Loving Awakening

Love is at the core of all spiritual and healing practices, but what does that mean? Loving Awakening presents a holistic framework of practices for beginners and more advanced practitioners alike, drawing from such traditions and methods as loving-kindness meditation, Internal Family Systems, somatic work, imaginal practice, hypnosis, Alexander technique, art, poetry and music. A particular focus is on awakening in the world: shared practices, peer work, spiritual friendship and community. The lenses of parts, dissociation and attachment style weave an overarching thread throughout the book.

Real love is not a dream of transcendence, but faces the world as it is. Loving Awakening also brings up the side effects of practice, problems with psychotherapy, interpersonal difficulties and dark sides of the spiritual community. The book debunks many common misconceptions about meditation, enlightenment, Buddhism, trauma and therapy. Unfortunately, spiritual practice can also wreck you and unravel your relationships. Yet many goals and attainments may be much easier to reach than you think.

Love is radically inclusive and so is this book. It’s written for all beings, which includes disabled, traumatized, neurodivergent and LGBTIQ people, those struggling with their circumstances and those struggling with themselves. All parts are welcome and we all belong.