Il libro dei simboli

The Book of Symbols presents a series of original and concise essays on specific symbols alongside an overview of representative images from all parts of the world and all historical epochs. The highly engaging texts are accompanied by more than 800 stunning color images that convey hidden layers of meaning. Each of the approximately 350 essays examines the psychological background of a particular symbol and how it triggers psychological dynamics and processes. Etymological roots, the play of opposites, paradoxes and shadows, as well as how different cultures have appropriated a symbolic image, are taken into account. The essays, written by authors from the fields of psychology, religion, art, literature, and comparative mythology, are similarly intertwined with the unexpected convergences of the psyche. There are no obvious definitions that tend to dismantle symbols: a symbol that is still viable remains partly unknown, demands our attention, and reveals new meanings and manifestations over time. The Book of Symbols does not offer a simple classification but explains how to move from the visual experience of a symbolic image in art, religion, life, or dreams to the direct experience of its evocative power on a personal and psychological level. The Book of Symbols sets new standards for the serious exploration of symbols and their meanings and is a fascinating read for a wide range of readers: artists, graphic designers, dreamers and dream interpreters, psychotherapists, members of self-help groups, game enthusiasts, comic readers, believers, and spiritual seekers, writers, students, and anyone interested in the power of archetypal images.