OUT NOW!
Shattered White-Out: How Trauma and Dissociation Mold the World, Your Relationships and You
Now available, download the book for free!
PDF version
ePUB version
Trauma is far from a marginal phenomenon. Even the few of us spared from major first-hand trauma gain plenty of second-hand exposure through relationships and the wider society. Maija Haavisto weaves research and bold insights into a transformative exposé, revealing how human culture is built on trauma and its dissociation.
Trauma is rooted in the concept of “parts”, subpersonalities often frozen in childhood with their clashing fears and desires. This is compounded by dissociation’s perpetual attempt to hide things from us, including its own existence. We slather this white-out liberally over our lives and cover it with new stories.
Charisma, projection, narcissistic traits, infidelity, abusive behavior and so many other common human phenomena stem from trauma and dissociation. Even seemingly altruistic acts are mostly orchestrated by parts seeking control, while much of the mental health system is stuck in the trauma response of pathologizing.
Through all this, the human spirit prevails. It glimmers in art, poetry and humor, in moments of authenticity, intuition and attunement. We have made things work, built a stunning house of cards held together by correction fluid. Yet healing these wounds opens up the possibility to much deeper and more meaningful connections.
ISBN 978-952-88-0395-9 (PDF)
ISBN 978-952-88-0394-2 (ePUB)
Publication date 9 June 2025
LOVING AWAKENING
Loving Awakening:
A Practical Guide to Embodied Spirituality and Healing with Metta, IFS, the Imaginal and Community
Download the book for free!
Love is at the core of all spiritual and healing practices, but what does that mean? Loving Awakening presents a holistic framework of practices for beginners and more advanced practitioners alike, drawing from such traditions and methods as loving-kindness meditation, Internal Family Systems, somatic work, imaginal practice, hypnosis, Alexander technique, art, poetry and music. A particular focus is on awakening in the world: shared practices, peer work, spiritual friendship and community. The lenses of parts, dissociation and attachment style weave an overarching thread throughout the book.
Real love is not a dream of transcendence, but faces the world as it is. Loving Awakening also brings up the side effects of practice, problems with psychotherapy, interpersonal difficulties and dark sides of the spiritual community. The book debunks many common misconceptions about meditation, enlightenment, Buddhism, trauma and therapy. Unfortunately, spiritual practice can also wreck you and unravel your relationships. Yet many goals and attainments may be much easier to reach than you think.
Love is radically inclusive and so is this book. It’s written for all beings, which includes disabled, traumatized, neurodivergent and LGBTIQ people, those struggling with their circumstances and those struggling with themselves. All parts are welcome and we all belong.
ISBN: 978-952-94-7277-2 (PDF)
ISBN: 978-952-94-7278-9 (ePUB)
Publication date 6 January 2023.
THE AUTHOR
Maija Haavisto (b. 1984) guides and teaches Internal Family Systems, somatic work, imaginal practice, loving-kindness meditation, nondual practices and hypnosis. She has also worn the hats of novelist, journalist, translator, poet, medical writer, playwright, artist, photographer and disability activist. She has had 17 books published in Finland. She maintains the Discord community Mind Is the Gap, which focuses on the subjects discussed in this book.
Loving Awakening 