Emotional Clearing: The Handbook of Integrative Processing

I bought this book six years ago and unfortunately at the time only scanned through it, not absorbing some of the main points presented in the early chapters. I recently picked it up again, this time with much more dilegence, and now have made rapid progress. Heres a book of the spiritual nature that does much more than the usual lip service of "dont suppress" your emotions found in many other self-help books. Spiritual traditions that I have studied do little release the brakes; they focus instead on going forward, which is all imaginary if you cant first get your foot untied.

I am not sure Western culture has ever known what to do with the most sensitive among us. This book is destined to be a catalyst for discovering effective and compassionate ways to embrace the artists, mystics, philospohers,poets and free spirits among us. Though Ruskan's techniques are universally applicable I believe they reach the level of the profound in his sensitivity to the inner process of the spiritual seeker and/or artist. He offers hope, compassion and inspired guidance that is appropriate for the brave who search for God only to enter into a dark night of the soul as well as for sensitive artists struggling for equilibrium in the dark and light landscape of their unconscious. Ruskan directs us to a new inner-territory where dark feelings are actually honored in a way that is healthy to the human organism, thus allowing more and more light to come through as a natural attribute of the human soul. This becomes a metaphor for the entire healing process of the planet. Truly is begins with the individual. How do we honor and accept? How do we stop acting out on our negative impulses? How do we heal authentically?

I have used the focusing technique that John Ruskan so eloquently describes in his book. Be aware that it does take some effort, commitment and time. But I agree with the other people who have reviewed John Ruskan's book and say that his technique will change your life. I know that sounds like a paid advertisement, but try the technique over a period of time and see if you don't agree. Not only will you no longer feel like a victim but you will realize that you have everything you need to change and heal inside of yourself. I have recently started using a similar technique, General Sensate Focusing, which I now prefer. The complete book is located on several websites maintained by Dr. Ilan Shalif. Everything I have said about John Ruskan's book applies equally to the technique taught by Dr. Shalif. It is just a matter of preference and convenience as you can print Dr. Shalif's book off one of his websites.

I marvel that John Ruskan's book has not received the attention that it deserves. This book was exactly what I was searching for when it first came out. It is a powerful synthesis of western psychotherapy and eastern energy work, and his self-therapy technique is brilliant. It really works, but it is definitely not for the squeamish. I would highly recommend working with a therapist while you do this work, as it can result in some profound psychic releases. Mr. Ruskan clearly understands the limitation of psychotherapy in its almost exclusive attention to the mental plane. He rightly proposes that it is the body memory that needs to released from traumatic events, and not the mental memory. If you are a Castaneda follower, you will find Ruskan's technique very similar to the Toltec practice of recapitulation. Both will bring about real change in your life, and I assure you that your life will never be boring again.

Having read many self-help books, one tends to become jaded after a while--after all, it seems to work for the writer, but doesn't really work for the reader, right? Not this book. "Emotional Clearing" is the most life-changing book I have ever read to date. The author, John Ruskan, writes in simple terms which, at the same time, seem so important, how can they be this simple? Yet, this book works, his writing works, his method works. Surprise! And, even better, the methods he teaches the reader are easy to do, understand, and continue long after you finish it. That is what sets this book apart from others: the extended use of its methods to accomplish real life change. Warning: After reading this book, never again can the reader in all honesty blame others or even him/herself again! And please don't read it unless you want real change in your life, and don't recommend it to anyone else you don't want to see change. Just keep going along the way you are now and forget this book! I'm glad I didn't