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by Jean Shinoda Bolen (Author)
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.
