Letter to my publisher to take The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment out of print...

Dear John Hunt Publishing,

Please can we discuss or immediately action taking my first book The High Heeled Guide to Enlightenment out of print. After much thought I have decided it is deeply culturally appropriative and white washes much spiritual experience that originates with people of colour. Whilst I "meant well" at the time my treatment of Shamanism / shamanic people's in particular is insensitive and focuses on a white, western and privileged experience of those cultures. I have no desire to continue to colonize those beliefs and my "good intentions" do not undo any damage to those faiths / people this chapter might cause.

Other aspects of the book are equally problematic and I'm not happy to associate or gain from it. I did consider continuing to sell it and offering any funds made to relevant charities. However that's a bit like chopping down a tree to water another. The damage is still done. Once this book is out of print I will publicly publish this email by way of explanation and I may go on to make chapters / sections of the book freely available on my website, not however, the offensive ones. I am so grateful for your part in my writing journey, and none of this reflects in any way on our publishing relationship. Thanks for understanding.

I believe we all must do what we can to address any harm we have done when unconscious to our own racism. This is my way of doing that. No issue with my other books as they focus on my personal experince of spirituality, rather than an exploitation of anybody else's.

Sincerely,

 Alice Grist