Synopses & Reviews
Explores the philosophy, science, and spirituality of nature mysticism and its Green calling andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andbull; Offers a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andbull; Reveals how we can heal the environment by renewing our connection to it andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andbull; Shows how spiritual encounters in nature are healing the Nature Deficit Disorder of our psyches and bodies andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Many have been struck by a majestic moment in nature--a sole illuminated flower in a shady grove, an owl swooping silently across a wooded path, or an infinitely starry sky--and found themselves in a state of expanded awareness so profound they can feel the interconnectedness of all life. These trance-like moments of clarity, unity, and wonder often incite a call to protect and preserve the earth--to support Nature as she supports us. Termed andldquo;nature mysticism,andrdquo; people from all cultures have described such experiences. However, the ever-increasing urbanization of the worldandrsquo;s population is threatening this ancient connection as well as the earth itself. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;In andlt;Iandgt;Ecomysticismandlt;/Iandgt;, Carl von Essen explores nature mysticism through the recorded experiences of outdoor enthusiasts as well as scientific studies in biology, psychology, and neuroscience. Citing consciousness scholar William James and a variety of well-known nature lovers such as Ansel Adams, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, von Essen shows how the spiritual transcendence from an encounter in nature--like other mystical experiences--is healing the Nature Deficit Disorder of our psyches and bodies, leading to an expansion of our worldview and a clearer understanding of our self and of our natural world. Offering a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism, von Essenandrsquo;s spiritual ecology reveals how only through a renewal of humanityandrsquo;s spiritual connection to nature can we effect true environmental healing.
Review
andldquo;This, I believe, is an important book, a systematic and fearless new look at spirituality in the language of both the humanities and biology. It is impressive in scholarship and style . . . I believe it will stimulate new interest in the subject.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A fascinating account of a crucial issue for our species, presented in an intelligent, articulate, and immensely readable way. I feel a close kinship in much of what he says.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;Carl von Essen mixes the personal, the scientific, and the ecological as he tracks the experiences of nature exemplified by the ways of the hunter, the warrior, the athlete, the mystic, and the scientist. As an angler, physician, scholar, and adventurer, he is uniquely qualified for these explorations. Read and be enlightened!andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;A significant statement in our present chemical era on the return of the physician to the role of the naturalist. To see ourselves through the lens of nature is to see that everything in nature is reflected in the life of the soul. And when we see this, God speaks to us and our consciousness is transformed.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;This is an important book in the advancement of education.andrdquo;
Review
andldquo;andlt;Iandgt;Ecomysticismandlt;/Iandgt; bridges the artificial divide between science and art. The author. . . reaches into our collective past, present and future to demonstrate why our spiritual relationship with Nature must be nurtured in order to andldquo;bring us back to our sensesandrdquo;.
Review
andldquo;Offering a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism, von Essen's spiritual ecology reveals how only through a renewal of humanity's spiritual connection to nature can we effect true environmental healing.andrdquo;
Review
“This, I believe, is an important book, a systematic and fearless new look at spirituality in the language of both the humanities and biology. It is impressive in scholarship and style . . . I believe it will stimulate new interest in the subject.” < b=""> E. O. Wilson <> , professor at Harvard University and author of < i=""> The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth <> and < i=""> Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge <>
Review
“A fascinating account of a crucial issue for our species, presented in an intelligent, articulate, and immensely readable way. I feel a close kinship in much of what he says.” < b=""> Anthony Stevens <> , Jungian analyst and author of < i=""> The Two Million-Year-Old Self <> and < i=""> The Roots of War and Terror <>
Review
“Carl von Essen mixes the personal, the scientific, and the ecological as he tracks the experiences of nature exemplified by the ways of the hunter, the warrior, the athlete, the mystic, and the scientist. As an angler, physician, scholar, and adventurer, he is uniquely qualified for these explorations. Read and be enlightened!” < b=""> Stephen Bodio <> , author of < i=""> On the Edge of the Wild: Passions and Pleasures of the Naturalist <> and < i=""> Eagle Dreams: Searching for Legends in Wild Mongolia <>
Review
“A significant statement in our present chemical era on the return of the physician to the role of the naturalist. To see ourselves through the lens of nature is to see that everything in nature is reflected in the life of the soul. And when we see this, God speaks to us and our consciousness is transformed.” < b=""> Eugene Taylor, Ph.D. <> , author of < i=""> William James on Consciousness beyond the Margin <>
Review
“This is an important book in the advancement of education.” < b=""> Ron Macisaac <> , < i=""> Lower Island News <> , March 2011
Review
“Ecomysticism bridges the artificial divide between science and art. The author. . . reaches into our collective past, present and future to demonstrate why our spiritual relationship with Nature must be nurtured in order to “bring us back to our senses”. < b=""> Miriam Darlington <> , < b=""> <> < i=""> Resurgence Magazine <> , July 2011
Review
“Offering a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism, von Essen's spiritual ecology reveals how only through a renewal of humanity's spiritual connection to nature can we effect true environmental healing.” < i=""> Arizona Networking News <> , March 2011
Synopsis
Explores the philosophy, science, and spirituality of nature mysticism and its Green calling
- Offers a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism
- Reveals how we can heal the environment by renewing our connection to it
- Shows how spiritual encounters in nature are healing the Nature Deficit Disorder of our psyches and bodies
Many have been struck by a majestic moment in nature--a sole illuminated flower in a shady grove, an owl swooping silently across a wooded path, or an infinitely starry sky--and found themselves in a state of expanded awareness so profound they can feel the interconnectedness of all life. These trance-like moments of clarity, unity, and wonder often incite a call to protect and preserve the earth--to support Nature as she supports us. Termed "nature mysticism," people from all cultures have described such experiences. However, the ever-increasing urbanization of the world's population is threatening this ancient connection as well as the earth itself.
In Ecomysticism, Carl von Essen explores nature mysticism through the recorded experiences of outdoor enthusiasts as well as scientific studies in biology, psychology, and neuroscience. Citing consciousness scholar William James and a variety of well-known nature lovers such as Ansel Adams, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, von Essen shows how the spiritual transcendence from an encounter in nature--like other mystical experiences--is healing the Nature Deficit Disorder of our psyches and bodies, leading to an expansion of our worldview and a clearer understanding of our self and of our natural world. Offering a solid bridge between spiritual practice and environmental activism, von Essen's spiritual ecology reveals how only through a renewal of humanity's spiritual connection to nature can we effect true environmental healing.
Synopsis
Ecomysticism shows how the spiritual transcendence of a majestic moment in nature--like other mystical experiences--can heal the Nature Deficit Disorder of our psyches and bodies. Indeed, only through a renewal of humanity's spiritual connection to nature can we effect true environmental healing.
About the Author
Carl von Essen, M.D., studied medicine in California and Sweden. He has practiced and taught in the United States, India, and Switzerland and served with the World Health Organization in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The author of andlt;Iandgt;The Revenge of the Fishgod: Angling Adventures around the Worldandlt;/Iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;Memory Is a Dwelling Placeandlt;/Iandgt;, he lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Preface andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgments andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Introduction andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part One andlt;BRandgt;Heritage and Experienceandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;1andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Beginnings of Nature and Spiritandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Chaos andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;- andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Gaiaandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Erosandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;2andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Hunterandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;An Anglerandrsquo;s Trance andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;The Alert Manandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;The Archer and the Inner Gameandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;3andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Explorerandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Himalayan Epiphanyandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Inner Explorationandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Topophiliaandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;The Despotic Eye and Goetheandrsquo;s Phantasieandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Solitudeandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;4andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Warrior and the Athleteandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;War as a Mystical Experienceandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Transcendental Athleticsandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Mountains and the Ecstasy of Dangerandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;5andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Poet and the Artistandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Poetry and Natureandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Sublimity and Delightful Horrorandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Wordsworth as a Nature Mysticandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;- andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Henry David Thoreauandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Ted Hughesandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Paleolithic Legacyandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Homage to the Rock andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;6andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Healer andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;A Universal Art of Natureandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Encounter with a Traditional Healerandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Wisdom and Healingandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;The Healerandrsquo;s Tranceandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part Two andlt;BRandgt;Theory and Perspectiveandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;7andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Mystic Ladder andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Climbing the Mountainandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Ineffabilityandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Noetic Qualityandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Transiency andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; Passivity andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Modern Conceptsandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Freud and the Oceanic Feelingandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Einsteinandrsquo;s Ambivalenceandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Proust and andlt;BRandgt;the Petit Madeleineandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Spiritual Experience in Childhoodandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Creativityandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;8andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Wider Than the Sky: The Psychobiology of M ystical Experience andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Mystical Modelsandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Chemical or Spiritual?andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Altered States of Consciousness andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Photismandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Ohmandrsquo;s Law Analogyandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Neurotheologyandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Pathological Statesandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;- andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Drugs and Mystical Experienceandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Part Three andlt;BRandgt;Ecocrisis and Spiritual Necessityandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;9andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Ecocrisis andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Human Impactandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Philosophic Reasonandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Natureandrsquo;s Revengeandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;10andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; The Future Rests with Usandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Finding the Roadandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Urbanization: Blessing or Curse?andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;Bringing Nature Homandlt;/Iandgt;e andlt;Bandgt;-andlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Needed: The Moral Equivalent of War andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;Notes andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Index andlt;/Bandgt;