Can Madness Save the World?

By

Foreign Correspondent
Over the years of my explorations into psychosis and human evolution a very interesting irony became increasingly apparent. It is well-known that people who fall into those deeply transformative and chaotic states typically referred to as “psychosis” often feel, at different points throughout their journeys, that they have received a special calling to save the world, or at least the human race. Indeed, this experience played a particularly prominent role in my own extreme states, as well as within those of at least two of my own family members. From a pathological perspective, this is often referred to as a kind of “delusion of grandeur,” though in my own research and writing, I have come to feel that the term “heroic (or messianic) striving” is generally more accurate and helpful. The great irony I have come to appreciate is that while I think it’s true that these individuals are often experiencing some degree of confusion, mixing up different realms of experience (for example, mixing up collective or archetypal realms with consensus reality, or confusing unitive consciousness with dualistic/egoic consciousness), I have come to feel that perhaps the key to saving the world, or at least the human species, may in fact actually be revealed within these extreme READ MORE HERE
Also, if you read to the end of the article, Paris Williams announces a FREE 3-day online summit: Between July 10-12, I and 11 others will be presenting different perspectives on the relationship between extreme states and spiritual awakening during a FREE 3-day online summit—Shades of Awakening. For those who aren’t able to attend, or if you’ve already missed these dates, these interviews will be  to download off of the website. Click HERE for more information or to register or to download the interviews.

Gene Keys: Trust everything

Thanks to Monica Cassani, at Beyond Meds, for alerting me to Gene Keys: Unlocking the Higher Purpose Hidden in Your DNA, by Richard Rudd. This book was published in 2013.

I am reminded that much of my thinking about recovery from schizophrenia centers on the concept of cellular cleansing and balance. How do you achieve this? When you listen to the short video, keep in mind that it is about you, just as much as it is about “them.” We often see our relatives as a “them,” when in reality they are “us.”

receive and trust whatever comes your way …trust everything….you begin to allow life to resonate inside you at a high frequency…. every experience is perfect….the more we drop our agendas …our trying …then the magic occurs to be yourself with them, allow them to see your weakness as well as your strength…people don’t need help, they need love.

The more we surrender to every moment as perfect, the more oriented we become. Let that truth penetrate deeply into the cells of your body.

Trust the shadow. It contains a gift. Fear is safe.

 

Keep those book title comments coming – please!

Thanks to everybody so far who has have taken the time to comment. You’ve given me not only titles but points to ponder.

In no particular order:

“The word holistic is off putting to some. I would do something different. I will think about it.”

“WELLER THAN WELL: A Son’s Victory Over Schizophrenia Diagnosis”

“The word schizophrenia in the title has helped my book to reach the people who have an interest in mental health, which is the group Rossa wants to reach. However, I have been reliably informed that it puts other people, who might normally read memoirs, off reading mine. I have tried the book with a different title though and it hardly sold at all – people just didn’t need know it was out there. Hopefully, Rossa’s publishers will help with marketing the book so that might be different for her. Personally, I might drop the word ‘Holistic’ from the title, only because it makes it a bit long and more complicated-sounding.”

“Holistic Recovery from the Divided Self (which is what R. D. Laing called Schizophrenia)”

“I like your working title, Rossa, because it so descriptive of what the book is about. I would have snapped this up for sure had I seen it 10 years ago and was desperate for hope. I think it’s good to have the word “schizophrenia” in the title, even though I don’t believe in the validity of the diagnosis. People who are just being thrown by that diagnosis are not going to relate to phrases like “extreme distress.” On the other hand, maybe there’s a catchy way to distill what the book’s about. Like Susanna Cahalan’s book title. She had anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, but it would be a mistake to put THAT in a book title. ha ha. Her book is titled:
Brain On Fire: My Month of Madness. That title really grabs you, it’s really descriptive of what the story is about, and it WAS a NY Times bestseller.”

“I think both the words Holistic and the word Schizophrenia might limit your market in terms of sales. My understanding of your story is that it is a quest for knowledge, wisdom, shared humanity, connection and love. It’s about freedom, it’s about society, it’s about systems, and it’s ultimately about life and who and how we want to be in the world. While the backdrop is holistic recovery from schizophrenia, the themes are much bigger, and have more mass appeal. Somehow, I think a title that speaks more to the lessons learned rather then the “backdrop” might be best, though off hand I can’t come up with anything…”

“I think the identifiers of words like schizophrenia or holistic work better as the subtitle, with a more broad title that speaks to the lessons learned.”

Feedback appreciated on my book title

We’re getting down to the fine strokes, and it’s now time for me to consider the title of my memoir. I thought I would throw this out to the larger community for feedback.

Many of you probably already know something of Chris’s and my story. Consider putting yourself in the shoes of someone who isn’t familiar with this blog. If you were in a bookstore seeking hope for yourself and for your seventeen year old son or twenty five year old daughter, would you eagerly pick up a book with the title Holistic Recovery from Schizophrenia: A Mother and Son Journey or would something make you hesitate? If so, what would that be?

We could also scratch the bookstore and think only in terms of the virtual bookstore. If you were looking for help, what terms would you put into your search engine?

What does this book title mean to you?

Your feedback is welcome. Feel free to suggest new ideas. I’m here to learn, not defend.