The Sacred Psyche: A Psychological Approach to the Psalms

Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts #108

by Edward F. Edinger

The Biblical Psalms are the great treasury of Judeo-Christian spirituality. Yahweh dwells within them. Psychologically, this means that the living presence of the Self animates the Psalms, which therefore have the power to constellate the archetype of the God-image in those individuals who are receptive to their influence. Even many self-professed irreligious people have been astonished to discover that certain Psalms were the only texts that spoke to their condition during a period of grave psychic upheaval. Today, traditional Judeo-Christianity is at a crucial turning point. But the poetry of the Psalms still rewards the effort to understand and relate their message to individual, contemporary, psychological experience. Originally a lecture series, The Sacred Psyche resonates with Dr. Edinger's heartfelt, deeply honest responses to these powerful texts.

Genres: Psychology, Religion, Theology

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2003

About the author

Edward F. Edinger was a medical psychiatrist, Jungian analyst and American writer.
Edward F. Edinger Jr. was born on December 13, 1922, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, earning his Bachelor of Arts in chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington and his Doctor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine in 1946. In November 1947, as a first lieutenant, he started a four-week Medical Field Service School at the Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He became a military doctor in the United States Army Medical Corps and was in Panama. In New York in 1951, he began his analysis with Mary Esther Harding, who had been associated with C.G. Jung.
Edinger was a psychiatrist supervisor at Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, New York, and later founder member of the C.G. Jung Foundation in Manhattan and the CG Jung Institute in New York. He was president of the institute from 1968 until 1979, when he moved to Los Angeles. There he continued his practice for 19 years, becoming senior analyst at the CG Jung Institute of Los Angeles.
He died on July 17, 1998, at his home in Los Angeles at age 75, according to family members due to bladder cancer.

Reviews

[Don Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Jungian analyst looks at and interprets Psalms. A book go back to. It does not reduce the Psalms to psychology, but rather elevates the psyche.

[Frank Traina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The analysis on the psalms, including language of original texts and translations, was particularly interesting. Has just enough 'Edinger' making it approachable to set foundational concepts. I often reference it for psalms in connection with Jungian archetypes - however, this is not a complete work of all psalms.

[Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edinger interprets 15 Psalms using a Jungian approach as if they were dreams. The book is transcripts of a collection of lectures given by Edinger. The Psalms are mostly poetry or songs written to or about God. The interpretation of these are as interactions and dynamics between the ego and Self.

Edinger had great skill at writing in a clear and easy to understand manner. He takes you easily through his thought process to his elucidating conclusions. My only critique is he talks about Jung in a manner that is overly reverent, citing Jung as an authoritative source of fact rather than a source of theory.