The Art of Contemplation

Humans have contemplated the nature of existence for countless ages. The night sky has humbled us. The vast waters of the oceans have compelled us to learn their secrets. The changing seasons ...the mysteries of birth and death ... the wonders of animal and plant life. There is no end of subjects to "contemplate," which the dictionary defines as to "look at thoughtfully, to pay attention and ponder, to dwell upon at length, to investigate, meditate upon, plunge into." And yet, in our attempts to "fix" what seems out of our control, we humans often ignore the contemplative rumblings that sound from the depths of our busy and challenged lives. Now more than ever, we need to remember our essential nature, which offers us many tools to encourage inner balance and sanity, even as the storms and quakes disrupt our external matrix. In this compassionate and resourceful book, the author gently guides the reader into a larger awareness, reminding us of simple ways to stay grounded in the present moment and connect with what is real in an increasingly unreal human world. She invites us to remember that we are never separate from the elements of the natural world (earth, air, fire, water, space), and shows us how to tap these treasures for contemplation that can bring us back "home" to ourselves, our breath, our trust in the goodness of human nature. With personal narrative, meditative reflections and invitations to creative expression, the author draws us into the garden of her inner world. Here we witness how it is possible to transform the suffering we experience in ourselves and others into a nourishment that feeds our essential being. This contemplative journey quiets our anxious minds and troubled emotions, and ultimately refines our offerings of service toward what is most beneficial and effective. With a background in Jungian studies and psychotherapy, and decades of life on a path of contemplation, the author draws from a wide range of faith traditions as well as from transpersonal psychology. She fearlessly engages both the light and the shadow elements of our human experience, inviting us to confidently welcome self-knowledge and the potentials contained within all of the moods of life, even our depression, doubts, or despair. Lovers of the natural world, as well as seekers in any spiritual tradition, will find encouragement and inspiration in joining the author on this journey into the inner world.