Awakening Animus
by Denis LaFreniere

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While they sat stunned against their cold limestone pillars, blankly gazing at the barely flickering Earth Crystal, five adolescents from across Animus were frightened awake, the words “Smith Gully” ringing in their ears. Rich, ambitious, and beautifully told, Awakening Animus is the story of “The Five”—Elior, Gaia, Asa, Frona, and Bodhi—five young individuals from across the kingdom of Animus called in a dream to the town of Smith Gully. There, they will meet Belinay the Shaman and Roshan the Master Teacher of the Chase Institute, who will guide them through the journey of uncovering their unique inner strengths in an aim to turn back the tide of a darkness engulfing Animus. They will face their fears in the Caves of Phobos, journey through the past at the Docket Tower, and confront the things that have been holding each of them back, from Gaia’s sense of inadequacy to Bodhi’s lack of faith in others. In so doing, they seek to liberate the kingdom from rampant social decay and environmental devastation, overthrowing a sinister plot to overtake it. Richly populated with a cast of original characters and full of wisdom on meaningful real-world issues, Awakening Animus is testament to cultivating our own inner strengths, and how doing so lifts the world along with us, making a better place for all.

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Denis LaFreniere has spent a career dedicated to the provision of parks and recreation services, aimed at providing environmental, social, cultural, and economic benefits to the people. In doing so, he discovered the concerns the public had with their parks and recreation facilities were often deeply personal, though they simultaneously needed resolution not just for their own peace of mind but for the good of all people. This revealed the ways in which individuals need a strong understanding of their own needs before they can effectively appreciate the needs of others. In the same vein, LaFreniere found himself reflecting on how he needed a greater understanding of himself in order to excel as a human. To this end, he enrolled himself in a shamanic program that resulted in a personal journey of shining light on hidden issues, identifying destructive, habitual behaviours, and developing a deeper appreciation of and compassion for himself and all sacred life. One night, he had a dream of passing this journey on to others by translating the teachings he experienced into a fictional story. Thus began the spirit-guided process of writing Awakening Animus. Outside of writing, LaFreniere loves to garden, golf, swim, and snowshoe. He lives in West Kelowna, British Columbia, with his wife, Robin.

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Contributors

Author

Denis LaFreniere

Editor

Bobbi Beatty