Many cultures at different times have placed emphasis on the concept of the numinous book---a written text that, while finite, somehow opens out into infinitude and transcendence. This seminar considers the book as a symbol of Jung's concept of the Self, the organising centre of the total psyche. It considers material drawn from Jung's own life, from dreams, and from a wide spectrum of world cultural and literary history. We meet scriptural books revealed by the Divine, eaten by sages, written in the heart, composed in unknown and unreadable languages, and glimpsed only in dreams---as well as the Mandean prophet Dinanukht, who is half-man, half-book and endlessly reads himself. Participants are encouraged to bring along any dreams they may have had of important books.

Mark Williams is an IGAP Analyst with a small private practice in Oxford. He is also academic, teaching medieval literatures and languages---especially those of the Celtic world---at the University of Oxford.