Ruhun Yaralı Şifacısı Carl Jung

by Claire Dunne

Ruhun Yaralı Şifacısı, psikoloji tarihine damga vuran, psikolojiyi şekillendirerek doğu ile batıyı birleştiren, mitleri deşifre eden, tüm zamanların en büyük ruhsal devrimcisi Carl Gustav Jung’un ruhsal yolculuğunun hikâyesi.

"Sadece yaralı olan hekim iyileştirebilir" diyerek şifa kavramına noktayı koyan ve kendisine sormadığı hiçbir soruyu başkasına sormayan olağanüstü bir kişilik. Analitik psikolojinin kurucusu, gölge, kompleks, bilinçdışı, arketip kolektif bilinçdışı, anima animus kavramlarını dünya psikolojik mirasına kazandıran, insan ruhunu anlamaya niyet etmiş bir hekim ve şifacı.

Claire Dunne’ın kaleme aldığı bu eşsiz biyografide Kırmızı Kitap’tan parçaları, Freud’la dostluklarını, baba oğul ilişkilerini ve kopuşlarını, çocukluğunu, evliliğini, aşkını, eşzamanlılık kavramını ve kolektif bilinçdışını keşfini, İkinci Dünya Savaşı başlamadan gördüğü rüyaları, doğuya yaptığı yolculuklarda edindiği kadim bilgileri batıdaki bilimle birleştirmesini okuyacaksınız. Jung’un biyografisi tıp, psikoloji, sanat, edebiyat, din, bilime meraklı, insan ruhunun DNA’sına erişmek isteyen herkes için bir başucu kitabı.

Claire Dunne, dünyanın çeşitli yerlerinde Carl Jung ve başka konularda konferanslar veren bir yazar ve televizyon ile radyo programı yapımcısıdır. İrlanda’da doğmuş, uzun yıllar boyunca Avustralya’da yaşamıştır. Avustralya’da çokkültürlü iki radyo kanalı kurmuş ve çokkültürlülüğe, Kelt kültürüne ve etnik yayınlara katkılarından dolayı Avustralya Şövalye Nişanı’na layık görülmüştür. Bu onun üçüncü kitabıdır.

Genres: Psychology, Biography, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, History, Science

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Owlseyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have an old soul. At high school at fifteen, my school mates called me Patriarch Abraham. That's very important, an old soul. We always retain traces of an existence which is not earthly, a state of abundance where we know everything"

One of the best biographies of the Swiss Psychologist and Psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung, I have ever encountered. From childhood to old age; from studying to training and lecturing and finally to a certain secluded mode of life, during old age, the book is accompanied by photographs as well as paintings and all sorts of pictures to illustrate the main concepts (synchronicity, the individuation process, the deep unconscious, archetypes...) of the soul searcher and soul healer. One who had wounds too.

Family-life, friends, travels, letters and much, much more are included in this beautiful work of art. It's the whole arch of a lifetime, with many, many ramifications in space and time.

"Dear Professor Freud
May I say a few words to you in earnest? ...your technique of treating your pupils like patients is a blunder...
Most sincerely yours, Jung."

"Dear Mr. President
Dear Doctor
Your allegation that I treat my followers like patients is demonstrably untrue. In Vienna I am reproached for the exact opposite.
(...)
Accordingly I propose that we abandon our personal relations entirely."
(1913)


(Aurora Consurgens medieval manuscript, exemplar from Zürich Zentralbibliothek; Sun and moon battle; the relationship between Freud and Jung was a meeting of opposites complementary at first, becoming antagonistic in time)


(sistema munditotious; painting by C.G. Jung 1916; Jung's first mandala pictures the self complete and in relationship to the universe)

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The journey from cloud cuckoo land to reality lasted a long time. In my case Pilgrims Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders until I could reach out my hand to the little clod of earth that I am."

This illustrated biography captures the elements of Jung's journey on many levels. It transports me to depths and heights I often avoid in favor of ease and convenience. Thank you, Carl, for reminding me - again and again - of the reality that all too many of us dismiss as fantasy.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost made the tragic mistake of not continuing to read this book, after reading the Foreward, Preface, & Introduction. Perhaps it was an example of "sychronicity", as Jung would say, perhaps even a gentle prodding from the great doctor beyond, that I kept reading. The reason for my first reaction was purely visual. This 2nd edition (?) of the book came out last year, the original edition having been published by Parabola Books, USA in 2000. I don't know what the format was for that edition, but I emphatically feel that Watkins Publishing, London, did a great disservice in offering this edition with such horribly small print! I know that I'm an older person and have had some of the usual optical dysfunctions of one my age, but I don't believe I've ever encountered a book that I was tempted to put down because it was so difficult, visually, to read.

That being said, I can't praise the contents of the book enough. Claire Dunne has produced a marvelously helpful, interesting, and inspiring introduction to one of the great and seminal figures of the past century! She helps us, mainly by using the Master's own words, to appreciate the depth of his insights, as well as to understand why so many, including other noted scientists, psychologists, theologians, etc., misunderstood and opposed Jung's ideas. He was truly a trailblazer. Despite the small print, you won't regret reading this wonderful book.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past couple of years I've had a focus on learning more about Carl Jung and his theories. I find many of his ideas intuitively interesting without causing my head to hurt as I read. I do have to admit that some of his theoretical ideas are beyond my scope of understanding as I fall in the camp of those who would suggest too much mystical slant. But the longer I live the more I find that what I thought to be boundaries in life were only my own making.

I found this book at a local book store, I had not heard of this biography so I was pleased with the price and the potential. As I started to read the book I was immediately drawn to the additional care that the publisher contributed, pages that were extra heavy to support the several colored images that are included. The author brings the reader a sumptious smorgasbord of highlights from Jung's writings. She seemed to have searched for those aspects of his writings that really bring the theme of each chapter to life. This is a biography where the reader will not be bogged down in the minute detail of everything, you can sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Nearly every page has images from various artists that bring a visual representation to the text that is being read. Many will find them appealing. The author interjects her own voice but does so in an effecient way as to not demand the spot light. Most times her words and Jung's blend well.

This is one of those books that a person can just sample from, a little at a time, each day, and be gratified in the process. The reader will come away with an increased knowledge of Jung but will not be an expert. I would think it would work for the novice and those who are transitioning into a med level interest in Jung. I think most will find it an interesting walk around the block with one of the great minds in psychology.

[Martha Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It traces with narrative and images how Jung was a natural art therapist (although it does not directly say that but demonstrates it) beginning as a child through adulthood. A very easy book to understand about Jung and probably the most beautiful images you will find other than in the Red Book. I used this book to assist teaching an undergraduate class at SSU in art therapy and Carl Jung. We went through all the same art processes that Jung did to explore individuation and Jung's theories. I do suggest that you read His autobiography, "Memories, Dreams, and Reflections" along with it to get a full understanding of Jung's life and process.

Martha Love,
author of What's Behind Your Belly Button? A Psychological Perspective of the Intelligence of Human Nature and Gut Instinct

[José Navarrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho la biografía de Carl Jung hecha por Claire Dunne. Las ilustraciones son hermosas. Las cartas de las personas que fueron muy cercanas a Jung, me gustaron mucho. Conocer más de Jung para mí es genial.

Recomiendo este libro para todas aquellas personas que estén más bien apasionadas por la vida y la técnica del autor, será un libro que disfrutarán.

[Sirin Mitrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yaralı şifacı tanımı tüm astrologların bileceği gibi Kiron’nun tanımıdır. Jung da harita çıkaracak kadar astroloji bilgisi olan müthiş bir ruh doktorudur. Resimlerle süslenmiş bu harika kitabı tam da Jung’un üçüncü kiron dönüşünde (26 derece koç) okuduğum için çok şanslı hissediyorum.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thick with content and thought. I read it slowly, over perhaps a year. My favorite parts were the letters between Freud and Jung, displaying their relationship. But also displaying why they parted ways; philosophies evolving in different directions. I liked learning that Jung heard voices and had visions, but was functional and not hindered by them - that was previously not known to me. His spiritual thoughts were of interest to me and I got some further reading suggestions along those lines from this book.

[Omar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking and interesting.. Worth reading and re-reading..

[Wyzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To give birth to the ancient in a new time is creation.”

Carl Jung was one of the most impactful and important creators of the last century; and Wounded Healer eloquently and authentically captures the essence of his creations.

Like his contemporaries confessed, “One leaves Jung’s presence feeling enriched and appeased, as by contact with a pine tree in the forest, a life as much below ground as above.”
This presence is felt in every page.

Just like the ouroboros on the cover, Jung encourages us to “see life in the round, something forever coming into being and passing on.” To see our own lives in the context of this “ancient symbol of eternal becoming,” a call to keep spiraling into the higher and into the deeper.

He was a true spiritual and cultural alchemist, producing the patterns interwoven across the ages and connecting the dots of the unconscious in us all.

As he well knew, Love let’s us see the lines —

Personally, I was deeply moved by the synchronistic insights I gathered like pearls from the shells of each page. Inspired from the infamous introvert to live fully the life internal and to tango with the Toni’s love magically leads us to.

[M●13RA · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.7/10

[Margot Medellin · Rating 4 out of 5]

No fue tan cual este libro pero su vida fue interesante

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did a wonderful job at recounting Jung's life, from birth to death, with captivating images, historical photos and unique illustrations. It presented me with many of his personal views and psychological concepts, some more popular at the time, and others that seem to be making a comeback today. But it's incredible to see how much of his legacy has lived on through to our era, not only in clinical and academic settings, but more largely in our society, in how humanity has evolved (and de-evolved). He really was ahead of his time, and I wished I could have met him if he was still around.
I will say that at times his essays can get somewhat dense and although I enjoyed his unique style of writing, I admit some of his expositions, especially on the theological topics, required me to reread it a few times over to understand his thinking and further time to let it sink in. Overall, this was an excellent read for anyone never having read anything on Jung before and looking to get a well rounded, but still very enjoyable, read on his life and work.

Some intriguing concepts to note for my own interests:

Jung's views on the psychological nature of evil. He was clearly deeply influenced by his travels to Asia which left him "deeply convinced of the value of Oriental wisdom". He describes how their spirituality contains equal forces of both good and evil, whereas in North American the every day Christian "strives for good and succumbs to evil; the Indian feels himself to be outside good and evil, and seeks to realize this state of meditation or yoga."

I didn't expect nearly as much of the religious side in his analysis when starting this book, but I became quite fascinated by his views on theology in the end. As he points out, "...the main interest of my work is not concerned with the treatment of neurosis but rather with the approach to the numinous. But the fact is that the approach to the numinous is the real therapy and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences you are released from the curse of pathology."

"I positively do not believe that Christianity is the only and the high manifestation of the truth. There is at least as much truth in Buddhism and in other religions too."

In particular, I thought this passage on 'progressive incarnation' was interesting and how it seems SO APPROPRIATE, in my view, with what we're seeing in our society today:

"We imitate Christ and hope he will deliver us from our own fate. Like little lambs we follow the shepherd, naturally to good pastures. No talk at all of uniting our Above and Below! On the contrary Christ and his cross deliver us from our conflict, which we simply leave alone... Instead of bearing ourselves, i.e., our own cross, ourselves, we load Christ with our unresolved conflicts. We "place ourselves under his cross", but by golly not under our own... The cross of Christ was borne by himself and was his. To put oneself under somebody else's cross, which has already been carried by him, is certainly easier than to carry your own cross amid the mockery and contempt of the world. That way you remain nicely ensconced in tradition and are praised as devout. This is well-organized Pharisaism and highly un-Christian. Whoever imitates Christ and has the cheek to want to take Christ's cross on himself when he can't even carry his own has in my view not yet learnt the ABC of the Christian message."

"I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society, cannot resist the power of evil which is called, very aptly, the Devil. But the use of such words arouses so many mistakes that one can only keep aloof from them as much as possible..."

-----
Some other passages that stayed with me, and left me with the longing to have known Jung in person, with all his perceptive powers, deep wisdom and sense of humour

• "Jung was a tall, well-built man - slightly stooped due to his age. His eyes were keen and penetrating with a twinkle in their depth. His mouth was sensitive, humorous, and stubborn, and his whole being gave off a feeling of simplicity, of wisdom and understanding. Jung was a marvelous raconteur and an equally good listener. To me he was a combination of scientist, artist, woodsman, and shaman." -Maud Oakes (author and painter)

• "The feeling for the infinite, however, can be attained only if we are bounded to the utmost.... Only consciousness of our narrow confinement in the self forms the link to the limitlessness of the unconscious. In such awareness we experience ourselves concurrently as limited and eternal, as both the one and the other."

• "I do not want anyone to be a Jungian.. I want people above all to be themselves.. Should I be found one day only to have created another "ism" then I will have failed in all I tried to do".

• "There is no place where those striving after consciousness could find absolute safety. Doubt and insecurity are indispensable components of a complete life. Only those who can lose this life really can gain it. A 'complete' life does not consist in a theoretical completeness, but in the fact that one accepts, without reservation, the particular fatal tissue in which one finds oneself embedded, and that one tries to make sense of it or to create a cosmos from the chaotic mess into which one is born."

• "Man has to cope with the problem of suffering. The Oriental wants to get rid of the suffering by casting it off. Western man tries to suppress suffering with drugs. But suffering has to be overcome, and the only way to overcome it is to endure it."

• "The difference between most people and myself is that for me the 'dividing walls' are transparent. That is my peculiarity. Others find these walls so opaque that they see nothing behind them and therefore think nothing is there. To some extent I perceive the processes going on in the background, and that gives me an inner certainty. People who see nothing have no certainties and can draw no conclusions - or do not trust them even if they do."

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An artfully crafted summary of an extremely intriguing life, biographer Claire choose quotes from copious books, articles, letters and interviews to construct a life that would otherwise be unfathomable: hard to imagine the awkward child excelling at a relatively new field of knowledge to become the supposed "son and heir" to the founder of psychoanalysis Freud, only to break away from his institutionalized influence to find a more mythical path. His travels to the Sahara, Mexico and India, plus more temporal trips to Ancient China, Egypt and alchemists in medieval Europe demonstrate a mind that could take on a wealth of sometimes contradictory influences and find he synchronicity within all. The narrative presents glimpses of his personal life with patients, the occasional mistress, authors, quantum physicists and spiritual leaders make it seem like he was one of the most easy-going intellectual in the twentieth century, but he seemed ready to trade it all in for a quiet escape to his self-built castle in Bollingen. I am now more ready than ever to understand his more esoteric writing, such as Answer to Job or Mysterium Coniunctionis, but will be more keen to discover my own connection to the collective unconscious and the cross I have to bear.

[Reina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming sketch of a most fascinating man. This biography attempts to cover the most crucial aspects, not only of Jung's work, but also of the man named Carl Jung himself. While qualifiably extensive in its scope, it would be a far cry to consider this a substantial and sufficient condensation of Jung's ideas. There are portions wherein I felt that a little more exploration on a concept could've improved both my appreciation of the book and my comprehension of Jung's ideas, which I feel, given the man's life-long dilemma of feeling like nobody understood him, deserved more than just a few convenient descriptions. Nevertheless, the book certainly whets the appetite for more. The utter vastness and complexity of Jung's oeuvre are incredibly intimidating to consider, what more actually study, but this biography—readable, inspiring, and engaging as it is—makes me feel a little braver - brave enough, perhaps, to take on the challenge.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As ever, when I read Jung, I have a brush with the ephemeral nature of my existence, along with a gentle prodding of his fingers in my brain awakening me to the ideas of time and that which is eternal within me. Carl wrote something interesting on his tomb stone, "Invoked or not invoked the God will be present." Sometimes his teachings jar me awake and sometimes, he leaves me clouded trying to find my way home by the briefest of lights, but he remains the sole psychologist who allows both manifestations of myself to exist; the one made of science and the melancholy artist made of crumbling clay, that needed his words to keep creating my work and myself.

[Sander Brouwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice biography of Jung himself and the added letters really add to this autobiographical element of the book, but I disagree with the introduction that states that it also serves as an introduction to his teachings. It talks about the teachings but in no way it seeks to explain it to introducees in Jungian psychology. So 3 stars for the biography, 0 for the introduction to the psychology.

[Floris Steenbreker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wounded Healer of the Soul is a lovely introduction to the magical world of Jung. The illustrations are lovely and the text is a nice balance between inspiring core sentences and more laid back information on Jung's life.

[Umar]

nice easy relaxed read...artwork adds great depth and clarity to Jung's ideas and life story

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quotes contained in this book, attributed to one of my favorite people of all time, are phenomenal. I love his paintings as well. The man was nonpareil in so many ways. Thank you Jung.

[Shelby M. (Read and Find Out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

On first read in 2018: 4.5 stars

2025 reread

Overall rating: 4 stars

Style/writing: 3.5 stars
Themes: 4.5 stars
Perspective: 4 stars

[Qing Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read The Red Book: Liber Novus, The Freud/Jung Letters, and Memories, Dreams, Reflections, the first section of this book may be boring. Guess the most important part of Dr. Jung's life and work, or at least the part to be more public, is largely contained in those books.

Then the second and third sections are quite interesting as they show more of Jung as a human, how he lives his everyday life, how his visitors felt when approaching the tower. Lots of anecdotes which brings Jung closer. Now one can even imgaine how Jung was cooking, or wondering how hearty and uproariously his laughter was that a stranger on the road was attracted and felt have to find him out. And of course when one has read about his being `touchy` even in old age, it's no wonder that his correspondence with Freud at the later stage became kind of painful to read.

Jung saw himself as full of oppposites. While the purpose of life is to transcend the opposites and thus lead is turned into gold. It's reassuring to know that people found Jung look like a Swiss peasant. Rooted deep in the earth while always long for the wholeness and oneness.

[Respectable · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most intriguing characters to walk the earth. Carl Jung is a mystery to me. I had read some of his books last year and while I could sense that he had much to say on the fringes of human experience and that he was incredibly earnest in both his search for truth and his efforts to communicate what he'd found, I came away from those readings with a puzzled look on my face. The language often meandered into the esoteric and the experiences were too strange to be able to fully comprehend. Not all, but much of it was. I needed an interpreter of sorts (Jordan Peterson was one) to expound his wilder ideas (some of his ideas are not as hard to grapple with - like the inner child - although they profoundly influenced the field of psychology) in clearer terms.

But the curiosity remained. I wanted to know more about this dude who had delved into the unconscious and grappled with it more than most people. What had he found?

This book does a great job of shedding some light on this matter. It is a readable biography of an enigmatic character.

[Albemarle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always found Carl Jung’s ideas intuitively interesting, unlike Freud’s on sexuality that disturb me. Since I have, too, realised that what we see as boundaries in life are only of our own making, this book speaks to me. It is impressive, not the least visually; its presentation including excellent coloured photos. Images, mainly from the artworld, bring a visual representation that somehow edifies and completes the text. Yet, the main element is Jung’s own descriptions, problems and doubts… his theories. They fit well into the book I am writing at present. Here is one of Jung’s statements that I love: “I know the price one has to pay to restore the continuity that has been lost.”

[Charlie Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thoroughly engrossed in my reading of Claire Dunne’s wonderfully written biography of Jung. I very much appreciated the way in which the biography is told by both Jung and those who knew him so well. The reader, I feel, is helped so well to understand the connections between Jung as a person and his profound thinking, philosophy and his analytical practice. The illustration support the text so well and add another interesting dimension to the biography. I learned so much in a very enjoyable way. Thank you Claire Dunne. I hope to read more of her work.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

She mostly lets Jung speak for himself, with only relatively small paragraphs between quotations. Some of the pages have - I swear - FIVE different fonts on the same page. It is a visual obstacle course for me. I’d turn a page and lose where I was meant to be reading.

An interesting way to construct a biography, but I really like her choices of art and illustration.

I’d buy a copy of the book just for all of them.

4 stars

So far this year, my library saved me A$604.31

this edition is anything up to $300 but on amazon its $175

[Emel Tuzgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bu kitap, daha önce okuduğum pek çok metinde referans gösterilen ve çok merak ettiğim, belki de bu yüzden beklentimin yüksek olduğu bir kitaptı.
Kitap bir biyografi olarak fena değil ancak bence hayat hikayesi bile çok üstün körü anlatılmış. Örneğin Jung'un doğuya yaptığı seyahatlerle ilgili hemen hiçbir bilgi olmaması beni çok şaşırttı. Jung'un görüşlerini ve neden bu kadar önemli bir kişi olduğunu açıklamakta oldukça eksik kaldığını düşünüyorum.
Yine de genel çerçeve çizen bir biyografi olarak okunabilir.

[Eren Aruca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carl Jungu ilk defa bu kitapta tanıdım. Çocukluğu, ailesi ve özellikle Freud ile ahbaplığı çok güzel anlatılmış. Kendisinin doğaya, tanrıya, insanlara farklı bir bakış açısı var. Neredeyse çoğu insan Carl Jung ile görüşmelerinde büyülenmiş gibi hissettiğini bahsediyor, çok farklı bir aurası varmış. Kendi içine çekilmek için yaptırdığı Bollingen Kulesi harika bir şey. Bu kitapta çok az bahsedilen arketip kavramını araştıracağım, zaten böyle şeylere inanmaya meyilliyim. Bundan sonra Carl Jung'u anlamak için durağım Kırmızı Kitap'ıdır, ancak onu anlayamamaktan çekiniyorum.

[Eric Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An fascinating, authentic book about a fascinating, authentic man

Yes Jung was more than a bit nuts, and plagued by demons - but that's what lent legitimacy to him and his theories

Unlike Freud, Maslow and so many other "titans" of psychology and psychiatry - who were, at best, not very nice people - and very dubious plumbers into the souls of others - Jung had real empathy - not cold, supercilious detachment

[Lokman Yilmaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jung’un hayatına çok güzel ışık tutan bir kitap. Kendi içindeki ve dış dünyayla olan mücadelesini, kendini bulma sürecini, iş ve sosyal ilişkilerindeki gelişmeleri, öncülük yaptığı fikirleri … kısacası ona dair birçok şey hakkında bilgi sahibi olabiliyorsunuz. Sizi Jung’un dünyasına çekip orada onla birlikte düşündürüyor( Ben onun kadar derin düşündüğümü söyleyemem tabiki ama sürecin bir parçası gözlemcisi olmak dahi güzel :)