As with my first book, All in the All: One Path Toward Wholeness, this book is not a novel and neither one is to be read in that fashion. All in the All contains passages that are quite poetic, and as such, they lend themselves to being read aloud. The reader can open that book to any page and begin reading. Either book can be reread to glean a fresh insight with each repeated reading. My previous work and the current material include direct entries from my personal journal. A passage from All in the All should help the reader to understand my writing method: "My journal entries often displayed a stream-of-consciousness writing with little regard for a specific timeline."
The current book strays even farther from traditional books in that at times the chapters are quite succinct, some as short as one page. Because the chapters are often direct journal entries they are written in the present tense. My struggle to learn to be with what is continues as a lifelong process. I trust the reader will understand that thoughts and feelings fluctuate across time. How I am today may not be how I am tomorrow.
Synopsis of "All in the All"
Each day we are faced with a multitude of experiences and people that call upon us to respond. All in the All moves the reader through the full gamut of those responses whether they be anger, fear, uncertainty, love or joy. All in the All was partially written as a response to the deaths of my husband and others in my life and as such it is an excellent resource for those in the midst of grief as well as anyone seeking a greater wholeness in their lives.
Introduction
Movement in the direction of wholeness is possible as we allow life's experiences to truly touch us.
My personal journey of being in relationship with the all in the all began in August of 1980. That relationship has developed over time in response to the death of others in my life. The subsequent grieving process for each deep loss has taken me to places I would otherwise never have gone. I have been profoundly touched by the death of significant others in my life. The writing that follows was inspired by my healing journey.
My healing search has been a multidisciplinary approach. Initially coming from a Christian perspective, I have much exposure to the bible. Having worked with dreams and meditation experiences, I have had many images come to me, and they have been very helpful in my healing. Later, I was exposed to diverse views and I have assimilated this learning into my own particular spirituality.
As a consequence of my pursuit for healing my loss, I attained a Ph.D. in Psychology in May of 1989. The answers I sought were not necessarily to be found in the realm of academia. However, while in graduate school I did participate in a Philosophy class entitled Death and Dying. In that class we were to record our reactions to class readings, movies and lectures as well as our own personal experiences.
In addition to the Death and Dying journal, I have kept a journal for many years. My healing process was detailed along the way in that daily record and much that follows is often taken directly from pertinent entries. Although very personal in nature, I believe the message in my writing is of universal appeal. The feelings, the images, the dreams and the actual events may be mine, but much in those experiences is relevant to anyone striving to live life to the fullest.
I have also included some early thoughts about my particular writing process and the development of the all in the all. My journal entries often displayed a stream-of-consciousness writing with little regard for a specific timeline. For me, emotional healing cannot be measured in time or compared from one person to another. I believe it is our life experiences and our responses to those experiences which make each of us the unique people that we are. The individual response is important because two people can experience the very same thing and yet respond in radically different ways.
It appears to me that life could be viewed as a process, often involving loss. Thus, I believe achieving healing and approaching wholeness are ongoing parts of the process of living. As long as we live, each of us is a "work in progress." Movement in the direction of wholeness is possible as we allow life's experiences to truly touch us.
I offer my experience of healing through grief to any and all, who, like myself, thought there was an easier way to live life. Along the way, I thought I could bypass the grief process and get to wholeness by thinking, wishing and hoping. Now my belief is that embracing the "all in the all" is one path toward wholeness.
