Ann Belford Ulanov

Analyst and author Ann Belford Ulanov draws on her years of clinical work and reflection to make the point that madness and creativity share a kinship, an insight that shakes both analysand and analyst to the core, reminding us as it does that the suffering places of the human psyche are inextricably—and, often inexplicably—related to the fountains of creativity, service, and even genius. She poses disturbing questions: How do we depend on order, when chaos is a necessary part of existence? What are we to make of evil—both that surrounding us and that within us? Is there a myth of meaning that can contain all the differences that threaten to shatter us? Ulanov’s insights unfold in conversation with themes in Jung’s Red Book which, according to Jung, present the most important experiences of his life, themes he explicated in his subsequent theories. In words and paintings Jung displays his psychic encounters from1913–1928, describing them as inner images that “burst forth from the unconscious and flooded me like an enigmatic stream and threatened to break me.” Responding to some of Jung’s more fantastic encounters as he illustrated them, Ulanov suggests that our problems and compulsions may show us the path our creativity should take. With Jung she asserts that the multiplicities within and around us are, paradoxically, pieces of a greater whole that can provide healing and unity as, in her words, “every part of us and of our world gets a seat at the table.” Taken from Ulanov’s addresses at the 2012 Fay Lectures in Analytical Psychology, Madness and Creativity stands as a carefully crafted presentation, with many clinical examples of human courage and fulfillment.

Created during the threat of worldwide pandemic, this book reaches to new language to express the basics of Analytical Psychology in new forms. What results is not a finished conclusion but a never ending process that includes dismay and celebration. Bad and good interweave as long as we are growing; celebration happens in perceiving the infinite is lived through our ordinary finite life. Projection is a first step toward consciousness; the missing piece that lures us to destructiveness can be found. A defense of dissociation presses for its undoing to support a consciousness that simultaneously can hold in mind the absence along with the presence of our life force. Integration is agonizing as well as liberating. The new syntax of what the psyche is doing with and to us yields increased permeability of personal and collective living marked by a subjectivity within the objective other-than-self endorsing full fledged living of self. That cannot be done without tender regard for neighbor within and without, and forms of service to the transcendent.

Using the image of knots that are hard, and sometimes impossible, to untie, Ann Ulanov circles around the psychic dilemmas that entangle us, sometimes for decades. These can be heartrending to us and destructive to others, even to those we love. Yet these knots, so peculiarly our own, also open onto human problems we share with others, even across the ages. Hence working on our knots takes us far down to taproots of energy and far up and out to bring that vital aliveness into shared existence with others. Knots thus comprise a ladder, offering footholds and handholds, for descending and ascending between what Jung calls Below and Above, human and divine. What are such knots? What to do when forgiveness does not happen? What to do with the inferiority of the inferior function? With the question of how much lightning can we stand? With the perils of individuation? These are just a few examples from the essays in this book. The reader is invited to browse the essays according to personal interest or to read straight through. The surprise is that these vexing knots that tie us up and hold us down also give us a mooring; they bind us to a path that is uniquely our own that can bear the fruit of our service to others and to the surrounding whole.

Analyst and author Ann Belford Ulanov draws on her years of clinical work and reflection to make the point that madness and creativity share a kinship, an insight that shakes both analysand and analyst to the core, reminding us as it does that the suffering places of the human psyche are inextricably—and, often inexplicably—related to the fountains of creativity, service, and even genius. She poses disturbing questions: How do we depend on order, when chaos is a necessary part of existence? What are we to make of evil—both that surrounding us and that within us? Is there a myth of meaning that can contain all the differences that threaten to shatter us? Ulanov’s insights unfold in conversation with themes in Jung’s Red Book which, according to Jung, present the most important experiences of his life, themes he explicated in his subsequent theories. In words and paintings Jung displays his psychic encounters from1913–1928, describing them as inner images that “burst forth from the unconscious and flooded me like an enigmatic stream and threatened to break me.” Responding to some of Jung’s more fantastic encounters as he illustrated them, Ulanov suggests that our problems and compulsions may show us the path our creativity should take. With Jung she asserts that the multiplicities within and around us are, paradoxically, pieces of a greater whole that can provide healing and unity as, in her words, “every part of us and of our world gets a seat at the table.” Taken from Ulanov’s addresses at the 2012 Fay Lectures in Analytical Psychology, Madness and Creativity stands as a carefully crafted presentation, with many clinical examples of human courage and fulfilment.

This eloquent work speaks of the centrality of imagination in the life of the spirit. Ann and Barry Ulanov describe the imagination as a bridge between the psyche and the spirit. Using rich imagery drawn from literature, film, and their own experience as therapists, they unlock for us the healing power of our imagination. "Imagination heals by building a bridge sturdy enough to link us up, each of us, to the river of being already present in us, to the currents flowing through us and among us in our unconscious life". After describing this healing power of imagination, the authors go on to show how it is vital in the spiritual life: in preaching, prayer, teaching, counselling, and politics.

The spiritual power of the Feminine shines forth in this psychological study of four Old Testament heroines from Jesus family tree. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba are the only women mentioned by name in the Gospels genealogies and, for Ann Belford Ulanov, this indicates that they impart something essential to the lineage of Christ. By exploring their brave and unconventional lives, she demonstrates how salvation enters the world in the feminine mode of being human, through these womens embodiment of such powerful and deeply feminine qualities as ingenuity, audacity, determination, compassion, seduction, and devotion.

In this book, Ann Ulanov, an accomplished psychiatrist and scholar, draws on the work of renowned psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott to suggest fresh methods for effective pastoral care and counseling.

Carl Jung is the foremost interpreter of the many interactions of religion, the world of the spiritual and psychological insight into human behaviours. In this book, one of the outstanding Jungian scholars of our time surveys Jung's contributions to a whole series of issues, ranging from the political to the pedagogical to the inner life of a saint, Therese of Lisieux.

How does the spirit come into clinical work? Through the analyst? What happens to human destructiveness if we embrace a vision of non-violence? Do dreams open us to spiritual life? What is the difference between repetition compulsion and ritual? How does religion feed terrorism? What happens if analysts must wrestle with hate in themselves? Do psychotherapy and spirituality compete, or contradict, or converse with each other? What does religion uniquely offer, beyond what psychoanalysis can do, to our surviving and thriving? This book abounds with such important questions and discussions of their answers.

Demonstrates the importance of confronting our unconscious selves and allowing our images of God -- both positive and negative -- to surface. Such inner exploration reveals not only relevant insights about ourselves, but also pulls us beyond our private pictures of God toward a truer view of the living God. The book shows us how to explore our unconscious selves and how this spiritual exercise can change the whole of our lives: how we respond to God, how we relate to others, and how we view ourselves.

Women want to be all of themselves and want to be their own selves, not examples of types. They want to work out their own individual combinations of what have been called the masculine and feminine parts of themselves. This book focuses on that possibility, on women receiving themselves, all of themselves, wisely and gladly.

This book promotes a strong argument for a 'feminine' approach to religious discovery: to struggle in the ambiguous gap between the wisdom of the psyche and the wisdom of Scripture, between our interior experience of God and the exterior reality of God. "The Wisdom of the Psyche" urges clergy to help parishioners bring forth their unconscious feelings and images to join their conscious thoughts. In this way, the church allows its members the space to present themselves fully to God and to be fully present to the human need around them.

This book, adapted from the distinguished Hale Lectures presents material from a woman's wrestling with death, showing how inextricably mixed are matters theological and psychological. At a point when her life was blossoming in every way, Nancy was struck down by a terminal brain tumour which soon robbed her of her speech. She used paintings, many of which are here reproduced, to wrestle with this blow and to communicate what she was slowly discerning in the face of death, something from the 'other side'. The author addresses a variety of related issues, including the place of language in analysis and the role of the feminine mode of being, especially in transference and counter-transference.

In Religion and the Unconscious, Ann and Barry Ulanov provide a thoughtful study of the relationship between religion and depth psychology. An insightful contribution to the entire area of pastoral counseling, this book demonstrates how to combine religion and depth psychology in order to provide more effective counseling.

Seated in her nest of ashes, Cinderella embodies human misery. The essence of inner and outer nobility, she is the envy of her cruel stepmother and her ugly sisters. Using this familiar story, Ann and Barry Ulanov explore the psychological and theological aspects of envy and goodness. In their interpretation of the tale, they move back and forth between internal and external issues--from how feminine and masculine parts of persons fit or do not fit together to how individuals conduct their lives with those of the same and opposite sexes: how they conflict, compete, or join harmoniously.