| Political Freedom & Security |
|
HomeShop at BookSurgePolitical SciencePolitical Freedom & SecurityThe Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life |
|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
A Spiral Staircase Nov 05, 2009
By Fa Sullivan
This is a book by a philosopher poet. He takes you through mind, heart and soul in a tripartite journey that is both inspirational and challenging. At once he unviels the four seasons as Vivaldi does in his "Four Seasons" and gives space to a spiral evolution similar to Ravel's "Bolero". As Plato would say: "He touches the inner recesses of the soul".
Interestingly, he does this against an East/West mind,spirit,story backdrop which brings life to deep thought through pictures of the forest, lakes, sky and a holy one.
A unique bridge between philosophies and spiritual writing.
A gem with many facets shining with different levels of light.
This simple, yet profound book should be read in small one or two page doses and enjoyed like fine wine.
The thoughts and feelings it arouses sink in like a warm bath. Mindful "letting go" is to see the growth in all the phases of one's life. Memory and imagination join together for a new view.
The closing recapitulation gives some practical steps to keep "growing old" growing.
Try reading it and you will enjoy the love and peace that energizes the journey home.
FA Sullivan -- No relation to the author.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
"The Gifts of Later Life" is a real gift for the reader Oct 31, 2009
By Martin C. Fowler
In lesser hands, an essay on life's seasons and stages would be stereotypes about growing up and growing old. Instead, John Sullivan creatively and succinctly uses exposition, stories, and poems to interweave China's and Japan's traditions of life's four seasons with India's life-stages of student, householder, forest dweller, and sage. Each of life's four seasons also contains rising and descending stages made fresh by that season's distinctive meaning. So, elders may dwell in the depths and in service to the young, but they have their own scary and surprising new beginnings. Even in the rush of new possibilities, the young learn about fulfillment or letting go. In lesser hands, this book would be just a "feel good" piece about growing old. Instead, it's a philosophical and personal tribute to the meaning, place, and depth of being an elder, infused with the same patient and graceful spirituality of which the author writes.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Spiral of the Seasons Nov 09, 2010
By Anne Cassebaum
John Sullivan's The Spiral of the Seasons offers a fresh view of retiring and ageing for those dreading both. It is heartening reading even if you see your elderhood as one of new possibilities. Our falling season is also a release, Sullivan reminds us as he urges us to new vitality. In this "night sea journey", we can return to essentials, encourage creativity, and bless the young,... ourselves, and our fellow human beings, all creatures of "deep and unrepeatable beauty," "imperfect, in progress, yet already at home." This guide for living fully draws widely-- from contemporary lyrics, Japanese poetry, the Koran, Irish limericks, and more. The philosopher's voice that reaches out to you is one of warmth, humor, learning, and humility. I finished it in a morning, but will go back to read it slowly in pieces for its rich language and insights.
Spiral of the Seasons Sep 16, 2011
By Mary Ellen Zorbaugh
In this beautiful small book, John Sullivan leads us on a spiritual retreat that can be life-changing. He powerfully and movingly brings together the wisdom at the core of the world's great faith traditions, the insights of diverse thinkers and teachers, of sages and poets -- and he reminds us of the wisdom we can find in our own experience (which many of us may have ignored). After I finished reading the book's last paragraph, I took a deep breath and said, "Wow!"
|
| | |
|
|
