On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions

In his ground-breaking work The Confessions, Augustine of Hippo (AD 343-430), a prominent theologian and philosopher of early Christianity, paved the way for self-disclosure and the art of writing one’s life story. In On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions, Dr. Blom delves into Augustine’s role as both protagonist and reflective narrator, portraying him as Christianity’s original existential hero.

Blom draws parallels between Augustine’s journey and that of the wanton prodigal son, viewing Augustine’s address to God as the voice of an ‘everyday man’ struggling to find his way home – a spiritual homecoming. By masterfully weaving together Jungian archetypal psychology, mythology, biblical interpretations, and autobiography, Blom invites the reader to embark on a captivating journey that bridges the gap between Augustine’s musings and meditations from the fifth century and the present day.

On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions offers a fresh perspective on a timeless classic, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to explore the depths of the human soul and the enduring relevance of Augustine’s wisdom.

Our Forgotten Cultures

In the 1980s, Sasi finds herself playing the role of involuntary trailblazer, as the first Nepali woman to immigrate to her small community in Eastern Canada.

There is no guidebook on how to navigate life, identity, and motherhood in this strange new place. Nor is she prepared for the triple whammy of racism, sexism, and ageism that confronts her as she seeks to gain a footing in the workplace and society.

Weaving together personal recollections with those of family members, Sasi takes the reader on a journey that is strikingly honest, emotional, and ultimately hopeful.

Overcoming Life's Challenges

The author tells his story of being born under the Gemini star sign, living a life defined by an unremitting struggle between the conflicting twins of “Yes, I can” and “No, you can’t!” It describes a struggle of early childhood uncertainty, being hidden as a child, of unanswered questions and preferring to be in the background during his childhood through to his middle years. Generally surrendering to the opinions of others, while holding back on his own views, was the hallmark of his being.

Hesitating to take on challenges was a familiar pattern, as was the likelihood of yielding to mediocracy, the easy way out. Tilting the balance away from “No you can’t” to “Yes, I can … and I will” was the major factor in the author’s life towards holding leadership positions in every sphere of his adult public life, from committee secretary early in his professional career to becoming Cape Town’s first citizen. From the mayoralty to ministry, standing up for justice and the dignity of life and being able to make a difference was the path he chose; mediocracy simply was not good enough.

Plantation Negroes of the 21st Century

Has the Black race been ostracized into a purgatory world where it is neither free nor enslaved and where the landscape looks remarkably like the Old Plantation?

Dr. Claud Anderson, former Assistant Secretary of Commerce, says: "Black folks in proportional comparative terms are regressing. Blacks have been socially engineered into the lowest levels of life... and are now more hated than at any time in the last 50 years."

Dr. Anderson does not come right out and say that Blacks are still stationed near the Old Plantation, but he comes awfully close...

The road that has led the Black race to this perilous moment in time leads us back to a host of villains. The White ones we all know about, the Black ones, Negroes, who prey on their fellow Black sufferers, we conveniently choose to forget about-those House Negroes, that Malcolm X warned us about?

This book will name and shame... the Plantation Negroes of the 21^st Century.

Positive Thinking As a Way of Life

Penned with a profound desire to aid individuals grappling with mental hurdles like depression, dwindling motivation, and self-assurance, this book serves as a companion in your journey towards self-betterment. Through its affirming lines and a special emphasis on the EODs - daily nuggets of positivity, the author aspires to instill a renewed sense of self-worth, nudging you to stand tall, gradually bolstering your confidence and self-esteem with each passing day.

In the face of today’s global adversities, the narrative underscores the essence of daily self-care, urging not only personal adherence but also the encouragement of loved ones to embrace this nurturing practice. It is a clarion call for humanity to not merely endure, but to flourish and thrive, making the most of our everyday lives.

Power Spiritual Stories

These one hundred stories, born from three decades of spiritual pursuit, were chosen for their profound impact. Stories can be life-changing. It is often said that the shortest distance between a human being and truth is a story. In a world filled with untruths, stories help us discern what to believe. They allow us to explore different thoughts, perceptions, and actions, encouraging us to adopt new attitudes and choices. They provide a new way to interact with the world and others. These stories possess a power beyond words, connecting deeply with the brain and touching the soul. They carry messages from God that illuminate darkness and bring transformation. Stories can shift our paradigms, stimulate new perspectives, and help us transcend the physical to go beyond apparent facts.

Psalms: A Journey of Faith

In a heartfelt journey of faith, Psalms: A Journey of Faith by Dolores Wyckoff serves as a beacon of hope, encouragement, and strength. This collection of reflections, inspired by the Psalms, invites readers into a deep contemplation of their spiritual path, offering solace and inspiration along the way. Whether in moments of doubt or times of joy, Wyckoff’s writings affirm the ever-present love of God and His purposeful plan for each life. Trust in this journey to rekindle your faith and guide your heart toward the light of God’s unwavering promise.

Psychedelics: A Full Story

Psychedelics: A Full Story comprises an extensively researched discussion of the major psychedelics: LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), mescaline (peyote), DMT (ayahuasca), MDMA (ecstasy), ibogaine, and ketamine, and examines their historical and unique aspects as well as the most recent research.

The colorful and controversial history of LSD is discussed from widespread and successful clinical use, little-know CIA projects, and serious personal exploration, to well-known controversial figures such as Timothy Leary. Reasons are examined for its sudden downfall from a position of esteem to one of fear and antipathy in the mind of the public.

This discussion ranges from the history of these psychedelics to their potentials for healing and spiritual development, from their use among indigenous cultures to current researchers, from psychedelic drug explorations to questions about mind and consciousness. It includes in-depth discussion of the potential of psychedelics to address several challenges facing us today including mental health disorders and addictions, the shrinking of our understanding of mind to the physical and chemical processes in the brain, and our difficulties dealing with death and dying. New and profound insights about the human mind emerging from psychedelic experience and research are discussed as well as exploration of transpersonal and spiritual experiences involving the nature, range, and depth of consciousness, the reality of spirit, and the nature of reality.

The story of psychedelics examines what recently has become an exciting new chapter. While their use was made illegal in the late 1960s and research ground to a halt, in the last few years there has been an explosion of psychedelic research primarily focused on the possibilities it holds for the treatment of mental illness and addiction.

Quiet Before the Storm

In The Quiet Before the Storm, witness the aftermath of nature’s fury and the resilience of the human spirit. This powerful visual and emotional journey explores the catastrophic aftermaths of hurricanes Ike and Michael, the devastating tornadoes in Garland, Texas (2016), Dallas, Texas (2019), and Mayfield, Kentucky (2021), and the record-breaking flash flood in Wimberley, Texas (2015).

As an Austin firefighter and Texas Licensed Public Insurance Adjuster, I’ve captured the wreckage, miracles, and profound moments of despair and hope through my camera lens. This book is more than just photographs; it reflects on the interconnectedness of our lives and the forces of nature that shape them.

Each photograph, short story, and poem testifies to the enduring impact these events have had on me and the communities I serve. Amidst the devastation, there is beauty and resilience in the faces of those who rebuild their lives and the moments of kindness that emerge in the darkest times.

As you turn these pages, ponder the questions at the heart of our changing world. Is the increasing frequency and intensity of these disasters a result of global warming, human intervention, weather weapons, or ‘Acts of God’? While I may not have all the answers, I hope to spark conversations and inspire action to understand, prepare for, and mitigate the impact of the next rounds of storms.

Join me on this journey and find strength in the quiet before the storm, as we brace ourselves for the storms of weather and the chaos we face in our government.

Radical Resilience

In this incredible world of diversity, there is a darkness that blinds us from recognizing the beauty and value of all humanity. We are held hostage by our misconceptions, prejudices and fears.

How do we break free?

There is hope in the darkness. Beacons of light shine amongst us revealing the goodness of mankind. These courageous ones are moved by the people before them. They see into the human heart and respond with compassion. They understand their responsibility to partner for justice, creating a Radical Resilience that causes people to rise above their circumstances to thrive.

May the power of partnership create a Radical Resilience that changes the world.

Reconsidering Medicine

This is an original book on the philosophy of medicine. It considers philosophy of medicine as a subdiscipline of philosophy of science. This volume is grounded on an epistemological bottom-up account that arises from the clinical situation, the epidemiologic, and the resulting public health account. It is not a review of the literature, and it is not intended to frame the debates, or to analyze and compare the various number of viewpoints.

Medicine is the human activity, which begins by a linguistic act that identifies the negative norms of health: it begins with a first distinction that splits biological processes into three conventional parts, normal, abnormal and pathologic. Neither of them is a natural kind. Being abnormal is intrinsically bad and admits of degrees, while being pathologic is dichotomous. Being normal is factitious and counterfactual much the same as frictionless planes in physics. Leaving apart the ethical aspects, this book endeavors to uncover the implicit conceptual network, the chief junctures of medicine, should they be found, and their articulations with clinical and community medicine. It results that medicine is pervaded with dichotomous concepts such as scientific vs pragmatic discourse, function and malfunction, abnormal and pathologic, needs and wants, causation and explanation, clinical vs community-oriented care, physical vs psychiatric diseases, mental illness vs deviancy, and so on. Medical thinking has two dimensions intrinsically interweaved, namely a constant amalgam and admixture of biological and normative aspects, so that this essential hybrid nature of the grammar of medicine endorses opposite approaches, naturalistic or normativist, biological or value-laden, realist or instrumental, reductionist or holistic, phenomenological or analytic.

Reflections Before the Blessed Sacrament

Kneeling before Jesus in the tabernacle or being exposed on the altar is a magnificent gift of God. Aware of our sinfulness and the need to draw ever closer to Jesus, who did so much for us, we hope to show Him during these few minutes of prayer how much we love Him. However, being human, and despite our intent to focus on Him and nothing else, we often find our minds wandering or distracted only to suddenly realize we forgot where we were and what we wanted to do.

One way of trying to maintain our attention solely on Jesus is to use a reflection prepared ahead of time in a devotional book. In this humble book you will find a series of reflections, homilies given by the author over the years, to help you to offer yourself more fully every day, and especially when you are in Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist.