Lisa Herman

Imaginal Psychology Lisa Herman

his issue focuses on imaginal psychology, a newly coalescing orientation to psychology with an ancient taproot. Imaginal psychology stands alongside other major orientations to psychology- cognitive behavioral, depth, humanistic and transpersonal. What is distinctive to imaginal psychology is its care of the soul. The soul expresses itself primarily in images, from whence this orientation derives its name. Some theorists associated with the orientation of imaginal psychology include James Hillman, Thomas Moore, Aftab Omer, Jean Houston, Shawn McNiff, Robert Sardello and Mary Watkins. Articles in this issue showcase the versatility of imaginal psychology to wrestle with difficult social issues that too often fall off the radar of psychology: soullessness and evil, class identity and shame, accountability in broken relationships where harm and injury have been caused; and collective historical trauma