Crossing the Soul's River

Book excerpt: A recent study at Harvard University concluded that the proverbial midlife crisis is largely a myth. The proponents of the study acknowledged, however, that the time of midlife is a period rich with possibility for growth. In Crossing The Soul's River, William Roberts not only suggests but outlines a rite of passage for men who find themselves at this threshold of both danger and opportunity.More than a few calls have been issued for a male rite of passage. For example, James Hollis has noted, As Mircea Eliade, Joseph Campbell, and other observers ... have suggested, our culture has lost the mythic road map which helps locate a person in a larger context. Intertwining theology, psychology, and his own harrowing journey through midlife, Roberts addresses the importance of traversing the soul's river in search of personal growth and the need for guidance through this passage. He then constructs a series of soul tasks to facilitate the rite of passage toward reconciliation with the self.