The Shape of the Soul

Paul Marshall invites us to embark on a supreme adventure of self-knowledge. He articulates a vision of the potential self we all are, a vision of ourselves transformed, in harmony with each other and, crucially, with the natural world. Highly recommended. -- Michael Grosso, independent scholar and author of The Man Who Could Fly: St. Joseph of Copertino and the Mystery of Levitation
In this remarkable book, Marshall persuasively enchants us with the recognition that we are not a world of separate selves but are all intimately interconnected in a cosmic unity that is our divine self. -- Ralph W. Hood Jr., professor of psychology at the University of Texas Austin and professor of religious studies at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
“Materialism” in its philosophic and socioeconomic guises threatens the very survival of modern civilization, and we desperately need an enlarged conception of nature that can overcome the contemporary alienation between science and spirituality. In this beautifully written book Paul Marshall addresses that need by bringing to bear both an uncommon knowledge of the world’s religious and mystical traditions, directly informed by mystical experiences of his own, and a deep understanding of relevant developments in modern physics. An outstanding contribution. -- Edward F. Kelly, professor of research, Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia, and co-editor of Beyond Physicalism: Toward Reconciliation of Science and Spirituality
The Shape of the Soul explores the practical message of mystical experience: clues not only to who we are but also to the nature of reality and how we fit into it. Marshall shows us how honoring our mystical potential lifts us out of our self-imposed estrangement from the world and breathes meaning and depth to our lives. This book will put you back in touch with who you really are. -- Bruce Greyson, M.D., Carlson Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia