The Thirst for Wholeness: Attachment, Addiction, and the Spiritual Path

Grof, a San Francisco Bay Area transpersonal psychologist, argues that addiction is a manifestation of profound spiritual yearning--the ``thirst for wholeness'' which Jung defined as a fundamental dilemma of being human. To escape the pain of this craving and fill the emptiness it implies, Grof suggests, many people adopt addictive behaviors, which only further parch the soul. The thirst can be quelled, she advises, only by moving through the emptiness to spiritual understanding. Drawing from 12-step programs, from Jungian and humanistic psychology and her own experiences as a recovering alcoholic, Grof offers a thoughtful, compassionate self-help guide. (Aug.)