The Intimacy of Consciousness Exploration and Transpersonal Psychotherapy – Coming Home

This is an unusual book initiated by a team of transpersonal psychotherapists and spiritual teachers who decided to write about their experiences of coming home, a phrase which, of course, has many meanings and connotations. Some years ago, I reviewed book by John Moriarty called Nostos, the Greek for homecoming. The authors describe their own journeys and processes, working through fears, encountering silence and stillness, learning to trust and surrender, cultivating mindful presence, opening to healing, being in the flow. In a time of alienation, the idea of coming home or feeling at home is critical in emotional and spiritual terms. A key issue is how we deal with change, not only in the phases of life, but also in our relationships, where Jaya Herbst highlights the importance of recognising and working with growth impulses characteristic of life itself. Then there is an extraordinary account by Regina Hess describing her near death experience during the Asian tsunami and the voice she heard saying "I am not against you, I am with you" as she experiences 'a deep sense of homecoming after my rebirth out of the tsunami's womb.' Quite a number of contributions speak about coming home to God, and in Dietrich Franke's case he is helped by some texts from St John of the Cross. Altogether a rewarding read to accompany and illuminate readers on their own spiritual paths.