Occultism and the Origins of Psychoanalysis: Freud, Ferenczi and the Challenge of Thought TransferenceSigmund Freud and The Forsyth Case: Coincidences and Thought Transmission in Psychoanalysis.

This review discusses two books by Maria Pierri that explore the connection between psychoanalysis and occultism. The first book examines how occultism influenced the development of psychoanalytic insights and relationships during its founding era. The second book focuses on thought transmission and uncanny coincidences during Sigmund Freud's encounter with an English patient. The review highlights three important themes raised by the books: the historical relationships between psychoanalytic thinkers and occultism, the connection between occult experiences and psychoanalytic ideas, and the influence of occultism on psychoanalysis's priorities and research. The books are written in a unique style that combines elements of a novel, historical text, and psychoanalytic text. While the style may be refreshing, some readers may prefer a more direct approach. The review also explores Freud's relationship with Carl Jung and suggests that occultism may have been used as an escape from personal difficulties and as a proxy for their unresolved conflicts. The books offer fascinating observations about the unconscious origins and mechanics of occult and spiritual phenomena, such as telepathy and coincidences. Pierri suggests that these phenomena may be rooted in pre-verbal communication and shared emotions. The review acknowledges that the books do not provide a comprehensive investigation of the relationship between psychoanalysis and occultism, but they offer valuable insights into the lives of psychoanalytic founders and their engagement with occult and spiritual experiences. [Extracted from the article]