Iphelia

Iphelia is a graphic novel for the inner children of grown men and women. It is the story of a girl born with a special gift of sensitivity, told through 90 pages of visually stunning images that animate the feeling-level of experience through color, texture, shape and motion, making it perfect for young children, too.

Like Iphelia, we are all born with the gift of feeling. But as we are exposed to all the wounded adults around us, we develop defenses that quiet and dull our emotional sense. We lose touch with our feelings, our connection with ourselves, and our capacity to really connect with each other. We lose empathy.

The graphic novel illustrates the language of feelings and teaches valuable lessons in friendship, forgiveness, creativity, integrity, and the power of feeling!

The second half of the book is a passionate educational exploration of the feeling-dimension of experience that includes exercises and techniques for practical application. Each of the practices supports the reader in developing a deeper understanding of feelings and greater self-awareness. The practices build on each other, facilitating a journey toward a peak of insight and understanding. Topics covered include empathy for self and others, personal integrity, addiction, communication, boundary setting, apologizing, meditation, and living consciously.

Acknowledgments v

Author’s Note vi

Invocation x

Dedication xi

Introduction 1

Feeling Awareness 3

Act I, The Awakening 5

Feelings Are Everywhere 24

Act II, The Lessons 27

Feelings Are Messages 70

Act III, The Gift 73

Feelings Are Real 105

Intention Setting (IS) 107

Practice - Seeing Feelings (SEER) 108

The Wounded Empath 111

The Fog of Projection 113

Practice - Identifying Projections (5WME) 116

The Healing’em Path to Clean Empathy 119

Clean Empathy 120

Personal Empathy 120

Core Feelings 123

Anger 123

Practice - Anger Release Ritual (ARR) 126

Fear 128

Sadness 130

Joy 132

Love 133

Gratitude 134

Practice - Feeling More Gratitude (SOS) 137

Perceiving Meaning 139

Practice - Knowing Your World (7D) 140

Personal Integrity 145

Practice - Improving Personal Integrity (SMART) 147

Addiction 150

Reclaiming Sensitivity 153

Courage, Fortitude, and the Iphelia Moment 157

Humility and the Trinity Within 161

The Child 162

The Mature Adult 163

The Higher Self 165

Iphelia Moments Within 169

Practice - Strengthen Up Mature Adult (SUMA) 171

Practice - Love On Connected Kid (LOCK) 173

Iphelia Moments in Relationship 177

Practice - Love On Other Kid (LOOK) 177

The Blessing of Boundaries 179

Practice - Defining the Lines (3D) 181

Setting Boundaries with the Self 183

Practice - Conflict Projection Resolution (CPR) 184

Outer Resolution 186

Practice - The CPR CALL 188

Practice - The Real Apology (FOR) 192

Living Consciously in Integrity 195

How to Get Conscious 197

The Tuning Power of Chant 197

Practice - Make a Playlist (PLAY) 198

Practice - Meditate Meditate Meditate (SITTER) 201

Meditation Pro Tips 204

The Continuum of Feeling (COF) 206

Disconnected 207

Distant Echo 207

Delayed Awareness 207

Present Awareness 208

Conscious Engagement 209

How to Feel Your Feelings 210

Awakening the Gift of Feeling 215

Awakening Community 216

The Dragon Heart 218

Becoming a GHFBPD 219

Feeling Awareness, A New Paradigm 224

Empathy Knows Glossary (EKG) 229

Appendix 243

Glossary of Terms 245

About the Author 257