Witness to the Fire: Creativity and the Veil of Addiction

I really enjoyed this work and learned much. I will read it again someday.

I thought the book would be clean...it was marked and lined on every page

it is a must have for anyone struggling to understand addiction and trying to do creative work...you can pick it up at any page and it doesn't have to be a linear read.

This book is a classic! A truly great book to be read by alcoholics and non-alcoholics alike -- in fact, anyone caring about the humanity of self and others. I am very grateful to be able to turn to and experience such a writer. Similarly could be said for two more of her books, Wounded Woman and On the Way to the Wedding. I feel so grateful to have been exposed to an author like Linda Schierse Leonard.

Though a talented and creative writer, there seems to be a real lack of empirical evidence to her thesis here. Promoting theory and opinion of NA/AA theocracy as the only path to sobriety seems dangerous. Lots of shame based philosophy as well, such as the bypassing abuse by others, with blaming that the victim is resentful and flawed. The use of trying to meld existentialism with theocracy is contradictory. Such as, the constant use of dualism themes used in book. Human beings are much more complex then "good and evil". However, the Jungian archetypes is what works best in this book. Throw the preaching out, the promotion of AA slogans, and you have an excellent book on the many faces of addiction. I do wish there was more written on how the artist reclaims the art from addiction. Her theory on Eros and it's drug like effect is excellent. Hope she writes another minus the typical jargon.

In his book The Search for Musical Ecstasy, Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg comments on conversations he had with Linda Leonard speculating on why so many creative people - including our most famous artists - become addicts, saying: "It is very difficult to live with the anxiety of freedom, creatvity and expanded boundaries. It is natural to retreat back to safe limiting ideas when faced with the intense level of stress that accompanies adventures into new territories. Adventurers often start using some narcolithic substance to dull their anxiety and fear."

Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, would be a great book to read after reading this one. While Witness to the Fire presents a case for developing and nurturing creativity in the healing of addiction, The Artist's Way presents practical steps on how to achieve that goal.

This book explores the human conundrum between escape and true release. Read it if you are willing to forego superficiality (addictions are superficial solutions to deep issues) and take an honest look at life's soul challenges.Some peoples' addictions are really apparent; I struggle more with repetitive thinking patterns and behaviors and found that Leonard's excellent research, quotations, what she writes about her own experience totally apply. Very inspiring.Highly recommended for artists, mystics, and other human beings on the way.

Not my cup of tea