Dear 

I hope all is well with you. I’ve taken part in two really powerful events recently. Last week I was invited to speak online to an international AA group, and a few days ago I went to London to speak at a conference of the ‘Yes to Life!’ organisation, which supports people affected by cancer. I met so many inspiring people, who were recovering from addiction or cancer, or who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Both events made me realise that there is so much spiritual growth that comes from both addiction and cancer. They made me feel optimistic about the potential for spiritual awakening in all human beings.

At the conference, I spoke to many people who had undergone a spiritual awakening through being told that they were seriously ill and only had a short time left to live. Straight away they shifted into a different state of consciousness, in which they no longer took life for granted, aware of the precious gift of being alive in the present moment. Suddenly all their values shifted, and they had a clear sense of what was truly important, and what was trivial. Suddenly they were attuned to a deep spiritual aspect of their being, which they had never experienced before.

A lot of people told me that their cancer was now in remission, and that they believed that their new spiritual perspective was the cause of their recovery. They had retained their heightened awareness and felt deeply grateful for the change that the illness had brought about. The whole conference was pervaded with an atmosphere of spiritual radiance, of joy and gratitude.

The AA meeting was similar, although less tangible because it was online. But both events reinforced my feeling that spiritual awakening is a common phenomenon – and that often it takes place outside the context of traditional spirituality. I spoke about my research into ‘transformation through turmoil’ and led some exercises and meditations. At the Yes to Life! conference, some people told me that they had never thought about their shift as a spiritual awakening, but that it made complete sense in those terms.

Hugh Goes to University!

London Event – Talk at the 

How the Light Gets in Festival 
 

This coming weekend I’m off to London again, for the How the Light Gets in Festival on October 1st. (It was postponed for two weeks, after the Queen’s death). I'm giving a talk on The Psychology of Spiritual Enlightenment and taking part in a debate on 'The Seduction of Thought. More info here

‘Spiritual Awakenings’ Book
 

I'm pleased to be one of the contributors to a fantastic new book, ‘Spiritual Awakenings’, in which scientists and academics describe their experiences. There are so many great pieces in the book.

You can buy it here in the US

And here in the UK

New Article
 

A new article of mine 'The Curse of the Ego' published by the Institute of Arts of Ideas, harking back to my early book The Fall and my upcoming book Disconnected. You can see it here

French Translation of Extraordinary Awakenings 
 

I'm delighted that the French version of my book Extraordinary Awakenings was published in September. The cover looks excellent! (Unfortunately I can’t paste it in for some reason.) You can see it here
 

New Poem
 

Let me end with this poem – which I think in some ways describes the experience of people who are diagnosed with cancer. 
 

Naked Life
 

Are you happy just to be alive 
to occupy your space in the world 
to breathe and move and sense and feel
without ambitions or attachments
as if you’ve just been born 
and there is nothing beyond what you see now
and you are nothing but your awareness of now?

Are you satisfied with the simple gifts 
of air and sky and sunlight 
and friendship, love and laughter?

If life in itself is enough
then everything that is added to your life
is an adornment, like fine soft-falling clothes
that enhance a person’s natural beauty.

Then you can relish success without striving for more 
savour pleasures without craving for more 
and enjoy excitement without feeling overwhelmed.

And when they pass away, you won’t feel empty. 

You’ll relax and return to naked life 
like taking off a shirt or dress
and feeling the sunlight against your skin
knowing that whatever comes or goes
and whatever is added or taken away 
you already have enough.

all best wishes and blessings, Steve