The Stripped-Down Soul: STARTING FROM ZERO AFTER LOSS in Bloomington, MN

The world, in its relentless churn, often leaves us stripped bare. Loss, in its myriad forms-the death of a loved one, the fracturing of a cherished relationship, the shattering of a lifelong dream-can dismantle the very foundation upon which we've built our lives. It leaves us standing amidst the wreckage, a raw, exposed soul, staring into the abyss of what feels like absolute zero. This is not a book about escaping that zero, nor about pretending it doesn't exist. It is, instead, a map drawn in the ashes, a guide for those who find themselves standing at the precipice of rebuilding, a testament to the enduring human capacity to rise, not just from the ashes, but from the very core of nothingness.
This journey demands an unflinching examination of the self. We will navigate the philosophical landscapes that have grappled with the nature of "I," from the Cartesian cogito, with its limitations and profound impact on modern thought, to Hume's radical assertion of the "bundle of perceptions," exploding the myth of a stable, unified self. We will explore the Buddhist concept of anatta, the illusion of self, and the interconnectedness of all things, offering a perspective that transcends the ego's relentless grip.
We will confront the "necessary evil" of the ego and the shadowy "not-"self"-the external influences and societal conditioning that often dictate our choices, shaping limiting beliefs and masking our authentic selves. We will dissect the "echo chamber" of social conditioning and learn to nurture the individual flame of our true selves. We will become the "sculptors of self," acknowledging the impact of trauma and past experiences, and then learn to break free from the "not-self," identifying and challenging the forces that hold us back
This book is an invitation to become the alchemist within and to rise from the ashes, stronger, wiser, and more authentically ourselves.