The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

Chapter 9 deals with the idea that the unconscious is a source of power, light, and guidance. Peck argues that the “collective unconscious is God” (282), the conscious mind is the individual, and the unconscious mind is the interface between the two. In his view, mental health problems arise from this interaction because the conscious mind often resists the wisdom of the collective unconscious. If you open yourself to the collective unconscious, you might open yourself to a more expansive experience of the world.

In Chapter 10, Peck acknowledges that systems of political and spiritual power govern the world. If an individual has political power, Peck holds that they will use violence or manipulation to get what they want. However, if an individual has spiritual power, they will use love to aid others’ growth. To empower yourself, prioritize your spiritual growth. You may find that the more you grow, the more isolated you become, as it is often difficult to find others who are as devoted to their growth as you are. Don’t lose heart, and remember that as you grow, you’re growing toward communion with God.

In Chapter 11, Peck argues that symptoms associated with mental illness can be forms of grace and are the mind’s way of alerting people that they need care.