Inprint - New Books of interest

Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche by Bill Plotkin. (New World Library, $15.95, Paperback.)

So you’re not a Native American, you’re not an African tribesman, and you’re not an Aztec — but you can use the idea of initiation to transform your life, to mark a change from one phase to the next (marriage, divorce, job change, move, or just to revitalize), to find your true life by going inward. This is modern day initiation and ceremony. Delving into the underworld, the shadow side, we can come out the other side and truly integrate our own true self more fully, including universal qualities into the way we live in our world, spiritually and physically.

Soulcraft brings us ceremonies and practices to be reborn to a role of true power and active service to oneself and others. They are based on religious and spiritual teachings and practices. Plotkin has developed a new approach to nature-based spirituality, called Soulcraft, combining modern psychology, ceremony, and wilderness experience, to support people in uncovering their deepest personal truths.

Written for people in search of their true selves and for those at a crossroads or transition in their lives, Soulcraft outlines a journey of personal growth and self-empowerment. Drawing on ancient traditions, the quest takes the form of a ceremonial descent to soul, uncovering and retrieving the passion and wisdom of the heart. The descent can also reveal the unique gift that each individual can bring to the world. It involves learning to recognize the tools that surround us to fully express our life’s purpose. The book includes exercises such as: dream work; nature exploration; fasting; meditation; traditional ceremonies; and simply listening and watching for the messages. Stories from the author’s life and from others who have followed these practices help to illustrate the journey. As with ancient rites of passage, these practices clarify and offer direction. Plotkin conveys the interdependence of our material life with the life of nature and with our own inner lives. With this book, readers will be empowered to put their lives onto a path of both personal fulfillment and genuine service to others.

Witches, Druids and King Arthur by Ronald Hutton. (Palgrave Macmillan, $29.95, Hardcover.)

Ronald Hutton, a leading authority on the history of Paganism, brings his wealth of knowledge on Paganism, myth, and ritual to the reader, tying myth and Paganism together as a theme. Although this book is thoroughly researched, it is written with the general reader in mind. It has a unique and accessible flavor and covers elegantly and entertainingly a wide range of beliefs, myths and practices, and their place in history.

The first third of the book is devoted to different aspects of myth, of different ways it is created, and how it manifests itself to historians. It also looks at case studies of the ways in which history and archaeology have coped with personalities and places that exist on the boundary between fact and fiction, in this case King Arthur and Glastonbury.

The central section of the book examines the strains of pagan belief that appeared toward the end of the ancient world, which bore the strongest resemblance to present-day Paganism, and which have exerted the strongest influence on it. It also looks at ways in which a place was retained for the ancient deities within a structure of Christian belief during the medieval and early modern periods.

The last third of the book looks at ways in which twentieth-century British people have reworked the religious and magical inheritance of the European ancient world for present-day needs.

The Joy of Burnout: How the End of the World Can Be a New Beginning by Dr. Dina Glouberman. (Inner Ocean Publishing, $14.95, Paperback.)

Feeling exhausted, hollow, cynical, trapped, angry, or just not there? Working harder but getting less done? Ill too often or for too long? These are just some of the classic warning signs of burnout. Our soul is whispering but we are not hearing the warning. If we soldier on, or try and go back to normal, we risk losing our health, our happiness and even our lives.

The Joy of Burnout tells the story of burnout, of why and how it happens, and what to do about it. Burnout happens when the love or meaning in what we are doing goes, but fear drives us to work even harder, or give even more. Dr. Glauberman draws on her extensive research across age-groups and occupations, and tells her own story to show that burnout is ultimately positive — the joy comes from realizing that a time has come to stop, rethink, and find a new way forward toward joy.

The Anger Trap by Dr. Les Carter. (Jossey-Bass, $21.95, Hardcover.)

It’s easy to identify rage in people who lose their temper at traffic jams, unruly children, unresponsive coworkers, and unrealistic bosses. But we may not recognize more subtle manifestations of anger, such as being uncomfortable with loose ends, acting impatiently, or being overly critical. This is anger, too. It is often the case that angry folks don’t seem to realize that the behavior causing them problems at home or at work actually stems from unrecognized and unresolved pain and emotional injuries from the past.

The Anger Trap strips away the myths and misconceptions about anger and reveals how you can learn to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy anger so that you may choose a better, more spiritually enlightened path. Dr. Carter examines the root causes of anger and helps you realize your patterns and break the destructive cycles of criticism, frustration, and irritation that hurt you and those around you. Drawing insight from timeless spiritual wisdom as well as cutting-edge research, he offers practical techniques to free you from anger — its hidden insecurities, fears and selfishness — and thereby improve the quality of your home and workplace life.

Living Your Joy: A Practical Guide to Happiness by Suzanne Falter-Barns. (Ballantine Books, $12.95, Hardcover.)

Have you ever felt like pursuing a dream, but you simply haven’t got the time? Does it seem impossible to actually make a living doing what you love? Do you come home at night too tired to even think about working on your dream? If so, help is at hand. Suzanne Falter-Barns is on a mission to help you find the time, the money, and the energy to live a life that truly brings you happiness. In Living Your Joy, she presents a workable plan that shows you how to trade the job you hate for the meaningful work you love.

In a fast-paced world where you work far more than you relax and reflect, Falter-Barns inspires you to be “your sweet old self” — the one you’ve always known was there. She offers tips to help you organize your home, your office, your life, and your priorities, so that you can re-spark your creative spirit and uncover new sources of passion and energy.