Demystifying Demons: Rethinking Who and What We Are

Description

"Demystifying Demons" inquires into the nature of the human soul, how it is put together, and why so much of it is hidden from consciousness. How do we even begin to think about the inner demons that afflict us, like guilt, self-loathing, and free-floating anxiety? This book revises our conception of ourselves so that our demons no longer seem to come from nowhere, but have intelligible explanations. Unless we allay our bewilderment about who and what we are, we can neither change nor accept ourselves. Based on a clearer understanding of our souls, we can envision a path of mercy and compassion and a more generous and peaceful understanding of what we are to ourselves and to each other.

"An excellent and courageous work. ...Virtually everything described in this book is consistent with what I have learned in four decades of listening to persons relating their internal struggles in the course of psychotherapy. ...It especially has the potential to be a significant resource for those initiating psychotherapy. Also, it can be helpful for young psychotherapists who are looking for ways to organize thinking without becoming narrow or dogmatic." -- Gary Mac Smith, M.D.

Clayton Morgareidge enlists insights from poets, artists, psychoanalysts, and from his own field of philosophy to map a path through the darker terrain of the human soul. He explains how many of the torments of mind--the demons that overtake people--have their origins in what is most fundamental to the human condition. In this journey through the difficulties of being human, the author offers solace without sentimentality. He is most fascinated by the paradoxes of mind and how desire and dread for human connection are particularly intertwined. It's a lovely book written by a sage and savvy philosopher. -- Janice Haaken, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Portland State University