Ever Widening Circles & Mystical Moments: Autobiographical, Historical, Spiritual, Psychological & Political

Ever Widening Circles and Mystical Moments is a long-awaited memoir by Jean Shinoda Bolen MD that invites readers to journey through a life interwoven with personal experiences and historical events. The book begins with Bolen's childhood, marked by her Japanese American family's forced relocation from California following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This experience—along with her early eye surgery and frequent moves to different states and schools where she was perceived as an “exotic other”—deeply impacted Bolen's worldview and led her to pursue a career as an author, activist, psychiatrist, and Jungian analyst.Throughout the memoir, Bolen examines the archetypes, synchronicities, and mystical moments that guided her life choices, including her decision to pursue medicine, her evolving relationship with spirituality, her work as a Jungian whistleblower and leader in the women's spirituality movement, and advocacy for circle gatherings as part of The Millionth Circle initiative. She candidly shares her personal challenges, including her brother's struggles after a birth injury, the complexities of her marriage, and her son's battle with neurofibromatosis. Bolen emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in life even amidst adversity. She encourages readers to embrace their authentic purpose, using her own experiences to illustrate the significance of love, gratitude, and the power of collective action.Table of ContentsPrefaceSection 1 - Chapters 1-9Eye Surgery, World War II, Many Moves, Promises to GodChapter 1 Above the Clouds – Depth PerceptionChapter 2 My Parents – Pearl Harbor – the EvacuationChapter 3 Wartime – Living in Many PlacesChapter 4 From the Farm to the CityChapter 5 End of World War II – Sky MotherChapter 6 InitiationsChapter 7 My Brother – My Parents’ GriefChapter 8 High School ProtesterChapter 9 Gratitude – Promises to GodSection 2 - Chapters 10-13Medical School, Finding My Calling, Family Crisis, GriefChapter 10 Medical SchoolChapter 11 Began Residency – Found My CallingChapter 12 Family CrisisChapter 13 Back to Residency – Bottled Up GriefSection 3 - Chapters 14-19Marriage, Private Practice, Magazine, Motherhood, Jungian InstituteChapter 14 Thanksgiving – Marriage – FeminismChapter 15 Psychic Magazine – Psychic PeopleChapter 16 Initiation – Giving BirthChapter 17 Private Practice – UCSF Faculty – ERA – Jungian InstituteChapter 18 Becoming a Jungian AnalystChapter 19 Becoming a Jungian Whistle-Blower 1Section 4 - Chapters 20-24Women’s Spirituality, Activist, Solo, Mother & SonChapter 20 Pulling Together – Growing ApartChapter 21 Women’s Spirituality – GoddessChapter 22 Solo Journey – HestiaChapter 23 Doctor-Mother and SonSection 5 - Chapters 24-27Pilgrimage, Travel, MysticismChapter 24 Pilgrimage – Heart Center/ChakraChapter 25 Feathered Pipe – Greece – PeruChapter 26 Home – Four Corners – LabyrinthChapter 27 Andy’s Message – Close to the BoneSection 6 - Chapters 28-32Liminal Circles, Spiritual Activism, Author, CancerChapter 28 Those on the Other Side – Soul FriendsChapter 29 Author-Activist – Millionth CircleChapter 30 Birthing Books – Breast CancerChapter 31 Return of Cancer – My Dog – My Only GrandchildChapter 32 Honors & Recognition in Who’s WhoChapter 33 Wondering: “What Next?”…EpilogueIndex Read more