But recently — watching my children, watching your children, watching all of us — I realized we’re falling into a different kind of abyss: the collective digital septic pit.
Right now, as you read this, feel the weight of your body wherever you are and whisper this: Without this body, I do not exist as a human being. Without this body, I cannot experience life. Without this body, my pure connection with the divine cannot evolve in this lifetime. Feel that truth — until it lives as presence.
Today we live in three worlds: – The mental world (in your head) – The digital world (hijacking your attention) – The real world — your body (where you spend maybe 10 percent of your day)And with any more reduction of time living in our bodies? We are committing slow, peaceful suicide.
When we live cut off from the body, the cost is everywhere — in our health, our emotions, and our children. The numbers are staggering: the CDC reports that 60 percent of teenage girls experience depression, 40 percent consider suicide, and nearly one in three have attempted it. More than statistics, these are signals from a world that has drifted too far from embodiment — from the simple, sustaining connection with life that begins in the body. This isn’t only about our kids. It’s about all of us.
With T’ai Chi we can again experience what it feels like when the mind quiets, the body reawakens, and energy begins to flow freely again.
Today is the launch of my new book- The Garden of Eden in This Life. It is available in paperback, hardcover and kindle on Amazon. The following is the book description. With Metta, Rodger Ricketts.
What if the story of the Garden of Eden wasn’t just ancient myth, but a timeless guide to reclaiming our original wholeness? What if the “fall” from innocence was not the end, but an invitation to return—consciously—to a deeper unity with ourselves, each other, and the world?
In The Garden of Eden in This Life, Dr. Rodger R. Ricketts—a clinical psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and lifelong student of the Buddha’s teachings—unveils a profound perspective linking ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and the apophatic (negative) spiritual tradition. Drawing from over forty years of study and practice, he explores how non-dualistic teachings from Buddhism, science, and multiple faith traditions reveal the limits of language, the illusions of separation, and the path back to an integrated state of being.
You will journey through concepts like Sunyata (emptiness), the via negativa, and the psychology of transcendence—discovering how humanity’s separation from nature and spirit can be healed through direct experience, compassionate living, and expanded awareness.
This is more than a philosophical exploration—it’s a practical roadmap for living with clarity, joy, and interconnectedness. Through cross-cultural insights, reflective practices, and meditative approaches, Dr. Ricketts shows how embracing the ineffable mystery of life can dissolve division, foster ecological and social harmony, and restore our inner paradise.
Whether you are a seeker, a meditator, a student of comparative religion, or someone simply longing for a more meaningful existence, The Garden of Eden in This Life will inspire you to see beyond duality and step into a living experience of unity.
If you are ready to move beyond dogma, transcend the limits of language, and reawaken to the timeless ground of being—this book will guide you there. Open these pages and begin your journey back to the Garden… in this life.
We are all Interconnected even with the Universe 