Customer Reviews

Fire in the Soul

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Joan Borysenko's book, Fire in the Soul, is a fairly decent book, but on which I feel is redundant of some of her previous books.

There's more meditations in this one, and even more psychological background and information. What's more, she tries to expand a bit on the spiritual theme. I like the fact that she mixes psychology with spirituality, and this would be a fine book if she didn't write it already. This book is more or less, Guilt Is The Teacher, Love Is The Lesson, all over again. She restates many stories and themes from that book in this one, and she even touches upon her other book, Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. She goes a bit further in the spiritual vein by exploring the idea of reincarnation, and her own personal experiences with this subject. Besides that, much of this was read before if you have read her other books.

If you haven't read her other books, you may very well enjoy this one. However, for me, one of the shining points in this book was the sections titled: Night Lights. This is a section on some ancient sayings and lyrical prose, and I found many of these saying quite inspirational.

Friends have been telling me for years that I am entirely too pessimistic. With an eye toward changing, I searched the local bookstore shelves a book that presents a balanced spiritual optimism. FIRE IN THE SOUL by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D seemed to meet my needs exactly. Certainly the concept that every difficult experience provides an opportunity for soul growth is not new to me. But Borysenko has a gift for presenting familiar material in a way that is refreshing and revitalizing as she points to the paths that allow the pain of soul making to lead to deep healing.

One of the most profound concepts of FIRE IN THE SOUL is that it is the stories that we tell ourselves that determine how we recover from painful experiences. Pessimism, believing that we have done bad things for bad things to happen, leads to depression and powerlessness. Optimism, accepting that bad things happen to good people but present an opportunity for growth, leads to deep healing. Like one woman in the book states, "This is the role I've been given to play. I'm going to do it as consciously and gracefully as I can."

Personal anecdotes, case histories, and various spiritual readings combine in a powerful tool for healing in FIRE IN THE SOUL. I began working my way through the book several months ago as I underwent a terrible spiritual crisis. As the fires of transformation have burned their ways through my life, Borysenko's confirmation of spiritual truths that I have long held has provided the lifeline needed to endure and even flourish despite profound challenges. Certainly it is an imperfect book, with an over abundance of references aimed to encourage the reader to buy Borysenko's previous book. And many of the concepts are quite familiar. Yet Borysenko's gift for weaving text that speaks to the soul and inspires transformation makes FIRE IN THE SOUL a powerful spiritual tool. FIRE IN THE SOUL comes very highly recommended.

I read this book during the recent hospitalization and subsequent passing of my wife. In the course of dealing with death and dying, I experienced what I would call a spiritual awakening. This book helped provide a context for some of what I was experiencing and was actually a source of incredible comfort. I'm in the process of re-reading this book now & again find it helpful and affirming for the spiritual path I now find myself to be on.

Joan's extensive spiritual studies pour out on every page, and not once does she promote or condem one type of spiritual choice or another. She offers options, opinions, facts, and reality to lead her readers to answering their own questions of spirituality and artfully guiding them to a higher awareness for themselves and of themselves. I've had the book nearly 7 years, and I still refer to it on occasion. She outdid herself with this one!

Finally, a book that addresses spirituality, without trying to force it into a particular religion! This book stresses that anyone can find optimism in their religion/spirituality. Many powerful stories are relayed, as well as actual techniques for becoming a happier, more accepting person. Every time I started to think the author was getting a little too "out there" for me, she brought me back to something I could relate to. My only criticism of the book is there were a few too many references to her other books, which I found distracting. I think this information could have been left to the reference section

Insightful book which does an excellent job of teaching spiritual optimism. I particularly enjoyed the chaper on meditation and the mind. Book also contains an excellent resource list as well.

I read this book several years ago and it has been very importan not only in my personal growth as well as being a book I highly recommend for my clients. Borysenko's ability to write in a profound meaning manner, while not resorting to technical language.. makes this and other books by her accessible for laymen. If you would like to find a light out of the "dark nights of the soul", this is the book to read.

This book is correctly named. It is an excellent book for those who find themselves feeling sad, depressed or just out of sorts and they can't seem to figure out why. It is helpful for looking at our own shadows and dealing with them in an effective and healing manner.

Much of what J. Borysenko writes is, for me, too "out there" to be accessible (e.g., her chapter on past lives). However, much of what is written here is also extraordinarily helpful to those of us seeking practical steps toward creating a more compassionate relationship with ourselves and with others. If you can read this book with a view to skipping over the more fantastic claims and discussions, then I suspect you will find some profoundly excellent guidance.

I buy this book for friends who are suffering grief or who are spiritually lost. I had to read it twice to fully grasp all that can be learned from this excellent book. It is for persons of all religions and also for atheists. The author writes from personal experiences. If you are searching for answers, this book is for you. Thank you Dr. Borysenko!