🕯️ Occult Philosophy −52%

Wetiko: Healing the Mind-Virus That Plagues Our World

✍️ Levy, Paul
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$19.99 $42.00 Save $22.01 (52%)
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Paul Levy presents a compelling exploration of "wetiko," a concept derived from Native American traditions, describing it as a collective psychic affliction. This insidious mind-virus, he argues, subtly fuels our most destructive tendencies, from personal greed to global crises. Levy meticulously unveils how wetiko operates, often undetected within our subconscious, and how its power relies on our ignorance of its presence. Drawing on diverse wisdom traditions, this book offers a profound methodology for recognizing this pervasive spiritual illness, thereby initiating a vital process of personal and collective healing.

🕯️
Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“After reading Paul Levy's work on wetiko, I knew I had to meet him. I drove from Boston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Oregon. This man Paul, he is something. He knows things. He experiences things in ways impossible to explain. All I can say is, that which walks with me knows that Paul Levy has been placed here to help us--to help us mitigate the climate crisis, the sixth extinction, this pandemic, racism, and this…”
— Thomas Balistrieri, Ed.D., assistant teaching professor of psychology and global studies at Worceste
🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2021 📖 336 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781644114100
Fun Fact
Paul Levy's 'Wetiko' is a challenging but profoundly rewarding read for those seeking to understand the deeper, spiritual roots of human dysfunction. It excels at drawing powerful connections between ancient wisdom and contemporary psychological crises, offering a unique framework for personal and collective healing. Readers looking for a light self-help guide might be disappointed, as this book demands deep introspection and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. It stands as a vital contribution to esoteric psychology, pushing us to acknowledge the unseen forces shaping our world and our minds.

📝 Description: Wetiko: Healing the Mind-Virus That Plagues Our World

How to break free from the collective mind parasite of wetiko - Explores how wetiko covertly operates both out in the world and within our minds and how it underlies every form of self-destruction, both individual and collective - Reveals how wetiko's power lies in our blindness to it and examines how people across the ages have symbolized wetiko to help see it and heal it - Examines the concept of wetiko as it appears in the teachings of the Kabbalah, Hawaiian Kahuna shamanism, mystical Christianity, and the work of C. G. Jung In its Native American meaning, wetiko is an evil cannibalistic spirit that can take over people's minds, leading to selfshness, insatiable greed, and consumption as an end in itself, destructively turning our intrinsic creative genius against our own humanity. Revealing the presence of wetiko in our modern world behind every form of destruction our species is carrying out, both individual and collective, Paul Levy shows how this mind-virus is so embedded in our psyches that it is almost undetectable--and it is our blindness to it that gives wetiko its power. Yet, as Levy reveals in striking detail, by recognizing this highly contagious mind parasite, by seeing wetiko, we can break free from its hold and realize the vast creative powers of the human mind. Levy explores how artists, philosophers, and spiritual traditions across the ages have been creatively symbolizing this deadly pathogen of the psyche so as to help us see it and heal it. He examines the concept of wetiko as it appears in the teachings of the Kabbalah, Hawaiian kahuna shamanism, Buddhism, and mystical Christianity and through esoteric concepts like egregores, demons, counterfeiting spirits, and psychic vampires. He reveals how visionary thinkers such as C. G. Jung, Sri Aurobindo, Philip K. Dick, Colin Wilson, Nicolas Berdyaev, and Rene Girard each point to wetiko in their own unique and creative way. He explores how the projection of the shadow self--scapegoating --is the underlying psychological mechanism fueling wetiko and examines wetiko in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, showing that we can reframe the pandemic so as to receive the lessons and opportunities embedded in it. Revealing how the power of imagination can cure the wetiko mind-virus, Levy underscores how important it is for each of us to bring forth the creative spirit within us, which helps shed the light of consciousness on wetiko, taking away its power over us while simultaneously empowering ourselves.

📑 What's inside

  1. Foreword by Larry Dossey, M.D
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. INTRODUCTION Wetiko in a Nutshell
  4. PART I Spiritual Traditions and Creative Artists
  5. 1 It's All in the Psyche
  6. 2 The Kabbalah's Remarkable Idea
  7. 3 The Masters of Deception
  8. 4 Sri Aurobindo and the Hostile Forces
  9. 5 The Mind Parasites of Colin Wilson--Fiction or Reality?
  10. 6 The Enlightened Madness of Philip K. Dick--The Black Iron Prison and Wetiko
  11. PART II Wetiko in the World and in Our Minds
  12. 7 Are We Humans Terminally Insane or Just Waking Up?
  13. 8 A Cancer of the Soul
  14. 9 Duped by the Beast of War
  15. 10 Other Lenses Helping Us See Wetiko
  16. 11 Scapegoating--How Darkness Hides in the Light
  17. 12 René Girard's Take on Scapegoating and the Shadow
  18. PART III
  19. The Coronavirus and the Wetiko Virus
  20. 13 Covid-19 Is a Symbol of a Much Deeper Infection
  21. 14 The Coronavirus Contains its Own Vaccine
  22. 15 Quantum Medicine for the Coronavirus
  23. Epilogue
  24. APPENDIX
  25. The Four Ignoble Blindnesses of Wetiko--A Play on the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
  26. Notes Bibliography About the Author Index

💎 Expert review

“
💎
Esoterica Books editorial team
Occult literature desk
Levy’s exploration is intellectually rigorous and spiritually demanding, appealing primarily to readers deeply engaged in comparative mythology and depth psychology. It offers a compelling framework for understanding collective affliction through the lens of wetiko. However, it does not suit those seeking light entertainment or simple self-help solutions. Readers uncomfortable with dense philosophical discourse or skeptical of indigenous metaphysical concepts may find the premise abstract or unconvincing. The text requires active engagement with complex ideas about consciousness and psychic pathology. It is best appreciated by those already familiar with Jungian archetypes or esoteric traditions who are ready to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and systemic destruction.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a profound understanding of the hidden forces driving global crises will find this book essential. It is ideal for those interested in esoteric psychology, indigenous wisdom, and collective trauma. By identifying the 'mind-virus' behind greed and destruction, individuals can begin the vital work of personal and societal healing. If you feel disconnected from humanity's darker impulses yet wish to understand their root causes, Levy offers a clear map. This text empowers readers to recognize unconscious patterns and initiate transformative change. It is not merely theoretical but serves as a practical guide for unmasking the unseen predator within the psyche. For anyone committed to spiritual awakening and breaking cycles of self-destruction, this volume provides the necessary insight and methodology to foster genuine restoration.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —
⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5
★★★★★
Are you grappling with humanity's destructive patterns, both within yourself and the world? This book is for those ready to confront uncomfortable truths, offering a rigorous, interdisciplinary framework for understanding and ultimately healing the deep-seated spiritual illnesses that plague our…

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Esoterica Books editorial team

Levy’s exploration is intellectually rigorous and spiritually demanding, appealing primarily to readers deeply engaged in comparative mythology and depth psychology. It offers a compelling framework for understanding collective affliction through the lens of wetiko. However, it does not suit those seeking light entertainment or simple self-help solutions. Readers uncomfortable with dense philosophical discourse or skeptical of indigenous metaphysical concepts may find the premise abstract or unconvincing. The text requires active engagement with complex ideas about consciousness and psychic pathology. It is best appreciated by those already familiar with Jungian archetypes or esoteric traditions who are ready to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature and systemic destruction.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Levy describes wetiko as a collective, highly contagious mind-virus or psycho-spiritual disease that fosters self-destruction, greed, and an insatiable desire for consumption, turning our intrinsic creativity against ourselves and the world.
Yes, Levy emphasizes that the primary method for combating wetiko is through conscious recognition and awareness. By understanding its covert operations and how it manifests, individuals can begin to detach from its influence and foster healing, drawing on insights from diverse spiritual paths.

📖 Who should read this

Are you grappling with humanity's destructive patterns, both within yourself and the world? This book is for those ready to confront uncomfortable truths, offering a rigorous, interdisciplinary framework for understanding and ultimately healing the deep-seated spiritual illnesses that plague our modern existence.

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Insidious Mind-Virus

This volume deeply investigates wetiko, portraying it not merely as a metaphor but as a genuine psychic entity influencing human consciousness. It demonstrates how this collective affliction covertly drives selfish impulses, insatiable desires, and destructive behaviors, both in individuals and within societal structures, turning our innate creative potential against ourselves.

Unveiling Its Covert Operations

Levy illuminates the cunning ways wetiko remains hidden, emphasizing that our blindness to its influence is precisely what grants it power. The book reveals how this spiritual parasite infiltrates our thoughts and actions, suggesting that by bringing it into conscious awareness, through the lens of various symbolic traditions, we can begin to dismantle its hold.

Pathways to Collective Healing

The text synthesizes ancient wisdom from Kabbalah, Hawaiian Kahuna shamanism, mystical Christianity, and Jungian psychology to offer strategies for confronting and neutralizing wetiko. It argues that recognizing this shared psychological malady is the first, crucial step towards personal liberation and fostering a more compassionate, conscious global community.

📜 Historical context

The concept of wetiko originates from Algonquin-speaking Native American tribes, referring to a cannibalistic evil spirit. Levy masterfully recontextualizes this ancient understanding, revealing its contemporary relevance as a psychological and spiritual plague. He places it within a broader esoteric lineage by connecting its manifestations to mystical traditions and analytical psychology, demonstrating its timeless impact on the human psyche.

📚 Glossary

Wetiko
Mind-Virus
Collective Self-Destruction

📔 Questions to reflect on

  1. Reflect on a time you observed seemingly irrational or self-destructive behavior, either in yourself or society. How might the concept of wetiko offer a different lens for understanding it?
  2. Levy suggests our blindness gives wetiko power. What personal 'blind spots' or unexamined beliefs might be unknowingly feeding destructive patterns in your own life or community?
  3. Considering the diverse spiritual traditions mentioned (Kabbalah, Kahuna, Jung), how might integrating their insights help you personally cultivate greater awareness and resistance to the 'mind-virus'?

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