Balancing Heaven and Earth: A Memoir of Visions, Dreams, and Realizations

This book has so much to give, it offers so many Insight into Our lives. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in living a full life.To Discover this Author, who no doubt, is more known in the US than in Europe, has been very rewarding. I have studied Jung for 25 years, and Johnsons understanding of Jung, plus his own thoughts, has been truly enriching. The personal experiences he Writes about in this book, ads another Dimension to his deep Insights.His experiences in India offers much more understanding of the Indian mentality, stuff that you will never find in any guidebook. He brings India to life for the Reader. I really loved that part of the book.

This is by far my favorite of all of Robert A. Johnson's books, and is certainly my favorite memoir overall!As a former student of Carl Jung, Johnson re-teaches Jung's theories while incorporating much of his own wisdom and life experience.It's beautifully written, flows well, and has the capacity to leave the reader with a deeper appreciation for the work of Jung, and the practicality of understanding ourselves and how we fit in this world so that our experience on earth can be a rich, fulfilling adventure despite any circumstance that we might find ourselves in.Even when I do not share Johnson's perspective on certain subjects, I can still appreciate his thoughts and experience and can relate to the journey he was on.I feel a 'kindred spirit' with Johnson and was elated when I discovered his books. I was at a half-price bookstore and found Lying with the Heavenly Woman on the shelf for $5.98. The cover-art and book description intrigued me, but I almost put it back on the shelf. Almost. I can't imagine having missed out on such a great author and an obviously wonderful man! A year went by and I read almost all of his books during that time. Then I had a tragedy occur for which I required help from an analyst to get me through. Come to find out, the co-author of this book, Jerry Ruhl, lives right here in Houston and is the director of the Jung Institute of Houston! This was very important to me because I had become so familiar with Johnson's style and theories and related so much to them (It's always fun to find an author who speaks your language). I NEEDED help and through my own spirituality and relationship with God, and with the help of Johnson's books and the analyst who co-authored several of his books, I've been able to enjoy a peace and a better understanding within myself despite that tragedy. I do not believe it was a coincidence that exactly one year prior to my tragedy, I picked up that book from the half-price bookstore. That's the Law of Synchronicity at work!

A powerful personal story that lends depth to Johnson's well known books on Jungian psychology. Although I've long been familiar with Johnson's Jungian books, I knew nothing about his personal search for meaning in his life. This memoir offers new insights into his writings and teachings and his struggles to find his own path. This is one of the most honest and authentic life stories I have ever read - rarely has anyone looked back at their own personal, professional and spiritual journey with such lucidity and self-awareness and is able to see it "all of a piece." I found this to be an inspiring book that shed light on a personal search for meaning within the context of the development of Jungian psychology with humble words of wisdom for everyone who is searching on their own path. HIghly recommended.

Wonderful, the very interesting life of Robert Johnson and so beautifully presented life in India.Also his time spend in Austria with Young.The perfect explanation of human psychology is an extra bonus.Highly recommended.

When I'm asked for the most influential books in my life, this is the one that tops my list. As someone who reads 50-200 books a year, that's a big list. I've given it as gifts, quoted it in sermons, referred to it as a spiritual counselor, used it for my own growth and have come back to it over and over since it was first published. I happened upon these reviews while ordering Johnson's latest CD, Golden World, which I'm thrilled to know has been produced. I've read all his books and agree with other reviewers that this is the best, or at any rate, the one that has provided a helpful road map for my life and experiences, and hence, for the many whom I also touch. For those of us, and there are numerous souls, who have had extraordinary tastes of the Golden World (and its inhabitants), "balancing heaven and earth" for the rest of one's life is a daily task; sometimes grace, often a struggle. His words in this memoir (my paraphrase): "there have always been those whose job it is to tend the borders between the worlds" gave me context when I first needed it. His book "We," while it didn't save me from romantic errors (and he writes: "the genie"--e.g. romantic love--"can't be put back in the bottle,") did, again, provide a context for healing and future lessons ("the depression is always in direct proportion to the inflation that preceded it.)His experiences with Krishnamurthi, recounted in this book, gave me important lessons as a teacher, e.g."don't try to give an old man's wisdom to a young person," and his lessons on sainthood have been extremely important as well. If you are living the inner journey, have any sort of spiritual life, and especially, if like Parsifal, Johnson's oft-referred to mythic model, have suffered the agony and the ecstasy of a visit to the Grail Castle and then "lost" it, this book is for you.

Ich habe das Buch mit großem Interesse gelesen. Die Auseinandersetzung des Autors mit den großen Fragen des Lebens, seine Suche nach dem richtigen Weg für ihn selbst und seine Begegnung mit der indischen Kultur sind hochinteressant. Ich kann auch die anderen Büchern des Autos sehr empfehlen, insbesondere“ inner work“.

Thank you, Robert, for more this gift to us. And my already deep respect for you and Jung grow more, If it is possible.

Thanks to the author, great book

Livre tout à fait extraordinaire. Une réelle découverte. Impossible d’interrompre la lecture une fois commencé. Extrêmement touchant et une très belle histoire.

This is a good way to learn about Jung and his analytical psychology wrapped up in a fascinating life. His section on India is thoroughly entertaining and educative.