The Great Work: Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year

by Tiffany Lazic

Overview

Fusing ancient Western spirituality, energy work, and psychology, The Great Work is a practical guide to personal transformation season by season. Learn to be truly holistic by incorporating key physical, emotional, and energetic practices into your life at times when the natural tides are in harmony with your process.

The Great Work captures the core essence of each festival with eight key themes that span the annual cycle—a cycle that reflects human development and experience. Discover how Yule can alleviate a painful childhood, how Beltane can facilitate conscious relationships, and how Mabon can assist with determining your life's purpose. Find guidance through daily journal questions, elemental meditations, and the author's unique energy-healing technique of Hynni. With this invaluable resource for your journey of inner alchemy, you'll develop an intimate connection with the earth's impulse to create balance and harmony.

Praise:
"Tiffany Lazic weaves together psychology, myth, meditation and keen observation of the natural world, creating an invaluable and original resource for healing work of all kinds. Inviting and accessible to all readers."—Elizabeth Cunningham, author of The Maeve Chronicles

"The Great Work presents inspiring insights and practical exercises that help unlock the alchemical mysteries at the heart of the Eightfold Path, and which facilitate a deep connection with the cycles of nature as they reveal their transformational powers in all of us."—Jhenah Telyndru, author of Avalon Within

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738744421
Publisher:	Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
Publication date:	05/08/2015
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Tiffany Lazic (Wales, UK) is a spiritual psychotherapist with nearly thirty years of experience in individual, couples, and group therapy. She is an international presenter, keynote speaker, and retreat facilitator. Tiffany is the founder of the Soul Alchemist Academy, offering liminal learning for modern mystics and psychopomps. Visit her at TiffanyLazic.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction: Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year 1

Part 1 Cycle One (December 21-January 31): Roots and Foundations

1 Mythological Reflection on the Birth of the Wonder Child 23

2 Elemental Reflection on Earth and Active Reflection on Breathing 27

3 Psychological Reflection on Family of Origin and Developmental Reflection on Birth to Three Years of Age 31

4 Alchemical Reflection on Calcination 39

5 Energetic Reflection on the Root Chakra 43

6 Guidance Reflection on Animal Guides and Intuitive Reflection on Runes 47

Part 2 Cycle Two (February 1-March 14): Gifts from the Inner Child

7 Mythological Reflection on Purification Through Light 59

8 Elemental Reflection on Water and Active Reflection on Drumming 63

9 Developmental Reflection on Preschool Age and Psychological Reflection on Feelings 67

10 Alchemical Reflection on Dissolution 79

11 Energetic Reflection on the Sacral Chakra 87

12 Guidance Reflection on Aquatic Guides and Intuitive Reflection on Tasseomancy 91

Part 3 Process Phase One (March 15-21): Waxing Moon

13 Waxing Phase of Innocence and Openings 101

Part 4 Cycle Three (March 22-May 2): Nurturing Empowerment and Self-Esteem

14 Mythological Reflection on the Celebration of Life 109

15 Elemental Reflection on Air and Active Reflection on Singing and Chanting 113

16 Developmental Reflection on School Age and Psychological Reflection on Empowerment and Self-Esteem 119

17 Alchemical Reflection on Separation 127

18 Energetic Reflection on the Solar Plexus Chakra 133

19 Guidance Reflection on Bird Guides and Intuitive Reflection on Oracles 137

Part 5 Cycle Four (May 3-June 13): Union and Partnerships

20 Mythological Reflection on the Synthesis of Spirit and Matter 149

21 Elemental Reflection on Fire and Active Reflection on Dancing 153

22 Developmental Reflection on Adolescence and Psychological Reflection on Relationships 159

23 Alchemical Reflection on Conjunction 169

24 Energetic Reflection on the Heart Chakra 173

25 Guidance Reflection on the Wee Guides and Intuitive Reflection on the Ogham 177

Part 6 Process Phase Two (June 14-20): Full Moon

26 Full Moon Phase of Fullness and Fruition 189

Part 7 Cycle Five (June 21-August 1): Shining Our Truth and Creativity

27 Mythological Reflection on Celebration of Effort 195

28 Elemental Reflection on Aether and Active Reflection on Journaling 199

29 Developmental Reflection on Early Adulthood and Psychological Reflection on Voice and Choice 205

30 Alchemical Reflection on Fermentation 209

31 Energetic Reflection on the Throat Chakra 213

32 Guidance Reflection on Elemental and Intuitive Reflection on Tarot 217

Part 8 Cycle Six (August 2-September 12): Visioning Self

33 Mythological Reflection on Reaping First Harvests 239

34 Energetic Reflection on Light and Active Reflection on Visual Arts 243

35 Developmental Reflection on Adulthood and Psychological Reflection on Beliefs and Discernment 249

36 Alchemical Reflection on Distillation 255

37 Energetic Reflection on the Brow Chakra 259

38 Guidance Reflection on Mythological Beasts and Intuitive Reflection on I Ching 263

Part 9 Process Phase Three (September 13-19): Waning Moon

39 Waning Phase of Experience and Community 275

Part 10 Cycle Seven (September 20-October 31): Effects of Gratitude on Life Purpose

40 Mythological Reflection on Thanksgivings 281

41 Energetic Reflection on Thought and Active Reflection on Yoga 285

42 Developmental Reflection on Elder hood and Psychological Reflection on Higher Purpose 291

43 Alchemical Reflection on Coagulation 301

44 Energetic Reflection on the Crown Chakra 307

45 Guidance Reflection on Angels and Intuitive Reflection on Scrying 311

Part 11 Cycle Eight (November 1-December 12): Healing from Loss

46 Mythological Reflection on Entering the Mystery 321

47 Elemental Reflection on Energy and Active Reflection on Hynni 325

48 Developmental Reflection on Bardo and Psychological Reflection on the Holographic Universe 331

49 Alchemical Reflection on Return 341

50 Energetic Reflection on the Soul Star Chakra 345

51 Guidance Reflection on Spirit Guides and Intuitive Reflection on Channeling 349

Part 12 Process Phase Four (December 13-19): Dark Moon

52 Dark Moon Phase of Rest and Respite 359

Part 13 (December 20): Pause and Integration

53 The Self-Actualization Survey 367

Appendix A List of Emotional and Psychological Issues and Their Prescriptions 373

Appendix B List of Physical Issues and Their Prescriptions 379

Appendix C Cycles and Phases by Month 381

Selected Bibliography 395

Editorial Reviews

03/09/2015
Intended to help readers deeply explore the spokes of the Wheel of the Year, a sacred system based on seasonal festivals from around the world, Lazic’s guide to spiritual transformation functions more like an axle, propelling the wheel forward. She covers a lot of ground, but seldom stops for a long look around. Lazic offers a calendar, divided into six-week segments, of the myths, energies, and psychological stages aligned with each season. Lazic, an experienced transpersonal psychotherapist, devotes the most space to the psychological. Sections on chakras, I Ching, Tarot, channeling, and more are well-illustrated and include solid lists of the literature, but lack the depth of the transpersonal material. Lazic inexplicably saves the full definition of her own energy healing system, Hynni, for the back of the book, though it’s briefly mentioned throughout. Instead of basing this book directly on her own nine-part system, Lazic offers a survey of traditions. Even with the open-ended reflection prompts that close each chapter, readers may feel a bit adrift in the sea of ideas. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Tiffany Lazic weaves together psychology, myth, meditation and keen observation of the natural world, creating an invaluable and original resource for healing work of all kinds. Inviting and accessible to all readers."—Elizabeth Cunningham, author of The Maeve Chronicles

"The Great Work presents inspiring insights and practical exercises that help unlock the alchemical mysteries at the heart of the Eightfold Path, and which facilitate a deep connection with the cycles of nature as they reveal their transformational powers in all of us."—Jhenah Telyndru, author of Avalon Within

From the Publisher