Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche

The inhabitants of our alienated modern society--and those suffering globally from its negative influences--are desperate for meaning. Self-Help books abound beyond belief. People of all ages, especially in the workplace and corporate world, live lives of such "quiet desperation," as Thoreau wrote, that they can barely discern even the surface they're skating on, much less the depths that lay beneath. Young people worldwide fall into depression, crime, or the false promise of fundamentalism and fanaticism, sacrificing themselves for--what? Surely not our shared humanity. Bill Plotkin's SOULCRAFT is, I believe, at last, the "definitive" self-help guide, one so profound that it has the capacity, for those open to it, to help reshape our entire vision of the world--and restore to ourselves a fulfilling home within it. I write this as a cultural anthropologist, author and lecturer who has himself sorted his way through any number of methods to a more balanced, centered life. Plotkin draws from traditional and Jungian psychology, the deep wisdom of the natural world (one of the richest sources of meaning which we have almost succeeded in destroying), and from a wealth of knowledge about traditional cultural practices the world over that provide ancient keys to holistic living. Plotkin draws out the essence of all this and spins it into a welcoming web, each strand another guiding rope hung with tools to empower one on a perilous and promising journey to center. Make no mistake--this book is not psycho-babble and or self-help pablum. It is not an instant solution; it is a challenging way to open yourself up to an ever-widening world through which, with courage and commitment, you will continue to journey the rest of your life. There may be some who think the notion of "soul-crafting" is uncomfortably "New Age" (I feared so at first). If so then this is a work that synthesizes everything good and wise that emerged from the wild and ecstatic upheavals of the late `60s, filtered over decades through Plotkin's formal social-psychological training, shaped by his rigorous, wide-ranging scholarship, and brought finally to fruition through the power of his personal experience and heartfelt vision. And now his newest book has appeared: "Nature and the Human Soul: Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World." I just ordered mine from Amazon and got it immediately. After what Plotkin has just given me in the earlier book, I can only imagine what this book, described as a culminating life's work, can offer me. I can't wait to read it. --Jud Newborn, Ph.D., author, "Sophie Scholl and the White Rose."

Bill Plotkin's Soulcraft, grounded in the author's formal training as a clinical psychologist, and in his decades of experience as a wilderness guide who guides his clients through both inner and outer wilderness, provides readers with an experience-based, intellectually stimulating, and potentially life-altering antidote to mainstream Western civilization. Based on the premise that virtually all of us live lives that attempt to satisfy the ego's needs while ignoring the soul's deeper yearnings, Plotkin guides us to a severance from our ego-based lives, through an encounter with soul, and finally into a return, with new knowledge of the gifts we carry to our people--family, friends, co-workers and community. As he encourages us to grow from our necessary and valuable uninitiated adolescent need to be accepted by society, into our initiated adult need to live authentically these gifts we carry, he treats us to his own story and the stories of others who are doing the work of authenticity. More than 30 practices validate the presence of the word "craft" in the book's main title. Whether the reader is drawn to meditation, drumming, dream work, deep imagery, befriending the dark, wandering in nature, working with shadow or any one of more than a score more approaches to living a soul-based life, Bill Plotkin challenges us to live our true callings, and provides us the means with which to do so. Soulcraft engaged me both experientially and philosophically, calling me to both act and think. It's no accident that Thomas Berry wrote the foreword, or that Brian Swimme, Angeles Arrien, Robert Johnson, and Derrick Jensen, among others, praised the book before publication. Bill Plotkin, in the words of David Whyte, whose poetry graces many of these pages, carries "what is hidden as a gift to others." For this we should all be grateful.

A classic book for soul working. It does go deep. To get the full benefit, take your time and do not rush the process!

I really like the book because it addresses any honest seeker and focuses in on real life-situations as examples to the perhaps at times too theoretical aspects. All told I am impressed and would recommend it to anyone interested in self-development and/ or nature as a spiritual path. It can get a bit "wordy" and intellectual but apart from that it contains very valuable information and provides excellent insights into human nature.

I’m just returning from a five-day Soulcraft intensive led by Bill Plotkin of Animas Valley Institute. The event took place up in the Rocky Mountains of Northern New Mexico at a retreat center called Vallecitos Mountain Ranch - nestled in a valley at 8,800 feet. BACKGROUND Soulcraft is the artistry and practice of courting and embodying our souls. By Bill’s definition, ego is the attribute in humans that allows us to interact with the world - it’s our personality, and our physical form. Soul is purpose. Yet few people ever embody soul nowadays. And it takes both ego and soul to be human. Soul is what makes us unique. Spirit is what is shared, universal. A balanced spiritual tradition involves both spirit [ascending] and soul [descending]. Soul is most often encountered alone in nature. Bill is in his sixties, and has written three books about this work: “Soulcraft” [2003], “Nature and the Human Soul” [2008], and “Wild Mind” [2013]. I’ve read the first two. LOCATION The Ranch was beautiful. It was surprisingly “flat” for my perceptions of the Rockies. I covered a lot of milage, and everything was within 1,000 feet of elevation of everything else [moving up from base camp to almost 10,000]. Although the climate is relatively dry, it was wetter than what I’m used to in the Boulder, CO area. There was a surprising amount of green. Forest was aspens and ponderosa pines, with mountain cottonwoods by the water - sparse compared to Northeast standards. Higher up things shifted to spruce and fir. There was a river running through the valley, and it was full of brook trout. It was cool, but not freezing. There was one nearby “peak” big enough to get a name on the map. It was called Quartzite Peak, and I hiked it. EXPERIENC All together there were thirty-three of us, with Bill, three guides, a few apprentices, and the rest of us participants. The group was almost all people in their fifties and sixties. Some of us were in our twenties, thirties, and seventies. Most of my time was spent out in nature alone. As a large group in the lodge immediately after breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner, we were given tasks to work with alone in nature. We also met in smaller “clans” each day in order to discuss at length our experiences out in nature. Some people had some really big personal breakthroughs or “breakdowns” during the event - what we were going through. I didn’t experience any of these in very apparent ways, but did really appreciate the depth of the experience. There are four primary soulcraft practices that we worked with: Completing unfinished business from the first three stages [out of eight] of ecosoulcentric human maturation Wholing - becoming more balanced and present in the Four Facets of the Self Self-healing - of the subpersonalities Facilitation of soul encounters TERMS The Four Facets of Self are: East - Innocent, Sage, Sacred Fool, Trickster South - Wild Indigenous One West - Muse, Inner Beloved, Anima/Animus, Guide to Soul North - Nurturing Generative Adult The Subpersonalities are: East - Escapists and Addicts South - Wounded Children (including Outcasts) West - The Shaw and Shadow Selves North - Loyal Soldiers: Lion Tamers, Inner Critics, Inner Flatterers If you’re interested in learning more about this specifics of all this terminology, read the book, go on a course with Animas, or get in touch and we can have a conversation. CONCLUSION My experience with Animas was awesome! Highly recommended for anyone looking for deeper ways to engage with themselves and the world.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book! Don’t wait 59 years like I did. In my 20s, I ignored my soul. In my 40s, after my divorce, I had to quiet it just to keep going and pay the bills. But at 59, I’m finally listening—and following my Call for Adventure.

This book is a must-read for those on the downward path or those wanting and connect more deeply to themselves and the world at large. It is full of various practices to initiate and deepen your soul work, with plenty of anecdotes to give an applied understanding. The book also touches on how this work correlates with the problems and possibilities we face as a whole human race. This book put words to feelings that were left unvalidated by my environment, and has given me much knowledge on where to go with this sense of something greater, and for that I am forever grateful

Plotkin speaks some much needed truths. May we all prioritize our soul paths and bring humanity back into harmony ❤️

I am currently translating this book into the German language. It is the most exciting translation I have done in the last years. Even though I am only copying it down it has already changed my life in a profound way. I am very thankful for the destiny that put this book on my desk - and I know that there was no coincidence involved. The book provides several practices and approaches that help to address the problem a lot of people encounter in the middle of their lifes - or sometimes even earlier: The moment when you notice that things that have always made sense all in a sudden don't carry any meaning for you any more. It is the first book I ever read that does not only promise to, but actually really helps you finding out what you are here for and how you can act according to this insight. It brings you on your path - the soulpath. Work your way through the practices, exercises, and ceremonies in this book and your life will never be the same again. Seriously, I see a lot of books on new age and nature spirituality walking over my desk, but this one definitely outdoes all I have been reading and working on during the last ten years.

Its rare that I am so deeply engaged with a book like Soulcraft. Bill Plotkin is a gifted author...he writes with credible wise insight into the human condition, our relationship with nature and the mystery of soul. He is knowledgeable and visionary as he describes contemporary issues which are threatening our wild and beautiful planet. So much of my life (seen and unseen, the visible and invisible) makes more sense. Im so grateful for his willingness to dedicate himself to the task of writing such a gem of a book. If you are trying to make sense of your life and the world around you or maybe searching for deeper understanding and self awareness....this book will certainly provide tools, reflections and thought provoking information/stories and resources. I feel sad to have finished the book which despite its size was easy and light to read (despite its richness). If you read one good book this year or next please try this one! I shall be reading it for many years to come.

I Love this one. this is great for people who wants to deepens their connection and undersstanding of the individual soul.

Hermoso libro que me a la par con otro autor han cambiado mi vida para bien.

this book is awesome. I have actually not finished reading it as i can only read a few pages at a time, then need time to stop and digest it. It is a must read before you try to tackle his later book Nature and the Soul.