Phallos: Sacred Image of the Masculine

Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts #27

by Eugene Monick

In this 141 page book, the author looks at the old patriarchal values regarding men and discusses how the essential characteristics of the masculine must be differentiated from the entrenched attitudes of the patriarchy. This book "is concerned with the archetypal basis of masculinity. Through close examination of the physical, mythological and psychological manifestations of phallos, the author discovers an autonomous inner god, coequal with the maternal principle as an originating force in the psyche. Phallos emerges here as an essentially mysterious divine reality that is at once practical and numinous, object of fascination and religious devotion for both men and women - a signature of personal identity for half the human race."

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Mythology

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about male organ.
The author starts with phallos is god to male. 
How phallos influence the character of man and every behavior was the display of his phallos.
Both cthonic and Solar phallos was beautifully explained and also the nature of behaviour behind such phallos.
A new enlightenment of information that the  phallos has its own brain. hence they letdown casually when you make love with your wife and behave with full vigor in affairs.
The phallos not controlled by ego mind. 
A lovely book for men to feel proud of their phallos.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would actually recommend this book to women as well!

The first half of the book were difficult to me to read as it was more about Freud, Jung, Neumann and what they didn’t pay attention to. I wanted to learn more about masculine and many facets of being a man.

The last three chapters opened new understanding of animus for me. And on integration of a shadow:

“Integration of the shadow side is essential if anything like the full power of chthonic phallos is to be allowed inte man's life. A man must take chances with raw sexuality, testing its boundaries. Otherwise he will hide from it, judge it severely; dance around it, be plagued with guilt and try all manner o things to convert it to solar phallic consciousness, thus losing his chthonic entry into the divine. Such a man runs the serious risk of becoming a shell of masculinity, with the key to experiencing his fullness hidden under the queen's pillow-with the cooperation of the king, or
"ruling dominant of collective consciousness," as Jungians love to say.”

“Integration of the shadow side of chthonic phallos for a male means accepting the rapist in himself, with all the ugliness and brutality that implies. A man must be aware that chthonic phallos can lead to both rapture and murder. He cannot be genuinely aware of the closeness of the two without the integration of shadow: an intellectual and existential awareness of evil in every area of his life, including sexuality as hierophany. Hierophany, after all, can be a manifestation of evil in the divine.”

[Arun Gurung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most guys get critique for being obsessed with their sexual organ. Though, since the dawn of man, the physical desires of both women and men makes the phallic symbol still applicable.

The author is not really gay, but his research must have been on the bleeding edge. Some of his methods are far too extreme for me, but the outcome is a modern way of honouring the man.

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phallos explores the sacred mythology around the genitalia of men. The author draws on a variety of myths and archetypes to explore and venerate the masculine genitalia and provides a different perspective on how we can have a better relationship with ourselves and the sacred masculine.

[Fiona Montgomery · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very narrative and based in many of dated/inconsequential dawdle

[Liam Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure I agree with all of the points raised. But it made me think about the male principle and my own relationship to it.

[Randy Elrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and enlightening book about masculinity.