John E. Nelson

Our world divided. Two years in the aftermath of the Second 9/11-the nuclear destruction of Baltimore-the rising trillion-dollar border with Mexico walls us in. No one in the newly formed Federal Police Service admits Ramon, a ruthless drug cartel magnate, bypasses the border with impunity. But, with the kidnapping of the daughter of a US Presidential candidate, long-buried secrets emerge. Forced to work together, FPS Agent Johnny Pinchot and Mexican special agent Oscar Games must overcome their distrust, and destroy the tech-savvy drug lord's far-reaching tentacles of power and influence.

The links between madness, creative genius, and spiritual experiences have tantalized philosophers and scientists for centuries. In Healing the Split, John Nelson brings the lofty ideas of transpersonal psychology down to earth so they can be applied in a practical way to explain the bizarre effects of insanity on the human mind. Drawing on a vast knowledge of Eastern philosophy and mainstream neuropsychiatry, he heals the split between orthodox and alternative views with a comprehensive approach that goes beyond both. Starting where R. D. Laing and Thomas Szasz left off, Nelson revises and expands their radical views in light of modern brain science. He then turns to ancient tantric yoga for a synthesis that weaves brain, psyche, and spirit into a compelling new conception of mental illness. For professionals who seek to meet the needs of their patients more creatively, this book offers a unique synthesis. For people in emotional crisis, it clarifies the distinctions among intractable psychosis, temporary breakdowns in the service of healing (spiritual emergencies), and psychic breakthroughs (spiritual emergence). And for anyone interested in the seemingly inexplicable workings of the human mind gone mad, this fascinating exploration of psychotic states of consciousness will be exciting reading.