Natural Spirituality

by Joyce Rockwood Hudson

Natural Spirituality moves Jungian dream work from the professional world of the analyst's office into the everyday world of the laity in the local church. The book offers serious Christians in every community an opportunity to embark upon the spiritual path of individuation. With clarity and simplicity Joyce Hudson puts into her reader's hands the tools for inner work that Carl Jung offered to Christianity. Joyce Hudson then goes beyond Jung to present original models of masculine and feminine wholeness. In illustrating the masculine model, she offers an analysis of the lives and music of the Beatles that is both insightful and entertaining. To illustrate the model of feminine wholeness, Hudson joins ranks with C.S. Lewis, Robert Johnson, Marie-Louise von Franz, and Erich Neumann in putting forth her own interpretation of the classical myth of Psyche and Eros. Finally, she offers detailed advice and helpful resources for instituting continuing programs for inner work in local churches. While maintaining deep respect for Church tradition, this highly readable work opens the door for an expanded and enlivened Christianity.

Genres: Spirituality

308 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about seeing dreams and the synchronicities in life as being from God and part of the wisdom tradition of the bible. The author tells how she started ongoing natural spirituality groups in her Episcopal church congregation.

[Jerrid Kruse · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few redeeming qualities and written well, but seemed overly focused on the author’s experiences and vague with respect to both philosophical and biblical connections. The Beatles illustration was interesting. A bit paternalistic and even patriarchal at times.

[Judy Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

The discussion and re-interpretation of Psyche and Eros was worth the price of the book, but the rest of uneven. And the digression into a Jungian study of the personalities of the Beatles . . . well, enough said.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jungian theory with an 80's twist. Not exactly my favorite book.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on Jungian psychology.... we studied this book with a group, it provided an excellent platform for discussing how dreams and synchronicity work in our lives.

[Alexia Gordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I finished it was because it was the text for a workshop. Hudson comes across as an arrogant, chauvinistic, conservative traditionalist masquerading as a forward thinker.