The Mythic Imagination: The Quest for Meaning Through Personal Mythology (Paperback)

~ Stephen Larsen Ph.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

An extraordinarily rich and wide-ranging compendium of the psychological uses of mythology. -- Roger J. Woolger and Jennifer B. Woolger, Authors of The Goddess Within and Other Lives, Other Selves.

Stephen Larsen has achieved a synthesis of mythic story, psychological theory, and clinical experience... -- David Feinstein, Ph.D., Co-author of Personal Mythology and Rituals for Living and Dying

Review

"Stephen Larsen has achieved a synthesis of mythic story, psychological theory, and clinical experience that extends the work of his teacher, Joseph Campbell, toward a more practical understanding of the relevance of myth for each of us."
(

David Feinstein, Ph.D., author of Personal Mythology

)

"An extraordinarily rich and wide-ranging compendium of the psychological uses of mythology. Stephen Larsen has given us stimulation for the mind, a feast for the imagination, and a multidimensional road map for the soul in quest of its truth."
(Roger J. Woolger and Jennifer B. Woolger,
Authors of The Goddess Within and Other Lives, Other Selves. )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892815744
• ISBN-13: 978-0892815746
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #385,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating The Presence of Myth, December 9, 2002

By	"poohwei" (Cranston, RI United States) - See all my reviews

Stephen Larsen's Mythic Imagination guides the reader in discovering the presence and power of myth in their everyday lives, from the unhealthy stereotypical myths of society to the healthy and empowering myths that brings one's soul closer to the spiritual realm of universal connection. Using dreams, expressive therapy and creative-play techniques, he explains that by embodying mythological and archetypal powers in a serious yet playful `as-if' attitude, one can increase their level of self-knowledge and further their spiritual journey. Larsen leaves the reader with a collection of exercises that enable one to invite mythic archetypes into a more conscious role in their lives through guided visualizations, journaling, clowning, and mask making.

The most profound realizations came from seeing Larsen's combination of the mythological, psychological, and therapeutic elements at play toward individuation. I have had the notion that when we are in the presence of something transcendent, we feel and experience it on a much deeper level. Larsen connects the role of the "dark prehuman" automatic nervous system to the healing process through images and experiences that resonate with primary meaning. For me, this reinforces the concept of the collective unconscious and of the archetypal energies that inspire the mythic imagination in us all.