At a Journal Workshop by Ira Progoff
Review by: Harry Scholefield
Journal of Religion and Health, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Apr., 1976), p. 140
Published by: Springer
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Journal of Religion and Health, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1976
Book Review
AT A JOURNAL WORKSHOP. By Ira Progoff. to personal growth; nor is it a head-trip. There
New York, Dialogue House Library, 1975. are many warnings in it against over-intellectu
$12.50. alization. There are reminders that the river
flows by itself and that our task is in large part
The essential principles of the Intensive Journal keeping the channels clear and free. "... un
Method were first set forth in a paper read at tapped capacities of awareness are contained
the 1965 ?ranos Conference in Switzerland. No latently at various levels of our being. Man does
one should be misled by the title of Ira Progoff s indeed know intuitively more than he rationally
latest book into thinking of the book as a simple understands. The question, however, is how can
manual of
procedures for Intensive Journal we gain access to the potentials of knowledge
Workshops. It has a good deal to say about the contained in the depth of us, how can we
workshops, but it is of major importance be achieve increased capacities of direct intuition
cause it is the only comprehensive statement of and enlarged awareness?"
the Intensive Journal philosophy and methodol Nor is this an escape-from-life book. As we
ogy published to date. It is beautifully written keep the journal, we enter into wider and wiser
and has the rare merit of and perspectives. We are enabled to relate with
challenging
enlightening thr reader at both theoretic and greater wisdom to others and to the problems of
practical levels. society. Becoming profoundly aware of the qual
Progoff believes that "the potential for itative evolution taking place in our own lives,
growth in a human being is as infinite as the we choose to become part of the qualitative
universe." That potential can be realized in us evolution that is taking place in society.
as we recognize that "qualitative evolution" is For many readers, this book will be the
as basic a reality in our personal lives as it is in threshold over which they will move into the
the wider universe. The Intensive Journal pro Intensive Journal Workshops led by Ira Progoff
vides "an instrument and a method by which and his associates. The description of the proce
the qualitative evolution of life can take place dures used in those workshops is illuminating
within us as individuals. It seeks to maintain for and helpful. But whether or not the reader
the elusive subjectivities of our inner life an attends a workshop, the book is a satisfying
open space in which the processes of life-inte growth experience. It is free of technical jargon.
gration can proceed objectively in the context of It is strong both conceptually and practically. It
each person's experience." It mirrors our inner is rich in its relations to psychology, philosophy,
life and enables us to become open to life and religion. For example, I have never read a
processes within us that lead to wholeness and more original and stimulating enlargement of
expanding consciousness. It opens us to new Martin Buber's "the saying of Thou" than is
growth, new ventures of the spirit, and a more found in the six sections of the book dealing
imaginative and dynamic relation to our per with dialogue. The book not only embodies the
sonal histories. It releases our capacity for author's wisdom, which is considerable; it also
dialogue with persons, works, body, events, embodies the collective and cumulative wisdom
situations, circumstances, dreams, society, and growing out of nearly ten years of the develop
inner wisdom. The practice of quietness and the ment of the Intensive Journal Method at hun
open, receptive attitudes it encourages resemble dreds of Journal Workshops. I share Anais Nin's
meditation and prayer. These practices are feelings: "Reading this book is a profound
enriched and cross-fertilized by the use of experience in itself, but using it will enable each
twilight imagery, intuitive cognition, dreams, of us to have deep experiences of our own."
unique feed-back methods, time stretching,
dialogue scripts, and a variety of practices used Harry Scholefield, D.D.
privately and in workshops. Minister Emeritus of the
This is not a push-yourself-ahead approach First Unitarian Church of San Francisco
140
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