PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories that Haunt

I wrote this 2021 book PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories that Haunt, because I had to. My responsibility of holding the pen was a mere posture to place words in a sequence that would resonate in the reader's mind. I had a sense of reciprocity about what I felt was necessary to heal the world from climate emergency and pandemic. The chapters play their part throughout as a sort of call and response meter that leans on kinship and community rather than corporate greed. The chapters become as seeds in the mind of the reader, so my work cannot be buried or lost. There is a strong emphasis on Indigenous Wisdom that pulls chapters together while displaying how easy it is to fall into destruction.

This collection contains stories, personal essays and futuristic writings. They illuminate facets of humanity that are both wholesome and deadly. There is a subtle tapestry from Indigenous Wisdom throughout the three phases that must apply to our damaged planet if homo-sapiens is to have a home.

The PAST dwells on the significance of indigenous history and beliefs, a spirituality that crosses centuries to realize redemption and connection. These stories stand in contrast to the ethnocentric illusions of the wider society where violence, fear and betrayal are rampant. PRESENT includes flash fictions to highlight the destructive illusions and the gentle memories of modern society. The remaining chapters seek to mentor and inspire children to save the world. "Respecting Indigenous Wisdom" provides a pause through poetry to outline a different foundation for humanity. FUTURE is not kind to homo-sapiens and their habitation of Mother Earth. Scientists scramble to provide an exit from the Earth, seeding far away planets. A single person remains in the High Arctic's last outpost while pioneers who occupy a new planet must fight to prevent terrorists from taking it over. Very little has changed.

Humanity owes an apology to the children of the world.

Foreword

As a quick overview that it presents for me, I will just speak from my heart to all those who may read this book and use it as a wonderful way to restore relationships and conversations in their own families. For myself as a Holistic Teacher, from my own life experiences and events that have shaped and moulded me to be as an Elder, I am a Woman that wears many hats. My Life experiences began from an age when I was blessed to have a Father and Mother at home eating daily meals as a family discussing the events of the day and world. My Dad taught us to read books, get informed and find and speak our own truths or perspectives. This ability to read, listen, speak and to be highly articulate is how books like PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE could be the powerful resource modern parents can use to once again return to the table. To have sacred conversations and to create strong, caring, respectful relationship with who we are as a society. That can return to once powerful ways of sharing and talking and inspiring each other to feel better by expressing our day - what was a challenge, what was a great moment?

This is the greatest education I received by being blessed to love books, to read, and to talk and have parents that were present at the end of each day to eat a meal together and to share books or events that were meaningful. This is a form of truth telling that is highly healing for it helps us all to grow in relationship with our own selves, our own challenges and our own need to learn how to express our voices in a good way!

In 2021 with the challenges our modern day families are facing, we are being given a gift by Dr. Ian Prattis in this Book, for I believe it meets us where we all are uniquely and calls us to know we can all do better. To not just survive these great times of change but to thrive as we engage as families where conversations of the heart invite us to read a book like this and use it as a powerful resource.

In so doing may we as a world and as a society return to our roots where in a circle all voices are equal. May we see in these times of personal and collective pain a transformation of the old ways to new ways and then back once again. May we all in these times of great truth telling, return to a more caring and compassionate way of being beyond TV, internet, technology and so much noise. See that in sitting in a circle together as a family we have the power to be reminded of simpler ways of living.

We as One Universal Human Family all want the same thing - Peace. In such books as Ian gives to us I feel opportunity. To read and to share together opens all possibilities for the modern family to create relationship once again and ignite hearts to have authentic, real, genuine and spiritual conversations. I love the premise of this book for it addresses very clearly for me why poems, poetry and prose coming from depth can open our minds and hearts. We are living in times of great darkness, but in the past and in the knowledge and wisdom of ancient ways of living, there is hope that spirituality will break through in each new day as I meet a sister/brother and share a deep authentic conversation. These are challenging times urging humankind to remember who we are beyond all the trauma of pain, loss, and change that is overwhelming in these times. A resource such as PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE is a great gift to open authentic conversations for us all to share our unique perspectives and to grow!

- Judith King Matheson, Elder.

PRAISE FOR "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories That Haunt"

Gayle Crosmaz - White Raven, Spiritual Activator

I was deeply struck by the poem-chapter "Respecting Indigenous Wisdom." It transports one to the river of life, the river of our spirit. The descriptive words capture the imagination as you feel the forest and the rivers rhythm. They remind me of a Wampum Belt teaching I heard at an Elders Gathering. In the final section where Ian talks about "The Last Man on the Planet" - Failsafe is the word that jumps off the page for me, as I feel we are currently in that stage by way of nature itself. These are two stand-out chapters in a brilliant array of other chapters.

Jana Begovic, Novelist, Poet and Senior Editor at Ariel Chart Literary Journal

Prattis' new book, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE is a natural continuation of his long-standing work as an environmental champion. His personal stance toward our planet is that of its custodian and protector. The short fiction and poems in PAST and PRESENT transport the reader to starkly contrasted worlds. The world where indigenous people treaded gently brims with reverence, interconnectedness and sacredness. Prattis immortalizes that sacred relationship between nature and humans. The Chapters in FUTURE offer a glimpse into a disturbing dystopian time that humans created through their insatiable avarice, greed, callousness and neglect. Billions of us may perish under the intolerable climate conditions and pandemics. Have we already passed the point of no return, Prattis asks? At the same time, he offers concrete and helpful advice on how to reduce our own negative environmental footprint. Prattis is an indefatigable warrior, who uses his pen as a sword to fight for a better future.

Claudiu Murgan, Author

The Spirituality of the indigenous cultures is something that recently, I took a great interest in. It's a facet of humanity that slowly disappears, trampled by the modern mind, too busy with the tangible reality of the surrounding world. Dr. Ian Prattis's PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, tells us to cherish such treasures otherwise we are only empty shells without the meaning and the connection to the spiritual world.

Krystina McGuire-Eggins, Therapist

Ian Prattis' new book, "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories that Haunt" is a brilliant collection of stories, writings and essays in fiction and non-fiction. The book leads the reader through thought provoking perspectives about the treatment and respect Western society has thus far shown toward Mother Earth. Dr. Prattis presents the current state of our Earth through a lens that is alarming and sobering at moments. In his true fashion, he offers hope by educating the reader on how Indigenous wisdom that has been passed down for generations can provide a pathway that the human race can choose to embrace for a better future. This is an excellent read, very appropriate for our current times.

Bob Allen, Founder and CEO IDEAS

These tales operate at three levels. First, the characters are all of "US." Their stories are the One Human Story of struggling to live in this world. Dig deeper, and you'll find the rich metaphor pointing toward truths about the way our species has evolved and why our permanent dominance of the Earth is a fiction that will not stand up to any real scrutiny. At their root, Dr. Ian Prattis has pointed out that "reality" is not action-over-time but it is simultaneity. These stories take their place with other great cultural myths as a shaman's call to the central village fire asking us to listen, engage and imagine.

Dr. George Pollard, Associate Professor, Carleton University, Ottawa

Physics evinces an ostensibly permanent universe. Humanity is not so fortunate. The future of our species, Dr. Prattis candidly argues, is likely precarious; brutal, dark and unsure unless we act now, to solve the climate emergency. Dr. Prattis explores an indigenous past which has an obligation to Past, Present and Future. Greed, he states, drives the PRESENT. Corporations, with rights, abandoned social responsibility, which leads to the collapse of society and, perhaps, the end of our species. The future seems dire, but not necessarily.

The darkness of climate and societal collapse can foster a dreadful dissolution of hope. It is possible to step through the darkness. In doing so, we touch a warm, knowing light that spurs us on, says Dr Prattis, to a more responsible, secure world of our design. From his experience, Dr Prattis learned how indigenous wisdom the world over, protects our species from extinction. His underlying message is that an indigenous approach and modern corporate practices can temper each other to make a better world. Obligations and rights are not wholly incompatible. He makes a compelling case for bringing the Past forward to save all species, including humans, well into the future.

Germaine De Peralta, Journalist and Reiki Master Teacher

Dr. Ian Prattis' new book, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE is a testament to the sacred interconnectedness and interdependence of man, his community, nature, the elements and the animal kingdom. It is these relationships that enable us to survive, thrive, heal and grow. Yet there is an underlying message that these very relationships can become fragile and worn, if we become complacent and fail to nourish and tend to them. Portrayed against a rich backdrop of nature and the seasons, Ian Prattis' stories explore themes of purity and darkness, cruelty and compassion, revenge and forgiveness and finally acceptance. One will delight in the authenticity, depth, and sincerity of his characters.

Finally, there is a prevailing theme of survival and love. And as Prattis writes of love, one would wonder if he, in fact, is in search of the perfect love, or does it really exist? Yet love and beauty go hand-in-hand, and Prattis refuses to abandon his eternal quest for beauty in humanity and in nature, despite their challenges. As a feminist, Dr. Prattis continues to portray his deep respect and reverence for the Divine Feminine and her role in keeping society thriving in the present and into future generations.

Note from the Author

I wrote this book PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE because I had to. My responsibility of holding the pen was a mere posture to place words in a sequence that would resonate in the reader's mind. I had a sense of reciprocity about what I felt was necessary to heal the world from climate emergency and pandemic. The chapters play their part throughout as a sort of call and response meter that leans on kinship and community rather than corporate greed. The chapters become as seeds in the mind of the reader, so my work cannot be buried or lost. There is a strong emphasis on Indigenous Wisdom that pulls chapters together while displaying how easy it is to fall into destruction.

MY LATEST BOOK, "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories that Haunt", IS NOW AVAILABLE!

ORDER IT NOW IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS:   (Prices are in CAD)

Option A:    Autographed Version

If you order a copy of "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE" directly from me you will receive one FREE autographed copy of one of the following of my previous books:

Shattered Earth,
Painting With Words,
Our World Is Burning or
Trailing Sky Six Feathers as a thank you bonus!
(Availability depends upon inventory so please indicate which FREE item you would like to receive upon ordering in order of your preference.

For a softcover version of "PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: Stories that Haunt", signed by me, the author, you can order it here: Coming soon!

Canada / US / International

Canadian Customers ($19.95 + $16 S&H) $35.95 CAD US Customers ($19.95 + $20 S&H) $39.95 CAD International Customers ($19.95 + $29 S&H) $48.95 CAD

The price for PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE is $19.95 CAD plus S & H.

S & H is calculated as follows:
Canada: $16 CAD
US: $20 CAD
International: $29 CAD

Option B:    Online Locations -- More Coming Soon!

Amazon Canada

You can purchase the Paperback or Kindle E-Book Edition directly from Amazon.

The book is available on more than a dozen international Amazon sites globally, including:
Amazon.co.uk in the UK
Amazon.com in the USA

Option C:    If you live in Ottawa, Canada

To save on the cost of shipping and handling, Ottawa and surrounding area customers are welcome to pick up their copy of PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE along with a FREE Bonus directly from me by emailing me
or by calling me at 613-726-0881 to determine a pickup day / time as well as the location. Thanks.