This book, about symbolism and the unconscious, is in three parts. The first discusses the four elements and their symbolic representation and meaning; the second deals with myths and dreams and their interpretation; and the third considers more specifically Christian symbolism. In her treatment of symbols Erna van de Winckel uses a method which she describes as the ‘law of filiation’: a symbol has its origin in an archetype. As a result, it may have multiple meanings. The closer the symbol remains to the archetype the deeper and the truer its meaning will be, but the farther the symbol is from the archetype, so will it lose its force and nature to become a sign. Nevertheless, even a sign can lead us to the original archetype.