The Thundering Years: Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens

As a psychotherapist working with adolescents in the Juvenile Justice System, I find the strategies and wisdom in this book to be one of the best suited for deep therapeutic work individually or within the context of a group. Highly recommend it it to other mental health professionals.

A lot of useful inspiration and practical information from the world's spiritual and religious traditions has been brought together in this psychic survival guide for teenagers. With many quotes from both modern writers and sacred traditions, the focus is on learning to be strong in oneself and compassionate towards others, what Johnson calls being a spiritual warrior. The tools and insights are directed toward the transition from childhood to adulthood - learning to be an independent person in the world. Johnson calls this time, which people are called upon to face in their teens and early twenties, the thundering years. Native American wisdom is used as a principle guide, but many sources of wisdom are brought in - Christian, Buddhist, Sufi, modern psychological. Young people are encouraged to live creative lives and to tells their stories. A cornucopia of techniques for living a vital life and dealing with its challenges are presented - everything from meditation, working with dreams, drumming, and various forms of exercise to helping others, connecting with nature, and creating rituals to mark the changes in one's life. Many useful books, resources, and Web sites are included at the end of each chapter. As most topics have to be dealt with relatively briefly, these references allow readers to delve more deeply into areas which they are drawn to. This is an inspiring guide and companion, not only for young people, but anyone hoping to ride the waves of modern life more effectively, and enjoy the ride.

This is a well-written book that promises to be helpful to therapists as well as to teens. I found the ideas thought provoking and sound. Vera J. Elleson, Ph.D.

I am so excited to see a book available to teens that confirms for them....and for us their parents, that their loud confusion, creative depressions, outbursts of truth and pain, all have such an important place in the process that is life.Having waited until mid-life to honor the journey, I look forward to the process found in this book assisting society, teen by teen,person by person,in honoring our place here, by connecting us with the planet we are on and the energy we all share. I encourage teens every where to read up........and Thunder On!!!!!!!!!!!