Divine Madness

by John R. Haule

Divine Madness: Archetypes of Romantic Love examines the transforming experience of romantic love in literature, myth, religion, and everyday life. A series of psychological meditations on the nature of romantic love and human relationship, this Fisher King Press publication takes the perspective that human love is a species of divine love and that our experience of romantic love both conceals and reveals the ultimate Lover and Beloved. John Haule draws on depth psychology, the mystical traditions of the world, and literature from Virgil to Milan Kundera to lead the reader inside the mind and heart of the lover.

Each chapter explores a characteristic aspect of relationship, such as seduction and love-play, the rapture of union, the agony of separation, madness, woundedness, and transcendence. Focusing on the soulful and spiritual meaning of these experiences, Divine Madness sheds light on our elations, obsessions, and broken hearts, but it also reconnects us with the wisdom of time immemorial. As a practicing Jungian analyst and former professor of religious studies, John Haule masterfully guides his readers through the labyrinth of everyday experience, and the often hidden layers of archetypal realities, sketching a philosophy of romantic love through the stories of the world's literature and mythology.

Genres: Psychology, Love, Relationships

306 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 1990

Reviews

[Hiba Sobeir · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 5/5 the first time I read it.
Now the second time was even better.
It's one of those books that gets better with time and experience. One time read wont do it justice.

[Reza · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book when read with an open mind and heart can lead to developing deeper understanding and spiritual orientations to Romantic relationships, should be read by both partners in a relationship, and will be most effective for people with a very open spiritual or mystical orientation. But even if your not into too much spiritual jargon, it still has some very insightful Jungian psycho analytic frameworks and tools for understanding the underlying dynamics to encounters of love in our life. Highly recommended.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favorite books! I found within it, a way to make sense out of all of those sometimes crazy love situations that we find ourselves in, rather understanding that love is a journey of the soul and can lead to greater depth and awareness if approached as such.

[Kendal]

Can't figure out if I'm Tristan or Isolde...

[Elizabeth Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely enjoyable informative read

Nothing is easy. Can't say what romantic love is but I'll know it when I experience it. Follow the "third".