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The Shadow of a Figure of Light: The Archetype of the Alcoholic and the Journey to Enlightenment
Book establishes unknown historical thread
The Shadow of a Figure of Light: the Archetype of the Alcoholic and the Journey to Enlightenment delves into the nature of modern psychospiritual transformation by examining the human thirst for wholeness through the lens of alcoholism and addiction.
Establishing an unknown historical thread that ties renowned psychiatrist C.G. Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson, Cody Peterson shows how their methodologies each stemmed from an ancient shamanistic source constellated through what he has coined the archetype of the Alcoholic. Painting the Twelve Steps as a modern myth, the author presents the Alcoholic as a paradoxical image leading us towards enlightenment amid a deepening, culture-wide spiritual crisis.
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| | | Praise for The Shadow of a Figure of Light “This book extends deep, wide, and high. Resting on the solid foundations of careful scholarship and personal experience, it broadens our understanding of alcoholism beyond the reductive neuro-physiological explanations, elevating the vision of Bill Wilson and the Twelve Steps using the psycho-spiritual wisdom of C.G. Jung. It’s a very readable book and highly to be recommended to anyone with an interest in the practical use of analytical psychology for addiction to anything, including the ego.”
—Murray Stein, Ph.D., author of The Mystery of Transformation
“In this invigorating work, Peterson infuses the Bill Wilson/C.G. Jung narrative with insights of indigenous spiritual investigations. With the introduction of a Shamanic character, Jaime, the author is able to refract aspects of Jung's personal journey and relationships through a Carlos Castaneda-like lens. Peterson's insightful reflections on Wilson's methodology should prove helpful to anyone seeking to comprehend the shadowland of alcoholism.”
—Jay Stinnett, historian and filmmaker, Bill Wilson the Seeker
“This groundbreaking philosophical exploration—which seamlessly intertwines the wisdom of Alcoholics Anonymous with the profound insights of Jungian scholars like Erich Neumann and the mystical teachings of Meister Eckhart—is a must read, not just for Jungians, but for all practitioners and relatives who work and live with alcoholics.”
—Ian McCabe, Ph.D., Psy.D., is a Jungian Analyst and author of Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous
“A fascinating look into the back story of A.A., weaving mostly unknown threads of connection between Carl Jung, William James, Bill Wilson and an anthropologist named Jaime de Angulo, and how the archetypal underpinnings of one’s own experience are the doorway to a true spirituality that leads to transformation. Peterson’s personal knowledge and experience inform this work with an authenticity that rings true. I don’t agree with all his conclusions, but I recommend this book wholeheartedly.”
—David Schoen, Jungian Analyst and author of The War of the Gods in Addiction
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| | | About the Author
Cody Peterson has been a student of spirituality and religion since adolescence, though it wasn’t enough to stave off addiction. He eventually lost everything, including his vital spiritual connection, struggling for many years to get clean and sober. After a stint in jail and periods of homelessness, Cody finally sobered up for good and began an intense study of the writings of C.G. Jung, resonating deeply with the ideas espoused by the Swiss psychiatrist. Now he feels called to examine the Twelve Steps through a Jungian lens, sharing his insights in his writings and talks. |
| | | Also from Chiron Publications
The War of the Gods of Addiction, based on the correspondence between Bill W., one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and Swiss psychiatrist, C.G. Jung, proposes an original, groundbreaking, psychodynamic view of addiction. Using insights from Jungian psychology, it demonstrates why the twelve steps of AA really work. It explores, through theoretical and clinical material, modern and ancient myths, and fairy tales, the crucial process of neutralizing the archetypal shadow / archetypal evil, an aspect of all true addictions. It also explains how dreams may be used in the diagnosis and treatment of addiction. This book bridges the longstanding gap between the mental health and twelve-step recovering communities in ways that significantly encourage mutual understanding and benefit.
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