Deep Shift

If I could sum up the theme of my writing in two words, Deep Shift would cover it.

Deep Shift is new thinking. It’s the opening of the broken heart. It’s the step that proceeds transformation of core identity.

Deep Shift goes beyond simply taking on a new paradigm, it’s metanoia. (More on that in a moment.)

I imagine a massive glacier, undercut by streams of water, warming its roots until it breaks free and is released out into the ocean.

My novels are about characters who experience a deep shift. More than that, the novels are designed to evoke deep shift in my readers. In order to do this, the stories must be entertaining and engaging at both head and heart level.

Likewise, you will notice that the short articles I post here are not random; they all centre on Deep Shift. (Some articles are closer to the centre than others, but the theme is still there.)

Deep Shift is my interpretation of the Ancient Greek word metanoia. Its closest cousin in English is ‘paranoia’ but while paranoia is associated with mental illness, metanoia leads to wellness and wholeness.

I learned about metanoia from the Gospel of Mark. This short, ancient document presents Jesus as a travelling therapist. He heals the body, mind, heart and spirit. His theme in his public lectures is “Think Differently!” (Metanoia) then he explains why this Deep Shift is necessary. “The Empire of the Sky has begun its invasion!”

What does an invading empire have to do with health? Because the ultimate health challenge that Jesus is addressing lies at a much deeper level of the self than his hearers expected.

If you think this doesn’t sound very, um, ‘religious’, I would have to agree with you. I am discovering more and more that Jesus’ message of Deep Shift is the least religious thing I have ever heard! I am only scratching the surface on how any of that works.

Hence my writing.

Hence this blog.

Which functions, a lot, like an author’s notebook. Some things I post are just rough sketches. They won’t go anywhere. Other themes will be caught up, recycled, split apart and reused until I get them right.