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'Paul Ashton's work on the Void is a first and profound effort to make conscious the void, emptiness, or nothing, that precedes all conscious image and form as their originary source. His approach is Jungian but in it he relates the experience of the void to mystical experience and to dimensions of the psyche to which Jung points in his appreciation of apophatic mystics, but which he never formally elaborates in his corpus. Ashton's work points to a dimension of psyche which precedes the archetypal into which the ego dies in cyclical and never ending processes of bringing its wealth to conscious birth as the foundational task of historical humanity, individual and collective.' - John Dourley, Jungian Analyst, Author and Theologian, Ottawa, Canada 'Paul Ashton's exploration of the human experience of the Nothing is a courageous undertaking. The Brink of the Void is encountered not only in response to primitive terror or severe trauma, but also as an almost inevitable aspect of the refining fire of the Individuation process. Ashton is informed about this experience by a broad canvas drawn from mythology, literature, art, music, religion, spirituality and film. He has found words and images for that mute state of existential abandonment. His clinical experience and wisdom are apparent.' - Joy Jobson, Jungian Analyst and Clinical Social Worker, Cape Town 'It is very good, and an interesting topic that is not often written about. ... [the] scope of the book is very broad. He [Paul Ashton] exemplifies the best Jungian thought that is both clinically grounded and also has a mythological and imaginal sensibility.' - Spring Journal and Books, New Orleans Contents 1 On the territory of the void 2 A walk on the wild side: connecting the void with people 3 Primary or secondary? 4 Psychotherapy and spirituality 5 Empty oneself 6 The void in psychogenic autism 7 Another black hole 8 Memory within the Borderline condition 9 Trauma as void experience 10 Myths and legends of creation 11 Dimitri's void 12 The king's sacrifice 13 The Birthday Present 14 The dark night of the soul 15 Aspects in the treatment of void states 16 Connections, walls and windows 17 On active imagination 18 Void as a gender experience: Part 1: Mostly masculine 19 Void as a gender experience: Part 2: Female encounters

'Paul Ashton's work on the Void is a first and profound effort to make conscious the void, emptiness, or nothing, that precedes all conscious image and form as their originary source. His approach is Jungian but in it he relates the experience of the void to mystical experience and to dimensions of the psyche to which Jung points in his appreciation of apophatic mystics, but which he never formally elaborates in his corpus. Ashton's work points to a dimension of psyche which precedes the archetypal into which the ego dies in cyclical and never ending processes of bringing its wealth to conscious birth as the foundational task of historical humanity, individual and collective.' - John Dourley, Jungian Analyst, Author and Theologian, Ottawa, Canada 'Paul Ashton's exploration of the human experience of the Nothing is a courageous undertaking. The Brink of the Void is encountered not only in response to primitive terror or severe trauma, but also as an almost inevitable aspect of the refining fire of the Individuation process. Ashton is informed about this experience by a broad canvas drawn from mythology, literature, art, music, religion, spirituality and film. He has found words and images for that mute state of existential abandonment. His clinical experience and wisdom are apparent.' - Joy Jobson, Jungian Analyst and Clinical Social Worker, Cape Town 'It is very good, and an interesting topic that is not often written about. ... [the] scope of the book is very broad. He [Paul Ashton] exemplifies the best Jungian thought that is both clinically grounded and also has a mythological and imaginal sensibility.'- Spring Journal and Books, New Orleans

'Paul Ashton's work on the Void is a first and profound effort to make conscious the void, emptiness, or nothing, that precedes all conscious image and form as their originary source. His approach is Jungian but in it he relates the experience of the void to mystical experience and to dimensions of the psyche to which Jung points in his appreciation of apophatic mystics, but which he never formally elaborates in his corpus. Ashton's work points to a dimension of psyche which precedes the archetypal into which the ego dies in cyclical and never ending processes of bringing its wealth to conscious birth as the foundational task of historical humanity, individual and collective.' - John Dourley, Jungian Analyst, Author and Theologian, Ottawa, Canada 'Paul Ashton's exploration of the human experience of the Nothing is a courageous undertaking. The Brink of the Void is encountered not only in response to primitive terror or severe trauma, but also as an almost inevitable aspect of the refining fire of the Individuation process. Ashton is informed about this experience by a broad canvas drawn from mythology, literature, art, music, religion, spirituality and film. He has found words and images for that mute state of existential abandonment. His clinical experience and wisdom are apparent.' - Joy Jobson, Jungian Analyst and Clinical Social Worker, Cape Town 'It is very good, and an interesting topic that is not often written about. .... [the] scope of the book is very broad. He [Paul Ashton] exemplifies the best Jungian thought that is both clinically grounded and also has a mythological and imaginal sensibility.'- Spring Journal and Books, New Orleans

Paul Ashton's exploration of the human experience of the Nothing is a courageous undertaking. The Brink of the Void is encountered not only in response to primitive terror or severe trauma, but also as an almost inevitable aspect of the refining fire of the Individuation process. Ashton is informed about this experience by a broad canvas drawn from mythology, literature, art, music, religion, spirituality and film. He has found words and images for that mute state of existential abandonment. His clinical experience and wisdom are apparent.

Author Information

Paul Ashton is a psychiatrist and Jungian analyst living in Cape Town. He is a father of three daughters and has two granddaughters. Having completed a circumnavigation in a self-built yacht he has now developed a passion for the mountains and bush (flora and fauna) of Southern Africa; a passion he shares with his wife Helise. He has published review articles on books by Lyn Cowan and Rose-Emily Rothenberg and delivered lectures on 'Medea and Filicide', the sculptors 'Hepworth and Moore' and 'The Art of the Void'. He has a deep interest in literature, art and music.

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