Hearts on Fire

Rating:
Summary: Quantum Psychology "Unplugged"
Review: Stephen Wolinsky is known for a school of thought called Quantum Psychology which fuses' ideas from quantum physics, western psychology, religion and eastern meditation (always crediting his sources) and proposes that we are more than our minds. In all of his books he presents the philosophy and rationalizations for his constructs and gives the reader guided exercises so that one has an experience of what he is writing about ("Quantum Psychology is not a spectator sport") as opposed to "more ideas for the mind").

According to Quantum Psychology, the mind which can be observed as any ideas, concepts, feelings, sensations that we hold about ourselves cannot be us. We are beyond those things even if we don't realize it. The Quantum Psychology approach then is to learn how to observe and put some distance between whom we think we are and become aware of a deeper self.

In most psychologies and self help approaches, an attempt is made to superimpose a belief on top of another belief, (an example is affirmations) or reinterpreting/re-framing them (I can turn my aggressive energy into winning at sports as an outlet). Quantum Psychology's approach is to de-construct these ideas by 1.) acknowledging and experiencing them. You can't give up what you don't own. 2.) observe them. 3.) interpret whatever ideas or feelings you are having as objects. No different from any other objects, like say a chair or a tree.

Why approach life that way? Our mind, when we identify too strongly with it (fused), is transitory (we change our mind constantly). New emotions, ideas and other things constantly come up, most of which we don't choose, none of which we have any control over (thoughts, feelings tend to "pop up and disappear"). Believing that you are the mind is like saying that you are a roller coaster, separating from it is to beginning to realize that you are a passenger. In this fashion you lessen the gravitational pull of your own ideas and begin to open up more space for yourself to exist. You don't have to be a prisoner of yourself!

If you are new to this author, I would suggest starting with Quantum Consciousness, which gives a more complete overview of the philosophy. This book (Hearts On Fire) might be viewed as Quantum Psychology Unplugged, as it was written from workshops that he conducted prior to calling the approach Quantum Psychology. The format is a brief explanation of a subject (i.e. , the mind, emotions, etc.), then a meditation process to experience what is being presented. This is followed by comments from workshop participants and Wolinsky's responses, all serving to shed further light on the experience.

I have been using it as a companion guide to Quantum Consciousness and participating as if I was in the workshop. The reader is encouraged to use this material in his/her own world for immediate benefits. There are multiple uses; such as dealing with personal barriers, accomplishments, relationship "problems" or if you simply want to know more about who you are. I saw a broker advocate this approach for people who would like to enter the stock market and are afraid to do so.

You probably can't tell but I've become a little involved!