Problems of Mysticism and Its Symbolism

What It's About

This work examines the relationship between mysticism and psychology through the lens of symbolic interpretation. Beginning with the seventeenth-century Rosicrucian Parabola Allegory, the book explores how symbolic texts can be understood using psychoanalytic methods. It then broadens into a comparative study of mystical traditions—including alchemy, hermetic philosophy, and Kundalini Yoga—suggesting that these systems reflect inner psychological processes as much as spiritual ones.

Key Concepts

Central to the book is the idea that symbolic imagery—whether in dreams, myths, or esoteric texts—reveals deeper workings of the psyche. It explores Freudian analysis, the limits of rational interpretation, and the concept of inner transformation as a form of “spiritual alchemy.” The text also considers the parallels between psychological development and mystical traditions that describe ascent, awakening, or transmutation.

Why It Matters

This work sits at the intersection of early psychoanalysis and Western esoteric thought, offering a rare attempt to bridge scientific psychology with mystical experience. It highlights both the usefulness and the limitations of analytical methods when applied to spiritual and symbolic material, making it an important text for understanding how modern psychology engaged with older traditions of meaning and transformation.

About the Author

Herbert Silberer was an Austrian psychoanalyst associated with Sigmund Freud’s circle. His work focused on symbolism, dreams, and the psychological dimensions of mysticism. Though less widely known than some of his contemporaries, he made significant contributions to the study of symbolic processes and their relationship to both mental life and spiritual traditions.

About This Edition

This is a 1917 translation by Smith Ely Jelliffe.