What do you think?
Rate this book
Facing the Darkness
This book aims to support those going through times of crisis and depression – primarily Pagan, but accessible to all. Utilising Pagan spiritual imagery, skills and perspectives, a combination of inspirational text and easy exercises work with images and stories to distract and encourage for short-term relief and long-term healing.
From the apparent hopelessness of deep night through to the inevitable return of sunrise, Nature imagery, tales of mythology and Deity combine in accessible meditations, activities and anecdotes to remind the reader that they are not alone on their path through the darkness.
Cat acts as a guide through the forest, working with the Druid skills of Bardic tales and Ovatic land/spirit connection. Darkness and despair can lead to peace and inspiration… through the simple bravery of stepping forward.
‘Facing the Darkness’ contains beautiful original artwork by Emma Hotchkin, as well as many individual tales of quiet heroism experienced every day.
‘This is a book for those times when you are literally on your knees and the screaming inside your head is so loud that its either going to come out, or tear you apart. And for those times when you are numb to the marrow of your bones and the despair is so overwhelming that you can see no way to keep going. There’s very little that can help a person in those places, as you will know if you’ve been there or tried to help someone going through that kind of deep depression. Cat Treadwell has written a book that faces the torment head on, and offers words of support and insight to help a person not be destroyed by what is happening to them. A brave, raw and potent piece of writing, from someone who knows that the dark nights cannot be magically banished, but that they can be survived.’ – Nimue Brown, Author of ‘Druidry & the Ancestors’
‘It takes a certain special something for words in a book to reach you through a tar-pit of depression – the words in this book have that something. Cat shares her own experience and that of others simply and sensitively, offering insights and suggestions in small doses which have helped sufferers to hold on when it is hardest to do so. Some books expect a lot from you – this one accepts you where you are, as you are, offering perspective and a safe place to be when you’re vulnerable. If the best in us comes out when we are tested, maybe these words will guide you to the best in you.’ - Paul C. Newman, Bard & Storyteller
‘This rather ‘counter cultural’ little book (and by that, counter to the current ‘light’ obsessed perfection-driven and success-oriented western spirituality culture) is profoundly honest and filled to the edges with the gritty wisdom of one who’s not avoided the pain-filled way. It’s a book to be read slowly and mindfully. The exercises are practical and quietly powerful if given adequate time. As one also prone to the black clouds, I was grateful for the immediate sense of solidarity and support.’ - Mark Townsend, Author of ‘Jesus Through Pagan Eyes’
‘For anyone facing their dark night of the soul, Cat’s lyrical and painfully honest account is a guiding light. Cat’s tale of her own difficulties is moving, poignant and powerful. There is vulnerability here and a delicious inspirational quality that serves to lend a helping hand through the forests of depression and anguish.’ – Kristoffer Hughes, Head of the Anglesey Druid Order and author of ‘From the Cauldron Born’
‘A wise, practical and spiritual guide to dealing with depression, with advice from those who have walked the black dog and learned how best to kennel it.’ - Liz Williams, Award-Winning Novelist & Guardian Columnist
From the apparent hopelessness of deep night through to the inevitable return of sunrise, Nature imagery, tales of mythology and Deity combine in accessible meditations, activities and anecdotes to remind the reader that they are not alone on their path through the darkness.
Cat acts as a guide through the forest, working with the Druid skills of Bardic tales and Ovatic land/spirit connection. Darkness and despair can lead to peace and inspiration… through the simple bravery of stepping forward.
‘Facing the Darkness’ contains beautiful original artwork by Emma Hotchkin, as well as many individual tales of quiet heroism experienced every day.
‘This is a book for those times when you are literally on your knees and the screaming inside your head is so loud that its either going to come out, or tear you apart. And for those times when you are numb to the marrow of your bones and the despair is so overwhelming that you can see no way to keep going. There’s very little that can help a person in those places, as you will know if you’ve been there or tried to help someone going through that kind of deep depression. Cat Treadwell has written a book that faces the torment head on, and offers words of support and insight to help a person not be destroyed by what is happening to them. A brave, raw and potent piece of writing, from someone who knows that the dark nights cannot be magically banished, but that they can be survived.’ – Nimue Brown, Author of ‘Druidry & the Ancestors’
‘It takes a certain special something for words in a book to reach you through a tar-pit of depression – the words in this book have that something. Cat shares her own experience and that of others simply and sensitively, offering insights and suggestions in small doses which have helped sufferers to hold on when it is hardest to do so. Some books expect a lot from you – this one accepts you where you are, as you are, offering perspective and a safe place to be when you’re vulnerable. If the best in us comes out when we are tested, maybe these words will guide you to the best in you.’ - Paul C. Newman, Bard & Storyteller
‘This rather ‘counter cultural’ little book (and by that, counter to the current ‘light’ obsessed perfection-driven and success-oriented western spirituality culture) is profoundly honest and filled to the edges with the gritty wisdom of one who’s not avoided the pain-filled way. It’s a book to be read slowly and mindfully. The exercises are practical and quietly powerful if given adequate time. As one also prone to the black clouds, I was grateful for the immediate sense of solidarity and support.’ - Mark Townsend, Author of ‘Jesus Through Pagan Eyes’
‘For anyone facing their dark night of the soul, Cat’s lyrical and painfully honest account is a guiding light. Cat’s tale of her own difficulties is moving, poignant and powerful. There is vulnerability here and a delicious inspirational quality that serves to lend a helping hand through the forests of depression and anguish.’ – Kristoffer Hughes, Head of the Anglesey Druid Order and author of ‘From the Cauldron Born’
‘A wise, practical and spiritual guide to dealing with depression, with advice from those who have walked the black dog and learned how best to kennel it.’ - Liz Williams, Award-Winning Novelist & Guardian Columnist
116 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2013
9 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Cat Treadwell
6 books132 followersWith over twenty years' experience as a practising Pagan, since January 2012 I've been a full-time Priest and Chaplain. I work in the community on a consultancy basis to provide workshops, one-to-one teaching, multifaith talks at public and business institutions, and generally represent Paganism in the wider world.
I’ve been a regular speaker on BBC Radio Derby and Nottingham, and have appeared on BBC News, Radios 2 and 5 Live and in the national Press. My first book, 'A Druid's Tale', was published in June 2012, with the second, 'Facing the Darkness' in October 2013. I'm also contributing to a new anthology by Llewellyn Publishing later this year.
I've always been a voracious reader and love sharing books that I've enjoyed - hence taking up the role of reviewer recently! I'm active across most social media and contribute on a freelance basis to several review websites, including The Fantasy Hive and The Ginger Nuts of Horror.
I’ve been a regular speaker on BBC Radio Derby and Nottingham, and have appeared on BBC News, Radios 2 and 5 Live and in the national Press. My first book, 'A Druid's Tale', was published in June 2012, with the second, 'Facing the Darkness' in October 2013. I'm also contributing to a new anthology by Llewellyn Publishing later this year.
I've always been a voracious reader and love sharing books that I've enjoyed - hence taking up the role of reviewer recently! I'm active across most social media and contribute on a freelance basis to several review websites, including The Fantasy Hive and The Ginger Nuts of Horror.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2014
Depression is not a tidy ailment, but a spectrum of difficulty, from fairly mild levels of distress and disconnection through to the desire to die, sometimes acted on. For non-sufferers, depression is often equated with melancholy, angst, feeling a bit sorry for yourself and other ideas that are way off the mark, often culminating in an impression that you ought to be able to pull yourself together. Depression is a complex illness, and furthermore it is an illness that kills people.
New Age books tends to go in for a lot of warm, fuzzy affirmation. Like attracts like, we are told. Think positive thoughts. For the depressed person, this has already ceased to be a realistic option. Often as a consequence, ostensibly spiritually uplifting material can, for a depressed person, just add to that sense of failure and alienation which is already dismantling you.
Cat Treadwell knows about depression, and this really shows in her writing. This is someone who has walked dark paths repeatedly and come back with some significant insights.
The first time I read Facing the Darkness, I was, by my standards in a pretty good place (only mildly depressed, by medical standards). I found the book helpful and it was good to read. Coming back to it in states of more serious depression, I appreciated being able to just pick it up and dip in at random. Depression is not conducive to good concentration, often. I would suggest that for a person whose depression is mild to moderate, this is a really helpful book and well worth having on the shelves.
If you are seriously depressed, wanting to self-destruct, to stop breathing, to crawl into a small, hidden space and never come out again, you won’t reach for any kind of help. You’re probably not reaching for anything just to make sure you can’t pick up something sharp and dangerous. If you’re in that place and fighting to keep going from one breath to the next, then the best place for this book is in the hands of anyone who is trying to be with you through that. It offers insight. If you’ve taken Cat’s ideas on-board really thoroughly when in a more viable state, you might be able to draw on them in times of absolute crisis, but that’s going to come down to your nature more than anything else.
It is so important to talk honestly and openly about what depression is and what it does to people. It is so very important to have realistic literature that actually deals with what depression means. In writing from the heart and with a deep honesty about personal experience, Cat has made a powerful contribution to what needs to be a large and on-going public discourse.
If you, or someone you love walks the dark roads sometimes, or lives along them, this is book worth investing in. It isn’t a comfortable or easy read, but that’s rather the nature of the beast.
New Age books tends to go in for a lot of warm, fuzzy affirmation. Like attracts like, we are told. Think positive thoughts. For the depressed person, this has already ceased to be a realistic option. Often as a consequence, ostensibly spiritually uplifting material can, for a depressed person, just add to that sense of failure and alienation which is already dismantling you.
Cat Treadwell knows about depression, and this really shows in her writing. This is someone who has walked dark paths repeatedly and come back with some significant insights.
The first time I read Facing the Darkness, I was, by my standards in a pretty good place (only mildly depressed, by medical standards). I found the book helpful and it was good to read. Coming back to it in states of more serious depression, I appreciated being able to just pick it up and dip in at random. Depression is not conducive to good concentration, often. I would suggest that for a person whose depression is mild to moderate, this is a really helpful book and well worth having on the shelves.
If you are seriously depressed, wanting to self-destruct, to stop breathing, to crawl into a small, hidden space and never come out again, you won’t reach for any kind of help. You’re probably not reaching for anything just to make sure you can’t pick up something sharp and dangerous. If you’re in that place and fighting to keep going from one breath to the next, then the best place for this book is in the hands of anyone who is trying to be with you through that. It offers insight. If you’ve taken Cat’s ideas on-board really thoroughly when in a more viable state, you might be able to draw on them in times of absolute crisis, but that’s going to come down to your nature more than anything else.
It is so important to talk honestly and openly about what depression is and what it does to people. It is so very important to have realistic literature that actually deals with what depression means. In writing from the heart and with a deep honesty about personal experience, Cat has made a powerful contribution to what needs to be a large and on-going public discourse.
If you, or someone you love walks the dark roads sometimes, or lives along them, this is book worth investing in. It isn’t a comfortable or easy read, but that’s rather the nature of the beast.
October 28, 2013
Everyone has had those moments of internal darkness. Those moments where it feels like the entire world is looking down their nose at you. Those moments where you think the Flintstones character Schleprock was written about you (the character that always has a rain cloud with lightning following him around). And rarely is there anyone who seems willing to just sit and listen and
UNDERSTAND
without judging. Well, here's someone that will - and since she cannot clone herself millions of times over for the world (though I like that idea) - Cat Treadwell has written "Facing the Darkness".
The book is essentially broken into three parts that are in nearly every part of the titled areas. Regular typeface describes an issue or feeling or emotion - helping the reader to reflect how this particular area may or may not help them in working through their current state. The bolded section has simply worded lessons and/or activities that are there to help the reader with a proactive moment to start the process of dealing with their internal dragons. The last - but not in all sections - are italicized comments and examples of how others have worked with issues within their own lives. Taken together, the material provides a starting point in dealing with one's dragons (my term for one's personal issues). You don't need to slay your dragon - just learn how to get that dragon to calm down and be more house-trained in your world - so to speak.
Much like Cat's "A Druid's Tale" the material is warm and inviting. In many places, Cat reminds the reader of such mundane tasks as "making a cup of tea." The charm of both "Facing the Darkness" and "A Druid's Tale" is that you can actually feel yourself having that cup of tea with Cat. And with a topic such as this - its that warm feeling of having a cup of tea and chatting with her that brings the experience of spending time talking with someone - even if its all just in your mind for the moment. Many of her exercises and meditations in this book, I have utilized in slightly different forms - many others, I have not. And while I hope not to have an experience where I would need to use those exercises - I am comforted to have this book in my library. Or even have it there for a friend who may have need of it in the future. An absolutely wonderful book on a very difficult topic.
The book is essentially broken into three parts that are in nearly every part of the titled areas. Regular typeface describes an issue or feeling or emotion - helping the reader to reflect how this particular area may or may not help them in working through their current state. The bolded section has simply worded lessons and/or activities that are there to help the reader with a proactive moment to start the process of dealing with their internal dragons. The last - but not in all sections - are italicized comments and examples of how others have worked with issues within their own lives. Taken together, the material provides a starting point in dealing with one's dragons (my term for one's personal issues). You don't need to slay your dragon - just learn how to get that dragon to calm down and be more house-trained in your world - so to speak.
Much like Cat's "A Druid's Tale" the material is warm and inviting. In many places, Cat reminds the reader of such mundane tasks as "making a cup of tea." The charm of both "Facing the Darkness" and "A Druid's Tale" is that you can actually feel yourself having that cup of tea with Cat. And with a topic such as this - its that warm feeling of having a cup of tea and chatting with her that brings the experience of spending time talking with someone - even if its all just in your mind for the moment. Many of her exercises and meditations in this book, I have utilized in slightly different forms - many others, I have not. And while I hope not to have an experience where I would need to use those exercises - I am comforted to have this book in my library. Or even have it there for a friend who may have need of it in the future. An absolutely wonderful book on a very difficult topic.
October 19, 2020
Es un libro que hace mucha falta en momentos desesperados. Es una luz de esperanza al final del túnel. Lenguaje sencillo, directo, honesto, compasivo y empático. Básicamente es un manual de instrucción, un SOS para Paganos con emociones y pensamientos conflictivos. Simplemente maravilloso.
It ¿s a book that's sorely needed in desperate moments. It's a light of hope at the end of the tunnel. Simple, direct, honest, compassionate and empathetic language. It's basically an instruction manual, an SOS for Pagans with conflicting emotions and thoughts. Simply wonderful.
It ¿s a book that's sorely needed in desperate moments. It's a light of hope at the end of the tunnel. Simple, direct, honest, compassionate and empathetic language. It's basically an instruction manual, an SOS for Pagans with conflicting emotions and thoughts. Simply wonderful.
September 17, 2025
This book is a great resource for anyone suffering with that terrible case of the sads called depression. I too suffer with depression and found the italic stories from those afflicted to be reassuring that I'm not alone. The varied of experiences and the applicable meditations and exercises in this book, meant to help you work through your darkest times, be reminded the light IS out there, and ground yourself, work really well for me as a neurodivergent individual who struggles with traditional exercises.
This book reframes simple breathing and mindfulness exercises and encourages journaling to prioritize mental health and encourage self leniency when you are struggling.
It encourages you to seek a trustworthy person or even a tree to confide I. and take the burden off your chest. Seeking help is the best way to feel relief, and being understand and mean the world. Just having someone, even a loved familiar tree will make you feel less alone. It also encourages you to find a creative outlet for battling intrusive thoughts and anxiety attacks or other (speaking from experience) horrible experiences based in mood disorders.
Taking a druid perspective I believe this novel, though not meant to be read in a conventional cover-to-cover way, is a great additional to anyone with mood disorders, personality disorders, mentally taxing physical disabilities, or other mental disorders or issues which affect your mental health.
I reviewed this book on my youtube channel and got a comment from the author and honestly it made my whole day and every time I think of it it makes my day all over again.
This book reframes simple breathing and mindfulness exercises and encourages journaling to prioritize mental health and encourage self leniency when you are struggling.
It encourages you to seek a trustworthy person or even a tree to confide I. and take the burden off your chest. Seeking help is the best way to feel relief, and being understand and mean the world. Just having someone, even a loved familiar tree will make you feel less alone. It also encourages you to find a creative outlet for battling intrusive thoughts and anxiety attacks or other (speaking from experience) horrible experiences based in mood disorders.
Taking a druid perspective I believe this novel, though not meant to be read in a conventional cover-to-cover way, is a great additional to anyone with mood disorders, personality disorders, mentally taxing physical disabilities, or other mental disorders or issues which affect your mental health.
I reviewed this book on my youtube channel and got a comment from the author and honestly it made my whole day and every time I think of it it makes my day all over again.
February 13, 2016
più che altro apprezzo l'intenzione... ma non l'ho trovato minimamente utile.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews