Subtitled, Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of
Grief.
I tend to be a voracious reader.
I have piles of books and magazines.
I am usually reading at least 4 books, at various stages.
My generalized reading slowed down a bit during medical
school, residency, and as an assistant professor bucking for tenure…
I mostly read science books and science fiction in middle
school and high school…
After getting tenure, I encountered Ken Wilber’s writings, through
my good friend Malynn, which lead me on a deeper search…
I am interested in how the world and, particularly, how
humans, work…
Early psychedelic use and meditation lead me to explore the
edges of science and spirituality…
Training in medicine and alternative medicine, helped me to
see what was known, and what was unknown…
This book is not at the edge of science, nor
spirituality…
I heard about this book from another voracious reader, my
good friend Willow…
I am writing about this book because it struck 2 chords in
me…
The first chord is how different I am than Francis
Weller…
I suspect my friend Willow is much more like Francis.
During my self-exploration, on my own and in psychotherapy,
I came to realize I was a highly sensitive child, later taking up martial arts
to be tougher.
I am also an INTP, a “Rational.” That gives me a degree of “tough
mindedness.”
Francis Weller writes about how he can be totally
overwhelmed by horrible events that are happening in the world.
He writes very well…
It was compelling to me to resonate with how he suffers so
deeply, and I can see how this has made him such a great therapist and
teacher…
And I see that I do not suffer as he does…
Interesting!
It is not that I have not realized before that I suffer less
than others…
I was just struck by the way he writes about the darkness he
feels and, yet, how much I resonate with the rest of what he writes…
That is the second chord…
I know I like a book when I put in bookmarks and make
remarks on the sides of pages…
I have 12 bookmarks in this about 200-page book…
A quick aside, I dislike the word “soul.” He uses that word extensively. I just don’t know what that means…
On the other hand I love methods to help us to grow and
understand our place and flow in the world.
Here is where I do resonate, starting from the end:
Excellent outline of methods and rituals to deal with
grief: How to practice self-compassion
through Metta. Working though
“complexes” using “The Worldview of the Child.” Talking Circles (old stuff here), Stone
Ritual, Speaking to the Earth.
In his chapter 9 “Becoming Ancestors,” he speaks on how
ethics is about good manners, kindness, affection.
In chapter 8 he gets to the place I resonate with most: Grief and darkness is the place to find the
light…
What comes up for me is that going “in and through” this
fear of death, physical and ego-death, are central to healing our fear of
living fully…
Those are my highlights…
There is so much to read in the world…
A lot of junk, too…
Not that I don’t like “brain candy”
I like a great novel, and have read many…
This blog is about how we can grow…
Next up, Dream Work!
Namaste
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