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Combined sun, winged and Wadjet (snake) symbolism,
Dynasty 18, ca. 950-715 BCE, photo by Natalie Letcher
nter an ancient yet timeless worldview, and learn different ways of interpreting the eternal message of the interrelatedness of all things, as evident in nature.
By taking a comparative approach to holistic philosophy, a universal model emerges that transcends the boundaries of time, culture, discipline, and defies rigid dogma. For although expressed variously across myriad cultures, all such models teach the same message of ‘unity amidst diversity’, the underlying baseline or mantra of all holistic thinking.
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Taoist
Yin & Yang symbol
With the importation of eastern ideas into western culture, many people have become familiarized with holistic philosophy from an eastern perspective. For instance, such vehicles as the philosophy of yoga and its assorted practices, Buddhism and Taoism have all become increasingly popular in the west. The assimilation of traditional holistic health methods such as Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, as well as the benefits of meditation have also done much to re-introduce the west to holistic thought, and brought renewed respect for ancient wisdom traditions.
The author began her own inquiries into holistic thought and practice decades ago with yogic philosophy, living and studying in India. She continued yogic meditation practice, and also persisted investigating other holistic ideologies throughout her life. Exploring different cultural perspectives, led her to recognize a multicultural, universal paradigm of holism underlying each. Click here to learn more about the author.
But it was during her graduate philosophy program that she researched ancient Greek and Egyptian thought and found further confirmation for this universal model articulated in numerous ways, via traditional philosophy, early natural science, mathematics, art, myth, and religion.

Prize Amphora with winged Athena from
Athenian games,
ca. 363-362 BCE,
photo by Natalie Letcher
Yet what she also discovered was that even though holistic thought has made a resurgence in western culture, awareness of holism in ancient Egypt & Greece is far less familiar to the general populace, nor is it taught in academia (with few exceptions). Finally, an understanding of Egyptian holism is rare indeed, yet it provides the earliest, most ancient documentation of holistic thinking with texts dating back over 4,000 years ago, and should not be overlooked.
The Ancient Art of Holistic Thinking is dedicated to filling such gaps in awareness, and revealing a window into an ancient yet timeless way of thinking. While both the book and online course focus upon holism in ancient Greece and Egypt, understanding this perennial worldview can rekindle your own perception of beauty, wonder and harmony in the kosmos, and also teach you how to identify connections with other whole-system paradigms regardless of cultural context.
- Luxor Temple, Egypt
- Greek Temple at Paestum
- – Separately in ancient Egypt and Greek philosophies
- – Reveal an underlying conceptual dialogue between the two cultural ideologies, and
- – Identify a universal paradigm articulated across myriad other cultures