Warrior's Return - by Edward Tick (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

War touches us all--leaving visible and invisible wounds on the warriors who fight, disrupting their families and communities, and leaving lasting imprints on our national psyche. In spite of billions spent on psychological care and reintegration programs, we face an epidemic of combat-related conditions such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). With Warrior's Return, Dr. Edward Tick presents a powerful case for changing the way we welcome our veterans back from service--a vision and a path for transforming the wounds of war into sources of wisdom, honor, and growth.
After more than 35 years of working with veterans, Dr. Tick has learned that our conventional ways of addressing the trauma and woundings of war fall far short, usually focusing only on symptoms and temporary relief. Drawing on lessons from cross-cultural wisdom, mythical archetypes, and proven methods from psychology, he offers this book as a valuable resource to help families, caregivers, and returning veterans understand and cope with the life-changing effects of combat, including:
Re-examining PTSD--why we must expand our understanding of the full psychological and spiritual impact of war's invisible woundsArchetype of the warrior--service in combat as a "journey to the underworld," and why the return home is the most crucial stageThe warrior's path--timeless wisdom from tradition, classical philosophy, great leaders, and religious and mythological sourcesHow cultures around the world have welcomed home their returning warriors for centuries--and what we can learn from themThe warrior's initiation--how the old self dies on the battlefield and a new, more mature self evolves in its placeRestoration--methods for overcoming disillusionment and soul-fatigue to restore the warrior's sense of purpose, motivation, and connectionComing home--specific steps for reintegrating our warriors back into our families and communities Honor--how a warrior can retain personal integrity and self-respect even when they have participated in a war they don't believe inForgiveness, reconciliation, and atonement--ways for warriors to close the circle and begin healing what was destroyed
"This is not a hopeless situation," states Dr. Tick. "Lifelong suffering after war is not inevitable if we understand war's impact on the heart and soul, both for ourselves and our culture." For veterans and those who wish to support them, Warrior's Return offers step-by-step guidance for initiating our transformed warriors into valued members of our community--with an essential map for the hero's journey home.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Soldier's Heart. Visit soldiersheart.net.

Review Quotes

"Dr. Tick proposes a groundbreaking new approach to combat-trauma treatment that transcends mere assimilation back into functional civilian status. He presents a truly holistic understanding of PTSD and explains why society must acknowledge and embrace warriors' wounds as our own. A must-read for veterans, their families, counselors, and all healers." --Larry Malerba, DO, author of Green Medicine: Challenging the Assumptions of Conventional Health Care

"Dr. Tick's approach to healing eclipses today's world of symptom management. Warrior's Return goes beyond living on the 'life raft' and addresses the deeper level of healing that firmly plants veterans back into the fertile ground of life, living, and making a difference." --Robert Csandl, MHS, Vietnam veteran and executive director of Treatment Trends, Inc./Veterans Sanctuary

"So much attention is given to the symptoms of returning soldiers with little for the wounding of their hearts. Dr. Ed Tick, author of War and the Soul and director of Soldier's Heart, has worked for more than three decades to develop and apply a model for not just treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but for actually healing the condition at the origin of the wound. In his first book he mapped out the inner world of the combat survivor with a portrait of the soul at war and now, with his newest writing, Warrior's Return, he provides a detailed holistic, cultural, and spiritual understanding of PTSD and the way home through the restoration of the spiritual warrior. As a combat veteran myself, Dr. Tick's work has been invaluable in my return home and for a new life after war. Modern diagnostic procedures have not offered much for a problem that historically has existed through many millennia. However, now veterans from all wars, past and present, have the information needed with this amazing approach." --John Wesley Fisher, Vietnam veteran, Doctor of Chiropractic, and author of Angels in Vietnam, Not Welcome Home, and The War After the War

"Ed Tick has counseled thousands of wounded warriors. He has studied the warrior in history. He knows the ancient archetypes of warriors and war. No politician should send soldiers to war without reading this book. All of us who care about our warriors should read this book. Warrior's Return is a unique contribution. It will change your understanding of the warriors who protect and defend us." --Michael Lerner, president of Commonweal and author of Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer

"A poignant and beautiful masterpiece that I could not put down. Warrior's Return goes to the heart and soul of the warrior's experience--and how the individual, community, and country can transform inwardly shattered protectors into valued and healed contributors in society. A must read for Service members, their families, helpers, and the nation's citizens--all of whom share responsibility for sending our sons and daughters off to war and bringing them all the way home again." --Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD, LTC (USAR, Ret.), founder of Resilience Training International and author of The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook, The Complete Guide to Resilience, and The Resilient Warrior

"As a field battalion surgeon in Vietnam, I returned with PTSD, a term which then did not exist. Neither did the methods of healing in this brilliant book. Had they existed, my journey might have been smoothed, along with the suffering of thousands of war veterans since then. The brutal truth is that war often devastates the victors as well as the defeated. Physical wounds may heal, but psycho-spiritual wounds can fester for a lifetime. Dr. Edward Tick understands the causes and cure of these problems as clearly as anyone I know. Warrior's Return is a masterful follow-up to his groundbreaking War and the Soul. These books constitute the Bible for understanding and treating war trauma. We owe it to our returning warriors to master the wisdom in these two volumes." --Larry Dossey, MD, battalion surgeon, Vietnam, and author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters

"Warrior's Return is an engaging and healing journey into the great soul-suffering that our returning veterans face. Ed Tick wisely and compassionately reveals the invisible horrors of PTSD and calls to the heart that our concept of war as a means of settling differences has never worked and will never work. Warrior's Return is a must-read for any legislator or military officer involved in making a decision to place soldiers into the battlefield." --Steve Robertson, founder/CEO of ProjectPeaceOnEarth.org, and author of The Power of Choice: Success and Your Life Purpose

"This is a beautifully written and profound book. This provocative work has the type of universality and breadth one finds in the works of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. It probes the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, the teachings and rituals of our Native American heritage, the assessments of leaders such as President Lincoln and General Sherman, and the reflections of our modern-day warriors. Not only will the reader acquire a deeper understanding of what it means to be a warrior, what it means to be in war and how the war experience transforms a warrior, but it also provides compelling approaches to help heal the warrior's soul, spirit, and mind when she/he returns from war. This is an important work. It should be read not only by all professionals tasked with treating the returned warrior, but by the family and friends of warriors, by the politicians who make policies affecting warriors and decisions on whether to send our warriors into combat, by those given the responsibility to prepare our men and women for combat, and by anyone who believes they should have a voice in determining whether we send troops into combat or how we care for and treat our warriors when they return from war." --Marnie Lo Baugh, PhD, clinical and neuropsychologist, and Les Lo Baugh, Esq., attorney, Vietnam veteran, and advisory board member for SupportVetsNow.org, Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge, and ProjectPeaceOnEarth.org

"Dr. Ed Tick never tries to be something he is not--he is an authentic soul. Like some medicine men from other cultures, he stands apart from those he serves. He has mastered the art of sitting quietly in the dark with warriors and has found ways to honor their words, experiences, and pain. Warrior's Return is an anecdotal road map that does not point the way "The warrior archetype has existed at least as long as recorded history. Edward Tick, author of the cutting-edge book, War and the Soul, draws on classic texts from the ancient world (including the Old Testament) to demonstrate the prevalence of the archetype and the moral codes that have developed around it. Jung suggested that war is society's shadow self expressing unconscious destructive tendencies. If that is the case, then how societies treat their warriors is an indication of the health or dis-ease of those societies. Tick makes the case that our neglect of modern warriors is eroding the very fiber of America. He takes a close look at difficult but necessary ideas like rehumanization, witnessing in community, and society's need to "buy back" its wounded warriors. The research into trauma that followed the Vietnam War was vital to the successful treatment of abuse survivors. Tick is now highlighting the issue of psycho-spiritual healing which will allow trauma survivors, not just soldiers, to truly return home in every sense of the phrase." --Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight

"Warrior's Return prepares readers for the realities of war's lingering impact and encourages us all to confront what it really means to recover from injury, both physical and invisible. Dr. Tick does a great job of telling the individual stories of our veterans, in modern times and throughout history, and the challenges that emerge as warriors return home and must adjust to a new set of circumstances and realities. This book is a must-read for any veteran, loved one, or citizen who wants to learn how spiritual guidance can assist in the transition back from combat operations." --Congressional Representative Denny Heck, Washington

"Edward Tick's enlightening portrayal of America's 'throwaways'--our returning soldiers--gives a much-needed voice to the sad epidemic confronting our veterans. He courageously explores the PTSD crisis and draws light to the support systems that fail our warriors. Although he sheds light on a bleak reality, his words and message are full of hope and possibility. As a colleague also committed to serving first responders, I couldn't be more thankful for this book and its clear and powerful message." --Lisa Wimberger, founder of the Neurosculpting Institute and author of Neurosculpting and New Beliefs, New Brain

"Finally someone has displayed enough compassion to give returning warriors a scientific way of dealing with their trauma. Warrior's Return is a book important enough for everyone to read." --Arun Gandhi, president of Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute

"After finishing Ed Tick's new book, Warrior's Return, all I can say is 'Wow.' Ed takes a well-rounded and holistic approach to continued healing and growth for veterans after coming home from battle, and his depth and drive to continue working with the military are truly inspiring." --Chaplain (Major) Michael McCawley, US Army

"Warrior's Return is an invitation to take the long journey through war to a 'warrior's return.' Dr. Tick beckons the reader to think deeply about the warrior and offers insight and a rich, hopeful lexicon that will assist in our individual and corporate desire to overcome and heal the 'soul wound' of war. This book will inspire, challenge, teach, and guide those who have served and suffered and those who want to help them." --Chaplain (Colonel) Mike Lembke, US Army

"Ed Tick's book Warrior's Return is a wake-up call that instills a gut-level understanding of the unacceptable horrors of war and the inevitable soul-scarring that impacts our courageous soldiers and our society. Clearly, no one ever wins, at any time, during war. Ed shows a pathway of healing that can forever break this traumatic cycle of horror that impacts us all." --Jonathan Elias, composer and music producer of The Prayer Cycle and Path to Zero albums and president and founder of Elias Arts

"Warrior's Return should be required reading. This is a raw and honest book explaining what happens when men and women are sent to war. At the same time, the book is filled with inspiration and hope. The cross-cultural stories that Dr. Edward Tick shares are deep and rich. What is so inspirational is how Dr. Tick offers a psycho-spiritual approach that heals and restores the heart, soul, and spirit of our veterans. This is a powerful and important book that offers a comprehensive vision to assist veterans' reintegration into community." --Sandra Ingerman, MA, author of Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self

"The French novelist Antoine St. Exupery once wrote that what is most important is not what is visible, but what is invisible--an insight that Dr. Ed Tick would wholeheartedly agree with in regards to the wounds of war veterans. His invaluable new book, Warrior's Return, is an ecology of war's invisible wounds, both those of the warriors themselves and that of the culture that pretends to support their hero-warriors in the name of patriotism, but for the most part prefers their soul wounds to remain invisible. Finally, here is a book that makes the darkness in our warriors' souls visible--and then provides a map that offers hope and direction to bring those souls home again." --Phil Cousineau, author of The Art of Pilgrimage and editor of Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement

"Ed Tick is probably the world's leading authority on warrior cultures and the warrior's path through the life span. Readers will find here an understanding of the psychological wounds of war as a human universal rather than as a psychiatric condition, followed by an account of the necessary requirements for the warrior's personal transformation and the successful return home. The suggestion is that psychiatric and psychological care are effective only to the extent that they meet the profound human truths discussed in this book. Veterans who read Tick's work will find meaning and dignity even in their darkest places." --Roger Brooke, veteran of South African Special Forces, professor of psychology, and director of military psychological services at Duquesne University

"A masterpiece from one of our wisest elders for understanding the complex dimensions of war trauma. In drawing from an essential recognition of the warrior (and healer) archetypes, Dr. Tick provides a scholarly map that should be essential reading for all trauma therapists, and by the institutions that are entrusted to treat our military. By addressing these soul wounds, we can begin to provide the deep healing that our returning warriors deserve. This is, as a nation, our sacred duty to those who have risked life and limb to defend us." --Peter A. Levine, PhD, author of In An Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness and Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma

"Our warring nation has become skilled at healing many of the physical wounds our men and women receive in war. However, we are not as skilled at healing the invisible wounds that reside in their hearts and their souls. Dr. Edward Tick's vital work utilizes multicultural healing rituals to welcome our veterans back from battle, to make sacred the powerful initiations they experienced, and to help them take their honored place as soul warriors who personify strength, resilience, and hard-won wisdom." --Karla McLaren, author of The Language of Emotions and The Art of Empathy

"Warrior's Return: Restoring the Soul After War is a provocative, transcending, and solidly researched analysis of how cultures across time have both successfully and unsuccessfully addressed the inevitable traumatic wounding from war and violence. Ed Tick's lucid writing style embeds veterans' narratives, historical lessons, and compelling insights to unveil a prescriptive model for how society can effectively assist warrior populations throughout the cycle of initiation, restoration, and returning to society--making it one of the most powerful and profound accounts of war, warriorhood, and healing ever written." --Mark C. Russell, PhD, ABPP, Commander, US Navy (Ret.), and director of the Institute of War Stress Injury, Recovery, and Social Justice at Antioch University

About the Author

Edward Tick
Edward Tick, PhD, cofounded the nonprofit Soldier's Heart, Inc. with his partner Kate Dahlstedt and serves as executive director in Troy, New York. He has been honored for his groundbreaking work in the spiritual, holistic, and community-based healing of veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A psychotherapist for 40 years, he has specialized in working with veterans since the 1970s. He is the author of Sacred Mountain, The Practice of Dream Healing, The Golden Tortoise, Wild Beasts and Wandering Souls and the award-winning War and the Soul.
Dr. Tick is an internationally recognized educator and expert on veterans, PTSD, and the psychology of military-related issues. He has conducted trainings, retreats, and workshops across the country and overseas. He has lectured, trained staff, and worked with wounded warriors at West Point, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Fort Hood, Fort Bragg, Fort Knox, Altus Air Force Base, and other Department of Defense facilities. The Department of Defense and VA facilities now use his pioneering work and he was the US Army's 2012 PTSD Expert Trainer for its annual Chaplain Sustainment Training.
For more information, visit soldiersheart.net.