Psychology

Re-Visioning Psychology Notes

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James Hillman’s Re-Visioning Psychology is a wild, imaginative shake-up of modern psychology’s obsession with rationality, behavior, and biological determinism. Instead of reducing human experience to neurons and conditioning, Hillman pushes for a radical shift—one that puts imagination, symbols, dreams, myths, and fantasies at the core of what it means to be human. Drawing from Carl Jung, Romantic poetry, Greek philosophy, and the deep well of Western tradition, he makes the case that psychology’s real job is soul-making—an ongoing process of weaving meaning from the rich, symbolic landscape of the psyche.

Ditching the idea of a singular, rational ego, Hillman argues for a polytheistic approach to psychology—one that embraces the many voices, contradictions, and complexities that make up the human soul. He treats archetypes not as abstract concepts but as living, emotional forces—almost like inner gods—shaping our thoughts, desires, and struggles. By framing psychology as something inherently poetic and symbolic, Re-Visioning Psychology challenges us to see the soul not as something to be “fixed” but as something to be engaged with through metaphor, imagination, and creative reflection. It’s a call to rethink not just psychology, but how we understand ourselves and the stories we live by.

Because my notes for this book are incredibly in-depth, I decided to share them via my nascent learning academy. This will allow me to do a couple of things, share my detailed notes and also get to grips with the mechanics of creating a course with Tutor LMS.

It’s a free course, all you have to do is enroll. If you don’t want access to my awesome notes, you can listen to the NotebookLM version below (but really, enroll in the course so you can test that enrolment process for me 😉).

You can enroll here:

Enroll

And here’s the NotebookLM Deep Dive:

If you want to improve yourself, get rid of yourself first

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Christopher Hyatt’s statement—“IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOURSELF GET RID OF YOURSELF FIRST”—carries the raw, confrontational energy of radical transformation. At first glance, it seems paradoxical: how can self-improvement begin with self-erasure? But Hyatt, isn’t speaking in riddles—he’s pointing to something fundamental about identity, limitation, and personal power.

The Illusion of the Fixed Self

The idea that you have a static self is the first trap. We tend to think of ourselves as continuous entities with stable identities—”I am this way,” “I have these traits,” “This is who I am.” But in reality, what we call “the self” is a construct, a patchwork of habits, conditioning, and inherited scripts. Hyatt’s statement suggests that genuine transformation is impossible as long as you remain shackled to this illusion.

The “you” that seeks improvement is the same “you” that is resisting change. The ego clings to a sense of self not because it’s useful, but because it’s familiar. To break free, you have to dismantle the very thing you assume to be you.

The Tyranny of Your Own Story

Here’s the thing…

Most people live inside a story they didn’t fully choose. Culture, upbringing, media, and authority figures shape a personal mythology that dictates what is possible.

  • “I’m not creative.”
  • “I’ve always been bad at X.”
  • “I’m the kind of person who just doesn’t do Y.”
  • “I know myself, and this is just how I am.”

These statements aren’t truths; they are self-imposed limits. They are spells cast by repetition, each utterance reinforcing the illusion of permanence. If you accept that “this is who I am,” then all self-improvement efforts are doomed from the start—they become cosmetic adjustments rather than deep rewiring.

To truly change, you must kill the old script. Not revise it. Not tweak it. Burn it.

The Ritual of Ego-Death

In chaos magick, the destruction of self is often a prerequisite for enlightenment. Rituals of ego-death—whether induced through meditation, extreme experience, psychedelic states, or deep psychological work—strip away the narratives we use to define ourselves.

This isn’t just about spiritual insight; it’s about power. When you see through the illusion of the fixed self, you become free to become anything. You’re no longer bound to a single version of yourself. You can shape-shift, adapt, and rewrite your reality at will.

  • The warrior version of you doesn’t give a damn about your fear.
  • The artist version of you isn’t shackled by self-doubt.
  • The trickster version of you doesn’t hesitate to break old patterns.

These aspects of self exist as potentials, but you have to let go of the one identity you’re gripping onto to make room for them.

Getting Rid of Yourself in Practice

So what does it actually mean to “get rid of yourself”?

  1. Interrogate Every Assumption About Yourself
     Take inventory of the qualities, traits, and beliefs you assume to be fundamental to who you are. Then, ask: Who told me this? Where did this come from? If an external force installed it, consider whether it serves you or imprisons you.
  2. Destroy an Aspect of Your Identity
     Pick one part of yourself that feels essential—something that defines you. Now, for a week, act as if it’s not true. If you always say, “I’m not the kind of person who does X,” then for a week, do X relentlessly. See what happens when you step outside the frame.
  3. Play with Radical Re-invention
     Reality Hackers have long used identity play as a tool for transformation. Try adopting a completely different persona for a day, a week, or longer. Dress differently. Speak differently. Use a different name. You’ll quickly realize that the self is more fluid than you imagined.
  4. Step Into the Void
     There will be a moment where you feel like you’re “no one,” where you feel untethered and unrecognizable. This is the fertile ground for true change. Most people run from this feeling and retreat to their old selves. Instead, stay with it. This is where you build a new identity from conscious choice rather than past programming.
  5. Create the New Self Intentionally
     Once you’ve stripped away the old identity, ask: Who do I want to become? What version of myself would serve my highest purpose? Then, don’t just “aspire” to be that version—embody it. Speak as them. Act as them. You’re not faking it; you’re becoming it.

The Endgame: Becoming a Self-Directed Entity

Hyatt’s challenge isn’t about obliteration for its own sake. It’s about freedom. When you free yourself from the prison of an inherited identity, you become a self-directed entity—someone who consciously crafts their own existence rather than passively inhabiting a pre-scripted role.

The world is full of people trying to improve themselves while clinging desperately to the old self they refuse to shed. This is why most transformation efforts fail.

Hyatt’s message is brutal but true: If you want to change, kill the old you first.

Then, from the ashes, build something worthy.

It’s helpful for all of us to feel a bit special

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“As a specimen, yes, I’m intimidating!…As you see, I’ve got biceps to spare!…I’m especially good at expectorating!…And every last inch of me’s covered in hair.” – Gaston, Beauty and the Beast

Me, me, me – me too.

I’m trying to figure out where on the continuum between healthy ego to pathological grandiosity I sit. I’ve never thought of myself as being narcissistic, but you see the term batted about a bit on the Internet especially at us selfie* taking, 1st person blogger types. But true pathological narcissism is rare and apparently only affects about 1% of the population.

A quick Google search and I found this questionnaire.

You like to be the center of attention – sometimes
You have a habit of giving (unsolicited) advice – yep
You detest waiting in line – absolutely!
Your ambition knows no bounds – I’m a legend in my own mind (not really)
You know how to turn on the charm – oh yeah baby.
You are the competitive type – no
You’re famous for holding grudges – nope, most things fall off me like water off a duck’s back.
It’s never your fault – more than likely it is.
You take advantage of people – not my style.
You have an addiction – hmmm, possibly!

Looks like I’m batting about 50% on this survey.

Luckily the experts say a little narcissism is good for you.

Narcissism is a trait each of us exhibits to a greater or lesser degree. As it has become trait non grata, though, it’s become necessary to add the qualifier “healthy” to specify the socially acceptable type of narcissism. “It is the capacity to see ourselves and others through rose-colored glasses,” says psychologist Craig Malkin, a lecturer at Harvard Medical School and the author of Rethinking Narcissism. That can be beneficial, because it’s helpful for all of us to feel a bit special. It fuels the confidence that allows us to take risks, like seeking a promotion or asking out an attractive stranger. But feeling too special can cause problems. – The Real Narcissists

Well at least I’m no Narcissistic Cannibal:

*Can you believe it, I have 1,254 selfies on my phone!