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Sitting by the Well: Bringing the Feminine to Consciousness Through Language, Dreams, and Metaphor
One symbol, perhaps above all others, holds a crucial significance for everyone in search of wholeness: the well. From the terrestrial world it leads down into darkness, to the treasure of pure feminine consciousness. We are each blessed with our own well, and from this source of salvation and eternal life, teaches Marion Woodman, we must drink or die.
In Sitting by the Well, this acclaimed Jungian analyst and author uses dreams, symbols, and body imagery to reach into the shadows of the unconscious mind and cast light on our everyday lives. Here is a poetic culmination of Woodman's many years of work with the psychological impact of patriarchy on men's and women's lives--from distorted body image and addiction, to sexual trauma and relationships, to our ultimate connection with the Great Mother (matter) and Great Father (spirit).
Rare Lectures Collected for the First Time
On six archival recordings--each one digitally remastered for maximum clarity and comprehension--Marion Woodman unravels Carl Jung's core teachings about archetypes and the unconscious, and analyzes how dreams and metaphors provide powerful healing tools for the psyche. You will hear the evolution of Woodman's theories throughout the past decade, while vividly sharing her insights into what we each must do to open to spirit and find meaning in our suffering. For all of us interested in what Woodman calls the language of our instincts, Sitting by the Well is a one-of-a-kind guide for learning it.
In her practice, Woodman has encountered many people who feel lost and out of touch with their bodies and their spirits. Where is the energy and imagery we need for nourishment? Join Marion Woodman and find your way to a wellspring for deeper guidance with Sitting by the Well.
In Sitting by the Well, this acclaimed Jungian analyst and author uses dreams, symbols, and body imagery to reach into the shadows of the unconscious mind and cast light on our everyday lives. Here is a poetic culmination of Woodman's many years of work with the psychological impact of patriarchy on men's and women's lives--from distorted body image and addiction, to sexual trauma and relationships, to our ultimate connection with the Great Mother (matter) and Great Father (spirit).
Rare Lectures Collected for the First Time
On six archival recordings--each one digitally remastered for maximum clarity and comprehension--Marion Woodman unravels Carl Jung's core teachings about archetypes and the unconscious, and analyzes how dreams and metaphors provide powerful healing tools for the psyche. You will hear the evolution of Woodman's theories throughout the past decade, while vividly sharing her insights into what we each must do to open to spirit and find meaning in our suffering. For all of us interested in what Woodman calls the language of our instincts, Sitting by the Well is a one-of-a-kind guide for learning it.
In her practice, Woodman has encountered many people who feel lost and out of touch with their bodies and their spirits. Where is the energy and imagery we need for nourishment? Join Marion Woodman and find your way to a wellspring for deeper guidance with Sitting by the Well.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1998
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About the author
Marion Woodman
61 books423 followersMarion Woodman was a Canadian mythopoetic author and women's movement figure. She was a Jungian analyst trained at the C. G. Jung Institute in Zürich, Switzerland. She was one of the most widely read authors on feminine psychology, focusing on psyche and soma. She was also an international lecturer and poet. Her collection of audio and visual lectures, correspondence, and manuscripts are housed at OPUS Archives and Research Center, in Santa Barbara, California. Among her collaborations with other authors she wrote with Thomas Moore, Jill Mellick and Robert Bly. Her brothers were the late Canadian actor Bruce Boa and Jungian analyst Fraser Boa.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 19, 2016
The process of listening to these recordings from start to finish has been nothing short of incredible. Marion Woodman's heart-centred delivery of the subtle, profound and incredibly layered aspects of inner work is wonderfully lucid and often shatteringly relatable. I'm in no doubt that I'll be listening and re-listening to this collection of seminars for many years to come.
March 14, 2023
Marion Woodman's "Sitting by the Well: Bringing the Feminine to Consciousness through Language, Dream, and Metaphor" is a compilation of twelve lectures given to live audiences, available on Audible. While the content is informative, the delivery could have been better. The preachy tone and sycophantic chuckling of the audience can be off-putting, and the overblown winks and nods to the audience decrease the impact of Woodman's insights.
However, I did appreciate learning more about the role of the feminine and its denial in addiction and eating disorders. Woodman is at her best when telling personal anecdotes, and she clarifies the difference between the archetype of the masculine and the evils of patriarchy. She explains that the patriarchy is toxic masculinity and can be just as wounding to men as women. She also sheds light on the topic of toxic femininity, which is not discussed as often.
As someone with little knowledge of Jungian analysis, I was fascinated to learn about the term "psychological incest," which is what can happen to children of narcissistic parents.
Overall, while I appreciated the insights into the feminine archetype and dreaming, the delivery mechanism of this Audible book left much to be desired. I cannot recommend it.
However, I did appreciate learning more about the role of the feminine and its denial in addiction and eating disorders. Woodman is at her best when telling personal anecdotes, and she clarifies the difference between the archetype of the masculine and the evils of patriarchy. She explains that the patriarchy is toxic masculinity and can be just as wounding to men as women. She also sheds light on the topic of toxic femininity, which is not discussed as often.
As someone with little knowledge of Jungian analysis, I was fascinated to learn about the term "psychological incest," which is what can happen to children of narcissistic parents.
Overall, while I appreciated the insights into the feminine archetype and dreaming, the delivery mechanism of this Audible book left much to be desired. I cannot recommend it.
June 30, 2019
This is a series of talks by Jungian analyst Marion Woodman and it is great listening to her. She talks about femininity, symbols, self development and relationships. If you are not familiar with Jungian concepts you may find it hard to understand but still worth trying if the topic attracts you.
August 21, 2018
I do recommend it. It helped me a lot figure out important things in my life and to put words or images where I was not able to.
It also improves a lot the work on my dreams, so if you are a person who works with metaphors for figure the emotions out, this book is a very nice guide.
Marion is my next favorite Jungianist close to Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
It also improves a lot the work on my dreams, so if you are a person who works with metaphors for figure the emotions out, this book is a very nice guide.
Marion is my next favorite Jungianist close to Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
February 20, 2023
<3
"i experience life as a double helix, as if part were moving in spirals up, and others, or both are moving in spirals down. so that all the time our life is moving in that spiral
and on the various spirals we go through initiations. for me, life is a series of initiations. we come to replace where we recognise through our experience, or through our dreams, that life as we have known it has finished. we have to go through liminal space. either our partner is gone, or our job is gone or we are no longer interested in our job. something has happened that has profoundly changed everything. in that liminal space, we are nobody. we don’t know who we are in the future that we are moving into. we do not know what that future is. but somewhere, a sacrifice is made for a higher value. and as we pass through these initiations we come into a greater abundance of life. a greater knowing of ourselves inside, or a greater sense of being; the being that unites us into the infinity, to the oneness. it is essentially our relationship to that great question; what is our relationship to the infinite that determines our life? it determines the choices we make. so you see, it’s a real question and you may think you’ve got to answer it, but then you come to another level of the spiral, and it breaks out into a brand new question. so this conscious feeding of the soul, the conscious sacrifices that we make in order to feed the soul, these are the initiation rites that we go through."
"i experience life as a double helix, as if part were moving in spirals up, and others, or both are moving in spirals down. so that all the time our life is moving in that spiral
and on the various spirals we go through initiations. for me, life is a series of initiations. we come to replace where we recognise through our experience, or through our dreams, that life as we have known it has finished. we have to go through liminal space. either our partner is gone, or our job is gone or we are no longer interested in our job. something has happened that has profoundly changed everything. in that liminal space, we are nobody. we don’t know who we are in the future that we are moving into. we do not know what that future is. but somewhere, a sacrifice is made for a higher value. and as we pass through these initiations we come into a greater abundance of life. a greater knowing of ourselves inside, or a greater sense of being; the being that unites us into the infinity, to the oneness. it is essentially our relationship to that great question; what is our relationship to the infinite that determines our life? it determines the choices we make. so you see, it’s a real question and you may think you’ve got to answer it, but then you come to another level of the spiral, and it breaks out into a brand new question. so this conscious feeding of the soul, the conscious sacrifices that we make in order to feed the soul, these are the initiation rites that we go through."
July 26, 2024
Listening to Marion Woodman’s “Sitting by the Well” felt like embarking on a deeply personal and transformative journey. Her voice carries a soothing, almost hypnotic quality that draws you into her world of myth, dreams, and profound insights into the human psyche. As she shared her own struggles and revelations, I found myself reflecting on my own life, uncovering hidden emotions and gaining new perspectives on my inner world.
Woodman’s exploration of the balance between feminine and masculine energies resonated deeply with me. Her storytelling is rich with symbolism, making complex psychological concepts accessible and relatable. Each chapter felt like a gentle nudge towards greater self-awareness and healing. This audiobook is not just a listen but an experience that invites introspection and growth. If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of yourself and the forces that shape your inner life, “Sitting by the Well” is an invaluable companion that I will return to again and again.
Woodman’s exploration of the balance between feminine and masculine energies resonated deeply with me. Her storytelling is rich with symbolism, making complex psychological concepts accessible and relatable. Each chapter felt like a gentle nudge towards greater self-awareness and healing. This audiobook is not just a listen but an experience that invites introspection and growth. If you’re seeking a deeper understanding of yourself and the forces that shape your inner life, “Sitting by the Well” is an invaluable companion that I will return to again and again.
August 1, 2022
Profound. Infinite hope and possibility for understanding and change/growth. I'll have to listen to this many times. Loved hearing Marion's voice. She is a prophet in the wilderness. Such depth is rare. So so so appreciate this compilation of her workshops and talks!
June 26, 2017
As with most of the books of Jungian psychology I've read: half bullshit, half brilliant.
November 16, 2020
It’s wonderful to hear Woodman deliver a lifetime of her Jungian insights in this audio.
March 25, 2021
A delightful listening journey of Jungian analysis centered on exploration of the feminine archetype. Fantastic.
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May 19, 2021I didn't take the prerequisite classes to understand this course material, whoa. ???
May 26, 2021
As with most of the books of Jungian psychology I've read: half bullshit, half brilliant.
February 13, 2025
I mean. Nothing is eternal so I can't agree with that. But it makes sense that dreams are the result of our old, old brain...
June 13, 2025
Listening to this audiobook has helped me understand the feminine aspects. The author goes deep into the feminine psyche and conversations with the audience is inspiring
Read
August 7, 2012mythic, epic and a legacy!
Read
October 4, 2012I've listened to this on audio, have it on my iPod and listen sporadically on long car trips. I totally love Marion, so biased opinion from me here no doubt, but heck,its great.
August 1, 2012
I haven't read this, but I've listened to her audio on the book, and loved it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews