Psychoanalysis, Mysticism and the Problem of Epistemology

"Dr. Alice Bar Nes’ book, Psychoanalysis, Mysticism and the Problem of Epistemology: Defining the Indefinable, is an impressive work that brings the reader into an area of psychoanalytic thinking that has been much-maligned over the years - the question of mysticism. The author offers an integrative perspective that recognizes "the mystical at the heart of the analytic project." Dr. Bar Nes’ book is a tour de force that reveals an underlying mystical element in psychoanalysis that is implicit in Freud's early thinking, Ferenczi’s thoughts about mysticism, Winnicott’s transitional space, Bion’s notion of a ‘messianic idea,’ and the work of other well-known analysts. These concepts are impressively woven together and subsequently integrated with the work of philosophers, especially the contributions of William James and Martin Buber. This book is recommended for students and practitioners of psychoanalysis interested in the broader scope of psychoanalytic thinking." - Lawrence J Brown, Ph.D., is the author of Intersubjective Processes and the Unconscious: Freudian, Kleinian and Bionian Perspectives and Transformational Processes in Clinical Psychoanalysis: Dreaming, Emotions and the Present Moment.

"O, what a powerful book! Alice Bar Ness takes the reader on a journey to the unexplainable domains of patient-therapist interactions. Her book sheds new light on the mystical ingredients of psychoanalysis, the possibilities of which clinicians are only just beginning to appreciate. William James, Wilfred Bion, Donald Winnicott, Christopher Bollas, and Michael Eigen, together with thinkers such as Saint-Exupery and Martin Buber, serve as Bar Ness' fellow guides along the magical, and, at times, sacred path of the psychoanalytic therapeutic relationship. Masterfully combining the inexpressible with the practical, the enigmatic with the down-to-earth, Bar Ness invites us to explore new intrapsychic and intersubjective territories; to explore her own faith journey;and to re-discover the area of faith in ourselves." - Amit Fachler, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and author of Too Much in the Son: Fatherless Fathers' Accounts of Love, Guilt, and Reparation (Hebrew).

"This book is a work of a true lover of psychoanalytic theories, with exquisite knowledge, depth and wisdom – on faith in the power of the human contact to act as the clinical core.

The meeting of psychoanalysis and mysticism, through the vibrating presence of Alice Bar-Ness, is structured as "the meaning of being human", as she puts it; in her person and writing, psychoanalytic foci that touch upon the mystical - transform into emotionally-felt and communicated experiences.

The book is a serious contribution and guide for those engaged in psychoanalytic treatment on how to navigate in the realm of the spiritual and theoretical via the subjective, the intersubjective and the practical, and enlightenment for those interested in mysticism." - Nitza Yarom, Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, the author of `Psychic Threats and Somatic Shelters` and `Matrix of Hysteria`.

"Alice Bar Nes’ book is a welcome contribution to understanding and broadening the deep connection between mysticism and psychoanalysis. She penetrates, analyzes and connects philosophical thinking and clinical understanding in a highly original way.

I was especially impressed by her extraordinary ability to present indefinable concepts in a crystal clear way and to engage the reader in the flow of her text. Her proposed definition of mysticism is elegant, clear and succeeds in shedding new light on the contribution of influential writers in the psychoanalytic field, through that unique prism. Most significantly, she succeeds in making the mystical a concept that resonates with the experiences of every human being." - Ilana Laor, Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and group analyst. Head of the Israeli chapter of the IARPP.

"Dr. Alice Bar Nes’ book, Psychoanalysis, Mysticism and the Problem of Epistemology: Defining the Indefinable, is an impressive work that brings the reader into an area of psychoanalytic thinking that has been much-maligned over the years - the question of mysticism. The author offers an integrative perspective that recognizes 'the mystical at the heart of the analytic project.' Dr. Bar Nes’ book is a tour de force that reveals an underlying mystical element in psychoanalysis that is implicit in Freud's early thinking, Ferenczi’s thoughts about mysticism, Winnicott’s transitional space, Bion’s notion of a ‘messianic idea,’ and the work of other well-known analysts. These concepts are impressively woven together and subsequently integrated with the work of philosophers, especially the contributions of William James and Martin Buber. This book is recommended for students and practitioners of psychoanalysis interested in the broader scope of psychoanalytic thinking." - Lawrence J Brown, Ph.D., is the author of Intersubjective Processes and the Unconscious: Freudian, Kleinian and Bionian Perspectives and Transformational Processes in Clinical Psychoanalysis: Dreaming, Emotions and the Present Moment

"O, what a powerful book! Alice Bar Nes takes the reader on a journey to the unexplainable domains of patient-therapist interactions. Her book sheds new light on the mystical ingredients of psychoanalysis, the possibilities of which clinicians are only just beginning to appreciate. William James, Wilfred Bion, Donald Winnicott, Christopher Bollas, and Michael Eigen, together with thinkers such as Saint-Exupery and Martin Buber, serve as Bar Nes' fellow guides along the magical, and, at times, sacred path of the psychoanalytic therapeutic relationship. Masterfully combining the inexpressible with the practical, the enigmatic with the down-to-earth, Bar Nes invites us to explore new intrapsychic and intersubjective territories; to explore her own faith journey; and to re-discover the area of faith in ourselves." - Amit Fachler, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and author of Too Much in the Son: Fatherless Fathers' Accounts of Love, Guilt, and Reparation (Hebrew)

"This book is a work of a true lover of psychoanalytic theories, with exquisite knowledge, depth and wisdom – on faith in the power of the human contact to act as the clinical core.

The meeting of psychoanalysis and mysticism, through the vibrating presence of Alice Bar-Nes, is structured as 'the meaning of being human', as she puts it; in her person and writing, psychoanalytic foci that touch upon the mystical - transform into emotionally-felt and communicated experiences.

The book is a serious contribution and guide for those engaged in psychoanalytic treatment on how to navigate in the realm of the spiritual and theoretical via the subjective, the intersubjective and the practical, and enlightenment for those interested in mysticism." - Nitza Yarom, Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst; the author of Psychic Threats and Somatic Shelters and Matrix of Hysteria

"Alice Bar Nes’ book is a welcome contribution to understanding and broadening the deep connection between mysticism and psychoanalysis. She penetrates, analyzes and connects philosophical thinking and clinical understanding in a highly original way.

I was especially impressed by her extraordinary ability to present indefinable concepts in a crystal clear way and to engage the reader in the flow of her text. Her proposed definition of mysticism is elegant, clear and succeeds in shedding new light on the contribution of influential writers in the psychoanalytic field, through that unique prism. Most significantly, she succeeds in making the mystical a concept that resonates with the experiences of every human being." - Ilana Laor, Ph.D., Clinical psychologist and group analyst; head of the Israeli chapter of the IARPP