Text Box: (GEORGIA) "Falling victim to one’s environment" is a cliché that has echoed throughout society to the point of exhaustion. But are we really victims of our surroundings? In Lyca Shan’s autobiography, Firewalker (TurnKey Press, July 2003, ISBN# 780974-003078, $15.95), she proves that despite their environment, every person possesses the inner strength to rise above their individual circumstances and find happiness within themselves. Firewalker chronicles the unbelievable events that made up Lyca’s life: from her childhood in a cult under the control of a domineering Czech immigrant who convinced his followers that he was as enlightened as Jesus and Buddha, to her adult life where she learned that peace and happiness lay within herself, and that inner strength is strong enough to overcome any form of enslavement. Imagine growing up in a community where hugs are prohibited, physical abuse is ignored and your name, your parents and your identity are fleeting and unstable. This is the world in which Lyca Shan grew up. Led by Pavel, a man who believed he was "touched by the hand of God," Lyca suffered from physical beatings from the other children on the compound and was told on a regular basis that she was stupid and incompetent. In 1989, at the age of 22, Lyca left the compound and moved in with her sister in Washington. But integration into American culture was not as easy as she had hoped. Lyca fought to gain a semblance of confidence in herself and assimilate into the culture from which she was removed for years. Beyond the candid depiction of cults, Lyca presents a message of hope: that despite our environment, we are capable of reaching within ourselves to discover our strength. After years of soul-searching, Lyca is finally able to recognize herself as a strong woman with the potential to realize her dreams. "Falling into the trap of being a victim of circumstance is a double-edge sword," she says. "If you are not responsible for your own life, you can cast blame for your inaction on your history. But if you choose to believe that, then you cannot master your own life. We are the only ones who can hold ourselves captive to the past." To schedule an interview with Lyca Shan, author of Firewalker. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and practicing martial arts. Firewalker is her first book. To schedule an interview with Lyca Shan, author of Firewalker, or to request a media review copy please email webmaster@firewalkerenterprises.com            

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                 One woman’s journey to inner awareness

      The Past Does Not Dictate the Future