Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible

by Ruth King

Now in paperback, the self-published success that provides guidance for women in identifying and transforming one of the most challenging emotions of our lives

Self-help authors rarely distinguish between anger and rage, but Ruth King has devoted her career to exploring the subtle varieties of this emotion. In Healing Rage, she gives all readers access to her pioneering, breakthrough program, which has already changed thousands of lives through workshops nationwide.

Written for every woman?from counselors and their patients to those who may not realize that rage is at the root of their unhappiness and have just begun to seek new paths of hope?Healing Rage is a unique invitation for transformation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health, Buddhism, Personal Development, Psychology, Family

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2007

About the author

Ruth King is an international teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition, and an emotional wisdom author and life coach. She is on the Teacher's Council at Insight Meditation Community of Washington and Spirit Rock Meditation Center, and is the founder of Mindful Members Insight Meditation Community in Charlotte, NC.

In former years, King managed training and organizational development divisions at Levi Strauss and Intel corporations where she designed diversity awareness programs and consulted to leaders on cultural change initiatives, including the behavioral implications of mergers and acquisitions. A world traveler, King’s work has been influenced by many cultures, and is often described as “ceremony.” Her intuitive methods, knowledge, and skills weave the fields of Western psychology, Buddhist philosophy, leadership development, mindfulness meditation, and fun!

Currently recognized as a trainer of trainers and consultant to consultants, King teaches the Mindful of Race Training and Facilitation programs, which blends mindfulness principles and meditation with an exploration of our racial conditioning, its impact, and our potential. Both dynamic and compassionate, King speaks to the heart of her audiences with authenticity and joy.

King has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, Orinda, CA, and is the author of several publications including Healing Rage: Women Making Inner Peace Possible and Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out. Review other influences here.

King, heart activist, African American, and native Californian, living over 25 years in the Bay Area, currently resides in Charlotte, NC, with life partner, Dr. Barbara Riley, and cat, Mr. Socks.

Reviews

[Vishnu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth is clearly a brilliant expert on rage. I never read a book that more accurately described my orientation toward rage, or a book that was more helpful in framing how and why we might give rage less control over our lives. I also very much appreciated her extensive discussions of how rage can relate to racial and economic injustice, and how we can utilize this rage in a way that does not deplete our own resources.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

There were some powerful insights in this book. I've always been acquainted with my anger, but my rage is something that has been surfacing lately, so it felt like a good time to pick up this book. I especially enjoyed the 'rage disguises' she offers at the beginning. I have not yet had a change to engage the practices she offers (and I regret reading this as fast as I did, but had to due library loan limits). I will return to the notes taken on this. I loved the concept of my "rage child" and listening to what she has to say. The timing of having read this feels meaningful.

"Behind rage is pain, not just the stories we tell ourselves. We have feelings about what is occurring, and we use our interpretations to short-circuit or separate from what we are feeling. In other words, we use interpretations not to feel. When this occurs we suffer. "



[challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced]

[Hannah Bergstrom de Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been able to access my anger. There are many reasons for this, but as an adult it has clearly become my super power. Many friends, relatives, and acquaintances have found my righteous indignation helpful in metabolizing their own anger and frustration. So when I read about Ruth King in “YES Magazine” earlier this year and this particular book, I was excited to pick it up and digest her wisdom and insights.

I want to be clear, I am a upper middle class white woman who has never been the victim of sexual violence, physical or mental abuse which means this book was not written “for me.” I am not the audience King is writing to, which she compassionately makes clear in her introduction. King does encourage all readers to stick with her book which I did and it provided great information for deeper articulation and growth in my own life and access to rage.

King offers a myriad of anger types that come from childhood experiences and like all things, the ability to name this type provides valuable nomenclature which allows for personal growth, evolution and intentional shifting. Knowing how we process and react to conflict allows us the opportunity to choose different responses that hopefully will have less devastation to our own psyche and in relationship to others.

I am deeply grateful for King’s book and insights. She accesses the positive values of rage and anger while offering language that helps clarify the internal process and external behaviors around anger. I am confident I will return to this book many times throughout my lifetime and I would highly recommend it, particularly to those in vocations that call us to engage the anger and rage of others.

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[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

really encouraging without being sappy or hiding from reality. may gain a star after i work through the exercises over the next ... year? five years? we shall see.

ETA it did.

[Jasmyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Jennifer Mullan recommended this book to participants of a workshop she led about sacred rage. Similarly to All About Love by bell hooks, it took me a few months to work through this book. The subject matter is heavy, necessary work.

“Rage is fuel - transformative energy, the source of our empowerment. Its nature is to liberate us, and its truth mobilizes our deepest, most heartfelt intentions… May manifestations of rage be acknowledged as pain and treated with the greatest compassion possible. May we look at one another’s rage, recognize ourselves, and fall in love with what we see. May our good deeds open our hearts in ways that heal the roots of suffering throughout the world for all beings.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I enjoyed reading this book. I’d read it again or recommend it to a friend.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did it take me so long to finish this book? This was one of those books that to really benefit from, you can't rush through. I did the journaling prompts & tried to answer the questions it brought up. King writes about the subtle ways rage manifests in our lives, what she calls our inner rage child, as well as the rage we all inherit...all of which were honestly pretty tough to think and write about.

This is one I might actually purchase to have around for a later time. Also, I was just so happy to see a mindfulness book by someone other than an old white dude!

[Akilah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle of this book dragged for me, but it did give me some new things to consider, and I would find myself thinking about what was in the book long after I closed it. So it obviously resonated more with me than I originally thought.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming off of a strangely wonderful with my family, who for years I’ve looked for reasons to dislike. There are aspects of the environment and beliefs that they hold that I know are harmful, they do piss me off and probably will for a long time, but I’d rather mend this with my own hands than place the burden on someone else. We have a responsibility to our people! If I throw my hands up and give up, how can I claim to want to do care work? For a time, I did need separation to heal. I needed to rest. There’s a lot about them that I can’t change, but my mother has been there for me when I thought others would be in that “role.” My father has stayed devoted to me despite health and distance, and my sisters have always loved me. As for my angry brothers, the most I can do is forgive. We have anger management issues; this was clarifying in that it gave direction in the “how” and “why.” It rounded out and gave word to what I’d known in my mind and body for years, but it hits different when someone lays it out for you like this. In my work of healing I’ve placed forgiving at the front of that. I forgave my parents a few years ago, around 20 or so, but forgiving my siblings has been a whole other journey. This was more about them than my parents. Watching people love their siblings is foreign to me, it makes me uncomfortable to see people care for their kin in that way, especially when the wounded child in me fears them. I’m putting that child to nap when I see my family. No, this doesn’t mean enabling them, it means taking care of myself. Of course I’ll continue to challenge them, but they are not the irrational monsters my rage child sees them as (I have no judgement for myself that I didn’t get this sooner, when you’re in the hurt it’s hard to see clearly; time and age have been good to me). For a long time I’d expose/compromise myself for them to make a point. I’ve grown to understand I don’t need always do this for my cause. That wounded child is begging to be seen, and I’m sure one day they will be, but it’s dangerous for me that she (my rage child like me isn’t bound my pronouns) sits behind my eyes anticipating their fuck ups so it can be added to this “list” of wrongdoings I have for them. I’m putting that list to rest too. I don’t agree with them, and I deeply grieve that they can’t know me at the moment. But there are parts of me o can shown them and I’m waiting to reveal more, I also need not reveal more if I don’t want to. I know a day will come, for now I don’t owe them my identity but I do owe myself the relief of forgiving them and moving forward. Yeah, this was good.

[Jess Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave 3 stars because I listened to this book and it was extremely hard to follow and understand. I felt lost and confused during the parts where the authors listing things out. I would like to reread this but with a physical or digital edition instead. I will say, there were parts I deeply resonated with, as I am trying to navigate and heal from burn out from work, I feel so much deeply rooted rage coming out.

[Amy Harth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be life changing! There are messages that provide deep revelation and challenge you to think different and then the author swoops in with just the comfort you need to continue this amazing journey. You won't be the same after reading, and you and your life will be richer, calmer and more purposeful because of it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some elements of this book were helpful. The six disguises of rage and how they manifest was a useful model. I do think I have an inner rage child, but I'm not sure that she exists because of anything that happened in my childhood. Ruth King is a moving meditation teacher and I wanted to read this book.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how skills-focused this book was! Lots of other works mention rage as something to heal, but this book really got into the textures and hows and whys of rage, which was new to me and extremely helpful. I think this book belongs in a wider pantheon of books on healing trauma, because it is very focused on rage and rage alone.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This helps. Even with prolonged therapy I had a lot of pent up rage towards a specific woman who continues supports a horrible man. One of those pick me girls who proclaims feminism but really just is sad and weak individual. So, now instead of rage and anger, I just feel bad for them both. They’re the best each other can do. And that’s just so sad.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good resource for learning how to listen to the "rage child" and heal from the messages she is sending.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this positive practical guide for handling and healing rage. I highly recommend this book.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't agree with everything in this book, but there are some excellent exercises and meditation practices.

[clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

taking some of this book with a grain of salt :) some of it was valuable to me, some of it showed me there's a lot of shadow work to be done, some of it i was not ready to read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

w

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently listened to Decolonizing Therapy, and this book was frequently cited, so I decided I needed to read it. After looking online, I found it on my own bookshelf at home, and it was full of my own handwriting in the margins. When I got to the office the next day, I found ANOTHER copy just like the one at home, but this one was hard cover and full of my notes. Apparently, 20 years ago, it had an impact on me. And this week, I did the quiz with all of my clients and read their chapters to them.
.

[Louise Chambers · Rating 1 out of 5]

Feel good nonsense. I seem to have absolute zero tolerance for any sort of self-help therapy book. I picked this up because the forward is by Alice Walker and it's just another "heal your inner wounded child" work of claptrap. I read a few pages and took it right back to the library.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful book. I first met Ruth King in the 1990's at a Women of Color Camp. I recently took her one-day-workshop on "Emotional Wisdom for People of Color. I like how she has grown wise over the Years.

[Amy]

eye opening...

[Sally]

Took from Dad's April '17