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Reviewsby Michou Landon, unless otherwise notedReview PolicyMt. Shasta Magazine does not do reviews in-house. If you have a book, CD, DVD or product you would like us to review, you should send two copies. The first is to our editor, who has final approval on all reviews, at Mt Shasta Magazine, POB 1289, Mt. Shasta, CA 96067. The second goes to our reviewer, Michou Landon, 3080 Walnut Grove #506, Memphis, TN 38111. With reviews only, preference is given to advertisers. Those wanting to reprint a review in another publication should contact our editor for approval. There is a small fee involved.
BooksTitle: Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy Common wisdom recognizes that depression is at some level suppressed or inverted anger. Eric Wilson does little to disguise his. To a degree not sanctioned by conventional society, this is probably healthy. That is his point. However, Against Happiness's praise of the melancholy leans immoderately into the indulgent at times. In that way, it is good therapy, for author and reader alike. Breathing through the bumps as Wilson's analyses turn to tirade is good exercise in meeting any of life's gales of insult with courage and compassion. Moreover, it's hardly news that when we suppress natural emotion — even for minutes, hours or years, not to mention generations — the intensity when it is, at last, met and expressed, does tend to the dramatic. Afterward though, life and vision are cleansed and revitalized. And we move on, feeling more restful and whole. Melancholia is in us all personally and instinctively. Whether conscious or unconscious, it's a prime motivator. Wilson's poetically athletic swim into the depths dolor and despond is an enjoinder for us to wake up, own up, and get honest. Again and again, he returns to the conclusion facing and embracing fear of death and anger at life's uncertainty is what yields the most pure and genuine courage, life, love and ease. It's simple but it ain't easy. It's painful and beautiful — kinda like life. The book takes rather derisive aim at the dominant proponents of false contentment and complacent narcotizing of natural, vital undulations in mood. He considers this living death. And it seems to mortify him more than the ache and lashes of a life authentically experienced. In many people it is this very indignance, about the original fall from innocence and then the desperate denial of it, that engenders the rampant and underground rage-induced moribundity quietly suffered by so many people. That his accusing tone toward those he calls "happy types," can be so off-putting actually illuminates how entrenched we all are in the conditioning to censor or sublimate our true feelings. When someone else does, less than politely, we cringe, as if we fear being too close to one about to be struck by the lightning of God's wrath! Strong ferment though Wilson's little book can be, it is a valuable read, offering a balancing catharsis to all of us. (It's an especially rude jolt to the new age trance!) Whether we are guiltily or unabashedly melancholics (part time, full time, conscious or closeted) or whether we are more happy types (of the conventional or new age variety), it's important to remember how to wallow, which is the only way to genuinely experience the grounded, genuine elevation that is its complement. The key is, then, to move on. Wilson simply admonishes us not to do so prematurely. Wilson's philosophy seems anchored in an inevitably human, body-identified perspective. This is not a problem; it's where most human's live. In his examination of many important visionaries in our history propelled by melancholia, he observes their uneasy reconciliation with death as part of life and as fuel for creation. He doesn't however attempt to proffer equal attention to the immortal nothingness in the everything-and-nothingness of it all. Many others have done that magnificently before and since. What Wilson offers here is an invitation on a wordy walk through the valley of the shadow of death... to catharsis and deeper integrity. Title: Alchemy of the Heart: Transforming Turmoil into Peace through Emotional Integration Since publication of The Presence Process, Michael Brown has inevitable continued to refine and deepen his understanding and presentation, as evinced in his subsequent CD program A Walk Through the Presence Process and the periodic essays posted to his email subscribers and on his website, thepresenceportal.com. Alchemy of the Heart consolidates these refinements and embellishments in book form, reorganizing the arc and emphasis of his insights somewhat, and presenting it in an incrementally digestible format. It sounds neither complimentary nor accurate enough to say it is "Michael Brown in sound-bites." However, something of its structure definitely harkens to the daily meditation books that have proliferated in recent years, and perhaps more favorably, to the ACIM (A Course in Miracles) Workbook. Each essay picks up and advances the trail of the last. This encourages readers to pause and digest. It also cultivates a tendency for repetition, for better or worse. Even while his argument asserts the necessity for experiential exploration and application to finding one's way out of the dead-end of cogitative paths to "enlightenment," Alchemy of the Heart emphasizes Being over Doing. (It actually prescribes "Non-doing," which is, admittedly, a paradoxical concept to serve to a mind, which is by nature oriented to doing!) Thus it de-emphasizes the centerpiece 10-week "process" and practices for which his first book was named. That said, The Presence Process itself, is likely a very valuable step for many. Without it, the evolutionary support offered in both books can risk becoming just another mental exercise. I believe that Brown himself has said that folks will find this work when they are ready to undertake it. Hopefully, the capacity of awareness and will required to adequately appreciate and apply Brown's insights and devices would be accompanied in the reader by the inclination and integrity to do so — responsibly, honestly and compassionately. Certainly, as one advances, processes and practices can swiftly become crutches, distractions and hindrances. Moreover, be assured that the key principles have not been abandoned. We are concisely reacquainted with the Seven Year Cycle, the Pathway to Awareness so eloquently introduced in The Presence Process, as well as with Consciously Connected Breathing. In addition, the author increases his use of his device for unlocking hidden meanings by dissecting key familiar phrases and words phonetically. This will appeal to some more than others, but it is a helpful, sometimes uncanny, tool for alchemizing the patina on our "trance-fixed" perceptions. Having read and valued both books, The Presence Process impressed me as a more graceful read. However, there is plenty to be appreciated in Alchemy of the Heart, both in its differences and its reprises from its antecedent. We have all evolved since the first book. Reading the second provides worthy testament to that, as well as to an elasticity it shares with the first; that is, the promise that the insights it reveals will deepen as we do, with each read. In this respect, its incremental format of shorter, distinct chapters may make Alchemy of the Heart a more accessible candidate for re-visitation. Title: The Alchemical Woman: A Handbook for Everyday Soul Work The Alchemical Woman: A Handbook for Everyday Soul Work is just that, a handbook almost a work book, for harvesting the gifts of the perpetual process underway, that, when we tune into it, reveals every day to be hardly "every-day." It isn't meant to be a comprehensive exposition on the tools and topics of Alchemy or Jungian Therapy. It's more of a lab manual for self-directed students! That said, it's effective and informative and manages much richness in its brevity. The slim paperback serves as an impressionistic slideshow of each of six stages of Alchemy (Nigredo, Lapiz, Albedo, Citrinitas, Rubedo, Cuniuncto), which invite each reader to bring her personal chemistry into relationship with the images, in order to draw out the truth and story essential to her. Key impressions and archetypes are invoked through a rhythmic combination of poetry, anecdotal sketches and dream-like visions, and a little background on Alchemy and Jung's application of it to the human psyche; and they evoke and support a process unique to each reader. Alchemical Woman... carries the raw power of the mystical and subconscious realms not ordered by, or accessible to, the intellect. It takes strands from that mysterious thicket and weaves them into a conceptual and thematic flow, and from these fashions tools for translating wild and murky intelligence into human illumination, self-awareness and evolution. Especially at first read, some of the ideas expressed do not always feel fully clear or complete. In a way, that is a suitable reflection of the life and processes it purports to facilitate. This lures the reader into a deeper participation and intuition. Anyone (male or female) identified with the path of evolution or professions related to healing or psyche will likely value this little book, revisit it, and share it with others. Title: A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. A New Earth is Eckhardt Tolle's first full-length book since 1999's landmark, The Power of Now. That isnāt surprising since The Power of Now pretty much said it all; and it has continued to reach and sustain people through repeated readings and through follow-up releases that refine and embellish its themes (e.g. Even the Sun Must Die, Practicing the Power of Now, and Stillness Speaks). In truth, the same themes are again examined in A New Earth, the first two thirds of which serve as a cumulative compendium of the wisdom Tolle has so eloquently offered to date. These lay the foundation for the final third of the book, which deepens the discussion into practical and cosmological relevance for these quickening times and the evolutionary shifts he affirms are inevitably underway. "You are here to enable the divine purpose of the universe to unfold. That is how important you are," states Tolle in The Power of Now. The focus of A New Earth is to clarify that purpose and how it plays out in the universal as well as individual realms — all inextricably intertwined. "Your life has an inner purpose and an outer purpose. Inner purpose concerns Being and is primary. Outer purpose concerns doing and is secondary," Tolle states in one of the final chapters. "Your inner purpose is to awaken. You share that with every other person on the planet. Your outer purpose can change over time [and] varies greatly from person to person. Finding and living in alignment with the inner purpose is the foundation for fulfilling your outer purpose." The purpose of A New Earth is to support the universal purpose by supporting each individual in realizing his purpose (which thus supports every other individual in his own realization). It is about aligning consciously with the common interest of all. There are numerous beautiful, eloquent passages and metaphors in the unfolding of A New Earth. The expanded discussion of the gifts, traps and manifestations of the Pain Body is particularly astute. Along the way, Tolle reminds us how just recognizing who we are not is key to realizing who we are. He illustrates how even tangible, solid things are perceived through thought filters, so that everything is actually thought and how thought itself is of world of form. He explains how who we are arises from, and is, the "nothingness" around this and including it. He infuses familiar contemplative tools with grounding insight for instance, "This too shall pass" must be applied not only to negative experience but equally to all that can be perceived. Although much may be a review for some readers, and even though the mind may throw up "I know's" and push to skip ahead. Drink deep. The sections within the chapters are relatively brief, deliberately designed for digestive pauses in between. This itself demonstrates keen understanding of the human mind and how to compassionately employ it to best advantage in the game of Awakening in which it plays double agent. Every paragraph holds great gifts and prepares us for the final chapters in which this readers found the greatest rewards. The familiarity (for some readers) of the book's themes and assertions makes it no less valuable. The clarity, assurance, precision and sagacity with which Tolle communicates awakens the same spacious lucidity and knowing within the reader. Listening to this illumined voice, we recognize the flame of this Truth dancing in every cell and space of our being. As we read, these flames merge and feed each other. It's rather like the inspiring and replenishing effect of passing an evening by the fire in the quiet, safe company of a wise friend. Such is the steady companionship of the true Self. Title: Being In Balance While the author doesn't appear to say anything in this release that hasn't been said elsewhere, New York Times best-selling author Wayne Dyer has the potential to reach a lot of people with this little book of priceless wisdom. His established reputation is just one selling point among many; these include the book's light, non-denominational presentation, its portable size, feel, appearance and readability. This exposition of "Nine Principles for Creating Habits to Match your Desires" is basically variations on a theme: The Law of Attraction, which is also spotlighted in the splashy DVD The Secret currently making the rounds of self-help and new age circles. Dyer's presentation differs enough that the two offerings complement one another. Morever, human beings struggling to transcend and transmute the pervasive and ubiquitous conditioning to the contrary can benefit from as much reinforcement as possible here. The Law of Attraction states that energy follows attention; you get what you think about, positive or negative, like it or not. That puts the responsibility for manifesting what aligns with our truest aspirations and nature squarely in our individual laps. Once understood and employed consciously, the law of attraction offers new choices and liberation from the bondage of habitual patterns of self-sabotage, thus empowering us to be what we wish to see in the world. Dyer reaches out to the average American (and most Westerners), using familiar examples to illuminate the key obstacles or choice points where our challenges, wounds and cultural conditioning most often lead us out of balance, out of alignment with our dream. While offering much valuable insight here, this book bogs down in the paradox to which most oracles of this wisdom are susceptible. If the assertion is that we attract what we think about, whether in positive or negative terms, then resisting or focusing on what we don't want (in order to avoid it) strengthens or proliferates it in our lives. Therefore, any thought or declaration referring to what we don't want would seem counter productive. Yet a number of his suggested affirmations still include terms of negation or aversion. The energy of opposition is there. The paradox is that the purity of the message feels somehow sullied to the degree it has to describe negative example in contrast to positive. Still, don't kill the messenger. Recognition of elements incongruent with Love, Peace, Truth, Abundance, etc., is an important step. As soon as possible, however, we must drop from mental into energetic; we must move beyond "just say No" to living in Yes. Title: Buddhism Day by Day: Wisdom for Modern Life There seems a fashion resurging in spiritual publishing right now: the daily contemplation book. Many appeared in time for the holiday season. Although it is set up to start on (any) January 1, Buddhism Day by Day is due out in February 2007. As with most of offerings of this genre, however, the wisdom and value offered are hardly touched by time. This collection is compiled by Daisaku Ikeda, the president of Soka Gakkai Int'l, which "promotes world peace and individual happiness based on the teachings of the Nichiren school of Mahayana Buddhism" (according to its website, www.sgi.org). Nichiren is probably best known for its central mantra "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo," which is a Japanese translation of the title of the Lotus Sutra. In addition to quoting from the Lotus Sutra, Dr. Ikeda draws passages from many other sources, including his own wisdom. The book, a satisfying size and weight and five-inch square shape, is as simple, elegant, and solid as the wisdom it contains; the daily passages rarely exceed two to three quietly eloquent sentences. The effect is sane and grounding, promising one who undertakes a rhythmic practice of sitting with each day's remembrance a rejuvenating, encouraging oasis. One need not be Buddhist to benefit. One need only be human. Title: Entangled Minds Maintaining an open mind is essential when exploring the unknown, but allowing one's brains to fall out in the process is inadvisable. Author of Conscious Universe, scientific scholar and researcher Dean Radin's name will be familiar to followers of What the Bleep and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. In his latest book he methodically presents the body of research on PSI and an argument for the quantum ramifications thereof on more macro matters: human and universal realms. It makes the popular and uproariously successful What the Bleep look like Donald in Mathmagicland. I mean that with the richest respect for all three works. Radin has tackled a boggling subject, and the thesis has broad and profound implications. As a scientist he takes great pains to lay a foundation of scientific credibility for the recognition of PSI phenomena and his extrapolations from our growing understanding and the persistent mysteries. The term PSI was coined in 1942 (from the Greek letter and the word psyche, meaning soul or mind) to refer to all psychic phenomena, including telekinesis, psychokinesis, precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance, intentional and distant healing, intuition, etc. His use of clear, colloquial and often humorous language and illustration makes it about accessible as it might be, as is demonstrated in the opening quote of this review. At times, alas, the wade through his review of the research can get tedious. These first 200 pages are not without reward, however. Along the way we are offered a very lucid, concise and handy synopsis of the recorded history of PSI phenomena and shift from Newtonian/Cartesian to Quantum world views. This dense summary does seem necessary to ground the final, juicier third of the book which ventures out of the laboratory and quantum theoretical realms into the world of human function and beyond. Other people have made the leap less deliberately and left many more skeptics behind. Title: God's Little Handbook for Humans: Learning to Master the Emotional Self "I've found that most of the problems we face in life, and in the world..., aren't logistical problems. They're emotional," says Bob Bloom in his introduction. "The problem is not that ...things happen. The problem ...is how we respond to these events; and our responses are directly linked to our emotional attitude." At a slim and succinct 71 pages, this unimposing little book is so simply and personally written and offers such valuable insight and application tools, that the reader may be tempted to order a case as Christmas gifts for friends and incorrigible relatives. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. It does, however, demonstrate exactly what the author wishes to illuminate: the near-undying tendency for the human ego to deflect and project, to focus on faulting and fixing externals (in ever more subtle and sophisticated ways), in order to avoid the truest and deepest aspects of spiritual maturity: to take responsibility and to forgive — genuinely, authentically and absolutely; and that is an inside job. With lighthearted Jiminy Cricket delivery, Bloom blends autobiographical examples, cogent observations and gratefully credited tools developed by Colin Tipping (Radical Forgiveness) and Byron Katie (The Work) (as well as a few tricks of his own), to fashion a set of simple steps and practices to support us through this most humbling (and fruitful) of endeavors. Obviously, much of the content is not new; but its concision both in size and delivery make it the sort of reminder and resource one could (and should!) carry around and whip out at just the time it's handiest. Not a bad idea to take a handful of copies home for the holidays; but make sure you've found your own stride walking the talk, first! To order a copy, or a case, contact the author at bob33scott {at} yahoo.com or www.GodsLittleHandbook.com. Title: The Good Cat Spell Book Like any litter of kittens, this one is a mixed bag! The Good Cat Spell Book starts with a sound and articulate premise: "Love is the connection to the Spiritual realm," where magic is accessed and activated through "connection to...the source of all life." The combination of the intimate relationship with one's feline "familiar" and the particular wisdom and abilities of cats, make for a powerful collaboration for positive manifestation. The book continues with a light summary of background on cat lore from ancient Egypt, through the witch trials, to the present; it offers a little primer on practical magic along the way, and it advises on relations with cats of different sun signs. These sections can be quite interesting, if at times a tad fanciful. Some of the assertions, however, and the section on the spells themselves, however, proved disappointing. Sometimes simplistic, in the case of the procedures themselves, other times sophomoric, in the case of the professed objectives of many of the spells. The emphasis on manipulating external circumstances and people, in my opinion, sold the potential of the book and its readers short, where insight gained from ones desires (and ones challenges to manifesting them) could promote more enduring reward and empowerment. That said, I believe that this book would culitvate two important things: 1) A person's intuitive discernment and confidence experimenting with spell-casting, and 2) an intelligent and mutually respectful relationship first with one's feline friends and then with all other beings with whom one interacts. The value of the book is proportionate to the potential of the reader to grow beyond it. And that could be said of any teacher or evolutionary tool. What's more, the is a lovingly, charmingly bound and illustrated volume, and a perfect gift for that certain sort of cat lover of whom each of us knows at least one. Title: The Gospel according to Judas Iscariot In The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot, Jesus reminds us that people often become impatient with sermons and lecture, but that they will hear stories to the end, so he delivered the message of the Christ, of God's immanence, in parables. Following this wisdom, Peter Leighton has capitalized, with uneven success, on the trend to predigest and package perennial Truth in a plot of more modern intrigue and contemporary vernacular. We are offered the sumptuous meat of these truths in a rather flimsy Wonder-bread account of a contemporary man who discovers himself to be the reincarnation of Judas Iscariot, and who must then prove this in court to serve God instead of time. Strained plausibility alone might not defeat this story for the reader inclined to value its purpose and conceits. However, the inconsistencies and anachronisms of language and tone combine with rampant grammatical errors to distract and threaten the credulity of even the most indulgent reader. The enchantment and clarity of the book's successful passages makes this a real pity. Certainly, Leighton has steeped himself in the historical accounts, re-infusing them with the powerful loving Heart of Christ that was interpreted, edited or constricted out of many traditional translations. This is a work of fiction, however; and Leighton takes bold liberties in this speculation on the relationships among Yehudah (the Sicarri) and Jesus (the man and the Christ), Mary Magdalene, Apostle Paul and others. His is a candid, compassionate exploration of how Judas might have played out his role in the perfect unfolding of "God's Plan" to demonstrate man's immanent divinity and the soul's immortality. Leighton also offers poignant insight into personal and political motivations for the many key players and events. A reader could be convinced to forget that this is simply one man's inspired speculation. That alone highlights a valuable teaching of this book, that every "historical account" can only be interpretation. For all its contrivance, period-hopping language, and grammatical errors, the period of this tale in which Jesus lives and teaches is a scintillating transmission. The Christ pours shimmering through, pure and inspiring. It is truly like reading a freshly unearthed take on the old story, or seeing a decent film adaptation of a seminal book: there is inevitable disappointment, but the resonance that ignited one so memorably in the original read awakens that inspiration afresh — in this case, the very Christ waiting within. Alas, the tale loses power and cohesiveness, and seems to succumb to more sloppy writing, after Jesus' apparition fades — as if the author might have been losing interest, too. This, itself, is another case in which the book's apparent flaws mirror life, itself, as humans lose direct inspiration and bog down it it's distractions, confusion and illusions and lose awareness or certainty of our timeless Truth. This book chronicles a soul's journey of forgiveness and acceptance, and it walks a willing reader through the same course, at more than one level. Just as all humans harbor the Christ, we all contain Judas as well. I'd venture that anyone willing to forgive the irksome flaws in the medium, would enjoy the redeeming value of Leighton's message. There is nobility in the effort. Title: The Instruction Manual for Receiving God The jacket of Receiving God features praise from Carolyn Myss, Deepak Chopra and Bernie Siegel (among others), which sets rather a high expectation for the work, whose author's name may far less widely recognized. Jason Shulman, however, founder of A Society of Souls, has gained his own following, using a blend of Buddhist and Kabbalist wisdom to illuminate personal and spiritual evolution. His latest book features over 100 seed passages (distilled from Shulman's interaction with students), accompanied by elucidating text. At first, I confess, neither the aphorisms nor expanded text seemed so exceptional or revelatory as the jacket led me to anticipate. However, this is another guide book that quietly states the obvious — wisdom so pure, simple and intrinsic to our living nature that it is, more often than, not overlooked. In his introduction, Shulman says: There are many books that tell us how to find God.... But God is not missing or elusive or invisible. It is we who need to make ourselves ready to receive God, who is always knocking at the door of our heart, whose Voice is always speaking, whose heart makes our hearts beat, and whose Breath is the world.... [This book] is an exploration of the trail of our resistance to seeing things as they are.... So, as I reviewed passages and rested into their poetry, with the intention not to gain or find, but instead to remember and receive, the gifts of the words began to open, richen and reverberate. To the "spiritually seasoned", this book may say nothing new. There is really nothing new to say. This is another voice weaving its own poetry from one Truth. All and all, it's worth sitting still a while and listening, not just to Shulman's words, but to the voice within (and everywhere else, really) singing the very same song. As Shulman says, right here on page 105, "God cannot be known secondhand." Title: Invoking Angels, for Blessings, Protection and Healing This latest offering from author and Rabbi David Cooper echoes with the gentleness, depth and wisdom many have come to appreciate from him, both within and beyond the Talmudic tradition. The number and attributes of angels are as inherently infinite as God and the universe, according to Cooper; and they are found in some form in nearly every spiritual tradition. In this rich yet relatively brief book (and its accompanying CD of meditative invocations), he focuses only on those he considers most important and powerful to humanity and our phenomenal universe, including Archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel, Metatron, Sandalphon, the Shekhina, and Dark Angels. He illuminates the nature of these angels and the origins of their names using language that honors and inspires readers who choose to personify angels as well as those who prefer to tune into them as impersonal and essential attributes that arise from the continuum of totality and that reside in us all. Title: Kuan Yin: Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine This one is a keeper. In aesthetic as well as content, this simple yet full survey of the history, essence and many faces of Kuan Yin has instant and enduring appeal. A uniquely feminine touch and fulsome understanding is palpable in the deliciously illustrations of Antonia Baginski and sympathetic and articulate writing of Daniela Schenker. The book is gentle balm for the eyes to behold and the hands to hold. The cover art on the jacket also appears on the hard cover beneath, illustrating the tender care that went into it and emanates from it. The little volume seems the perfect balance of weight and lightness, physically and visually, as well as in verbal tone. There is clearly far more to the lore of this most beloved Bodhisattva of compassion than can be included in such a modest book (roughly 6x5" and 60 pages); yet it richly and gracefully transmits the spirit and vibration of its subject as effectively as I've seen. It concisely clarifies the origins and nature not only of Kuan Yin's many manifestations and permutations, but elucidates the phenomena of bodhisattvas and ascended masters along the way. The centerpiece of the book, the second chapter contains 33 beautiful portraits, each accompanied by a meditation and an excerpt from the original Lotus Sutra that originally detailed each aspect of Kuan Yin. Schenker also gives attention to the mantra most commonly associated with the deity. Kuan Yin: Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine may be modest in scope, but seems impeccable in execution. This one makes a particularly loving and lasting gift. Title: The Language of Yoga: Complete A to Y Guide to Asana names, Sanskrit Terms and Chants This book and its accompanying pair of CDs make a solid reference companion for the serious or curious yogi. The Language of Yoga seems well thought out and accessible. It's even bound to lie flat, for use, one could imagine, during practice! It's an attractive little volume, which, for the amount of information it contains, is a remarkably manageable six by eight inches. The CDs follow the printed word very closely. The author begins with some basics on the Sanskrit phonetics. After including some pertinent, initiatory chants, the author begins to list, pronounce and explain the terms, concepts, deity names one is mostly likely to encounter in study of asana and other limbs of Yoga. He does so by category, including scriptural terms, elements, directions, animals, etc. The second half of the book concerns itself with the names of the classical asana (poses) themselves. The author even honors the name variations among the major traditions. Considerate of the Westerner, Bachman also provides a respectable cross-reference with common English names for the poses and with a picture of each. The audio is clear and devoid of passion one might hear on devotional or musical programs of Sanskrit mantra, chant or sutras. While making for a potentially sterile experience, this actually encourages an appreciation for the beauty and subtlety of the Sanskrit language: sacred and simultaneously simple and complex. "The (Sanskrit) alphabet," says Bachman in his introduction, "is perfectly designed for the human vocal apparatus, and the sound of each word represents the subtle energy of its meaning....Sanskrit is called Devanvani, or "language of the Gods." Title: The Lens of Perception: A User's Guide to Higher Consciousness Yes, you've seen the title before. Hal Zina Bennett originally published The Lens of Perception in 1987. The second edition emerged seven years later, and the third after another thirteen years. The topic, however, never ages, and, as we evolve as a species and mature as individuals, the thoughts and focusing practices offered in this book may be more relevant today, or relevant to more people, than ever before. The revised edition is enhanced by contemporary references, reflecting how the collective understanding of (and personal empowerment in) the invisible realms has grown, through research, writings (and maybe the morphogenic field) in the years since Bennett originally wrote the book. Not only has it grown in popularity, but in articulateness. Drawing from his own shamanic and interpersonal experiences, as well as from everything from Aristotle and Carl Jung to What the Bleep, in an efficient 170 pages, Bennett offers us a very accessible, pragmatic and quietly empowering little overview and manual that will guide and inspire both novices and seasoned travelers, freshening and simplifying topics and realms that seem to almost get murkier, the more words are published about them. This, of course, may be due to the fact, as Bennett himself underscores, that these realms are entered and known differently by each unique individual. Hence arises the title of the book, which refers to the unique bias each of us inevitably has in our perspective of the world, no matter how much meditation some may employ to quiet their minds and achieve neutrality and "objectivity". Bennett takes the Shaman's view, that the Lens through which each of us experiences the world cannot be eradicated, and shouldn't be, as it serves a unique and essential purpose as consciousness experiences and expresses itself infinitely through multiplicity. Therefore, the truest, most peaceful and creative path is to cultivate one's relationship with, understanding of and fluency in one's inner language and landscape, the gifts and biases inherent in the Lens, and how these influence our way in the outer world. The key is simply to recognize that everybody has one. For it is what we see in the lens, not what is beyond it, to which we actually react and relate. When that knowledge informs how we interpret and act with "other," the pressure is off, all is forgiven, and the game is fun again. Title: Milton's Secret Ironic, isn't it, that the essential wisdom eloquently conveyed in The Power of Now has been distilled into a package for children: the population, historically, most naturally connected to its truths and least in need of a primer? It's regrettable that the anxieties of our culture could be encroaching upon the innocents so as to necessitate it; but it is hopeful that resources like this book continue to offer remembrance rather than ritalin and promote early and conscious application of that remembrance! Milton (of the title) is a boy who is happy enough until accosted by a bully, after which time he is haunted by the spectres of "When" (past injury) and "Then" (future encounter). He is helped, by a wise adult and his wisdom of dreams, to learn how to return to the safe haven of the Now, by escorting his attention to first the "outside of the Now", then the "inside of the Now." Milton learns about presence and compassion; and importantly, with guidance, he comes to these realizations himself. I confess that at first I was disappointed, wishing Milton's Secret had carried a certain charm and contagion of other children's books I knew. Despite the book's expressive illustrations, what seemed to be a bland narrative failed to open up a rich world to get lost in. However, upon reflecting and summarizing this book for review, a simple brilliance in its teaching came into focus. This is an invitation to redirect our cultural dependence on alternate "once upon a time" realities and learn to abide richly, fluidly in the generously enchanting "Now." Ultimately, I recommend the book: a solid gift for kids on your list (as well as their parents). Since we don't know which of the seeds we scatter in the impressionable soil of young hearts and minds will germinate, it is better to offer sane and nourishing seed. While my own expectations allowed me to be underwhelmed at first, the book's gentle rain seeps quietly in. The idea behind Milton's Secret has rich potential; and so because a richer reading experience tends to promote the more enduring the impact, and thus, more deeply root its seeds of wisdom, my hope is that Milton's Secret becomes the first in a series of books, which together synergize their full potential as engaging, enduring children's literature that demonstrates the practical and pervasive and accessibility of the Now. Title: One City: A Declaration of Interdependence Ethan Nichtern lives and works in NYC, where he founded The Interdependence Project. He is a student and teacher in the Shambhala tradition of Buddhism, but more importantly, he is a student and teacher of life: Humanity 101 for the 21st century. Fundamentally One City is a refreshing argument for the timeless and ever more urgent relevance of meditation, along with concise and unpretentious instruction about what that really means, how it is done, and why anyone can do it. What sets it apart is Nichtern's effective use of contemporary urban vernacular and analogies. Tithed lately? Pick up a case for your local high school! Nichtern first summarizes the three main realms interwoven in the philosophy (and reality) of Interdependence, and then applies basic principles and tools of Buddhism, with humor and clarity, to the common and core conundrums we meet in modern life. Buddhism is intrinsic to Nichtern's presentation; but incidental to it's message. He keeps it personal (using mostly the first person) and launches with a disarming candor that imposes an instant, accessible confidence; in fact, the introduction, and every observed glory and personal foible the author intimates, serves to implicate the reader, inescapably, in the commonality of the human experience. Once implicated, the reader, by equal parts curiosity and filial obligation, joins Ethan on a lighthearted and lucid tour through the funhouse, where the conclusion becomes that once we really see, accept and laugh at the whole miraculous tangle of embodied life, there really is no other course but to embrace and enjoy one's choices and responsibilities. Wisdom, depth and humor are equalizing, unifying qualities. They cut across more superficial aspects of the human experience, like chronological age, culture, race and gender. To hear it in the deft (if occasionally verbose) voice of relative youth (Nichtern is about 30) always brings a welcome injection of hope, not only for the potential of younger generations, but for the potential of any human to wake up and exercise the timeless wisdom that awaits us within. Title: The Presence Process This is a brilliantly lucid work and a very important book. The publisher of The Power of Now, this year bring us The Presence Process. Although, in truth, both works stand alone impeccably, Michael Brown's book seems to pick up where the Eckhardt Tolle work left off. The Presence Process elaborates on a similar theoretical foundation by engaging us in a simple and concrete process designed to solidify our abidance in the Now. Tolle, Brown and others have defined our true identity as Pure Presence and might assert that pain and dysfunction don't really exist, are merely illusions born of time and mind. Acknowledging the convincing (if illusory) tyranny of mind and time, however, Brown's work promotes conscious integration of the unconscious phenomena that distract attention from our true nature. For readers new to these ideas, certain of Brown's assertions may be radical and challenging. However, those who celebrated the eloquence and irrefutable wisdom of Eckhardt Tolle's classic, or most anyone on the path of integrated consciousness, will find this book an exceptionally incisive reminder and synthesis of realizations poignantly familiar or inevitably forthcoming on this journey. It thus offers valuable and practical support. In The Presence Process, Brown has assembled, from his own experience, a blend of wisdom and tools reminiscent of psycho-spiritual and self-help disciplines we may recognize from elsewhere. Anticipating this, he carefully explains the distinctions in practice and intent — of his own. This workbook, of sorts, guides us through stages of insight and integration using the steady rhythm of a three-fold practice. We are offered a foundational breathing practice, which promotes focus and presence and illuminates hidden emotional material; a weekly activating statement; and accompanying readings. A particular virtue of this Process would seem to be its simplicity, which makes it a "do-able" means of delving deeply and gently into, and reconciling, the modes of human existence that can seem to work at cross purposes. His insight is refreshing; and his understanding of mechanisms that stand in our way gives the author credibility and the reader comfort and courage. Given the cumulative nature of this journey, I did wonder how much the degree of transformation cultivated in this Process is contingent upon a reader's existing level of self-awareness and previous experience with meditation and self-inquiry. This should discourage no one, however — novice or veteran. The journey is, after all, infinite and inevitable; moreover, the tools and support we need at each step tend to present themselves when we are ripe to employ them. The length and repetitiveness of the book's exposition may put off some readers. Brown acknowledges this early on. In a way these very challenges serve to measure the focus and motivation of the practitioner. Each one must tap his own wisdom, patience and willingness to persevere. This self-responsibility is a fundamental factor in the success of the endeavor. The planet can only benefit from this book's success in reaching and inspiring each soul ready and willing to humbly and courageously embrace wholeness! Title: Quantum Prodigal Son Lee and Steven Hager provide us with a refreshing and meaty journey in their examination of Jesus' familiar parable through the lens of the Quantum paradigm, and what it may be revealing to us about "God" and human life. The parable's teachings come alive in this reading, sharing far more with Gnostic Christianity, A Course in Miracles and ancient perennial wisdom of other traditions than with the conventional Christian authorities who claim it. In 300 pages, the Hagers carefully examine elements of the story often neglected in its telling centuries later. Most noteworthy for me was the significance of the older ("good") son. They do so interpreting it not only against Quantum phenomena, but what Jesus' imagery would have meant to its original audience of mostly Jewish enculturation. This proves quite illuminating. The book is well written, and the arguments are sturdier and better documented than those of many contemporary metaphysical treatises. There are a few points where the thread of an argument lapses momentarily and little flags may spring up in the minds of discerning academics. However, the sense is that it may be the language that is failing rather than the logic. It is a tricky and layered topic to articulate. The authors seem uncharacteristically remiss, however, when documenting their claims about cultural contexts that would influence the understanding of Jesus' details by his contemporaries. The purpose and efficacy of the Truths revealed, however, seem scarcely impaired by this oversight. The language poses the same problems encountered in A.C.I.M., where pronouns must play triple duty, referring to players at different levels of reality; and also in the choice here to refer to "God" in personal pronouns. This is challenging for some readers, including myself. Even so, I found certain arguments in the book even more compelling, at times, than in the dense and verbose A.C.I.M. perhaps due to the reassuring presence of more neutral, quantum language as well. Not everyone will be ready for this book; full participation demands naked honesty about what each of us wants: to play the game or wake up. However, it makes for compelling companionship while we are, inevitably, in the process of doing both. Title: The Reiki Magic Guide to Self-Attunement There have been a fair number of books published on the healing art Reiki since its emergence. Author and Reiki Master Brett Bevell, himself recommends at least one in particular in the pages of his own book. I have not read these other volumes; so, I base my comments on my experience as a healer, as a writer and as a reader who experimented with the ideas, practices, and energies addressed in Bevell's thoughtful and unrutted elucidation, The Reiki Magic Guide to Self-Attunement. His years of exploration give Bevell's voice a balance of authority, humility and authenticity, and his presentation seems consistently pragmatic, grounded and sensitive. He offers the basics: Beginning with his understanding of the history, energies and cosmology or Reiki; then introducing a familiar and fundemental full body self-treatment; then first and second degree attunements and their activating symbols; then some more advanced matters involving work beyond oneself and the beginnings of third degree principles. It is all lucidly and respectfully presented, even when the content might seem quite tenuous and esoteric to a reader uninitiated to these rarified realms. He defies traditional restrictions in revealing and instructing on key symbols and rituals. He does so, perhaps, in good faith about humans, but probably more from time-tested faith in the intelligent force(s) of Reiki's incorruptible origins and essence. He knows Reiki can take care of itself. His intention here is to speak to the wise, noble healer in all, to empower the wisdom and responsibility in each of us, and offer tools for harnessing, cultivating and ever refining that power for the collective good. This is his offering to a world waking up. It is indeed a gift, and one endowed to serve the reader for all time — and beyond. Title: The Secret Life of Water <The Secret Life of Water is the latest in Masaru Emoto's contemplations on the increasingly precious treasure and teachings held for us in water. This friendly little volume follows Emoto's original and still influential bestseller The Hidden Messages of Water and its sequels Messages in Water (I-III) and The Power of Water. Its focus is the wisdom accrued by water in its own evolutionary and cyclical travels as a component of life itself, from its origins and journey through space to Earth and its myriad forms and functions on the planet./p> The theses of all these books extrapolate from photography of ice crystals infused with various sentiments (love, gratitude, derision), essences (Hinduism, spring water, chamomile) and concepts (war, peace). These beautiful images continue to have poignant and inspiring impact that, effortlessly as ever, transcends the text in which they are nestled. These pictures reinforce quantum arguments about the subtle inter-connectedness and communicativity among all seemingly separate things in the universe. Demonstrating how water remembers and carries vibratory signatures imparted by nature or focused human intention yields the suggestion: If living beings are composed mostly of water, imagine what power thoughts, prayer and intention have to influence life and perception throughout the cosmos! Water is not only a sacred medium of life but of intelligence. As in What the Bleep..., (which cites Emoto's work) the evidence and implications presented gently return responsibility, power and hope squarely to our individual laps, exhorting us to take another look, take courage and dive in: To clear our hearts, minds and bodies of the clutter and oppression of negative, limiting thoughts, beliefs and habits, and see the transformation inevitably engendered within reflected in the "outer" world. The Secret Life of Water is not hard science; and one who intuits the truth asserted in Emoto's writings, which meander like a long, leisurely river, might wish he included more documentation of his claims. Perhaps, though, that is like asking a bird to prove the existence of air or the sea anemone, water. These books remind me of the sermons of an admired and ingenuous pastor, whose homilies one attends weekly for a dose of reassurance and remembrance of that which one already hopes, believes, or knows to be true. Whether his poetry would convince someone uninitiated to this faith is uncertain. Like so many intimate with the mystery and miracle of the Tao, he will live in celebration, ever sharing his gratitude and conviction, regardless of whether the sounds of the revelry and witness of his growing "congregation" awakes the "gospel" in the non-observant and late sleepers. While he does acknowledge the importance of his message and its relevance to humankind's present ecological and spiritual "predicament," Emoto's message carries the simple and irrepressibly appreciative innocence of a child, who cannot help but giggle in the face of a dour face and pessimistic outlook. The child knows a secret; and he knows you know the secret, too; and he wonders when you will remember; and he will meanwhile splash around in Life's vibrant miracle, sprinkling you with reminders, inviting, maybe hoping, but never insisting, that you join him in play, as he bathes in the nourishing, wise womb of water. Title: Serpent of Light - Beyond 2012 Book Review by Joanna Cherry Drunvalo Melchizedek has authored a true gift with his book, Serpent of Light. The information is new (to most of us) and essential knowledge, about the ending of the age we have been in for the past 12,956 years and the beginning of the next one, in 2012. Indigenous peoples, including the Maya and Inca, the Hopi, and the Maori of New Zealand, have held ancient knowledge and prophecy vital to the well being of our planet and humanity. (It is believed by some that Jose Arguelles presented a portion of Mayan knowledge, but not enough for an accurate understanding. Some of that is corrected here.) They understand the cycles of Earth with its wobbling axis, and the changes that come with each new cycle. To assist these changes indigenous tribes, often at the same time in different places, gather to perform ceremony: powerful people of true knowledge, heart-connected to Mother Earth, with pure intention for the good of our planet and her life. Some of the ceremonies are done only once in 13,000 years. Drunvalo gives a convincing argument that this world-furthering work may literally allow humanity to continue to evolve. It turns out that the reverberating date we've all heard about, December 21st, 2012, has an astrological significance of great importance to humanity. On this date, for the first time in nearly 13,000 years, the wobbling axis of Earth will point toward the center of our galaxy rather than away from itŃa cycle that has repeated for many eons. When this happens, spiritual leadership will shift from men to women, and indeed this shift has already begun. Another extraordinary piece of information concerns the kundalini of Earth, similar to that of a human. For the last cycle, the head of the "serpent of light", Earth's kundalini energy, was located in Tibet, long known as the spiritual headwaters of the world. A white pyramid was built at the exact spot where the serpent's head met the surface of the earth, which is visible for only two weeks out of the year. The discovery of this pyramid, and the one symbol in it, is one of the fascinating stories of the book. When the Dalai Lama left Tibet the serpent also left, and began a long, slow journey to what is the new spiritual center of the planet. The drama of this journey, an obstacle that delayed its progress for many years, and its final new location I will leave to the reader to discover. Much of the book concerns ceremony Drunvalo is asked to do by spirit (often in the form of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god who appeared to him). Native American wisdom imbues the ceremonies, done in areas of present or past indigenous tribal life. Each has its own purpose: re-awakening the ancient spirit of the Maya, correcting a destructive decision made by the Anasazi when they disappeared, shifting spiritual leadership from the male to the female, and more. Some of these he does with one other person, but most involve a group of dedicated and powerful spiritual leaders. One of the ceremonies, in New Zealand, takes place at the location of a spiritual "university" given to the Maori by beings from Sirius. Dwelling upon numerous ceremonies may be more, or less, interesting to the reader. But, especially seeing how Drunvalo opens himself to be guided on each journey, one becomes convinced of the truth of his path. Finally, the author's connection with Mother Earth and Father Sky, from his heart, is an example any of us can beneficially follow, and thus contribute more to life. A highly recommended read. Title: The Translucent Revolution: How People Like You Are Waking Up And Changing the World It has many names. Arjuna Ardagh calls it Translucence; it is a poetic and apt term. The increasing incidence and apparent momentum of this illuminated state in the human population is the Translucent Revolution. Many have likened the completely enlightened state to transparency. "Translucent" refers to those of us who have experienced transparency, yet still walk the world in relationship with denser realities and the frailties and challenges associated with mundane, mortal life. Ardagh and his wife have conducted workshops over some years. In this time, he has interviewed hundreds of Translucents, some unknown to the greater readership, others with recognizable names like Eckhardt Tolle, Byron Katie, Adyashanti, Saniel Bonder, Jean Houston, to name only a handful. He quotes these voices generously and poignantly, demonstrating that the translucent journey features reassuring commonalities as well as circumstances, vocabularies, and character unique to each individual. His own prose is poetic and precise, rich with humor, perspicacity, and compassion. I repeatedly found his use of metaphor very effective, amusing and inspiring. Ardagh knows that of which he speaks; and he draws upon the eloquence of others to add depth, shading, and credibility to his comprehensive examination of the distinct blessings, experiences and challenges — the enchanted ordinariness — of Translucence in every aspect of contemporary life. It is a long book (400+ pages), from which I took breaks, to recharge its poignancy. Repetition seems unavoidable, as Ardagh and company visit various aspects of life, including relationship, sex, parenting, art, self-refinement, education, business, health care, and religion. Translucent Revolution is graced with a forward by Ken Wilber, which alone speaks superlatively for it. I can only add my vote of unreserved and grateful approval. Title: What the Bleep do We Know?! Discovering the Endless Possibilities for Altering your Everyday Reality What a flirtation Life is. We all seem to know it's worth it, but "Why?" is the Big Secret. This book dances closer to answers. Although in their final words they disclaimed it being the final word, at last the creators of the film What the Bleep!?! have published the book version. One could spend paragraphs discussing the pros and cons of the written versus filmic medim for this information. Ultimately each has its advantages and limitations. For those who have yet to see the film, the best advice would be to tuck away this magazine and go do so, and then to revisit this review (or skip directly to the book). Second best would be to read book first. However, compelling as the book can be, both book and film are finally about applying the information presented in your own life; and for that, the kinetic impact of the film, and oneās engagement with it, are invaluable. Both book and film explore where the frontiers of science and spirit merge in the realm of quantum phenomena. One advantage of the book is a more leisurely and in-depth examination of background information: the historic factors, forces and concepts on which its arguments are based. For this alone, I would recommend reading it very highly. The ideas in What the Bleep!?! are meant to apply as tools in our evolutionary toolkit, to help us examine, transfigure or transcend the societal paradigms and biochemical phenomena that help binds us in our boxes and stifle our potential as limitlessly creative forces of nature. In this way, it is, in a sense, a workbook, a launch pad. It is a challenging read, in multiple ways. The concepts themselves are quintessentially mind-bending. When honestly and deeply reflected upon, this material is at once empowering and terrifying: inspiring of great hope and excitement, and demanding great courage, conviction and responsibility. The authors intentionally employ very familiar metaphors and (informal and interactive) language in presenting these ideas, so as to make them as simple, accessible and playful as possible, and to ease the necessarily unsettling affect of their implications. Alas, they donāt always succeed. Even so, What the Bleep??! serves as a grand primer and bibliography for exploring the many topics and questions it raises and can only begin to address. Sometimes it seemed to be more the writing than the concept that required me to reread passages several times to lock into the meaning intended. Some passages seemed to lack a coherency I intuited was possible. I came to recognize that this, along with most of my complaints with the book, were wonderful demonstrations of the very phenomena the material sought to illuminate. Just as classical physicists found Quantum Physics unsettling to their established laws and assumptions, I met my own irritation and rigidity in what I considered the authorsā indulgences and sloppiness with language and idiom (and occasionally "fact"). I chose to recognize and embrace the greater message, for which language is a woefully inadequate medium to begin with! If the reader will indulge the following metaphor, the overall experience of this book was, for me, like reading a book about what's above the roof while pressed against the ceiling. Reading was challenged in the dim of being above the conventional light source. As my eyes tracked the lines on the page, I derived as much understanding from the intuitive knowledge illuminated within by focusing on the truth and energy behind or beyond the words and concepts. Leaning into the invincible, compassionate force of these new ideas relentlessly crushed the skull against the ceiling of all previously held understandings, in hope that something would give: the ceiling (societal paradigms, perhaps?) or my skull (read: mind, limited perception). To better understand this review, you may have to read the book! To best understand the book, you may have to give up an addiction to understanding. To understand how, I suggest you read the book. I can tell you it's worth it. It's your choice to find out why. Title: The World is a Waiting Lover: Desire and the Quest for the Beloved This book at once embodies and details the quintessential Labor of Love, as delivered by Trebbe Johnson, a leader of vision quests and workshops on desire and purpose internationally. Johnson's poetic writing plucks the strings of the heart, not with sentimental, cascading strokes on a harp, but with the deep, resonant, penetrating tones of a universal human Truth: Longing for the Beloved. The author deftly weaves together revelatory episodes from her own narrative and those of others, as well as mystical wisdom and practice and archetype and myth from across the globe. The effect, at times, is an entraining of the reader's heart with the One heart throbbing in all of creation. Johnson leads us as close as words might to the fire of passion and tenderness of love. We approach this bonfire and dance around the periphery, feel the gravity, the heat, and our own longing and resistance. We feel our own memory and appetite awake as we stand at that edge where the conceptual must give way to the empirical, as if waiting our turn to dive in. Each chapter refreshes the inspiration to reflect on our own objects of "allurement." In this way, the book is an inevitable and potent promotion for the vision quest process! Reading in the dead of winter, this writer felt like a captive animal sensing ghosts outside with whom I had divine appointment. Johnson recounts her discovery, and eloquently illustrates, that the Beloved, ultimately, is within each of us, if as a necessarily cagey presence. The people, gifts, endeavors and challenges that provoke in us compelling passion (whether appreciated or not) Johnson calls "escorts to the Beloved." She seeks to illuminate our own capacity to consciously recognize and healthily engage with these decoys, if you will, these catalyzing agents for a Love which transcends conventional categories. Like the Beloved itself, the book teases us along to revisit our own passions and potential. It cannot deliver the Beloved to us whole. It invites us into that sacred clearing to join the chorus ever intoning the call and response song that perpetuates Life. Title: Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present Your Daily Walk is a facilitated journal, offering a structured daily satsang with one's deepest truth. It's a tool for cultivating and maintaining self-awareness and integrity. The book begins with a succinct introduction, including suggestions for its most effective use; then it just gets down to business in the quietly compassionate tone of a mentor who has been there, has nothing to prove and no one to convince. In the original edition, there is a page for each day of the year. Each day's theme is supported by a quotation, a focusing meditation, and an inquiry on which the reader writes a journal entry. One day's theme seems to build upon the previous. In this way, the program purports to steadily lay a foundation for true and abiding empowerment or change. Further supporting the process are monthly suggested books, by luminaries like Deepak Chopra, Mitch Albon, Victor Frankl, and other names familiar to the Self-help saavy. While both the quotations and the book list contain familiar, even classic, sources, neither list is a tired who's who or compendium of over-exposed platitudes. Many less predictable voices make it refreshing. Ultimately, as with any such offering, its success depends on the willingness and staying power of the reader. There seems to be a certain clarity and concision about the book — as it leans into universal and perennial human challenges — that encourages commitment and collaboration by anyone on the evolutionary spectrum. Two revised editions of this 2006 book — a pocketbook and a workbook — are expected in February 2007, from Love Healing Press. The pocket edition, condensing two days per page face, is a more portable size, but requires a separate notebook for journaling. The workbook will include more space for notes. Both will feature daily affirmations, a foreword by Dr. David Powell, an expanded reading list and a cross-referenced subject/author index.
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