Overview

• Follows the author’s apprenticeships with masterful teachers, out-of-body experiences, meditation retreats in Asia, martial arts in Japan, facing his trauma at the hands of his father, and his struggles to become emotionally literate • Offers interpretations of his experiences poised as questions, reflections, and inquiries, inviting the reader to participate in what opened for the author on his quest for self-realization, including successes, failures, struggles, and enigmas Sharing profound stories, transformative incidents, and provocative situations from across his more than 7 decades of life, founding elder of the Somatics movement Richard Strozzi-Heckler explores the moments of insight and awakening that have been pivotal in forming his unique perspectives within the fields of embodiment, meditation, aikido, and leadership. Beginning with an early experience with death that revealed the universal principle of impermanence, the author takes us on a rich, textured journey into the inquiry of what it means to embody the mystery of Spirit. As we follow him through apprenticeships with masterful teachers, out-of-body experiences, meditation retreats in Asia, martial arts in Japan, facing his trauma at the hands of his father, and his struggles to become emotionally literate, we’re also taken on a path of learning, healing, and transformation. For each story, the author offers interpretations of his experiences poised as questions, reflections, and inquiries. In this way we are invited to participate on his quest for self-realization, including successes, failures, struggles, and enigmas. A deeply personal and intimate portrayal of a life’s journey through a somatic wisdom, this insightful memoir depicts the immeasurable wealth that teachers, practices, vulnerability, and community can offer the sincere seeker on an embodied spiritual path.

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9781644114568

Table of Contents

Reviews

“In Embodying the Mystery, we are invited on a journey where Richard shows us the pivotal moments in his transformative journey, and it is a profound unveiling. The longing for more that Richard speaks of feels so familiar--there is a path within each of us that can hold, wants to hold, the great mystery. By showing us these intimate moments of learning and opening, Richard opens a portal for us to see both the possibilities of and practices toward our own awakenings.” * Adrienne Maree Brown, author of Emergent Strategy * “Richard shares his journey through healing, learning, and growth into awareness and appreciation of the sacred interconnected web of life. Part memoir, part inquiry, part transmission, it is a beautiful reflection about living consciously in a human body.” * Elizabeth A. Stanley, Ph.D., author Widen the Window * “Embodying the Mystery is a gift of bone-deep wisdom and spirit springing; you’ll find yourself celebrating the wonder and possibility of living in a human body. It is the kind of book that only comes out of a life as deeply lived as Richard’s has been--wonderful to read!” * Ginny Whitelaw, author of Resonate and founder and Roshi of the Institute for Zen Leadership * “Richard Strozzi-Heckler shares his life’s journey with us with inspiring vulnerability and grace. Story after moving story, exquisitely written, reveals the powerful experiences, personal struggles, and healing practices that have shaped him since childhood. How wonderful, how refreshing it is to read the honest questions he continues to ask, as he offers clear wisdom from a life of deep practice. He encourages us all to dig deep, find the treasure within, practice courageously, and share our gifts with the world.” * Linda Holiday, 7th degree Aikido Shihan and author of Journey to the Heart of Aikido * “This book is a gift of love from Richard. A true artist of embodied spirituality, he helps us explore every experience and transition as sacred moments to awaken the divine spark within us. This is a heartfelt book of empowering purpose for the soul in times of crisis and transformation.” * Richard Leider, author of The Power of Purpose * “Do you seek to have a stronger leadership presence? You must become more fully present. Richard Strozzi-Heckler embodies presence, and he generously shares it. This wonderful book traces his fifty-year quest for full presence through the practice of meditation, aikido, and somatics. Embodying the Mystery shows the struggle and growth of one of our great teachers. It will stay with me for years to come.” * Sally Helgesen, author of The Female Advantage and coauthor of How Women Rise * “Perhaps the most profound and valuable teaching in this book is the importance of being fully present in our bodies in order to reify our spirit. This presence nourishes and enables the spirit to be expressed in our lives in very profound ways. Strozzi- Heckler came to this path through his macho upbringing in working-class neighborhoods as a military brat, leading him to explore the martial arts, meditation, and somatics. The mastery of aikido allowed him to find the vulnerability of being fully present. And, in so doing, he discovered the spiritual way of the body.” * Nancy J. Hutson, Ph.D., former senior vice president of Pfizer Global Research and Development * “There isn’t a better teacher for this human moment, amid climate change and pandemic mourning, than Richard Strozzi-Heckler. This book is a guide to awareness and gratitude through seasons of grief and loss. He helps dignify our fear and trains us to live ‘in the mystery’ of all we don’t know.” * Saket Soni, founder of Resilience Force * “What an honor to watch a man who has worked on himself his entire life make his harvest of wisdom. How generous of Richard to share this abundance of insights with us and to share himself so openly through Embodying the Mystery.” * Arkan Lushwala, author of The Time of the Black Jaguar * “What an honor to watch a man who has worked on himself his entire life make his harvest of wisdom. How generous of Richard to share this abundance of insights with us and to share himself so openly through Embodying the Mystery.” * Arkan Lushwala, author of The Time of the Black Jaguar * “In his beautiful prose, Richard shares his personal stories of longing, grief, vulnerability, and 50 years of spiritual practice that took him deeply into the world. Reading it, I found myself welcomed home, invited into the unknown I, too, long for.” * Staci K. Haines, author of The Politics of Trauma and founder of generationFIVE * “Strozzi-Heckler offers us timeless anchors to ground ourselves, adapt, and fully meet our challenges with heartfelt strength and dignity. This life-changing book invites us to pause, take a relaxed breath, and embody our lives to the absolute fullest. Reading this awe-inspiring work will leave you feeling excited and alive. Fortunate are those explorers who venture into Richard’s doorway of wonder and pragmatic wisdom.” * Fred Krawchuk, Colonel (retired), Army Special Forces * “Embodying the Mystery is an eloquently crafted guidebook for exploring human existence. Richard’s stories illustrate an infectious curiosity and teach that with continued practice my world-changing ideas become reality. This is a deeply empowering book. I had to fully exhale to feel it, to be it.” * Lisa Picard, former president and CEO of EQ *

In Embodying the Mystery, we are invited on a journey where Richard shows us the pivotal moments in his transformative journey, and it is a profound unveiling. The longing for more that Richard speaks of feels so familiar--there is a path within each of us that can hold, wants to hold, the great mystery. By showing us these intimate moments of learning and opening, Richard opens a portal for us to see both the possibilities of and practices toward our own awakenings. * Adrienne Maree Brown, author of Emergent Strategy * Richard shares his journey through healing, learning, and growth into awareness and appreciation of the sacred interconnected web of life. Part memoir, part inquiry, part transmission, it is a beautiful reflection about living consciously in a human body. * Elizabeth A. Stanley, Ph.D., author Widen the Window * Embodying the Mystery is a gift of bone-deep wisdom and spirit springing; you'll find yourself celebrating the wonder and possibility of living in a human body. It is the kind of book that only comes out of a life as deeply lived as Richard's has been--wonderful to read! * Ginny Whitelaw, author of Resonate and founder and Roshi of the Institute for Zen Leadership * Richard Strozzi-Heckler shares his life's journey with us with inspiring vulnerability and grace. Story after moving story, exquisitely written, reveals the powerful experiences, personal struggles, and healing practices that have shaped him since childhood. How wonderful, how refreshing it is to read the honest questions he continues to ask, as he offers clear wisdom from a life of deep practice. He encourages us all to dig deep, find the treasure within, practice courageously, and share our gifts with the world. * Linda Holiday, 7th degree Aikido Shihan and author of Journey to the Heart of Aikido * This book is a gift of love from Richard. A true artist of embodied spirituality, he helps us explore every experience and transition as sacred moments to awaken the divine spark within us. This is a heartfelt book of empowering purpose for the soul in times of crisis and transformation. * Richard Leider, author of The Power of Purpose * Do you seek to have a stronger leadership presence? You must become more fully present. Richard Strozzi-Heckler embodies presence, and he generously shares it. This wonderful book traces his fifty-year quest for full presence through the practice of meditation, aikido, and somatics. Embodying the Mystery shows the struggle and growth of one of our great teachers. It will stay with me for years to come. * Sally Helgesen, author of The Female Advantage and coauthor of How Women Rise * Perhaps the most profound and valuable teaching in this book is the importance of being fully present in our bodies in order to reify our spirit. This presence nourishes and enables the spirit to be expressed in our lives in very profound ways. Strozzi- Heckler came to this path through his macho upbringing in working-class neighborhoods as a military brat, leading him to explore the martial arts, meditation, and somatics. The mastery of aikido allowed him to find the vulnerability of being fully present. And, in so doing, he discovered the spiritual way of the body. * Nancy J. Hutson, Ph.D., former senior vice president of Pfizer Global Research and Development * There isn't a better teacher for this human moment, amid climate change and pandemic mourning, than Richard Strozzi-Heckler. This book is a guide to awareness and gratitude through seasons of grief and loss. He helps dignify our fear and trains us to live 'in the mystery' of all we don't know. * Saket Soni, founder of Resilience Force * What an honor to watch a man who has worked on himself his entire life make his harvest of wisdom. How generous of Richard to share this abundance of insights with us and to share himself so openly through Embodying the Mystery. * Arkan Lushwala, author of The Time of the Black Jaguar * What an honor to watch a man who has worked on himself his entire life make his harvest of wisdom. How generous of Richard to share this abundance of insights with us and to share himself so openly through Embodying the Mystery. * Arkan Lushwala, author of The Time of the Black Jaguar * In his beautiful prose, Richard shares his personal stories of longing, grief, vulnerability, and 50 years of spiritual practice that took him deeply into the world. Reading it, I found myself welcomed home, invited into the unknown I, too, long for. * Staci K. Haines, author of The Politics of Trauma and founder of generationFIVE * Strozzi-Heckler offers us timeless anchors to ground ourselves, adapt, and fully meet our challenges with heartfelt strength and dignity. This life-changing book invites us to pause, take a relaxed breath, and embody our lives to the absolute fullest. Reading this awe-inspiring work will leave you feeling excited and alive. Fortunate are those explorers who venture into Richard's doorway of wonder and pragmatic wisdom. * Fred Krawchuk, Colonel (retired), Army Special Forces * Embodying the Mystery is an eloquently crafted guidebook for exploring human existence. Richard's stories illustrate an infectious curiosity and teach that with continued practice my world-changing ideas become reality. This is a deeply empowering book. I had to fully exhale to feel it, to be it. * Lisa Picard, former president and CEO of EQ *

Author Information

Richard Strozzi-Heckler has a Ph.D. in psychology and is a Shihan 7th-degree black belt in aikido. A nationally known speaker, coach, and consultant on embodied leadership and mastery, he has spent more than 5 decades researching, developing, and teaching Somatics to business leaders, executive managers, teams from Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, technology start-ups, non-profits, and the U.S. government and military. He is the founder of the Strozzi Institute, where he teaches courses on somatic coaching and leadership in action. The author of 8 books, including In Search of the Warrior Spirit, he lives in Northern California.

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