A psychologist's deeply affirming exploration of the challenges and possibilities of the unknown--with meditations and exercises that can help transform the fear and uncertainty of "not knowing" into a sense of openness, curiosity, and bravery.
ESTELLE FRANKEL is a licensed marriage, family, and child therapist, spiritual advisor, and teacher of Jewish mysticism. Frankel has taught Jewish studies in Israel and throughout the US for over forty years in both academic and religious settings and was ordained as a Rabbinic Pastor and Spiritual Guide by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. She is a popular public speaker and storyteller who has taught workshops and given keynote speeches at numerous conferences and symposia. Frankel offers continuing education courses for therapists in sacred psychology and spirituality and is currently on the teaching faculty and spiritual leadership team of Chochmat Halev Center for Jewish Spirituality and Lehrhaus Judaica in Berkeley, CA. Frankel is the author of numerous essays on Judaism and psychology that have been published by a variety of professional and spiritual journals and literary anthologies including- Tikkun Magazine, Women & Therapy, The Responsive Community, and Parabola Magazine.
“This book inspires as it delights. Estelle Frankel’s graceful and
authoritative voice--fluent and informed as it seamlessly weaves
together religion, psychoanalytic theory, literature, philosophy
and modern science—recasts the ‘unknown’ from, a situation of dread
to an invitation to ever more liberating awareness.”
—Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness is an Inside Job: Practicing
for a Joyful Life
“Drawing on insights from the Jewish mystical tradition, as well as
Buddhism and psychoanalysis, Estelle Frankel demonstrates the
surprisingly positive value of ‘not knowing.’ This book is profound
and clear. It will enable you to become more intimate with your own
experience, to overcome fear, and to overcome the mental and
emotional challenges of daily life.”
—Daniel Matt, author of The Essential Kabbalah, God and the Big
Bang, and The Zohar: Pritzker Edition
“This book bristles with depth and insight, practical stories, and
humor as Estelle Frankel takes us on a deep and necessary journey
into the via negativa, the land of unknowing. She urges us in a
time of darkness and uncertainty to learn from the dark and to grow
our courage and our creativity in the process.”
—Rev Dr. Matthew Fox, author of A Way to God
“Readers seeking help with life’s problems can find it in a broad
range of titles . . . In The Wisdom of Not Knowing (Shambhala, out
now), Estelle Frankel—a therapist who also teaches Jewish
mysticism—proposes that psychological, emotional, and spiritual
health depend on accepting how much in life cannot be known, and
that it is important to have the courage to face uncertainty and
ambiguity.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“As she demonstrated in Sacred Therapy, Frankel is a masterful
meaning-maker. She skillfully marshals ideas and values from
mystical Judaism and psychotherapy and then launches into
astonishing intimations of the spiritual maturity that comes with
quests, creativity, darkness, questions, and open-mindedness.”
—Spirituality & Practice
“Psychotherapist and spiritual advisor Estelle Frankel, in her
book, The Wisdom of Not Knowing, explores the power of the unknown
to be friend rather than foe—it is the key to our personal
growth.”
—Beliefnet
“[Estelle Frankel’s] work is profound, but also accessible and
clear, always encouraging us to acknowledge the darkness, but not
to dwell there. While she draws from various religious traditions,
especially Judaism, the narrative doesn’t push a religious agenda
but instead seeks to utilize what insights the religion has to
offer. This makes The Wisdom of Not Knowing a suitable read for
non-religious readers as well. Overall, The Wisdom of Not Knowing
is a great read for the person seeking a thought-provoking read and
a little bit of insight into life’s biggest unknowns.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Success or failure . . . becomes almost immaterial when compared
with the grounded feeling that comes from confidently welcoming
whatever the next moment delivers. After all, the unknown is always
just around the corner. Failure to grasp this, Frankel warns, can
leave us in a state of constant worry, unable to enjoy what life
offers.”
—Experience Life magazine
“Using lessons garnered from such diverse sources as Jewish
mysticism, Buddhism, psychology, mythic studies, and spiritual
alchemy, Frankel offers a new way of looking at the unknown and
embracing the chaos of uncertainty. . . . This is a valuable tool
for any looking to befriend the unknown and find a valuable ally
for living whole and free from fear of life’s uncertainties.”
—Manhattan Book Review
“Estelle Frankel, a psychotherapist, rabbinic pastor and teacher of
Jewish mysticism through her study of Kabbalah, invites readers to
open themselves to the unknown, and even unknowable, through
mindfulness, intuition and a willingness to embrace the ‘white
space’ of meaningful silence and stillness between worlds.”
—Toronto Star
“In The Wisdom of Not Knowing psychotherapist and Jewish educator,
Estelle Frankel, describes her quest to understand and befriend the
“unknown.” With grace, compassion and unfailing honesty she weaves
insights from Judaism, Buddhism and psychoanalysis together with
case studies to convey how we grow our souls by continually facing,
rather than avoiding, our fears of the unknown. Frankel is a fine
writer and storyteller with an unusual capacity to present lofty
ideas in an accessible fashion. Anyone with an interest in Judaism,
spirituality and psychology will find much to reflect on in this
compelling book.”
—Orange County Jewish Life
“Estelle Frankel, a practicing psychotherapist and teacher of
Jewish mysticism, has written a timely new book about daring to not
know. Certainty in extreme situations, she says in a passage that
resonates today, can lead to bigotry and hatred, which "thrive in
environments where people are too certain—when they think they know
the truth and consider their version of it to be the only valid
perspective.” Too often we allow our fears to shape our
imagination; this prevents genuine possibility from emerging in our
lives, and holds us back from taking risks and venturing into the
unknown. Frankel suggests that we should use our imagination to
embrace the possibilities that not knowing can offer us, and as a
result, "our lives and our consciousness expand.”
—Mindful
“For most people, uncertainty holds a negative connotation. It can
make us look unprepared, unintelligent, and amateurish. And yet,
according to Estelle Frankel, the author of The Wisdom Of Not
Knowing: Discovering A Life Of Wonder By Embracing Uncertainty,
uncertainty doesn’t just lie at the seat of our faith, it holds
space in everything we do—from how we learn to how we love.
Uncertainty, while typically a stopping point, can also be an open
door, a door through which our deepest transformations can occur;
from fear to courage, from mistrust to love, and from worry to
freedom. With powerful stories, rich philosophical insight, and
timeless wisdom, The Wisdom of Not Knowing shows us how to step
through that door.”
—Psych Central
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