Holding the Center: Sanctuary in a Time of Confusion

by Richard Strozzi-Heckler

As in all his books, Heckler draws from personal experience: training his horse, cultivating presence in aikido dojos, consulting with business executives, raising children. A masterful and encompassing book, Holding the Center develops from the fulcrum of the self in the natural world. Many of Heckler’s lessons arise from his life as a householder and father. Community is a larger family—we make alliances to “take care of what matters to us.” But, as Heckler teaches, that takes listening to others with an open heart, and learning what the needs of others are.The world can be a sanctuary, if we find a balance between instinct and choice. Richard Strozzi Heckler sounds an important call about the interplay between power and generosity in these subtle and luminous essays.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology, Personal Growth

152 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 1997

About the author

Richard Strozzi-Heckler, PhD is founder and Co-Director of Methodology at Strozzi Institute. He has spent over four decades researching, developing and teaching Somatics to business leaders, executive managers, teams from Fortune 500 companies, NGOs, technology start-ups, non-profits, the U.S. government and military.

He was named one of the Top 50 Executive Coaches in The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching, and in Profiles in Coaching. He is the co-founder of the Mideast Aikido Project (MAP), which brings together Palestinians and Israelis through the practice of Aikido.

Richard is the author of eight books, including The Leadership Dojo, In Search of the Warrior Spirit, The Anatomy of Change, Holding the Center and The Art of Somatic Coaching: Embodying Skillful Action, Wisdom, and Compassion. From 2002 to 2007 he was an advisor to NATO and the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe (SACEUR) General Jim Jones, formally the National Security Advisor.

Richard has a PhD in Psychology and is a sixth degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido.

Reviews

[bruin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a great book to pair with the somatics&trauma course or to read if you're curious about what the fuck i'm doing with so much of the time in my life right now.
helps me realize some of the origins of s&t and clarify some of the concepts more.
i want embodiment and joy and connection in my life. skill-building is good. practicing new things is good. (these are the things i must repeat to myself ad nauseum. :))

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Propels me to start and build practices of: Aikido, being connected to the land, breathing awareness, observing the body, and crafting shared narratives between people.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each essay had something of interest, but I especially connected with the theme of PLACE in "A Good Year for Grasses."