The search for meaning, which is so crucial for psychological health, has lost its traditional anchors. As a result, millions of individuals are creating their own belief systems. This shift began back in the Sixties, as people left traditional religion and began exploring other forms of spirituality. Social contradictions demonstrate the complex factors around the topic of the spiritual life in the West. We have reached a pivotal moment where many negative forces seem to be pulling us apart, even while powerful forces for the good, especially seen through rapidly growing global communication, are bringing people around the world ever closer together. Today's meaning will be found through reclaiming and transforming our traditional spiritual anchors.

Soul initiation is an essential spiritual adventure that most of the world has forgotten — or not yet discovered. Here, visionary ecopsychologist Bill Plotkin maps this journey, one that has not been previously illuminated in the contemporary Western world and yet is vital for the future of our species and our planet. Based on the experiences of thousands of people, this book provides phase-by-phase guidance for the descent to soul — the dissolution of current identity; the encounter with the mythopoetic mysteries of soul; and the metamorphosis of the ego into a cocreator of life-enhancing culture. Plotkin illustrates each phase of this riveting and sometimes hazardous odyssey with fascinating stories from many people, including those he has guided. Throughout he weaves an in-depth exploration of Carl Jung's Red Book — and an innovative framework for understanding it.

Recent scandals of clergy sexual abuse have brought attention to the victims and their responses to and recovery from their abuse. But few have considered the effect of the abuse on a victim's soul and religious outlook and beliefs. Healing the Soul after Religious Abuse, offers a unique perspective of recovery and restoration of the soul after religious abuse. The author argues that religious abuse often stops not only psychological growth, but also inward development. The effect is not simply emotional, because the devastation reaches to the core of the spirit. Often there is no place for a God of love or a love of what once was divine. Through a series of personal interviews with persons from the five major religions, Rauch considers various ways that religion can do harm. The stories told in this book include the road to restoration in the wake of institutional abuse and how inner experience is sometimes confused with religious training; the sacred task of spiritual leadership and how to restore trust when there has been a violation; an exploration of sacrifice and a clarification of the notion of shame; a look at the impact of religious bigotry in the areas of race, sexuality, and tolerance; an overview of sexuality and the place it holds in both celibate and family life; the pernicious issue of clergy sexual abuse and the signs of spiritual trauma in response to such violation; a roadmap for restoration and a challenge to religious institutions; and, lastly, ways to reclaim the sacred and rewire the spirit. Through interviews, research, and personal stories, the author tells a story of recovery of the most delicate kind, offering pathways through the dark night of religious violation to a restoration of the soul and its immense possibilities.

"This groundbreaking book provides guidance to counselors working with Native Peoples and other vulnerable populations. Including an important new chapter devoted to working with veterans, the second edition presents case materials that illustrate effective intervention strategies for prevalent problems, including substance abuse, intergenerational trauma, and internalized oppression"--

In the last few decades, Western medicine has seen incredible advances in technology to treat the sick. That's the good news. The bad news is that with the demands on their time, falling reimbursements from the government, improved medications, and restrictions imposed by insurance carriers, doctors often depend more on computers than on their own instincts and experience in caring for their patients. As a neurologist who deals daily with crippling and sometimes fatal conditions, Dr. Bhupendra Khatri has become increasingly aware of the mind-body connection and the incredible power of the subconscious to heal, postpone death, and deal with unspeakable circumstances. The many stories in Healing the Soul: Unexpected Stories of Courage, Hope, and the Power of Mind describe the lessons the author has learned from his patients, as well as current research about the resiliency of the human spirit. Within these pages are stories of courage, inexplicable medical miracles, and disappointing transactions with intractable insurance companies. Dr. Khatri has been encouraged many healthcare providers, journalists, and patients to share these stories, as well as his research into issues he raises in the book, in hopes of inspiring patients and their families and shedding light on little-known contradictions in the U.S. healthcare system.

Joy Manne brings her experience as a psychotherapist, her years of Vipassanna meditation, and her knowledge of Buddhism to a blend of East and West called "Soul Therapy". Her book is based on the premise that true and lasting healing comes from the Soul Quest, or spiritual development.

Discover Dr. Sha's Powerful Techniques for Healing Your Soul, Mind, and Body What is the real secret to healing? Internationally acclaimed healer and author Dr. Zhi Gang Sha gives us a simple yet powerful answer to this age-old question: Heal the soul first; then healing of the mind and body will follow. In Soul Mind Body Medicine, Dr. Sha shows that love and forgiveness are the golden keys to soul healing. From that foundation, he presents practical tools to heal and transform soul, mind, and body. The techniques and the underlying theories are easy to learn and practice but profoundly effective. They include: Healing methods for more than 100 ailments, from the common cold to back pain to heart disease to diabetes Step-by-step approaches to weight loss, cancer recovery, emotional balance, and maintenance of good health A revolutionary one-minute healing technique Endorsements “Just as our thoughts can influence water, our souls can bring healing and balance to our selves, our loved ones, and our world today. Dr. Sha is an important teacher and a wonderful healer with a valuable message about the power of the soul to influence and transform all life. His book Soul Mind Body Medicine will deeply touch you.” — Dr. Masaru Emoto, author of The Hidden Messages in Water “All cultures have produced authentic healers from time to time. Dr. Zhi Gang Sha is such a healer — a man of deep wisdom and compassion, and a gift to the human race.” — Larry Dossey, MD, author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things