A review of "The End of Patriarchy and the Dawning of a Tri-Une Society" by Claudio Naranjo.
This is one of the most incomprehensible books I've
ever read. What on earth is this man talking about? What I could make out,
boils down to a few sentences.
Collective transformation begins with individual transformation. We have to introduce humanistic psychotherapy in the education of children and teenagers (whatever that means). The kids must learn how to meditate. We also have to practice the Quadrinity Process, which is never explained. Perhaps we also need to open up our consciousness by taking psychedelic drugs. Naranjo's friend Totila was a good guy. Naranjo is on a first name basis with the Club of Rome. We all have to become Neo-Shamans (another unclear concept). Oh, and we are all crazy and should worship Dionysus.
Well, that's about it.
The book does contain one intriguing suggestion: that the matriarchal phase in human history (which the author defines as the Neolithic) wasn't necessarily good, since it included human sacrifice and the complete subordination of the individual to the collective. Nor is a purely filial phase an alternative, since it entails oppression of the elderly and a cult of youth (the Paleolithic, according to Naranjo). Of course, the author also rejects patriarchy, calling instead for a tri-une integration of the fatherly, motherly and filial sides of man.
But know what?
He never really explains that either.
Perhaps Claudio Naranjo (a relatively well known "New Age" therapist) has written more lucid works than this. But "The End of Patriarchy" is a real let down. The end of lucid writing, if you ask me.
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