The Seven Gates of Soul: Reclaiming the Poetry of Everyday Life

Joe Landwehr
Ancient Tower Press (2004)
ISBN 0974762601
Reviewed by Erika K. Oliver for Reader Views (2/06)

Joe Landwehr lets us know that the concept of “soul” is not easy to define, nor should it be easy. In his book, “The Seven Gates of Soul” he uses the myth the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna as a metaphor of the journey to discovering and uncovering your truth, your soul. Inanna must pass through seven gates to be allowed entrance into the underworld and Landwehr relates this story to the process of soul discovery. “Only as we shed the various ideas that buffer us from an encounter with the soul, will we hear what the soul is trying to tell us, and then speak, in turn, a language that the soul understands.”(p.18)

“Soul” is explored across the disciplines of religion, science, psychology and astrology. Landwehr provides an incredible amount of historical information in each discipline to enable the reader to understand where concepts and ideas of the soul originated and came to be understood. Religion, science and psychology are addressed separately in sections consisting of multiple chapters with astrology woven into each. The astrological discussion progresses with each section as is grounded in the author’s experience as an astrologist.

Soul as a balance of opposites is a theme throughout the book and explored in detail in Chapter 9, “Shedding the Scientific Concept of Causality”, which was very enlightening in the context of uncovering your soul in the midst of social pressure and cultural norms. Chapters 13, “Liberating Psychology From Its Scientific Trappings”, and 14, “Toward a Subjective Approach to the Image Making Process”, provided insightful background regarding psychology, which we don’t usually learn in college psychology or causal reading.

This is not light or easy reading but it is fascinating. I found myself wishing that Landwehr wrote more simply so that I could easily follow him and not be forced to reread sections or put the book down to clear my head. The “aha” moments made this book worth the effort. The author explained soul concepts and effects of each discipline on our ideas of soul to facilitate individual journeys to truth. The author’s enthusiasm and dedication to finding his truth kept me reading.

I recommend this book as a college textbook and to those who are unsatisfied with the surface discussion of soul found in most mainstream books. I found myself wishing I was reading this with a group structured for discussion so that I could flush out the complex topics and information and understand more in the context of my experience.

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