. If you are at mid-life, read this book!