Phil Cousineau

PHIL COUSINEAU is an award-winning writer and filmmaker, teacher and editor, lecturer and travel leader, storyteller and TV host. His fascination with the art, literature, and history of culture has taken him from Michigan to Marrakesh, Iceland to the Amazon, in a worldwide search for what the ancients called the “soul of the world.” With more than 25 books and 15 scriptwriting credits to his name, the “omnipresent influence of myth in modern life” is a thread that runs through all of his work. His books include Stoking the Creative Fires, Once and Future Myths, The Art of Pilgrimage, The Olympic Odyssey, The Hero's Journey, and Wordcatcher.

As indispensable as forgiveness has been to the healing process throughout history, there is another equally profound action that is needed for ultimate reconciliation, which Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, calls “the other side of the coin.” Turning over the coin of forgiveness, we discover atonement, the half-hidden, much-overlooked other half of the reconciliation process. Beyond Forgiveness shows how acts of atonement—making amends, providing restitution, restoring balance—can relieve us of the pain of the past and give us a hopeful future.

This rich and powerful book includes 15 thoughtful contributions by high-profile thinkers and activists including Huston Smith, Michael Bernard Beckwith, Azim Khamisa, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Jacob Needleman, Michael Nagler, James O’Dea, Arun Gandhi, Kate Dahlstedt, Ed Tick, Richard J. Meyer, and more. Atonement is put forward as a process that we must all learn to practice—from individuals to nations—if we are to heal our wounds and move forward. To learn more about this book, and to share your own stories of forgiveness, atonement, and reconciliation, visit the book's companion website.



ADVANCE PRAISE:
“If we harbor thoughts of violence or hatred, or seek revenge or retribution, we are contributing to the wounding of the world; if we transform those thoughts into forgiveness and compassion, and then move beyond them to actually make amends or restitution, we are contributing to the healing of the world. This timely, powerful and compassionate book helps show us the way.”
~Deepak Chopra

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Phil Cousineau takes us on a tour of intriguing word origins with erudition and endearing curiosity. By exploring the riveting back stories of the few hundred words in WORDCATCHER: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words, readers are lured by Cousineau's love of language and inspired to be more daring and playful with words.

Every reader will relish this beautifully illustrated book complete with dozens of artworks by Gregg Chadwick. WORDCATCHER is the perfect gift for every book lover.

Watch Global Spirit on Link TV via DIRECT TV (Channel 375) or DISH NETWORK (Channel 9410) satellite service, as well through various other cable and local networks.

Based on twenty years of teaching, Phil Cousineau's Stoking the Creative Fires will guide you on your creative journey.

~ What are you on fire about now?

~ Where does your fiery urge to create come from?

~ What do you do to rekindle the inner flame of creativity when it is nearly extinguished by despair or fear?

~ And what are you doing to pass on the torch of your inspiration?

These questions are at the heart of one of the greatest human mysteries of all—creativity.

"Creativity is as natural as breathing," he writes. "To create is to grow, which in turn makes us feel vitally alive."

In this book, Cousineau explores many different types of creativity, from painting and writing to photography and movies, its use in psychological practice, its role in community life, the cultivation of work habits, the use of dreams and role of mentors, the dreaded creative block, the myth of genius, and the spiritual side of art. His goal is to demystify the creative process by revealing how every project is a creative journey that can be completed—if we keep moving with tenacity, humility, and heart.

"Inspiration is a flash of fire in the human soul," writes Cousineau. "There is a force within you that breathes divine fire and brings your work to life. Honor it at all costs."

Stoking the Creative Fires offers a multitude of stories, ideas, and exercises drawn from historical and contemporary figures, artists of all kinds, and lessons from Cousineau's own experience—giving people the tools they need to rekindle passion in all areas of their lives and the inspiration they need to live passionately and creatively.