The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul

by Anne Baring

The Dream of the Cosmos is the story of a multi-layered quest to understand the causes of human suffering and to reconnect with a deeper reality than the one we inhabit in this physical dimension of experience. It seeks to answer the "Who are we?" and "Why are we here, on this planet?" It is offered to those who are looking for something beyond the superficial values of our culture, who may be disillusioned with religious and secular belief systems as currently presented and who question political values which are deeply mired in the pursuit of power. It is written with two one the voice of a personal quest and the other which explores the historical and psychological causes that have brought into being our present view of reality.

Genres: Spirituality, Psychology

1000 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2013

About the author

Anne Baring (1931-) is the author and co-author of seven books and has recently published her latest one -- "The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul". She is a Jungian analyst and lives near Winchester, England. She is passionately interested in the fate of the Earth and the survival of our species in this critically important time of evolutionary change. Her work is devoted to the recognition that we live in an ensouled world and to the restoration of the lost sense of communion between us and the invisible dimension of the universe that is the source or ground of all that we call 'life'

Reviews

[Michael]

This book has raised the bar for me. It truly merits more than 5 stars. However I am forced to give it 5 stars and forever change my appreciation for what that rating can mean. This book is a phenomenon of spiritual insight that I am only just beginning to process. Anne Baring is a Jungian Analyst, religious scholar and historian and this is her magnus opus. (Once again I credit David Van Nuys of "Shrink Rap Radio" for introducing me to her.) Anne has authored and coauthored previous books on the history of goddess worship and has followed Jung's insights into the rebirth of the feminine archetype in our western culture. Anne takes us on her own personal journey and in the process provides a masterfully comprehensive view of human spiritual history from the hunter gatherer view of mother goddess and the sacred order of which man is a part, to our own history of polytheism where goddesses and male gods interacted in a form of divine harmony to monotheism where a male transcendent god places man above woman and nature while at the same time creating a dogma of a fallen human nature and a sinful body. Anne's critique of the philosopher Augustine and the church doctrine of "original sin" is potent and eye-opening. Anne goes on to take us on a whirlwind tour of Kabbalah, Kundalini Yoga, Sufi mystics, Daoism and Alchemy pulling together the essential threads of these human wisdom traditions and then without warning and with equal skill she takes us into the most contemporary understanding of cutting edge neuroscience, quantum physics and cosmology and how these fields of human knowing are converging beyond my wildest intuition. The cherry on top of this incredible intellectual dessert is her exhaustive review of the literature on near death experiences. By the end of this book I am feeling exhilarated and awakened. I recommend this book to any and all with any interest in the intersection of science, spirituality and our human cultural heritage. It will change you profoundly if you are at all open to being changed.

[Anita Ashland]

This is like a Bible for people interested in Jungian psychology and includes topics Jung only touched on, such as NDEs.

She provides a history of goddess mythology, Christianity, Augustine, Aristotle vs. Plato, reincarnation and so much more.

As the author says, “This book has been written with love: love of life, love of the beauty, wonder and sacredness of the Earth and all its incredible species; love of humanity and the sublime expressions of its creative spirit and indomitable courage; love of my family and my close friends and love of the mystery of the Cosmos, both visible and invisible, whose life I serve.”

[Imogen88]

This book is magnificent, very special, and so clear on very complex subjects. It is a natural progression from Myth of the Goddess, though solo authored. It mentions parts of Anne Baring and Jules Cashford's journey on their combined volume, which are fascinating to follow. Love this book and have taken a long while to read it, still am, and re-reading parts, because it's very profound, yet also concise, so don't imagine it's not going to make a deep impression! Highly recommended, and don't forget to check the resources and readings on Anne Baring's website, and also read more about Jules Cashford's work. This is a fascinating story and a great gift to the world. All the contributed reviews of this work are absolutely true in their appraisals.

[S]

This book was highly recommended by a friend I trust. I don't think I loved it to the same degree as her, but it did expose me to a lot (I made sure to copy the bibliography). I am grateful to the interlibrary loan program at the University of Richmond for locating this book for me (my county library was unable to borrow it on my behalf). I appreciated all of the drawings by the author's husband, Robin Baring. Some of my favorite sections include:

- The Way of the Tao
- The Impact of Literacy
- The Many Dimensions of Reality and the Great Chain of Being
- The death experience described in the Appendix
- The Birth of Light (Christmas Story)
- The Net of Indra (she returns to this four other times)

I am also intrigued by the work of Christopher Bache, mentioned five times by this author.

[Joel Parker]

I genuinely wanted to enjoy The Dream of the Cosmos, but it became increasingly difficult to stay engaged. The book attempts to blend personal memoir, psychology, history, and spirituality, yet these elements never come together in a satisfying way. The pacing is slow, the arguments often feel repetitive, and the conclusions lack the depth I expected from such an ambitious premise.

The cancellation of the associated book club event only added to the frustration. Readers who invested time in the book were hoping for meaningful interaction and discussion, especially given the complexity of the subject matter. Instead, many were left with unanswered questions and no opportunity to engage further. While some readers may appreciate its mystical approach, I found the overall experience disappointing and ultimately not worth the investment.

[Patricie]

I picked up The Dream of the Cosmos: A Quest for the Soul hoping for a thoughtful exploration of spirituality and the human condition. Unfortunately, I found the book frustratingly vague and repetitive. While it promises to answer profound questions such as "Who are we?" and "Why are we here?", it spends far too much time circling around these ideas without offering clear insights or practical conclusions.

What further diminished my enthusiasm was the cancellation of the author book club discussion that many readers had been looking forward to. The event could have provided valuable clarification and engagement around some of the book's more complex themes. Without that opportunity, many of the concepts remained inaccessible and unresolved. Overall, the book felt more like a collection of personal reflections than a coherent exploration of the topics it claims to address.

[Clara P.]

This book presents itself as a deep spiritual journey, but I found it surprisingly difficult to connect with. The writing often drifts into lengthy philosophical discussions that seem disconnected from everyday reality. Rather than illuminating life's deeper questions, the book frequently left me confused and unconvinced.

The disappointment was amplified by the cancellation of the planned book club event. Many readers were eager to discuss the material directly and gain a better understanding of the author's intentions. When that opportunity disappeared, it felt like a missed chance to bridge the gap between the book's ambitious ideas and its audience. For a work that emphasizes connection and understanding, the overall experience left me feeling disconnected and dissatisfied.

[Imogen Crest]

Brilliant author, Jungian analyst and author, Anne Baring. Cannot recommend highly enough, well set out, beautifully produced, full of meaningful thought and direction for the future. Loved it.

[Mary Ann]

A life-changing book! So well-researched and documented.

[Caragh Sheather]

Took me on and off 3 years to read but very good book. I loved all the personal stories she brought into the book from research she has done. Really opened up my eyes to the vastness of this cosmos

[Fleeting Bird]

Wow, this was a journey. I was impressed, then depressed, then ressurected and inspired. Thank you.

[John]

Wildy informative and transformative! A must read!!

[Susanne van Doorn]

I had the privalige to interview Anne Baring about her book The Dream of the Cosmos. She was as enchanting and as eloquent in real life as she is inthe book. From the first page on she seduces the reader to engage in a view of the world, no not only the world, the whole cosmos as a unity. A unity we became seperated from. I will share my first video with you (you can easily see all 4 small videos) to tell you more about the book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLr-W...