Healing the Fisher King: Spiritual Lessons with Parzival, Gump, the Grail, Tao, and Star Wars
by Shelly Durrell

Healing the Fisher King explores the legend of Parzival, highlighted with examples from the movies and novels which were inspired by it. Parzival was written by Wolfram von Eschenbach in the twefth century and the lessons it contains still hold true today, as it gives a blueprint of the Hero's Life—the Life we were all meant to strive for. This book is a treasury of tools aimed to creatively present this enduring story, so you can incorporate its meaning into your own life. Supporting the text of the book are—

1. Summaries of the Parzival legend
2. over 130 Full color Illustrations
3. over 80 Meditations / Journal Exercises
4. Bibliography, Filmography / Synopses, and Index

Click here to see the Healing the Fisher King Awards

Click here to read Healing the Fisher King Reviews

After clicking on the link to Amazon, look for shellydee as the seller and I can autograph it for you.

— Shelly —

Healing the Fisher King Awards

First Place Winner in the Body, Mind, Spirit Category of ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award for 2002.

First Place Winner in the Inspirational Category of Writer's Digest 10th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards - August 2003. Read judge's comment here.

Readers Preference 2003 Phyllis Newmann Literature Award winner. This is the top prize given to the book which promotes the deepest understanding of individuals and the world around them. Read review here.

Finalist in NAPRA's Nautilus Awards for the Small Press Category - 2002. (This award is now handled by Marilyn McGuire & Associates, Inc. - Literary and Marketing Services.)

Finalist in the Independent Publishers IPPY Awards in the New Age Category - 2002.

Healing the Fisher King Review: Arthurian Association of Australia
Review From Arthurian Association of Australia Newsletter
(June 2002) by Sophie Masson, President
The Parzival story, with its evocations of sterile Wastelands, wounded Fisher King, search for the Grail, and the blessed innocence of a holy fool, is truly a story that finds many resonances for people in our time. I reviewed Lindsay Clarke's lovely retelling of the legend itself in the last Newsletter; and now am privileged to present to you yet another wonderful book on the theme, Shelly Durrell's Healing the Fisher King.
This splendid book is subtitled Spiritual Lessons with Parzival, Gump, the Grail, Tao, and Star Wars, and though that sounds like a strange mixture, it actually works rather well. Shelly Durrell's deep knowledge and understanding of, on the one hand, the Western tradition, specifically the Arthurian one and its tributary story, the Parzival legend, and, on the other, the Eastern tradition of Tao and martial arts, make this both an unusual and satisfying book. She has chosen to follow the legend of Parzival not only through the legendary and spiritual material, but through the modern story as well, as demonstrated in film, particularly. Specifically, she covers these films with the Parzival/Fisher King theme: Good Will Hunting, the Star Wars cycle, The Fisher King, Apocalypse Now, Forrest Gump, The Natural; as well as novels Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, and Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.
The book is not just about literary exploration of these works of art, however; it is also a moving evocation of the real power of these stories to change lives. The author has provided many mind and spirit exercises to try and understand better the meaning of Parzival in one's own life. Not all of them may fit all readers; but they are thoughtful, honest and often touching. She has also illustrated this with many poems, paintings, illustrations, etc, taken from various sources, and all thought-provoking and beautiful (I was thrilled to find in there one of my own favourite pictures, Spanish artist Remedios Varo's haunting, mysterious The Creation of the Birds). Indeed, the whole production of this book is gorgeous--a very good sign in itself, for a great deal of love and care has been lavished on every aspect of the book, making it a thing to treasure, as much as a delight to explore.
Highly recommended.

Healing the Fisher King Review: Entertainment Today
Review From Entertainment Today (June 7, 2002 issue)
by Brad Schreiber
BookExpo America, the convocation of publishing related companies, products and services which descended upon New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center last month, is an enjoyable barrage against the senses. At times, its jammed aisles provide a familiar face, an intriguing title, someone dressed up in a sexually provocative or exceedingly goofy attire. Sharing scuttlebutt with those in attendance may reveal an industry shift, like the relied-upon database, Literarymarketplace.com, being taken over and streamlined by Information Today, Inc. Among those many worthy tomes recently published:
Healing The Fisher King by Shelly Durrell (Art Tao Press): A Kung Fu instructor and member of the International Arthurian Society, Durrell has also written a highly personal book subtitled Spiritual Lessons with Parzival, Gump, The Grail, Tao and Star Wars. Buttressed magnificently with 130 full color illustrations, this is part history, part spiritual guide, with 80 exercises for personal reflection and journaling. It is not only beautiful in its production but unique in its mytho-poetic assertion that much of our modern life derives from the ancient legend of Parzival, its tale of a knight’s pursuit of the Grail a fine analogy for modern civilization and its struggles.

Healing the Fisher King Review: Midwest Book Review
Review From The Midwest Book Review/The Bookwatch
(found in Metaphysical Shelf of July 2002 Internet Review)
by James A. Cox, Editor in Chief
Healing the Fisher King: Spiritual Lessons With Parzival, Gaump, The Grail, Tao, and Star Wars by Shelly Durrell is a metaphysical self-actualization book that traces beloved modern movies back to their roots to the Arthurian legend of "Parzival," written by Wolfram von Eschenbach in the twefth century. Durrell summarizing "Parzival" for those who have not read it, presenting the Hero's Life as a life journey worth striving for, offering meditations and psychological exercises, drawing extensive connections to film and proffering numerous full-color photographs of movies, classical artwork, and more. Healing the Fisher King is a literate, complex, and personally rewarding metaphysical journey that readers of all familiarity levels with metaphysics and popular culture references will enjoy paging through from beginning to end.

Healing the Fisher King Review: Readers Preference
Readers Preference Reviews by Harold McFarland, editor.
Reviewed March 2003
Healing the Fisher King was awarded the Readers Preference 2003 Phyllis Newmann Literature Award winner. This is the top prize given to the book which promotes the deepest understanding of individuals and the world around them.
If I had to use one word to describe this book it would have to be "brilliant." Shelly Durrell deftly takes the reader on a highly informative journey through the story of Parzival and the Grail complete with a detailed psychological analysis. At the same time she explores how the theme is used consistently throughout some of the most successful films of our time including Star Wars, Forrest Gump, The Natural, and others. This is a strong and detailed exegesis of the Arthuian tale of Parzival, the search for the Grail, and the Fisher King. By understanding Parzival and the Fisher King we come to understand how to heal our own emotional wounds.
A story of hurt, growth, and healing, Healing the Fisher King is a wonderful read as Shelly Durrell provides a thoroughly illuminating examination of all aspects of the tale. It is a highly recommended read for people dealing with an emotional hurt that will not heal, an interest in fine literature, or anyone else that just enjoys a well written book that shows the common bonds that we all must experience and work through in out lives.
Bravo, Shelly Durrell.

Healing the Fisher King Review: The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Comment From The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
by Marie-Claude Saia, Photographic Services and Copyright
This richly documented book will serve as an excellent reference for scholars and students, and we are honored to have been invited to participate in your project.
(Note: See page 227 in Healing the Fisher King for Emile Fabry's painting
Man Contemplating Destiny found in The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts' collection.)

Click for The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts French site

Healing the Fisher King Review: Writer's Digest
Healing the Fisher King is the First Place Winner in the Inspirational Category of Writer's Digest 10th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards. The results were published in the August 2003 edition of Writer's Digest.
From Writer's Digest 10th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards Evaluation Sheet
What impressed you most about this book? What one thing could be changed to improve this book's commercial success?
Wow. That was my first impression when I pulled Healing the Fisher King out of the box. It was obvious by the quality of the book (glossy paper, color artwork, dustcover, etc.) that this author really believed in her project. I made a mental note to be extra hard on this title to compensate for the outside package that gave it a clear edge over the other books in my group.
Alas, the fact is that Healing the Fisher King is a wonderful book, inside and out. It is the clear winner in my group, for all the readers who await, the overall winner in the Inspirational category. Ms. Durrell takes us through the hero's journey with magical insight and amazing knowledge of her subject. Her goal in writing the book is to encourage all of us to identify and seek our own individual Grail - a noble task that she tackles with great skill. Her decision to use plots and characters from modern-day films to exemplify her points throughout the text should serve to draw (and hold) those readers who might not otherwise identify with the book via its connection to mythology. The quotes, artwork, and poetry scattered throughout the book entwine with the context perfectly to make a unique and inspirational reading experience. Additionally, the blue box notes and the end-of-chapter "lessons" assist the reader in relating the content to his/her own life in a useful, everyday manner. Given all of these points, it follows that Ms. Durrell's writing is flawless craft-wise.
I was unable to come up with any ideas as to how to make this title any better from a writing standpoint, so I will offer a suggestion that Shelly might want to think about if she opts to approach a commercial publisher. As is, the book is a beautiful piece of work. Speaking from my own experience, however, I can say that many publishers will be intimidated by the amount of included artwork. With publishing, a major concern is the cost involved in the process of getting the book out there. I sincerely hope Ms. Durrell is able to overcome that hurdle, as this is a book that deserves to be read by a mass audience.