Silver Boat

Rating:
Summary: comforting, healing book - for most but not all
Review: For me, this is a very comforting and healing book. The little girl reminds me so much of myself - and her process is so familiar to me and I'm sure many who are healing from abuse and have disassociated during the process. The one thing I would mention is that it startled me a little that this book suggests integration may be necessary - while I know some people who feel that it's not necessary or even desirable for them personally.

Rating:
Summary: My personal review of The Silver Boat and the Silver Boat II
Review: I was thoroughly touched by both books and was moved even more into a healing place from which I found strength to deal with my own dragons and all the help from inside to work together through a healing journey. I found that it was ok to have dragons and if one can work together you can get through anything. The books also taught me about a great place that you can go to inside where everything is calm and beautiful and safe where there is blue light, and you can even ride on a dolphin and find lightness of heart while dealing with the most troublesome areas of my life. I found you can create in your mind that great place to go to when things hurt so much, a place all your own. Found that even the most meanest dragons can be beautiful swans. These books helped me be ok with the healing journey I must face in order to become the person I want to be and that it's ok to be scared and confused and sad. I found that I can have fun and have feelings that are good and work on other issues at the same time and rely on my inner strengths to get through even the most troublesome times and find healing at last. The nice thing about these books is how well written they are and easy to understand and to be ok with what you must deal with. Yes while going through the forest there are many dangerous animals and yet you can find strength in the forest as well and beauty. These books helped me to see that and to go through this journey although painful and yet very calming while working together to all become beautiful swans and then you find you all were beautiful swans all along, some needed help to see it that way. The illustrations in these books are so colorful and meaningful.

Rating:
Summary: "Think of what you want, not what you fear."
Review: My Psychiatrist recommended this book to me and let me read his copy of it at the end of one of our sessions. At first I wondered what his motives were in suggesting I read a children's book, but after the first page I knew exactly why. The book was like a divine inspiration to me, helping me to struggle on and strive for the full integration of my "parts." As a child, I had numerous imaginary friends much like the friends who join the little girl during her journey through the woods. Some of them later became extensions of my self, and eventually, integral parts of who I am. I used to just want them to go away and leave me alone. After reading this book, though, I realize that I need them just as much as they need me and one day we'll all become one again. That was what I once feared, but now I know it's what we all truly want.