Caroline Myss

I am convinced that the deepest desire within each of us is to be liberated from the controlling influences of our own psychic madness or patterns of fear. All other things — the disdain of ordinary life, the need to control others rather than be controlled, the craving for material goods as a means of security and protection against the winds of chaos — are external props that serve as substitutes for the real battle, which is the one waged within the individual soul.

revealing. It is unnatural to our Divine design to let our thoughts live for too long in the past; such an imbalance creates time warps that interfere with our ability to live in the present and receive spiritual guidance each day.

realize the importance of the words of Polonius, “To thine own self be true.” For without personal power, life is a frightening, painful experience.

A great paradox of contemporary therapy is that it cracks open so many crises of the mind that can’t be healed with the mind.

In energy terms, depression literally is a release of energy — or life-force, if you will — without consciousness. If energy is like money, depression is like opening your wallet and announcing, “I don’t care who takes my money or how it is spent.

"Of great significance to me was the realization that "healing" does not always mean that the physical body recovers from an illness. Healing can also mean that one's spirit has released long-held fears and negative thoughts towards oneself or others. This kind of spiritual release and healing can occur even though one's body may be dying physically."

We are so deluded. We are in control of nothing whatsoever; not the weather, not the government, not the stock market, not traffic, barely our health and relationships, not the millions of decisions being made by people all over the world every second — all of which influence our lives in both unseen and all-too-apparent ways.

Nothing exists without a purpose. And we humans are subject to the laws of nature just as everything else on earth is.

Of all the mind games you could play in life, the most important is this one: always tell the truth to others and to yourself.

consistent: live what you believe.

Pilgrimage is extroverted mysticism, just as mysticism is introverted pilgrimage

By learning to identify your energy patterns, you will be able to gain a much greater vision of the meaning and purpose of your many experiences and relationships.

The Mind, once enlightened, cannot again become dark.” THOMAS PAINE, Common Sense

their lives in complete harmony and happiness. But intuitive guidance does not mean following a voice to the Promised Land. It means having the self-esteem to recognize that the discomfort or confusion that a person feels is actually directing him to take charge of his life and make choices that will break him out of stagnation or misery.

Questions for Self-Examination 1. What belief patterns did you inherit from your family? 2. Which of those belief patterns that still have authority in your thinking can you acknowledge are no longer valid? 3. What superstitions do you have? Which have more authority over you than your own reasoning ability? 4. Do you have a personal code of honor? What is it? 5. Have you ever compromised your sense of honor? If so, have you taken steps to heal it? 6. Do you have any unfinished business with your family members? If so, list the reasons that prevent you from healing your family relationships. 7. List all the blessings that you feel came from your family. 8. If you are now raising a family of your own, list the qualities that you would like your children to learn from you. 9. What tribal traditions and rituals do you continue for yourself and your family? 10. Describe the tribal characteristics within yourself that you would like to strengthen and develop.