John Layard's "The Lady of the Hare: A Study in the Healing Power of Dreams", Originally Published in London in 1944 and Recently Reprinted by Shambhala Press

Authors

  • Jane White Lewis

Abstract

Layard's work is actually two short books ‑‑one about the "The Lady" and the other about "The Hare".In the first "book" entitled "The Dream Analysis", Layard presents the case of "Mrs. Wright".A devout Christian and "hard‑working country woman", Mrs. Wright sought therapy for her extremely introverted sixteen year old daughter Margaret. After one unsuccessful session in which Layard was unable to "reach" Margaret, he suggested that the mother come to see him and discuss her own dreams in an attempt to "get at" Margaret's problem. He felt that an examination of Mrs. Wright's dreams might reveal the unconscious family dynamics and the source of Margaret's difficulties. In the book Layard describes twelve analytic sessions and reports 25 dreams and "visions", as well as associations and interpretations of the imaginal material. According to Layard, a turning point in the treatment was marked by the appearance of a dream which Mrs. Wright was sacrificing a hare.

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Published

1989-12-01

Issue

Section

Book Reviews