Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives [Paperback]

Robert A. Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1995

The bestselling author of He, She, and We analyzes two mythic stories that illuminate the malaise of our time--the wounded feeling function.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert A. Johnson, a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst, is also the author of He, She, We, Inner Work, Ecstasy, Transformation, and Owning Your Own Shadow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 101 pages
• Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco (April 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062510665
• ISBN-13: 978-0062510662
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert A. Johnson, a noted lecturer and Jungian analyst, is also the author of He, She, We, Inner Work, Ecstasy, Transformation, and Owning Your Own Shadow.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent companion to Johnson's other works, May 7, 2009

By 

T. Hollenback - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives (Paperback)

Lying with The Heavenly Woman, by Robert Johnson is an excellent book. It outlines the different female components of both a man's inner world and external world and discusses the problems that arise from different combinations, or "overlays" and "contaminations" as Johnson refers to them in his book.

This book extends upon the ideas of his other works, especially He: Understanding Masculine Psychology (Perennial Library) and We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love.

These three books should be required reading for any male in the western world. These books have truly changed the way in which I live, and understand both myself and the way in which I must be in relation to others in my life (mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter) and more importantly, coming to the realization that I am (and all others are) capable of unlocking the treasure trove that is our inner feminine archetypes. One might read this and immediately think of "new age" concepts that try and get males to think like an actual woman, or act more like an actual woman; this is not Johnson's aim at all. He aims to unlock the inner dimensions of his readers in order for them to understand them and incorporate them into their lives in the proper way so to benefit greatly from their presence. This book is necessary to understanding these components and understanding how to keep them distinct from one another, for combining these things can result in disaster in one's life.

Robert Johnson writes with great clarity and never reads like a "textbook". His inclusion of anectdotes, sayings, and wisdom from many cultures greatly enhance the material of his books and truly brings the ideas to life.

If you are interested in this book, I would highly recommend reading this book in conjunction with his books HE and WE. Again, if you are male, you fit the criteria for reading this book: In fact, it should be required!!

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must read this book, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives (Paperback)

This book, quite simply, will redefine your relationships with women. You will examine how women fit into your life, and how you fit into theirs. An important book for the "men's movement" (if there still is one).

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little too brief to be of use, December 29, 2006

By 

Edmund Mcguigan "Ed McGuigan" (Boynton Beach, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lying with the Heavenly Woman: Understanding and Integrating the Feminine Archetypes in Men's Lives (Paperback)

Mr Johnson tends to produce books which are too brief.

This one is 112 small pages with large margins.
What he discusses in the book is interesting and valuable but to achieve this level of brevity he assumes that the reader basically is quite clued in on the subject matter. For my tastes, I find he makes quite large jumps that I fail to follow, for example in the interpretation of folk tales and myths.

As an introductory overview leading to further reading of authors who flesh out the details, the book may have value, but I think I would rather just go directly to the details.

I find Marie-Louise Von Franz to be a much more useful author in terms of gaining insight into Jungian analysis and being able to apply it to my personal issues.