Book Review: War and the Soul

 War and the Soul: Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Edward Tick.  Quest Books: Wheaton, Illinois (2005).

Wars do not end when the bombs stop falling.  The terrible price of war is paid over and over again, in sometimes for a lifetime, by the soldiers who survive those wars with PTSD.   Ed Tick’s book offers an new look at at this enduring human problem.

The War Doesn’t End When the Soldier Returns Home

Those of us living in the U.S are intimately connected with the problems of soldiers returning from war: suicides, homelessness, emotional dislocation, domestic  violence, substance abuse.  We may see these problems but most of us don’t have a clue what to do about them  except to “support the troops” when the next war comes along.

Losing that Which is Most Deeply Human in Battle

Dr. Tick is a psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of veterans with PTSD. He begins with an inquiry into the human soul, through which we experience our human uniqueness and depth.  Dr. Tick discovered, as his clients with recurrent and persistent PTSD opened up to him, that they  suffered soul loss during the horrors of battle. In vivid terms they described that the most human part of themselves simply left when during the slaughter of modern warfare. 

Exploring the Realm of the Archtypal Energies and the Mythic

He takes us on a fascinating journey through the mythic arena and archetypal energies of war, examining how war has been with human beings throughout the ages.   In earlier eras, rites of passages were embedded within cultures to help young males prepare for their role as adults in their societies and for the role of warrior.  This meant facing danger and death.

The Honorable Role of Warrior Has Been Lost in Modern Warfare

War and the idea of the warrior has evolved and changed dramatically over the past century. In its origins war was defensive and the role of the warrior was purely to defend family, home and the survival of one’s kin and clan.  The warrior’s role was a vital one and the sacrifices of the warrior were honorable.  However, as war has become increasingly technological and mass murder has become common, particularly of innocents, the role of the warrior has been forgotten.  Wars have shifted from defensive purposes to imperialist and colonialist adventures and now pre-emptive wars and shows of force. 

Young Men and Women in Uniform Feel Betrayed

Young men and women may sign up for service in these wars at the age when the archetypal energies are stirring within them. Full of the yearning to be of service to loved ones and country, many join the armed services when they perceive their country is  threatened . There is a huge disconnect when they find themselves in battle and discover that they are “the bad guys” .  Soon they feel betrayed by their leaders. It is not surprising that so many veterans come home sick at heart.

Restoring Our Veterans to Health Means Hearing their Stories

How do we restore them to health?. Tick does retreats with veterans which include purification, cleansing  and storytelling.  As they tell their stories,  participants go deep into the shadow-lands to revisit their lost comrades and re-live the horrors of events long past.

The most important part of healing, Tick suggests, is shifting the burden from the individual soldier to society as a whole. For too long we have asked our veterans to bear the unbearable alone. Now it is time for the public, to bear collectively, what we asked them to do. We must hear their stories and know exactly what they saw and did and felt.  Only then will we truly honor our fallen and those who returned.

 Visit http://www.soldiersheart.net  to learn more about Dr. Edward Tick and the work of his organization leading healing retreats for veterans of American wars.

Questions of Inquiry:

• 1. When did we, as the public, agree not to know, what our servicemen and women had experienced in war? How have we colluded in silencing them?
• 2. How many veterans do you know ? Where have you seen the price of war paid?
• 3. Have you seen the price of war paid by non-combatants? How so?