The Path to Healing is a Spiral: One woman's journey to emotional healing

by Anna McKerrow

A funny and profound memoir about trauma healing written by a Reiki Master, witch and tarot reader. The debut non-fiction by a YA, crime and romance novelist, Anna's story is heartbreaking, compelling and hilariously ridiculous.

What would you do to heal emotional trauma?

Anna was screaming at full volume into a pillow in a grey industrial estate when it dawned on her that maybe this was a slightly unusual way of processing grief. It wasn’t the first time she had done something a little odd to try and make sense of things.

There was the time she sobbed along to Elton John with a room full of strangers. Or the very special experience of trying to enact the spirit of a deer in a school hall.

She's tried Reiki, reflexology, BodyTalk, shamanic healing, past life regression, breathwork, guided visualization, dreamwork, magick ritual, (disastrous) gong baths and meditation – her journey has been long and twisting, but eventually it led to real understanding, and real healing.

This book is about acknowledging our trauma, looking at what it actually is, and feeling our feelings. Interviews with practitioners and experts delve deeper into what alternative therapies offer. Ultimately, Anna hopes to trigger much-needed conversations about emotional health and the non-mainstream ways we can communicate with ourselves and others.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2022

About the author

Anna McKerrow has written poetry, children’s and adult books. She lives in London and is originally from the West Country, which gave her accent a subtle (yet noticeable) pirate twang as well as a love of cream teas and all things mystical.

She is an eclectic pagan witch and feminist who also loves crocheting blankets while watching episodes of Miss Marple. Anna loves mythology, magic, tarot, punk, grunge, rock and alternative music, fantasy and sci-fi novels, travel, luxury skincare products, chocolate, spas, candlelight and stormy beaches. She owns the requisite witchy black cat.

Reviews

[Winnie | Her Digital Coffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Path to Healing is a Spiral follows Anna McKerrow’s journey to emotional healing. This book contains heavy subject matter such as suicide and bereavement, but it's also balanced with lighter moments.

I always appreciate reading about other people’s journey and experiences with mental health. McKerrow’s takeaway from her experience is that the emotional healing doesn’t stop. Healing takes time and it becomes a practice that we adopt. There are many wonderful takes in this book that I loved, and I believe her story will help many others on their journey. Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was super excited to read this book! My favorite part was how each chapter described a part of the author's healing journey in detail and then there was an interview with a practitioner from that modality. This provided a Q & A style to the memoir which was helpful - I had only heard of and experienced a couple of the healings so more detail on the others was a nice touch.

I've already suggested that my Reiki friends read this book! I believe if you're a healer or interested in reading about a woman's spiritual path to trauma healing you will like this book so much. I was able to relate to several parts and the way she described Endo and so much of advocating for yourself with doctors. This section was so well done.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to experience this author's interesting life story with healing from various traumas.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the sound of this book, and it initially sounded right up my street.
Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy this.
It became quite repetitive and formulaic. I wasn't really getting anything new from it - nothing I wasn't already aware of. It felt very similar to Fearne Cotton's most recent book 'Bigger Than Us' but it didn't have the same sparky writing style.
Disappointing!

[Melissa Estella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! As someone who has tried a variety of healing/self discovery techniques, this book was comforting in knowing I'm not alone in the sometimes messy task of healing. From sad, to witty, to observant writing I was captivated though the whole book - finished in 2 days which is pretty quick for me.

[Ana Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully personal account of different healing modalities. It’s full of humour, while at the same time giving a real sense of what it’s like to have an array of different therapies. Anna is an engaging writer who bravely shares her healing journal.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the author took you on her own healing journey through the book. It’s a great insight for new people seeking there own healing path and showing that all us healers out there have our own back stories and journey. It’s just finding what works for you.

[Liv Muscat · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the whole, a really good book which I really enjoyed reading. It was funny, honest and insightful Would recommend.

[Claire]

It just didn’t grab my attention; it’s more likely me and my current mindset rather than the book itself. I’ll be giving it another go at a later date.​