The Mystery of Human Relationship: Alchemy and the Transformation of the Self

by Nathan Schwartz-Salant

Introducing the concept of the interactive field, Nathan Schwartz-Salant shows how the states of mind that can secretly undermine our relationships, both private and public, can become positive factors in transforming a relationship when brought to consciousness. Drawing on the insights of the ancient art of alchemy, he explains how a transformative process can be set in motion once the partners in a relationship learn how to enter the interactive field between them and discover the 'mad' states of mind that exist in every individual. This process of exploration increases mutual understanding, strengthens the relationship and releases creativity. The relating individuals are able to move beyond the apportionment of blame for 'wrongs' they perceive to be perpetrated by the other and which are often the unresolved cause of conflict between them. By acknowledging the subjectivity and states of mind that affect their reactions to one another and the existence of a 'third area' that affects both of them, they are able to transform a good enough relationship into a passionate and exhilarating experience. Illustrated by numerous clinical examples, The Mystery of Human Relationship builds on the work of Jung to create a thought-provoking and inspiring text for anyone who wishes to engage the mystery of growth within themselves and within their relationships.

Genres: Psychology, Alchemy

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Nathan Schwartz-Salant (1938-2020), PhD is a Jungian analyst and author of Narcissism and Character Transformation and The Borderline Personality: Vision and Healing. He was also co-editor with Murray Stein of the Chiron Clinical Series.

Reviews

[Alberto Carvajal · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is for grown ups! The subject is so interesting that It woke me up to the true reality of what is happening in, on, about and around all human relationships. If you have not read several other books from Carl Jung's Collected Works, it will be hard to appreciate what these observations, point to and what the true dynamics are happening that can rule outcomes...

[Kaya Prpic · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book!

A quote from the book: p3
"Transformation within a relationship can only begin with an acknowledgment that we are unconsciously projecting on to the other person, thereby distorting the other's reality and our own. Through the process of projection, we tend to diminish or enhance the identity of others by presuming that we actually know the nature and motivation of their interactions with us. The other person's own reality has little credibility in our mind, but more important, the other's unfathomable nature is not even considered. In other words, through projections, we 'know' only fragments of truth about the other and consequently deny the essence of the other's spiritual being."

and p. 219
"Rarely, if ever, can a person enter the path of creating and transforming a self without the fire and challenge of an ongoing relationship...Any deep relationship has its elements of heaven and hell: but when it is a process characterized by a stability of trust and meaning, hard won through many trails of betrayal and failure to meet the demands of intimacy, a resilient container is created which better enables each partner to live through the turmoil, tragedies, joys, and difficulties of life."

[Abby Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t tell you a single thing about this book. I used it quite a lot for my dissertation, so I am definitely in its debt. It was quite possibly very good. But reading about alchemy, culminating in this book, rubbed my brain so raw that I became devoid of all thoughts and basic understandings of human concepts. It’s not that I blame this book for what was quite possibly a moment of psychosis, but that’s definitely what I associate it with. A good source mostly, although I remember a reference to lions as a symbol of incest, which baffled me to the point of tears.

[culley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dense, murky and mysterious, as a Jungian book an alchemy should be! The last chapter is essential.

[Joan Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing❗️ inspire me