New Self, New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-First Century
✍️ Shepherd, Philip; , Harvey, AndrewPhilip Shepherd's transformative work invites us to question the foundational narratives that shape our contemporary existence. It challenges the prevalent 'head-consciousness' that keeps us trapped in mental constructs, often leading to a fragmented and superficial experience of life. Instead, this book offers a profound path to reconnect with the body, not as a separate entity to manage, but as an integral source of unmediated experience and intelligence. Through its insights, readers are guided toward a more holistic awareness, fostering creativity, freedom, and a deep sense of presence in the everyday.
Praise for this book
“At its core, this book is a cultural discourse about reconnecting to the wholeness of being human: to integrate the innate intelligence of the body into a functioning paradigm of human experience and evolution. The idea that we 'live in our heads' and are mostly disconnected from our body is not new.”
“Philip Shepherd has written a book which lays the foundation that could lead us humans to a much higher dimension than we now exhibit in New Self, New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-First Century. The book constantly harps against the very things that stand in our way of achieving this heightened state: the self-centeredness that seems to dominate our mind and materialism that seems to become more acute…”
“This ambitious and wide-ranging book grew out of workshops [Philip Shepherd] has led for more than two decades... Shepherd believes that the culture that influences our ideas and experiences tells us the big lie day by day: 'the roots of the self do not lie in the world around us, nor even in the body, but are preserved intact within the blood-brain barrier.' This fiction of self-achieved independence comes at us…”
📝 Description: New Self, New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-First Century
📑 What's inside
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Part I. Do Be Do Be Do
- 1. The Elements of Myth
- 2. The Universal Law
- 3. Our Axial Consciousness
- 4. Divided Self, Divided World
- Part II. Two Axes, One Purpose
- 5. A Perspective on Perspective
- 6. The Journey Home
- 7. The Corational Corridor
- Part III. The Exchanges of Being
- 8. The Heart's Compass
- 9. Becoming Conscious of Consciousness
- Part IV. The Body as History
- 10. Leaving the Hub
- 11. Horse and Rider
- Part V. Recovering Our Senses
- 12. Our Elemental Sensitivity
- 13. So as to Remain in Harmony
- Appendix
- Acknowledgments
- Endnotes
- Credits
- Index
- About the Author
- Exercises
- 1. Listen to the Beat
- 2. Wakame
- 3. Floor Yourself
- 4. Ordinary Heroism
- 5. The Naked Tyrant
- 6. The Elevator Shaft
- 7. The Flower and the Cello String
- 8. Just Receive
- 9. The Milk Jug
- 10. Figure Eights
- 11. The Horse
- 12. The Hourglass
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers seeking to escape the fragmentation of modern life and rediscover their authentic presence will find profound value here. This book is ideal for those tired of living solely within mental constructs, craving a deeper, unmediated connection to their own intelligence and creativity. It serves individuals ready to question foundational narratives about existence and embrace a holistic awareness that fosters freedom in the everyday. If you desire to transform your experience from superficial to profound by reconnecting with the body as a source of wisdom rather than an object to manage, this transformative guide offers the necessary path for spiritual recovery and sensory restoration.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Shepherd and Harvey present a compelling challenge to 'head-consciousness,' urging readers toward bodily intelligence. The text is dense with philosophical inquiry, requiring patience from those accustomed to straightforward self-help formulas. It does not suit individuals seeking quick fixes or rigid dogmatic structures; rather, it demands active engagement with abstract concepts of presence and awareness. Readers preferring concrete, actionable steps over profound existential questioning may find the approach too theoretical or disorienting. However, for those willing to sit with its challenging insights, it offers a rare opportunity to dismantle superficial narratives and reclaim a deep, creative sense of being in the contemporary world.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you feel a persistent disconnect from yourself or the world, or if the endless chatter of your mind obscures your true joy, this book is for you. It offers profound insights and practical pathways for those yearning to move beyond intellectual understanding into a deeply felt, embodied experience of life.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Challenging Modern Myths
The book critically examines the unspoken assumptions of our materialistic society, which often lead to a sense of alienation and disconnection. It encourages readers to dismantle these ingrained beliefs about human nature and identity, paving the way for a more genuine and integrated understanding of self beyond societal conditioning and cognitive biases.
Embodied Presence
Shepherd masterfully articulates the distinction between merely 'having' a body and truly 'inhabiting' it. This theme explores how re-engaging with our physical being through sensory awareness can unlock profound insights, grounding us in the present moment and fostering a direct, unmediated experience of life that transcends intellectualizing.
Beyond the Known Self
This concept delves into the limitations of the ego-driven identity, the 'known self,' which often keeps us bound by past experiences and future anxieties. The book advocates for a surrender to 'what is,' embracing the simple grace of being present and allowing for an authentic, fluid self to emerge, unburdened by preconceived notions.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Shattered Reality
- Head-Consciousness
- Known Self
📔 Questions to reflect on
- In what ways do I perceive my body as something I 'have' rather than something I 'am'? How might this distinction impact my daily life?
- Reflect on a time when you felt truly present and unmediated by thought. What were the circumstances, and how did that experience differ from your usual state of being?
- What 'fundamental myths about being human' do I unconsciously hold that might be contributing to a sense of fragmentation or disconnection?
