The Mighty Heart

Many readers will be aware that Scilla has devoted her life to peace and the resolution of conflict. The mighty heart of the title is about opening to pain and healing and therefore to love. This short book offers practical tools and skills to address whatever conflicts readers are currently engaged in. The skills include engaging feminine intelligence, negotiating with your inner critic, using anger as a fuel of transformation, developing presence, meeting your shadow, and the path of centring. Different forms of conflict are described, and then treated in more detail in a series of good chapters. It is important to define the best possible outcome as well as the source of the conflict and listen to people's needs. Antagonism between groups requires non-confrontational communication and building trust through dialogue. Another chapter addresses local anger about top-down decisions and how to engage decision-makers, while the example of Mandela shows that we should call on women and begin by listening to antagonists separately first. The most important recommendation, however, is prevention. The book is packed with sound advice based on a lifetime of practical experience.