Product Description
This pathfinding collection--by premier psychotherapists, thinkers, and eco-activists in the field--shows how the health of the planet is inextricably linked to the psychological health of humanity, individually and collectively. It is sure to become a definitive work for the ecopsychology movement. Forewords by Lester O. Brown and James Hillman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Healing Waters
This is a great anthology by thinkers operating outside the contemporary box of psychology, and other corporate forces. Every article is a wake up call intended to jar humans out of their prolonged sleepiness. The authors hope to engage discussion on a new (and at the same time old) propositions that human viability, along with psychic rebirth, and health can be discovered again in nature. Once we end our fascination with technology which continues to numb our senses, and cause our continued estrangement with the natural world, a new possibility takes hold, inviting us to encounter the astonishing diversity that heals. Perhaps if we decide to take this engagement seriously for the first time in our lives something wonderful may result.

Our alienation from Mother Earth might finally be abridged, and our personal healing insured. I highly recommend this series of essays inviting us to look again toward the integration of our own minds, bodies, and spirit with the Earth community of beings. If you do, you may never be the same again.

(As of 8/29/2009, I wanted to update my review; the blade has worn out since I purchased this juicer a few months back, and needs replacing; given its short life span, I think to reconsider my endorsement.)

Fear and Loathing...
If the environmental movement is to make any headway, it needs to distance itself from cranks like the authors of this unfortunate book. Roszack and team pose as experts and write with the presumptive arrogance of leading the benighted human race out of its fallen state to some as yet to be defined Promised Land. After all, we seem to be a conglomerate of `false consumer' agents with little capacity to determine what our best interests are.

Lest there be any doubt, Roszack and company attempt to save us from ourselves and make the earth healthy again by advocating a California roll of pop-psychology and New Age spirituality in lieu of presenting solid scientific evidence, psychological research or documented facts of any kind beyond simple assertions that the planet is dying. Interestingly, there is not one citation of an ecological monograph or peer reviewed study by a psychologist in the entire book.

Although Roszack makes it clear in the introduction that he did not intend to play excessively on the readers' fear and sense of guilt. What follows in the succeeding chapters, however, is a long series of albatrosses that get draped about the reader's shoulders, one after another, in enough layers to tip over a giraffe.

In one essay, the author is a practicing psychotherapist who admonishes a client for having any personal issues whatsoever when, after all, Mother Earth is grasping for her last breath. How dare she have personal angst in a situation like this! I wonder if the members APA Ethics Committee would raise any eyebrows over this sort of thing. I also wonder why the author of the essay chose to be a therapist in the first place, given the dire ecological straights we occupy.

At any rate, for the sake of brevity, I'll limit the rest of this discussion to a few comments. If I'm not mistaken, the first tenant of Ecopsychology is that the mind is somehow fundamentally ecological in its make-up, according to Roszack. What he means by ecological is hard to pin down. The word `ecology' itself did not exist until the 1860s when some German scientist coined it to describe the overall operations of nature in terms of a machine -- a metaphor widely used in the Victorian Era. 'Ecology' entered the popular lexicon a century or so later around 1970. As such, it represented a synthesis of radical politics, the Thoreau style nature worship of the Counterculture and a branch of the life sciences that usually went by the name of Environmental Biology. Needless to say, ecology in the general understanding became a value laden cultural production that is peculiar to a period of recent history. Whether or not the evolutionary processes conspired with the creator to imprint all this on the engrams of the first humans (Adam-Eve or Alley Oop) is something of a long shot.

For the record, since the 1970s, Environmental Biology shed its moorings in positivism and tossed the mechanistic view of nature in favor of a more eclectic one involving Information Theory, Chaos Theory, Systems Theory and so on. The solid state theory of environmental equilibrium that the authors use as the gold standard throughout the book no longer holds (see Discordant Harmonies: a New Ecology for the Twenty-first Century by Daniel Botkin).

Other tenets of Ecopsychology have to do with establishing the society of the future along the lines of `primary cultures' while doing away with 'patriarchal power structures' endemic to the modern West. For the record, not all `primary cultures' engaged in ecologically sound practices. The Easter Islanders, Maya and the Anasazi brought about major league destruction of their respective habitats (see Collapse by Jarred Diamond).

Also, I wonder how Roszack proposes to maintain the order of any future Ecotopia without power structures, patriarchal or otherwise. It is equally mysterious how he proposes to make the new social order a political reality. Herd people Khmer Rouge style into agricultural communes, perhaps? Maybe Ecopsychologists could set up a lobby in DC and push their watered down variant of green anarcho-primitivism in the corridors of power. Meanwhile, the authors do not address how their social designs would effect the global population. How will six billion souls fare without agriculture of scale? What will they do for clothing, shelter and other necessities without the present means of production?

An especially fun chapter in this book was written by Chellis Glendinning outlining a Twelve Step Program for recovery from Western Culture. It is not very clear where and how people will find refuge from a civilization gone bad while working the program. It would be just as logical to have an AA group meet in a bar where it's always Happy Hour. Why drink light beer when the world is coming to an end? Anyhow, it would be interesting to learn if any of the contributing authors in the book actually forswore things like tenure at a university, book contracts or a lucrative private practice to actually live the dream in someplace like the Alaskan outback. Judging from her picture on-line, Chellis is well coiffed and smartly attired. No bacon grease pomade or hand me down clothes are to be found on this lady.

My negative review here should not be interpreted as a flippant dismissal of the environmental movement or the many sane people who have contributed so much over the years in developing-implementing sound environmental practices. Tree hugging is fine and good. So are common sense and academic de rigueur - qualities altogether lacking in Ecopsychology. The book in essence amounts to nothing more than a long, tedious temper tantrum directed at `the establishment' by leftover radicals from the 60s who still don't understand why they're not given all the power to achieve their grand designs for the human race, either with or without popular consent. Ecopsychology is a pseudo-science. It may pass scrutiny in Marin County or the Bay Area where the politically correct passes for critical thinking. However, the authors seem unaware that their ideas are loaded with cultural and scientific assumptions of a bygone era that no longer have currency. Also, long winded screeds or this sort tend to be counterproductive over time. Sound environmental policy is best left to those who know what they are talking about how translate workable ideas into reality.


The review here was not intended to challenge the importance nature has as a boon to psychological health. I fanatically believe that appreciation and respect for the nature, along with a daily practice of environmental ethics are the mark of an evolved an extremely healthy mind. On the other hand, the authors conflate such a conscientious approach towards nature with the cultural politics of their heyday as a rationale to binge on the messianic urge.

A good book, however, that does address the psychological importance of nature is The Earth Has a Soul by Carl Jung. You can also go bird watching. A morning spent on the nature trail is worth more than a hundred books written by so-called pundits who have probably spent most of their lives at a comfortable distance from the wild.

Say "ah"
Traditional psychology posits a strict distinction between me, in here, and everything else, out there. While such a paradigm has a long history, it was Freud who established such duality as dogma and insisted that a theory of human behavior must be based on scientific observation. Good idea, Sig. But science marches on. Now that physicists believe that experimental results depend as much on the observer as the observed, the old "in here/out there" dichotomy is falling on hard times. Further, evolutionary theory has embraced the idea that ecosystems evolve as much as individual species, and psychology continues to reveal the constant interplay between who we are and where we exist.Enter "Ecopsychology," a framework for rethinking the causes of environmental despoliation and its impact on personal growth. The growing field includes ecofeminists and deep ecologists, Buddhist and Native American psychologists, Harvard Psychiatry professors and architects. Why are we, as a specie, so willing to foul our own nests? How does that effect us? We evolved as widely dispersed hunter-gatherers intimately connected to the natural world and now often live in close proximity to thousands of other humans largely insulated from the living system that supports us. Who can reasonably claim that this would NOT have profound impacts on the psyche? Along the way, ecopsychologists surmise that there still exists a deep connection to nature that environmentalism would do well to tap. They suggest that joyful celebration of our interdependence will touch hearts turned off by scare tactics that constantly iterate impending doom. This book is an excellent overview of a new direction for psychology and the exciting convergence of post-Darwinian, post-Einsteinian, post-Heisenbergian, post-Toastian (isn't this fun?) thought.

psychology wakeup call
This book contains essays from a variety of sources. It does not tell you what ecopsychology is but tells you why it makes sence.
It quotes many psychologists, even Freud, and analises the real issues of today. Excellent material for a college thesus, but no real info on the techniques used/

Inspiration for a thesis
This is a highly informative book. It tells about people's different points of view on the highly volatile and up-and-coming field of ecopsychology. This book is a great source of information and knowledge of the field as well as it's a pretty easy read. I used this book as a jumping off point for research for my undergraduate thesis. If you are interested in environmental issues and psychology, read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
In the tradition of A Natural History of the Senses, an esteemed expert in ecopsychology shows how expanding the way we see the natural world can improve the way we relate to it.

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the connection between the human psyche and the natural environment. Fueled by a growing awareness of worldwide ecological degradation, an entirely new field of study, called ecopsychology, has emerged. At universities across the country, scientists are learning how the decline of our planet's environment affects not just our physical health but also our minds and emotions.

Laura Sewall, Ph.D., is one of ecopsychology's pioneers and an expert in the study of the visual process. In combining these fields, she has determined that the sense of sight is key to understanding and potentially reversing the effects of ecological destruction. In Sight and Sensibility--the first book on ecopsychology for lay readers--Sewall draws on her fieldwork studying the visual behavior of baboons and teaching vision improvement to trace the evolution of human sight and the cultural development of different ways of seeing. She shows how we can restructure the neural networks that determine how we see, awaken to visual patterns and depth perception, and learn to see more of the world around us.

A contemporary companion to John Berger's classic Ways of Seeing, Sight and Sensibility is a dazzling blend of science, psychology, and poetry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

believing is seeing
This book by Laura Sewall remains the single best one-dip immersion into the field and thought of ecopsychology. Over the years I have returned to it time and time again, quoting it in many of my own writings and teachings, and continuing to marvel at its artistic mixing of deep theory with light personal stories. Overall, much more readable than Abrams' text by a long shot. For all these reasons, I was very happy that my publisher Green Frigate Books was able to successfuly ask Ms. Sewall to write one of the front-end blurbs to my recently published book "Profitably Soaked: Thoreau's Engagment with Water" as well as, especially, the Foreword to my recently published "Deep Immersion: The Experience of Water."

believing is seeing
This book by Laura Sewall remains the single best one-dip immersion into the field and thought of ecopsychology. Over the years I have returned to it time and time again, quoting it in many of my own writings and teachings, and continuing to marvel at its artistic mixing of deep theory with light personal stories. Overall, much more readable than Abrams' text by a long shot. For all these reasons, I was very happy that my publisher Green Frigate Books was able to successfuly ask Ms. Sewall to write one of the front-piece blurbs to my recently published book "Profitably Soaked: Thoreau's Engagment with Water" as well as, especially, the Foreword to my recently published "Deep Immersion; THe Experience of Water."

A noted perspective, but why stop there?
Without an understanding of the human experience in the world, our perception is blurred, quite literally it often seems. Sewell explains how our visual and spiritual sight is dulled by modernities and uses this thesis to place human relations to all things. I found her view to be thorough but her exploration limited. What about the other senses? Further, Sewell's mandate for how we treat our environment is appropriate, and she often refers to tribal people, but not once does she refer to the tribal experience. In fact, her lessons are often about the individual experience in nature, as a way to achieve a visionary experience, and I wonder how it is tribal people related to nature: as individuals or as a tribe? Yes, we are fragmented with our surroundings, but with each other as well.

She walks in Beauty...
Of the many books I have read this long summer, only this one would I call truly beautiful. It is not just a read but an encounter with a deeply inspiring being who seems to become an actual presence herself--someone to guide us back toward awakening to the wondrous, sensuous world around us. Far beyond the information purveyed or even the stories told, Laura Sewall herself emerges from her luminous prose as though to point with a gentle smile to the doorway which will lead us from our self-made enclosures, from the prison of our own device. This prison seems to consist of our habit-routines which bind our perceptions. Her special field of expertise is sight. She shows how we have lost our "depth-perception" by seeing everything in terms of our own culturally constructed self and its illusory security. We have learned to see only objects in terms of their potential use or threat to us. We do not see into them or their unified relations or our relationship with them (and through them): "The canon that our Western worldview posits is that the healthy, well-adjusted adult is autonomous and independent, not interdependent" (247). Instead of seeing the living world and knowing we are part of it, we see a dead world reduced to "resources". But her tale is much more than a position or an argument. She shows the reader both through her own experience (including a powerfully transcendent moment of awakening on the East African veldt) and, more subtly, through her expressive prose and prose-poetry. Reading this book is itself an experience which approaches such transcendent moments. For Laura Sewall, "perception is the dynamic ground of our many relationships with the world" (17) which "may become the ground for a sensuous, even ecstatic relationship with the world" (18). And this is the kind of many faceted text which can remind us of that. Nearing the end, as the author called for the courage of new consciousness, I feared for a time that we were going to leave terra firma and go soaring into the airy-fairy realms of New Age spiritualism. But I was wrong, and relieved to be so. This fine author stayed firmly on our dusty planet: "My prayer is that we *get down*, that we get down and dirty" (274). When I was finished, I closed the book and whooped for sheer joy.

Beautiful vision, richly and accessibly expressed.
Ken Cohen in TAOISM, relates the body's meridians to Earth's energy fields through Feng Shui.In SIGHT AND SENSIBILTY, Laura Sewall relates Human Potential to Ecology through the neurophysiology of vision.She incorporates ideas not only from Eastern and Western philosophies, but alsoNative cultures in expressing her vision.

Justifiably critical of moderncivilization, her message remains guardedly positive.For instance, earlyin her study of Vision, she recognized that visual processing in adults wasmore malleable than recognized by establisfed science.She also postulatesthat by employing the senses fully, we can learn to love the Earth. Inother words,to improve things for the next generation is in Pema Chodron's:START WHERE YOU ARE.

Laura Sewall stresses, asthe teacher who inspiredme many years ago did, "bridging gaps", integrative methods, andsharing. The ideas in this book like D'Arcy Thompson's: ON GROWTH AND FORMwill inspire people for many years.Her book is also a good example ofwhat is meant in Buddhassa Bhikkhu's: MINDFULNESS WITH BREATHING: "Wecan use any bodily activity as a basis for (mindfulness).The morenecessary and central to life that activity is, the better."

Notonly has this book connected to ideas that interest me, it has providedmany interesing new ideas to explore.One measure of how well she writesis, how easy it is to check the page notes and bibliograpy during thecourse of reading.

I believe anyone who reads this book will have acomparable experience, although in perphaps quite different areas ofendeavor. ... Read more

Product Description
What is the bond between the human psyche and the living planet that nurtured us, and all of life, into existence? What is the link between our own mental health and the health of the greater biosphere?

In this "bold, ambitious, philosophical essay" (Publishers Weekly), historian and cultural critic Roszak explores the relationships between psychology, ecology, and new scientific insights into systems in nature. Drawing on our understanding of the evolutionary, self-organizing universe, Roszak illuminates our rootedness in the greater web of life and explores the relationship between our own sanity and the larger-than-human world. The Voice of the Earth seeks to bridge the centuries-old split between the psychological and the ecological with a paradigm which sees the needs of the planet and the needs of the person as a continuum. The Earth's cry for rescue from the punishing weight of the industrial system we have created is our own cry for a scale and quality of life that will free us to become whole and healthy.

This second edition contains a new afterword by the author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A brilliant, hopeful book
The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, did not believe that psychoanalysis would bring men to happiness.Far from it.In his view, his theory of psychoanalysis was the "third outrage" in humankind's long, arduous march from superstition to civilization.The first was Copernicus' discovery that our Earth is not the center of the universe; the second, the Darwinian revolution in biology which robbed man of his sense of being specially created by God, relegating him to having descended from animals, implying an ineradicably animal nature in him; and the third, Freud's own theory of the unconscious, wherein the "ego" of each person is presumably not even the master of his own house.

When Freud was writing at the turn of the century, a pessimistic, brooding atmosphere pervaded the intelligentsia. Darwinism and entropy were the dominant strains of cosmological theory.Freud was a doctrinaire materialist.He saw man as a body with a reservoir of instincts, and psychoanalysis was essentially an inquiry into "the demands made upon the mind in consequence of its connection with the body."Ultimately, however, Freud's search for the physical foundation for the psyche reached a dead end.Roszak writes:

[Freud's] vision of a lifeless, uncaring universe was so grim that it proved to have no future in psychiatry.It yielded an image of the human psyche trapped in the desolation of an infinity where it finds no consolation, no remorse, no response to its need for warmth, love and acceptance. (58)

Roszak, a Professor of History at the University of California at Berkeley, argues that Freud's despairing vision of life continues to haunt the major schools of psychiatric thought.As such, modern psychiatry "has...cut itself off from nature at large and [ministers] to the psyche within a purely personal or social frame of reference . . ."The consequence is that psychiatry and psychotherapy occur within an unacknowledged, negative context in which the universe is considered alien and hostile to human consciousness.

According to Roszak, the underlying assumptions of the psychoanalytic worldview are themselves a major source of neurotic suffering, severely limiting any curative help available through psychoanalysis, or, for that matter, psychotherapy.Existentialists did not get beyond Freud's essentially negative vision of nature, but merely added layers of their own analysis to it.The natural world is described by Existentialists as one to which the individual is "thrown"; existentialists tend to see the environment (Umwelt) as little more than the sum of thwarting physical necessities.Roszak writes:

What we have here is a denatured environment precisely as we might expect urban therapists and their clientele to know it: a blank, characterless, somewhat bothersome background to "real life," which is social and personal (65).

In virtually every school of contemporary psychiatry or psychology, from Freudian to the post-Freudian Object Relations school to Existentialism and Humanistic Psychology, we find the concept of the environment either reduced to mean the social environment, or depicted as alien to human beings, a place where man is uprooted and abandoned.Roszak quotes Mary Midgley:

The impression of desertion or abandonment which Existentialists have is due, I am sure, not to the removal of God, but to this contemptuous dismissal of the biosphere--plants, animals, and children.Life shrinks to a few urban rooms; no wonder it becomes absurd (66).

In cogent, persuasive language, Roszak calls for a new psychology--"ecopsychology"--which sees human beings as inseparable from the natural environment, part of a continuum which includes plants and insects and animals.From the viewpoint of nonhuman nature, he writes, sane behavior (as described by psychologists and psychiatrists) might seem madness."But as the prevailing Reality Principle would have it, nothing could be greater madness than to believe that beast and plant, mountain and river have a `point of view.'"

The book is divided into three sections: Part One, Psychology; Part Two, Cosmology; and Part Three, Ecology.Part One explores the psychological aspects of a world divided into overdeveloped, overpolluting industrial nations and "developing" nations anxious to join the industrial club.Roszak asserts that the world's environment cannot handle many more industrialized nations living at the level of U.S. consumption.The solution to Third World poverty, then, is not adoption of the wantonly wasteful consumerism of the U.S., since such a situation would lead to worldwide environmental catastrophe.

Roszak claims that one reason the environmental movement is ineffective is that it is splintered into so many different groups, each fighting one urgent issue, that it exhausts the public keeping up with the latest crisis.He also says that the corporate elites are busily typecasting all environmentalists as misanthropic subversives bent on destroying our way of life--a replay of the 50s "Red Scare" only now the "Green Scare."

In part two, Roszak essays the new physics, making a compelling case for purpose and design in the universe, and challenging the Darwinist orthodoxy, prevalent among modern scientists, that all life on earth evolved to its present state by purely random causes.Randomness, according to Roszak, has become a dogma among many scientists; and theories which accept teleological arguments are taboo.

The acceptance among most scientists of the validity of the Big Bang theory, including the notion that the universe is 4.5 billion years old, has caused the old notion of everything evolving randomly to be highly questionable.Given an infinity of time, it is not hard to see how any number of complex systems could come into being randomly; given 4.5 billion years, however, there is a point at which the probability that such complex systems as the spiral nebulae and life on earth unfolding by chance becomes virtually zero.

Roszak discusses developments in the Gaia hypothesis, the notion that the earth is a single, self-regulating organism; the parallels between the Deep Ecology movement and feminist spirituality; systems theory and the new deism, and much more.

In the final section Roszak argues convincingly that a convergence of the newly emerging cosmology of Deep Ecology, Systems Theory and the Gaia Hypothesis--what he calls the New Deism--may, aided by enough artists and visionary philosophers, mature into an ecologically grounded form of animism.

Within this new context, sanity and madness take on new meanings.The urban-industrial "reality principle" represses much that is essential to our well being: wild places, spontanaeity, the organic, the feminine.How, Roszak finally asks, does the planet respond to the "reckless monkey cunning" of its troublesome human children?He poses a question: "what if the `narcissism' we see emerging in the high industrial societies has a creative role to play in taming our Promethian delusions?"

This book is deep and complex.It is difficult if not impossible to adequately review it succinctly.But despite its philosophic complexity, it can be grasped by the lay reader.For all who are concerned about the fate of the earth at the end of the twentieth century, it is must reading.

A life-changing book
Read it! This is THE book. The book that gives the explanations as to why we destroy this wounderous planet on which we are all dependent. This is also the book that gives you hope, a sense of meaning, and importance in this infinite universe. This is absolutely no "new-age"-book, but a serious, fact-filled investigation in our own position and role in the web of life on this planet. But this book, written by Theodore Roszak, a professor in history, could really be a starting point for a new age, the ecologically balanced age of a reinchanted world.

Revolutionary!
This book makes it crystal clear that as a society we are functioning beyond the bounds of (collective) sanity, and that this becomes truer the more aware we become of the mismatch between our way of life and the inherent limits of our biosphere. For individuals to be mentally healthy, we must leap the fences of conformity and help invent a group relationship to the biosphere that can nurture our grandchildren.

The Voice of the Earth Is Desperately Calling Us
This book could easily be seen as one of the most profound wake-up calls for humanity published for the 21st century! This is the stage in our evolution that we'll either continue on our destructive, insane, parasitic and unconscious collective death-wish to oblivion, or we'll heed the loud call heard here to become aware of our life-sustaining, interconnectedness to all life and start to heal our riff not only amongst ourselves, but more importantly, with Earth. To give this outstanding book a 5-star rating is not enough- it deserves 10-stars!

For those who are not familiar with *Ecopsychology*, there is a good description and comparison of it to human-only psychology in the Epilog of this monumental work:

"Just as it has been the goal of previous therapies to recover the contents of the unconscious, so the goal of ecopsychology is to awaken the inherent sense of environmental reciprocity that lies within the ecological unconscious. Other therapies seek to heal the alienation between person to person, person and family, person and society. Ecopsychology seeks to heal the more fundamental alienation between the person and the natural environment." (p 320)

The current state of affairs in the human relationship with the earth is not only ambivalent and dismissive, it is destructive, parasitic and cancerous, and yet, Planet Earth is our only life-support system- our very reason for existence. One might then be inclined to see our current relationship with our home as outright insanity. And indeed, it is!"If we could assume the viewpoint of nonhuman nature, what passes for sane behavior in our social affairs might seem madness." (Preface, p 13) And, of course, our "social affairs", disregarding our relationship to Earth, is riff with pathology and psychosis.

Earth's voice is simply stated in: "The Earth's cry for rescue from the punishing weight of the industrial system we have created is our own cry for a scale and quality of life that will free each of us to become the complete person we were born to be." (p 14)

From the philosopher Mary Midgley in her book, "Beast and Man...": "[she]...finds the doctrinaire dismissal of the physical and biological worlds to be `the really monstrous thing about Existentialism.'" and, "...as if the world contained only dead matter (things) on the one hand and fully rational, educated, adult human beings on the other-as if there were no other life-forms. ...I am sure, not to the removal of God, but to this contemptuous dismissal of the biosphere-plants, animals, and children. Life shrinks to a few urban rooms; no wonder it becomes absurd."(p 66) Indeed.


With science leading us to an awareness of the dynamics of life and Earth's self-regulating life-support systems, we have: "If human conduct were governed by reason alone, what science has taught us about the great ecological patterns and cycles of the planet might be enough to reform our bad environmental habits." (p 95)

This, then leads us to the very fascinating chapter 5: "Anima Mundi: The Search For Gaia- The Many Faces of Mother Earth". In the Anima Mundi, earlier human civilizations felt the wonder and presence of Earth's majestic powers, so when did humanity start to loose it's sense of awe and respect for Earth? Perhaps the advent of citification, social class structures, and certainly, industrialization might have been that point. We became fixated on blinding human concocted regimes apart from the workings and acknowledgement ofNature.

In Part Three- "Ecology" (p 213), there is: "The New Cosmology and our deepening study of ordered complexity provide the raw intellectual material for a new understanding of human connectedness with nature. In time, with enough help from artists and visionary philosophers, this body of fact and theory may mature into an ecologically grounded form of animism. We will find ourselves once again on speaking terms with nature. Within this greater environmental context, sanity and madness take on new meanings."

We will hopefully begin to understand that: "Industrialism, with it's rapacious use of the environment as either raw material or dumping ground, has further entrenched the city's alienation from nature." (p 220)

Therefore, "...the environmental movement is trying to teach us that both economics and ethics must be contained within an ecological context." (p 248) This then, leads to a sane, life-enhancing, and rewarding human existence.

One could go on and on relating the plethora of thought provoking lines found all through this masterpiece of a call to education, realization, and return to sanity in our relation-ship with Earth, but that would be burdensome for a review and this is possibly too long as it is. I highly recommend this book to everyone on the planet, especially to industry, government, and all religious orders.

Elegant exploration of contempory potential for eco-sanity
I re-read this book every few years, but it's only recently that I've come to appreciate Roszak's "exploration of ecopsychology" as a profound assessment of our "biospheric emergency" and a sure prescription for deep healing.In particular, his discussion of "plenitude" (evoking Mumford here), Roszak provides an elegant alternative to our current fascination with mindless surfeit.

The Principles of Ecospychology are sketched in an Epilogue, rooted in the assertion that "the person is anchored within a greater, universal identity" than that which has been presented in earlier psychologies.Here the goal is to "awaken the sense of environmental reciprocity that lies within the ecological unconscious.Other therapies seek to heal the alienation between person and person, person and family, person and society.Ecopsycholgy seeks to heal the more fundamental alienation between the person and the natural environment."

A very useful appendix, "God and Modern Cosmology," provides an annotated bibliography for continued study of the growing convergence between science and religion. ... Read more

Product Description
Shows the psychological roots of our ecological crisis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Very Thought-Provoking
I like his premise and I think it's right on. A primary text on a new field that I think will be very influential once folks start to realize how profoundly disconnected we are from our relationship from land and wildlife and why it matters.

Visionary
Fisher's book is reclaiming the basis of authentic healing outside of a profession still mired in the dark ages. I think one of the great problems with psychotherapy generally is that those attracked to the field are driven by hidden archetypal forces guiding their own dysfunctions. In other words, I never met a psychotherapist who also happens to be a healer and the same is true (if not more so) for social workers.

This book casts a wide net, finding itself in confluence with other Radical Psychologists/Psychotherapists who recognize the limits of the profession and actually negatively critique it.

Fisher's approach is integral in scope and practice. Andy not only provides an impressive history of those radical thinkers within psychology, he demonstrates the scope of the dysfunction clearly. Furthermore, this new wave of psychology seeks to reintroduce the human mind with its own matrix of well being. Namely, the power of nature to heal the fragmentation. When we consider that everything the human psyche encounters is somehow mediated by technology - or put differently - everything we see, hear, touch, is somehow associated with a pathology driven by a technological superstructure defining human life in a way that our primal instincts never intended.

The empowerment found in disconnecting from the technological pathos, and reintroducing ourselves back into nature, can not only evoke healing in our mind and bodies, but may assist our planet in healing itself. This may be the most important message within the book.

A New Direction in Psychology
Radical Ecopsychology is a thoughtful and sophisticated discussion of a new direction which the science of psychology might take; it raises important issues, and I think everyone in the field would benefit from reading it.The reader from Berkeley touched on what is probably the central issue, with the (incorrect) observation that the book "...suffers from the naivite of believing that Cartesian dualism can be resolved with a simple reference to an 'embodied self'".In fact, Andy Fisher draws on the work of philosopher Gene Gendlin, who actually has shown a way in which philosophy can appeal to experience and Cartesian dualism can be resolved. Of course, this sounds impossible.Many (like the reviewer from Berkeley) will reject such a claim a priori, much like the Aristotelian astronomers who refused to look through Galilleo's telescope.But this new direction is important, and open-minded people will want to explore it.

Important addition to Ecopsychology
An excellent overview of ecopsychology. A bit philosophical with lots of academic language, but its well worth the work of reading. It contains a lot of radical ideas. This is an important addition to the growing body of text about ecopsychology.

Eco-literati wannabe
This book is basically just a collection of eco-literati quotes. It proves only one thing: people will try to buy themselves into any club with hyper-flattery. Unless you really think you have to, don't bother to read this book. It contains virtually nothing new. And contrary to David Abram's endorsement, it is neither poetic nor profound. The author spends more than half of the book explaining why and how he wants to talk about Radical Ecopsychology (as if that were a valid concept to begin with) and then spends the rest of the book apologetically emphasizing that he can only vaguely indicate what Radical Ecopsychology would look like, if he were really writing about it. Then there's a little eco-polemic thrown in for good measure.

The only interesting idea that I could glean from the book at all is simply that our alienation from nature has an impact on our "mental health". It seems to be an attempt to define psychologically "normal" in terms of ecology. But like all of psychology, the thesis suffers from the problem of validating the concept of "normal". In this case, you would have to clearly define what you mean by "natural" - no lighter a task. While the thesis might be interesting, it is hardly profound and I doubt that it merits a whole book, let alone an entire new academic field - not to mention that academics will never make a substantial contribution to saving the environment anyway. Quibbling about theories is not going to stop the corporations from decimating the biosphere!

The book also suffers from the naivite of believing that Cartesian dualism can be resolved with a simple reference to an "embodied self". While this may make for sellable (to the David Abram fan-club) popular writing, it will hardly satisfy those looking for a philosophically viable answer. It will also ever remain another attempt to preach to the choir. Another volume to put on the shelf and ignore.

In the end, I can only see this as another pseudo-academic initiation rite - another wannabe trying to establish a publishing career (and enhance his therapeutic practice). As one who cares more about the environment than the need for personal promotion, I hope not many trees are wasted with editions of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book written in a simple and easy-to-understand language by scientist-biologist Vladimir Antonov covers the essential issues: what is God, the place of human being in the Evolution of the Universal Consciousness, principles of forming and correction of destiny, ways of attaining health and happiness, most effective methods of psychic self-regulation, about spiritual development and cognition of God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A diamond in the rough! Practical spirituality at its best!
It's only been a little while since reading Antonov's Eco-Psychology yet the changes I've already noticed in myself are nothing short of amazing.I was reluctant to write a review for fear of not being able to express in words the profundity of this great work.However, in the end I realized that even though we can never convey the fullness of our experience through words we have to try our best and so that is what I endeavor to do here.

My personal belief is that if you are reading this review then you were guided by your Higher Self to purchase this book.With all my heart and soul I say to you my dear friend, buy the book, read it, internalize it, and LIVE IT! For if you do so then your joy in life is bound to expand many fold.I myself was guided to the work of Vladamir Antonov when I first started out on the path of the heart and to be quite honest I just wasn't ready for the fullness of his teachings.So, I made a mental note to return once I was ready and continued on my search.

I sought for the truth of life both high and low.My search took me through many different topics and many different teachers.I studied quantum physics and subtle energies, I dived into Vladamir Megre's work on Anastasiya of The Ringing Cedars Series, I relished Yogananda's Kriya Yoga inspired literature, I went through Carlos Castaneda's books about Native American shamanism, and eventually found myself embracing the esoteric teachings of the Summit Lighthouse, Shangra-La, and more recently Theosophia Is the Way.

The common tie between all of these teachings is that of self-transformation.They all teach surrendering your pseudo-self, your limiting beliefs, and your misconceptions about yourself and life in general for the sake of mergence with your Higher Self, I AM THAT I AM, Power, the Creator of all, or whatever you want to call our Source.Through work on purifying ourselves we too can become like the Saints and Seers of days long past.

Still, I came to the point where I felt that my spiritual progress was slowing down while it should have been speeding up.I realize that I needed more and then I remembered my mental note and decided to look up Antonov.This was a big turning point for me.What joy!What magic!What love!I was so grateful to finally be at a place where I was ready to surrender many of the illusions I still held about life.Eco-Psycholoy was a huge help in dispelling many of those illusions and helped me to take that next step up.

There is something in it for everyone.Whether you're a neophyte on the path or an advanced spiritual seeker, this book literally has it all!It ranges from fundamental spiritual philosophy to instruction on how to work with subtle energies and master advanced meditative techniques.Never before in known history has mankind had such a straight forward guide to growth and practical spirituality!There are truly no words that I can use to convey the importance of this great work, especially in this day and age.Either way if you feel that you are ready to accelerate your spiritual growth then you have indeed been lead to a diamond in the rough of modern day spiritual literature.

I humbly welcome you to life!I welcome you, my friend, to oh so much More!

I'm Being Kind
The title itself should have warned me. I read through much of the first half of this book, enduring the lousy translation. The author speaks about God like we need to be told Who or What God is. Most of what he writes is nothing new, since I've read many books on Buddhism and Vedanta. But towards the end of the book he gets into exotic exercises from Tantric yoga and other disciplines. Most Yogis teach pranayama (breathing exercises). He quotes Gurdjieff (spelling?) whom I read 20 years ago. That's really digging deep. I wonder what this author has experienced himself, since he doesn't speak of God as someone who has reached illumination. I was sorely disappointed and returned the book for a refund.

Captivating and breathtaking!
A newer and wider approach to the conception of ecology and psychology.
A really indispensable book for every spiritual seeker and for anyone who wants to broaden one's horizons!

Very good book for all spiritual seekers!
It is one of the more complete and intelligible work I had the chance to read. This book explains very well the different steps of the Spiritual Path. Take a look at the table of contents to see what I mean! ... Read more

Product Description
A book and course that teaches you the Natural Systems Thinking Process

A nature connected learning tool enables our psyche to genuinely tap the healing powers of nature and regenerate 48 peaceful natural intelligences in our awareness and thinking.

Backyard or backcountry, this practical, multiple-sense, book empowers you to improve your health, relationships and happiness by replacing destructive omissions in how we learn to think with rejuvenated natural sensitivities.

Learn how to reconnect your psyche to its nurturing origins in the restorative vigor, sustainability and peace of nature.

Help yourself and your community benefit from the profound renewal that lies in the magnificence of a beautiful day, the wisdom of an ancient tree and the fortitude of a weed.

Let nature's invincible healing energies help your thinking transform your stress, disorders and harmful bonds into constructive personal, social and environmental rewards.

Grow from hands-on, accredited, Applied Biophilia classes, essays, activities, research, internships, ethics, counseling and healing.

Strengthen your inborn natural genius. Enjoy an Earth-friendly job, career, internship or teaching certification. Take advantage of subsidized, online courses and degree programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

show don't tell
I did not take the course however even reading the book gave me some very healing experiences.However the main things that bothered me about it were: the fact that at the start of the book many pages devoted to saying over and over how great this method is.I felt: please get on to the lessons themselves.As a result of this the free sample provided in Kindle edition consists only of quotes of how great the method is. A sample exercise might make more buy this.Second there was a lot of black and white thinking such as "other ways of connecting to nature other than this way do not go far enough/you can't just put a plant by your desk at work: you have to do it our way". I also saw too many uses of terms like always and never which to me may indicate narrowness (as in (I am paraphrasing not quoting) "studies have shown that cultures that are aware of nature NEVER have any problems with substance abuse, crime, etc.").I guess what annoyed me was that parts of the book were a sales pitch and I had to sift to get to the great parts the exercises themselves: but once I sifted I enjoyed it and it made me think: AND feel/experience. I guess also that the book seemed a little hung up on its own terms like "webstrings" and "five legged or four legged thinking" which can sometimes get in the way of its own writing. This method is about show not tell: "get out into nature and experience it": but the format of book does not reflect this but is more about "our method is so great". I would still recommend it but if you are interested in this topic would recommend reading along with other similar books such as Starhawk's book "The Earth Path" (which has a more spiritual flavor to it) and one which I think is entitled "Last Child in the Woods" and which coins the term "nature deficit disorder".
I agree wholeheartedly that our society is sick because of our disconnection from nature, but this is not one true way to experience it, but is a good one.

Finding Peace and Balance in a Stressful World
I not only read this book, but recently took it as an online course. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and at first quite frankly, I thought it perhaps naive to believe that simply doing the activities in this book to reconnect to nature could be a changing mechanism. I am thankful to say I was wrong. The power of this book lies not in the reading, but in the hands-on nature focused, mindful activities contained within its pages. Again and again I did what seemed to be similiar activities, but in doing them each result was uniquely its own. Because the learning is cooperative (in the online course), it was startling how very different all of our experiences were. It is not repetative at all. This book provides a powerful reaffirmation of our ability to find healing and sustain ourselves through our attraction and integration of nature into our daily lives.

The activities in this book gave me motivation to set aside time, time that is precious, yes and time that I would not have otherwise taken to connect with nature. But it was not time wasted. As it turned out, it has also not been a selfish pursuit. I have three children with autism spectrum disorder, they are high need and experience a great deal of anxiety. As I have increasingly spent more time in nature focused activities, my children have become naturally attracted to joining me. The benefits we have experienced are many. First, we are spending more time together in a relaxed setting, sometimes talking, sometimes not, but always in communion together with nature. Second, my children have directly benefited from the activities themselves. Sensory Integration is a well-accepted treatment option for individuals with autism. This book provides so many different ways to enhance and enchant the senses in a delightful way for kids with autism. Through these activities my children have experienced a deeper sensory connection with nature. As a result I have seen them begin to express greater empathy toward other living things: people, animals and all nature around them. Along with their increased connection and awareness I have also noticed my daughter showing signs of improved self-esteem. The activities have also helped provide me with the ability to renew and recharge myself in order to be a more relaxed and calm parent even when things get very stressful (and with three kids with autism--trust me--it's often stressful.)

This book and the related connection with other course participants has changed the way I literally see and experience the world around me. I have a greater attraction toward nature in all settings and my ability to fulfill that need for it has correspondingly increased as well. My need for other less fulfilling pursuites has diminished a great deal (mindlessly watching TV, for example).

Whether you read this book alone or take the online course at www.ecopsych.com , it is worthwhile pursuit. Don't just read the activities, really do them. It doesn't take that much time and it's well worth it. It will be an incredibly gift to yourself and those around you.

Peace.

Kristi Sakai
Parent of 3 with autism spectrum disorder, national presenter, pastoral counselor, author of Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family, winner of the 2006 Autism Society of America Literary Work of the Year.
Finding Our Way: Practical Solutions for Creating a Supportive Home and Community for the Asperger Syndrome Family

Re-education of Western Perspectives on the human place in Nature
After having involved myself in the reading of this book, perhaps it might seem repetetive in concept and theory. The reading of this book is not where it garners its importance.
The importance of this text lies in its practices of each connecting activity that reweaves the web of nature into the human psyche.
If these practices were woven throughout our Western education system, from prenatal classes to graduate study, our earth would not be in
the crisis it is today and the human populations of earth would not be so entrenched in their suicidal mission
to consume nature so voraciously that there will be nothing left for us and for other beings to thrive upon.
The activities of this book are a reprogramming of the psyche that allows us to come back to our roots as natural beings and parts of this earth, if
delved into deeply and with abandon, each exercise re-educates, re-connects, and re-members us into the natural community of being.
What human progress and Cartesian principles of philosophy have created is a suicide machine in which each human
is a pilot of self destruction, this book re-awakens the desire to live in harmony with all that is. It is my belief
that these concepts should be instituted at the very least into K-12 public education as a way of beginning to turn
the tides of the ravaging of the earth and all of nature to the end of life for us all.

The concepts herein are basic, anyone can do them if they allow themselves to be open to them and to practice
them with authenticity and sincerety. This is not a book for philosophical debate, or intellectual discourse, but one of
experiential learning at the deepest level, that of human origin and development from our most primal roots in nature.
I suggest this book for families concerned with educating each member with an environmental, ecological ethic, respect for
the greater world of natural beings, and for esteem building in a positive and connected way.

Allowing yourself to Be with Nature
The wonder of this book is in following the directions in each chapter.Each chapter takes you out into nature to do an activity of getting in touch with nature a little closer each time.This is not something to think lightly of and can be one of the most life changing experiences we can have. It is not a thinking book. It is a doing book. It is a letting nature back into our life book for all who clearly see our tendency to disconnect from nature.So much care and nature intelligence has been taken into account here in this book that I encourage all to partake of it.

Disappointed.
For that kind of money I expected to be taught something. I bought the book because I already agreed with the concepts. I didn't need to be told over and over again the same exact thing page after boring page- all the reasons WHY those concepts should be agreed with. Very little real substance, very little real lessons. Cohen might be great at many different things,but writing is not his strong point. If you have read his website, you've read his book. Don't waste your money. ... Read more

Product Description

In western culture, the separation of humans from nature has contributed to a schism between the conscious reason and the unconscious dreaming psyche, or internal human "nature." Our increasing lack of intimacy with the land has led to a decreased capacity to access parts of the psyche not normally valued in a capitalist culture. InOut of the Shadow: Ecopsychology, Story, and Encounters with the Land, Rinda West uses Jung's idea of the shadow to explore how this divorce results in alienation, projection, and often breakdown. Bringing together ideas from analytical psychology, environmental thought, and literary studies, West explores a variety of literary texts -- including several by contemporary American Indian writers -- to show, through a sort of geography of the psyche, how alienation from nature reflects a parallel separation from the "nature" that constitutes the unconscious.

Through her analysis of narratives that offer images of people confronting shadow, reconnecting with nature, and growing psychologically and ethically, West reveals that when characters enter into relationship with the natural world, they are better able to confront and reclaim shadow. By writing "from the shadows," West argues that contemporary writers are exploring ways of being human that have the potential for creating more just and honorable relationships with nature, and more sustainable communities.

For ecocritics, conservation activists, scholars and students of environmental studies and American Indian studies, and ecopsychologists,Out of the Shadow offers hope for humans wishing to reconcile with themselves, with nature, and with community.

Customer Reviews (1)

Get back, Jo Jo
Rinda West's Out of the Shadow is what she calls a "restoration narrative," and the restoration of which she speaks is many limbed, extending in directions of which even the author may be unaware.
Perhaps because Itoo am a baby-boomer, I findthis book a refreshing return to a way of speaking and seeing, to a discourse, long since abandoned but not, as West proves, forgotten. Elegantly written and free of the kind of overly-rationalized, guilt-ridden, self-destructive prose of the post-modernists, this book happily embraces a Jungian essentialism that not only embraces nature and an essential self, but champions this essentialist discourse as a way back, a restoration, not just to individual health,but to planetary health, and along the way champions a recovery from a criticism that only deconstructs and cannot find a presence upon which to rebuild.
C.J. Jung's theory of "the shadow," the dark alter ego which lurks in the subconscious as a foil to the rational ego, is the unifying thread of her argument. We haven't heard much of Jung of late, nor of his belief in the healing potential implicit in the re-union of intellect with the unconscious, of the overly-civilized ego with the nature in us and outside of us. That at least this echo of 60s romanticism survived the desert wastes of post-modernism signals hope, for it is a dirty secret not heard much in academia that the radical moment 40 years ago was more a moment of romantic essentialism than deconstructive post-modernism. That rebellion was waged with nature as the alternative to the establishment. West's book is a return to that older, healing insight.
That this is a book written as part of the University of Virginia's series "explorations in ecocriticism" is fitting.For the rediscovery of the importance of nature for our own wholeness is the heart of West's text as well as the texts she unveils for us. Concentrating largely, but not exclusively on "women's fiction," West shows how the novels of Louise Erdrich,Leslie Marmon Silko, Barbara Kingsolver, to name only a few of the authors referenced in thisrichly varied work, play out Jung's themes. Reading these works with a sensitive eye, she shows how in each text the rituals which return us to the earth itself, can also return us to ourselves. To reach out and to touch nature, and the nature in ourselves, istorecognize and be reconciled with our shadows.
What West herself says of Erdrich perhaps can stand as a comment on her own book: "in restoring vitality to the culture, the land, and the psyche, she generates a rich diversity that ensures there is room for everyone."
... Read more

Product Description
Environmental psychology is an interdisciplinary field focused on the interplay between humans and their surroundings. The field defines the term environment broadly encompassing natural environments, social settings, built environments, learning environments, and informational environments. When solving problems involving human-environment interactions, whether global or local, one must have a model of human nature that predicts the environmental conditions under which humans will behave in a decent and creative manner. With such a model one can design, manage, protect and/or restore environments that enhance reasonable behavior, predict what the likely outcome will be when these conditions are not met, and diagnose problem situations. The field develops such a model of human nature while retaining a broad and inherently multidisciplinary focus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Google the 'product' description...
Environmental psychology is an interdisciplinary field focused on the interplay between humans and their surroundings. The field defines the term environment broadly encompassing natural environments, social settings, built environments, learning environments, and informational environments. When solving problems involving human-environment interactions, whether global or local, one must have a model of human nature that predicts the environmental conditions under which humans will behave in a decent and creative manner. With such a model one can design, manage, protect and/or restore environments that enhance reasonable behavior, predict what the likely outcome will be when these conditions are not met, and diagnose problem situations. The field develops such a model of human nature while retaining a broad and inherently multidisciplinary focus.

... AND YOU WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FIRST OF HOWEVER MANY WIKIPEDIA ARTICLES IT TOOK TO FILL THIS EXPENSIVE 'BOOK'

... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from MELUS, published by The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnics Literature of the United States on June 22, 2009. The length of the article is 1098 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Out of the Shadow: Ecopsychology, Story, and Encounters with the Land.(Book review)
Author: Tom J. Hillard
Publication: MELUS (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2009
Publisher: The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnics Literature of the United States
Volume: 34Issue: 2Page: 194(3)

Article Type: Book review

Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning ... Read more

Product Description
Intriguingly crafted, this book takes you on a journey through time, self and nature that will leave you reeling in inspiration.A uniquely creative blend of spirituality, ecology and psychology, Stewards of Spirit walks you through a three-step process to awaken to your authenticity.The process, illustrated through an intuitively-inspired case study of the life of a 19th century woman, is based on the ecopsychological premise that humans' well-being is inextricably linked to nature.We can, therefore, look to the planet as a model for the fulfillment of our own individual potential.At the heart of this experience are Rachel's Ballads. While ensconced in these freestyle, lyrical writings, you will feel as though you are at a play where each new act builds upon the last culminating in a shocking finale that carries you back to an historic event that shook the world and to this day still captures our hearts and imaginations.Throughout, Ellis seamlessly weaves the notions of spirituality and self-development into the world of ecology demonstrating that nature offers us a route to awakening in direct contrast to our usual dichotomous approach that pits the "spirit self" against the ego or "false self."Whether you are seeking an experience that could change your approach to life or simply in the mood for an exceptional read, this book will surely fulfill your expectations.Mother, artist and educator, Gianetta Ellis is deeply passionate about the preservation of spirit and its role in the human relationship to Earth.A life-long student of religion, she integrates theologic and spiritual notions regarding "eco-accountability" and stewardship to her writing.She is a Vermont Law School graduate with a successful environmental career spanning two decades.In both the public and private sectors, she has developed policy for and managed such diverse issues as:habitat conservation, pollution prevention, hazardous waste abatement, and watershed health.She is the creator and owner of stewARTship studios where she "incorporates art to stewardship" by using various fine art forms as a means for students to build enduring connections to self and nature.Whether teaching under-graduates at the University of Pittsburgh or engaging school children in experiential nature-study programs, Gianetta is a dedicated professional who brings a uniquely creative and holistic approach to learning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

More than Rachel's tale
Stewards of Spirit touched me immediately as more than just the tale of Rachel.Gianetta's carefully constructed prologue set the stage for this reader, to see into the sonnets of Rachel.I experienced the sonnets as both beautiful and lyrical to read, and they were expressed with emotional depths, linking one to the next telling a personal story.My personal favoritesexist in volume II,"My mothers Words" and Unseen Glories". The epilogue is instructional, assisting me to acknowledge the greater lesson of "being" the authentic self."Awakening in the Light of Rachel's Ballads", is a perfect companion to bask one's thoughts into, as it reflects the personal harmony with the greater world all around us in nature, which will acknowledge your thoughts with the simplest of breezes or song of a bird at just the right moment to make you smile out loud;reminding you that you are awakening to a greater reality.Anyone sensing they are on the path to higher consciousness will find comfort in this book, and for those who are so involved in everyday, stressed to their limits, will find the knowledge within these pages, to live a more satisfying life.I will reread and adore its pages often.

Loved This Book
There is such beauty to be found in this book - from its reverence for the "self" to the connection it makes between the self and the earth.Particularly stirring and beautiful are Rachel's Ballads.I love the story of this woman.I felt as though I were in her skin.I sensed the way her body moved, the way she spoke, the feel of her home, and even the smells of nature as she walked outside along a close-by stream.This is an heirloom quality book.

Wonderful Read
Rather than a detailed review of this smart and creative book, please allow me to relay my thoughts with one expression . . . Wow!

Feelings Brought to Light
Thank you, Gianetta Ellis, for your inspirational book.Your words have confirmed how I have always felt regarding "Universal Oneness".Finding ones niche and harmony in life is essential for finding inner peace.Rachel's Ballads has brought that all together and is truly inspiring."I'll Meet You On The Trail", brought tears to my eyes but not of sadness.Thank you, again, you have touched my heart forever. ~

An Expression of my Beliefs
I have always tried to express my connection with nature, particularly the role animals play in my life.Gianetta was able to capture my innermost thoughts and feelings regarding the importance of interacting with nature and allowing it to guide and teach us.Rachel's Ballads take you on a unique journey through the impressions of a woman, who through tragedy, learns to live her life with an enhanced connection to nature.She opens herself to the possibility that nature can help heal tragic wounds and will protect her as she lives her simple, serene life to its fullest potential. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book of psychoanalysis. However, the patient is not a human, but place and imagination of placing. The islands of Okinawa, placed on the border of Japan and Taiwan, consist of a complex of subtropical islands in the East China Sea with marine life abundantly found in the beautiful emerald ocean. However, Okinawa is a history of deterritorialization starting from colonization of the former Ryukyu kingdom by Japan in 1879, followed by the World War II and the US occupation until 1972. Throughout the course of world history, inventions of new machines and technologies, alteration of perception of space, subsequent deterritorialization, and new kinds of war took place coincidentally at the same time. These tiny dots on the Pacific Ocean became subject to the collective fate of the world. However, placing oneself in these tiny dots and looking at the world from there provides a picture that is totally different from looking at them from outside. There are numerous accounts by ethnographers and anthropologists who studied carnivals of masks and costumes, their belief in the paradise afar in the ocean, worship of Nature, ancestors, and women's spirituality of this region. Psychoanalysis of the former anthropological research unfolds complexity of this field and deconstructs dualistic modern mind that separates nature from psyche. What appears from the psychoanalysis of anthropology is an ecological perspective of the psyche of the new era. "Looking at the earth as the imaginal body of the anima mundi is the underlying motif of this book. In this process of viewing, geographical maps transform into cartography of the imaginal realm and its inhabitants." ... Read more

Product Description
Deep ecology. Anarcho-primitivism, Eco-communalism, Ecopsychology, Environmental psychology, Human ecology,Pathetic fallacy, Sustainable development, Gaia hypothesis, The Revenge of Gaia, Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. ... Read more