At a Journal Workshop

by Ira Progoff

s/t: Writing to Access the Power of the Unconscious & Evoke Creative Ability
This revised and expanded edition of the classic At a Journal Workshop, a self-published bestseller, offers the reader access to the most widely praised method of diary writing. This rich, insightful work is a treasure for all those involved in self-inquiry, artistic creation and spiritual renewal.

Genres: Writing, Journaling, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Reference, Spirituality

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

The former director of Dialogue House, Dr. Ira Progoff has worked toward a dynamic, humanistic psychology as private therapist, lecturer, and group leader. He has served as Bollingen Fellow and as Director of the Institute for Research in Depth Psychology at Drew University. He was a leading authority on C.G. Jung, depth psychology and transpersonal psychology as well as journal writing.

Dr. Progoff completed his doctoral dissertation on the psychology of C.G. Jung from the New School for Social Research in New York City. His thesis was published in 1953 as Jung's Psychology and Its Social Meaning. He is best known for his development of the Intensive Journal® Program and the Process Meditation method.

Reviews

[Ann M]

It's really wordy -- so many extra words to say the least little thing that it's distracting me from the kernel of the book. Expanding this edition was probably a mistake. It could use serious cutting, at least 50%.

[Erik Akre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone with a serious journaling habit and a desire to move even more deeply within... anyone interested in the visionary and mystical aspect of the unconscious... anyone wanting to loosen the boundaries that hold the psyche in its cage... anyone who thrives on imagination, loves to write, digs dreams, looks for secrets and new inspirations... not to mention anyone who's simply looking for a vehicle for new creative endeavors...

This book is for you. It draws on the wisdom of the unconscious, and it delivers brilliantly.

The one catch is: You need to commit to it absolutely. It is anything but "lite." It involves the creation of a journal that is in itself a work of art: a binder holding journal entries of many kinds. One is coached to create daily entries, dream entries, visionary sequences, dialogues, timelines, life-histories, and reflections. And all of these aspects link to each other in a web of meaning, sparking creative inspiration along the way. I would emphasize again and again that this is a big project; but if you persist you will not be disappointed. It's like Power Journaling, but in order to harness the power you need to dig in and work at it.

The process unlock tremendous creativity. For example, if you are a painter or a poet, the book (or rather, you yourself will provide copious visual, intellectual, and emotional images and ideas. The very process of the Journal produces, develops, and forces reflection upon the conscious and unconscious products of the mind.

If all this sounds good, give it a try. I went through a cycle of it, and the time I spent was rewarded with excavation of great richness from the deeps of my own psychology. Enlightening, individuation, and healing.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've started my journal work using Progoff's method for the second time. I was unable to keep in the process the first time, but I still have those entries, like old records to return to and ponder over. Incredibly, what I was able to accomplish during that chaotic time is valuable today as a teaching tool, when I am at a crossroads in my life. I've been working with it for a few weeks and already notice my self-compassion increase, as well as a feeling of potential or possibility well within me.

[Flexnib]

A very difficult book - not so much in the subject matter, but in the way it's been written and organised. It's so dense and rambly that I found it very difficult to work out the actual writing exercises and practices. Perhaps it would be more useful if I attend one of the courses around which the book is based. As it is, I cannot gauge its usefulness at this point. I'm writing with Christina Baldwin's Life's Companion: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest instead. It's far easier to follow and digest.

[Alison Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An experiental workshop using this journaling method does not compare to reading the book.

Attending a two-day workshop in the mid-90s was one of the most beneficial activities I have done in my life. I would enjoy attending more workshops in the future.

The methodology weaves the past, present and future of one's life in a manner I have never experienced.

[Maxine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Astonishingly long winded and abstract, for a book on something as practical as a journaling programme. The exercises must be in there somewhere but I couldn't find them in all the pontificating.

I'm surprised the book has a decent rating when a number of reviewers seem to have found it unreadable or unusable without attending the workshop. Is the workshop being reviewed, or the book?

I'm sure the approach is very good. I wish the author had written a decent book about it. I found out about some of the techniques through Kathleen Adam's excellent book Journal to the Self. Despite high motivation to try Progroff's programme for myself, I found it impossible to wade through this.

It's actually an achievement to write something so inaccessible. What was the publisher thinking?

[Lisa Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book discusses the process of intensive journaling, which is interesting. I did many of the exercises and found them useful. However, I found the author used way too many words to get to the point. At times, I felt bored and others downright irritated. It was a struggle to get through the entire book. If this was edited down, it would be a much more enjoyable read.

[Margaret McLane]

Signed Aletha Kanewski 8-10-76

[Henry Sturcke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a try roughly twenty-five years ago and soon put it aside. I now realize what the problem was. This is one of those books that reads like the script Progoff may have used in a live workshop setting. A speaker often restates the same point in various ways to make sure that point has gotten across. A writer doesn’t need to. When he does anyway, he risks having his reader’s eyes glaze over, and the reader risks missing valuable material.
The primary beneficiaries of this book, then, would be those who attended a Dialogue House workshop, where Progoff or another facilitator introduced intensive journaling. Having this text would be a handy way of refreshing its method for continued work on the journal after the workshop.
Nevertheless, there is useful material here for those of us who are on our own as we work with the raw material of our lives to detect its movement through time with the hope of integrating its varied facets and experiences. The book reflects throughout Progoff’s conviction that each individual life is a potential work of art.
This may sound solipsistic, even narcissistic, but balanced against it is an image Progoff uses that I found enlightening: Our exploration of our lives, with its excavation of ever-deeper layers, is like going down a well. When we reach the bottom, we discover that this well is fed by the same underground springs as many other wells. We come away from this experience not only with a deeper recognition of the unique course of our personal lives but also its connectivity with the rest of humanity.

[Joann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3 stars are how I feel about it right now. Thirty years ago I might have given it 5. I have the 3rd edition, 1976. I took three Journal workshop classes based on the procedures outlined in this book. The process was interesting and stimulating. I wrote and wrote. At times it was painful and at times exhilarating.

What did I get out of it? I have no idea except I'm still writing and doing lots of things. Was the book helpful? I don't know... I haven't looked at it or my journals of that time in years and also I never adamantly adhered to the Progoff method. But have always kept journal/diaries of various sorts. Just now I riffled through the book and see I had scribbled lots of marginalia. Interesting, but at this point in my life I'm not sure I would delve into a program like this again. I can't give it the intensity I once could offer.

My unprofessional view is that something like an Intensive Journal Workshop and this book are very valuable at certain points in one's life, but it's nothing you or anyone else can urge upon you.

[KATHRYN HARDY · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this book as I love journalling and this book gives a structure of historical and reflections, the present moment as well as movements into the future. It is a very beneficial method of journalling and making changes and transitions in an individuals life.

[Dr Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's face it. This book is a slog. But it is one of my all time favourites. It's not a blog post. Or a tweet. It's a tool to help your inner most self. It takes work. But it's worth it.

In fact, I would go so far that this book and method has made my life worth living.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa...I'm about 80 pages into this book and am completely fascinated by this method. There's some powerful stuff in here.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on the journal ethic. Not for the faint hearted though

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the 70's when it first came out and really started my love of journaling. I just came across a copy of the book again and am thrilled to have it on my bookshelf.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book to assist with challenging journaling style.

[Anita]

Read the first third of the book and practiced some of the technique. I quit reading and working with the process which is too intensive and complex for me.

[Anna Nilsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Otroligt pratig, innehållet borde ha kapats ner till en tiondel! (Svag redaktör)

Jag uppskattar ämnet och syftet men kom bara igenom en tredjedel innan jag gav upp - att harva vidare kändes som att vada i meterhög snö och inte komma nån vart. Till slut tog jag tips från andra recensioner och vände mig till mer tillgängliga texter t.ex Kathleen Adams "Journal to the Self" och Christina Baldwins "Life's Companion".

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Egads I found this book to be way too verbose. It was painful to plod through it. I am an advocate of journaling but this volume is not a resource I will return to again.

No where on the cover or book description did it indicate that Christianity would be shoved down my throat constantly. I was looking for a more spiritual writing than dogma.

[Tilopa]

Progoff est un pionnier dans le recours au journal intime à des fins de développement personnel.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was assigned reading, and I struggled with it. While the journaling could be helpful, it’s a lot. And time and again the religious, churchiness was off-putting. I plan to reread.

[Amber Middlebrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

complete all three courses. book is a good reference for how to work in the journal solo

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book because of the way it draws out the details of how our Selves function and can be discovered (brought to consciousness) and sustained. The book introduces the idea of "Steppingstones" in life and recommends writing lists of stepping stones that took me through various stages of my own life. Some people only identify one steppingstone, others may list a dozen or so steppingstones to various phases of their lives.

The book draws out the phases of self-recognition via non-verbal communications from the basic body and sensations. Learning to recognize these forms of communication of my body talking to my consciousness is very powerful, but it is also easy to forget, or revert back to standard vocabulary only perceptions.

Of the many recommended exercises in self-examination and inventions I only did one. I wrote one of the recommended quick essays, less than 500 to 900 words (for me), about what my self tells me about my relationship with my father. All the remaining essays and short narratives I may write in the coming years. I will hold on to this book, and use it as a topic source for future essays I may write about myself and my life.

Dr. Progoff's recommends, at the end of the book on the "About the Author" page, that to learn "Process Meditation" as a means of fulfilling the "Intensive Journal" process one should study or take a workshop on "The Practice of Process Meditation: The Intensive Journal Way to Spiritual Experience" (1980). I need to do some research about Ira Progoff, and other potential educators/professionals for me on this topic, this way of living.

I have had this book since my earlier, now passed away, wife, Lorraine, and I found it in a stack of books in the alley behind the address of 3001 of Guilford Avenue in Baltimore on Thursday 29 September 2005. At the time we lived in 3010 Abell Avenue, and were out walking one of the alleys. I don't recall who lived in 3001, but I believe it may have been a group of students from JHU. We had a professional psychological instructor at JHU living a few doors down from us on Abell Avenue, but I don't think this was one of her recommended text books.

[Harry Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had purchased a copy of this book years ago, at a time in my life when I thought that the rigorous methodology of journal writing described would be of benefit to me. I did not finish the book at that time, nor did I undertake to follow the methodology; both for unrelated reasons. Nevertheless, I believe that keeping a journal is highly beneficial, and liked many of the author's ideas. So I retained the book, thinking to try it again at some other time in my life.

I recently pulled it off my shelf, and read it fully. The Intensive Journal is a structured, rigorous approach to journal writing, and it appears to me to offer two major benefits. The first is a short term one: if a person is dealing with significant problems in their life, such as loss, grief, or other difficulties, the techniques described help put one into perspective so as to be able to look at the problem more clearly, and over a longer period of time. In effect, it is a (possibly very viable) alternative to the psychiatrist's couch.

The second benefit it offers is to give one a more "integrated" view of one's own life; a clarity of the decisions made and the results, and possibly guidance to future decisions. This is a much longer term benefit.

Once again, I decided not to employ the methodology; but this time my reasons were simpler. I have (thanks be!) no significant difficulties in my life that I need to work on, and I don't feel a need for a thorough, integrating review of my years. The method is complex, and a great deal of commitment is required; in my situation I don't see sufficient benefits. I rated this 4 stars, however, because in other life situations I believe this method would be extremely beneficial, and well worth the efforts required.

[Alvaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following an excellent weekly retire on the subject I decided to go to the origins. The method developed by Progoff was an excellent introspection on the basics of my personality, my defects, my strenghts, to heal some of my wounds. Almost each chapter is an exercise that helps you discover the milestones in your life (marriage, lost of parents, etc), the intersections with people that helped you growth, people that take you down, the dialogues you imagine with those people, jobs, events that marked your life. It is very important to stay as long as neccesary in the first two parts of the book to really understand the scope of the tool. And if you come to the book in a spiritual environment it is a more helpful tool. It is also an evaluation of your relationship with God.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not an easy book to read and comprehend. I read it once and then took the workshop...wrote and read some more...and then took the workshop again. I met a woman there who took the workshop yearly as long as it was offered in the area. I stopped after 2.

This is a gook book and I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to put out the effort. When I read it there were not many journalling books around. I now have 2 shelves worth.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd love to have the time to put this wonderful book's method into practice; I have friends who have done so and their creative lives have been transformed. I do at times use some of his meditation ideas for my writing, and have begun to organise all my stray notes by the Progoff categories .. it's a very organic, natural and intriguing process for both writing and discovering the inner springs of creativity.

[Vicki M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too full of "big words" that could have been written in a way that the lay person could understand. It helped a lot that I've read so many other books on creative writing therapy. It's full of self-exploriation and expression, actually it's about keeping a journal. But insists on a structured format. Which I do not buy into. All in all, it was a good reference book.

[Michael Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a streamlined how-to handbook [ all in one book this time ] of Progoff's extremely effective manual. His method is a ground-up approach to 'therapy' - that is, you don't get 100's of pages saying what one might or may encounter wrt to Inner Work - you do get a method which allows inner content to become conscious. Method over theory.

[Reuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is quite good, although I'm not currently interested in following through with its activities. I suspect that doing the writing/journal exercises might produce very interesting and informative personal insights.