Anyone who has been through therapy, and still wonders why their life is not all they want it to be, should read Beyond Survival. This book was written for readers who have experienced therapy regarding their childhood abuse issues but still have not been able to lead fully happy lives. Beyond Survival is a spiritual self help book which presents a mixture of readings, healing stories and exercises for recovery and growth. It offers powerful spiritual and Shamanic techniques for healing from childhood abuse.
More than that, Beyond Survival guides the reader on a personal journey from surviving abuse to thriving in life. By reading the chapters and engaging in the exercises the reader is moved through a spiritual transformation process of healing and loving the self. In addition, a valuable Shamanic process (The Journey Way) empowers the reader to live life as a joyful journey of leaning.
It is the premise of this book that no one has to be an abuse survivor for the rest of his/her life; anyone can live free of the abusive syndrome. I know this because this book is also my story. This is my journey from abuse to thriving. I share with the reader the spiritual secrets that changed my life. The techniques shared in this book gave me meaning, control, peace and happiness and can do the same for the reader.
Many of the techniques presented in this book are ancient healing ways that have been used for generations to bring people to a fullness of body, mind and spirit. Some of these techniques I learned as a Shamanic client and later as an apprentice in Shamanic counseling. In this book I abstract the basic processes used in Shamanism and offer them to the reader.
In addition to the Shamanic underpinning of this book, the techniques and information presented here are also informed by my basic knowledge of psycho-therapeutic technique and intervention. My years teaching in a school of psychology are part of my life and I have found that psychology and Shamanism can inform each other. Thus, I also present here the psychological information that I believe is helpful in the thriving process.
Structure of the Book
The book is divided into a preamble and seven chapters (see Table of Contents and Preamble appended). The first chapter introduces the reader to the material and provides an overview of the book. The remainder of the book is structured around healing four bodies and two dimension of self.
Chapters Two, Three, Four and Seven address healing the multiple bodies (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) that are wounded by abuse. Each of us has multiple bodies beyond our physical body. The four main bodies that I address in this book are: the physical body; the emotional body; the mental or cognitive body; and the spiritual body or bodies. These bodies are arrayed in layers extending from our physical body outward. They envelope our physical body like a cocoon of energy. When a wounding event occurs it enters through each of these bodies to affect us. Wounding events can be seen as arrows coming in from the environment, piercing through our multiple bodies and finally into our physical body. Each arrow leaves specific wounds (holes and blockages) in each layer. Full healing requires removing the arrows and healing each of the wounds in each of the layers. The chapters on the physical, mental and emotional bodies present specific techniques to heal these wounds.
Chapters Five and Six address healing the wounds created in the inner dimensions of self-- masculine and feminine. Chapter Five explains to the reader the depth and importance of inner masculine and feminine. In addition, it illustrates how these dimensions become wounded through childhood abuse experiences. Chapter Six offers exercises for balancing the masculine and feminine within.
Healing the wounds as described in Chapters Two through Six is just the first step to thriving. The process of healing from any particular wounding incident requires releasing the blockages, mending the holes and finding balance. However, to thrive one must make the self resilient to future arrows and wounding events. Once resiliency is created, then abusive arrows which come from the environment no longer pierce the layers. When the self is resilient, abuse no longer tears through the spirit, mind, emotions, and physical body into the self.
To address creating resilience in the self a technique called the Journey Way is explained in Chapter Seven. The Journey Way is a method of living within the metaphor of one's own life to create empowerment and learning. It encompasses a powerful Shamanic approach to continual growth and thriving. The Journey Way provides the reader with a process that enables him/her to live within the spiritual bodies. These bodies connect the individual to all living things and to higher knowledge and law. This knowledge serves to protect the individual and renders his/her self resilient to attacking events and people.
Conclusions
Beyond Survival would be a valuable tool for anyone who wants to go beyond traditional therapies for childhood abuse to increase the vibrancy and joy of life. The spiritual and Shamanic techniques presented open the reader to healing and empowerment. By working through this book the reader embraces a journey to thriving in his/her life. Beyond survival there is joy. I know because I have felt it. Now it is time to share it with others. Beyond Survival does just that.
The Journey............................................................... 1
Four Bodies, Two Dimensions, Many Ways................ 5
Chapter Two
Healing The Physical Body........................................ 32
Chapter Three
Healing The Mental Body........................................... 71
Chapter Four
Healing the Emotional Body...................................... 102
Chapter Five
Feminine And Masculine Paradox..............................132
Chapter Six
Feminine And Masculine -- Balance And Imbalance...174
Chapter Seven
Healing The Spiritual Body -- The Journey Way........ 227
Notes........................................................................ 262
Shamanic Resources................................................ 264