BOOK REVIEW by Tom Larkin
Peter Gill – The Way of Curiosity: Discovering wisdom through listening to the body. Published by Living Focusing Press, May 2024.
Peter Gill is a Focusing teacher and coordinator living and working in the UK. He is also a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and has trained in Nature-Connection and leading Grief Circles.
This little book with a big heart is a very readable introduction to Focusing. While aimed at those who know little or nothing about Focusing, it has a lot to offer the experienced Focuser.
In addition to being a contemplation on Focusing and its processes, written in a very accessible way, it is very practical, containing 17 guided focusing invitations following on from an exploration on a particular topic related to Focusing or life issues e.g. parenting, loss, trauma, death etc. It is divided into two parts; part 1; “the doorway and the guide”, being an introduction and a practical guide and part two; “through the door”, a collection of Peter’s reflections on Focusing experiences - a genuine treasure trove of distilled wisdom. He judiciously quotes Eugene Gendlin, the developer of Focusing and refers a lot to Ann Weiser Cornell’s approach to the Focusing process (Inner Relationship Focusing). He also draws on a Buddhist understanding of life issues and situations.
Curiosity is at the heart of his elucidation of the Focusing process. Again and again, he invites and encourages the reader to pause and be curious about what’s going on in themselves and their lives when they are stuck, angry, hurt unsure etc. He says, “The key is not to take something at face value but to get curious as to what’s happening beneath the stories”
While overall, I really enjoyed, not so much reading as savouring this little book, what stands out for me is the way he employs similes, metaphors, personal instances and anecdotes that ground/concretise the Focusing experience, opening up fresh ways of seeing and understanding this life-enhancing practice – a real delight.
Peter’s website, https://www.livingfocusing.co.uk/ is a veritable mine of Focusing articles, audio recordings and upcoming events.
He also has a Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@livingfocusing
