Avalanche: Heretical Reflections on the Dark and the Light - Hardcover

Joy M.D., W. Brugh

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0345365658 ISBN 13: 9780345365651

Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine, 1990

Synopsis

In his powerful bestselling book Joy's Way, Dr. W. Brugh Joy shared the story of the spiritual transformation that led him to abandon his medical practice and indeed his whole way of life. In the ten years since, Dr. Joy has experienced the dramatic second stage of his spiritual evolution and Avalanche is the result. In this iconoclastic book, Dr. Joy challenges the idealistic vision of spirituality as an experience of love, light, and harmony. He dares to appreciate the dark, shadow side of human nature that, if left unintegrated, can wreak havoc in our lives.

In fact, Dr. Joy sees shadow work as essential for the evolution of consciousness. He explores the dynamic of the shadow in such issues as multiple personalities as the basis of self, the collapse of exclusively masculine spiritual values, the emergence of the divine feminine and the counter forces that are set in motion in backlash against it, the power of destruction as a purging and healing force, and the battle of the individual with the collective. To access our hidden dark side, Dr. Joy offers as tools dreamwork, archetypes, rituals, and rites of passage, which can set the stage for transformation. Sure to generate controversy, Avalanche demands -- and rewards -- readers who are willing to experience their own deep psyche.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

ful bestselling book Joy's Way, Dr. W. Brugh Joy shared the story of the spiritual transformation that led him to abandon his medical practice and indeed his whole way of life. In the ten years since, Dr. Joy has experienced the dramatic second stage of his spiritual evolution and Avalanche is the result. In this iconoclastic book, Dr. Joy challenges the idealistic vision of spirituality as an experience of love, light, and harmony. He dares to appreciate the dark, shadow side of human nature that, if left unintegrated, can wreak havoc in our lives.<br><br>In fact, Dr. Joy sees shadow work as essential for the evolution of consciousness. He explores the dynamic of the shadow in such issues as multiple personalities as the basis of self, the collapse of exclusively masculine spiritual values, the emergence of the divine feminine and the counter forces that are set in motion in backlash against it, the power of destruction as a purging and healing force, and the battle of the individual with the c

Reviews

"Welcome . . . to an avalanche of the psychospiritual dimension" invites physician-turned-New Age guru Joy (author of Joy's Way, LJ 4/15/79). Drawing on personal as well as professional experiences as a leader of personal growth workshops, Joy presents a program of guided ritual, meditation, and dream analysis for discovering "some of the non-ego-enhancing aspects of the Unconscious." Why undertake this painful, arduous, dangerous (Joy admits) journey? In order, he explains, to "incarnate one's full inner strength and engage the mystery of Life more powerfully." Welcome to the post-New Age! It's not for everyone!-- Marcia G. Fuchs, Guilford Free Lib., Ct.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0345365658
• ISBN 13: 9780345365651
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352