A Blue Fire (Paperback)

~ (Author), (Editor) "Archetypal psychology is not a psychology of archetypes..." (more)
Key Phrases: senex consciousness, polytheistic psychology, anima consciousness, James Hillman, Myth of Analysis, Sulfur of Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For Jungian psychoanalyst Hillman, who has won a following with such books as Re-Visioning Psychology , the psyche is a polytheistic battleground, words are carriers of soul between people and dream images are "necessary angels" demanding a response. Readers who have found Hillman's therapeutic approach impractical or abstruse will welcome this compact, highly readable anthology of his writings--edited in collaboration with Hillman and encompassing hard-to-find books, articles and lectures. The selections reveal Hillman as a systematic thinker who adopts an open-ended attitude toward the mind, seeking out mythic archetypes and fantasies at work in family conflicts, in politics, war, the workplace--and in the betrayals and raptures of love.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

A vitally important introduction to the theories of one of the most original thinkers in psychology today, A Blue Fire gathers selected passages from many of Hillman's seminal essays on archetypal psychology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperPerennial; 1st HarperPerennial Softcover edition (August 2, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060921013
• ISBN-13: 978-0060921019
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,071 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful and engaging. It gives pause for reflection., September 28, 2000

By	Mark Hammond (Chambersburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Blue Fire" is an anthology of selections from James A. Hillman's major works, including "Insearch: Psychology and Religion," "Suicide and the Soul," "Healing Fiction," and others, including journal and magazine articles in such diverse publications as "Spring," "Utne Reader," "Institute Newsletter," and "Loose Ends: Primary Papers in Archetypal Psychology." This should not scare you away. On the contrary, the reader will find that "Blue Fire" is quite readable and understandable. The selections in this book challenge you to think. Thomas More (editor) did an excellent job in assembling and introducing the selections in the book, tying them together so that they show a logical continuity of thought. If you read "Psychology Today," you should have no trouble with this book. You will find it delightful. If you have a deeper interest in 'depth psychology,' Jungian Psychology, or archetypal psychology, you will find this an excellent read.

Hillman's approach to psychology is one of addressing the individual as an individual within a society, paying strict attention to the needs of that individual and his/her soul. Psychology is not treating mental disorders and symptoms of such disorders, it is caring for the soul. Much of what can be accomplished is a transformation of the soul symbolically through the use of imagination, poetry, symbolism, and metaphor. "Blue Fire" was an epiphany for me. It caused me to look at many things from a different prospective. I found a new appreciation for spirituality and soulfulness, as well as the need to accept others and myself.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great summary of the author's opus., June 16, 1999

By A Customer

The reading of this book was my first contact with the work of this author, which I already knew about from my readings of Thomas Moore's books. I have already read other books by Hillman by now. This book presents passages, aspects, and ideas from his other books. I found it to be a wonderful introduction to Hillman's views allowing me to select from his vast production the type of reading that I am looking for at any given time, within this broad area of undestanding human nature. My word of appreciation also to Thomas Moore(editor),who wrote the introduction to each chapter in a very elegant style that provides valuable insights to the comprehension of the deep thought of Hillman. I recommend this book widely.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to Hillman, February 5, 2005

By	English Teacher (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

Always provocative and challenging, Hillman is one of today's greatest thinkers in my opinion. This is a solid introduction to his ideas edited by one of his biggest fans. If you haven't read Hillman, this is a good place to start. Hillman can be a little hard to read, so these short excerpts make it a bit more manageable. I also highly recommend Inter-Views, a series of conversations with Laura Pozzo and We've Had A Hundred Years of Therapy (and the World's Getting Worse)-conversations and letters betweem Hillman and Michael Ventura. These last two works are Hillman at his most readable.