A memoir recommended for those who are open to discovery and personal renewal through listening to the will of God and learning the value of sacrifice.

"Whether called faith, destiny, or the hand of God, slender threads are at work bringing coherence and continuity to our lives. Over time they weave a remarkable tapestry," observes Robert A. Johnson in Balancing Heaven and Earth, his memoir written with Jerry M. Ruhl. In this extraordinary work overflowing with wisdom, the bestselling author and psychologist recounts the amazing paths taken on his spiritual journey through life.

Johnson's encounters with what Mircea Eliade called "the Golden World" have given him great respect for the mysteries of ecstatic experiences. Early jobs with the Red Cross and the U.S. Forest Service tutored him in the joys of serving others and being in solitude. Johnson's spiritual mentors have included J. Krishnamurti, Fritz Kunkel, and Carl Jung. And throughout the book, the author reflects upon the significant dreams in his life as pathways to discovery and personal renewal. He also ponders the important role that India, friends, active imagination, music, and Eastern and Western religion have played in his quest for wholeness.

Johnson is what Indians call an "old soul" — someone who is "ripe enough to experience the deepest mysteries." He will lift up your spirit and stimulate your imagination with his commentary on being a godparent, nurturing your feeling nature, carrying the gold without arrogance, listening to the will of God, moistening your soul, learning the value of sacrifice, and reframing the second coming.

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