BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 2 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! !LIKELIKE STARS, STARS, SMILING SMILING GRATEFULLYGRATEFULLY IN IN THE THE MIDNIGHT MIDNIGHT CLEAR CLEAR! !

ELCOME! Thanks for here. HAT YOU HAPPILY PAID $25 for WAs we carry our seeds of wis- Wlast year will be $20 soon. What CONTENTS dom, warmth and caring into the win- this means at Banyen is that many 7 Upcoming Banyen Events ter darkness, let’s stay in touch with books will be coming in at lower 8 Music each other... with our hearts’ deep yes. prices than those listed in this issue 12 New Videos BRANCHES OF LIGHT of Branches. Hooray! FYI: even before 13 Art, Creativity & Music RANCHES OF LIGHT REFLECTS the News & Reviews from these new price drops, we North 15 Poetry, Writing & Stories Bdiverse spectrum of human con- Banyen Books and Sound Americans already were were pay- 17 & the Hindu Tradiditions necting, healing, and spiritual awaken- ing the lowest prices in the world 20 & ing. Offering a harvest of human ISSUE 31 Fall-Winter-Spring 2007-08 for books on durable acid-free paper. 24 Tibetan Buddhism Beauty, Brilliance & Curiosity in many  The less-good news is that these price 27 , Chi & the Martial Arts Publisher & Editor ways, these new books, music, audios, reductions may take months or years 28 BodyMind Healing Kolin Lymworth and videos—jewels from among the to move through the system.On the 29 Healing Energies, Healing Herbs  thousands of titles we Managing Editor, Ads & Events 1/3 of our books we buy 30 Bodywork & Movement stock at Banyen—are ever Michael Bertrand from the US, price reduc- 32 Food, Nutrition & Healing more skillful and articulate  tions already occur easily. 33 Inspiration & Self-Help Insides Laura Duncan Good Look Graphics offerings on the leading On the other 2/3 we buy 36 Psychology, Therapy & Dreams Cover Fiona Gamiet Articulate Design edges of humanity “grow- from Canada, those which 37 Midlife & ElderWisdom  ing up.” I trust you’ll trust On the Cover have the Canadian price 37 Jungian, Archetype & Shadow your heart to find what Ladybug Lounging on Echinacea Blossom printed on them, it’s not 38 Mythology & Symbolism you need and what enjoys in a landscape painted by Lizanne Fisher clear. We may buy more 40 The Heart of Religion you. Happy grazing... You  from the US, or the sys- 40 Western Teachers & Teachings The Banyen Staff might try scanning the tem in Canada may adapt. 42 Dying & Grieving Store Manager: Tanis Phillips Index (p.63) to see at a Purchasers: Anusha Fernando, 43 glance which authors HERE ARE FACTORS Rebecca Coates & Marina Gingrich(books) 44 / Psychedelics have new books. Tthat will always make Dawn Howlett, Karen McMahon The Cover that Almost Was 44 & Ritual Canadian prices higher than & Suñi Tafoya (music, art & gifts) 45 Native American Medicine Ways IGHLIGHTS THIS ISSUE: Rumi’s “par”: economies of scale (US market In the Store... “The Gardeners”: 45 , Magick & Paganism Mark Adam, Mahara Gabriel, H800th Birthday (p. 48), Joseph is 10 times larger), long shipping dis- 46 Christian & Jewish Michael Galloway, Silvia Graber, Campell on DVD (38), Parabola’s tances, import/customs costs, differ- 48 , Islam & Rumi Mandalynn Halldorson, Steve Holy, Inner Journey series (40) New ent tax/cost structures, and exchange 49 , Tarot & Divination Ingrid Jensen, Jenn Longson, Sandra Leigh, Videos (13), Pema Chödrön (25)... rates in 2 or 3 countries. These factors Armin Medani-Nejad, Tom Oakley, 50 & Philosophy together add about 10% in any case. Tobi Panter, Suzie Payne, Emily Payne, ITH THE U.S.$ LOSING an aston- 52 Transmissions & Revelations Levi Shulman, Jacob Steele, Wishing 20% of its value in rela- O, DEAR FRIENDS, REMEMBER that 53 Business, Work & Right Livelihood Tessa Thornley & Zander Winther tion to Canada’s in 9 months, our Sas book prices go down, so too do 54 Ecology, Community & Politics Receivers: Dean Regan & Chris Piedt Banyen’s sales... unless you buy 4 56 Eco-Philosophy, Deep Ecology Accounting: Lorraine Burke book industry (built on a system of 56 Earth Energies & Eco-Design Events & Publicity: Canadian prices printed on the books, books instead of 3 (probably still pay- Michael Bertrand & Nicola Solomons based on a stable exchange rate) is ing less). Or perhaps we’ll be scraggy 57 Gardening & Farming like a deer caught in the headlights of ex-booksellers mumbling poems on a 58 Nature as Teacher & Healer  a world turning. Great good news streetcorner... As Rumi said, “Gaze 58 New Culture 17,000 copies printed at Coastal Web Press on into what is not ashamed or afraid of 59 Science, Gaia, Brain/Mind New Heron Paper’s Rebrite 100% recycled for readers is that book prices are (75+% post-consumer, the rest sawmill waste— coming down. any truth.” {love from us all} –Kolin 60 Family & Parenting and no chlorine bleach). About 65 mature trees 60 Relationships, Women & Men were spared—and 45% less water and 70% less ORDERING FROM BANYEN SHIPPING & HANDLING electricity were used—by “re-using” the Call us toll-free from U.S. or Canada, email, We will backorder to ship later any titles four tons of paper it takes to print this issue. fax (604--737-1636) or order from our website. temporarily out of stock, and you may cancel  Before you call, make a list for reference. your backorders at any time. At your request, EDITOR’S Publication Mail Agreement # 1494872 Please have ISBN number for each item (if we will ship your order C.O.D. within Canada The Banyen lotus in a review Return undeliverable Canadian addresses you know it), your credit card & expiry date. only. It will cost you an additional $7.00. means that title is a favourite— to: Banyen Books, 3608 West 4th Ave. our “Editor’s Choice.” Vancouver, BC V6R 1P1 RETURNS & DEFECTIVES SHIPPING COSTS IN CANADA If unhappy with your order, return it to us Expedited Parcel (insured): For the 1st  with a copy of your receipt, and we will give item: $6 in B.C., $7 outside B.C. + $2 for each PRICE CHANGES: Prices printed reflect In the spirit of partnership, and to help make you a full merchandise refund. (Please note additional, to a max. of $10 in B.C., $11 out- updates at press time, yet suppliers change BRANCHES OF LIGHT possible, the exceptions in the following paragraph.) side B.C. 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BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 3 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! STEPHEN LEVINE & PAUL BRUNTON !

BREAKING THE DROUGHT retiring from working with A SEARCH IN SECRET EGYPT Visions of Grace patients and a visit from Special Illustrated Edition by Stephen Levine Robert Bly, another book by Paul Brunton $16.95, paper. Larson. of undecoded transmis- $120.00, cloth. Larson Isbn 9780943914480 sions from the under- isbn 9780943914985 292 pages, 8x11, colour photos, maps & dia- 152 pages, French flaps dream has come to light.” grams When the heart goes dry, the Paul Brunton (1898-1981) traveled all over the world world goes flat—aching for Millennium blessing seeking out mystics, occultists, and sages. He modified their spirit’s warm rain. Until esoteric teachings into a form accessible and relevant to our There is a grace approaching something in the marrow stirs: a modern times. A renowned spiritual writer and teacher in that we shun as much as new beginning, a reawakening, a the midst of the 20th century, his books such as Search in rising . As rain revives death, it is the completion of our Secret India and Wisdom of the Overself influenced many. parched soil, so from deep in our A Search in Secret Egypt is a special illustrated edition of longing a merciful grace upwells. birth. The heart overflows. Mercy and It does not come in time, Brunton’s classic travelogue of discovery (written in 1935) of “that Egypt whose awareness expand, breaking the but in timelessness mysterious origin mounts to immemorial antiquity.” Showing the reader exactly drought with the grace we are. when the mind sinks into the heart what Brunton saw through the lens of his own camera and inviting us to walk where and we remember. he walked by following the maps of Cairo, Luxor, and Karnak, this edition adds Breaking the Drought brings us the creative It is an insistent grace that draws us nearly 200 modern photos and diagrams to bring the splendor of Egypt’s landscape intuition and poetic sensibility that draw so to the edge and beckons us surrender and temples alive. many so deeply into Stephen and Ondrea safe territory and enter our enormity. Brunton’s narrative tells of his deep at the feet of the Sphinx, his Levine’s inspired work with the wounded, We know we must pass eerie and illuminating night alone in the Great Pyramid, and his insight into the the grieving, and the dying. beyond knowing and fear the shedding. Osiris myth. Alongside his explorations of ancient Egypt’s monuments and gods, God loves a gambler But we are pulled upward long-hidden temples, and underground chambers and shrines, Brunton encoun- who will bet everything none-the-less ters a variety of occultists—becoming a “snake-charming dervish” himself. He in- to find his original heart through forgotten ghosts and break the drought. terviews Tahra Bey, Egypt’s famous fakir, discusses relationships between Egyptian and unexpected , culture and memories of , and also interviews the head of Islam. His de- In 1959, The Village Voice greeted luminous. scription of the Hajj (pilgrimage) reminds us of the beauty and inspiring faith of Stephen’s first book of poetry with a And there is nothing left to say Mohammad’s true followers. but we are That. hope that he would “continue to write In the end, Brunton turns his attention to his own spiritual journey, connecting And that is what we sing about. as well in the future as he has in his first all his experiences into a single discovery: that we are more than the body, that the book.” Now after decades of listening “It is lovely when someone who has freedom of our spirit can be experienced here and now even as it has ever been. deeply to hearts in crisis, as well as guid- given so many gifts in psychology dur- This book of many secrets hides its greatest one in plain sight: it is here that Paul ing many along paths of self-discovery, ing his lifetime can turn and give such Brunton unveils the importance, method and consequences of properly seating the he evokes his original muse to open the gifts in poetry. There are many poems body in the mind. Once assimilated, the doors of are opened, and next wisdom door through which his here you’ll want to read to your friends” they open directly into the truly magical kingdom of the Soul itself. formidable heart invites us all to enter. —Robert Bly This new illustrated edition is designed to let you see for yourself all that the au- As he says, “Now decades later, breaking Among Levine’s books are Who Dies?, thor saw on his own journey. innumerable droughts, reawakening A Year to Live, and Unattended Sorrow. While many of Paul Brunton’s books have gone out of print, 16 volumes of The the subconscious to blossom from quite Notebooks of Paul Brunton are still available. For more info visit: paulbrunton.org a different intuitive seed, nourished by

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 4 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 5 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 6 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! BANYEN EVENTS !

• TALK & PATH OF THE SOUL DOROTHY MACLEAN • TALK & ORDINARY WOMEN, BOOKSIGNING DESTINY CARDS God, Humanity and Nature BOOKSIGNING EXTRAORDINARY Thurs., Nov. 8 Thurs., Jan. 24 Each card contains an intuitively Join with one of the co-founders of WISDOM 6:30-8 pm Free Free channeled Fractal Art the FINDHORN COMMUNITY in 6:30-8 pm The Feminine Face of at Ayurveda at Ayurveda, image by visionary artist Awakening 3636 W. 4th Scotland for an experience of deepen- 3636 W. 4th CHERYL LEE HARNISH. ing connections to the Sacred. Join two of the women, These “high vibration “I will share my experience of contacting my MUNI FUSS and and loving energy” cards inner , which led to MARLIES COCHERET, TALK & WORKSHOP create stunning spreads daily communications and featured in this collection and are extremely easy to • Fri., Nov. 16 Unitarian teaching from within. This of conversations with a read. 7:30pm Church 49th & Oak inner connection opened up new generation of clear-eyed See review p. 50 the experience of contacting women sages and spiritual teachers. • Sat., Nov. 17 the inner soul of nature, See review, p. 42 LIGHT ON THE ORI- 10am-5pm Unitarian Church Hall, 49th & which I called the Devic • TALK & • TALK & IVAN RADOS GINS OF REIKI Oak kingdom. BOOKSIGNING BOOKSIGNING CREATE YOURSELF: Secrets of Thurs., Nov. 15 Reiki teacher AMANDA JAYNE will Tkts. at Banyen: “During this talk and --Workshop incl. Fri. Thurs., Feb. 7 Self Discovery and Free talk about Jikiden Reiki workshop, I will lead you 6:30-8 pm Talk: $80 7:30pm Free Healing with Sacred at Ayurveda and how it was in its in exercises to reflect upon --Talk only: $15 at Vancouver Geometry. 3636 W. 4th simple, effective original and deepen into your Workshop participants Public Library, Come meet this inter- form. This book is writ- attunement to the Sacred, please attend the 350 W. Georgia nationally renowned psy- ten by her teacher Tadao the ground of all being. We Friday talk as the first chic, healer, artist and author. He Yamaguchi about his mother, will also attune to the workshop session. believes we all have the ability to Chiyoko, a disciple of Dr. Hayashi Devic realm, and explore heal and achieve connection with who learned from Reiki founder how each of us can cooperate with them for the the Infinite Universe. Sacred Mikao Usui. greater wellbeing of the planet.” Geometry holds the blue print and Dorothy is assisted by Freya Secrest of the building blocks for this adventure. NISCHALA JOY DEVI Lorian Association. www.lorian.org • TALK & YOGA The Secret Power of Yoga Sat., Nov. 17 MARION WOODMAN & A woman’s guide to the heart BRETT BEVELL $150 TALK & ROBERT BLY 9:30-5 and spirit of the Yoga Sutras. In • The Reiki Guide to Self- UBC Botanical BOOKSIGNING this unique interpretation of the Attunement AGING AND THE Garden Tues., Dec. 4 UNLIVED LIFE tkts: 604-813- Yoga Sutras, NISCHALA Through providing easy-to-fol- 6:30-8 pm Free Adopting the story of 4302 or www. honours and explores at Ayurveda lowsteps to the three degrees of King Lear, we will examine the pain of coming to yogaspirit.com the unique and vital 3636 W. 4th Reiki attunements, the author also: Yoga of the essence of the heart in reminds us that Reiki is more than oneself so late in life. Cordelia could be said to Heart, Nov. 18 spiritual life. a healing modality—it’s a medium represent the soul as it asks to be taken serious- through which we can make the ly. Insofar as Lear gradually allows Cordelia to take LILLIAN YEE-STEWART world a better place for every crea- a part in his own psyche, he is able to die whole. TALK & Beyond the Veil: A Reference for ture and object. The play also • TALK & WORKSHOP BOOKSIGNING the Spiritual Path addresses the terrible See review p. 30 Sat., April 5 Thurs., Nov. 22 A crisis started the • $25 consequences of the 7:30pm Christ Church 6:30-8 pm Free author on a journey JOHN WELSHONS loss of the positive • TALK & Cathedral, Burrard and at Ayurveda researching many paths feminine, so relevant BOOKSIGNING When Prayers Aren’t Answered 3636 W. 4th Georgia, Vancouver to healing. Part narra- Thurs., Dec. 6 With insights gath- to our times now. tive, part investigative interviews, Free ered from all the The play abounds 6:30-8 pm • Sun., April 6 $140 these 15 teachers of Naturopathy, at Ayurveda world’s great spiritual with examples of the 10am-5pm , First Nation’s Buddhism, Astrology, Physics, etc. 3636 W. 4th traditions, the author positive and negative offer diverse ways of transforma- (also of Awakening Longhouse, UBC masculine and femi- tion and inspiration. from Grief) will offer a Tkts. at Banyen: nine, which will add uniquely inspiring pic- On sale Nov. 19 to our discussion. • TALK & THE GLASS SEED ture of how it is, in fact, possible Workshop participants must The example of our BOOKSIGNING The Fragile Beauty of Heart, for God to be loving and powerful attend the Saturday talk as presenters, as still- Thurs., Nov. 29 Mind and Memory in a world where suffering and evil the first workshop session. questing elders will- 6:30-8 pm Free EILEEN DELEHANTY ing to continue giv- at Ayurveda are evident. PEARKES’ memoir is a 3636 W. 4th See review p. 34 • POETRY READING ing back the fruits of contemplation on beauty, WITH ROBERT BLY their lives to the cul- womanhood and the www.timeless. • TALK & DR. REGGIE RAY Fri., April 4 ture, will serve as the power of the heart to heal. She • $18 org BOOKSIGNING Long time student of Unitarian Church, creative and meaning- describes her own spiritual awak- 7:30pm Thurs., Jan. 17 Chogyam Trungpa, 49th & Oak ful background for ening as she accompanies her 6:30-8 pm Free and a founding mem- Tkts at Banyen from Nov. 19 our discussions and mother through the valley of at Ayurveda ber of Naropa See review p. 15 our time together. Alzheimer’s. See ad p. 6 3636 W. 4th University in Colorado, CHRISTMAS IN THE ROUND REGGIE RAY has a new book, • WORKSHOP WITH MARION WOODMAN, Touching Enlightenment: MARLENE SCHIWY AND URSULA CARSEN WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Sat., Dec. 22, 8pm • Finding Realization in the Body. The Feminine in Present Day Western Civilization with Jerry DesVoignes & the MantraVani Orchestra He will giving many talks and Mon., April 7 An annual sold-out event, with joyous • 9:30-4:30 workshops during his stay in Masonic Hall, 1495 W. 8th Ave. singing-in-the-round of Sacred Chants Vancouver. See www.dharmao- Includes lecture, discussion and embodiment of the from many traditions. cean.org for details or call Margo feminine through deep relaxation, movement and poetry. Trinity St Marks Church, 2nd & Larch O’Hara at 604-879-9770. Registration begins after Feb. 1: Yvonne Young, 604- Tickets: Banyen, adv $20; $25 at door See review p. 24 926-3465, or [email protected]

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 7 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! SILENCE, SOUND & HEALING !

CHAKRA HEALING ZONE Music on CD In the Zone with Steven Halpern by David & Steve Gordon, with Sequoia Artists $18.25, CD. Sequoia. TOUCH OF SILENCE IN THE OM ZONE isbn 0010062173 60 minutes Tibetan Singing Bowls by Steven Halpern Retreat from the busyness of life and en- by Klaus Wiese $13.95, CD. Inner Peace Music. ter a mystical inner temple where you can $22.50, CD. Aquarius. isbn 0010065202 72 minutes discover and attune to the seven glowing isbn 0010060103 55 minutes According to ancient Vedic traditions of India, “Om” is jewels of con- The Tibetans say: ‘Listen to the sound of the “soundless sound”—the primordial vibration of the sciousness known the singing bowls and when the sound is universe, the basic building block of all worlds. Some as- as the Chakras. gone keep on listening.’ This describes a trophysicists would now agree. Om is made up of three Seasoned sound nearly homeopathic approach in music Sanskrit letters: aa, au, and ma. When these sacred seed healers Sophia, therapy. The syllables are combined, they make the sound “Aum” or Shajan, David & frequencies of the “Om.” Steve Gordon, singing bowls On this album, pioneering music man Steven Halpern has craft- Win Meyerson, have a healing ed an invitation to listeners to tune into the cosmos. “In the Om Zone impact on our Robin Silver and is less about listening to a performance and more about participat- body, especially Karmacosmic con- while these ing in an interactive cosmic symphony that has been playing in your tribute serenely beautiful music which frequencies cannot DNA for millennia. This album invites and supports you to use your evokes the vibration of each sacred energy be found in voice to send primordial healing frequencies to your body-mind and center. From deeply meditative sound- today’s ordinary spirit.” scapes of Indian sitar and tamboura, en- music Steven Halpern Simply listening to the sounds on this recording will strengthen your chanting flutes to vocal chants and hyp- productions. attunement and connection with Source. As you’ll also likely discover, notic drumbeats, this Chakra journey Klaus Wiese is a veteran musician and you’ll feel the buzz even more profoundly when you chant along. music will enhance , sound minimalist. He was a member of Popol A small harmonic choir chants the OM in a sustained and continual soundfield. healing, yoga and massage. Vuh and has collaborated with Al Gromer The voices sing only the key tone and its fundamental harmonics. You’ll likely find The ancient medium of sound Khan, Mathias Grassow, Ted De Jong, and yourself intuitively beginning to hum along. Then just amplify and magnify the sym- combines with crafted artistry and modern others. He travelled the Far East for many pathetic resonance to fine-tune your hum into “Om.” technology to create music that will years studying Sufism and mysticism, and This journey is orchestrated with tambura and other instruments such as singing massage your soul and transport you to his beautiful album El Hadra has been a bowls and played by Halpern; Melissa Phillippe on vocals; Sonne Reyna on the inner dimension of each chakra. — favourite of many of us. Medicine Drum and rattle; and Geoffrey Gordon on frame drum. Final tracks high- Anodea Judith, author of Wheels of Life: A “Touch of Silence is one of the most won- light the mantra, “Om Nama Shivaya,” in a moving and grooving way. User’s Guide to the Chakra System derful CDs I have ever heard. Klaus Wiese Many people love to chant with others at the end of yoga class, but are uncom- “I like everything about this CD right is a master musician. His Tibetan Bowls fortable chanting alone at home. While also solving the “wounded singer” dilemma, down to the way the songs are listed in create healing sound waves that penetrate In the Om Zone provides an instant “yoga class” of backup chanters, giving new mean- their corresponding chakra color. Author my entire being. This is music you can ing to spiritually oriented karaoke! Anodea Judith even includes a brief intro- have on repeat for days. Always transform- duction on what chakras are and what ing, always harmonizing and always heal- PEACE OF MIND they do, and how this CD can help you ing. Highly recommended for Yoga, by Steven Halpern gain ‘ever-deeper access to the mysteries Meditation and Blissful being!” —CDBaby $15.95, CD. Inner Peace Music. of awareness.’ This is the perfect CD to “One of the best Tibetan Singing Bowls al- isbn 0010065210 70 minutes use while doing a meditative chakra bums I’ve heard. The ambient atmos- Over 35 years ago, Steven Halpern began developing a cleanse. I recommend setting the time phere created by these bowls makes listen- new tonal vocabulary for the piano that allows the higher aside so you can meditate, cleanse and ing to Touch of Silence a soothing and harmonic overtones to speak as eloquently as the notes recharge, while listening to the CD the en- relaxing experience. I highly recommend themselves. There is spiritually uplifting energy that comes tire way through.” —The Pagan Review it.” —Jonathan Goldman, creator of Holy through his music, which many listeners notice immediately. Harmony and Healing Sounds Peace of Mind, a combination of the latest super audio recording technology, inspiration and grace, makes it easy to “get in the gap”—the IN THE KEY OF EARTH space between notes and thoughts. and Wayne Dyer elegantly de- by Marjorie de Muynck KOYASAN scribe it as a space of pure potential and connection to the divine. $21.95, CD. Sounds True. Reiki Sound Healing These performances were completely improvised and recorded in one continuous isbn 1591796202 60 minutes by Deuter flow that lasted almost two hours. In the Key of Earth is a musical celebra- $16.25, CD. New Earth. Peace of Mind is really two albums in one, depending on whether you play the music tion of our planet as a living organism, isbn 0010065393 63 minutes softly as background ambience or listen more attentively, especially with headphones. with its pulse, breath, rhythms, and cycles. “One thing that is important for me is Deep listening delivers a more direct experience of the transformative and uplifting effects In this ambient that I love dancing on the edge of the un- encoded within the music… Listen for the furthest away notes… the notes that I don’t recording, sound known; to play around and open doors I actually play, but which are created by the interplay of the layered waveforms, harmonic healer Marjorie de haven’t walked overtones, and digital choreography. Muynck bends and through before,” Peace of Mind, recorded in audiophile format, is a gift for all Halpern fans, piano reinvents the says Deuter. It is lovers, and anyone who seeks to nurture heart ‘n’ soul with the healing power of boundaries be- this very outlook sound. Also included is an “Inner-Peaceful” arrangement of “Amazing Grace.” tween sound and that has kept him “Transforming the solo piano into an instrument of healing, Halpern’s latest is a music through sel- at the forefront of masterpiece of inspired Zen impressionism. It transports you to the place of peace dom-heard har- musical evolution we all seek.” —Leading Edge Review monics created for over 35 years. Among Steven Halpern’s many other CDs are Chakra Suite and Crystal Bowl with acoustic instruments—all supported His very early al- Healing. Visit him: innerpeacemusic.com. by the primordial Earth tone of Ohm, a bums such as scientifically calculated frequency that Ecstasy and Nirvana Road illumined many years. laxing quartet of plucked harp, bamboo matches the elliptical path of our planet as a journeyer in the 1970s. Koyasan, a sacred mountain in Japan flute, recorder, and sensual keyboards. On it orbits the sun. The effect is symphonic The endearing, relaxing sound of whose eight points are believed to repre- “Sound of Invisible Waters,” sparse, rever- and inspirational, evoking the macrocosm Deuter’s healing music makes it easy sent the eight petals of the lotus, serves as berated piano notes float for more than and the forces of creation. to picture the hills near Santa Fe, where inspiration for this album of “Reiki Sound nine minutes upon the wings of atmos- An hour of deep attunement, the album he lives and records in his studio. A self- Healing.” pheric synth choirs and string washes. has four phases: Pulse, Light, Ancient described “hermit, monk, and wolf” who His trademark shimmering, subtle “Listening to Deuter’s music takes me to Aquifer, and Breath, exploring the subtle coexists with coyotes, deer, synth bells and washes introduce guest a place of profound peace and beauty. In and occasionally swelling harmonics sug- bears, roadrunners, and artist Yi Xie’s hauntingly beautiful erhu these times we can get cut off from the re- gestive of creation. This music is meant to the beehives he keeps, (Chinese ) and Deuter’s soothing alization that this beauty exists right now.” ground and relax the listener. Deuter must credit his in- shakuhachi flute in “Kindred Spirit,” the —Elias Rivera, artist, Santa Fe Marjorie de Muynck is the creator of credibly serene surround- CD’s opening track. His longtime reiki Among Deuter’s many other unique Ohm Therapeutics, a system that features ings for many of the al- practice shows through on the title track: and recommended CDs are Nada the healing resonance of Ohm through Deuter bums he’s created over the mystical tamboura drones beneath a re- Himalaya and East of the Full Moon. music combined with the therapeutic ap-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 8 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! TUNING OUR HEARTS ! plication of tuning forks and other sound instruments. As a small child she was con- Tibetan Songs and Chants stantly listening for harmonics and over- tones in whistling tea kettles and hum- COMPASSION wellbeing… When the power of Dcham Sem flows in ming refrigerators, and spent much time by Dechen Shak-Dagsay the hearts of people, the wish to care for others and to outside following the sounds of animals $19.95, CD. New Earth. lessen their sufferings will be there naturally. and the wind. isbn 001006611x 69 minutes “Seldom do I hear singing and music so suffused An acupuncturist and integral healer, This is the third album from “the voice of Tibet”— with gentle beauty and calmness as I did on she also co-developed a healing treatment Dechen Shak-Dagsay—a Tibetan who has lived with Compassion. Tibetan vocalist Dechen Shak-Dagsay’s called Harmonic Attunement, which in- her family in Switzerland since childhood. She is the songs and mantras, impeccably accompanied by corporates using cosmically tuned sym- eldest daughter of a Tibetan Lama, the Venerable flute, piano, Tibetan bowls, tambura, and subtle syn- phonic gongs, tuning forks, didgeridoos, Dagsay Tulku. With her beautiful voice and tradi- thesizer textures, wrap around you like a soft blan- Tibetan bowls, and bells. To purchase tional training, her music brings the spirit of Tibetan ket, comforting and imbuing you with a sense of in- Ohm tuning forks and other sound heal- Buddhism to the western world. Dechen Shak-Dagsay performs ner peace and serenity. These songs are a spiritual oasis for our ing tools, and to learn more about Ohm, repeatedly with his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Perfect for chant- troubled souls in these perilous times, and only the most hard- please visit www.soundhealingtools.com. ing and devotional practices, as well as yoga and meditation. ened of hearts will remain unaffected by this recording.” —Bill Great for chill-out and when you need to unwrinkle the vibes Binkelman, Reporter in your house or your heart. “Hauntingly beautiful melodies are mellow enough to play Lovely liner notes tell a beautiful story of each mantra and in the background during a meditation, yet emotionally song on this album. charged enough to bring tears to the listener’s eyes.” “Dcham Sem” means “the compassionate mind” and contains —Deirdre Hopton, yogini an immense positive power for attaining inner peace and Other CDs by her: Dewa Che and Shi De.

THE LAMA’S CHANTS original album. The second features unreleased live Songs of Awakening / Roads of Blessings performances by Gyurme and keyboardists Rykiel and by Lama Gyurme & Jean-Philippe Rykiel Loy Ehrlich between 1995 and 2001, and it’s this second $18.25, 2 CDs. Narada. disc that is truly intriguing. Recorded in caves, cathe- isbn 0100933777 110 minutes drals, concert halls and open-air festivals, the quality of With auspicious liner notes on the essence of the recordings is excellent. Buddhism and the particular prayers on this album, Mostly chanting and occasionally doing some long The Lama’s Chants is a soaring, comforting, sonorous tones, Gyurme’s voice again seemingly embodies a transmission of genuine Tibetan chanting which in- mix of the human and the holy during his prayers for cludes “Hope for Enlightenment,” “Calling the Lama healing, purification, liberation and peace—he’s par- from Afar,” “Longevity Prayer to Kalu Rinpoche,” “Medicine ticularly spectacular on his solo intro to “The Mantra Of Buddha Mantra,” “Offering Chant,” and others. Padmasambhaval.” Musically, Ehrlich seamlessly fills out Marking the 10th year since this popular Buddhist chant al- Rykiel’s ambient backgrounds, and the two do a fine job ac- bum was first released, this reissue ups the ante by featuring an centuating the drama and majesty of Lama Gyurme’s voice. expanded format. The first disc is a re-mastered version of the This re-issue really amps up the blessing and the ambience.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 9 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! MUSIC !

RAISING IT UP Kirtan — Devotional Chanting by Ganga Giri $19.95, CD. White Swan Music. FLOW OF GRACE Book cle of bhakti (devotion) and the remover of fears. It isbn 001006592x 72 minutes Ganga Giri mixes red natural elements Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa & CD is said that just by chanting these powerful Sanskrit by Krishna Das words you will gain strength and confidence, and be with fat tribal beats and dirty funky bass $24.95, Book+CD set. Sounds True. filled with divine energy. Now with Flow of Grace, lines to create a unique tribal-tech deep isbn 1591795516 Krishna Das offers us the rare opportunity to chant earth dance expe- 108-page hardcover in full colour + 2 CDs these timeless verses along with him, and to experi- rience. Explosive Flow of Grace is available in 2 formats: ence the devotional power of Kirtan (sacred chant) and pulsating, at 2-CD format ($20.25) at its best. times ambient and book + 2-CD format ($24.95) The first CD features K.D. chanting the flowing, the music “Krishna Das introduces Hanuman to the West in Hanuman Chalisa (pure music); the second CD includes spo- is a pumping per- a personal, heart-to-heart way, a pure transmission of ken-word tracks with the accurate pronunciation of each cussive multi-lay- Hanuman. Flow of Grace is an extraordinary devotional Hindu verse. ered experience book touching on various aspects of Hanuman rang- Krishna Das is known for his ability to transport listeners be- of complex ing from who he is through why and how to chant yond with the eloquence of his deep, hypnotic voice and the grooves and raw, the Hanuman Chalisa, the beautiful forty-verse soothing sounds of the harmonium. On Flow of Grace, we arrive deep natural sound. Ganga himself is a chant in his honor. Having Hanuman in your life at the feet of Hanuman in honour of the monkey god. Known rhythmic didjeridu virtuoso and percus- awakens you to loving service as a spiritual path, and this won- for his unwavering commitment to righteousness, he is also the sionist—an inspired music creator whose drous book provides us with a sweet and compassionate insight devoted teacher who graciously offers help to one’s soul in re- passion brings people together in celebra- into Hanuman, the epitome of love and devotion.” —Ram alizing the Divine. tion of nowness in newness. The group Dass, author of Be Here Now Krishna Das, old guru-brother of and also a disciple has blown the roof off the Vancouver Folk Hindus consider Tulsidas one of their greatest poets, and of of Neemkaroli Baba, is one of the great modern “chant-masters.” Music Festival several times. his works Hanuman Chaliesa is the most famous. Forty lyrical Among his popular CDs are All One and Live on Earth. His shows are a modern/primitive mul- verses give praise to Hanuman—the deity known as the pinna- ti-cultural celebration, a “melting pot” unifying many musical genres and cul- THE BEST OF KRISHNA DAS blend traditional Indian instruments with popular tures, bringing audiences world-wide a re- by Krishna Das Western counterparts, the gravity he gives his kirtan flection of today’s multicultural Australia. $19.95, CD. Triloka. song—continuously transfix and transport audi- Ganga Giri blends an array of tribal per- isbn 0010066179 61 minutes ences. This greatest hits release from Krishna Das cussion that includes Ganga’s uniquely Born Jeffrey Kagel in Long Island, New York, compiles music that spans his recording career, fea- percussive style didj playing, congas, Krishna Das received his name from Neemkaroli turing highlights like “Kashi Vishwanath Gange”; djembe, bougarabou, Nigerian talking Baba, a spiritual teacher with whom he spent two the playful “Ring Song,” which features Sting play- drum, mbira, and tasty s’mores. years in India in the early 1970s. His guru-brother ing bass; “Hanuman Puja” and others. The album This 2007 release has lots of fat dance Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now, makes a fantastic introduction to those new to the tracks with a definite deep dub inspira- has described Das as “an example of music of Krishna Das, and brings together many of tional element, heavy tribal percussion someone whose heartsongs open the channels his favorites for fans. and didjeridu. Raising It Up was a work in to God.” Included are selected “golden threads” from several of his progress and musical journey for three Put simply, Krishna Das has emerged as the previous albums (all of which are highly recommended in years, from the week-long lounge room leading contemporary chant artist in the West. themselves): One Track Heart, Pilgrim Heart, Live on Earth, sessions on Saltspring Island, B.C., to the His characteristic traits—the hauntingly low Breath of the Heart, and Door of Faith. production studios in Bryon Bay, Krishna Das and deep voice, the unique arrangements that Australia.

THE YOGA OF SOUND sic with devotional poetry, instructive tales from Book ONE OF A KIND WOMAN Kirtans from the Sacred Forest the Hindu tradition, and beautiful full-colour im- & CD by Julie Blue by Patrick Bernard ages of deities and sacred sites act as guides for $19.95, CD. Blue Dolphin. $24.95, Book+CD set. Mandala. meditation and spiritual enlightenment. isbn 900007424x 68 minutes isbn 1932771956 80-page hardcover, full colour + 60- Just as there is no limit to genuine love, there are Julie Blue is a Vancouver-based minute CD absolutely no bounds to the initiatory of songstress, choir leader, and super pianist The third volume in Mandala’s elegantly pro- singing the Holy Names. Wherever we find ourselves very active in the local musical scene. A duced Kirtan CD-book series (the first two are in life, each and every one of us can find in this song spunky jazz sound the greatest well-being and the greatest benefit. On Kirtan and Smaranam), The Yoga of layered with the this CD, you will experience love in sound, real Sound features renowned Indian feeling of Gospel, vocalist Agni Deva’s sublime renditions of mantra-yoga that can impart the pure energies of bhakti, love of God. accented with the Hindu devotional chants accompanied by a pulse of World Yoga of Sound is an invitation and portal into a vast, beautiful lovely range of traditional and contemporary Beat Rhythms, instruments. A small, beautiful book supple- world of traditional song to be listened to, not merely heard. One of a Kind ments the CD, as composer Patrick Bernard’s Also by Patrick Bernard are several devotional music CDs Woman is an al- Patrick Bernard and the book Music as Yoga. text illuminates and contextualizes Deva’s mu- bum of Julie’s new songs featuring THE MOOLA MANTRA (dotar), Nepalese bansuri maestro Manose, who Joseph “Pepe” Danza drums/percussion, sung by Deva Premal has become an integral part of Deva Premal and Daryl Jahnke guitar, Darren Paris bass and $18.95, CD. White Swan. Miten’s live performances, Kit Walker (piano), and the 60-voice Singspiration Singers. Julie’s isbn 0010066217 52 minutes Benjy Wertheimer (esraj). music melds blues and gospel in a way that is deeply spiritual and foot-stomping- Over one year in the making, this album contains The Moola Mantra (moola – root) is inspired by the a 50-minute meditation on the beautiful Moola vision of avatars Sri Bhagavan and Sri Amma ly exciting, while the amazing Pepe’s Mantra—a celebration of sacred male and female [transmitters of “deeksha”]. Their vision of oneness is a “drum prayers” leave audiences shouting energy—discovered by Deva and Oneness which honours all spiritual paths, religions, for more. The album was launched with Miten during their inspirational vis- creeds and traditions. I offer this music as a gift to two sold-out concerts in June of 2007. its to the Oneness University, in Chennai, these beautiful , who have showered their grace on me My muse reminds me India. with such loving abundance… I see unity-in-diversity as the only that there is grace in way for humanity to live in harmony, and the Moola Mantra is Produced by Ben Leinbach, known for his everything, sometimes you an expression of this understanding. fine production work with Jai Uttal, the Moola just have to look a lot Mantra, like a symphony, meanders through a This album is a portrait of an artist on a journey, extending harder. Composing music is such a joyful and Deva Premal landscape of sitars, bansuri, dotar, string quar- her boundaries in a quest for music that deeply moves and connects us all. Among Deva Premal’s other CDs are Dakshina healing thing for me from tets, grand piano, tablas and ambient electron- the Bluer than Blue and Embrace. ica, with Deva’s stunning voice—a golden thread—leading the moments to the One of a way. Also stay tuned for Miten’s new CD with Deva Premal called Julie Blue Kind Woman days, each Special guest musicians include Miten (vocals), Jai Uttal Soul in Wonder, releasing in the fall of 2007. one has a song and a

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 10 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! MOVIN’ WITH THE MUSE !

lavender lotus, tangerine, persimmons, contained in the universe that keeps the Loreena McKennitt’s Ancient Muse sugar cane, honeydew melon). body alive and healthy. It is also known as “Harder than the Fall” and “I Don’t chi or ki in acupuncture and the martial Know What to Do with My Heart” are ex- arts, and ruah or breath of life in the Old Testament. Prana is not only the core of by Loreena McKennitt quisitely heart-touching, with intimate life, but also of yoga. This self-energizing lyrics and beautiful melodies. $20.95, CD. Quinlan Road. force is the principle of life and isbn 0010064249 55 minutes Also by Ruthie Foster: Runaway Soul. . There are five forms of “Tell me, O Muse, of those who travelled far and wide.”“ Prana: Udana-Vayu, Prana-Vayu, Samana- Aptly, it is an echo of Homer’s timeless Odyssey that in- Vayu, Apana-Vayu, Vyana-Vayu. With troduces Loreena McKennitt’s An Ancient Muse, the lat- COMING HOME reference to yoga, Prana is power. Proper est volume of a project she describes as “musical travel by Temple acts of breathing are ways of harnessing writing.” This time, the journey takes her in search of the $21.75, CD. Sounds True. that power. Celts’ easternmost paths, from the plains of Mongolia to the king- isbn 1591795842 57 minutes Compositions range from ethereal and dom of King Midas and the Byzantine Empire. Along the way, she Love resonates from each note of the meditative to exotic and rhythmic featur- muses on the concepts of home, of travel in all its incarnations, of long-awaited musical collaboration of ing flute, sitar, Spanish guitar, and synthe- the cultural intermingling that underpins human history and our American singer Danya Uriel and Israeli sizer. The vocals on Deuter’s “Temple of universal legacies of conflict and hope. guitarist Eyal Science” are absolutely entrancing while Recorded at Real World Studios and featuring a host of ac- Rivlin, the duo Chinmaya Dunster’s “On Sacred Ground” claimed musicians, the album proffers a treasure trove of instru- known as Temple. has a bluesy feel. This CD is great for yoga Loreena ments, from harp, hurdy-gurdy and to , lyra, kanoun The alchemical practitioners, energy workers, spa profes- McKennitt and nyckelharpa (the Scandinavian keyed fiddle). Highlights in- fusion of Uriel’s sionals as well as individuals looking for a clude the seductive rhythms and Silk Road influences of first single angelic soprano little mind-altering music. “Caravanserai”; “Penelope’s Song,” a paean to steadfast love; and Loreena’s musical and Rivlin’s hyp- setting of Sir Walter Scott’s poem of star-crossed romance, “The English Ladye and notic instrumen- the Knight.” Together, the nine songs that comprise An Ancient Muse conjure up a tation results in WORLD CITIZEN wide world’s worth of human stories that are as unique as this elegant Canadian Coming Home, a collection of original by Yeshe artist herself. Hebrew chants that honour the sacred $19.50, CD. Dog My Cat. Earlier CDs by her include Mask & Mirror and . and foster inner healing and inspiration. isbn 0010065873 48 minutes This musical couple is dedicated to revi- A percussionist for many talizing Jewish chanting as a form of med- years, Yeshe has traveled the world study- itation and ecstatic prayer. They create ing traditional percussion instruments of by Loreena McKennitt and share their music in the service of in- various cultures. In 1996 he discovered the $29.95, CD. Quinlan Road. spiration, community-building, and devo- Mbira—an isbn 9991546650 2 CDs + 1 DVD tion. Drawing on the power of the repeti- African gourd in- Nights from the Alhambra is an enchanting musical per- tion of ancient sacred phrases, they use strument with formance, set beneath the stars in the breathtaking Hebrew chants to create an experiential metal strips that Moorish heart of medieval Spain. Captured live in connection to the One. vibrate when September 2006, singer/composer Loreena McKennitt— plucked—and a in her first in-concert television special—leads viewers through the multi-textured These chants are not “songs” so much as individual practices, each one carrying great love affair landscapes of her catalogue, from traditional Celtic ballads to literary narratives its own unique medicine… May these began. His solo and highlights from her most recent recording, An Ancient Muse. chants tenderly call you back to your true act that high- This deluxe three-disc set comprises a 139-minute DVD and two companion CDs home. lights the simple, with a combined running time of 94 minutes. Both the DVD and the audio-only CDs Lovely instrumental textures by accom- beautiful instrument and his own haunt- present performances of 18 of Loreena’s best-loved songs, including “The plished players—among them Steve Gorn, ing vocals have taken him to Canada and Mummers’ Dance,” “Caravanserai,” “The Mystic’s Dream” and “The Lady Of Ty Burhoe, and Benjy Wertheimer—weave Europe with didgeridoo player Ganga Shalott,” performed by Loreena and a host of musical colleagues. together violin, flute, bass, , ocean Guri and opening shows in Australia for The live concert performances captured in Nights from the Alhambra were first sounds, and even the “soundscape” heard blues musician Harry Manx. seen in the TV special of the same name in PBS’s “Great Performances” series. when walking in the Old City of Jerusalem, The Mbira Dzavadzimu (of the ances- Filmed in rich HDTV, this offering evokes the otherworldly magic of Granada’s to carry the vocal harmonies. tors) is a sacred instrument of the Shona palace of dreams, the fiery and inspired performances of a stellar cast of support- Danya finds deep fulfillment in compos- tribe of Zimbabwe and remains an essen- ing musicians and, of course, the unforgettable voice and songs of Loreena ing and sharing original Hebrew chants, tial part of Shona ceremonies to call an- McKennitt herself. wrestling with and revitalizing the ancient cestral spirits. Mbira is the foundation in- texts of her ancestors. Eyal, born in Israel, strument on Yeshe’s quite enchanting message to bring. I hope this music finds back to the genre’s ‘60s and ‘70s heyday, left the Tel Aviv music scene on a pilgrim- debut solo album World CitiZen. Yeshe’s its way to touch your heart and brighten framing her warm butter-and-cayenne- age of discovery through Europe and own compositions and traditional African your day. pepper singing with organ, electric piano, India. Now in Boulder, he inspires joy songs range from the gentle to the spirit- A feature of this diva-delicious album, and shimmering guitar textures. That through playing with world fusion ensem- ed, fusing complex percussive structure for me, is Jane Hooper’s poem Please Come sound, along with her strength as a song bles, and leading evenings of ecstatic song with layerings of melody and lyrics. The Home, which Julie has inspiringly adapted interpreter—rippling with beauty on and dance. addition of Western instruments of banjo into a moving musical invocation. Lucinda Williams’s “Fruits of My Labor,” and lap steel (courtesy of Harry Manx), as well as didgeridoo (Ganga Giri), talking Please come home, please come home. stunningly emotional on Son House’s cau- Find the place where your feet know where tionary Delta spiritual “People Grinnin’ in PRANA YOGA drum, doun doun and bougarabou to walk, and follow your own trail home. Your Face”—and her fine-tuned social pol- by Various Artists flavours this album beyond African to any- $16.25, CD. New Earth. where in the world. Liner notes provide all the lyrics so you itics, make the performances on this ele- isbn 0010065369 66 minutes The sound and production quality are can sing along. gant album live up to its boastful title. The evocative lyricism of her own tunes This specially selected music from excellent, with the sound level of the in- “Harder Than the Fall” and “Heal Chinmaya Dunster, Deuter, Kamal, RASA, struments featuring instead of hindering and Terry Oldfield THE PHENOMENAL RUTHIE FOSTER Yourself” is clearly the work of an experi- the vocal performances. I enjoy the cover enced craftsperson. “Beaver Creek Blues” was compiled to of “No Woman No Cry,” where the touch by Ruthie Foster accompany the $20.95, CD. Blue Corn Music. opens with a symphony of “creek critters” of Africa adds new dimension to an old (bullfrog, insects, etc.) which transports practice of yoga, fave. The last track is a neat dance mix isbn 0010065067 44 minutes focusing on the A perennial favourite at Sunday morn- you to the country (or swamp). They then number reminiscent of DJ Cheb i Sabbah meditative aspects. ing “Gospel under give way to a funky drum beat. The song is or Loop Guru: using traditional clips to This hour of music the Trees” at the a simple blues ditty with one-line repeat- create a decidedly danceable delight. is great for enhanc- Vancouver ing verses but it is very effective. “Mama ing the use of FolkFest, Ruthie Said” has a similar country soul feel as it breath as a tool to Foster is the shares a mother’s common sense wisdom. enter a deeper state of awareness and cre- newest voice in “Fruits of My Labor” is the quintessen- ate perfect balance in your asanas (pos- old-school soul. tial song for a hot, lazy summer day. It is tures). This album is a re- not just the melody or structure of the markable flash- song, but the lyrics as well (purple flowers, Prana is the vital energy life source

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 11 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! AFRO-CARIB SOUL, BALKAN BEATS, GYPSY JAMS !

WATINA punta rhythm blended with pan- contact. They earned reputations as mas- 2003, this magnificently by Andy Palacio Caribbean styles like zouk and soca. ter musicians and entertainers whose in- moving happening & the Garifuna Collective Echoes of the poignant history of the fluences can be heard in a variety of gen- weaves heartful poetry, $19.95, CD. StoneTree. Garifuna can be heard reverberating res, including flamenco, Jewish klezmer music, and ritual art in isbn 0010065229 50 minutes through the songs on this album. Beaten and the works of Dvorák, Rachmaninoff celebration of the earth Featuring an all-star, multigenerational out on distinctive Garifuna drums, called and other classical composers. and humanity’s spiritual lineup of musicians from the African- primero and segunda, the rhythms recall Now, modern day music makers from a connection to it. It in- Amerindian Garifuna communities of the spirit of a long-lost Africa, where their variety of backgrounds are mining this cludes over 60 perform- Belize, Guatemala, exact origins are shrouded in mystery. rich legacy to create a movement that’s ers including Jennifer and Honduras and The melodies are tinged with a heart- gained dance floor disciples around the Berezan, Alice Walker, filled with enchant- wrenching melancholy as well as joyful world. Putumayo World Music presents Gloria Steinem, Eve Ensler, Patti Cathcart, ing rhythms, pow- cries of celebration. The lyrics deal with Gypsy Groove, a collection of Balkan beats, Wilma Mankiller, Tulku Thubtun erful melodies and the everyday challenges of life, faith in the gypsy jams and other treats from the lead- Rinpoche, Joanna Macy, Linda Tillery, a soulfulness that face of adversity, and rallying cries of ers of this vibrant music scene. Jami Sieber, Rhiannon, Dance Brigade, recalls Cape hope and solidarity. Great liner notes introduce listeners to Vicki Noble, Luisah Teish, Nina Gerber, Verdean or Afro- the musicians. Gypsy bands have livened Drew Dellinger, Joey Blake, Rita Sahai, Peruvian music, up European weddings and dances for Barbara Higbie, Terry Sendgraff’s Aerial Wátina is a stunning intro to the music of GYPSY GROOVE centuries, achieving the same goal of Dancers, Leilani Birely and more! this unique and inspiring culture. by Various Artists nightclub DJs: to get their audience to lose Experience this ecstatic and heart-open- The Garifuna people originated when $19.95, CD. Putumayo. themselves in a frenzy of dancing and for- ing concert that included an audience of two large European ships, filled with a de- isbn 0010065512 43 minutes get their troubles. Gypsy Groove features 1,500 people singing throughout… in de- livery of West Here are some Balkan beats and gypsy some of the tastiest tracks from this excit- votion to the earth and all peoples. jams from the dance floors of Eastern African slaves, ing “NuRoma” scene. Jasmine breeze like incense in my head sunk off the Europe! Some of the other CDs in this Putumayo Moon high in a coal black sky illuminates coast of the Though often misrepresented and ro- series you might like are Turkish Groove my bed Caribbean island manticized, Gypsies, or the Roma, as they and Latin Groove. The train outside my window’s keeping of St. Vincent in prefer to be vespers in the night Singing praises, praises for the world 1635. Many of New on the Africans sur- DVD New Videos Life can make you bitter, life can turn you vived and intermingled with the indige- cold nous Caribs of the region, creating a new called, have had It seems I’ve spent most of my own just hybrid culture. Now, as globalization a fascinating his- trying to crack the code threatens extinction to their unique lan- tory. Leaving PRAISES FOR THE WORLD But if I die tomorrow may the last words guage, traditions and music, Andy Palacio the Indus Valley A Community Concert Ritual that I know uses the music as a vehicle to vitalize more than 1,000 in Devotion to the Earth and All Peoples Be praises, praises for the world by Jennifer Berezan Garifuna culture and inspire young people years ago, they migrated first to the Some predict the rapture where we all and Friends to be proud of their heritage. He’s known Middle East and Eastern Europe and then will leave this place as a performer of punta rock, a popular to the rest of the world, making an impact $35.95, DVD. Edge of Wonder. The chosen ones will pack their bags for upbeat dance music based on the Garifuna on the cultures with which they came into isbn 0010061045 1 hour + special features somewhere out in space Filmed live in Oakland, California in But the holiest words I’ve ever read or thought or sung or prayed

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 12 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! MOVIES & ART !

Were praises, praises for the world The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on Chant: Praises, Praises, Praises for the ONE: THE MOVIE the subject of creativity and an invaluable World A Contemporary Journey guide to living the artistic life. Still as vital “As stirring a theatrical experience as Toward a Timeless Destiny New on today—or perhaps even more so—than it any I have witnessed. Combining choral directed by Ward Powers DVD was when it was first published in 1992, it and instrumental music with dance, spo- $33.95, DVD. One. is a provocative and inspiring work. In a isbn 9991534687 80 minutes + features ken word and ritual art, it evoked a bone- new introduction to the book, Julia “Follow your bliss.” A few years ago, these three words deep gratitude for life and a passionate Cameron reflects upon the impact of The by Joseph Campbell helped inspire a 45-year-old lawyer to determination to protect it. An exalting Artist’s Way and describes the work she has follow an unlikely dream—to mail-order a movie camera event.” —Joanna Macy done during the last decade and the new and create a documentary film that asks life’s ultimate Also by Jennifer Berezan are the music insights into the creative process that she questions. CDs Returning and Praises for the World. has gained. Updated and expanded, it re- “Yes”… and with that word, the doors of the universe frames The Artist’s Way for a new century. suddenly swung open for the novice filmmaker, Ward Walking in This World presents the next RAFFI RENAISSANCE Powers, and his friends. Over two years, they traveled the U.S. to interview an amaz- step in her course of discovering and re- Child Honouring and ing cross-section of humanity, from dreadlocked homeless guys and gals to many of covering the creative self. Part Two in an the Compassionate Revolution the world’s most respected authors, teachers, and icons. amazing journey toward discovering our New on Now, this “little film,” produced in a basement in Detroit, has been seen around by Raffi Cavoukian DVD human potential, this book shows readers $25.00, DVD. Troubadour. the world by tens of thousands of people. Featuring many iconic teachers (among how to inhabit the world with a sense of isbn 0978387805 53 minutes them Thich Nhat Hanh, Ram Dass, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Robert Thurman, wonder. It’s full of valuable new strategies Raffi Cavoukian is known to many of us Barbara Marx Hubbard, Deepak Chopra, Thomas Keating, Riane Eisler, and and techniques for breaking through diffi- “Beluga grads” as a great and delightful Mantak Chia), this film has become an ideal community conversation catalyst. cult creative ground. singer of songs for Remarkably transparent, it illumines our essential humanity, and the many ways we Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance children. As it hap- live and share it. completes Julia Cameron’s bestselling tril- pens, he has also The list of 20 questions posed to folks in all walks of life included these: ogy on the creative process to offer guid- been evolving into What are we all so afraid of? ance on weathering the periods in an a systems thinker Why is there poverty and suffering? artist’s life when inspiration appears to and “child honour- What is the relationship between science and religion? have run dry. This book offers advice and ing” activist on the What happens after you die? wisdom about tackling the greatest chal- major themes of Nonverbally, by motion or gesture only, act out what you believe to be the current lenges we may face. It will guide readers to condition of the world. our time. The book discover enduring inspiration—it will lead What is wisdom and how do we gain it? he has edited, us to water. Child Honouring, One: The Movie weaves the filmmaker’s remarkable adventures with many answers Among Julia Cameron’s many other has been influen- to life’s ultimate questions in a cinematic journey that—especially when seen and books are The Right to Write and The Vein tial in placing the discussed with friends—may just transform your way of seeing the world… as ONE. of Gold. well-being of our “most vulnerable play- It’s now expanded into a project you can join: visit onethemovie.org. ers”—children—at the heart of social pol- icy and planning. the cultural explorations and break- . —Ralph Metzner PAINTING FROM THE SOURCE Now for the first time on DVD—enjoy throughs in its articles, interviews and po- “From the Aquarian Age to Native Awakening the Artist’s Soul in Everyone by Aviva Gold the path of Raffi’s evolution… with new etry. American shamanism, Eastern mysticism, $23.95, paper. Source Books. footage of his visit with the Dalai Lama, his Here are the words and images that communal living, utopian revolution, sexu- isbn 0060952725 Covenant for Honouring exploded through the collective psyche in al liberation, ecological awareness and the 222 pages, 7x9, colour illustrations Children, his Honorary star-bursts of ecstatic imagination. socio-spiritual implications of LSD, The Degree speech, the perfor- “Expansion of Consciousness.” “A Human Oracle provides source documents of an Every human being is an artist. In Bali, Be-In.” “A Gathering of the Tribes.” one word means both “human” and mance for Mandela, new eclectic spirituality and social philosophy videos from his Resisto- “Flower Children.” “We declare the “artist.” identity of flesh and consciousness.” “We that continue to exert a widespread—al- Dancing CD, Cool It: The beit subtle—influence on American soci- As children we live and paint intuitively, Global Cooling Song, and affirm innocence from… the influence of with no hesita- fear addiction.” ety.” —SF Chronicle much more. tions, no conflicts, Raffi Echoing Nelson This CD-ROM contains each and every inspiration guid- Mandela’s call to “turn this page of all 12 issues printed—in all their Art, Creativity & ing our hand. As world around, for the children” and the original brilliance—which can be viewed Music adults, however, Dalai Lama’s plea for a universal ethic for on your computer we often become humanity, Child Honouring is a creed for and can be printed our own worst all faiths and cultures—a “children first” on your desktop critics, stifling in- paradigm for restoring the earth, an orga- printer. In addi- THE COMPLETE ARTIST’S WAY spiration with in- nizing principle for cultures of peace. tion, on a DVD, is Creativity as a Spiritual Practice: tellectual doubts. With new inspirational songs, and pre- a half-hour inter- 3 Books in One Aviva Gold’s ap- sentations at Harvard, the World Bank, view with Allen by Julia Cameron proach, a blend of and the Canadian Parliament, Raffi is a Cohen, the origi- $35.50, cloth. Tarcher/Putnam. spiritual, artistic, and psychological ele- global troubadour, lecturing and network- nal editor and isbn 158542630X 752 pages, 7x9 ments, shows readers how to rediscover ing for a world that works for all its peo- founder of The For the millions of readers/artists who the creative self by reconnecting with “the ples, a world fit for children. Oracle, as well as have experienced source”—our instinctual center. Painting Raffi’s DVD is thoughtfully packaged in the video Oracle the rewards of fol- from the Source, as in this book, is also a a slim non-chlorine-bleached recycled pa- Rising by Claire lowing any or all of workshop Aviva has taught at Omega and per sleeve-protector. See raffinews.com. Burch, about the Haight Ashbury and the Julia Cameron’s the Open Center. It shows: creation of The Oracle newspaper. A book- three 12-week pro- ! How to set up a simple, safe and sacred let guides the reader into optimum enjoy- grams for creative space in which to let go of your inhibit- THE SAN FRANCISCO ORACLE ment of the media. recovery and dis- ing mind and paint from intuition—with The Psychedelic Newspaper of the Haight Here are the visions and dreams of a covery, here is a step-by-step guidance from the first Ashbury (Digital Re-Creation) (CD-ROM) generation of awestruck seekers, scarcely gorgeous cloth- strokes to the final details of paintings you edited by Allen Cohen able to believe the unleashed collective bound edition that Multimedia love $29.95, CD-ROM + DVD power of their enraptured, psychedelicized includes three com- ! Learning Lots of valuable tips and wise inspiration Regent Press. hearts, minds and senses. Swirling, curling plete books: The Artist’s Way, Walking in that apply to and enhance all of life as Kit images want to draw you incredulously isbn 1587901188 This World, and Finding Water. In her intro- well as painting… such as how to use your The San Francisco into multidimensional vortices of meaning. duction, Cameron reflects on the artist’s An unparalleled record of the dreams, fears and pain as a source of ex- Oracle, published in the Haight Ashbury journey and provides deep and various in- pression—and more. from 1966 to 1968, was one of the most consciousness revolution. A first-hand glimpse of an authentic sights into how readers may set about culti- unique and beautiful publications of the As you breathe life into the raw religious revitalization movement. vating a more creative and spiritually re- materials of paper and paint, you grow ‘60s. It is remembered for its extraordi- A startling portrait of perhaps the most warding existence by using the principles increasingly excited and revitalized. The nary graphic design by major San powerful psychic-mystic revelation since contained in these books. paint and paper seem to know just what Francisco artists, its rainbow colors and the Dionysian mysteries of ancient

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 13 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! VIBRATIONAL RESONANCE !

they want to become, and you are the channel for this vision. Images of Sound Details begin to find their places: tiny green dewdrops here, golden specks of WATER SOUND IMAGES Wisdom Traditions, he has made these images pollen there, the fine fringe of an eyelash, The Creative Music of the Universe comprehensible and relevant to all who wish to the stiff, precise hairs of a blue horse’s by Alexander Lauterwasser look deeply, and listen. mane. You are patient, painting in these de- tails with a loving caress, knowing that this $45.00, cloth. Macromedia. “This is THE ‘Sound’ book of the decade.” — stage of your process promises healing rich- isbn 1888138092 Don Campbell, author of The Harmony of Health es and joy, no matter how long it takes. 174 pages, 10x9, colour photos “Water Sound Images is both a scientifically Many of the world’s creation myths describe the based and a poetical, mythological and philo- “Aviva Gold teaches painting as every- formation of the primordial universe as a liquid sophical book. The explanation of the physics of day shamanism; paint like a child, and you state which gradually condenses under the influ- sound seen in images throughout the book is pre- call back your lost children and your vital ence of sound… manifesting the Word of God, sented quite clearly and concisely in two detailed soul energy. I highly recommend this spir- Nada Brahma, the world is sound… a world sung into being. chapters so that those who prefer a scientific approach to the ited, generous book.” —Robert Moss, au- Through our contemporary scientific lens, we now conceive of physical facts will have their intellects satisfied. Its poetical and thor of Conscious Dreaming all form as resonance fields—structure, as sound coalescing philosophical side is represented by a rich array of quotations into matter. that enhance the watery geometry by such figures as Novalis, This collection of awe-inspiring images sheds new light on SACRED SPACE, SACRED SOUND Plato, Hegel, Shakespeare, Rilke, Rumi, Hoderlein, Melville, Hans Jenny’s Cymatic sound forms of the 1960s. Projecting au- The Acoustic Mysteries of Holy Places Mann, Steiner, Govinda and Stockhausen. These passages in- dible sound frequencies into small samples of water, delicate by Susan Hale, crease the contemplative aspect of both reading the text and foreword by Don Campbell harmonic patterns emerge, whose structures mirror those viewing the pictures. So, while the process is scientific, the ex- $28.95, paper. Quest. found throughout the natural world—from single-celled sea perience is an artistic and aesthetic one that speaks directly to isbn 0835608565 292 pages, b/w photos creature to the formation of galaxies. Lauterwasser has pene- the heart. In this it is like music, both a science and an art.” — There is a fundamental human need to trated the invisible world of vibration’s subtle influences to re- James D’Angelo, author of The Healing Power of the Human create sacred spaces where sound rever- veal the universality underlying the multiplicity of form and Voice berates to com- function. Drawing upon classic literature and the world’s mune with the an- cestors and give CYMATICS ments using audible sound to excite powders, praise to the A Study of Wave Phenomena and Vibration pastes and liquids into life-like, flowing forms. Divine. Ancient by Hans Jenny The stunning array of images reflects a variety of people recognized $74.95, cloth. Macromedia. patterns found throughout nature, art and archi- the importance of isbn 1888138076 295 pages, 9x10, colour photos tecture. sound and sought For decades, students of Sacred Geometry, Cymatics, the study of wave phenomena, was out resonant caves Mandalas, New Science, Metaphysics, Sound pioneered by Swiss medical doctor, artist and nat- to perform rituals. Healing and even Crop Circles have coveted these ural scientist Hans Jenny (1904–1972). This re- Modern-day tem- hard-to-find volumes, now republished in a single vised edition contains the complete English lan- ples and cathedrals volume which vividly depict how audible sound guage text of the first editions of 1967 and 1972, were built to en- gives structure to matter. including all of the photographs from the origi- hance sound and With over 350 photos, including 16 full-page nal editions which illustrate these amazing phe- music. We build sacred places to house color images, Cymatics has a new intro- nomena in vivid detail. music, to hear ourselves and Spirit more duction by Christiaan Stuten who as- Dr. Jenny’s cymatic images are truly awe-inspiring, not only clearly, and to create relationships be- sisted Dr. Jenny for 14 years, pho- for their visual beauty in portraying the inherent responsive- tween the seen and the unseen worlds tographing many of the fascinating ness of matter to sound (vibration) but because they inspire a within and around us. images portrayed in this book. In ad- deep recognition that we, too, are part and parcel of this same “The voice itself is a cathedral,” says dition, a new “Commentary on complex and intricate vibrational matrix—the music of the Susan Hale, author of Sacred Space, Sacred Cymatics” by John Beaulieu, author of spheres! These pages illumine the very principles which in- Sound. “We are sound chambers resonat- Hans Jenny Music and Sound in the Healing Arts, of- spired the ancient Greek philosophers Heraclitus, Pythagoras ing with the One Song.” The first of its fers insights into Dr. Jenny’s approach and Plato, and cosmologists Giordano Bruno and Johannes kind to approach sacred architecture from helping “right brain dominant” readers be less intimidated by Kepler. a perspective of sound and consciousness, the meticulous science presented in these experiments. (Just The more one studies these things, the more one realizes that this book explores the acoustics of sacred looking at the pictures and reading a few captions will provide sound is the creative principle. It must be regarded as primordial. ample insights!) space as an avenue for understanding. It is See also the DVD of Jenny’s work: Cymatics Soundscapes: This comprehensive edition portrays fascinating experi- about music powerful enough to trans- Bringing Matter to Life with Sound. form us into a greater . Based on Susan’s life-long experience as a singer, a CYMATICS SOUNDSCAPES sound excites various liquids, powders, pastes and iron music therapist, and her journeys across filings into processes which mimic atomic, geologic, bi- and Bringing Matter to Life with Sound New on the globe researching sacred sites, this by Hans Jenny ological, solar and even galactic shapes and move- work recognizes the desecration and $33.95, DVD. Macromedia. DVD ments. Amazing in this day and age, absolutely no com- disharmony of our current “civilization” isbn 1888138106 puter-generated images appear in these films. while also showing us how and where peo- The two rare films originally made by Hans Jenny Caution: Viewing this remarkable scientific artistry can pro- ple are building new sacred sites with res- around 1970 are now available together on a single foundly alter the way you view your world! onant qualities. DVD called Cymatics Soundscapes: Bringing Matter to Life “Dr. Jenny’s cymatic images are truly awe-inspiring, With a vision to follow the Virgin with Sound. not only for their visual beauty in portraying the inher- Mary—also called the Lady of Roses—and The study of wave phenomena and vibration was pioneered ent responsiveness of matter to sound (vibration) but because her music, Susan takes us on a spiritual by the Swiss physician and Renaissance man Hans Jenny. they inspire a deep recognition that we are part of this com- journey through France, the U.K., and Inspired by Rudolf Steiner, Dr. Jenny’s penetrating observa- plex and intricate vibrational matrix, suggesting that the subtle parts of the American Southwest—from tions of distinct types of patterns in nature led to these dra- vibrations of our very thoughts and feelings may have great ef- the Chartres Cathedral and the prehis- matic experiments animating inert substances with audible fect on what will manifest in the physical world.” —Jeff Volk, se- toric cave of Lascaux, to the Templar-built sound. ries producer Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, the Chalice The stunning array of images seen in these two films are ac- See also the books Water Sound Images and Hans Jenny’s own Well of Arthurian lore at Glastonbury, to tual physical phenomena evolving before your eyes as audible opus, Cymatics. native kivas in New Mexico. Focusing on a range of religious tradi- tions including Gregorian chant, overtone and suggested listening. chanting, Hindu mantra, and English even- “A unique and engaging celebration of song, she also illustrates the importance of how sound interacts with space to open sound in achieving altered states of con- our hearts and elevate our spirit.” — sciousness for transformation, healing, Robert Gass, author of Chanting: and prayer. Also featured are interviews Discovering Spirit in Sound with leading authorities on the acoustic resonance of sacred space, a discography,

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 14 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! POETRY & WRITING !

pages she chronicles for the first time her Poetry, Writing & discovery of faith, without abandoning the KABIR: ECSTATIC POEMS Stories love of the physical world—her “marriage versions by Robert Bly to amazement”—that has been a hallmark $12.00, paper. Beacon. of her work for four decades. In three isbn 0807063800 128 pages stunning long poems, Oliver explores the If shaving your head POETRY SPEAKS, dimensions and tests the parameters of re- Spelled spiritual success, EXPANDED EDITION ligious doctrine, asking of being good, for Heaven would be filled with sheep. Hear Great Poets Read Their Work from example, “To what purpose? / Hope of Originally published in 1976, this col- Tennyson to Plath Heaven? Not that. But to enter / the oth- Book lection of poems by 15th-century ecstatic edited by Elise Paschen er kingdom: grace, and imagination, / & CD poet Kabir (Hindus, Sufis, and Sikhs all & Rebekah Mosby and the multiple sympathies: to be as a consider him a saint) is full of fun and full $56.00, Book+CD set. Sourcebooks. leaf, a rose, / a dolphin.” of thought. Columbia University professor isbn 1402210620 When I wake, and you are already wiping 400 pages, 9x10, photos + 3 CDs the stars away, of religion John Stratton Hawley has contributed an afterword, Poetry Speaks features the work of the I rise quickly, hoping to be like your wild “Kabir and the Transcendental Bly,” that makes clear Kabir’s im- most influential writers in modern poet- child Robert Bly mense importance to the contemporary reader and praises Bly’s in- ry—written and performed—from 1892 to the rose, the honey-maker the honey-vine; tuitive translations. 1997. This book a bird shouting its joy as it floats By making every reader consider anew their religious thinking, the poems of combines their most through the gift you have given us: another Kabir seem as relevant today as when they were first written. significant poems in day. print with the au- In addition to her several other poetry The Guest is inside you, and also inside me; thors themselves books, also available is At Blackwater Pond: you know the sprout is hidden inside the seed. We are all struggling; none of us has gone far. reading their poetry Mary Oliver Reads Mary Oliver (on CD). Let your arrogance go, and look around inside. on audio CD. Poets The blue sky opens out farther and farther, range from Alfred, DANCING WITH JOY: 99 POEMS the daily sense of failure goes away, Lord Tennyson, Walt the damage I have done to myself fades, edited by Roger Housden Whitman, Ezra a million suns come forward with light, $25.00, cloth. Crown. Pound, T.S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and when I sit firmly in that world. isbn 030734195x 205 pages Dorothy Parker to Langston Hughes, In his collection Risking Everything, I hear bells ringing that no one has shaken, Allen Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath, Jack Kerouac, Housden addressed love’s many aspects. inside “love” there is more joy than we know of, rain pours down, Robert Graves, May Swenson, W.B. Yeats, Now, in Dancing with Joy, he assembles 99 although the sky is clear of clouds, and Gwendolyn Brooks. there are whole rivers of light. poems from 69 poets The power of spoken poetry is at the that celebrate the The universe is shot through in all parts by a single sort of love… heart of Poetry Speaks. Poetry is a vocal art, many colours of joy. an art meant to be read aloud and listening Anything can be a cata- “Kabir’s poems give off a marvelous radiant intensity that never fails… they have to a poem read aloud can be a transform- lyst for joy, these po- exactly the luminous depth that permits and invites many re-readings.” —Hayden ing experience. Poetry Speaks not only in- ems reveal. For Carruth, New York Times Book Review troduces the finest work from some of the Wislawa Szymborska, Robert Bly has earned many honours for his original poems, which include The greatest poets, it reintroduces the oral tra- the catalyst is a dream; Winged Energy of Delight, and for his translations of 22 poets, including Kabir. He is dition of poetry, incantation, spellbinding for Robert Bly, being the author of Iron John, and with Jane Hirshfield has published a new translation of evocation, praise, lament. in the company of his Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems. Poetry Speaks features 47 poets in chap- 10-year-old son; for ters each containing the poems that are See p. 7 for information on Robert Bly’s poetry reading and workshop Gerald Stern, it is a read by the poet on the audio CD; addi- with Marion Woodman, April 4-6, 2008 grapefruit at breakfast; for Billy Collins, a tional poems in print form to allow the cigarette. reader to further explore the poet; a short biography and photo of each poet; and Joy is useless! It won’t get us anywhere! Poems to Last a Lifetime, and Ten Poems to exercises. They are just springboards for your own deep-sea diving. The Body original manuscripts and letters for most Which may be another reason we tend to Open Your Heart. be wary of it. Joy exists in the present Breaks will help you stay grounded in your of the featured poets. moment and has no plans for the future. It physical form while you’re in the process of Also included is an original essay for is not serious. When we are joyful, our reading, creating further integration. each poet written by a bevy of today’s in- WRITING BEGINS plans and schemes and intentions all fly WITH THE BREATH This book is not a craft book. It is a fluential poets, a veritable Who’s Who of out of the window. Embodying Your Authentic Voice process book. Let this book supplement poetry, among them Seamus Heaney, your knowledge of craft, of grammar, of Dancing with Joy includes English and by Laraine Herring Richard Wilbur, Mark Strand, Jorie storytelling. This book represents the part of Italian classical and romantic works; early $16.95, paper. Shambhala. the writing process that lurks underneath Graham, W.S. Merwin, and Grace Chinese and Persian verse; and poets from isbn 159030473x 208 pages Shulman. the more concrete aspects of style and plot. Chile, France, Sweden, Delight in language—yours and the Poetry Speaks—combining the talents of Writing Begins with the Breath will open Poland, Russia, Turkey, words of others. Play in the park with your up a whole world of creativity great poets past and living, their words and India, plus a range of stories and poems, but don’t forget to send for people who may not have written and spoken—is the most ambi- contemporary North them to boot camp for structure and focus. tious, comprehensive and innovative poet- considered themselves writ- American and English po- In this distinctive guide to the craft of ry project to be published in years. This ers before, while also giving ets. writing, author Laraine Herring shows us 2007 edition expands upon the original keen insights into the craft Whether you’re trolling how to tune into our bodies and connect published in 2001. for seasoned writers. Roger Housden for inspiration or an affir- with our so that our writing be- Laraine mation of what is already comes an expression of our full beings, Herring A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a joyful in living, these poems are a welcome rather than just an intellectual exercise. poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at THIRST treat for Housden’s numerous fans, as well Poems With warmth and wisdom, Herring offers a peace with himself. What one can be, one as anyone looking for sheer happiness, by Mary Oliver New in path to discovering must be. —Abraham Maslow Paperback marvelously expressed. “deep writing”—prose $15.75, paper. Beacon. “She not only explores every aspect of No one knows what makes the soul wake that is unique, expres- isbn 0807068977 88 pages the writing process; she also invites you to up so happy! Maybe the dawn breeze has sive, and profoundly Thirst, a collection of 43 new poems explore every aspect of your writing self— blown the veil from the face of God. authentic. Lessons from Mary Oliver, introduces two new di- A thousand new moons appear. Roses body, mind, and spirit. Anyone who and imaginative exer- rections in the poet’s work. Grappling with open laughing. Hearts become perfect writes—or wants to—will find this book as cises show you how to grief at the death of her rubies like those from Badakshan. The essential and inspiring as breath.” —Gayle stay with your writing beloved partner of over body turns entirely spirit… There’s no Brandeis, author of Fruitflesh: Seeds of when your mind or 40 years, she strives to answer to any of this. No one knows Inspiration for Women Who Write experience sorrow as a the source of joy. A poet breathes body starts to pull you path to spiritual into a reed flute, and the tip of away; explore the five progress, grief as part every hair makes music. senses in your writing; —Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks of loving and not its and approach your writing without judge- end. And within these Among Roger Housden’s other books ment. are Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living, Ten Don’t be afraid to stretch and bend the

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 15 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! STORY-CATCHING !

New from Christina Baldwin Paulo Coelho Weaves His Spell LIFE’S COMPANION THE WITCH OF PORTOBELLO Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest A Novel by Christina Baldwin by Paulo Coelho $25.00, paper. Bantam. $29.95, cloth. HarperCollins. isbn 0553352024 368 pages isbn 006133880x 268 pages Christina Baldwin’s earlier book, One to One, long pre- How do we find the courage to always be true to our- dated the current widespread interest in journal writing. selves—even if we are unsure of whom we are? And now she offers us this revised and updated 2007 edi- That is the central question of international bestselling tion of Life’s Companion (originally published in 1991)—a author Paulo Coelho’s new novel, The Witch of Portobello. It beautifully crafted and also deeply involving set of direc- is the story of a mysterious woman named tions for personal journeying into the center of one’s self. Athena, told by the many who knew her Baldwin points out that writing is a means of expanding well—or hardly at all. Among them: our inner horizons, of relating more meaningfully to the “People create a reality and then become the world we live in and to other spiritual travelers. victims of that reality. Athena rebelled against In this new edition, Baldwin reaches out to the next generation of journal writ- that—and paid a high price.” —Heron Ryan, journalist ers, using mainstream, accessible language and adding a new preface referencing “I was used and manipulated by Athena, with no consideration for my the ways in which journal writing has evolved, including the explosion of technol- Paulo Coelho feelings. She was my teacher, charged with passing on the sacred mysteries, ogy, as many writers make the leap from pen-and-paper to their laptops. With a with awakening the unknown energy we all possess. When we venture into unique, facing-page format, Life’s Companion includes enlightening quotations, ex- that unfamiliar sea, we trust blindly in those who guide us, believing that they know more ercises, questions, and practical techniques to nurture the writer within. than we do.” —Andrea McCain, actress This is a book of depth and beauty, with lots of “experiments,” illustrations, and “Athena’s great problem was that she was a woman of the twenty-second century living in ways to “get your pencil dirty.” the twenty-first, and making no secret of the fact, either. Did she pay a price? She certainly did. “Such tools are precious and rare. Use it well for your own healing and for the But she would have paid a still higher price if she had repressed her natural exuberance. She healing of all sentient beings.” —Stephen Levine, author of A Year to Live would have been bitter, frustrated, always concerned about ‘what other people might think,’ Also by Christina Baldwin are Storycatcher and Seven Whispers. always saying, ‘I’ll just sort these things out, then I’ll devote myself to my dream,’ always com- plaining ‘that the conditions are never quite right.’“ —Deidre O’Neill, known as Edda STORYCATCHER Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that “works a spell” Making Sense of Our Lives through to transform the way readers think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice. the Power and Practice of Story Among Coelho’s other books are Eleven Minutes and Warrior of the Light. by Christina Baldwin $18.00, paper. New World Library. isbn 1577316037 272 pages THE DEVIL AND MISS PRYM Story is the heart of language, and sto- A Novel of Temptation New in rytelling—both oral tradition and written word—is the by Paulo Coelho Paperback foundation of being human, as well as being $17.50, paper. HarperCollins. New in the oldest healing-teaching practice found in isbn 0060528001 256 pages Paperback all cultures throughout time. In this novel from Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist In Storycatcher, Christina Baldwin, one of the visionaries and many others, we find a community devoured by greed, who started the personal writing movement, explores the cowardice, and fear… A man persecuted by the ghosts of his vital necessity of re-creating a sacred common ground for painful past… A young woman searching for happiness. In each other’s stories. Through story and example, Baldwin presents one eventful week, each of them will face questions of life, storytelling as an innate skill we can remember and practice. She death, and power, and each will choose a path… shows the power of story to connect life experiences so that we can In the remote village of Viscos—a village too small to be share them, learn from them, and teach each other through the on any map, a place where time seems to stand still—a medium of a good tale. stranger arrives, carrying with him a backpack containing a notebook and 11 gold Each chapter in Storycatcher is carried by a fascinating tale—about bars. He comes searching for the answer to a question that torments him: Are hu- people, family, or community—intertwined with practical instruc- man beings, in essence, good or evil? In welcoming the mysterious foreigner, the Christina tion about the nature of story, how it works, and how we can prac- whole village becomes an accomplice to his sophisticated plot, which will forever Baldwin tice it in our lives. The art of storycatching invites us to spend time mark their lives. speaking and listening, writing and reading, reclaiming the meaning Paulo Coelho’s beguiling novel explores the timeless struggle between good and missing from our lives. This book passionately calls for humanity to hang on to its evil, and brings to our everyday dilemmas fresh perspective: incentive to master the voice, its love of reading and writing, and its understanding that story is our soul. fear that prevents us from following our dreams, from being different, from truly Whether exploring the personal stories revealed in our private journals, the sto- living. ries of family legacy, the underlying stories that drive our organizations, or the sto- The Devil and Miss Prym concludes the trilogy And on the Seventh Day. The first ries that define our broadest definitions of identity, Christina encourages us all to two books were: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (1994) and Veronika become storycatchers—people who value story and find ways in the midst of every- Decides to Die (1998). Each of the three books is concerned with a week in the life of day life to practice storytelling. Baldwin shows us how new stories lay the framework ordinary people, all of whom suddenly find themselves confronted by love, death, and for a new world. power… When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and “I am absolutely entranced by this book. I felt woven into its stories and honored willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. by its sincere invitation and guidance to recall my own stories. Christina has creat- ed a masterful work, one that reconnects us to the joy of being human and the good- The Devil and Miss Prym is a story charged with emotion, in which the integrity of ness we create when we tell our stories and listen to those of others. This book being human meets a terrifying test. brings more goodness into the world.” —Meg Wheatley, author of Turning To One Another artist in his native France. oughly human characters, and one truly Also by Christina Baldwin are Life’s Companion and Calling the Circle. His considerable artistic unforgettable cat. skill is especially evident in The Rabbi’s Cat gives us a glimpse of a the postures and expres- lost time and place—the scenes in Paris sions of the cat, which will are given extra poignancy by the reader’s THE RABBI’S CAT good Jew, but the be immediately recogniz- knowledge of what is to come—but its by Joann Sfar New in contrarian cat be- able to anyone who’s ever themes are universal: family, love, and rec- $19.95, paper. Paperback fuddles him with Joann Sfar had a cat of their own. The onciling faith with human imperfection. Random House. irreverent ques- & friend settings, whether in Books like this one in recent years have el- isbn 0375714642 152 pages, tions. The cat’s de- Algeria or France, are ren- evated comics from pulp to literature. In this nuanced, lushly drawn graphic votion is reserved dered in exquisite detail. Rich with the col- “Talking cat, foolish lovers, theological novel set in 1930s Algeria, a sneaky cat for the rabbi’s ors, textures, and flavours of Algeria’s mischief, spiritual awakenings and col- eats his household’s pet parrot and sud- lovely daughter, Jewish community, The Rabbi’s Cat brings a lapses, Parisian fashion, struggling souls, denly gains the ability to talk. But, being a Zlabya, who is lost world vibrantly to life—a time and and through it all, tremendous, compas- cat, he tells mostly lies, much to his master soon making plans of her own with a place where Jews and Arabs coexisted— sionate, witty charm and art to match. the rabbi’s dismay. The rabbi decides to handsome young rabbi from Paris. and peoples it with endearing and thor- This book shines a light.” —Amy Bloom teach him the Torah to make him into a Joann Sfar is an award-winning comics

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 16 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! LITERATURE & !

THE RETURN OF THE LIGHT theistic approach, he ex- Twelve Tales from Around the World UNBOWED plains that monotheism is A Memoir merely the deification of for the Winter Solstice New in by Wangari Maathai individualism—the sepa- by Carolyn McVickar Edwards Paperback $18.95, paper. Marlowe. $21.00, paper. Crown. ration of humanity from isbn 1569243603 isbn 0307275205 352 pages nature—and that by ac- 192 pages, b/w illustrations Charismatic, humble, and possessed of luminosity of spir- knowledging the sacred in This lovely gift book—an alternative it, Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace everything, we can recog- Alain idea for Christmas giving—collects 12 sto- Prize and a single mother of three, recounts her extraordi- nize the imprint of the pri- Daniélou ries from around the world that celebrate nary life as a political activist, feminist, and environmental- mordial tradition. the Winter ist in Kenya. “According to Daniélou, the healing Solstice, the day Born in a rural village in 1940, Wangari power of Shaivism lies in opening oneself the “sun stands Maathai was already an iconoclast as a child, up to the divine spark in all things… He still,” the longest determined to get an education even shows how the disciplines of yoga and night and shortest though most girls were uneducated. We see tantric sex, familiar to many in the West, day of the year in her studying with Catholic missionaries, earning bachelor’s and mas- derive from this ancient tradition and are the Northern ter’s degrees in the United States, and becoming the first woman doorways into a deeper and more fulfill- Hemisphere. Wangari both to earn a PhD in East and Central Africa and to head a univer- ing life.” —Publisher Weekly Celebrating the Maathai sity department in Kenya. We witness her numerous run-ins with the Alain Daniélou (1907–1994) spent moment of the brutal Moi government. She makes clear the political and personal more than 15 years in the traditional soci- sun’s return at reasons that compelled her, in 1977, to establish the Green Belt Movement, which ety of India, using only the Sanskrit and midwinter, on spread from Kenya across Africa and which helps restore indigenous forests while Hindi languages and studying music and December 21st, is a nearly universal hu- assisting rural women by paying them to plant trees in their villages. We see how philosophy with eminent scholars. He was man urge, one that dates back millennia Maathai’s extraordinary courage and determination helped transform Kenya’s gov- initiated into esoteric Shaivism, which and has been identified in a wide variety of ernment into the democracy in which she now serves as assistant minister for the en- gave him unusual access to texts transmit- cultures. It certainly appears that Christ’s vironment and as a member of Parliament. And we are with her as she accepts the ted through the oral tradition alone. He is “rising” just days after the ancient pagan Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in recognition of her “contribution to sustainable de- the author or translator of more than 30 “return of the light” is no accident. The velopment, human rights, and peace.” books on the religion, history, and arts of annual solstic celebration at New York’s In Unbowed, Wangari Maathai offers an inspiriting message of hope and prosperi- India and the Mediterranean, including Cathedral of St. John the Divine attracts ty through self-sufficiency. The Complete Kama Sutra, The Myths and more than ten thousand people each year, The greater success of the Green Belt Movement lies in the work of tens of thousands Gods of India, and Gods of Love & Ecstasy. and is one of National Public Radio’s most of women and men, who toil over the millions of tree seedlings they plant, water, and listened-to broadcasts of the year. nurture to maturity… I hope that whenever they or their relatives pick up this book and The Return of the Light makes an ideal identify with the story they will accept my statement of gratitude for the faith in our THE ESSENTIAL SRI ANANDAMAYI MA companion for all who carry on this tradi- vision of a green, just, and democratic society. Life and Teachings tion, no matter what their faith. Twelve “This is an extraordinary account of an extraordinary woman’s life. The courage, of a 20th Century Indian Saint stories—from North America, China, compassion and natural wisdom that shine out from these pages are hugely inspir- by Alexander Lipski, Scandinavia, India, Africa, South America, ing for campaigners the world over.” —Jonathon Porritt, co-founder of Forum for the edited by Joseph Fitzgerald Europe, and Polynesia—honor this mo- Future $28.95, paper. World Wisdom. ment, helping to renew our wonder at the isbn 1933316411 miracle of rebirth and the Mystery of 144 pages, 8x10, colour & sepia photos “I had found many men of God-realiza- Light in the Darkness. The next message you need is Yoga & the Hindu “A rich collection of stories from tion in India, but always right where you are. Traditions never before had I around the world... a true treasure-trove —Ram Dass for generations to come.” —Starhawk, au- met such an exalt- thor of The Spiral Dance ed woman saint.” SHIVA AND THE PRIMORDIAL —Paramahansa TRADITION Yogananda THE BIRTH OF VENUS From the to the Science of Dreams Anandamayi Ma by Sarah Dunant by Alain Daniélou (1896–1982) was $16.00, paper. Warner. $18.95, paper. Inner Traditions. one of the great isbn 1844080358 408 pages isbn 1594771413 128 pages Hindu saints of the Reading this un-put-downable historical novel, with details as In Shiva and the Primordial Tradition, 20th century. rich as the brocade textiles that built Alessandra’s family for- Alain Daniélou explores the relationship Through her tune—it’s a masterful recreation of Florence in the age of the between the Hindu denomination known teachings and the original bonfire of the vanities—will make you want to get on as Shaivism and the example of her the next plane to renaissance Florence! Western world. life, Anandamayi Ma has inspired millions Alessandra is not quite 15 when her father, a prosperous Shaivite philoso- of individuals of diverse faiths and circum- cloth merchant, brings a young painter back with him from phy does not op- stances—from Prime Ministers, artists, Holland to decorate the walls of the family chapel in their pose theology, cos- and industrialists to shopkeepers, beggars Florentine palazzo. A child of the Renaissance, mology, and and monks including Mahatma Gandhi, with a precocious mind and a talent for drawing, she is fascinated by science because it Indira Gandhi, Jawarharlal Nehru, former his talents and envious of his abilities and opportunities to paint to recognizes that Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, the glory of God. Soon her love of art and her lively independence their common aim the Queen Mother of Greece, and the for- are luring her into closer involvement with all sorts of taboo areas of is to seek to under- mer President of India, Rajendra Prasad. life. stand and explain Without a doubt, Anandamayi Ma is one On excursions into the streets of nighttime Florence she observes the nature of the of the most beloved 20th-century saints Sarah Dunant a terrible evil stalking the city and witnesses the rise of the piously fa- world. within her native India, and the reverbera- natical young priest, Savanarola, who has set out, with his hellfire, to This rare collec- tion of her spiritual presence continues to rid the city of vice, richness, even art itself. Alessandra must make crucial decisions tion of the late author’s writings contains be felt across the globe to this day. about the shape of her adult life, as Florence itself must choose between the old ways several never-before-published articles and Beautifully illustrated with over 100 of the luxury-loving Medicis and the asceticism of Savanorola. And through it all, offers an in-depth look at the many facets colour and sepia photos and illustrations there is the painter, whose love will change everything. of the Samkhya, the cosmologic doctrines from all stages of her life, this book in- Dancing is one of the many things I should be good at that I am not. Unlike my sister. of the Shaivite tradition. Daniélou pro- cludes a concise and sensitive biography Plautilla can move across the floor like water and sing a stave of music like a song bird, vides important revelations on subjects of Anandamayi Ma with important selec- while I, who can translate both Latin and Greek faster than she or my brothers can read it, such as the science of dreams, the role of tions from her oral teachings—most of have club feet on the dance floor and a voice like a crow. Though I swear if I were to poetry and sexuality in the sacred, the per- them previously unpublished in the West. paint the scale I could do it in a flash: shining gold leaf for the top notes falling through sonality of the great Shankara, and the ochres and reds into hot purple and deepest blue. What indeed is a mantra? While one is Shaivite influence on the Scythians and bound by the idea of “I” and “you,” and “A beautiful serpent of a book, seductive, dangerous and full of wise guile. the Parthians (and by extension, the identifies oneself with the ego, the mantra Dunant’s snaky tale of art, sex and Florentine hysteria, consumes utterly—but the ex- Hellenic world in general). Providing a represents the Supreme Being Himself in perience is all pleasure.” —Simon Schama convincing argument in favor of the poly- the guise of sound… merely by the Sabda

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 17 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! INNER YOGA !

Lizelle Reymond and Sri Anirvan TO LIVE WITHIN by Lizelle Reymond & Sri Anirvan $22.50, paper. Morning Light. isbn 1596750162 333 pages, French flaps Originally published in Europe in 1969, To Live Within is, in the words of Jacob Needleman (who also wrote the fine introduction to this new edition), “one of the most profound, hopeful and spiritually authentic books of our time, offering clear evidence that there does in fact exist a science of inner awakening.” Lizelle Reymond (1899–1994) had traveled widely, studied deeply, and searched for an inner path through yoga, spiritual discipline, and traditional philosophy. In none of them did she find what she “believed to be a possible answer, according to Hinduism, to the ‘Why?’ of life.” When she met Sri Anirvan (1896–1978), she dis- covered that the inner work he fostered was rooted in silence. He taught the need to isolate “the direct experience you are living until it becomes a part of you... con- nect it with something known and precise.” In this gentle and compelling book she relates the spiritual teachings and her daily impressions of this Master. Sri Anirvan was a Baul, a solitary man with no ashram surrounding him… To meet him, to work with him, and to attend our gathering every evening to prepare the work of the next day, was an invaluable teaching in itself… As a Baul he was a completely free man. All that remains are his letters… He simply disappeared becoming a traditional wanderer through the Himalayas. Unfolding both the practical and the metaphysical aspects of the ancient Samkhya tradition of India, this teaching points us to a primordial science that may lie at the source of all spiritual traditions in their presently known forms. Face to face with him, I suddenly felt how false my inner attitude was and how difficult it is, in words that are simple and right, to give an account of an assignment one has carried out. “One of the finest examples of a spiritual autobiography. To Live Within is pio- neering in revealing the Western woman’s spiritual quest in Asia. Its simple ele- gance is a joy to read.” —Swami Chetanananda

INNER YOGA Selected Writings by Sri Anirvan $17.95, paper. Morning Light. isbn 1596750197 199 pages In Inner Yoga, Sri Anirvan (poet, religious thinker and yogi whose teachings were the focus of his student Lizelle Reymond’s book To Live Within) analyzes and synthesizes the eight limbs of Patanjala Yoga in the larger spiritual tra- dition of India rooted in the Vedas and the Upanishads and brings out its intimate links with other disciplines and traditions like Buddhism, Vaishanavism, Tantras, Mantra Yoga and so on. First presented as a series of talks to small interested audiences, the book was first published in 1958. A useful glossary defines the many Sanskrit terms used. There is no greater Yoga than to be perfectly natural… For if one does not draw the world and one’s experience of it into oneself, draw them deeply into one’s being, how can one possibly experience the Self in All and All in the Self? “The subject-matter of this book is sadhana. There are not many books like this on the subject showing such mastery and insight. Sri Anirvan lived a life of dedi- cation and reflection, and he speaks as an insider. He takes his readers onto unfa- miliar grounds, and there is no doubt that they will find in him a sure guide on this unusual pilgrimage.” —from the introduction by Ram Swarup The true meaning of purifying your feeling is to become as empty as the sky. To possess the All, it is first necessary to be empty, to be void. And in that void, your deep-rooted impressions... will naturally arise in form. To give up everything in order to gain everything, this is the key to all practice of Yoga. Sri Anirvan was born in 1899 and passed away on May 31st, 1978. “My ambition is not very great,” he once said. “It is to live a life rich in impressions, luminous to the end; to leave behind a few books embodying my lifelong search for Truth, and a few souls who have caught fire. My aim? Simply to inspire people and give them the most complete freedom to live their own life. No glamour, no fame, no insti- tution—nothing. To live simply and die luminously.”

(sound) one becomes established in the merous times in its native India; its inclu- Self. Look, the ocean is contained in the sion in this lovely volume marks its first drop, and the drop in the ocean. What publication in North America. With these else is the spark, if not a particle of fire— rare photos and teachings—and helpful of Him, who is knowledge supreme. glossary of Sanskrit terms—this book Alexander Lipski’s Life and Teachings of hums with Mataji’s darshan (vision). Sri Anandamayi Ma has been reprinted nu-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 18 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! YOGA GEMS !

IYENGAR The Yoga Master edited by Kofi Busia Swami Radha’s Inner of Light & Healing $24.95, paper. Shambhala. isbn 1590305248 334 pages LIGHT AND VIBRATION Light and Vibration is a reminder that we can all ac- Well-known contributors from the world Consciousness, Mysticism & the Culmination of Yoga cess the hidden place of the mind, a place where of yoga celebrate the life and work of the by Swami Sivananda Radha Light is always present. Swami Radha offers us her great yoga pioneer B.K.S. Iyengar in this $19.95, paper. Timeless. knowledge of how light and sound can open us to the collection. Iyengar, who celebrates 70 isbn 1932018158 170 pages brilliant universe within. years as a yoga In Light and Vibration, Swami Sivananda Radha What this really means, in terms of spiritual practice, teacher this year, is (1911–1995) presents a living philosophy, an excit- is to persist... Eventually you will reach that sublime an Indian yoga ing exploration of that chal- state where you recognize it does not matter if it is day master, revered as lenges spiritual preconceptions and stimulates deep or night, the mind is always dreaming. the single most in- reflection. Based on the understanding that the uni- This gathering of Swami Radha’s final years of fluential person in verse is made up of light and vibration, Swami Radha work expresses the culmination of her insight. She spreading the goes beyond the clothing of religious symbolism to stretches the breadth of language to connect with teachings of yoga help the student toward enlighten- the reader and to “explain the unexplainable.” ment. She explains how by opening the heart throughout the The more you overcome the resistance of the intellect, the more world. Iyengar was and exercising the mind, we can move beyond often you can connect to this place of Light. As you make repeat- recognized in Time form, into more and more subtle realms of ed visits, you may discover new laws, like physicists who discov- magazine’s 2004 awareness. er the laws of the physical world or biologists who understand the list of the 100 most Can the mind emanate from the body like the laws of nature. You may not give this law a name or define it, but powerful and influential people in the fragrance that emanates from a flower? If your it is there. You will also experience the repercussions of your dis- Swami world. focus is to be absorbed in the inner Light and covery, which will reshape your entire perspective. Sivananda finally to become Light, that sets your direction. It This collection of essays, stories, and in- Radha Among Swami Radha’s other books is Kundalini Yoga for the terviews offers a deep understanding of is right motivation if you have a deep desire to be West. She founded Yasodhara Ashram in Kootenay Bay, B.C. — in the Light. the man, as well as his unique approach to www.yasodhara.org. yoga and the human mind and body. Contributors include Baron Baptiste, THE INNER LIFE OF ASANAS life. Guided by the principles that Hidden Language Beryl Bender Birch, T.K.V. Desikachar, The Best of Hidden Language is available to everybody, and that working with a lim- Alan Finger, Lilias Folan, Richard Hatha Yoga from Ascent Magazine ited number of postures is a teaching unto itself, The Freeman, John Friend, Sharon Gannon, by Swami Lalitananda $25.95, paper. Timeless. Inner Life of Asanas teaches 25 Hatha Yoga postures Dona Holleman, Gary Kraftsow, Judith isbn 1932018190 144 pages, 7x9, 25 b/w photos and offers thematically-tailored reflections that in- Hanson Lasater, David Life, Manouso Since 1999, Swami Lalitananda, the Director of spire a sense of investigation into the Self. Manos, Chuck Miller, Aadil Palkhivala, Radha Yoga & Eatery in Vancouver, has been the From life in a contemplative mountain communi- Shiva Rea, Erich Schiffmann, John Hidden Language Hatha Yoga columnist at ascent ty to the heart of the inner city, from the beginning Schumacher, Patricia Walden, Joan White, magazine. Now, the best of her writing has been an- of the war in Iraq to delightful moments of child- Rodney Yee, and many others. thologized in this new instructional manual. hood intuition, the stories and reflections in The “This must-read book explores a wide Inspired by Swami Radha’s Inner Life of Asanas invite readers to uncover the mys- range of themes, inducing probing in- Hatha Yoga: The Hidden tical aspects of Hatha Yoga and apply the Hidden quiries into both philosophical and physi- Language, The Inner Life of Language to their own lives. cal nuances of yoga. Read it to deepen Asanas blends real-life reflections with We can open to our inner life through the asanas if we are your relationship with yoga, to further Hatha Yoga instruction and penetrating receptive to their hidden meaning and to our own hidden depths. your understanding, and to inspire your questions that point to the spiritual roots With Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, we each compose our own practice.”—Patricia Walden of the practice. book of knowledge and expand our awareness of the sacred in ourselves and in our world. “The essays in this tribute volume are Swami Lalitananda The Inner Life of Asanas imparts the fun- thought-provoking and varied. Most im- damental concepts of yoga in themed Featuring the article that garnered Swami Lalitananda a portant, the book provides moving per- chapters: Awareness, Choice, Action, Devotion and Unity. National Magazine Award nomination, “The Yoga of Falling on sonal reminiscences of the impact Iyengar Try reflecting on these words for yourself, asking: How do Your Face,” The Inner Life of Asanas is an example of the fine has had, as a man and a teacher, on each awareness, choice, action, devotion and union apply to my life? writing that has made ascent magazine a three-time winner of writer.”—Yoga Journal Each chapter contains columns that explain, by example, Utne magazine’s Independent Press Award for Best Spiritual Kofi Busia, the editor of this book, has how yoga and spirituality can bridge the outer world and inner Coverage. been a certified Iyengar yoga teacher for nearly 40 years. THE YOGA OF HEALING Invocation, along with previously unpublished talks by Swami Sivananda Radha from Swami Radha on healing, meditations and exer- $13.95, paper. Timeless. cises to access the healing power within. ASHTANGA YOGA isbn 1932018174 112 pages, 4x6 Remember that pain or illness is not a punishment. Practice and Philosophy This addition to the Timeless small book series con- That is an over-simplification of our understanding of by Gregor Maehle tains gems of inspirational, challenging and practical . Healing is a learning process. Sometimes it is an $24.95, paper. New World Library. wisdom on healing. The Yoga of Healing delves into opportunity. You may have to begin with the Light of isbn 1577316061 yoga’s potential to heal the sources of disharmony Understanding of the purpose of your life, of your present 320 pages, 8x10, b/w photos & illustrations that cause illness and pain. condition. Can you let that Light spread into other areas? Ashtanga differs from other yoga disci- Here, Swami Radha explores questions such as, Can you recognize the Light of compassion, or love? Ask plines because it focuses on , a yourself, What do I need to learn from my physical vinyasa What is it that heals? How do we begin to heal our- practice that uses condition? What is the energy that created me in the first selves physically, mentally and emotionally? How can the Light postures and place? Where does life come from? Who am I? of Understanding help us? How do we nurture compassion for breathing to create ourselves and others? Healing is not a hit and miss affair as it seems to many people. heat in the body Collected here are excerpts on healing from Kundalini Yoga Healing is a situation where we meet ourselves. We meet and thus increase for the West, Mantras Words of Power and the Divine Light ourselves. circulation and flexibility. This comprehensive More than 50 postures are given clear and modern practitioners. through the lapse of time. book integrates the meticulous explanations, aided by photos, The central theme… For yoga practice two leading ashtan- Gregor Maehle has studied yoga for line drawings, and sidebars providing to be successful, there can be no over 25 years. In 1997, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois ga approaches: anatomical details, practical tips, mytho- separation of practice and philosophy… In Jois’s ashtanga authorized him to teach ashtanga yoga. logical background, and “yogic context.” fact the Yoga Sutra suggests that He lives in Australia. vinyasa yoga and the Yoga Sutra of The second half of the book begins with philosophical enquiry—svadhyaya, or Patanjali. The first half of Ashtanga Yoga the history and lineage of yoga. It then vichara as Shankara calls it—is itself a form presents a complete guide to the practice, presents an extensive commentary on the of practice, and an essential ingredient of the path to freedom. “a comprehensive description of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which describes Primary Series of Ashtanga Yoga, the path of ashtanga yoga and shows how This book is dedicated to bringing the Following the Traditional Vinyasa Count.” it can be a realistic and rewarding one for two aspects back together and to restoring what historically was one system, lost

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 19 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! YOGA & BUDDHISM !

YOGA ANATOMY ther an alternative or a complement to Your Illustrated Guide to Postures, surgery and to expensive, sometimes dan- THE BEST BUDDHIST WRITING 2007 Movements, and Breathing Techniques gerous medications edited by Melvin McLeod by Leslie Kaminoff ! Practice safely & the editors of Shambhala Sun $22.50, paper. Human Kinetics. ! Find an instructor and a style of yoga that $21.95, paper. Shambhala. isbn 0736062785 are right for you. isbn 1590304977 334 pages 272 pages, 7x10, colour illustrations With 20 chapters devoted to the work of Containing writings that are variously wise, witty, heart- See inside every yoga pose! With clear, individual master teachers, including such felt, and profound, this is the fourth volume in an annual expert instruction and full-colour, de- well-known figures as Patricia Walden, series that brings together the year’s most notable litera- tailed anatomical drawings by Sharon John Friend, and Rodney Yee, Yoga as ture inspired by Buddhist philosophy and practice. Ellis, Yoga Anatomy Medicine shows how these experts have ap- Selected by the editors of the Shambhala Sun, North depicts the most plied the wisdom of this ancient holistic America’s leading Buddhist-inspired magazine, the pieces common asanas to practice to 20 different conditions, rang- in this anthology offer an entertaining mix of writing styles provide a deeper ing from arthritis to chronic fatigue, de- and reflect on a wide range of issues from a Buddhist point understanding of pression, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, infer- of view. The collection includes writings by the Dalai the structures and tility, insomnia, multiple sclerosis, and Lama, Matthieu Ricard, Dzongsar Khyentse (on what makes you not a Buddhist), principles underly- obesity. Defining yoga as “a systematic Diana Mukpo, Thich Nhat Hanh, Charles Johnson, Susan Piver, bell hooks, John ing each move- technology to improve the body, under- Tarrant, Natalie Goldberg (on the surprises of practicing Zen in Japan), Khenpo ment and of yoga stand the mind, and free the spirit,” Dr. Tsultrim Gyamtso, Thinley Norbu, Karen Maezen Miller, Pema Chödrön, and itself. McCall shows the way to a path that can Norman Fischer, among others. From breathing truly alter your life. Mindfulness can transform all our personal relationships—but only if we are willing to to standing poses, Yoga is something you learn by feel the inevitable pain that relationships entail. When we turn away from our distress, see how each mus- doing… If science is the modern world’s we inevitably abandon our loved ones as well as ourselves. But when we mindfully and cle is used, how slight alterations of a pose greatest contribution to knowledge, then compassionately incline toward whatever is arising within us, we can be truly present can enhance or reduce effectiveness, and yoga is the gem of the ancient world. It is and alive for ourselves and others. —Christopher Germer how the spine, breathing, and body posi- my belief that these two ways of Among the writings in this tasty reader are Daniel Goleman on the altruistic im- tion are all fundamentally linked. knowing—which seem so different, even pulse, Jarvis Jay Masters on practicing dharma in the prison yard, Stephanie Kaza Whether you are just beginning your at odds with each other—can be on the Buddhist basis for eco-activism, bell hooks on how love heals the wounds of journey or have been practicing yoga for reconciled, advancing our understanding oppression, Leonard Cohen’s poem about his Zen practice, “My Life in Robes,” and years, more than either discipline alone… Yoga Anatomy will be an invaluable Alice Walker on how political criticism, poetic sensibility, and Buddhist practice can resource—one that allows you to see each Yoga is not a panacea, but it is a combine to produce a powerful platform for personal and social progress. movement in an entirely new light. powerful medicine indeed for body, mind, Author Leslie Kaminoff is a recognized and spirit. Above all, yoga is a path. The If the ego were really our deepest essence, it would be easy to understand our apprehension about dropping it. But if it is merely an illusion, ridding ourselves of it is expert and teacher in anatomy, breathing, longer you stay with it and the more heart not ripping the heart out of our being, but simply opening our eyes. and bodywork. He is the founder of The you put into the journey, the farther it can Breathing Project, New York City’s pre- take you. —Matthieu Ricard miere yoga studio dedicated to the teach- This is a dependable guide for the mil- ing of individualized, breath-centered lions who now practice yoga or would like yoga practice and therapy. He currently to begin, as well as for yoga teachers, body powerful union. interacting with a partner in a retreat set- practices yoga therapy, teaches anatomy, workers, doctors, nurses, and other health In writing this book, Charlie Fisher has ting or on your own, as a way of accessing and advises various yoga schools on the professionals. touched upon a scientific taboo and shat- a profound kind of insight. Then, you take anatomy content of their national certifi- tered previous assumptions about the in- that insight on into the grind of everyday cation programs. compatibility of these very different ways human interactions. Gregory Kramer has Buddhism of knowing. His daring, grounded in years been teaching the practice (which he orig- of solid research and sincere practice, has inated) for more than a decade in retreats YOGA AS MEDICINE cleared the path to an inspired “middle around the world. It’s something strikingly The Yogic Prescription way” for us humans to be at greater peace new in the world of Buddhist practice—yet for Health and Healing DISMANTLING DISCONTENT with our selves, each other, and the world it’s completely grounded in traditional by Timothy McCall Buddha’s Way Through Darwin’s World in which we live. Buddhist teaching. $22.50, paper. Bantam. by Charles Fisher “In Dismantling Discontent Charlie Fisher Kramer begins with isbn 0553384066 $18.95, paper. Elite. provides a profound and provocative re- a detailed presenta- 568 pages, 7x9, b/w photos isbn 1600700322 442 pages flection on evolution, science and tion of the central This is the new bible of yoga therapy from Early hominids lived in an animal har- Buddhist practice. He offers a rigorous Buddhist teaching of the medical editor of North America’s premier mony with nature, free of the existential and honest analysis, bringing together sci- the Four Noble yoga magazine, Yoga Journal, who is both a suffering we Homo sapiens experience. entific, cultural and anthropological Truths seen through practicing yogi (for Evolutionary changes to our ancestors’ knowledge in a deep understanding of our an interpersonal lens. 12 years) and a bodies and brains biological and spiritual heritage.” —Jack Because dukkha (suf- Western-trained endowed us with Kornfield, author of A Path With Heart fering or unsatisfac- physician. both an increased “To me, an open-minded skeptic and ig- toriness) is often Beginning with capacity for cre- noramus in Eastern religious traditions most forcefully felt in an overview of the ative productivity and philosophies, I actually found our relations with others, interpersonal re- history and science and the discontent Charlie’s descriptions of meditation, lationships are a wonderfully useful place of yoga, Dr. McCall that comes with death, disease, and old age in the context to practice. He breaks the Noble Truths describes the many the disconnection of our biological natures informative and down into component parts to observe different tech- from our environ- compelling. You too, will no doubt enjoy how they manifest particularly in relation- niques in the yoga ment. It is this du- Charlie’s nature-loving revelation of the ship to others, using examples from his tool kit; explains what yoga does and who ality of our evolu- very non-Victorian Buddhist view of our own life and practice, as well as from his can benefit from it (virtually everyone); tion that sets us lives and their discontents. Charlie has students’. He then goes on to present the and provides lavishly illustrated and apart from other written of meditation in the clear light of practice as it’s taught in his workshops and minutely detailed instructions on starting species and inspires our most profound evolutionary history.” —Lynn Margulis, retreats. There are a few basic steps to the a yoga practice geared to your fitness level intellectual and spiritual yearning. co-author of the Gaia Theory practice, deceptively simple to describe: and your health status. Yoga as Medicine of- Science and spiritual practice have long (1) pause, (2) relax, (3) open, (4) trust fers a tremendous wealth of practical in- been considered mutually exclusive, and emergence, (5) listen deeply, and (6) formation, including how to: yet they are both methods of investiga- INSIGHT DIALOGUE speak the truth. ! Utilize yogic tools, including postures, tion, of striving toward understanding the The Interpersonal Path to Freedom The sequence begins following a period breathing techniques, and meditation, universe in which we live. by Gregory Kramer of meditation, and includes periods of for both prevention and healing of illness Dismantling Discontent offers a provoca- $24.95, paper. Shambhala. speaking, listening, and mutual silence. ! Cultivate the art of becoming more in tive perspective on our existential suffer- isbn 1590304853 292 pages Kramer includes numerous examples of tune with your body ing from the metaphorical viewpoints of Insight Dialogue is a way of bringing the people’s experience with the practice ! Communicate more effectively with your Darwin and Buddha, synthesizing their tranquility and insight attained in medita- from his retreats, and shows how the in- doctor two approaches, science and meditation, tion directly into your interactions with sight gained from the techniques can be ! Adopt therapeutic yoga practices as ei- both rooted in the natural world, into a other people. It’s a practice that involves brought into real life. More than just testi-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 20 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! GOLDSTEIN, KORNFIELD, LEVINE & CO. !

reader along a spiritu- A HEART FULL OF PEACE seasoned travelers, while pithy practice guidelines al path that has led to by Joseph Goldstein keep the journey on track. freedom from suffer- ing and has saved lives $12.50, cloth. Wisdom. It takes practice—and perhaps several different for 2,500 years. Levine isbn 086171542x 110 pages practices—to be able to open to the difficult emotions should know. Love, compassion, and peace—these words are at that we’re aware of and to illuminate those that are Buddhist meditation the heart of all spiritual endeavors. Although we hidden. But with mindfulness, our hearts become intuitively resonate with their meaning spacious enough to hold painful emotions, to feel them, Noah Levine saved him from a life and value, for most of us, the challenge and to let them go. And the more mindful and aware of addiction and is how to embody what we know: how we become of our own physical or emotional crime. He has gone on to counsel and to transform these words into a vibrant, difficulties, the more strength, courage, and insight we teach countless others the Buddhist way to living practice. In these times of have in being with the suffering of others. freedom—mentored by Jack Kornfield conflict and uncertainty, this is not an A Heart Full of Peace is illuminated with lively, joy- and other senior teachers—and here he abstract exercise. Peace in the world ous, and sometimes funny citations from a host of shares those life-changing lessons. begins with us. Joseph contemporary and ancient sources—from the poetry of W.S. Against the Stream is more than just Goldstein This wonderful offering from one of the Merwin and Galway Kinnell to the haiku of Issa and the great another book about Buddhist meditation. It most trusted elders of Buddhism in the West is poet-monk Ryokan, from the luminous aspirations of Saint is a manifesto and field guide for the front an engaging exploration of the ways we can cultivate and man- Francis of Assisi to the sage advice of Thich Nhat Hanh and the lines of the revolution. It is the ifest peace as wise and skillful action in the world. Dalai Lama. culmination of almost two decades of Taken from a dharma talk originally given at Harvard by “This small book conveys with clarity and concision some of meditative dissonance from the next Joseph Goldstein, these words bring the concept of metta, or the spiritual teachings and practices we urgently need to help generation of Buddhists in the West. This loving-kindness, to life. Grounded in the basic trainings of is a call to awakening for the sleeping balance the materialism of our age—compassion, love, kind- masses. body, speech, and mind, this mini-retreat (Joseph leads long ness, a skillful mind, and a peaceful heart.”—from the fore- Wake up, the revolution has already retreats at the Forest Refuge in Massachusetts) is illuminated word by the Dalai Lama begun, it started 2,555 years ago, when by the kind of humour and personal insights that inspire even Sid (Sidhartha Gautama, Sid for short) emerged victorious over suffering in the ABIDING IN MINDFULNESS Massachusetts—listeners join Joseph to explore battle with his own mind… This book is Teachings on the Satipatthana Sutta the comprehensive structure of this seemingly my attempt to present an introduction to by Joseph Goldstein simple teaching. He offers a detailed investiga- the radical path of awakening as I believe Volume 1: The Body tion of how different meditation practices lead it was originally intended and instructed. I have done my best to leave behind the $79.00, 7 CDs. to realization, and the Buddhist approach to en- dogmatic and culturally biased isbn 1591795699 7 hours gaging with the body: from progressive instruc- perspectives that have come to be part and Volume 2: On Feeling, the Mind, and Dhamma tion on being with the breath to deconstruction parcel of many of the current presentations $79.00, 9 CDs. Sounds True. of body concepts through awareness of the ele- of Buddhism. isbn 1591796458 9 hours ments. North American Buddhists are coming of Noah Levine teaches meditation classes, After more than 35 years studying and prac- workshops and retreats as well as leading age—and eager for advanced teachings aimed at ticing this essential text, Joseph Goldstein con- serious practitioners. There are few more qual- groups in juvenile halls and prisons. Visit cludes that the seeds of all the Buddha’s teach- him at dharmapunx.com. ified to offer such training than Joseph ings are contained within the Satipatthana Goldstein, one of the West’s foremost teachers Sutta. “When you open any one door into the of insight meditation for over 30 years. Now, dharma, it leads to all the rest”, he explains. this seasoned teacher presents Abiding in BIG MIND BIG HEART Targeted for experienced practitioners, yet ac- Finding Your Way Mindfulness, an in-depth course on the cessible to those new to Buddhism, Abiding in by Dennis Genpo Merzel Satipatthana Sutta. Considered the core of Mindfulness offers more than 15 hours of in- $20.25, Book+CD set. Book Buddha’s teachings, this vital discourse eluci- sights and meditations for immersing oneself in Big Mind. & CD dates the four foundations of mindfulness med- this perennial jewel of Buddhist wisdom. isbn 0977142337 itation—the “direct path to awakening.” Among Joseph Goldstein’s other titles are One 188 pages + 60-minute CD On volumes one and two of these teachings— Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism and One of the few Zen teachers to receive originally recorded live at the Forest Refuge in Insight Meditation (book & 2 CDs). full transmission in both the Rinzai and Soto lineages has in recent years GUIDED MEDITATION ful CDs that include: been crafting “a remarkable ! Six Essential Practices to Cultivate Love, Breath meditation for stilling the body and quieting new method for catalyzing Awareness, and Wisdom the mind deep insights that may other- ! by Jack Kornfield Mind Like Sky meditation for releasing the ego’s at- wise require long and arduous $23.95, 2 CDs. Sounds True. tachments and resting in pure awareness effort” (Roger Walsh). This book makes isbn 1591796253 2 hours ! Visualization practice to meet the “inner sage,” and Genpo Roshi’s groundbreaking teachings Since the time of the Buddha, med- more. familiar and accessi- itation has been taught under the Meditation has its challenges—especially for be- ble to a much wider guidance of an expert as the easiest ginners. With practices you can listen to again and audience all over the way to begin, and for the most reliable results. again, Guided Meditation gives listeners a concise training “of world. It includes not Much-loved American meditation teacher Jack the heart and mind” toward learning to enjoy the fruits of this only historical and Kornfield leads listeners through six essential centuries-old art. If you’re ready to introduce a daily medita- personal background meditations, a simple way to progressively tion practice, this is also a great place to begin. on the development deepen a practice—whatever your level of ex- Jack Kornfield Among Jack Kornfield’s other books are After the Ecstasy, the of Big Mind, but an perience. With Guided Meditation, listeners join Laundry and Teachings of the Buddha. actual introduction the author of the bestseller A Path with Heart on two very use- to the process for the reader. monials for how well the practice “works,” AGAINST THE STREAM optional. In life, pain and pleasure are a The accompanying the personal stories demonstrate the prob- A Buddhist Manual for Spiritual given, but we create suffering for ourselves CD includes a lively through our clinging to pleasure and lems that arise, the different routes the Revolutionaries example of a brief one-on-one Big Mind aversion to pain. The spiritual practice can follow, and the sometimes by Noah Levine session with Genpo Roshi and a person surprising insights that are gained. $17.50, paper. HarperCollins. revolutionary practices radical acceptance, enjoying pleasure who had no prior experience with Zen or “Beautifully written and elegantly struc- isbn 006073664x 164 pages when it is present, accepting and Big Mind. It also features Roshi Merzel’s Buddha was a revolutionary. tured, Insight Dialogue unpacks and enrich- caring about pain when it is introduction to meditation posture and es practices for extending and deepening His practice was subversive; his present. breathing, and a guided Big Mind medita- our awareness of social interactions in all message, seditious. His enlight- Presenting the basics of tion. their complexity, with all their shadow, ened point of view went against Buddhism with personal anec- , whose Integral Institute has pain, and promise, in the service of au- the norms of his day—in his dotes, exercises, and guided made this Big Mind process a central part thentic freedom and the humbling real- words, “against the stream.” His meditations, Noah Levine (son of its “Integral Life Practice,” has provided ization of deepest connection.”—Jon teachings changed the world, of Stephen Levine and also au- a glowing foreword. He writes: Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses and now they can change us too. thor of Dharma Punx) guides the The Big Mind process is arguably the For more info: insightdialogue.org. The truth is that our suffering is

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 21 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ˆ ! THAY & SUZUKI-ROSHI !

New From Thich Nhat Hanh Zen Teachings, Zen Failures THE ART OF POWER ZEN IS RIGHT HERE by Thich Nhat Hanh Teaching Stories and Anecdotes of Shunryu Suzuki, Author of $27.50, cloth. HarperCollins. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind isbn 0061242349 218 pages edited by David Chadwick Turning our conventional understanding of power on its $16.95, paper. Shambhala. head, renowned Zen master and author Thich Nhat Hanh isbn 1590304918 160 pages reveals how true power comes from within. What we seek, If you pay close attention, you can hear the tide turn. — we already have. Shunryu Suzuki Whether we want it or not, power remains one of the cen- It was 1966 when David Chadwick began Zen practice tral issues in all of our lives. Every day, each of us exercises with Shunryu Suzuki, the Zen master whose words form the power in many ways, and our every act subtly affects the gristle of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, one of the most widely world we live in. This struggle for control used books on Zen practice. Suzuki was a pioneer of and authority permeates every aspect of Buddhism in America, founding San Francisco’s Zen our private and public lives. The me-first Center, and inspiring a movement that continues today. mentality in our culture seeps unnoticed into our decisions and Now Chadwick has drawn on his friends and co-practitioners and . Our bottom-line approach to getting ahead may be most brought together some touching and instructive memories of this visible in the business world, but the stress, fear, and anxiety it caus- great teacher. To Shine One Corner of the World thus provides a unique es are felt by us all. introduction to his teachings. Through these spontaneous, often hu- Thich With colourful anecdotes, precise language, and concrete prac- Nhat Hanh morous, and always unexpected exchanges, the reader can experi- tices, Thich Nhat Hanh illustrates how the current understanding ence what it meant to practice Zen with Suzuki from day to day. of power leads us on a never-ending search for external markers Suzuki Roshi Chadwick quotes Suzuki: like job title or salary. The Art of Power boldly challenges our assumptions and teach- We say, to shine one corner of the world—just one corner. If you shine es each of us how to access the true power that is within our grasp. one corner, then people around you will feel better. You will always feel as if you are Without compassion, you can’t be happy, no matter how rich you are. You become carrying an umbrella to protect people from the heat or rain. isolated and trapped within your own world, unable to relate to people or understand Suzuki Roshi had an extraordinary gift for conveying traditional Zen teaching in them… When you look deeply, you see the pain and suffering in the world, and recognize ordinary language. In Zen Is Right Here, his teachings are brought to life powerfully your deep desire to relieve it. You also recognize that bringing joy to others is the and directly through stories told about him by his students. But don’t be fooled by greatest joy you can have, the greatest achievement. In choosing to cultivate true the simplicity of the format—this book is not just a collection of sweet reminis- power, you do not have to give up your desire for the good life. Your life can be more cences; it’s a living encounter with Suzuki Roshi’s Zen teaching. The wisdom pre- satisfying, and you will be happy and relaxed, relieving suffering and bringing happiness sented in these stories is poignant, direct, humorous, and enlightening; and the sto- to everyone. ries’ real-life settings make them wonderfully accessible. “Power” fascinates, corrupts, compels… Yet this elder (he’s recently been allowed Suzuki Roshi emphasized that the ungraspable spirit of Buddhism is what con- to return to Vietnam) demonstrates how true power can free us and bless us. tinues, while the expression of that spirit always changes. The teachings of Buddha, Since the age of 16 (he’s now 80+) Thich Nhat Hanh has been a Buddhist monk he said, were for particular moments, people, and situations and were relative and and a peace activist. During the war in Vietnam, he worked tirelessly for reconcili- imperfect. Each of the stories presented here is an example of our potential to at- ation between North and South Vietnam. Forced into exile because of his efforts to tain enlightenment right now, in this very moment. negotiate peace in Vietnam, he continued his social activism, founding universities Also by David Chadwick is Thank You and OK! An American Zen Failure in Japan. and social service organizations in his homeland. He’s author of many books in- cluding Peace Is Every Step and Anger. Visit him at plumvillage.org. THANK YOU AND OK! An American Zen Failure in Japan NOTHING TO DO, NOWHERE TO GO by David Chadwick Waking Up to Who You Are $23.00, paper. Shambhala. by Thich Nhat Hanh isbn 1590304705 454 pages $18.50, paper. Parallax. David Chadwick began his Zen study under the leg- isbn 1888375728 140 pages endary Japanese master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in 1966. Make no mistake, there is no Dharma outside of you for you Much later, Suzuki Roshi’s successor said of Chadwick: to run after, there is no Dharma within you. So rest and practice “Years of expensive Zen training gone to waste.” being a no-business person. If something has arisen, do not try to A Texas-raised wanderer, college dropout, bumbling so- make it continue. If something has not arisen, do not try to make cial activist, and hobbyhorse musician, Chadwick flew to it arise. This action is more valuable than ten years’ pilgrimage. —Master Lin Chi Japan in 1988 to begin a four-year period of voluntary exile and remedial Zen education. In Thank You and OK! he re- The Zen school of Mahayana Buddhism contends that counts his experiences both inside and beyond the each one of us is already a Buddha—the enlightenment we monastery walls and offers insightful portraits of the characters he knew in that seek is always within us, waiting to be realized through mindfulness and concerted world—the bickering monks, the patient abbot, the trotting housewives, the omi- spiritual work. This truth pushes us toward practice, in the hopes that we may awak- nous insects, the bewildered bureaucrats, and his idiosyncratic fellow English-lan- en our potential and live up to what is inside us. This is a notion taught widely by guage students—as they worked inexorably toward initiating him into the mysteri- 9th-century Zen Master Lin Chi, and in his tradition Thich Nhat Hanh employs the ous ways of Japan. Whether you’re interested in Japan, Buddhism, human nature, teachings and writings of Mahayana Buddhism to discuss specific topics in Buddhist or exotic travel writing, this book is great fun. study and practice. With these teachings, readers have the tools to awaken the “Totally delightful—fantastic couch potato Zen. Chadwick saves you the trouble Buddha within. of going to Japan by making all the mistakes for you.”—Jack Kornfield As long as there’s seeking, it’s wrong. If you aspire to be Buddha, you will lose the “Asked why Zen was brought from India to China, master Zhao Zhou replied, Buddha; if you aspire to the way, you will lose the way. We should imagine the wave ‘The oak tree in the garden.’ This is exactly what Chadwick gives us here—no grand on the great ocean is seeking the water. That the wave is looking for the water is sweeping statements about the ‘real’ nature of Zen or Japan—just specific experi- something very funny. The more the wave looks for water, the more she will not find ence rendered with a peculiar intensity that lingers in your memory. The writing is it. So the key is not to seek. The wave is already the water so what is the point in looking for the water? … It’s very simple. It’s just like the words we use today: “I have excellent. The artistic integrity is the very finest.”—Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and arrived, I am home.” If the wave knows already that it is water, it doesn’t need to roam the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance around looking everywhere for the water. It’s only when the wave wakes up and sees David Chadwick has also edited Zen is Right Here, a book of teaching stories and that it is water that it can stop seeking. anecdotes about Suzuki Roshi.

most important and original discovery in Voice Dialogue, which helps to make sub- “The masters of guided the last two centuries of Buddhism. It is an personalities conscious and then healed advanced seekers to the levels of Great astonishingly original, profound and and whole—and effectivly integrated that Mind and Extended Heart. In our day effective path for waking up, or seeing “finite self” with the best of the contem- Genpo Roshi, aka Reb Merzel, offers the one’s True Nature. It is such a simple and plative traditions, or the “infinite self.” trans-denominational seeker a contempo- universal practice it can be used in any And this book, helping you work with your rary gate to the highest awareness.” — spiritual path you wish, or even by itself, as a practice for realizing your True Self. own mind, your states of consciousness, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, co-au- just as they are now, demonstrates it effec- thor of Jewish with Feeling Genpo has taken some of the discover- tively. You’ll like it! ies of Western psychology—particularly

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 22 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! ZEN !

THE SILENT QUESTION Meditating in the Stillness of Not Knowing Zen with Daido Loori by Toni Packer Most of us spend our time preoccupied. We are $18.00, paper. Shambhala. FINDING THE STILL POINT Book isbn 1590304101 208 pages A Beginner’s Guide to Zen Meditation constantly carrying on an internal dialogue. While we & CD In The Silent Question—talks, dialogues, by John Daido Loori are involved in talking to ourselves, we miss the essays, and letters in which Packer pre- $18.00, Book+CD set. Shambhala. moment-to-moment awareness of our life… Zazen brings us back to each moment. The moment is where sents her unique method of meditative in- isbn 1590304799 112 pages, 6x7 + 60-minute CD Through Zen meditation it is possible to find our life takes place. If we miss the moment we miss quiry—recovered our life. Zen teacher Toni stillness of mind, even amidst our everyday activi- Packer provides ties—and this practical book-and-CD set reveals The accompanying CD is a meditation compan- fresh insights on how. John Daido Loori, one of North America’s ion. It has 10- and 30-minute timed practice ses- using the experi- leading Zen teachers, offers everything needed to sions, along with guided instructions from Daido ences of life that begin a meditation practice. He covers the basics of Loori and an encouraging talk on the benefits of are raw, messy, where to sit (on a cushion, bench, or chair), how to meditation. painful, and some- posture the body (complete with instructional photographs), Among Daido Loori’s other books are The Zen of Creativity times full of and how to practice Zen meditation to discover the freedom of and Sitting with Koans. laughter, to open a a peaceful mind. way to compas- sion. She urges us INVOKING REALITY Loori provides a modern interpretation of the to let go of our Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen precepts and discusses the ethical significance of thoughts and to sit by John Daido Loori these vows as guidelines for living. “Zen is a prac- “in the stillness of not knowing” in order $16.00, paper. Shambhala. tice that takes place within the world,” he says, to reflect upon the essential question of isbn 1590304594 97 pages, b/w photos “based on moral and ethical teachings that have who we are. Packer encourages us to dis- There is a common misconception that to prac- been handed down from generation to genera- cover that life, energy, and insight come tice Zen is to practice meditation and nothing else. tion.” In his view, the Buddhist precepts form one from the questioning, the looking, the lis- In truth, traditionally, the practice of the most vital areas of spiritual practice. tening. of meditation goes hand-in-hand The injuries that we inflict on each other and on our with moral conduct. In Invoking environment can only be healed by sound moral and Can we let go of the Reality, John Daido Loori, one of ethical commitment. That doesn’t mean being expectation of gratitude? puritanical. It doesn’t mean being “moralistic.” These How quickly can it drop? It the leading Zen teachers in America today, presents and explains the precepts have a vitality that is unique in the great takes a flexible, “seeing” religions. They are alive, not fixed. They function mind to let go of a story ethical precepts of Zen as essential broadly and deeply, taking into account the intricacies about “me,” the victim. John aspects of Zen training and devel- and subtleties of conditions encountered… Story making is one of the Daido Loori opment. Make them your own. They are no small thing, by any most favorite occupations The Buddhist teachings on morality—the measure. They nourish, they heal, and they give life to the Toni Packer of the brain, but it needn’t precepts—predate Zen, going all the way back to the Buddha Buddha. become emotionally himself. They describe, in essence, how a buddha, or awakened Also by Daido Loori are The True Dharma Eye and The Eight entangling… person, lives his or her life in the world. Gates of Zen. Can we live around a person who is temporarily under the cloud of moodiness and not take it personally? Without getting MAKING LOVE WITH LIGHT brush, as Loori captures moments of exceptional, annoyed by it? Or do thoughts Contemplating Nature with Words and Photographs unrepeatable beauty. Each image is a seed for immediately start spinning: “He should not by John Daido Loori contemplation. talk like that, not treat me that way. It $32.00, paper. Shambhala. “Just as ancient Zen painters expressed the clearly shows that he doesn’t like me.” isbn 1590304861 192 pages, 8x9, 77 colour photos truth of reality with sparse strokes of the brush, “I’m not worthy of being loved.” Just see This book of exquisite photographs arises from Zen Master Loori captures the unfathomable mys- all these ideas stirring around like drifting the premise that unless we love nature, we will not tery of our mind and love of the wilderness in ex- clouds. Why take them personally? Just let work to save it from exploitation and eventual de- them be seen the way they are drifting in traordinary photographs of ordinary nature. this moment. Can we agree that taking it struction. The rich mixture of photographs, Zen Making Love with Light pioneers the new genre of easier with our temporary moods makes poems, and essays presented on these pages is in- Zen photography with profound and touching them dissipate faster? They need not be tended to open our hearts to the wild and the images and penetrating words.”—Kaz Tanahashi justified or defended! We help each other wilderness, and to direct us to the ways in which we “These photographs and poems speak power- greatly by accepting each other’s can heal the earth. fully to our ‘wild intelligence.’ John Daido Loori has created a moodiness, letting it be a passing mind- The Zen master John Daido Loori, who is widely known for feast for the senses and an invitation into the depth of mystery state that we know we’re all burdened his efforts to make creative expression an integral part of spir- embracing all life forms. This is a book to treasure, to sa- with at one time or another. itual practice, here inaugurates a new art form: Zen photogra- vor...”—Mary Evelyn Taylor, coeditor, Buddhism and Ecology “Toni Packer is a treasure. With a deep phy. It’s a modern continuation of an ancient tradition that John Daido Loori is the founding director of the Mountains and demanding inquiry of a Zen master, looks to art as an expression of the enlightened mind. The and Rivers Order, an organization of Zen Buddhist centres. For she invites us back to mystery and wonder, camera thus becomes a contemporary version of the Zen more info contact www.mro.org. to rediscover the innocence and whole- ness that is our own true nature.”—Jack Kornfield, author, A Path with Heart that invites readers of all backgrounds to Much of what I had considered unique reconceptualization of Zen practice as a about me turned out to be the musings of a UNTRAIN YOUR PARROT sit down and give meditation a try. But comprehensive, do-able program for psy- don’t be fooled by her puns and check- well-trained parrot, deeply ingrained cho-spiritual growth. The clarity of And Other No-Nonsense conditioned views that I, like everyone, Instructions on the Path of Zen lists—this is serious Zen. Hamilton’s pedagogy makes this an un- had acquired in the process of trying to be commonly serviceable workbook for the by Elizabeth Hamilton Anything in these pages that sounds like a somebody. This isn’t bad; it’s just too inner (and outer!) life.” —Zoketsu $18.00, paper. Shambhala. a belief system should be regarded as a bad, since we hold onto this Gospel of isbn 1590303636 206 pages hypothesis to serve as an experiment in Myself as if it were a life raft. Norman Fischer, author of Taking Our the laboratory of awakening. Places This book offers exercises, instructions, Untrain Your Parrot includes simple in- jokes, stories, pithy quotes, and—most of Drawing on three decades of experi- “Delightful humor and deep wisdom in structions to clarify and elucidate the ba- the key of Zen. Elizabeth Hamilton has all—encourage- ence as a Zen practitioner and teacher, sics, including how to establish a beginning ment to anyone in- Hamilton explains how to meditate and been there, done that, and tells the truth, meditation practice; how to develop physi- so her teaching is gentle, grounded, and terested in explor- how to maintain an ongoing practice. cal, mental, and emotional awareness; and ing Zen but who From there, in her clear, lighthearted, and emotionally intelligent.” —Jon Kabat- how to experience “open” awareness—ob- Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses may find tradition- humorous style, she moves right to the serving one’s practice while allowing for a al presentations se- heart of Zen, showing us how we could sense of spaciousness with whatever occurs. vere or intimidat- move beyond our concepts, expectations, “The title tips us off that we’re in for a and emotional reactivity to touch the real- ing. Hamilton witty read, rich with metaphor. But Untrain ity of our lived experience with openness writes with an easy- Your Parrot turns out to also be a brilliant going, friendly style and simplicity, thereby finding freedom.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 23 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! “BUDDHA” = “AWAKE” !

ONE CITY Combining the A Declaration of Interdependence THE JOY OF LIVING scholarship he’s by Ethan Nichtern Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness renowned for with $19.95, paper. Wisdom. by Mingyur Rinpoche original insights isbn 0861715160 174 pages $27.00, cloth. Crown. from nearly four “A trenchant and isbn 0307346250 288 pages decades practicing engaging call to an $37.95, 5 CDs. Random House. and teaching med- expanded aware- isbn 0739341677 6 hours, abridged itation, Reggie Ray ness. Ethan In this groundbreaking work, renowned Buddhist invites readers to Nichtern’s voice is teacher Mingyur Rinpoche invites us to join him in un- explore the body fresh and com- locking the secrets of what meditation really is and how it as the ideal place pelling: Buddhism works. Working with neuroscientists at the Waisman for spiritual pil- 3.0 meets the global Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, Mingyur pro- grimage; how to consciousness move- vides clear insights into modern research indicating that cultivate imagination, deal with pain, ment.” —Daniel systematic training in meditation can enhance activity in breathe more naturally, and other essen- Goleman areas of the brain associated with happiness and compas- tial skills; why “rejected” experience be- What you wear. sion. He has also worked with physicists to develop a fresh, scientifically based in- comes imprinted in the body—and the What you say. What terpretation of the Buddhist understanding of the nature of reality. steps to release it. you With an infectious joy and insatiable curiosity, Mingyur Rinpoche To be awake, to be enlightened, is to think/ignore/buy/don’t buy…Welcome weaves together the principles of Tibetan Buddhism, neuroscience, be fully and completely embodied. To be to One City—Population: Everyone— and quantum physics in a way that will surely change the way we un- fully embodied means to be at one with where EVERYTHING you do matters. derstand the human experience. Using the basic meditation prac- who we are, in every respect, including You’ve lived here your whole life, whether tices he provides, we can discover paths through everyday prob- our physical being, our emotions, and the you know it or not. lems, transforming obstacles into opportunities to recognize the totality of our karmic situation. Ethan Nichtern, the creative force be- unlimited potential of our own minds. Touching Enlightenment provides a map hind New York’s upstart Interdependence Mingyur The ways in which mistaken concepts become embedded in the mind of unprecedented clarity and power for Project (theidproject.org), is your guide to Rinpoche and the means for cutting through them were the subjects of the teaching embarking on the journey toward ulti- the beauty that is everywhere in the urban Buddha gave over the next forty years of his life as he traveled mate realization in and through the body. jungle—in the rattling of subway trains, throughout India, attracting hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students. Two and a half Reggie Ray, one of the most innovative the screechings of traffic, the hum and thousand years later, modern scientists are beginning to demonstrate through rigorous and experienced meditation teachers in drone of millions scurrying for work, food, clinical research that the insights he’d gained through subjective examination are the West, teaches within the dharma and sustenance, art, culture, and meaning. amazingly accurate. meditation lineages of the great siddha There may be no greater setting for ex- This refreshing book is yet another sign that the next generation of Buddhism is Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. ploring the great truth that Martin Luther creative, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary. Among his other titles are Meditating King Jr. expounded: “Whatever affects one “An extraordinarily clear book on the whys and the hows of cultivating mindful- with the Body (4 CDs) and The Secret of the directly, affects all indirectly.” ness effectively in our lives. It makes use of the exciting discoveries of modern sci- Vajra World. One City melds this view (interdepen- ence in ways that are easy to understand and entirely relevant to the meditation dence) with modern Buddhist wisdom practices themselves.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses (basic goodness—Nichtern is a teacher in “It’s extraordinary to see the words lineage, compassion, spacetime foam, and THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA the Shambhala tradition) to offer a new limbic resonance all in the same book… The Joy of Living is a personal, readable, by Shantideva way of understanding what binds us all to- and wonderfully warm and clear guide to changing the way we see ourselves and $24.95, Book+CD set. Shambhala. Book gether—no matter where we are, no mat- the world.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness & CD ter who. With its pop-culture savvy, hu- “His voice is generous, intimate, and refreshingly personal.” —Richard Gere isbn 1590304780 booklet + 3 mour, and literary liveliness, One City will CDs speak to—and even, it’s fair to say, help Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, the ability to about finding the source of hurtful define—the spiritually-inclined, conscious Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva is a achieve happiness emotions, such as lust and hatred, within Next Generation. guide to cultivating the mind of enlight- and a meaningful ourselves, and then describing Buddhist enment, and to So much time in life has been lost life, but the key to practices to undermine these painful generating the chasing the morphing ghosts of Cool, realizing that goal influences and supplant them in the heart when I could’ve been learning how to be with insight and love. qualities of love, Kind. is self-knowledge. compassion, gen- In How to See The very useful appendix, “Reviewing erosity, and pa- “At age 29, Nichtern is keenly aware of Yourself As You the Meditative Reflections,” summarizes tience. Now in a the consumer wallpaper of our everyday Really Are, the the themes and stages of the book: The newly refined lives. For him, the myriad ‘stuff’ that sur- world’s foremost Need for Insight; How to Undermine translation the rounds us presents many occasions to re- Buddhist leader Ignorance; Harnessing the Power of Bodhicharyavatara alize what he calls ‘The Real Internet’— and recipient of Concentration and Insight; How to End (“An Entry into seeing things as they are, with ties to the Nobel Peace Self-Deception; How Persons and Things the Activities of everywhere in the world through a long Prize shows readers how to recognize and Actually Exist; and Deepening Love with Enlightenment”) is chain of cause and effect. We may be dispel misguided notions of self and em- Insight. the classic text awash in the materialism that feeds desire, brace the world from a more realistic— Enlivened by personal anecdotes and in- upon which the says Nichtern, but interdependence and loving—perspective. timate accounts of the Dalai Lama’s own Dalai Lama based his book A Flash of makes the planet one city.” —Shambhala Step-by-step exercises life experiences, How to See Yourself As You Lightning in the Dark of Night, saying, “If I Sun help readers shatter their Really Are can be read and enjoyed by spir- have any understanding of compassion false assumptions and itual seekers of all faiths. and the practice of the bodhisattva path, ideas and see the world as it is entirely on the basis of this text that I Tibetan Buddhism it actually exists. By direct- possess it.” ing our attention to the TOUCHING ENLIGHTENMENT Presented in the form of a meditation Finding Realization in the Body His Holiness false veneer that so bedaz- in verse, it outlines the path of the bod- the Dalai by Reginald Ray zles our senses and our hisattvas—those beings who, turning HOW TO SEE YOURSELF Lama $27.95, cloth. Sounds True. AS YOU REALLY ARE thoughts, His Holiness sets aside from the sufferings of the world of the stage for discovering isbn 1591796180 304 pages by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, How is it that a person can meditate for samsara, nevertheless renounce the peace the reality behind appearances. But get- translated & edited five, ten, twenty years or more—and hard- of an individual salvation and vow to work ting past one’s misconceptions is only a by Jeffrey Hopkins New in ly change? Because they’ve reduced it to “a for the welfare of all beings, and to attain prelude to right action, and the book’s fi- $15.99, paper. Paperback mental gymnastic,” explains Reggie Ray. In enlightenment for their sake. As such, Simon & Schuster. nal section describes how to harness the Touching Enlightenment, the esteemed au- Shantideva’s work embodies a definition isbn 0743290461 288 pages power of meditative concentration to the thor of five books on Buddhist history and of compassion raised to its highest power Like the two wings of a bird, love and in- service of love, and vice versa, so that true practice guides readers back to the origi- and minutely lays out the methods by sight work cooperatively to bring about altruistic enlightenment is attained. nal approach of the Buddha: a systematic which it is to be achieved. enlightenment, says a fundamental My intention in this book is to make a process that results in a profound aware- While the text was originally written in Buddhist teaching. According to His contribution, however small, to world ness “in our bodies rather than in our India in Sanskrit in the 8th century, this Holiness the Dalai Lama, we each possess peace by explaining Buddhist notions heads.” version has been translated from the

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 24 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! DANCE OF THE BODHISATTVAS !

Tibetan following a commentary by the Pema Chödrön’s New Offerings Nyingma master Kunzang Pelden, renowned for its thoroughness, clarity, NO TIME TO LOSE ples from everyday life, Pema’s fresh and accessible and accessibility. A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva commentary shows us how this timeless spiritual So take advantage of this human boat. by Pema Chödrön path is open and available to all of us. The book Free yourself from sorrow’s mighty $21.95, paper. Shambhala. New in also includes practical exercises that will help read- stream! isbn 1590304241 408 pages Paperback ers to better understand and live out the bodhisatt- This vessel will be later hard to find. The time that you have now, you fool, Pema Chödrön’s vision of enlightened living has va way. is not for sleep!... resonated strongly with readers from many back- When your intention is to wake up so that you can Why delight in mere excitement, grounds, and her books (among them When Things help others to do the same, then you can rejoice in In distractions that will cause you Fall Apart and The Places That Scare You) continue to your capacity to see where you’re stuck as much as misery? encourage and instruct many of us. In this new you rejoice in your capacity for loving kindness. Throughout the verses of this text, book, No Time to Lose, she goes beyond introducing There is no other way for true compassion to Shantideva is able to communicate the and inspiring readers to show us exactly how we emerge. No other way to water the seed of bodhichitta. qualities of precision, contemplative expe- each can become a “bodhisattva warrior” in the This is how you know what other people are up rience, and lyrical beauty, which have midst of our everyday lives. against. Just like you, they aspire to open, only to see served to inspire countless generations. Presenting the traditional spiritual program that guides her themselves close. Just like you, they have the capacity to feel joy Available in two formats: own life, Pema offers an in-depth commentary on The Way of and, out of ignorance, they block that joy. The difference is that ! a paperback with the complete text the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharayavatara), an essential Buddhist text we can get smart and begin to see when we get hooked and do ! a complementary audio-CD edition. The written in the 8th century by the Indian sage Shantideva. something different. Instead of going on automatic pilot, and 3-CD edition offers a new way to en- following the same old momentum, we could let the storyline go This cherished work lays out a 10-stage path toward becom- counter the beauty and profundity of ing a bodhisattva including such topics as commitment, aware- and stay present with an open heart. And we could rejoice that we are even slightly interested in choosing such a fresh Shantideva’s verses. Included is a com- ness, vigilance, patience, and meditation. Drawing on exam- alternative. plete reading of The Way of the Bodhisatt- va by Wulstan Fletcher. A booklet is also included, with a helpful introduction to DON’T BITE THE HOOK our habitual responses. In this record- the text and a biography of Shantideva. Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, ed weekend retreat, Pema draws on and Other Destructive Emotions Buddhist teachings from The Way of by Pema Chödrön the Bodhisattva to reveal how we can THE TEACUP AND THE SKULLCUP $32.95, 3 CDs. Shambhala. AUDIO stay centered in the midst of difficulty, Chögyam Trungpa on Zen and isbn 1590304349 3.5 hours improve stressful relationships, step by Chögyam Trungpa Life has a way of provoking us with traffic jams and comput- out of that sticky downward spiral of $19.95, paper. Vajradhatu. er malfunctions, with emotionally distant partners and crying self-hatred, and awaken compassion isbn 1550550241 140 pages, b/w photos children—and before we know it, we’re upset. We feel terrible, for ourselves and others. As always, These extraordinary teachings on and then we end up saying and doing things that only make Pema’s voice is gently witty, always Vajrayana Buddhism and the Zen Buddhist matters worse. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Pema kind, and refreshingly wise. tradition, given by Chödrön. It is possible to relate constructively to the inevitable Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun in the lineage Chögyam Trungpa in 1974 shocks, losses, and frustrations of life so that we can find true of Chögyam Trungpa. Among her other titles are When Things and here ably edited by happiness. The key, Pema explains, is not biting the “hook” of Fall Apart and The Places That Scare You. Judith Lief and David Schneider, are a timeless exposition of the similari- ior, our own habits of thought and action. It’s never PRACTICING PEACE IN TIMES OF WAR ties and differences be- too late, she tells us, to look within and discover a by Pema Chödrön tween these two ancient new way of living. $10.95, paper. Shambhala. traditions by one of the isbn 1590305000 105 pages, French flaps Someone once gave me a poem that has a line in it most gifted Buddhist teachers of the 20th $26.95, 2 CDs. that offers a good definition of peace: “Softening what New in century. isbn 1590304144 1.5 hours is rigid in our hearts.” We can talk about ending war Paperback and we can march for ending war, we can do While Zen stands as the fruition of “War and peace start in the mahayana, Trungpa Rinpoche posits, hearts of individuals,” declares Pema Chödrön. In everything in our power, but war is never going to end as long as people’s hearts are hardened against each crazy wisdom reaches the fruition of Practicing Peace in Times of War she draws on other… vajrayana, the third great aspect of the Buddhist teachings to explore the origins of ag- If you have a bird’s-eye perspective on the Earth and Buddhist path. gression and war, explaining that they lie nowhere you look down at all the conflicts that are happening, It is startling that Trungpa Rinpoche but within our own hearts and minds. She goes on all you see are two sides of a story where both people could posit tantra as an evolution of Zen, to explain that, remarkably, the way in which we as think they’re right. So the solutions have to come from a step beyond it, while conveying individuals respond to challenges in our everyday a change of heart, from softening what is rigid within absolutely no sense of belittlement. But lives can mean the difference between perpetuating a culture us. that is exactly what he manages in the seminars, through sympathetic insight and of violence or creating a new culture of com- Practicing Peace in Times of War is a short, pithy, and profound book that includes practical strategies for cultivating the seeds admiration. —from the excellent historical passion. introduction by Tensho David Schneider of peace and compassion amid life’s upsets and challenges. With violence flaring all over the world, from “The Teacup and the This title is also available on 2 CDs, where readers who ap- Iraq to Darfur to London, most of us are left Skullcup is a jewel box of il- preciate Pema Chödrön’s books will be delighted to hear her feeling utterly helpless. In this book Pema lumined insights, alert hu- encouraging voice. Among her other books are When Things Chödrön insists that our world will begin to mor, and serious genius. Fall Apart and Comfortable with Uncertainty. change when each of us, one by one, begins to Every creative artist and Pema Chödrön work for peace at the level of our own behav- creative meditator should have these pages to go ALWAYS MAINTAIN A JOYFUL MIND gan is followed by Pema Chödrön’s fresh, succinct, through.” —Michael And Other Lojong Teachings on and inspiring commentary on how to understand McClure Awakening Compassion and Fearlessness and apply the maxim in everyday living. “Trungpa Rinpoche’s as- tonishing take on Zen and by Pema Chödrön Constantly apply cheerfulness, if for no other reason tantra reads like a speech $18.00, Book+CD set. Shambhala. than because you are on this spiritual path. Have a isbn 1590304608 126 pages + 60-minute CD sense of gratitude to everything, even difficult emotions, delivered from another For centuries Tibetan Buddhists have employed a because of their potential to wake you up. planet. What we have in The Teacup and the Skullcup collection of pithy, penetrating slogans to help them Also included is a 45-minute audio program enti- is less a work of explana- develop equanimity, intelligence, and compassion tled “Opening the Heart,” in which the author offers tion and exposition than a amid the turbulence of daily life. This book presents in-depth instruction on tonglen meditation practice Chögyam bravura performance—a this transformative spiritual practice (called lojong in Tibetan) (“taking in and sending out”), a powerful practice that anyone Trungpa wild, weird demonstration in a way that readers of any background can understand and can undertake to awaken compassion for oneself and others. of intellectual daring and outrageously put to use. Always Maintain a Joyful Mind features 59 powerful Among Pema Chödrön’s other books are The Wisdom of No dead-on spiritual vision.” —Zoketsu maxims including, “Always maintain a joyful mind,” “Don’t be Escape and Start Where You Are. so predictable,” and “Be grateful to everyone.” Each lojong slo- Norman Fischer, author of Taking our Places

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 25 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! TIBETAN BUDDHISM !

GUIDED MEDITATIONS ON THE STAGES OF THE PATH The Innate Wisdom of Dzogchen by Thubten Chodron Book $35.95, Book+CD set. & CD NATURAL RADIANCE Book “Since things are perfect and complete Snow Lion. just as they are, beyond good and bad, Awakening to Your Great Perfection & CD isbn 1559392819 by Lama Surya Das without adopting and rejecting, one 154 pages + 14-hour MP3 CD $17.95, Book+CD set. Sounds True. just bursts out laughing!” May the The lamrim (stages of the path) presen- isbn 1591796121 128-page paperback + 1.25-hour CD Dzogchen meditation practices in this tation of Buddhist teachings has become a With his previous books, including Awakening the Buddha program become a practice path that will deliver you to such joyous core topic of study at many Buddhist cen- Within, Lama Surya Das has taught millions about the innate freedom and delight. Emaho! ters in the West. wakefulness and liberation that are our essential way of being. Surya Das is our trusted guide to For busy practition- Now with Natural Radiance, through the format help awaken us to the sky-like nature ers, the lamrim of a book with a CD, he teaches a complete dai- of mind—what is known in Tibetan gives a concise and ly Dzogchen practice (“the swift and direct as rigpa, or total and pure presence— easily graspable path”) in the oral tradition as it was originally in this era the modern masters call picture of the transmitted, including guided meditations and “the time of Dzogchen,” when we hu- Buddhist path. chants. mans most need this immediate teaching of “the inherent per- “Emaho!” is the shortest Dzogchen teaching. American nun fection of being… the natural state of enlightenment.” The word means “wondrous,” “amazing,” “far Thubten Chodron Lama The CD sessions include a “Morning Wake-up Sky Breath has a unique ability out,” “fantastic.” It expresses the joy and Surya Das Practice,” “Rushen: Subtle Discernment,” “Trekchod: Seeing to present these wonder—amazement, really—of discovering Thru,” “Togal: Being There,” and more. teachings. In this volume, she provides within ourselves and our world the radiant splendor of our innate natural state directly perceived by our own Also by Lama Surya Das is Natural Great Perfection (with clear explanations of the stages of the eyes—the great completeness, wholeness, and oneness of all this Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche) and Buddha Is as Buddha Does. path, while the MP3 files on the accompa- is. As the fourteenth-century Dzogchen master Longchenpa sang, nying CD contain guided meditations on each of the topics covered in the text. and love in the very nature of their minds. Then The meditation teachings of lamrim, AWAKENING THROUGH LOVE Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness Lama John describes how to actualize those quali- says Buddhist teacher Thubten Chodron, by John Makransky ties in every aspect of family life, work, service and are like ready-made $20.95, paper. Wisdom. social action. clothes that are easy to isbn 0861715373 260 pages To help readers achieve this state, the author wear—they’re system- Drawing from the author’s life as a father, profes- presents practices and meditations for gradual cul- atized so that we can sor, meditator, and Buddhist teacher—as well as on tivation and direct insight. He also provides a mov- “wear” them right away, so pop culture references from Bob Dylan to Harry ing presentation of the role of a teacher, or “bene- we can learn and practice Potter—Awakening Through Love pio- factor,” in deepening one’s spiritual path. Part of them in an organized fash- neers new ways of making Tibetan the book’s effectiveness is that it uncovers universal Thubten ion. Lamrim can be trans- meditations of compassion and wis- elements in Buddhist ideas and practices and ren- Chodron lated in various ways: dom accessible to people of all ders them usable for a general audience, with “stages of the path,” “steps backgrounds and faiths. A welcom- many references to the adaptability of these meth- on the path,” or “gradual path.” “Gradual ing guide to achieving deep well-be- ods for use in conjunction with the traditions of path” reminds us that the process of trans- ing and joy that is rooted in Buddhism’s other religions. forming the mind, unlike so many other Dzogchen tradition—he translates and adapts This book is essentially a manual for love—receiving it, giv- things in our hurry-up society, is a slow John these Tibetan practices for our culture and ing it, seeing it all around you, and bringing it out in all beings and thoughtful one. Makransky time—the book teaches strategies for realizing and situations. You could spend as little or as much time on These systematic teachings are the sub- a life imbued with love through Buddhist methods for foster- each chapter, as each section reveals more and more every time ject of this book and the accompanying ing genuine caring and appreciation for others. you read it. CD. The lamrim presents a step-by-step Drawing from Tibetan teachings of compassion and the Lama John Makransky teaches Dzogchen retreats with Lama , and each per- method to tame the mind Dzogchen teachings of innate wisdom, and using plain, practi- Surya Das. son will find meaning and insight accord- cal instruction, he helps readers uncover the unity of wisdom ing to his or her level of understanding. As readers practice these meditations repeat- well known to the leading lights of Buddhism to- edly, their comprehension and experience GESTURE OF AWARENESS A Radical Approach to Time, Space, and Movement day. He and his work are continuingly praised for will transform and deepen even though by Charles Genoud their invention and importance. Well-versed in the words used to spark the meditation $20.95, paper. Wisdom. French and continental philosophies, as well as sessions remain the same. isbn 0861715063 170 pages Eastern thought, he has produced a work that is The first section of Guided Meditations From one of the most creative Dharma teachers not an account or explanation of spiritual practices discusses how to establish a daily practice, at work today comes this unique work, which but an expression of them. how to set up an altar, and how to ap- harkens back to the classical verse-form, but in a Gesture of Awareness is simply a name, one I have proach the two kinds of meditation—sta- modern voice that speaks directly bilizing and analytical. The second pre- given to a meditation of inquiry and mindfulness. It is to the 21st-century reader and prac- based mainly on awareness through sensations of the sents the meditations. The third supplies titioner. Gesture of Awareness involves body… It is an invitation to experience the body as a an overview, instructions for working with a fascinating philosophical explo- body of presence… Awareness, manifesting as distractions, antidotes to mental afflic- ration of time, space, and move- hearing, seeing, thinking, tasting, and touching and tions, advice for newcomers, and sugges- ment but at the same time is a man- smelling. But awareness can be veiled by thoughts, tions on how to deepen Dharma practice. Charles Genoud ual for an embodied “practice of those many preconceptions that restrain our lives, that The accompanying MP3 CD contains lead us to be taken in by the fiction of time and space, here and exploration.” now. over 14 hours of guided meditations. Each experience is perfect Individuals who live far from Buddhist in its actuality as there is nothing “Gesture of Awareness is a remarkable book. The elegant and teachers or Dharma centers will appreci- real to compare with it… incisive writing illuminates some of the deepest questions of ate the personal guidance offered with the spiritual path: I and the other, oneness and duality, and these meditations, enabling them to begin The totality of our being can be realized what indeed lies beyond all concepts. These words are meant and continue a daily meditation practice. only when we’re totally with to awaken, not merely to inform, and they succeed admirably the experience happening now. in their intention. The beautiful, haiku-like teachings stretch our minds and open many new levels of understanding. This is It requires the absence of movement toward anything an unusual work and one worth many careful readings.” — not happening now. Joseph Goldstein, author of One Dharma: Emerging Western Genoud, who teaches Dzogchen with Lama Surya Das, is very Buddhism

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 26 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! THE TAO !

Taoism Taoist Soul Fusion with Mantak Chia

tice—and of all Inner Alchemy traditions— TAO TE CHING TAOIST SOUL BODY throughout the ages. A total darkness environment A New Translation Harnessing the Power of Kan and Li by Lao Tzu, translated by Sam Hamill, by Mantak Chia stimulates the pineal gland to release DMT into the calligraphy by Kaz Tanahashi $19.50, paper. Inner Traditions. brain. The darkness actualizes successively higher $16.00, paper. Shambhala. isbn 1594771375 192 pages, 117 b/w illustrations states of consciousness, correlating with the accu- isbn 1590303873 118 pages, calligraphies The Lesser Enlightenment of Kan and Li prac- mulation of psychedelic chemicals in the brain. In Great Tao overflows. tice combines the compassion of the heart energies the darkness, mind and soul begin to wander freely It can go left or right. (yang/fire) with sexual energies originating in the in the vast realms of psychic and spiritual experi- All things depend on it for life. kidneys (yin/water) to form and feed the soul or ence. Death is no longer to be feared because life None can refuse it. energy body. Practice of the Chinese formula Siaow beyond the physical body is known through direct Its success seeks no Kan Li (yin and yang mixed) uses darkness tech- experience. recognition, nology to literally “steam” the sexual energy (jing) The birth of the soul is not a metaphor. It is an ac- but clothes and into life-force energy (chi) by reversing the location tual process of converting energy into a subtle body. nourishes everything of yin and yang power. This inversion places the without aspiring to Developing the soul body is the preparation for the rule. heat of the bodily fire from the heart center beneath the cool- growth of the immortal spirit body in the practice of the The most widely ness of the bodily water of the sexual energy of the perineum, Greater Enlightenment of Kan and Li. read of the Asian clas- thereby activating the liberation of transformed sexual energy. Among Mantak Chia’s many other books are Taoist Cosmic sics, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Darkness technology has been a key element of Taoist prac- Healing and The Multi-Orgasmic Man. Ching offers a series of insightful spiritual FUSION OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS body and soul. observations on life and human nature. Meditations for Transforming Negative Emotions The practice is divided into two parts. The first Part poetry, part paradox, stirring and pro- by Mantak Chia works with controlling the forces of the five ele- found, “The Tao” has been inspiring read- $18.95, paper. Inner Traditions. ments on the five major organs of the body by learn- ers since it was written over 2000 years isbn 1594771030 166 pages, b/w illustrations ing the elements’ effects upon each other and how ago. This masterpiece is also one of the Fusion of the Five Elements outlines the neces- to balance and utilize these energies properly. The most frequently translated books in all of sary first step in the Taoist practice advanced Fusion exercises then show how to chan- history, in part because the multiple of Inner Alchemy, in which one nel the greater energies of the stars and planets to meanings of the Chinese characters make learns to control the generation and strengthen internal weaknesses and crystallize posi- it impossible to translate into a Western flow of emotional, mental, and tive energy. By “fusing” all the different kinds of en- language in a strictly literal way. For this physical energies within the body. It ergy together, a harmonious whole is created—the reason, many translations are either too is a series of meditations designed key to manifesting an immortal existence. loosely interpretive or are too overloaded Mantak Chia to locate and dissolve negative ener- A student of several Taoist masters, Mantak Chia with notes, thereby losing the clarity of the gies trapped inside the body by founded the Universal Healing Tao System in 1979 terse poetry found in the original Chinese. making a connection between the five outer senses (experi- and has taught tens of thousands of students and instructors The extraordinary strength of Sam enced through the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and tongue) and from all over the world. He is the director of the Tao Garden Hamill’s translation is that it has captured the five major negative emotions (anger, hate, worry, sadness, Integrative Medicine Health Spa and Resort training center in the poetry of Lao Tzu’s original without and fear). When the body is cleared of negative energy, uni- northern Thailand and is the author of many books, including sacrificing the resonance of the text’s versal chi energy flows freely and productively, nourishing both Energy Balance through the Tao and Sexual Reflexology. many meanings and possible interpreta- tions. The result is a beautiful and deeply meditative rendering— ”this is a poet’s COSMIC FUSION channel the greater energies of the stars and plan- translation, one that adheres very closely The Inner Alchemy of the Eight Forces ets. By “fusing” all these different energies togeth- to the original, almost word by word, while by Mantak Chia er, a harmonious whole is created, a unity of what is replicating as much of the sheer poetry of $23.95, paper. Inner Traditions. above and below. As heavenly and earthly forces are the original as I could convey”—that is a isbn 1594771065 248 pages, 288 colour & b/w illustra- brought into balance, the life perfectly suited to delight to read over and over again. tions the practitioner manifests, allowing the spirit body In governing people and serving nature, Cosmic Fusion is an advanced level of Inner to prepare to move into worlds beyond—and back. nothing surpasses thrift… Alchemy that teaches how to bring the physical Meditation practices are enhanced by developing This is called deep roots and sturdy body into balance with the energy body—a neces- our sensitivity to subtle energy and by exercising to trunk, sary prerequisite for the formation of the universal improve postural alignment, increase flexibility of the long life and eternal insight of the Tao. body, the pearl of compassion that is one with spine, and deepen relaxation of the physical body… Accompanying the translation are 17 Original Creation and the Universal Tao. Cosmic Chi generates many sensations. Some of the most Chinese characters brushed by one of the Fusion works with the expression of the eight pakua common are tingling, heat, expansion, electrical great masters of calligraphy, Kaz (bagwa) of Chinese cosmology, through which all sensations (like the feeling of static electricity), Tanahashi. Hamill provides a comment creation is divided and given form, nature, and definition. pulsation, and effervescence. These are not the actual chi itself, but the signs of increasing chi in a particular area. Chi itself is for each character, giving the reader a Cosmic Fusion exercises establish the spiritual body firmly more mysterious, subtle beyond definition. fuller sense of the richness of the original in the lower abdomen, where chi energy is gathered and dis- text and insight into the tao of translation tributed to all parts of the body—and into all creation. The ful- Among Mantak Chia’s many other books are Taoist Astral itself. ly illustrated exercises in this book also show how to collect and Healing and Awaken Healing Energy through the Tao. “At a time when it is hard to know what to believe and whom, Sam Hamill’s trans- lation of the Tao Te Ching offers us spare —Lao Tzu beauty on the page, reminding us not only often downright funny stories. They are tion of some of the best tales from the For thousands of years, students have what is possible, but necessary. Wise and primarily teaching stories, using narrative Tao. Presented in a beautiful volume with imbibed subtle wisdom and illumination at times puzzling, this bare-boned transla- and character to share an aspect of Taoist over 100 colour photos, these tales offer a from Taoist tales. Whether concretizing a tion of one of the world’s most sacred texts thought or practice which is difficult to delightful entrée into the Taoist way of be- spiritual truth, un- is both poetry and prophecy.” —Terry convey in any other way. The only problem ing. raveling a puzzle The Tao is an empty vessel; Tempest Williams with most of these stories is that they are for contemplation, short, often only a paragraph or two. Tales it is used but never exhausted. or providing a mo- from the Tao fleshes out these narratives, giv- It is the fathomless source of the ten thousand things! TALES FROM THE TAO ment of humour, ing them more room to breathe, to evolve, these tales—main- —Lao Tzu The Wisdom of the Taoist Masters and to develop characters into fully real- translated by Solala Towler ly from the Taoist ized people. $14.95, cloth. Watkins. masters Chuang The stories discuss topics ranging from isbn 1844834859 192 pages, colour photos Tzu and Lao dignity in the face of challenge, to judging In the world of knowledge, Tzu—are full of in- character, to how to deal with loss, and Every day something new is added. teresting, enter- more. Through years of study and re- In pursuit of the Tao, taining, illuminat- search, Solala Towler has derived a collec- Every day something is let go. ing, puzzling, and

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 27 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! HEALING INTO LIFE !

THE POWER OF INTERNAL MARTIAL ARTS AND CHI BodyMind Healing HEALTHY AT 100 Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Tai Chi, and Hsing-I Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples by Bruce Frantzis NARRATIVE MEDICINE by John Robbins New in $34.95, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. The Use of History and Story $21.00, paper. Ballantine. Paperback isbn 1583941908 in the Healing Process isbn 0345490118 288 pages 400 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations & photos by Lewis Mehl-Madrona Why do some people age in failing health and sadness, This “bible” by a longtime student, prac- $25.00, paper. Bear & Company. while others grow old with vitality and joy? titioner and teacher of judo, karate, aiki- isbn 1591430658 324 pages Ever more of us are living longer, but our added years are do, and many branches of the Chinese ex- Modern medicine, with its high-tech too often years of suffering and disability… We are being ternal/internal and managed-care approach, has elimi- shown that something precious is possible—a far brighter martial arts (and nated much of what constitutes the art of future in which aging is enjoyable and desirable. And we are author of the pop- healing: those ele- being shown the practical steps we can take to achieve it. ular Opening the ments of doctoring In Healthy at 100, author of Diet for a New America John Energy Gates of the that go beyond the Robbins presents us with a new paradigm of aging, show- Body) shows how medications pre- ing how we can increase not only our lifespan but also our health span. Through healing, spirituali- scribed. The typically the lens of four different cultures that produce some of the world’s healthiest, old- ty, and the martial brief office visit leaves est people, Robbins reveals keys for living a long and fulfilling life in which our lat- arts converge into little time for doctors er years are a period of wisdom and vitality. a unified whole. to listen to their pa- From Abkhasia in the Caucasus south of Russia, where age is beauty, and Offering hard-won tients, though it is in Vilcabamba in the Andes of South America, where laughter is the greatest medi- insights into the kind of dedication and these narratives that cine, to Hunza in Central Asia, where dance is ageless, and finally the Japanese is- training that made his 16 years in Asia as a disease is both re- lands of Okinawa, where people regularly live beyond a century, warrior/healer/priest so rewarding, vealed and perpetuat- John examines how the unique lifestyles of these peoples can influ- Frantzis also provides in this new edition ed—and can be released and treated. ence and improve our own. an extensive chapter with practical expla- Lewis Mehl-Madrona’s Narrative Bringing the traditions of these vibrantly healthy cultures to- nations on the spiritual traditions of the Medicine examines the foundations of the gether with the latest in medical science, Robbins reveals that, re- internal martial arts. indigenous use of story as a healing markably, they both point in the same direction. The result is an in- In this amazing book you will find: modality. Citing numerous case histories spirational synthesis of years of research into healthy aging in which !Specific similarities and differences be- that demonstrate the profound power of Robbins has isolated the characteristics that will enable us to live tween the internal (ba gua, tai chi, and narrative in healing, the author shows John Robbins long and joyous lives. With an emphasis on simple, wholesome, but hsing-i) and external martial arts. How how when we learn to dialogue with dis- satisfying fare, and the addition of a manageable daily exercise rou- do the internal arts enhance the external ease, we come to understand the power of tine, many people can experience great improvement in the quality of their lives martial arts, such as tae kwon do, karate, the “story” we tell about our illness and now and for years to come. But Robbins found it is not diet and exercise alone that gung fu, etc.? our possibilities for better health. He helps people to live well past 100. The quality of personal relationships is enor- !Reflections on the three approaches to shows how this approach also includes ex- mously important. With medical evidence about the effects of our interactions with martial arts—animal, human, spiritual. amining our relationships to our extend- others, he asserts that loneliness has more impact on lifespan than such known What are the differences between doing ed community to find any underlying vices as smoking. There is clearly a strong beneficial power to love and connection. martial arts for fighting, for health, and disharmony that may need healing. Mehl- “We all have the tools to live longer lives, and to remain active, productive, and for spiritual growth? Madrona points the way to a new model of resourceful until the very end,” Robbins writes. Healthy at 100 strives to improve !How the internal martial arts can help re- medicine—a healthcare system that draws both the quality and the quantity of our remaining years—no matter how old or duce stress, heal disease, and balance the its effectiveness from listening to the heal- how healthy we might currently be—and to reverse the social stigma on aging. emotions. What can you do to use inter- ing wisdom of the past and also to the pre- “Healthy at 100 is a marvelous blend of wisdom, hope, courage, and common nal power to enhance your own physical sent-day voices of its patients. sense. John Robbins gives us caring, science, and inspiration—a beautiful diet for health? What is the value of internal pow- I hope to further our sense of story as the heart.” —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart er for older martial artists? an intersection with the world’s !Vivid personal profiles of nine of the great indigenous cultures, a bridge to connect internal martial arts masters with whom us with people from around the world. week-by-week, step-by-step plan of integra- authoritative wit and in an encouraging the author studied in Japan, Hong Kong, We will explore the stories that emerge in tive medicine. It combines good nutrition way. Each week includes a range of sim- Taiwan, and Mainland China. What were dialogue with others, with nature, with (less animal fat, more greens, introducing ple, doable tasks that, as a whole, accu- these men like as teachers? God and the spirits, and with illnesses. soyfoods, throwing out hydrogenated fats mulate into a powerfully educational !How the all-important internal chi power These stories give us clues about and artificial sweet- healing regimen over the eight weeks. is created, grown, and used in the body. healing—how it works, how to do it. eners, eating more This updated edition has been fine- They show us our connectedness to one What practices can you do to realistically organically grown tuned with the latest findings on subjects another and teach us about the develop your own chi energy? indigenous principle that we are never foods, more whole such as cholesterol, antioxidants, trans “This work by B.K. Frantzis on the prac- separate from our surroundings or from grains, garlic, gin- fats, toxic residues in our food, soy prod- tical structures and essence of the internal our culture. ger, etc.), use of an- ucts, vitamins and supplements, and a systems is definitive. It will become a clas- Other books by Mehl-Madrona are tioxidant supple- greatly enhanced source list. Also includ- ments (Vitamin C, ed are case histories and firsthand ac- sic, and will serve as a catalyst for kindred Coyote Wisdom and Coyote Medicine. spirits. A must for all serious students of carotenes, Vitamin counts from men and women who have al- the martial arts.” —Stan Israel, Senior stu- E, etc.), exercise ready been following the plan for years to dent of Chen Man-ching EIGHT WEEKS (he recommends their great benefit. The first Westerner to become a Taoist TO OPTIMUM HEALTH working up to Health is wholeness and balance, an Lineage Master, Bruce Frantzis has also A Proven Program for Taking briskly walking 45 inner resilience that allows you to meet written Relaxing into Your Being and The Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural minutes a day and the demands of living without being Great Stillness. Healing Power doing stretching), mental/spiritual prac- overwhelmed. If you have that kind of tices (such as thinking about healing ex- resilience, you can experience the by Andrew Weil New in periences, meditation exercises, bringing inevitable interactions with germs and not $21.00, paper. Paperback Random House. more flowers into our lives, practicing for- get infections, you can be in contact with allergens and not suffer allergies, and you isbn 034549802x 320 pages giveness and gratitude, serving others in The ingenuities we practice in order can sustain exposure to carcinogens and This is a fully expanded version of some way, connecting with people we may not get cancer. Optimal health should to appear admirable to ourselves Weil’s brilliantly conceived, safe, and ef- have hurt or with whom we have been es- also bring with it a sense of strength and would suffice to invent fective eight-week program for tranged), drinking good water, spending joy, so that you experience it as more improving and maintaining more time in nature, taking steam baths or than just the absence of disease. I the telephone twice health, which has already be- saunas at least once a week, growing some designed the Eight-Week Program to lead over on a rainy come the health regimen of of your own food, protecting yourself from you to that experience and show you how summer choice for thousands of people. electromagnetic radiation, taking me- to maintain it. First published in 1997, Eight Weeks to dia/news fasts, listening to inspiring mu- Among Andrew Weil’s many other morning. Optimum Health focused all of Dr. Weil’s sic, doing some conscious breathing exer- books are Breathing: the Master Key (2 —Brendan Gill expertise in both standard and alternative cises, appreciating art, and more. CDs) and Healthy Aging. medicines and treatments into a practical Weil presents his program with a gentle,

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 28 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! ENERGIES, HERBS & REIKI !

THE HOMEOPATHIC REVOLUTION Healing Energies, Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Diane Stein’s Essential Reiki Choose Homeopathy Healing Herbs by Dana Ullman ESSENTIAL REIKI $25.95, paper. North Atlantic. Diane Stein’s Essential Reiki Workshop isbn 1556436718 368 pages by Diane Stein New on MATRIX ENERGETICS What do Mark Twain, David Beckham, $43.95, DVD. Crossing. DVD The Science and Art of Transformation Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Mother Teresa isbn 1580911803 4.5 hours by Richard Bartlett have in common? Experience Diane Stein’s unique and powerful healing $27.99, cloth. Beyond Words. All have been en- presence in your own home. Available for the first time on isbn 1582701636 186 pages, b/w photos thusiastic fans of DVD, Diane Stein’s famous three-day Santa Cruz workshop Richard Bartlett, the founder of Matrix homeopathy, the has been digitally remastered and universally formatted. Energetics, is a Chiropractor and alternative medical Diane Stein’s Essential Reiki Workshop is the next best thing Naturopath who tradition that to a one-on-one workshop with this renowned Reiki master has practiced over treats “like with and teacher. 30 technique sys- like.” Homeopathy Divided into four parts, the DVD offers more than four hours of instruction and tems. In the early has an incredible demonstrations, beginning with a unique introduction to the ancient Reiki healing 1990s, Bartlett de- history of support tradition and concluding with all three levels of Reiki. This essential teaching tool veloped a revolu- by many of the has been designed for students, practitioners, and instructors of Reiki to be used tionary technique most respected alone or as a companion to Stein’s popular books, Essential Reiki and the Essential called Master people of the past Reiki Teaching Manual. Energy Dynamics, 200 years, and taught only to modern science is finally catching up. ESSENTIAL REIKI TEACHING MANUAL physicians, which In The Homeopathic Revolution, Dana A Companion Guide for Reiki Healers used functional Ullman blends vivid personal stories and by Diane Stein principles of bio- quotes from luminaries $23.95, paper. Crossing. chemistry, physiol- from a variety of eras and isbn 1580911811 ogy, and anatomy to affect real time fields with a new definition 146 pages, 8x10, line drawings changes in people’s stress responses. In of homeopathy as Reiki master and author Diane Stein has been a dedicated 1997, Bartlett experienced a life-changing “nanopharmacology”— hands-on healer since 1988. Stein believes strongly that this event, which redirected the entire course one that will help people, powerful healing art, once a closely guarded se- of his personal and professional existence. Dana Ullman including skeptics, start to cret tradition, should be accessible and avail- Suddenly the act of lightly touching some- understand its value. After able to all. Since she began teaching in 1990, one with focused intent created dramatic, explaining why conventional medicine is Stein has initiated thousands of students in all often startling changes. Conditions and inadequately scientific, why homeopathy three levels of Reiki healing. Through these ef- pain patterns would instantly disappear. As makes sense and works, and why it is so forts she developed a comprehensive teaching method that encom- time went on this phenomenon grew threatening to conventional medicine and Diane Stein passes the fundamentals of this ancient system. stronger, sometimes each week revealing drug companies, Ullman lets legends like The Essential Reiki Teaching Manual equips the Reiki initiate with new and marvelous outcomes. Matrix Coretta Scott King, Cindy Crawford, Bill the practical tools needed for launching a Reiki healing practice, leading a Reiki Energetics provides a technology and sci- Clinton, Vincent van Gogh, and other workshop, and becoming a more effective Reiki practitioner. This hands-on in- entific framework to allow for their every- practitioners weigh in on the subject. By structional guide together with the digitally remastered Diane Stein’s Essential day occurrence. writing about homeopathy’s heroes and Reiki Workshop DVD is the next best thing to a personal teaching session with Matrix Energetics is the story of Dr. telling their stories, Ullman is able to ref- Diane Stein herself. Bartlett’s discovery of this paradigm-bust- erence and describe important scientific Essential Reiki, also by Diane Stein, is a perennially popular Reiki book. ing program of transformation and heal- studies in user-friendly language that veri- ing. Building upon fundamental princi- fies the value of this widely used but still ESSENTIAL PSYCHIC HEALING ples embraced by the field of quantum misunderstood tradition. A Complete Guide to Healing Yourself, physics, Matrix Energetics is a repro- Dana Ullman also coauthored (with Healing Others, and Healing the Earth ducible, results-oriented methodology Stephen Cummings) Everybody’s Guide by Diane Stein that teaches anyone how to access the po- to Homeopathic Medicines, one of the $25.95, paper. Crossing. tential of their creative, imaginative ge- most popular guidebooks to using homeo- isbn 1580911730 nius. You can begin to unlock and awaken pathic medicines. 192 pages, 8x10, b/w illustrations the powers, abilities and awareness that Author and healer Diane Stein brings to us laypeople the are your birth right and spiritual her- psychic healing techniques once assumed to be too esoteric itage—the transformation of your mor- JEKKA’S COMPLETE HERB BOOK to use without highly specialized knowledge, years of training, phic resonance of the whole being Revised Edition and a paranormal gift. Essential Psychic Healing helps us tap through Matrix Energetics—a technology by Jekka McVicar into the potent healing power of our own psychic energies. of awareness that is transferable, teachable $29.95, paper. Raincoast. For the beginner, Diane offers theory and instruction in basic meditation, visual- and universally available. isbn 1551928825 ization, kundalini energy, chakras, and auras. Those at the intermediate level will In his preface, William Tiller, author of 304 pages, 9x11, colour photos learn to utilize spirit guides and angels, and how to use healing crystals, hands-on Psychoenergetic Science, writes: Kitchen gardeners, cooks who love healing methods, emotional release work, and remote healing. An advanced pro- This remarkable book could also have herbs, and people interested in organic gram discusses healing karma and past lives, soul retrieval, releasing entities, spirit been titled Structural Alchemy for methods for growing herbs will all wel- attachments, and understanding and aiding the death process. Transforming Humans without any loss of come this entirely redesigned, revised and To do the work that precedes Essential Psychic Healing, I recommend taking Reiki (all authenticity… He has grasped and owned updated edition of three degrees) and learning the work of Essential Reiki. These books, and the book in an essential operating principle of nature: Jekka McVicar’s clas- your hands, provide a full course of training for anyone who has the dedication, that we are all co-creators of our personal sic, expanded with discipline, and desire to learn to become a psychic healer. reality whether we consciously choose to information on “Remember,” she writes, “what you send out returns to you, and that healing oth- be or not… Dr. Bartlett thinks that we are many new herbs and ers results in healing and many blessings for oneself. The best advice I can give to basically constructed from light and reformatted for a information and are thus malleable to any healer is to let go of ego (which is separateness), have compassion, and allow fresh, modern look. focused intent. Under this rubric, Matrix the Goddess to work through your hands. All healing is a three-way agreement be- Crowned the Energetics is an archetype; practitioners tween the healer, the receiver, and the Goddess Earth and only good and love can “queen of herbs” by maintain a state of awareness and enter come from such a partnership.” into a kind of energetic rapport with Jamie Oliver, clients, holding for them what shamanic McVicar includes here all the classics as cultures call “sacred space” so that they well as 40 herbs that are new to the West. and making herb oils are complemented glorious companion—the only book on can have the freedom to express a different Her spread-by-spread reference work with ideas for 10 different designs for herb the subject you’ll likely ever need. outcome for their physical states. brings together all aspects of each herb: gardens and a unique yearly calendar. This is the definitive reference on the common names, various species, history, Zonal information also shows how to work successful cultivation of herbs. It’s the cultivation, propagation and harvesting, with herbs in the Canadian climate. herb gardener’s companion and the culi- and cosmetic, medicinal and culinary Accurate colour photography makes iden- nary and medicinal expert’s bible. uses. Chapters on propagation, harvesting tification simple and renders the book a

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 29 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! CRYSTALS, TOUCH & BODYWORK!

THE BOOK OF STONES Sitting, Standing, Breathing Who They Are & What They Teach by Robert Simmons & Naisha Ahsian, ANATOMY OF BREATHING with contributions by Hazel Raven by Blandine Calais-Germain $37.95, paper. North Atlantic. $27.95, paper. Eastland. isbn 1556436688 464 pages, 7x11, colour photos isbn 0939616556 The Book of Stones is a new edition of the bestselling, 232 pages, 7x10, 300 b/w illustrations most in-depth, definitive guide to the world of crystals, Here’s another book from the celebrated author of minerals, gemstones, and their metaphysical energies that Anatomy of Movement and Anatomy of Movement: Exercises— has yet been written. both of which have been legends in the bodywork commu- Two introductory chapters detail the authors’ theories nity. about how to work with crystals and stones—including the Everyone breathes, yet few of us understand how to con- concept of crystal resonance and the scientific observa- sciously control breathing to improve our well-being and tion that living organisms (such as ourselves) are liquid the quality of many daily activities. Anatomy of Breathing is a crystalline structures. clear and helpful guide to both the theory and practice of An illuminating alphabetical journey through the mineral breathing in its many variations. kingdom, stone by stone, follows. Each entry begins with the Hundreds of expert drawings along with easy-to-understand text help you ex- stone name and photo, plus its elemental and chakra correspon- plore just how breathing works. Once you’re acquainted with the principal organs, dences, as well as keywords that indicate its properties. Next structures, and forces that affect breathing, you will learn how to control them to comes a description of the crystal structure, hardness, history, enhance the quality and variety of breathing in your own life. Along the way, you and known locations of each mineral, plus any relevant legend or will also correct many common misconceptions about breathing. lore from the past. Each author then offers an essay on the sub- Anatomy of Breathing is filled with helpful practice pages. Here you will learn sim- tle energy properties and spiritual applications of the stone. The ple exercises to prepare your body for the benefits of different types of breathing. entries conclude with summaries of the spiritual, emotional, and You will then be shown, step by step, how to practice some of the most common and physical healing qualities of the stone, and an affirmation for evoking its potential useful breathing techniques on your own. benefits. The book’s presentation is straightforward enough to make it an excellent My hope is that [this book] will contribute to a more enlightened practice of introduction for beginners, yet the level of detail and the depth of research make breathing. I also hope that you, the reader, will have a better understanding of how it an invaluable resource for the most experienced stone practitioners. And the breathing changes spontaneously from moment to moment. My other wish is that you photos are wonderful! will discover how to consciously choose a specific breathing technique for certain The index of physical, emotional, and spiritual correspondences in this new edi- purposes or circumstances. tion makes it easy to find the stones that suit you best. This pictorial metaphysical Anatomy of Breathing is a unique and wonderful resource for anyone who wishes encyclopedia is a crystal lover’s dream come true. to understand the science and art of breathing, and how to make their own breath- “Each description is an intimate conversation between the Wisdom of the Stones ing better and more life-enhancing. and the deep soul Wisdom of these two authors.” —Robert Sardello, author of Love Also by this author: The Female Pelvis: Anatomy and Exercises. and the World THE NEW RULES OF POSTURE How to Sit, Stand, and Move in the Modern World THE REIKI MAGIC GUIDE TO SELF- “This book will transform you. Brett by Mary Bond ATTUNEMENT Bevell teaches us how to shift every aspect $23.95, paper. Inner Traditions. by Brett Bevell of life, from the food and water we put isbn 1594771243 192 pages, 8x10, b/w illustrations $17.95, paper. Crossing. into our bodies to the past, present, and Many people cause their own back and body pain isbn 1580911846 150 pages, b/w diagrams future.” —David Morehouse, author of through their everyday bad postural and movement Reiki tradition dictates that you must be Psychic Warrior habits. Many of us sense that poor posture is probably the initiated—or attuned—by a Reiki master root of the problem, but we’re unable to change long- before properly Booksigning with Brett Bevell standing habits. practicing this heal- In The New Rules of Posture, Mary Bond approaches pos- Tues. Dec. 4. See p. 7 for details. ing art of energy tural changes from the inside out. She explains that flow. Now, in this healthy posture comes from a new sense we can learn to feel, not by training our revolutionary guide, muscles into an ideal shape. Drawing from 35 years of helping people improve their Reiki Master Brett Bodywork, Movement bodies, she shows how habitual movement patterns and emotional factors lead to Bevell breaks with unhealthy posture. She contends that posture is the physical action we take to ori- convention and ex- & Somatics ent ourselves in relation to situations, emotions, and people; in order to improve tends the transfor- our posture, we need to examine both our physical postural traits and the self-ex- mative powers of pression that underlies the way we sit, stand, and move. The way we walk, she says, Reiki to all by pre- SUPERCHARGING is our body’s signature. senting at-home rit- Bond identifies the key anatomical features that impact alignment, particularly in uals for self-attune- QUANTUM-TOUCH Advanced Techniques light of our modern sedentary lives, and proposes six zones that help create pos- ment. In the true healing spirit of Reiki, tural changes: the pelvic floor, the breathing muscles, the abdomen, the hands, the Bevell encourages creativity and experi- by Alain Herriott $25.95, paper. North Atlantic. feet, and the head. She offers self-help exercises that enable healthy function in mentation with the practice, allowing you isbn 1556436548 each zone as well as information on basic ergonomics and case histories to inspire to personalize Reiki for 224 pages, 7x9, b/w & colour illustrations us to think about our own habitual movements. This book is a resource for Pilates, everyday use. Quantum-Touch teaches ways to focus yoga, and dance instructors as well as healthcare professionals in educating people With 21 symbols to em- and amplify life-force energy (chi) about postural self-care so they can relieve chronic pain and enjoy all life activities power the flow of Reiki, as through simple breathing and body with greater ease. well as chants for attuning awareness exercises. The result stimulates “Few things are as overlooked and yet absolutely critical to our health and well candles, stones, and even the subject’s bio- being as our posture. Mary Bond offers information, stories and tools for learning the water in your bath or logical intelli- how to stand and move with ease and elegance.” —Judith Lasater, author of 30 Brett Bevell washing machine, this is gence to do what- Essential Yoga Poses Reiki as you’ve never seen ever healing it Mary Bond, a movement instructor at the Rolf Institute, is also author of it before: available to everyone, for use in deems necessary Balancing Your Body. , as Reiki was always all aspects of life in everything from meant to be. major immune effective practitioners. ate a step-by-step approach to work on I have written The Reiki Magic Guide to disorders to From the hundreds of workshops he’s con- anything a client needs, including Self-Attunement to see Reiki evolve chronic pain to ducted around the world, Herriott has (though not limited to) general pain, beyond simply being a healing tool emotional distur- offered in privately paid for sessions, and gathered questions that he addresses here physical imbalances, and emotional is- become instead a commonly understood bances. In in a direct way that refines, clarifies, broad- sues. Strategies for perceiving energy aspect of our existence, which unfolds Supercharging ens, and deepens the work. more clearly are also included. Written in toward an even greater awakening of our Quantum-Touch, prominent teacher Alain The book begins by walking readers a very accessible style, Supercharging potential as peaceful spiritual beings Herriott takes students and followers of through the basic attributes of the best Quantum-Touch gives readers the confi- taking ownership of our spiritual Quantum-Touch beyond the basics, shar- practitioners. Bit by bit, more techniques dence they need to work in this increas- inheritance. ing the techniques used by the best, most are added and “stacked” or laid out to cre- ingly popular—and important—healing

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 30 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! BODY & MOVEMENT WISDOM ! art. Alain Herriott is an advanced Quantum- New Bodywork Texts Touch teacher with more than 20 years of experience as an energy-based healer. He BIODYNAMIC CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY of the spirit by treating the physical ailments of the has worked closely with Richard Gordon, Volume One body vis-à-vis the adjustment of the central nervous author of Quantum-Touch, the foundation by Michael Shea system, effective as a preventative measure for in- book in this field. For more info visit quan- $49.95, paper. North Atlantic. fants or as a corrective practice for ailing adults. tumtouch.com. isbn 1556435916 500 pages, 8x10, 40 b/w illustrations Full of illustrative diagrams, Biodynamic This book presents craniosacral therapy as a Craniosacral Therapy Vol. 1 offers clear visuals that compassionate healing art that can be used by psy- assist in demonstrating the science behind the chologists, midwives, chiropractors, and massage practice. Shea’s reference book offers a great and physical therapists. It explains how the fluids of SOUL SWEAT overview of how and why so many people are the body hold stress and offers practical, extremely Hot Moves – World Grooves singing the praises of craniosacral therapy. by Chantal Pierrat gentle touch exercises that help practitioners heal “Articulately and poetically reveals the deep in- New on physical, spiritual, and emotional conditions in telligence that underlies patterns of suffering and $23.95, DVD. Sounds True. DVD isbn 159179532x 2 hours both infants and adults. Finally, the author presents disease in the human system. With a profound Chantal Pierrat takes you beat by beat a unique perspective on depth psychology, the comprehension of embryology, and drawing inspi- through Soul Sweat—a dance workout pro- defining difference between biodynamic cran- ration from both science and the spiritual tradi- gram that enhances coordination, tones iosacral therapy and other forms of cranial therapy. tions, this book clearly unfolds an understanding of the pri- your body, increases stamina, and gives Rooted in embryology and a deep belief in the causality be- mary forces that organize our form and function.” —Michael you a whole new tween the fluid-filled placenta and the fetus’s ultimate path in Kern, author of Wisdom in the Body repertoire of life, Shea displays how craniosacral therapy is meant to “fix the Michael Shea has studied and taught cranial therapy, my- moves for the womb” and thereby allow one to be symbolically reborn well ofascial release, and somatic psychology since 1980. dance floor. into one’s later years. Also known as “SomatoEmotional Chantal teaches Release,” this form of therapy seeks to heal the core problems each movement from its core, then MUSCULAR RETRAINING fers easy-to-follow exercises to increase body aware- shows you how to FOR PAIN-FREE LIVING ness, retrain muscle groups, and eliminate pain gradually add lay- by Craig Williamson once and for all. ers to connect with $21.95, paper. Shambhala. Injury, repeated motions and postures, and emo- your dynamic flow isbn 1590303679 198 pages, b/w photos tional stress can all contribute to “dysfunctional of energy, natural Chronic pain such as tendonitis, most types of movement patterns” in which a muscle works too sensuality, and lower back pain, and neck and shoulder tension hard or not hard enough and becomes habitual, but abandoned self-expression. Filmed in can be caused by a number of different factors: old a “repatterning” can take place with the therapeutic Colorado, this innovative dance fitness injuries; habitual movement patterns; problems exercise program delineated here. Drawing on DVD is choreographed to an electrifying with body alignment; psychological causes; and lack more than 20 years of experience in massage thera- worldgroove soundtrack, and includes: of kinesthetic awareness. py, training in other body therapies, and courses in !45-minute “Deep Sweat” workout with Muscular Retraining for Pain-Free Living clearly and psychotherapy, occupational therapist Williamson warm-up, high-intensity dance session, concisely explains the causes of persistent muscle presents movement awareness exercises as part of and cool-down pain and offers a therapeutic exercise program to the conceptual background in Part 1 and alignment !30-minute “Quick Sweat” workout focus- address these problems and end pain. In his clini- exercises for changing patterns of movement in es on high-voltage cardio cal practice, Williamson has found that a lack of Part 2. Williamson’s true gift is guidance in understanding the !Clear tutorial section breaks down 26 kinesthetic awareness, or the ability to sense your own body connection among body movement, self-awareness, and relax- foundational moves and combinations movements accurately, is the most important—and most over- ation into easy-to-learn steps looked—cause of persistent pain. In this book Williamson of- !World music dancetrack features sonic sounds from Vargo, Shaman’s Dream, ENGAGING THE MOVEMENT OF LIFE ifestation of life and health. Rather One at Last, Bob Holroyd, and more. Exploring Health and Embodiment than focus on eradicating disease, dys- Join Chantal Pierrat to ignite your spir- Through Osteopathy and Continuum function, and inertia, a more produc- it, build core strength, and enjoy the by Bonnie Gintis, foreword by Emilie Conrad tive path would be a paradigm shift to wildest workout of your life—all you need $24.95, paper. North Atlantic. health through movement. An osteo- are your bare feet and the willingness to isbn 1556436076 258 pages, b/w illustrations pathic physician and Continuum get down, have fun, and let your soul There is no spiritual path without a physical body in which Movement teacher, Gintis asks readers dance up a sweat! to have it, and there is no physical existence without spirit. In to visualize the body as a self-regulat- Engaging the Movement of Life, Bonnie Gintis offers an approach ing, self-healing unified field of func- to health in body and spirit that encompasses fluid movement, tion. Moving fluidly, she argues, allows THE ACUPRESSURE ATLAS open attention, and awareness of sensation and breath as em- us to vitalize our own fluid system, just by Bernard Kolster & Astrid Waskowiak powering practices to enrich all aspects of life. She presents a as water is vitalized by its ability to $32.50, paper. Inner Traditions. philosophy in which the body is a portal to “something flow freely. The book describes how isbn 159477207x greater”—an opportunity to join a grand experiment in deep- breathing, refining attention and 240 pages, 10x13, colour photos ening consciousness and connectedness. awareness, and pacing movement can Trouble sleeping, sensitive stomach, The concepts I convey apply to anyone alive and interested in expand the consciousness and open new possibilities. Equally headaches, joint problems, allergies: deepening their engagement with life… This book can be useful for medical professionals, bodyworkers, spiritual seek- Sensory ailments explored by anyone who is curious about expanding his or her ers, and exercise enthusiasts, this guide offers a body-based such as these have experience of human embodiment… you might experience philosophy of personal growth and strategies for applying it. been steadily in- greater freedom and be able to fully express your essence. “Movement is what we are, not something we do.” —Emilie creasing in Western Based on an understanding of osteopathic and movement Conrad, founder of Continuum countries for awareness principles, the book argues that movement is a man- decades. Acupressure—mas- sage along the alleviate many health problems, including most important basic techniques as well as body’s meridians in even the common cold. step-by-step instructions, illustrated in full accordance with Acupressure confers a holistic health colour, of the practical and specific infor- traditional Chinese benefit that prevents disorder from arising mation needed to put the healing tech- medicine—can ef- by harmonizing and balancing the body’s niques of acupressure at your fingertips. fectively prevent and treat all of these dis- energies. It is particularly suited to self- Bernard Kolster is a physical therapist orders, and more. The Acupressure Atlas is a treatment, the treatment of a partner, and and doctor. Drs. Kolster and Waskowiak fully illustrated and comprehensive refer- especially the treatment of children. are also the coauthors of The Reflexology ence guide that demonstrates how acu- Along with an introduction to the origins Atlas. They live in Germany. pressure techniques activate and acceler- and principles of traditional Chinese med- ate the body’s self-healing powers to icine, The Acupressure Atlas provides the

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 31 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! DELICIOUS & NOURISHING !

food made with the freshest ingredients Food, Nutrition possible. REBAR & Healing In I Am Grateful, cofounders Terces and Modern Food Cookbook Matthew Engelhart present their view of by Audrey Alsterberg & Wanda Urbanowicz life and their business philosophy. Terces $29.95, paper. Big Ideas. also presents her own story of personal isbn 0968862306 260 pages, 8x10, 117 tinted photos HUNGRY PLANET healing, sharing highlights of her recov- Since 1988, Rebar Modern Food has been Victoria’s fa- What the World Eats ery from food addiction while explaining vorite restaurant and juice bar, featuring fresh, healthy, by Peter Menzel the benefits of an organic lifestyle and a predominantly vegetarian fare. The upbeat atmosphere & Faith D’Aluisio raw-food diet. and vibrant, tasty food have led critics to describe Rebar as $29.95, paper. Ten Speed. The book’s gorgeous, full-colour pho- “inventive,” “hip,” and “visionary.” And these “perogie isbn 1580088694 tographs accompany easy-to-follow princesses” have stood the test of time, and now offer us 288 pages, 12x9, colour photos recipes for the café’s most popular items, over 250 fresh, hot, hip recipes—eclectic seasonal fare On the banks of Mali’s Niger River, making it easy for readers to prepare live with a touch of class. Everything good! Soumana Natomo and his family gather foods at home. Recipes include café fa- for a communal dinner of millet porridge Our aim is to satisfy that elusive “home-cooked meal away from home,” but with a vorites for satisfying smoothies such as the with tamarind pleasing twist that mother would never have thought of. We offer a menu that is “I am Luscious” raw chocolate variety, as predominantly meat-free, although most customers would be hard-pressed to notice that juice. In the well as juices, soups, and appetizers. anything is missing! Still, with growing concern over the impact of large-scale meat USA, the There’s also entrancing entrees like the “I production on the land, water and people around the world, eating less meat has Ronayne-Caven am Elated” spicy rolled enchiladas and de- become a very sensible choice. family enjoys licious desserts including the “I am The Rebar Modern Food Cookbook can be used by everyone—strict vegans, vege- corndogs-on-a- Amazing” lemon meringue pie with tarians (full and part-time!), and anyone looking for delicious ideas with a funky stick with a macadamia nut crust. twist. Recipes range from salads to pastas, entrées, lunch and brunch ideas, soups, tossed green sal- Included are recipes for appetizers and sandwiches, side dishes, sweets, and juices. The book also offers handy tips, menu ad. This age-old side dishes; soups and salads; dressings, ideas, seasonal substitutions, and suggestions for transforming dishes into low-fat or practice of sitting down to a family meal is sauces, and toppings; bread, crackers, and vegan alternatives. Everyone who loves to cook and eat delicious, healthy, fun food undergoing unprecedented change as ris- tortillas; entrees; beverages; juice blends; will welcome this book. It’s one of Banyen’s bestselling cookbooks. ing world affluence and trade, along with breakfast; nut milks… plus tips on ingre- the spread of global food conglomerates, dients, equipment, and resources. warm and slightly oily and to adjust for the transform diets worldwide. In Hungry Thank you for your interest in Examples of her reasons include “The six tastes to be present in the right Planet, the creative team behind the popu- sustainability, organic live foods, and in Cancer connection: The ‘Big C’ and proportions. It takes a person acting with lar books Material World and Women in the the act of being responsible for what we meat” and “Fossil fuel alchemy: The oil in care to craft that. Material World presents a photographic choose to eat and the impact our choices your meat.” Rice aims to study of families from around the world, have on the planet… “An excellent Ayurvedic cookbook with let the facts speak for revealing what people eat during the All our recipes are vegan, which means an incredible range of recipes, including themselves and not to at- course of one week. we don’t use animals products. The meat many western dishes and specialties from tack anyone’s eating Each family’s profile includes a detailed and dairy industries are resource-dense; Australia, Sattwa Café is a good addition to habits or beliefs. She ac- description of their weekly food purchas- they require a lot of fossil fuels, water, and any Ayurvedic kitchen, and will greatly ex- complishes this by thor- other resources. By eating vegan you es; photographs of the family at home, at pand your Ayurvedic cooking repertoire.” oughly documenting all make more food and resources available market, and in their communities; and a for all of us… We are becoming more —Dr. David Frawley, author of Yoga and Pamela Rice her 101 reasons, using re- portrait of the entire family surrounded by aware that animal foods are not healthy Ayurveda spected mainstream a week’s worth of groceries. The author for the human body. We have to transform “This book will take you on an ayurvedic sources, such as U.S. government reports, and photographer traveled to 24 countries everything we eat, and animal foods journey. In ayurveda, we know that there major newspapers, peer-reviewed journal and visited 30 families from Bhutan and require the most energy to transform, are subtle food properties that effect articles, and other citations from scien- Bosnia to Mexico and Mongolia. The re- keeping us slow, less alert, and less alive. doshic balance. This book beautifully ex- tists, doctors, websites, and government sulting series of photos and facts is a 30- plains the concept of doshic imbalances officials. course world feast of visual and cultural and how to choose recipes that will restore The combined weight of the world’s information. SATTWA CAFE harmony to your doshas, your body’s in- 1.2 billion domesticated cattle exceeds Featuring essays on the politics of food Recipes Based on the Traditional Healing herent intelligence… In addition to learn- that of the entire human population. Science of Ayurveda and photo-essays on international street ing about proper food, you will also be- Although Rice jumps from topic to top- food, markets, fast food, and cookery, this by Meta Doherty come aware of proper food preparation. $22.50, paper. Lotus. ic, intending to give readers the big pic- riveting look at what the world really eats Eating the correct food is your first level of ture, she includes a page that lists “rea- will not leave you unmoved, though it may isbn 094098587x 336 pages, b/w photos defence against disease.” —Dr. Sunil Joshi Meaning “science of life,” Ayurveda is a sons by category” as well as a leave you hungry! holistic system of medicine developed in comprehensive index for those interested “While the photos are extraordinary— India whose power lies in the fact that its in a specific aspect of . A fine enough for a stand-alone volume—it’s 101 REASONS WHY I’M A principles are rooted in the laws of nature. well-written and -documented indictment the questions these photos ask that make VEGETARIAN of the meat industry and its impact on the This book shines with by Pamela Rice this book so gripping. This is a beautiful, world, 101 Reasons Why I’m a Vegetarian is advice and recipes $23.95, paper. Lantern. quietly provocative volume.” —Publishers sure to become the handy reference work that are true to the isbn 1590560752 304 pages Weekly for vegetarians who want to give their science yet encourag- Expanding on her popular pamphlet of meat-eating friends one book that ex- ingly simple to use. It the same title (known to all who have read plains why they do what they do, and for also provides ways to it as “The Mighty Convincer”), vegetarian I AM GRATEFUL meat-eaters who want to understand all customize the recipes writer/activist Rice thoroughly covers all Recipes & Lifestyle of Café Gratitude the arguments for a meatless diet. based on personal the practical reasons to go vegetarian, in- by Terces Engelhart, You can download the newest version of with Orchid and seasonal condi- cluding (in addition the pamphlet on which this book is based $27.95, paper. North Atlantic. tions. to the welfare of ani- at Pamela’s website: www.vivavegie.org. isbn 1556436475 Reading the mals) social, medical, 174 pages, 7x9, colour photos contents of your economic, and—es- With locations in San Francisco, refrigerator is like telling your fortune. The pecially—environ- Until we know that death is as good Berkeley, Marin, and Los Angeles, Café more that is in it, the less energetic you mental concerns as life, and that it always comes in its Gratitude has become well known in the will feel… while avoiding spiritu- own sweet way, we’re going to take on alternative communi- The essence of ayurvedic cuisine is to al or religious rea- the role of God without the aware- ty for its inspiring en- cook vegetables so that on a sliding scale sons. Providing up-to- vironment and dis- they are neither tough nor disintegrated; to date information in ness of it, and it’s always going to tinctive, flavourful cook grains completely; to cook legumes her engagingly witty hurt. Whenever you mentally oppose organic foods. The and beans totally; to extract and heighten and informed style, what is, you’re going to experience cafés, which support the essence of spices into warmed she covers everything clarified butter, ghee, without scorching; sadness and apparent separation. local farmers, sustain- from the conditions for animals on factory to allow the ingredients to mingle together able agriculture, and farms to disappearing fish stocks, lagoons There’s no sadness without a story. with warmth for awhile before serving; to What is is. You are it. environmentally add delicate fresh herbs at the end of of animal waste, high incidences of heart friendly products, cooking; to provide a meal that is fresh, disease, colon cancer and other diseases. —Byron Katie serve living, organic

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 32 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! ORGANIC & GENEROUS !

they refer to as their art of right living, Food Choices and the 100-Mile Diet within family, work and community, is both a mode of being and a value that in- THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA consumed, revealing the hidden filtrates all others. Generosity inspires and A Natural History of Four Meals components we unwittingly ingest guides them, and continually tests and by Michael Pollan and explaining how our taste for par- teaches them. This book is filled with true $19.00, paper. Penguin. ticular foods reflects our environ- stories they’ve collected about generosity isbn 0143038583 448 pages mental and biological inheritance. in action. Being Generous is their gift to “What should we have for dinner?” To one degree or anoth- We are indeed what we eat—and readers, written to encourage us in the way er this simple question assails any creature faced with a wide what we eat remakes the world. A so- of generosity. choice of things to eat. Anthropologists call it the omnivore’s ciety of voracious and increasingly dilemma. Choosing from among the countless potential foods confused omnivores, we are just be- nature offers, humans have had to learn what is safe, and what ginning to recognize the profound FIVE WISHES isn’t—which mushrooms should be avoided, for example, and consequences of the simplest every- How Answering One Simple Question which berries we can enjoy. Today, as America confronts what day food choices, both for ourselves Can Make Your Dreams Come True can only be described as a national eating disorder, the omni- and for the natural world. by Gay Hendricks vore’s dilemma has returned with an atavistic vengeance. The A few facts and figures from The $18.00, cloth. New World Library. cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast- Omnivore’s Dilemma: isbn 1577315987 138 pages food outlet has thrown us back on a bewildering landscape One in every five American meals today is eaten in the car. A chance encounter at a cocktail party where we once again have to worry about which of those tasty- The food industry burns nearly a fifth of all the petroleum 30 years ago changed Gay Hendricks’s life. looking morsels might kill us. At the same time we’re realizing consumed in the US—more than we burn with our cars and more A stranger asked him to imagine himself that our food choices also have profound implications for the than any other industry consumes. on his deathbed and consider the ques- health of our environment. The Omnivore’s Dilemma is Michael It takes ten calories of fossil fuel energy to deliver one calorie tion, “Was your life of food energy to an American plate. Pollan’s brilliant and eye-opening exploration of these little- a complete suc- A single strawberry contains about five calories. To get that cess?” If not, the known but vitally important dimensions of eating. strawberry from a field in California to a plate on the east coast stranger suggested, Pollan has divided The Omnivore’s Dilemma into three parts, requires 435 calories of energy. one for each of the food chains that sustain us: industrialized Industrial fertilizer and industrial pesticides both owe their “What would be food, alternative or “organic” food, and food people obtain by existence to the conversion of the World War II munitions the things you’d dint of their own hunting, gathering, or gardening. Pollan industry to civilian uses—nerve gases became pesticides, and wish had hap- traces each food chain literally from the ground up to the ammonium nitrate explosives became nitrogen fertilizers. pened that would table, emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship In 2000 the UN reported that the number of people in the have made it a suc- with the species we depend on. world suffering from overnutrition—a billion—exceeded for the cess?” When first time in history the number suffering from undernutrition— He concludes each section by sitting down to a meal—at Hendricks men- 800 million. The great food problem of our time is that there is McDonald’s, at home with his family sharing a dinner from tioned a “lifelong too much of it, not too little. blossoming of pas- Whole Foods, and in a revolutionary “beyond organic” farm in Also by Michael Pollan are and The Botany of Desire In Defense sion and creativity Virginia. For each meal he traces the provenance of everything . of Food with a woman,” the stranger replied, THE 100-MILE DIET chokes to turnip sandwiches, foods “Okay, now turn the wish into a goal, and A Year of Local Eating that they never would have guessed put it in the present tense.” by Alisa Smith & J.B. MacKinnon were on their doorstep. The stranger turned out to be spiritual $19.95, paper. Random House. This book struck a deeper chord teacher and astrologer Ed Steinbrecher, isbn 0679314830 272 pages than anyone could have predicted, and Hendricks’s one wish became five When Alisa and James learned that the average ingredient in attracting media and grassroots inter- life-transforming wishes. By framing them a North American meal travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate, est that spanned the globe. The 100- the way Ed showed him, they turned into they decided to launch a simple experiment to reconnect with Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating tells five powerful that changed the people and places that produced what they ate. For one the full story, from the insights to the the course of his life, and have guided his year, they would only consume food that came from within a kitchen disasters, as the authors life ever since. Over the years, every one of 100-mile radius of their Vancouver apartment. The 100-Mile transform from megamart shoppers his five wishes came true. Transparent and Diet was born. to self-sufficient urban pioneers. honest, Gay’s personal examples of his wishes—lasting love, completing, writing The couple’s discoveries sometimes shook Call me naive, but I never knew that their resolve. It would be a year without sugar, flour would be struck from our 100- from the heart, feeling God, and savour- Cheerios, olive oil, rice, Pizza Pops, beer, and Mile Diet. Wheat products are just so ing life—and how he set out to manifest much, much more. Yet local eating has turned ubiquitous, “the staff of life,” that I had hazily imagined the stuff them are genuinely heartwarming. out to be a life lesson in pleasures that are al- must be grown everywhere. But of course: I had never seen a In the many years since his conversa- ways close at hand. They met the revolutionary field of wheat anywhere close to Vancouver, and my mental tion, Gay has expanded and refined this Smith & farmers and modern-day hunter-gatherers who images of late-afternoon light falling on golden fields of grain process. In the latter part of the book, he MacKinnon are changing the way we think about food. were all from my childhood on the Canadian prairies. What I was provides examples and stories of how oth- able to find was Anita’s Organic Grain & Flour Mill, about 60 They got personal with issues ranging from ers have used and benefited from it. miles up the Fraser River valley. I called, and learned that Anita’s Readers will find encouragement and re- global economics to biodiversity. They called on the wisdom of nearest grain suppliers were at least 800 miles away by road. She sources here to bring this simple and pow- grandmothers, and immersed themselves in the seasons. They sounded sorry for me. Would it be a year until I tasted a pie? discovered a host of new flavours, from gooseberry wine to sun- erful practice into their own lives. The final chapter gives you a step-by- step guide to realizing your five wishes. ter strikes as with words in the English language are “I’m There you’ll find space to write down your Inspiration the Boxing Day sorry” and “Thank you.” We learn that if wishes and explore why they’re important tsunami of 2004. we ask, “What do you need?” we may be to you. You’ll discover what’s been & Self-Help But Vardey and surprised how readily we can provide assis- holding you back, and you’ll learn how to Dalla Costa say that tance, and how a single generous act may create plans for making your wishes come kind of giving seg- turn into something that circulates to in- true. BEING GENEROUS regates generosity, clude many. A terrific story, and a new way to speed The Art of Right Living making it a special Living and acting generously certainly up the manifestation of your goals and by Lucinda Vardey & John Dalla Costa activity only for has an impact on others, but the most dreams… Not bad! $25.00, cloth. Random House. special times. If transformed is the practitioner of See also 5wishesbook.com. isbn 0676978835 176 pages we’re truly going generosity, for by being generous you This extraordinary book has the power to help this trou- become generous. This again is the art to heal and foster relationships, console bled world, we itself, living in and around you, the ebb and empower individuals, create commu- must engage other possibilities for being that fills and renews, and the flow that pours forth one’s gifts into the waiting, nity and help save the world by providing generous as well, by helping those we in- needful, ever-regenerating world. a spiritual ecology for our daily lives. teract with every day: our children, col- That’s a bold claim, but it’s also true. We leagues, parents, friends and the homeless Lucinda and John are a married couple can all be generous with our money when, folks we encounter in our cities. who have committed to making generosity say, Christmas rolls around, or when disas- We learn that the four most generous a central practice in their daily lives. What

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 33 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! INSPIRATION !

Mother Teresa, Keys to the Power of the Mind Mary Magdalene, and other Divine THE MASTER KEY SYSTEM Thoughts of courage, power, inspiration, harmony, are Mothers, as well as Your Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Law of Attraction substituted for thoughts of failure, despair, lack, men like Shastriji by Charles Haanel limitation and discord, and as the thoughts take root, and Babaji, who $12.00, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. the physical tissue is changed and the individual sees embrace the femi- isbn 158542627x 304 pages life in a new light, old things have actually passed nine aspect of di- away, all things have become new, he is born again, vinity, provide in- We must be before we can do, and we can do only this time born of the spirit, life has a new meaning for to the extent which we are, and what we are depends him, he is reconstructed and is filled with joy, sight and upon what we think. confidence, hope, energy. He sees opportunities for inspiration as well The Master Key System, originally success to which he was heretofore blind…. By this as suggestions for published in 1912, is a rare and hard- simple exercise of thought, a man changes not only worship and renewal. Ray’s delightfully to-find classic (now more widely avail- himself, but his environment, circumstances and awesome adventures, coupled with in- able) for discovering the Cosmic conditions. sightful teachings and prayers, show how Intelligence and becoming self-em- The book describes how to “come into an un- embracing the Divine Mother can help at- powered. “The Father of Personal derstanding of the fundamental laws of Nature, to tract more love, abundance, clarity, and Charles Development,” Charles F. Haanel put yourself in harmony with them… in tune with wisdom into your life. Haanel (1866–1949), was a self-made millionaire who the Infinite, so you understand the law of attraction, the Rock Your World with the founded one of the largest corporations in his Natural laws of growth, and the Psychological laws on which all Divine Mother shows how day. Part philosophy, part positive psychology, and part busi- advantages in the social and business world rest.” As Haanel the Divine Mother’s pres- ness doctrine, The Master Key System describes his surefire meth- wrote, “The Master Key suggests methods by which the value ence is pivotal for both in- ods to personal and financial success. of the principles taught may be demonstrated and put in actu- ner peace and peace in the world. This is the process by which failure is changed to success. al practice in the daily experience.” Sondra Ray The Goddess, or Divine Mother, would lead us in THE PROSPERITY BIBLE ! The Master Key System - Charles Haanel the way of natural law, Landmark Writings on the Incredible ! The Secret of Success - wisdom, and unconditional love; Prospering Power of the Human Mind ! The Art of Money Getting - P.T. Barnum however, we don’t pay enough attention by Various Authors ! The Way to Wealth - Benjamin Franklin to this aspect of God. That may be $31.00, cloth. Tarcher/Putnam. ! The Secret of the Ages - (1926 origi- because of old beliefs that the Goddess is isbn 1585426148 784 pages nal edition) pagan and heathen. This is most The Prosperity Bible is a one-of-a-kind resource that ! The Conquest of Poverty - Helen Wilmans unfortunate, because we then overlook collects the greatest success secrets of authors from ! her beneficial, life-enhancing, and How to Attract Success - F.W. Sears regenerative powers and her offer of every field—religion, finance, philosophy, and self- ! The Power of Concentration - Theron Q. Dumont renewal. ! help—and makes them available in this all-in-one How to Grow Success - Sondra Ray, a founder of the ! “bible” on how to harness the creative powers of The Mental Equivalent - Emmett Fox and Loving Relationships our mind to achieve a life of prosperity and fulfill- A beautiful, durable volume suited to a lifetime movements, has written several books. ment. of use, The Prosperity Bible is a treasury of guidance, Among the others are and ! Pele’s Wish Classics included in this “master class”: ideas, know-how, and inspiration. These are the Loving Relationships Treasury. ! Think and Grow Rich - beloved teachers and writers who created the idea ! Acres of Diamonds - Russell Conwell of a mental formula for success. Their principles, comprehen- ! A Message to Garcia - Elbert Hubbard sively collected in 19 selected writings, have been proved in the WHEN PRAYERS AREN’T !The Game and Life and How to Play It - Florence Scoven Shinn experience of millions of men and women who have cherished ANSWERED ! Science of Getting Rich - their works from the late 19th century to now, where they gath- by John Welshons ! Creative Mind & Success - er together in a fine embossed hardcover that comes in a hand- $27.95, cloth. New World Library. ! Prosperity - Charles Fillmore some display box with a ribbon bookmark. isbn 1577315871 253 pages ! In Tune with the Infinite - This book is a fine example of how we humans can get “under the hood” of sur- THE SECRET OF THE AGES vant of our every wish, than was ever Aladdin’s fabled face religious babble and conventional The Master Code to Abundance and Achievement Genie-of-the-lamp of old.” Robert Collier published “faith” to really, by Robert Collier books, lessons, and magazines, of which over two mil- deeply connect $12.00, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. lion have been distributed, the most successful of with what is— isbn 1585426296 416 pages which was The Secret of the Ages. whether we hap- “See things as you would have them be instead of Now, how about you? Are you taking active control of pen to like it or as they are.” Robert Collier’s The Secret of the Ages first your own thought? Are you imaging upon your not. And it evokes appeared in the mid-1920s, but its emphatic message subconscious mind only such things as you want to see God without being of affirmation has never gone out of print, and re- realized? Are you thinking healthy thoughts, happy either preachy or cently ’s The Secret invoked it as a valu- thoughts, successful thoughts? “That to which I give my irrelevant—but able source of wisdom. This edition brings Collier’s attention reveals itself.” To what are you giving your tender. classic to contemporary readers at a great price. attention? In difficult Born in 1885, Robert Collier distilled , meta- In the book, Collier asks us to run over the list of highly suc- times, many peo- physical, and success principles into a popular and influential cessful discoverers, inventors, explorers, artists, all those who ple turn to religion pamphlet series, collected into a single volume as The Secret of have “done things” successfully. He writes: and spirituality for the Ages in 1926, and later revised by Collier in an expanded You will find that in every case there was present the “Definite comfort and meaning. But sometimes edition in 1948. He died in 1950. Ideals, Insistent Desire, Confident Expectations, Persistent those belief systems seem ill-equipped to Basically his concept is that there is within each person—un- Determination, and Balanced Compensation,” which constitute handle the intensity of human pain and known to most of us—a sleeping giant who, properly aroused the Master Formula of Attainment of our instruction… These suffering. Where does one find comfort and stimulated, can carry us on to happiness, fulfillment, and individuals “knew just what they wanted”; they “wanted it hard when danger seems so pervasive, when wealth. It is “a Genie-of-the-Brain more powerful, more the ser- enough”, and they were “willing to pay the price.” disease, death, and injury strike with such randomness? When God’s power seems so limited, even withheld? ROCK YOUR WORLD WITH THE China, she is universally loved as the god- itual path. Through stories, prayers, and When Prayers Aren’t Answered faces these DIVINE MOTHER dess of compassion, Quan Yin. In Hawaii, teachings, Sondra Ray enthusiastically es- tough questions head-on and offers clear Bringing the Sacred Power of the Divine Pele, the goddess of fire, manifests in the corts you into the profound reawakening direction through the pain and anguish. Mother into Our Lives form of a woman near the volcanoes. In of the sacred feminine in the hearts and Welshons does not ignore suffering; nor by Sondra Ray India, she is embodied by Kali, Lakshmi, minds of seekers throughout the world. does he attempt to put a smiling face on $18.50, paper. New World Library. Tara, and other goddesses. Ray describes her pilgrimages to holy tragic events. While looking directly at isbn 1930722753 240 pages The fusion of feminine qualities from places where she has sought the divine life’s most challenging experiences, John The Divine Mother is known by many all religions and traditions, the Divine feminine, from the revered Baca Valley in helps us learn how to work through those names and takes many forms. In Mother can be a nurturing presence and a Colorado to the Himalayan foothills. Her trials, to become fully alive and awake, Christianity, she is the Virgin Mary. In powerful guide along your individual spir- reflections on Amma (the hugging saint), with honesty, love, and equanimity.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 34 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! LIVING YOUR WISDOM !

Saying “Yes” with Joan Borysenko New from Wayne Dyer YOUR SECRET COMPASS CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, What is Spiritual Guidance? CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Joan Borysenko & Gordon Dveirin Living the Wisdom of the Tao $17.95, paper. . by Wayne Dyer isbn 1401907776 244 pages $31.95, cloth. Hay House. The world is divided, and we are divided within ourselves. isbn 1401911846 392 pages Only truth can reconcile us—the truth of our shared humanity $47.95, 8 CDs. beneath the superficial differences that separate us, the truth of isbn 1401911854 8 hours, unabridged our sublime human potential. But how do we find it? That is In China, 500 years before the birth of Jesus, a high be- what Your Soul’s Compass is about. ing known as Lao Tzu (“the old fellow”) dictated 81 verses, Joan Borysenko and Gordon Dveirin interviewed many liv- which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on ing sages from various traditions, asking the deepest heart- the nature of our existence. The text of these 81 verses, questions they knew, seeking to understand what spiritual called the Tao Te Ching or the Great Way, offers advice and guidance is, what forms it may take, how we can distinguish authentic guidance guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, and always con- from less reliable impulses, what cultivates the ability to listen for and recognize cerned with working for the good. guidance, what blocks it, and how it relates to our evolution as human beings and In Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, inspirational teacher Wayne Dyer has as a species. The result is this lovely book. reviewed hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching—one of the most translated A few of the 12 questions they asked the sages were What are the practices for books in the world—and has written 81 essays on how to apply Lao Tzu’s vision to seeking guidance? How does the heart, the mystery of love, factor into what we un- our modern world. Included are all 81 verses of the Tao, compiled from Wayne’s re- derstand as guidance? What is a human being—and creation at large—evolving to- searching of 12 of the most-respected translations. Each chapter is designed for ac- ward? What’s the ultimate goal to keep in mind? tually living the Tao or the Great Way today. Some of the chapter titles are “Living No two Sages answered the same way… Some had preferred with Flexibility,” “Living Without Enemies,” and “Living by Letting Go.” Each of the methods for listening deeply to their lives to discern the wisest 81 brief chapters focuses on living the Tao and concludes with an exercise called direction. Others spoke about using multiple channels to receive “Doing the Tao Now” to bring that particular teaching to life. guidance. You may have your own methods, or perhaps reading He who keeps the Tao does not want to be full, but precisely because he is never full, about the experiences we’ve chosen to highlight here will help he can remain like a hidden sprout you recognize more about your own process of making choices and does not rush to early ripening. and living with purpose and direction. Dyer spent a year reading, researching, and meditating on Lao Tzu’s messages, Among the 27 Sages interviewed, whose counsel informs practicing them each day and then writing these essays. This is a work to be read Joan Borysenko these pages, are Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Keating, Oriah slowly, one essay a day. & Gordon Dveirin Mountain Dreamer, Hameed Ali, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Rabbi Set this book down right now. Take ten minutes to sit quietly while contemplating all Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Ajahn Sona, Mukunda Stiles, that you have and all that is flowing into your life on a Divinely orchestrated timetable. Swami Adiswarananda, Kabir Helminski, Nina Zimbelman, and Sally Kempton. The Be at peace and give thanks for what is allowing your life to unfold so perfectly. Let go authors have distilled their views into a book that “points us all to the simple truth of all other hurried thoughts. that direction from an intelligence greater than our own ego is critical for authen- Also available is Change Your Thoughts Meditations: Do the Tao Now! CD. tic spiritual evolution… Not only do we have to open ourselves to the experience of direct revelation, but even more important, if we want our world in crisis to change, we must have the courage to act on what is revealed to us.” —Andrew Cohen, What INSPIRATION New in Your Ultimate Calling is Enlightenment? Paperback by Wayne Dyer See claritasinstitute.com for more info on Spiritual Mentoring and Interspiritual $17.95, paper. Hay House. isbn 1401907229 252 pages Inquiry programs. $29.95, 4 CDs. isbn 1401907253 4 hours SAYING YES TO CHANGE Live in-spirit. You came from Spirit, and to be inspired you Book must become more like where you came from. You must live so Essential Wisdom for Your Journey & CD as to become more like God. by Joan Borysenko $23.95, Book+CD set. Hay House. There’s a voice in the universe calling each of us to re- isbn 1401907784 184-page hardcover + 60-minute CD member our purpose—our reason for being here now, in Change is both scary business and an inescapable fact this world of impermanence. The voice whispers, shouts, of life. Everything is impermanent and eventually passes and sings to us that this experience of being in form, in away. Some changes are natural, like aging through the space and time, knowing life and death, has meaning. The lifecycle. Others are sudden and catastrophic, such as ill- voice, writes popular “in-spirit-er” Wayne Dyer, author of The Power of Intention and ness, bankruptcy, or the death of a loved one. But just as many other books, is that of inspiration, which is within each of us. the earthbound caterpillar liquefies in its cocoon during In Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling, Wayne Dyer describes how we’ve chosen to its mysterious transformation into a butterfly, change is an opportunity to shed the enter this world of particles and form. limitations of the lower self and be reborn to the higher self. From our place of origin, in ways that we don’t readily comprehend now, we knew This book is an inspiring and practical guide to that process, incorporating per- what we were coming here to accomplish, and we participated in setting this life sonal stories, cutting-edge psychological research, and the of process in motion. So why not think this same way? Why put the responsibility or blame the world’s great wisdom traditions. The short, accessible chapters provide you with on any one or any thing that’s not a part of us? On Earth we have the capacity of a practical framework for approaching change as an invitation to empowerment volition—we can choose—so let’s assume that we had the same capacity when we and awakening. Practices focused on moment-by-moment awareness, living in the resided in the spiritual realm. We chose our physical body, and we chose the parents we needed for the trip. It doesn’t seem too great a stretch to move into the idea that we present, and connecting with a greater flow will help you gracefully navigate tran- chose this life in concert with our Source. sitions more skillfully. The art of living with uncertainty, when the old has passed away and the new hasn’t yet been born, is an essential skill central to both the book Each chapter is filled with specifics for living an inspired life. From a very per- and the companion CD. sonal viewpoint, Dyer offers us a blueprint through the world of spirit to “inspira- The CD is a body-based mindfulness meditation that guides you in developing tion, your ultimate calling.” moment-by-moment awareness and honouring emotions and other experiences The personal nature of this book is a deliberate choice. I discovered as I went along without attachment as they arise and pass away. It’s suitable for daily use both by be- that, in order to write about such a deeply felt subject as inspiration, I needed to convey ginners and experienced meditators. what I felt as authentically as possible… By writing from my heart, I’ve been able to Also by these authors, cofounders of the Claritas Institute for Interspiritual keep the flavor or inspiration alive here in these pages. Inquiry, is Your Soul’s Compass.

When we let go of the question why? those he has counseled open our eyes to happiness, not in spite of life’s inevitable spectives into daily life. or, at least, when we learn not to pay so the love, hope, and wisdom that can shine losses and disappointments, but through “In a spiritually complete and compas- much attention to it, we can allow through dark times. With insights gath- them. John gently guides us to a new un- sionate way, this powerful book deals with ourselves to just experience our ered from the world’s great spiritual tradi- derstanding of prayer and how to best use prayers that seem to be unanswered. John experiences, and learn to grow through tions, he demonstrates how to use the it to feel spiritually connected, joyful, and Welshons is a wonderful teacher!” —Ram them. painful circumstances in life as fuel for peaceful in this world as it is. Dass, author of Be Here Now Stories of the transformative experi- our own spiritual journey. When Prayers An included step-by-step program gives Also by John Welshons is Awakening from ences in John’s life and in the lives of Aren’t Answered helps us find enduring readers tips on integrating these new per- Grief.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 35 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! NEW PSYCHOLOGY !

empowerment. When we embrace this Psychology, Therapy brilliance respectfully, rage teaches us Transforming Depression & Dreams how to live, love, and heal. Rage, King explains, sits at the cross- THE MINDFUL WAY THROUGH DEPRESSION roads of personal transformation. Those Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness of us seeking more self-awareness will in- by Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Book THOUGHTS & FEELINGS evitably stumble upon personal rage on Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-Zinn & CD Taking Control of Your Moods and Your Life the path. Rage is not to be understood as $22.50, Book+CD set. Guilford. by Matthew McKay, Martha Davis a useless emotion, empty of story or isbn 1593851286 273 pages + 77-minute audio CD & Patrick Fanning knowledge, but as clarity and untapped If you’ve ever struggled with depression, take heart. $25.95, paper. New Harbinger. fuel. Embraced with compassion, the en- Mindfulness, a simple yet powerful way of paying attention isbn 1572245107 264 pages, 8x10 ergy trapped in rage becomes an intimate to your most difficult emotions and life experiences, can Most self-help books focus on a single and empathic teacher offering balance, in- help you break the cycle of chronic unhappiness once and topic and offer readers strategies designed tegrity, and inner peace to your healing for all. In The Mindful Way Through Depression, four unique- for that topic. If journey, relationships, and service. ly qualified experts explain why our usual attempts to you’re depressed, King identifies six common disguises of “think” our way out of a bad mood or just “snap out of it” get a book on de- rage (dominance, defiance, devotion, dis- lead us deeper into the downward spiral. pression. Afraid of traction, depression, and dependence) Through insightful lessons drawn from both Eastern heights? There’s a and provides helpful rituals and healing meditative traditions and cognitive therapy, they demonstrate how to sidestep the book just for you. exercises including: mental habits that lead to despair, including rumination and self-blame, so you can But the fact is that ! Discover your rage inheritance and how face life’s challenges with greater resilience. Jon Kabat-Zinn gently and encourag- human problems to transform your legacy. ingly narrates the accompanying CD of guided meditations, making this a complete rarely boil down ! Learn how to Look Within before Acting package for anyone seeking to regain a sense of hope and well-being. to a single topic: Out. Whatever your starting point, we encourage you to practice the exercises and Few of us are ever ! Learn how to break habitual pain pat- meditations described here and on the CD with a combination of patience, self- just depressed, terns in relationships. compassion, persistence, and open-mindedness… As best as you can, simply trust in just anxious, or just inclined to eat too ! Learn how to center yourself again and your fundamental capacity for learning, growing, and healing as we go along through much at dinner. It’s far more likely that we this process—and engage in the practices as if your life depended on them, which in again in difficult situations. want to shake the blues and stop worrying many ways, literally and metaphorically, it surely does. The rest will take care of itself. ! Learn how to stay true to yourself when about the bills and learn how to develop others are raging. “Using mindfulness training to prevent and treat depression is a novel strategy in healthy eating habits, and the list goes on. ! Learn how to stop contributing to your the West, though it is a traditional application of Eastern meditation practice. Some books take a broader approach, own suffering. Whether you struggle with depression or simply want to understand your mind and one that is as comprehensive and flexible Many of us go through our lives main- emotions better, you will find this book accessible and useful. Depression is epi- as the problems we all struggle with every taining a good front. We may have all of demic in our society, and I would love to see this sensible treatment approach gain day. Thoughts & Feelings is such a book. It the trappings—good job, higher educa- ground.” —Andrew Weil, author of 8 Weeks to Optimum Health transforms the powerful and widely adapt- tion, and material gain—yet we have an “Revolutionary… For depression sufferers, this is a truly useful guide to achieving emo- able techniques of cognitive behavioral inherent discontent with our lives that tional balance. I recommend this book and companion CD most highly.” —Daniel therapy (CBT) into a set of tools readers won’t go away. Written for every woman— Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence can use, not to solve a particular problem, ranging from counselors and their pa- but to overcome any of the emotional and tients to those who may not realize that behavioral changes that life throws their TRANSFORMING DEPRESSION rage is at the root of their unhappiness way. CBT recognizes that most negative The HeartMath Solution to Feeling Overwhelmed, and have just begun to seek new paths of Sad, and Stressed feelings arise from confused, irrational hope—Healing Rage is a unique resource by Doc Lew Childre & Deborah Rozman thoughts. By learning to identify and on healing trauma and recovering vitality. $15.50, paper. New Harbinger. change these thoughts and by replacing “Filled with the passion, earthiness, and isbn 1572244917 180 pages destructive and limiting behaviors with wisdom of a self-described wounded heal- Transforming Depression argues that the prevalence of de- new, more constructive ones, readers can er… This is a book that can change your pression today results from the frenetic pace of modern start steering their lives in the direction life.” —Alice Walker life. A constant sense of being overwhelmed, fatigued, and they want to go. “King has articulated the painful histo- stretched to the limit leads us to feelings of hopelessness Changes to this new 2007 edition in- ry, patterns, and traps of a raging heart and a lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities— clude revisions and updates to the core and offers the skillful means for liberation the principal signs of depression. By showing how to use CBT chapters as well as a new chapter on in their very midst. This is revolutionary the revolutionary HeartMath tools like the Freeze-Framer how to use mindfulness to bring focus and work.” —Jack Kornfield and the Heart Lock-In to overcome feelings of sadness and intention to the process of change. depression associated with stress and the sense of being overwhelmed by the chaos of our world, this book will help readers to tap into new ENERGY TAPPING FOR TRAUMA reserves of energy and creativity and will find new ways to connect with the people HEALING RAGE Rapid Relief from Post-Traumatic Stress in their lives. As a result, feelings of depression will lessen and dramatic change will Women Making Using Energy Psychology take place for better health in mind and body. Inner Peace Possible by Fred Gallo by Ruth King What are the resources that can enable a person to emerge from the grips of $21.95, paper. New Harbinger. $27.50, cloth. Gotham. depression? What accounts for the strengths and resiliency a person finds when isbn 1572245018 176 pages isbn 159240314x 220 pages depression is resolved? That is the purpose of this book: to give you skills so that Energy psychology is a scientifically vali- Self-help authors rarely distin- depression can be understood as a transformational experience and not as a destructive dated body of research and core set of disease that conquers the spirit. These are the critical steps that can actually infuse you guish between anger and rage, but Ruth treatment techniques that conceptualizes with optimism and joy. Not only are the methods described based on longstanding King has devoted her career to exploring thoughts, feelings, emotions, and other research, but they are available for everyone to use. —Frank Lawlis, from the preface the subtle varieties psychological phe- of rage, while chal- Quick to learn and easy to practice, HeartMath techniques are powerful tools nomena as mani- lenging the notion busy people can use to make real, positive change. festations of ener- that rage is an “evil” gy working though emotion that must One of the more common techniques in cise overview of how trauma affects us the system of the be eradicated. In the energy psychology repertoire is called and why certain aspects of traumatic ex- human body. If Healing Rage, she energy tapping, a practice, similar to acu- perience can linger as post-traumatic some psychologi- gives all readers ac- pressure, that involves manipulating and stress. The book adapts energy psychology cal phenomenon cess to her pioneer- tapping certain points along the body’s en- techniques into simple, effective strate- is causing pain, ing program. ergy meridians to influence psychological gies for “short-circuiting” the emotional distress, or a lack events. Author Fred Gallo developed ener- Few recognize problems associated with trauma. of function to an gy tapping into a self-care program for a Throughout, the book advocates for a bal- the enormous individual, the so- power of rage as a variety of common psychological com- anced and sensible “whole-person” ap- matic techniques vehicle for healing, plaints in his book Energy Tapping. Now, in proach to dealing with and recovering or possess the skillful means to transform of energy psychol- this new book, he applies the technique from a traumatic event. rage from a destructive to a life affirming ogy work to disrupt the flow of energy specifically to recovering from acute trau- resource. Rage is fuel, the source of our causing that phenomenon. ma and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Energy Tapping for Trauma offers a con-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 36 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! THE DREAM OF AGING !

THE THREE “ONLY” THINGS Tapping the Power of Dreams, THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE Jungian Archetype Coincidence & Imagination Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom & Shadow Work by Robert Moss by Angeles Arrien $24.95, cloth. New World Library. $17.95, paper. Sounds True. isbn 1577315960 252 pages isbn 1591795729 206 pages, b/w photos New in $22.50, 2 CDs. LIVING YOUR UNLIVED LIFE What we can imagine has a tendency to Paperback become real in our bodies and our world. isbn 1591792967 2.5 hours, abridged Coping with Unrealized Dreams and Fulfilling Your Purpose in the Second Half of Life Only a dream? Only a coincidence? Only There comes a turning point in human life. At this threshold, when you see fewer days ahead than have al- by Robert Johnson & Jerry Ruhl one’s imagination? Dream expert Robert $27.50, cloth. Tarcher/Putnam. Moss says no. It’s ready passed, you begin the greatest adventure: the sec- ond half of your life. On The Second Half of Life, cultural anthro- isbn 1585425869 272 pages only through We all carry a vast inventory of aban- dreams, coinci- pologist, story-weaver, and superb teacher Angeles Arrien retrieves a bracing shower of the world’s vital wisdom teachings that have doned, unrealized, or underdeveloped tal- dence, and the ents. These do not just “go away” through workings of the opened people at midlife to the deeper mysteries of who we really are, and why we are truly here. Healthy human societies, she notes, under-use or by imagination that tossing them off. humans can jour- possess crucial “rites of passage” not just for the threshold of birth and young adulthood, but also for the next milestone: our trans- Instead they go ney to the world underground and beyond the obvi- Angele Arrien formation into wisdom-holders and creative wellsprings for our communities. become trouble- ous one, a world some—some- where they awaken We are all born with a great dream for our lives, a dream which may have been times torment- to who they are submerged or derailed along the way by family and career . In the second half of life, after your roots have gone deeply into the world, it is time to resurrect this ing—as we grow and what they are older. meant to become. dream. For now the blossom of your “wild and precious life” is ready to bring forth the fruit of your special creative gifts. You can’t just The Three “Only” Things offers practical ignore or forget suggestions, tested in Moss’s workshops Working with images, poetry, and practices from diverse cultures, Arrien’s midlife curriculum evokes the ways we humans have learned to handle the challenges that which is and consultations, for tapping the life-al- urgent in you. If tering power of the subconscious mind. In unique to the “great crossing” at midlife. She describes the three principles that you try to shut it clear language, Moss ex- should inform the second half of life: generativity, intimacy and creativity. One way down, it comes plains the nine powers of to follow these principles is to perform daily the three cross-cultural tasks referred back up as a dreaming, including solv- to by Arrien as “the Blessing Way”—say a prayer or set a sacred intention, express mood, or an acting out, or some type of ing problems and under- gratitude, and perform at least one life-affirming action. illness. standing relationships; the Angie introduces us to the Eight Gates of Initiation: by mastering their lessons In Living Your Unlived Life, using nine rules of coincidence, and gifts, we harvest the meaning and purpose of our life, and come into our spir- warmth, humour, and elegant simplicity, such as “things happen to- itual maturity. These teachings take readers through each gate to learn: the renowned therapist Robert Johnson, ! Robert Moss gether” and “setbacks offer how to effectively cope with the natural challenges of health/an aging body writing with longtime collaborator and fel- opportunity”; and the sev- ! how to bring forth your unique gifts into the world low Jungian psychologist Jerry Ruhl, helps en uses of imagination, including “seeing” ! the gate of intimacy: two dangers that can stop your crossing us understand our own heritage of unlived the future through visualization. ! retirement—from what toward what life—and how it must be ex- Entertaining examples from noted dream- ! why we must embrace both the “beauty and the beast” within ourselves amined and transformed if we ers such as Winston Churchill, Abraham ! how your secret longings give you direction and inspiration. are to make peace with our- Lincoln, and Mark Twain show how re- When you find the courage to change at midlife, Arrien teaches, a miracle happens. selves and others in middle spected figures have used the power of Your character is opened, deepened, strengthened, softened. You return to your soul’s age and beyond. dreams not only in their own lives, but for highest values. You are now prepared to create your legacy: an imprint of your dream for The authors provide intelli- the greater good. our world—a dream that can only come true in the second half of life. gent ways to explore paths not Robert “A wise, unique and beautifully written guidebook for those who want to live taken, without causing dam- When we write in a journal, we make Johnson room for a dialogue with the larger Self. every day of their lives. A book for everyone who plans to grow old.” —Rachel age to ourselves and to others. We also become alert and alive to Naomi Remen, author of My Grandfather’s Blessings They show how to: recurring themes and symbols in our lives, Angeles Arrien’s other books are The Four-Fold Way and The Tarot Handbook. See ! identify those unfulfilled hopes, yearn- and gather first-hand data on the play of www.angelesarrien.com. ings, or needs that have gone “under- coincidence and much else. ground” Moss, a natural raconteur, tells many a awesome and happens to sex and how has it changed in ! discover how we unconsciously burden good story—real things, real people— frightening reality the post-Viagra world? What do retirees ex- others—friends, spouses, coworkers— highlighting synchronicities in our lives. that they still have perience when they’ve lost their work iden- with our unlived hopes another twenty or Paying attention to the Three Only tities and still have two, possibly three ! create new life options and unlock hid- thirty years to live in Things… even for just five minutes of decades to live? What happens to family den talents a society that sees dedicated time each day…we open and life when adult children have to care for ! transform fruitless fantasies or “silly” old age as sustain a dialogue with a Self that is wiser repugnant at the their aged parents? What is a good death dreams into tools for inner growth by cul- than what Yeats called “the daily trivial same time that it and how can we have one? And, more gen- tivating “active imagination” mind”… We make ourselves available to expends precious erally, the very important question: What ! start truly living in the present moment the Big Stories when we make room in resources on the happens to a society when people routine- ! revitalize a connection with God and spir- our lives for dreams, coincidence, and the dream of extending ly live into their 90s, and when 30 is too it and attain peace in purpose in our ma- play of imagination. life still further. young to settle down and start a family? ture years. Among Robert Moss’s other books are The “golden For boomers who may be reading these “Robert Johnson’s work always has that Conscious Dreaming and Dreamgate. years” can be anything but. With refresh- words, I have a message. Old age lasts a naked intensity that tells you you’re in the ing candor, social therapist Lillian Rubin long time, and it will last even longer by psychic house of an honest man. In this Midlife Passages digs down under the statistics about our the time you get here… book, he says, ‘Life is unendurable with- graying population. In tackling the subject You can go on believing all out an occasional taste of Paradise.’ He & Elder Wisdom of aging, cutting across class, gender, and the cheery good news reminds us where to look for that.” — about the new old age, that Robert Bly, poet, co-editor of The Rag and physical status, Rubin reveals that no one sixty is the new forty and Bone Shop of the Heart is exempt from the issues raised by the eighty the new sixty, that if 60 ON UP new longevity—not the 40- and 50-year- you eat right, sleep right, “Why is it, even when we have done The Truth about Aging in America olds who are squeezed between their de- exercise your body and what we were supposed to, something still by Lillian Rubin pendent kids and increasingly dependent Lillian Rubin your brain right, you’ll nags from within? What is this unlived $26.95, cloth. Beacon. parents; not the 60- and 70-year-olds who never get really old. Or you life that summons us, demands account- isbn 0807029289 174 pages are still caring for their parents, maybe can take a long, hard look at the realities of ability from us? Johnson and Ruhl, two 60 on Up is a penetrating look at the pro- still helping kids who haven’t quite the social and personal world of aging I’ve wise souls, effectively define this unlived described here. found changes—personal and societal— “launched,” and desperately wondering, life for us, provide questions and exam- that come with the new longevity. When is it my turn to retire? Will my par- Lillian Rubin has just sold her first paint- ples to lift it into greater clarity, and pro- vide methods of dialoguing with our sepa- The baby boomers… will confront the ents have spent my inheritance by then? ing at the age of 82. The burning issues that mark aging in rated energies in service to an enlarged, our times are all addressed here: What

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 37 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! JUNG & CAMPBELL ! more authentic personhood.” —James Hollis, author of Why Good People Do Bad The Amazing Joseph Campbell on DVD Things Robert Johnson, perhaps the most in- THE POWER OF MYTH was to find the commonality of themes in world fluential interpreter of Jungian psycholo- by Joseph Campbell, with Bill Moyers myths,” says Moyers. “When I asked him if he was gy of our time, has written many books. $41.50, 6 CDs. Parabola. searching for the meaning of life, he said, ‘No, no, Among them are He: Understanding isbn 1565115104 6 hours no—for the experience of being alive... so that our Masculine Psychology and Inner Work. $30.50, 2 DVDs. Mystic Fire. experience on the purely physical plane will have isbn 1561764620 6 hours + features resonances within our innermost being, so that we One of the greatest interviews ever recorded, this actually feel the rapture of being alive.’“ THE GOLDEN WORLD six-hour encounter between teacher-mythologist The six parts of the series are: Our Search for Meaning, Fulfillment, Campbell and student-journalist Bill Moyers ! The Hero’s Adventure: tales of heroic adventures and Divine Beauty (recorded in the two years preceding Campbell’s have ever been an integral part of world cultures. by Robert Johnson AUDIO death in 1988) covers a galaxy of topics related to Campbell challenges everyone to see the presence of $79.00, 6 CDs. Sounds True. Campbell’s central themes: Mythology is humanity’s a heroic journey in his or her life. isbn 1591796229 6 hours universal method of seeking the transcendental, ! The Message of the Myth: Genesis and other cre- A world-renowned Jungian analyst and and “follow your bliss” is the timeless formula for New on ation stories from around the world. As the world changes, storyteller who has brought fresh and pow- spiritual satisfaction. Campbell himself is the em- DVD religion has to be transformed and new mythologies created. erful insights to three generations, bodiment of these themes, an erudite scholar People today are stuck with myths that don’t fit their needs. Johnson stands with Carl Jung, Marion and quintessential storyteller, recalling a wide spectrum of ! The First Storytellers: the importance of accepting death as Woodman, and myths from throughout history (Japanese, Native American, rebirth as in the myth of the buffalo and the story of Christ, Joseph Campbell Egyptian, Mayan, and many more) to illustrate humankind’s the rite of passage in primitive societies, the role of shamans, as one of the trea- eternal quest to grasp the mysteries of creation. Historical ar- and the decline of ritual in society today. sured cartogra- tifacts and illustrations bring these timeless stories to life. ! Sacrifice and Bliss: the role of sacrifice in myth, which sym- phers of the hu- Campbell explores the myths and stories of many cultures, bolizes the necessity for rebirth… the need for every one of man psyche. With looking at how these myths have helped to define us, and how us to find our sacred place in the midst of today’s “whirled.” his newly recorded they guide us today—from the collective myths that shape so- ! Love and the Goddess: romantic love, the 12th-century trou- audio, The Golden cieties and relate the individual to them, to the individual badour traditions… explorations of the image of women—as World, listeners hero/heroine myths that help to transform society itself. goddess, virgin, Mother Earth. have an unprecedented opportunity to ex- Through all of life’s stages—birth, coming of age, love and ! Masks of Eternity: challenging insights into the concepts of perience the presence of this living legend marriage, faith, aging and death—the two men trace a history God, religion and eternity, through lenses of Christian teach- as he unfolds essential lessons from his of the human psyche and reveal the changes in consciousness ings, Buddhism, the Navajo, Jung, Schopenhauer, and others. life’s work—from the first mystical vision that humanity has undergone through time. In a compelling, Now in DVD format, these legendary sessions also feature an that shaped his personal journey to the dynamic interchange full of wit and wisdom, they uncover the interview with George Lucas on mythology; art galleries; chap- most important tools and teachings for common links that unite us all. ter indexes; bibliographies; weblinks. bringing meaning, beauty, and vividness to “Joseph Campbell agreed that the guiding idea of his work our own lives. From a childhood near-death experi- delight and joy in a life to which he said “Yes.” ence to the chance encounter that led him THE HERO’S JOURNEY New on A Biographical Portrait During his childhood in New York City, Campbell to first explore Jungian study, Johnson il- DVD by Joseph Campbell was taken to see “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West lustrates the essential concepts that have $23.95, DVD. Joseph Campbell Foundation. Show. Young Joe was fascinated by the Native become cornerstones of his work. At the isbn 1569389055 57 minutes Americans in Cody’s performing troupe and eventu- centre of this “personal mandala” is what ally became obsessed with mythology. As he came to he calls the quest for the “golden world”— And so Galahad decided that it would be a disgrace to set off on a quest with the other knights. Alone he realize that myths worldwide had the same under- a lifelong search for a sublime state of en- would enter the dark forest where there was no path. pinnings, he also discovered his life’s work. lightenment that resides within each one This is the myth of the Hero’s Journey. This documentary mentions Campbell’s affinity of us. One of the greatest storytellers of our time, and for the writings of James Joyce and Carl Jung, and This wise elder explores many themes: arguably the greatest mythologist, Joseph Campbell there is ample footage of Campbell—in Hawaii, in the art of interpreting dreams; how cul- spent most of his long, rich career explaining how New York, at Esalen—casual in flannel shirts, giving ture shapes character; engaging your in- ancient myths like the Hero’s Journey are relevant to modern lectures salted with references to Buddhism, Christianity, clas- ner life through active imagination; tanta- life. In understanding the importance of myth as a vital, vi- sical mythology, St. Augustine, and the rituals of Plains lizing “previews of heaven”; character brant source of “mankind’s one great story,” Campbell in- Indians. In later life, Campbell is seen being honored at a ban- typology; “nodal points” and crucial cross- spired others to embark on a quest for the meaning of myth in quet at which George Lucas rises to give him credit for helping roads in life; applications for developing their own lives. This biographical portrait, filmed shortly be- to inspire the writing of Star Wars. This documentary is a very your perceived “weaknesses” into founda- fore his death in 1987, follows Campbell’s personal quest—a positive look at his writings, lectures, and personality. tional strengths; trusting the “slender pathless journey of questioning, discovery, and ultimately of Visit the Joseph Campbell Foundation: www.jcf.org. threads” of life; and much more. Robert Johnson is among those whose ideas have shaped our deepest metaphors SUKHAVATI New on twilight years, at the summit of his career and the of self and psyche in the past 100 years. A Mythic Journey DVD apex of his intellectual powers. Through it, this Over two million copies of his classics are by Joseph Campbell great American thinker is still “joyfully participating in print. Among his popular titles are He $22.50, DVD. Joseph Campbell Foundation. in the sorrows of the world.” (understanding masculine psychology), isbn 1569389063 78 minutes We’re in a free fall into future. We don’t know She (understanding feminine psychology), Through archival excerpts from his finest filmed where we’re going. Things are changing so fast. And We (on the psychology of romantic rela- lectures interwoven with exquisite images and evoca- always when you’re going through a long tunnel, tionships), and Inner Work. tive music from around the world, renowned anxiety comes along. But all you have to do to Also by Robert Johnson is Living Your mythologist Joseph Campbell takes us on a journey transform your hell into a paradise is to turn your fall into a voluntary act. It’s a very interesting shift of Unlived Life. of transcendence and illumination, a trip through the mythological symbols and sagas left by our an- perspective… Joyfully participate in the sorrows of the cient forebears. What is revealed en route is world and everything changes. Mythology “mankind’s one great story,” the grand drama played out by all Campbell’s peerless ability to comparatively interpret cultures on all continents since time immemorial. This saga mythologies related to cycles of life, death, and rebirth shines & Symbolism “projected” on the screen of the universe is the mythic adven- through, and while he himself is shown only briefly in lecture ture that became Campbell’s “Sukhavati,” what he passionate- clips, his words serve as voice-over narration to Harris’s well- ly embraced as his life’s work, his place of bliss. chosen images. The program succeeds in presenting the Created by Maxine Harris and Sheldon Rocklin, with the en- essence of Campbell’s philosophical worldview. thusiastic support of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, this Sukhavati is like an extra-credit master class for anyone who hypnotic and mesmerizing film is a deeply personal, almost was captivated by Bill Moyers’ landmark series Joseph Campbell spiritual, portrait of Campbell, told in his own words, in his and the Power of Myth.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 38 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! JOSEPH CAMPBELL & MICHAEL MEADE !

THE MYTHIC DIMENSION I always tell my students, go where your Selected Essays 1959–1987 body and soul want to go. When you have by Joseph Campbell the feeling, then stay with it, and don’t let $23.95, cloth. New World Library. anyone throw you off… If you do follow your bliss you put isbn 1577315944 yourself on a kind of track that has been 272 pages, b/w illustrations there all the while, waiting for you, and Creativity, the occult, art, and psycholo- the life that you ought to be living is the gy are only a few of the fascinating subjects one you are living. When you can see examined in these 12 eclectic, far-ranging that, you begin to meet people who are in essays that explore the field of your bliss, and they open the the many connec- doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and tions between don’t be afraid, and doors will open where myth and history, you didn’t know they were going to be. psychology, and —from The Power of Myth the everyday world. These works were written at the THE ENDS OF TIME, height of THE ROOTS OF ETERNITY Campbell’s cre- Tales of Myth, Nature, & Culture ative powers. by Michael Meade Lively, learned, in- $33.95, 3 CDs. Mosaic. formative, and isbn 097664505x 3 hours constantly surprising, Campbell examines The modern world suffers from “double the history of myth and myth’s roles in lit- exposure” as culture and nature, the “two erature, art, and everyday life. He also in- great garments of life,” seem to unravel at vestigates creativity and Hallowe’en, the the same time. Culture Grateful Dead and Thomas Mann, no longer protects Goddess spirituality and the theories of against growing threats Freud and Jung. These playful and erudite of global terror and so- essays are both a fine introduction to cietal greed, while Campbell’s work for newcomers and es- Nature is increasingly sential reading for those already familiar endangered through with the 20th century’s greatest writer and holes in the ozone and teacher on mythology. They reveal the the effects of global warm- threads of myth woven deeply into the fab- ing. Science and religion ric of our culture and our lives. seem to arrive at similar Joy, states James Joyce, is the proper conclusions as statistics emotion of comedy, and in Dante’s Divine and scriptures each pre- Comedy true beatitude is discovered only dict the “end of the in the contemplation of that radiant Love world.” Is it the end of all by which all the pains of hell, toils of time or a time of many end- purgatory, and rapturous states of heaven Michael Meade ings seeking the vital are sustained: joyful wonder in the marvel ground of renewal? of things, being, finally, the gift immortal of myth. Humans are the makeweights in the scales of time and the psychic ground on Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) wrote which Nature and culture both meet and many books, among them Hero with a conflict. In times of great change the Thousand Faces and The Power of Myth minds and hearts of the living become the (available as book or DVD set). troubled ground where life struggles to find the Great Way again. In this dynamic recording mythologist THE WISDOM OF Michael Meade tells the story of Icanchu’s JOSEPH CAMPBELL Drum, a re-creation story in which the In Conversation with Michael Toms world suffers dissolution and renews from by Joseph Campbell the ashes of the tree of life, also called The $32.95, 4CDs. Hay House. Medicine Tree. In Meade’s interpretation isbn 1401904432 4 hours of this ancient tribal myth he describes Over a span of 12 years from 1975 to how times of great confusion and difficul- 1987, Michael Toms recorded several con- ty harbor opportunities to find the exact versations between Joseph Campbell (the medicines for collective cultural troubles. author of The Power of Myth) and himself Following an old idea we find that each on his pio- person carries medicine in their heart and neering New can contribute to the renewal of nature Dimensions and re-imagination of culture. radio pro- Meade suggests that when all sense is grams. During lost and all seems headed for destruction, these years it is “mythic sense” that is missing and and talks they mythic imagination that is needed. Not a developed a particular myth, but stories and “earthly close friend- wisdom” that reunite culture with great ship. On the Nature where the pattern of birth, death, infectiously stimulating conversations on and renewal prevails. Rather than the lit- these CDs, Campbell brings listeners into eral call for people to “save the planet,” deeper, richer touch with our mythic her- Meade suggests the issue is finding the itage. Central questions in the search for lost connections to the living Soul of the understanding and knowledge of the World and the Tree of Life at the center of greater weave of the universe in which we all spiritual paths. live are explored in a delightful and en- Also by Michael Meade are several oth- gaging way. er audio programs as well as his excellent You may have a success in life, but then book The Water of Life: Initiation and the just think of it—what kind of life was it? Tempering of the Soul. What good was it, if you’ve never done For more info: mosaicvoices.org. the thing you wanted to do in all your life?

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 39 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! THE HEART OF RELIGION !

THE INNER JOURNEY THE INNER JOURNEY Views from the Hindu Tradition Views from the Jewish Tradition edited by Margaret Case edited by Rabbi Jack Bemporad $25.95, paper. Morning Light. $27.95, paper. Morning Light. isbn 1596750138 340 pages, colour photos, French flaps isbn 1596750154 334 pages, French flaps, 16 pages in colour The Hindu tradition embraces rich and various beliefs and For over three decades, Parabola has used story and symbol, practices, and those who travel on an inner journey within it myth, ritual, and sacred teachings to give insight to those for can draw from a deep well of stories and songs, rituals and fes- whom religion is a path of discovery and questioning. tivals, sacred texts, and the guidance of holy men and women. Complementing its popular books on the Christian, Buddhist, The 60 essays, folk tales, and interviews in this volume are Islamic, and Hindu spiritual traditions, The Inner Journey: Views drawn from the best writings on Hinduism in the first 30 years from the Jewish Tradition presents a thoughtful composite pic- of Parabola, featuring articles from Coomaraswamy, Easwaran, ture of this ancient belief system. Here are some of the best Ramana Maharshi, Heinrich Zimmer, Nisargadatta, writings on the subject, featuring works from a wide range of Aurobindo, Yogananda, and 17 other authors who vividly ex- genres that delve into the spiritual byways of Judaism. Isaac plore what it means to follow in this tradition. Bashevis Singer, Martin Buber, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, and other important thinkers in The collection combines poetry and folklore with interviews and explorations on the field take on such topics as , the search for self, and divine and worldly topics such as the search for self, attention and remembrance, transformational works. Featuring beautifully reproduced colour artwork, this book is a chorus of pas- knowledge, and worldly and divine works. A lavish, full-colour, 16-page set of plates sionate voices that explore both the Torah and the Zohar of enduring Jewish mystic brilliantly conveys the rich variety within the tradition. From full works of great intri- thought. cacy to passages of pure insight, The Inner Journey: Views from the Hindu Tradition spans While Judaism is rightly characterized as the religion of the People of the Book and this ancient tradition’s greatest trends. For readers looking for an introduction to as an ethical ideal, the emphasis here is on its transformative aspect. Listen to the Hinduism or those seeking to expand their knowledge of it, the journey in this richly teachings of the greatest Jewish sages and masters of our time, to story, to parable and diverse book inspires and enlightens. poetry—and enter into the mystical dimension at the heart of this great tradition. Every disciple in his quest is fully aware that the personal discipline he has accepted has Behind all my ideas, the strongest idea of mine which is conveyed in my thinking, even a practical aim, which is the complete union of human consciousness with the highest more than in my writing, is freedom of choice. I feel that freedom of choice is the very reality. The goal is to transform the mental, vital, and even the physical nature of the being, essence of life. —Isaac B. Singer in “Demons by Choice” down to the smallest cells in the body, in order to attain to the understanding of the It is impossible to tell men what way they should take. For one way to serve God is by ultimate reality. the teachings, another by prayer, another way by fasting, and still another by eating. —Sri Anirvan in “On Being Oneself” Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him and then choose that Other matching volumes in the handsome Parabola Anthology Series are “views way with all his strength. —Martin Buber in “The Rung of Service” from” the Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. THE INNER JOURNEY Views from the Islamic Tradition THE INNER JOURNEY edited by William Chittick Views from the Buddhist Tradition $27.95, paper. Morning Light. edited by Philip Novak isbn 1596750170 318 pages, French flaps, 16 pages in colour $27.95, paper. Morning Light. The Inner Journey: Views from the Islamic Tradition is another isbn 1596750057 328 pages, French flaps, colour photos magnificent volume in the Parabola series. This book of es- With The Inner Journey: Views from the Buddhist Tradition, says, poems, and interviews by Islamic and Sufi poets, schol- Philip Novak, editor of The World’s Wisdom, selects the best ars, and storytellers is a much-needed compendium of works work from the Buddhist tradition to be found within from a complex tradition that holds timeless messages for Parabola’s 30 years of archives. The contributors, broad and contemporary readers. Contributors range from Rumi, Henry experienced, range from the Dalai Lama, Robert Thurman Corbin and Kabir Helminski to Seyyed Hossei Nasr, and Pema Chödrön to Thich Nhat Hanh, Robert Aitken, Annemarie Schimmel and Emma Clark—together they create Frederick Franck, Philip Kapleau, and others. Incisive inter- a mosaic of the Muslim view of the world and the cosmos, as views and cogent essays are informed by poetry and folklore. well as of Sufi rhythms and rituals. Contributions like “Out of the Hidden Root” by The writings are thematically arranged in sections such as A Baha’uddin Walad and “Slumber Seizes Him Not” by William Chittick promote a Well-Trained Mind, Nonduality and Freedom, Teacher and Student, Pulling Weeds, deeper understanding of one of the world’s great, and most misunderstood, spiritual Upon Awakening: Buddhist Ethics, On Pilgrimage, and All Things Must Pass: traditions. Buddhist and Death. The long story of the Islamic tradition circles around the journey to the Supreme A lusciously full-colour, 16-page set of plates brilliantly conveys the rich variety with- Beloved. Rumi, the great poet of ecstatic love, was inspired by the fire of yearning for in the tradition. From full works of great intricacy to passages of pure insight, the col- that Beloved. These essays remind us that this glorious journey of discovery still lies lection spans the richest veins within Buddhism. at the heart of the tradition, for it is deeply grounded in the reality of God, the struc- It is also well to remember that at the time the Buddha taught there existed neither Zen, ture of the cosmos, and the nature of the human soul. It has been pursued by Muslim nor Vajrayana, nor Theravada, nor any other of the world’s myriad Buddhisms. Once asked saints and sages from the beginning of Islam and has inspired a vast literature and en- to encapsulate his entire teaching in a few words, the Buddha did so in terms that outflank trancing culture. all divisions of school, lineage, or sect: The Quran says, “Wherever you turn, there is the face of God,” and, it tells us, “He Avoid evil, Cultivate the good, is with you wherever you are.” The understanding that God is always present has ani- Purify your mind— mated the personal piety of Muslims from earliest times. These essays by well-known This is the teaching of all awakened ones. scholars and excerpts from classical Islamic literature suggest the great variety of This book is one of a series on The Inner Journey drawn from the best of Parabola over routes that Muslims have followed to reach the vision of the Divine in all that exists. three decades. A full-colour 16-page set of plates samples the brilliant images that are part of the Islamic tradition.

your essential nature—the panse of peace and renewed tual surrender, how to access the higher Western Spiritual unified consciousness that purpose in each and every mo- intelligence that empowers “right action,” Teachers & Teachings lives in all things. ment. and more… such as: When Tolle wrote The Power The Art of Presence guides us ! befriending the “pain-body” (the accu- of Now, he pointed us in the di- through seven hours of teach- mulation of past suffering)—the first rection of something that’s al- ing insights that allow “presence step in removing its grip THE ART OF PRESENCE ways been right under our to naturally arise.” With his ! why “allowing” is the most powerful spir- by noses: life in this very instant. unique instruction, you will itual act, and how to practice it $79.00, 6 CDs. Sounds True. New on Yet why do so many of us con- learn how to ground yourself in ! what it means to meet another person. isbn 1591796377 7 hours DVD tinue to feel like we’re missing it? the vibrancy of your “inner $102.95, 6 DVDs. In every seemingly ordinary moment, a isbn 1894884515 8 hours Attention, he teaches, is the answer—a body” while simultaneous- profound depth and beauty awaits your Is it possible that the simple act of being quality of relaxed alertness that you can ly breaking free from the discovery. is not actually that simple? That to really progressively sharpen and sustain. In so illusion of separation from The Art of Presence is your opportunity to be here now requires practice, like any doing, you overcome the judgments and the outside world, how to join him for “a simple retreat” from the other skill worth learning? On The Art of limitations of the mind-made sense of self connect to “the perceiver” chaos and uncertainty of “the story of Presence, Eckhart Tolle invites you to deep- with its “endless stream of thoughts” of all your experiences to your life” into the ever-expanding aware- Eckhart Tolle en the moment-to-moment realization of about past and future, and find an ex- realize the wisdom of spiri- ness of the fullness of life in the Now.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 40 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! LEAPING RADIANCE !

LEAP Gangaji and her Guru Are You Ready to Live a New Reality? by Constance Kellough YOU ARE THAT! $19.00, paper. Namaste. Expanded Collector’s Edition isbn 1897238274 190 pages by Gangaji In our troubled world, it’s easy to feel alone—and, in our $30.50, cloth. Sounds True. era of campus shootings and terrorism, fearful. The Leap, by isbn 1591795885 340 pages Constance Kellough (whose Namaste publishing originally In 1990, Toni Varner met H.W.L. Poonja on the banks of brought us Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now), shows us that the holy river Ganga in India. In this meeting, the fulfill- we are far from alone—that we are part of something so en- ment she had been seeking all her life was revealed. compassing, we can never be alone. Confirming her realization of the true Self, Poonjaji named her Gangaji and instructed her to carry this transmission to Everywhere, I see more people waking up to the West. Today, Gangaji holds satsang around the world. the need to do what they can to take positive, loving action in their lives. They realize that something must be done to “The words themselves are charged with extraordinary break free of humankind’s conditioned insanity in order to turn our world aliveness and transformative power,” Eckhart Tolle says around. While taking what action they can within their own current about Gangaji’s writing. “This is because they have come out spheres of influence, increasingly they are thinking globally. of a living realization of the truth, rather than the accumulated knowledge of the Constance A global shift is occurring, she writes, in which we are edging our mind.” Kellough way toward becoming one world. Now, we must link to a sense of in- With You Are That!, Gangaji’s classic teachings—first delivered ner connectedness that few experience yet on a daily basis, but that more than a decade ago in two paperback volumes—are offered in is essential if we humans are to interact with each other peacefully. one book. Updated with new material from recent meetings, this edi- tion offers exposure to a larger audience of spiritual “finders” who As we become conscious of our inner oneness, we begin living from a different can now realize the perennial insights of Gangaji. mindset. We experience a deep stillness, from which an intuitive wisdom arises to guide every aspect of our personal lives and how we respond to each other. Eloquent and direct, she guides practitioners of all backgrounds through an inquiry into the self that often leads to unexpected is “not intended to be a quick read by the mind, but something that also The Leap Gangaji glimpses of awakening. “This is a moment of reckoning,” she teaches. speaks to the heart and spirit.” Some of the sections are “Your Finger Only Points “Do not take this moment casually or trivially. Recognize that for at You,” “The Push-Pull of Being Human,” “Noble Intention,” “The Evolutionary whatever reason, you are aware of the possibility of realizing the truth of yourself as Path to the Leap,” and “Radical Forgiveness.” And included are over 30 “Leap limitless consciousness—you are that!” Practices” such as: As stated by the publisher, “Words such as That, the Beloved, It, Self, and Truth ! Quickly Accessing Inner Stillness During Challenging Times are in reference to that vast, unnamable, eternal Presence; sometimes called God, ! For a Day, Observe How You Judge and Blame Christ-Consciousness, Buddha-Mind, existence, awareness, or whatever term is used ! Drop Your Drama in the vernacular of each particular culture and sub-culture.” ! Bless Yourself ! Be What You Want to See in Others Your body cannot be liberated. Your body is doomed to disappearance. Your body is ! bound by birth, hunger, disease, death, genetics, and environment. However, if you turn Invite Someone to Join You in Presence your face to That which permeates your body, That which surrounds your body, That ! Set Noble Intentions which your body arises in, exists because of, and returns to, you meet freedom itself. “An inspiring book that not only deepens the reader’s understanding of the aris- This meeting is liberation. ing new consciousness, but also offers many valuable and effective practices for “You will experience the quiet joy that comes not from unraveling a spiritual mys- awakening in daily life.” —Eckhart Tolle, author of A New Earth tery but from living as one. I recommend that you keep this book by your bedside and dip into its exquisite reservoir of nothingness whenever you can.” —Catherine Ingram, author of Passionate Presence RADIANT MIND ing, confused by seemingly vague or Awakening Unconditioned Awareness counter-intuitive teachings. To help us WAKE UP AND ROAR by Peter Fenner break through obstacles often challenging Collector’s Edition $25.95, cloth. Sounds True. for practitioners in our culture, Peter by H.W.L. Poonja isbn 159179577x 291 pages Fenner created the Radiant Mind prac- $27.95, cloth. Sounds True. isbn 1591795893 278 pages $70.00, 8 CDs. tice—an effective, practical approach for H.W.L. Poonja (1910–1997)—affectionately known as isbn 1591796075 9 hours Western students seeking to directly expe- Papaji—was only nine years old when he experienced his Available in two formats: rience and cultivate the healing power of first samadhi, an altered state of consciousness where subject ! a book nondual awakening. ! and object merge. As an adult, he sat in devotion with and an 8-hour CD workshop with extended My presentation of this material received the direct transmission of a silent mind from his teachings and practices based on the book dispenses with the doctrines and complex master Ramana Maharshi, and then went on to become a Whether it is called enlightenment, rituals that can attach to spiritual teacher in his own right, whose followers trekked across the pure presence, or traditions, and goes to the heart of their world to sit in his presence. “unconditioned liberating intention… You don’t have to Wake Up and Roar is a collection of satsangs (teachings) de- awareness,” there adopt a foreign set of beliefs, customs, or livered throughout his life, originally published in two paperback volumes, and now exists an awakened practices to benefit from this work or to bound in one elegant hardcover book with a new foreword from a principal student state of true libera- learn to rest in unconditional awareness. in his lineage, Gangaji. tion that is at the Drawing upon his background in both Presented in a question-and-answer format, Wake Up and Roar offers the student heart of every con- Eastern spirituality and Western psycholo- complete awakening, here and now, regardless of background, practice, or person- templative tradi- gy (he studied as a monk for nine years al circumstance. “The Self contains everything. There is nothing apart from it,” with Buddhist lamas including Sogyal tion. Yet according Papaji teaches. “This is why you can call it emptiness. There is nothing beyond Rinpoche), Fenner brings a precise, step- to Peter Fenner, emptiness.” by-step approach to non-dual practice that this experience of Blending humor, logic, and eye-opening storytelling, Papaji extends a gracious includes (these and more): boundless con- wisdom that speaks to the earnest seeker investigating the nature of mind, enlight- ! How to observe and dissolve fixations to sciousness does not enment, and “how to be in the world.” Papaji brings comfort and encouragement live in the here and now, without being have to exist sepa- to practitioners from all traditions at any stage of their inquiry into awakening. rately from your day-to-day “conditioned” controlled by your desires To stay at home, what path is needed? Desire gives rise to a path to lead you away ! existence. Rather, you can learn to live as Practices to deepen and stabilize your ex- from home. Desire of anything that is not permanent is the thief who robs you of peace a unique individual at the same time as you perience of presenceuntil it becomes sec- and happiness. If you have any desire, make it the desire to know who you are. rest in a unified expanse of oneness with ond nature * all existence—in a state he calls “Radiant ! Communication as a path to openness— Here, question the mind with itself: “What are you?” With just this question, the mind Mind.” for you and those around you will disappear, and this mind will be very happy in her own dissolution. The mind will While the beauty of this teaching has ! Tools for identifying your conscious and be very grateful to have this peace. The mind has been jumping from one branch to captivated many modern spiritual seekers, unconscious sources of suffering—and another branch, like a monkey. Neither it nor you were at rest. Freedom is here and the social conditioning of our culture of- learning to transcend those patterns. now.... Simply ask yourself: “Who am I?” ten creates barriers for Western practition- “This course brings the ultimately liber- ers that even the most advanced Eastern ating experience of selfless engagement masters have never personally encoun- within the reach of Western spiritual dis- tered. We can often feel frustrated in try- coverers. I highly recommend it.—Robert ing to follow the Eastern path to awaken- Thurman, author of The Jewel Tree of Tibet

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 41 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! TEACHERS & AWAKENING !

AWAKENING INTO ONENESS for the healing The Power of Blessing in the ORDINARY WOMEN, EXTRAORDINARY WISDOM journey that fol- Evolution of Consciousness The Feminine Face of Awakening lows. by Arjuna Ardagh by Rita Marie Robinson $29.95, paper. O Books. We grieve only $29.95, cloth. Sounds True. for that which we isbn 1846940680 260 pages isbn 1591795737 210 pages have loved, and A discovery in southern India has Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Wisdom is a collection of inti- the transient nature caught the attention of spiritual teachers mate, heartfelt conversations with a new generation of clear- of life makes love from every tradition, leaders from around eyed women sages and spiritual teachers who live and look and loss intimate the world, and mil- like ordinary people. They have kids, husbands, jobs, and bills companions. lions more. It is the to pay. What makes them extraordinary is In Good Grief pro- phenomenon that each woman has awakened to her true fessional grief edu- called the Oneness nature. While that sounds like enlighten- cator Deborah Blessing (also ment, it doesn’t look like the old stereotype of Coryell describes grief as the experience known as “deek- transcendence, detachment, and bliss. Quite the contrary. This is of not having anywhere to place our love, sha”), a powerful the feminine half of the spiritual journey—bringing it down to of losing a connection, an outlet for our Rita Marie earth and embracing all of what it means to be human. transfer of energy Robinson emotion. To heal grief we have to learn believed to elicit These real life stories show by practical example what it means to how to continue to love in the face of loss. the realization of be fully awake and fully engaged, to meet the world without resis- tance—even and especially when it’s not easy—whether it’s death, divorce or ill- Healing through our grief asks us, unitive conscious- demands of us, that we find our truth. ness. It is simply an ness. The invitation is explicit… “if these ordinary women can be fully awake and fully human, why not me, why not you? And why not now.” In Good Grief, Coryell gives inspiring infusion of scien- examples of how embracing our losses al- tifically proven “For the first time we are witnessing a spirituality that is a balance of the divine masculine and feminine: embodied, heartful, interconnected and profoundly hon- lows us to awaken our most profound con- brain-changing energy from a person who nections to other people. Though our so- has experienced a series of transmissions est. This book is a vibrant living testimony of this new spirituality.” —Arjuna Ardagh, author of The Translucent Revolution ciety tends to rank losses in a “hierarchy and is capable of sharing it of grief,” she reminds us that all losses with others, usually by “Have you ever wanted to have coffee with your therapist or spiritual teacher? Have you ever wanted to ask questions like, ‘What happens when you’re really must be grieved in their own right and on touch. According to Sri their own terms, and that we must honour Bhagavan, co-founder of pissed off?’ This book is like that. Except better, because Rita always seems to know just the right question to ask to make the whole journey utterly, magnificently hu- the “small” losses as well as the “big” ones. Oneness University, just Paying attention to even the most minute 64,000 people receiving man. Plus, her own journey in writing the book is equally fascinating, and she spins that yarn for you as both a wonderful writer and your close friend… one of those experiences of loss can help us to be more this blessing is enough to in tune with our responses to the greater Arjuna Ardagh ignite a transformation in books to savor, then age with gracefully until its dog-eared pages no longer need to remind you that you’re already Home.” —Raphael Cushnir, author of How Now ones, allowing us to once again become global human conscious- part of the rhythm of life from which we ness. Awakening into Oneness is an account See Booksigning info on page 7. have become disconnected. of the history, science, and transformative How can I turn the pain of what feels capability of the Oneness Blessing. like “should not have happened” into a The “reality” you want to study is put Ardagh shares dozens of firsthand ac- MIND IS A MYTH life- and love-affirming response? The together by the psyche or self, and I counts of Deeksha’s life-changing effects Disquieting Conversations answer is that love has no expiration emphatically deny both… I tried on individuals from all over the world, with the Man Called U.G. date, and it is infinitely recyclable. Take everything to find answers to my burning from the mystical children who first expe- by U.G. Krishnamurti the love you gave to the beloved and give obsession: “Is there such a thing as $19.95, paper. Sentient. it everywhere, give it always. For in the rienced it nearly two decades ago to its enlightenment at all, or have we all been isbn 1591810655 164 pages giving, you are healed. continuing exploration at the Oneness fooled by abstractions?”… I found out for U.G. Krishnamurti (1918–2007), in his University under the guidance of teachers myself that the whole idea of spirit of This 10th-anniversary edition includes a Sri Bhagavan and his wife, Sri Amma. conversations with the constant stream of psyche was false… Unable to find an 60-minute CD of the author reading select people who came to visit him, offered a re- The Blessing is something few will be answer from any source… The question passages from the text. freshing, radical, able to ignore in the years ahead. It has which had obsessed me for almost my “[For] people who are dealing with proven to be the fastest growing spiritual and unconventional entire life got burnt, then disappeared. grief or who are going through other ma- After that there were no more questions… development in living memory. appraisal of the en- jor life transitions, I draw upon Deborah tire human enter- Not answers, but the ending of questions, He explores the most common effects Coryell’s wisdom and expertise and rec- prise. For seekers of is the important thing. of the Oneness Blessing, from reduced ommend Good Grief as a resource for both God, happiness, or “U.G. Krishnamurti claims that he can- mental chatter and heightened awareness patients and physicians.” —Andrew Weil, enlightenment this not help us in our quest for enlighten- to effortless peace and the cessation of un- author of Eight Weeks to Optimum Health book will challenge ment. Paradoxically, I find this refreshing- wanted habits; the five major criticisms every aspect of the ly helpful. This work is an expression of aimed at the Oneness movement; why any- search. You will be U.G.’s exquisite mastery in penetrating the thing, when fully experienced, can be rec- MIND BEYOND DEATH rattled, and proba- many illusions to be found on the spiritual ognized as pure joy and bliss; how by Dzogchen Ponlop bly disagree with path.” —Jeffrey Mishlove, host of National Deeksha heals personal and professional $31.95, cloth. Snow Lion. much of what he Public Television series “Thinking relationships; and enlightenment as a spe- isbn 1559392762 312 pages has to say. For those who grow weary of Allowed” cific threshold of neurological function- A guidebook through the journey of the search and have developed a well-tem- Also by U.G. Krishnamurti is ing. The life and death, Mind Beyond Death weaves a pered skepticism, these conversations Mystique of Enlightenment. synthesis of wisdom remarkable in its The Oneness Blessing was different. It from 1983 and 1984 in India may prove in- scope. With warm was fast, clean, and accurate. It seemed to valuable. hit the mark every time and deliver the informality and goods. Moreover, it seemed to have an Is there actually anything like freedom, Dying, Near-Death profound under- intelligence of its own; it knew where to enlightenment or liberation behind all the standing of the go and what was needed, whether it was abstractions the religions have thrown at & Grieving Western mind, the healing, releasing memories, or just us? Dzogchen Ponlop deepening silence. His message is a shocking one: We are Rinpoche makes What is it about the Oneness Blessing all on the wrong train, on the wrong track, the mysterious that has ignited the hearts of so many? going in the wrong direction. He bears di- GOOD GRIEF Tibetan teachings rectly into the heart of matters, presenting This book tells the tale, and for more info Healing Through the Shadow of Loss on the bardos—the visit awakeningintooneness.org. his case simply, fearlessly, forcefully, and by Deborah Coryell intervals of life, Also by Arjuna Ardagh is The Translucent without corroboration, to any who wish to $22.95, Book+CD set. Inner Traditions. death, and be- Revolution. listen. Perhaps one of the most unusual isbn 1594771596 129 pages + yond—completely people to ever speak in the area of spiri- 64-minute CD Book available to the modern reader. tuality and enlightenment, U.G. This compassionate guide & CD Drawing on a breathtaking range of It’s always about the story… Investigate the Krishnamurti’s uncompromising chal- explores the nature of loss as material, Mind Beyond Death shows us how stressful thoughts you have about your lenge is for each of us to face the myths of a profound mystery shared by all human the bardos can be used to conquer death. condition until you see that it’s the perfect our minds. Highly regarded in India and beings. It offers sensitive and practical ad- Working with the bardos means taking condition for you. Europe, his books have been translated vice for experiencing grief and preparing hold of life and learning how to live with —Byron Katie into nearly every major language. fearless abandon. Exploring all six bar-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 42 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! DYING, WILBER, ESALEN ! dos—not just the three bardos of death— Mind Beyond Death demonstrates that the Ken Wilber’s Integral Vision secret to a good journey through and be- yond death lies in how we live. INTEGRAL SPIRITUALITY the great religions. He shows why full enlightenment Walking skillfully through the bardos of A Startling New Role for Religion is not possible without combining the enlightenment dream, meditation, and daily life, Ponlop in the Modern and Postmodern of the East, which excels at cultivating higher states of Rinpoche takes us deep into the mysteri- World New in consciousness, with the enlightenment of the West, ous death intervals, introducing us to their by Ken Wilber Paperback which offers developmental and psychodynamic psy- dazzling mindscape. This tour de force $23.00, paper. Shambhala. chology. Each contributes key components to a more gives us the knowledge to transform death, isbn 1590305272 336 pages integral spirituality. the greatest obstacle, into the most power- Why can religion be such a complex, confusing, Based on this framework, Wilber is able to make ful opportunity for enlightenment. With and polarizing force in the world? How could some- some timely suggestions. Because the world’s reli- both nuts-and-bolts meditation techniques thing that teaches so much love and life cause so gions have such a tremendous influence on the world- and brilliant illumination, Mind Beyond much death and destruction? This book provides in- view of the majority of the earth’s population, they are Death offers a clear map and a sturdy vehi- depth insight “under the hood.” in a privileged position to address some of the biggest conflicts cle that will safely transport the reader Using his acclaimed Integral Approach, Ken Wilber eluci- we face. By adopting a more integral view, and thus effectively through the challenging transitions of this dates the dynamics of spiritual experience responding to modern and postmodern critiques, the great re- life and the perilous bardos beyond death. and growth at the leading edge of human ligions could act as facilitators of human development, from “Very few things are more important evolution. mythic belief to rational science to postmodern pluralism—all than helping people come to terms with Integral Spirituality is Wilber’s most cut- the way up to enlightenment, and to a global society that hon- death—how to think about it, prepare ting-edge work on religion since The ours and includes all the stations of life along the way. oneself and others for it, and, just in case, Marriage of Sense and Soul (1998). It an- “Possibly the most important spiritual book in postmodern navigate it oneself when the time comes. It Ken Wilber swers the question: How can we validate times. Step by step, with luminous clarity, he unites all spiritu- is the great secret way to enrich one’s life, the existence of spiritual realities—the al traditions without diluting the potency of any one lineage or to live more vibrantly, happily, and loving- higher levels of mystical experience claimed by the world’s wis- tradition. I think this book is an antidote to the religious ani- ly.” —Robert Thurman, translator of The dom traditions—in the face of modern and postmodern at- mosity of our times. Anyone serious about raising the level of Tibetan Book of the Dead tacks that deny those realities as unscientific or reduce them to consciousness on this planet should read this masterpiece.”— “The complete spectrum of the social constructions? Dennis Genpo Merzel, Roshi Buddhist teachings on death is explained Wilber formulates a theory of spirituality that honors the Among Ken Wilber’s many brilliant books are A Brief History by Ponlop Rinpoche with remarkable clar- truths of modernity and postmodernity—including the revolu- of Everything and Sex, Ecology, Spirituality. For more on Wilber’s ity and thoroughness. These ancient tions in science and culture—while incorporating the legacy of integral views: integralnaked.org. teachings can, if we take them to heart, revolutionize our modern view of life and THE INTEGRAL VISION chology, health, art, or everyday living and learning— death, and possess an extraordinary po- A Very Short Introduction to the Revolutionary Integral the Integral approach ensures that we are utilizing tential to transform our way of living and Approach the full range of resources for the situation, leading dying.” —Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The to Life, God, the Universe, and Everything to a greater likelihood of success and fulfillment. Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Ken Wilber With easily understood explanations, exercises, and Also by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche are $21.00, paper. Shambhala. familiar examples, The Integral Vision shows how we Wild Awakening and Penetrating Wisdom isbn 1590304756 232 pages, colour illustrations can accelerate growth and development to higher, throughout wider, deeper ways of being, embodied in self, shared In The Integral Vision, the key components of Ken in community, and connected to the planet, which Wilber’s Integral Approach—a tool for “making can literally help with everything from spiritual en- Transpersonal sense of everything”—are distilled into a simple and lightenment to business success to personal relation- elegant full-colour presentation. ships. Psychology Suppose we took everything that all the various world cul- “This heady multidimensional approach is deciphered in tures have to tell us about human potential—about psycholog- this spiffy full-color paperback filled with pop culture graphics, ical, spiritual, and social growth—and identified the basic pat- tables, and charts. If you are interested in consciousness, com- terns that connect these pieces of knowledge. What if we plexity, maps, multiple intelligences, and more, here is a com- THE POWER OF KINDNESS attempted to create an all-inclusive map that touches the most prehensive philosophy that puts it all together.” —Spirituality The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a important factors from all of the world’s great traditions? and Health Compassionate Life Ken Wilber’s The Integral Vision provides such a map. Using Ken Wilber, author of many books including A Brief History by Piero Ferrucci, all the known systems and models of human growth—from the foreword by the Dalai Lama of Everything, is founder of the Integral Institute, a think-tank ancient sages to the latest breakthroughs in cognitive sci- $14.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. for studying issues of science and society, with outreach ence—it distills their major components into five simple ele- isbn 1585425885 225 pages through local and online communities such as Integral Naked, ments, and, moreover, ones that readers can verify in their own Piero Ferrucci calls it “global Integral University, and Integral Spiritual Center. experience right now. cooling,” a phenomenon of See www.integralinstitute.org. In any field of interest, such as business, law, science, psy- chilly human relations. Communications are hurried and imper- sonal. The drive for profit and wealth has Power of Kindness is instead a blueprint. steadily turn our world away from violence, ESALEN become a cherished value. And warmth Being kind, Ferrucci argues, does not self-centeredness and narcissism, and to- America and the Religion of No Religion and genuine presence have all but dis- mean becoming a human doormat or a ward love. Writing with a rare combination by Jeffrey Kripal solved into a sea cloying handservant. And of sensitivity and intellectual depth, $33.95, cloth. U. of Chicago. of materialism “Heaven save us from the Ferrucci shows that, ultimately, kindness is isbn 0226453693 and self-interest. fakes,” Ferrucci writes— not a luxury in our world, but a necessity 575 pages, b/w photos The Power of self-interested politeness, for us all. His book offers a lovely re- Esalen has always been on the Kindness is a stir- calculated generosity, su- minder of how good, and how easy, it is to edge. With its natural hot springs and ring examination perficial etiquette, and be kind. stunning beauty on the face of the Pacific of a simple but even kindness against “A book after my own heart.” —the Dalai coastline, the institute has long been a Piero Ferrucci profound con- one’s will. Lama world leader in al- cept. Piero Instead, kindness is composed of many Piero Ferrucci, a psychotherapist and ternative and expe- Ferrucci, one of elements, including qualities not immedi- collaborator with Roberto Assagioli, the riential education. the world’s most ately associated with it: flexibility, honesty, founder of Psychosynthesis, a school that The revolutionary respected transpersonal psychologists, ex- a sense of belonging, gratitude, attention, focuses on spiritual growth and positive ideas, transforma- plores the many surprising facets of kind- forgiveness, and more. In 18 interlocking qualities such as faith and joy, is also the au- tive spiritual prac- ness and argues that it is this trait, and this chapters, each devoted to a single aspect thor of What We May Be. tices, and innova- trait alone, which will lead not only to our of kindness, Ferrucci moves seamlessly tive art forms of own individual happiness and the happi- from tales of myth and legend to personal Whether we live as a jewel or as a knot de- Henry Miller, ness of those around us, but will guide us anecdotes to scientific research and philo- pends on whether we ride the rhythms that Joseph Campbell, in a world that has become cold, anxious, sophical treatises. He reveals that the kind- wake us or the rhythms that numb us. Aldous Huxley, difficult, and frightening. est people are the most likely to thrive, to —Mark Nepo, Allen Ginsberg, Not an ordinary self-help book, The enable others to thrive, and to slowly but from Facing the Lion, Being the Lion Fritz Perls, Alan

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 43 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! SHAMANIC JOURNEYS !

Watts, and many notable others are all a tive survey of the planet’s oneirogens, part of its remarkable story. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ranging all the way from recently popu- Scholar—and engaging storyteller— PSYCHOACTIVE PLANTS larized herbs to ancient Egyptian, Greek, Jeffrey Kripal here recounts the spectacu- Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications Celtic, Amazonian, African and medieval lar history of Esalen and its birth in the by Christian Rätsch, foreword by Albert Hofmann potions; to vitamins and hormones; to American counterculture. The institute $175.00, cloth. Inner Traditions. dream-inducing cheeses and fish species! was the remarkable brainchild of Michael isbn 0892819782 “This is an original and pioneering 944 pages, 8x11, 800 colour photos & 670 b/w illustrations Murphy and Richard Price. Set against the book, which hopefully will lead to ‘sweet In the traditions of every culture, plants have been heady backdrop of California during the dreams’ for the oneirically inclined.” — highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and trans- 1960s, Esalen recounts in fascinating detail Jonathan Ott, from the preface formative properties. The most powerful plants—those how these two maverick thinkers sought to known to transport the human mind into other dimen- fuse the spiritual revelations of the East sions of consciousness—have traditionally been regard- (“all those remarkable psychophysical Shamanism & Ritual ed as sacred. In The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants Christian Rätsch details the techniques of accessing and cultivating botany, history, distribution, cultivation, and preparation and dosage of more than contemplative states of consciousness and 400 psychoactive plants. He discusses their ritual and medicinal usage, cultural ar- energy”) with the scientific revolutions of tifacts made from these plants, and works of art that either represent or have been the West, or to combine the very best ele- THE WORLD OF SHAMANISM inspired by them. The author begins with 168 of the most well-known psychoac- ments of Zen Buddhism, Western alche- New Views of an Ancient Tradition tives—such as cannabis, datura, and papaver—then presents 133 lesser- known my, and Indian yoga into “a utopian ex- by Roger Walsh substances as well as additional plants known as “legal highs,” plants known only $20.95, paper. Llewellyn. periment creatively suspended between from mythological contexts and literature, and plant products that include sub- isbn 0738705756 the revelations of the religions and the de- stances such as ayahuasca, incense, and soma. The text is lavishly illustrated with 324 pages, b/w illustrations mocratic pluralistic, and scientific revolu- 800 colour photographs—many of which are from the author’s extensive field- This fascinating, comprehensive, and tions of modernity.” In their religion of no work around the world—showing the people, ceremonies, and art related to the readable guide explores shamanism—the religion, the natural world was just as cru- ritual use of the world’s sacred psychoactives. world’s most en- cial as the spiritual one, science and faith This comprehensive encyclopedia of the botany, history, distribution, and culti- during healing and not only commingled but became staunch vation of all known psychoactive plants also explores how using psychoactive religious tradi- allies, and the enlightenment of the plants in a culturally sanctioned context can produce important insights into the tion—in the light body—through self-enhancement and, nature of reality. of modern medi- yes, free love—could lead to the full real- Christian Rätsch, Ph.D., is a world-renowned anthropologist and ethnopharma- cine, psychology, ization of our development as human be- cologist who specializes in the shamanic uses of plants. He is the author of neuroscience, con- ings. Marijuana Medicine and coauthor of Plants of the Gods and Shamanism and Tantra sciousness disci- Darwin, Tantric sex, cold war physics, in the Himalayas. plines, and reli- psychedelic research, golf, and, of course, gious studies. religion all come into play in a book that After decades of can only be described as monumental. pies rub shoulders with psychiatrists, poets DRUGS OF THE DREAMING being demonized by clergy, diagnosed by Esalen’s story is a lens into our current fas- and international bankers. The magic Oneirogens: Salvia Divinorum psychiatrists, and dismissed by academics, cination with Eastern religions, our steadi- mushroom was only rediscovered 50 years and Other Dream-Enhancing Plants shamanism is thriving. So, what is fueling ly growing acceptance of spirit, touch, en- ago, but has accumulated all sorts of folk- by Gianluca Toro & Benjamin Thomas the West’s new fascination with shaman- ergy, and body-mind wisdom in daily tales and urban legends along the way. In $16.50, paper. Inner Traditions. ism? You’ll find the answer and more in life—and a surprising page-turner. this timely and definitive study, Andy isbn 159477174x 148 pages this thorough exploration of shamanism “Kripal tells the story of this beautiful re- Letcher strips away the myths to get at the Oneirogens are plant and animal sub- and its place in contemporary life. Dr. treat in California’s Big Sur—its history at true story of how hallucinogenic mush- stances that have long been used to facili- Roger Walsh—himself a psychiatrist with once sexy, salacious, intellectual and polit- rooms, once shunned in the West as the tate powerful and productive dreaming. decades of experience in meditation and ical—with reverence and playfulness alter- most pernicious of poisons, came to be an From the begin- shamanic disciplines—leaves no stone un- nating between the hushed tones of awe illicit drug of choice. ning of civilization, turned as he examines shamanistic tradi- and the glee of partaking in Esalen’s ‘gar- Chronicling the history of the magic dreams have guid- tions throughout history, and how they in- den of delights.’“ —Publishers Weekly mushroom from its use by the Aztecs of ed the inner and tersect with modern psychology and “This is a truly astonishing story of spiri- Central America and the tribes of Siberia outer life of human metaphysical studies. tual inspiration, global vision, political ad- through to the present day, Letcher takes beings both in rela- Are shamans enlightened or psychotic? venture, and delightful humor—and just a critical and humorous look at the drug’s tion to each other Decide for yourself as Dr. Walsh unveils at the right time. A genuinely hopeful vi- more recent manifestations. and to the divine. the life and mind of this revered figure. sion of what we yet could be in the mirror Since the 1970s we have identified hun- For centuries Delve into shamanic practices—healing, of what we have been. Stunning.” — dreds of hallucinogenic species, isolated shamans have em- altered states of consciousness, journey- Deepak Chopra their active ingredients, learned how to ployed oneirogens cultivate them on an industrial scale, and in finding meaning ing, channeling, vision quests—and dis- spread them around the world. More than and healing in cover if, how, and why they actually work. any other civilization that has come before their dreams. Clearly we have much to learn from Entheogens / us, we can claim to be magic mushroom Drugs of the Dreaming details the proper- much that shamans do—the myths they live by, the training they undergo, the enthusiasts. ties and actions of these dream allies, es- Psychedelics techniques they use, the crises they Informative, lively, and impeccably re- tablishing ethnobotanical profiles for 35 confront, the capacities they develop, the searched, Shroom presents a unique and oneirogens, including those extracted from states of consciousness they enter, the engaging study. organic sources—such as Calea zacatechichi understandings they gain, the visions they SHROOM “This is that most wondrous of finds; a (dream herb or “leaf of the god”), Salvia see, and the cosmic travels that they take. A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom magic mushroom book that dares to con- divinorum, and a variety of plants from The more we explore shamanism, the by Andy Letcher front modern orthodoxy, and does so in a North and South America and the Pacific more it points to unrecognized potentials $18.00, paper. Faber & Faber. way that actually advances our knowledge used in shamanic practices—as well as syn- of the human body, mind, and spirit. For isbn 0571227716 360 pages, b/w photos in the field… Some mushroom enthusi- thetically derived oneirogens. They ex- untold thousands of years the world of shamanism has helped, healed, and Is Santa Claus really a magic mushroom asts spend their entire careers on the oth- plain the historical use of each oneirogen, taught humankind, and it has still more to in disguise? Was Alice in Wonderland a its method of action, and what light it er side of the looking glass, but Letcher’s offer us. thinly veiled psy- sheds on the scientific mechanism of climb up out of the mycological rabbit “As if on cue, just when I am beginning chedelic mush- dreaming. They conclude that hole has let in a much-needed breath of oneirogens to think that shamanism is the ground room odyssey? Did fresh air. Shroom makes everything that has enhance the comprehensibility and facility from which all religions spring, along mushroom tea and come before it look like a fairy tale.” — of the dream/dreamer relationship comes this book. I cannot imagine a book kick-start ancient hold a powerful key for discerning the psy- James Kent, Dose Nation that would be more helpful to me in Greek philosophy? chological needs and destinies of dream- “Liberty Caps off to Andy Letcher for thinking through this important subject.” Much stranger ers in the modern world. steering such a wise path through this gar- —Huston Smith, author of The World’s than the fictions it Using a multidisciplinary approach that den of earthly delights.” —Strange Attractor Religions has inspired, the draws from ethnobotany, anthropology, “A brilliant integrative work that pushes world of the magic medical research, chemistry, and the the frontiers of consciousness in insight- mushroom is a We just need to hold each other more recorded experiences of “psychonauts” ful, practical, and powerful ways.” —- place where fully in the light. who have experimented with many of Angeles Arrien, author, The Fourfold Way shamans and hip- —Mark Nepo these compounds, they have compiled a Also by Roger Walsh are Essential rigorously researched, fascinating, exhaus- Spirituality and Higher Wisdom (editor). BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 44 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! MEDICINE WAYS !

Packed with charismatic characters, fa- CROSSING INTO MEDICINE HOW TO HEAL TOXIC THOUGHTS mous names, and never before revealed COUNTRY Simple Tools for Personal Transformation “magical instructions,” Sorcerer’s Apprentice A Journey in Native American Healing by Sandra Ingerman is an insider’s account of life with a man by David Carson $19.95, cloth. Sterling. isbn 1402742606 120 pages who was part Svengali, part genius. It is $21.50, paper. Council Oak. also a movingly written story of one isbn 1571782087 336 pages Every change we make in our consciousness ripples through the From the coauthor of the million-copy entire web of life. When we project toxic energy, it hurts all living woman’s quest for truth. The story tracks beings. When we feel peace, it helps bring all beings peace. two people approaching an affair from op- bestselling Medicine Cards comes this ab- posite agendas: Castaneda wanted to make sorbing account of initi- We may not realize it consciously, but negative feelings can her a “sorcerer”; she wanted to make him ation into ancient wis- be as toxic as physical poisons, wearing on us and causing de- a lover. dom and the healing pression, illness, and burnout. But how can we keep ourselves Sorcerer’s Apprentice unblinkingly reveals power of a Native safe in a world too often ruled by resentment, jealousy, rage, the inner workings of the “Cult of Carlos,” American shaman. Of and stress? How to Heal Toxic Thoughts provides the tools and run by a charismatic authoritarian in his Choctaw descent, David know-how, and it lies in the ancient principle of alchemy. Many people think that 60s who controlled his young female fol- Carson has absorbed the old alchemists were trying to turn lead into gold. But in actual- lowers through emotional abuse, mind and sought out Native ity, as Sandra Ingerman—a practicing shaman and psychologist, games, bizarre rituals, dubious teachings, American spiritual also author of Soul Retrieval and Medicine for the Earth—reveals, they and sexual excess. This is a captivating cau- knowledge since grow- were metaphorically working on transforming heavy leaded con- tionary tale about the dangers of giving up ing up in Oklahoma sciousness into a light-hearted, golden consciousness. Using al- one’s power to a tyrant—and about surviv- Indian country. He dis- chemical theories, Ingerman offers strategies for appropriately pro- ing assaults on body and spirit. tilled some of that knowledge in Medicine cessing and transforming the negative thoughts and emotions that Cards, the divination system based on tra- Sandra arise throughout the day. Instead of sending harmful energy, you ditional animal medicine that became a Ingerman will learn, through meditations, visualizations, and other exercises, Native American New Age bestseller in the 1990s. Now, in how to radiate positive thoughts and shield yourself from those that Medicine Ways Crossing into Medicine Country, he tells the are destructive. Ingerman’s methods are simple, but have the power to change you, story of his initiation as a others, and the world. conjure man—a ceremoni- In our work together, you will learn to identify your toxic thoughts, transmute your al healer—with the negative energy, and shield yourself from the harmful influences others are projecting MEDICINE DANCE Choctaw medicine woman out of ignorance. I will show you simple way’s to transform who you are in the world so One Woman’s Healing Journey into the World Mary Gardener. For three that you can become a true expression of peace. of Native American Woman’s Healing Journey years, he studied the arts into the World of Native American of power plants and medi- from the first to the eighth chakra. Each Sweatlodges, Drumming Meditations and THE CHAKRAS IN SHAMANIC David Carson cine animals, how to ma- PRACTICE chapter addresses one chakra, examining Dance Fasts nipulate the layers of ener- the developmental challenges it by Marsha Scarbrough Eight Stages of Healing and Transformation gy surrounding human beings, and how to embodies… The chapter then explores the $19.95, paper. O Books. isbn 1846940486 by Susan Wright use sacred tobacco in ritual, curing, and shamanic tasks that help people heal the 192 pages $21.50, paper. Inner Traditions. divination. Through Mary’s teachings, of- isbn 1594771847 sometimes painful, paralyzing, and Marsha Scarbrough finds herself di- energy-draining issues that can grow out ten conveyed in folk tales of the primor- 258 pages, b/w photos, colour print vorced, middle-aged, living in L.A. with a of less than successful resolution of that dial healer Yellow Tobacco Boy, and The chakra system identifies eight cen- downhill career in phase. through his own, sometimes mind-bend- ters in the psycho-anatomy of humans, film production… ing experiences, he gives us a glimpse into each one associated with a different part and then is given a an alternate reality, in which health and ill- of the physical or bad mammogram. ness express the balance between man energy body. Susan SORCERER’S APPRENTICE After fruitless visits and nature, and Western notions of J. Wright, a practic- My Life with Carlos Castaneda to doctors she hears by Amy Wallace physics do not always apply. This is a fasci- ing shaman and of a Native $24.95, paper. North Atlantic. nating personal narrative, rich in spirit Gestalt psychothera- American visionary isbn 1583942068 420 pages, 15 b/w photos and Native American lore. and teacher in town pist, uses her own As with Carlos Castaneda’s doing private heal- life journey to show writings, so with the writings New in ings, one Joseph that each chakra of those who “knew” him: Paperback Rael, also known as Wicca, Pagan Paths also is linked to a the truth seems slippery yet Beautiful Painted different stage of energized. Arrow, and goes to him for treatment. emotional and spiri- Carlos Castaneda, tual development. When her doctors finally schedule an ul- author of The WISDOM OF THE ELEMENTS In trasound, they find… nothing. This is just The Chakras in Teachings of Don The Sacred Wheel , she identifies eight key the beginning of an apprenticeship with Shamanic Practice Juan, The Art of of Earth, Air, Fire and Water developmental stages of life, from birth to Beautiful Painted Arrow to learn more Dreaming, and a by Margie McArthur about these ancient ways of healing. old age/death. Each of these life stages number of other $20.50, paper. Crossing. Marsha endures a range of treatments in- has various developmental challenges and books offering ac- isbn 0895949369 168 pages, 8x10 cluding sweatlodges, marathon walking This in-depth examination of the magi- potential traumatic events that will likely counts of shamanic meditations, and a three-day dance-fast. In cal elements and the elemental tools of occur and affect the health and well-being power and process, this fast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny mem- magic is a superb of the individual. was increasingly oir she shares the wisdom gained from her self-contained Wright explains that life traumas expe- reclusive and secre- experiential participation in Native course in earth- rienced in particular developmental stages tive. His “true” ac- American shamanism and illustrates the magic and the become lodged within the energy body as counts of his ap- relevance of this ancient tradition to con- deeper Mysteries they cling to their corresponding chakra. prenticeship to a Mexican shaman temporary life. for the Witch and By identifying and working with the brought him unusual cultural numinosity. The cultivation of personal “medicine” the Pagan. It opens chakra involved, a doorway can be opened But what was Castaneda really like? to a world of transformative images, allow- is central to the healer’s power and the doors of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice is the behind-the-scenes ing powerful shamanic techniques to heal effectiveness. This focus on developing mind into a fasci- account of Amy Wallace, who spent 10 intuition, inner peace and sensitivity to these psychic wounds. Providing both nating and deeply years inside Castaneda’s inner circle. energy is what distinguishes the shaman… rewarding array of physical exercises and guided meditations Wallace and Castaneda had been acquain- Some readers may be offended by the intellectual and that utilize the techniques of soul retrieval, tances for 17 years before he drew her into idea of a white woman “playing Indian.” spiritual adventures that will continue for working with power animals, and tran- his group of disciples. Castaneda assigned Please trust that I have the deepest respect years. scending trauma, Wright offers practition- her sorceric tasks and taught her secret rit- for the sacred traditions and ancient wisdom of all people. My way of honoring ers a way to gather and nurture the frag- uals, and the two became lovers, even as The air we breathe, the water we drink, that wisdom is to attempt to experience it mented parts of their energy body and Amy tried to deny mounting evidence that the fire that warms us, and the earth we lead themselves to physical, emotional, as best I can. stand upon are but the manifestation, at she was part of a harem. During his final and spiritual well-being. “ Rarely have I read anything that gets as our physical level of being, of the years, Castaneda instructed Wallace to tell close to the whole truth about health, dis- immense universal powers known as the The process that you will engage in by her story, should he die, from the view- Four Elements. The Elements manifest all completing the tasks in this book involves ease and relationships.” —Christiane point of someone “at the heart of the sor- around us, in their various combinations, moving through the chakras sequentially, Northrup, author of Women’s Bodies, cerer’s world.” Women’s Wisdom

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 45 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! WESTERN TRADITIONS !

in such a multiplicity of forms and THE HOLY BOOK energies, and on all levels of life—the OF WOMEN’S MYSTERIES physical, mental, emotional, and By Z. Budapest spiritual—that their presence and power is $22.50, paper. Weiser. an inescapable fact of our lives. And not isbn 157863413X 352 pages only are they, quite literally, the stuff of A classic back in print, The Holy Book of which we and the whole world are made, they are, in their subtle form, the energetic Women’s Mysteries is essential for Pagans, template for the stuff of which we and the feminists, and women seeking to learn whole world are made. more about the spiritual path as it relates to the feminine and the Goddess aspects Knowledge of the four elements is fun- of witchcraft and Wicca. This book is not damental to the mystery traditions that in- about reinstating a matriarchy or tearing clude Tarot, Astrology, Wicca and down patriarchy; it is about women’s spiri- Ceremonial Magick. Persons working with- tuality and its relationship with politics in those traditions—or those who just seek and lifestyle. Z. Budapest is one of the greater esoteric knowledge—will therefore founding mothers of modern women’s find Wisdom of the Elements a valued source- witchcraft, beginning with the establish- book because McArthur has compressed ment of Susan B. Anthony Coven in Los so much basic information and philosophy Angeles in 1971. She catapulted herself into one book. into the media spotlight when she was McArthur speaks eloquently of our rela- tried as a witch and found guilty in 1975 af- tionship to the earth, and our responsibil- ter being arrested on Venice Beach for ities to it. She offers valuable “how-to” sec- reading tarot cards. She fought the tions that draw the reader/ritualist into charges and, after a nine year battle, won wanting to “learn by doing it yourself.” A the right for every tarot reader to do so wealth of guided meditations and rituals legally. are presented, with many others outlined, The Holy Book of Women’s Mysteries is a inviting the reader to work out details by seminal text that con- oneself. The guided meditations, or inner- tains invaluable infor- plane journeys, are refreshing narra- mation on Dianic tions—both profound and beautiful. witchcraft and spells, including everyday SUMMONING THE FATES magick, sabbat ritu- A Guide to Destiny and Sacred als, and divination Transformation methods; a section on By Zsuzsanna Budapest how vegetarian theo- $17.50, paperback. Llewellyn. ries and politics re- Isbn 0738710830 226 pages, French flaps late to witchcraft and Colourful and authentic, optimistic and the feminine aspect; wise, Summoning the Fates is an updated edi- and a good deal of information on god- tion of Zsuzsanna Budapest’s classic 1998 desses and how the patriarchal religions guide. A pioneer of the women’s spiritual- distorted old myths to serve their own ity movement, Z. uses fairy tales, historical needs. There are several unique and beau- lore, astrological cycles, and personal sto- tiful Rites of Passage for women and men ries to describe the stages and roles of a that you don’t often find, and Budapest’s woman’s life and the three Fates (“raw personal life stories are an equally valuable forces of nature”) who rule over each read, from her escape across the moun- stage: Urdh (“the spinner” of youth), tains from Communist Hungary to her Verdandi (“the weaver” of adulthood), fight for women’s religious freedom upon and Skuld (the “woman with shears” of the moving to America. crone years). This reprint features a new introduction When we summon by Z. Budapest, in addition to essays by lu- the Fates, we call them minaries Starhawk and Merlin Stone. out from their deep hiding place in the unconscious. We draw Christian & Jewish them slowly into the conscious mind, Spirituality illuminated by goodwill and understanding. This eternal magic can CHRISTIANITY: THE ORIGINS transform the powers that rule us from the OF A PAGAN RELIGION misunderstood three Hags into the by Philippe Walter wonderful three Graces. Or at least we $21.95, paper. Inner Traditions. hope so. There are no guarantees with this isbn 1594770964 218 pages force. But there are certain practices, a kind of etiquette of interaction with the This extensive study of the Christian Fates, that have worked for people before. mythology that animated medieval Europe We call it the technology of the sacred. shows that Christian mythology is primari- ly of pagan inspira- Budapest also offers some beautiful ritu- tion and that very als, potent poems, and down-to-earth ad- little of it comes vice to help you connect with the Fates and from the Bible. embrace your own unique destiny. The fact that “Z. spins the old stories, the wise woman Christianity grafted ways, the web guarded by the Fates… A itself onto earlier rich, embroidered, detailed, evocative, pagan worship was beautiful, sensual, practical, useful book no mystery to the from the loving heart of Z. Budapest. — Church Fathers, Susun Weed, author of Menopausal Years Philippe Walter ex- the Wise Woman Way plains. Pagan ele- ments were incor-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 46 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! THE CHRISTIAN WAY ! porated into the Christian faith on the ad- and his cohorts has anything to offer us in vice of Pope Gregory the Great, who told THE ESSENTIAL WRITINGS today’s world. Saint Augustine of Canterbury that rather OF CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM Cowan’s journey takes him to the place than tear down the pagan temples in edited & with an introduction by Bernard McGinn where Anthony lived, Britain, he should instead add the pagan $26.95, paper. Random House. Mount Colzim, in rituals into the mix of Christian practices, isbn 0812974212 559 pages Egypt, and to the thus providing an easy transition to the This clear and comprehensive anthology, culled from monastery that still ex- new religion. It was simply a matter of con- the vast body of Christian mystical literature by the ists near the site of his vincing the populace to slightly redirect renowned theologian and historian Bernard McGinn, pre- hermitage. Here, the their focus to include Jesus. sents nearly 100 selections, from the writings of Origen of author encounters a In this highly documented work Walter Alexandria in the 3rd century to the work of 20th-century modern hermit-monk, shows which major calendar days of the mystics such as Thomas Merton. Included in this vast trea- Lazarus, who becomes Christian year are founded on pagan ritu- sury are the choice fruits from the writings of Meister the author’s spiritual als and myths, including the high holidays Eckhart, John of the Cross, Augustine of Hippo, Teresa of guide, directing his of Easter and Christmas, a time when Avila, the Philokalia, Francis of Assisi, Simone Weil, reading in the many pagans prepared for the coming of Mechthild of Magdeburg, Catherine of Siena, the Cloud of Unknowing, and many, monastery library and spirits who would leave gifts for those who many more—both well and lesser known. engaging him in the theological conversa- honored their coming. Indeed, the identi- Uniquely organized by subject rather than by author, The Essential Writings of tions that make up the heart of the book. ties of saints and pagan figures were so in- Christian Mysticism explores how human life is transformed through the search for Cowan comes to regard Anthony and termingled that some saints were even direct contact with God. Part one examines the preparation for encountering God the men and women who shared his transformed into pagan incarnations. through biblical interpretation and prayer; the second part focuses on the mystics’ lifestyle in the 4th through 7th centuries Mary Magdalene, for instance, became actual encounters with God; and part three addresses the implications of the mys- with affection and awe—their departure to one of the ladies of the lake of Celtic leg- tical life, showing how mystics have been received over time, and how they practice the desert a flight from the status quo of end. He also explores how the hagio- their faith through private contemplation and public actions. the newly Christianized empire in order to graphic accounts of the saints in the scrip- In addition to his illuminating Introduction, Bernard McGinn provides accessi- preserve the radical path to liberation they tures reveal the origin of these symbolic ble headnotes for each section, as well as numerous biographical sketches and a se- saw in Christian teaching. Our modern ef- figures to be the deities worshiped in pa- lected bibliography. forts toward liberation may look different gan Europe for centuries. from theirs, he says, but the ultimate goal is no different, and Anthony remains a lu- THE NAG HAMMADI SCRIPTURES minous model for anyone who passionate- International Edition ly seeks to know God. MAGICAL CHRISTIANITY edited by Marvin Meyer, The Power of Symbols with an introduction by Elaine Pagels This book is about an unusual journey for Spiritual Renewal $44.95, cloth. HarperCollins. to investigate a region of the heart not by Coleston Brown isbn 0060523786 576 pages accessible to me before. There were no $20.95, Book+CD set. Quest. Almost everyone has heard of the discovery of the Dead maps, timetables, or travel arrangements. The destination was unclear also. While isbn 0835608557 170 pages + 78-minute CD Sea Scrolls, but relatively few seem to know that an equally making this trip I allowed myself to be Christianity is rooted in symbolism. For spectacular discovery was made in Egypt near the town of those of us raised in the Christian tradi- consumed by a thirst for the ineffable. In Nag Hammadi only two years earlier (1945). Thirteen pa- addition there was one piece of advice tion, the biblical stories we learned as chil- pyrus books were found containing 52 previously unknown dren are as real as the that Anthony gave me that I assiduously texts connected to the ancient Christian movement known followed: don’t expect resolution; but Book Christian revelation itself. & CD as . Often named after familiar biblical figures rather, accept the path as wayless. Learn From Noah’s Ark to the part- like James, John, Peter, and Paul, these books describe doc- how to lean out of yourself and gaze back ing of the Red Sea and from the Three trines the orthodox church found heretical, such as salva- at who you are. Magi present at tion through knowledge, or , rather than faith. Also by James Cowan is A Mapmaker’s Christ’s birth to Some of the more important texts include the Gospel of Thomas, which contains Dream. the Resurrection, the sayings of a Jesus who is more like a witty Zen master than a saviour; the the symbols Apocryphon (Secret Book) of John, which describes the classic Gnostic myth of the found in these expansion of the divine realm and the imprisonment of the soul in matter; the NEW SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION stories are as Thunder, Perfect Mind, in which a female divine figure describes herself in striking by Thomas Merton, with a new introduc- much alive in our contradictory imagery; and the Gospel of Truth, a breathtaking and profound trea- tion by Sue Monk Kidd culture today as tise on the precise nature of the spiritual knowledge which the Gnostics sought. $18.50, paper. New Directions. they were thou- The Nag Hammadi Scriptures also contains translations of two Gnostic texts discov- isbn 0811217248 208 pages sands of years ered a century earlier, notably the Gospel of Mary, in which Mary Magdalene is por- In print for more than 40 years, New ago. trayed as Jesus’ favourite disciple, privy to secret knowledge which had been denied Seeds of Contemplation has served as a guide Many currently the men. Each text is introduced by expert scholars, and today, a generation after to the contemplative life for generations popular books its original publication in 1978, this book remains the only complete translation of of spiritual seekers, blend Christian the entire Nag Hammadi discovery. Included are introductions, notes, tables, and Christians and non- and magical elements. The main charac- tools to help the reader understand the context and contemporary significance of Christians alike, who ters of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, these texts that have shed new light on early Christianity and ancient thought. have praised it as a for instance, are replete with Christian The Gnostic writings describe a deeply mystical spirituality, similar in many ways to notable successor in symbolism. And let’s not forget J.K. Buddhism and Hinduism and yet distinctly Western, which can still provide answers to the meditative tradi- Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The Goblet of the spiritual questions which nag at us today much as they did when the Egyptian tion of St. John of Fire speaks of one of the most primal ele- monks were forced to bury these scriptures 17 centuries ago. the Cross, The Cloud ments in magic and Christian mythology, of Unknowing, and fire, which represents the beginning and the medieval mystics. end of all creation. The word contempla- now known as the Western Magical DESERT FATHER Coleston Brown—scholar and expert on tion is itself some- Tradition. A Journey in the Wilderness the esoteric Christian traditions—reaches what problematical, Readers will be captivated by the sym- with Saint Anthony far beyond any other book of its genre to according to Merton: “It can become al- bring us a truly experiential form of bols covered, including the Sphere, the by James Cowan $21.00, paper. Shambhala. most a magic word, or if not magic, then Christianity. Drawing on the myths, leg- Axis, the Holy Fire, the Center, the Wheel isbn 1590302370 256 pages ‘inspirational,’ which is almost as bad.” In ends, lore, and symbols inherent in the of Life, and the Planes of Being. He even The spiritual exploits of Anthony the this modern Christian classic, Merton re- Christian tradition, Brown reveals the po- details the magical power of sacred archi- Great—the prototype of the Christian her- veals contemplation to be nothing other tential in all of us to use, as he does, tecture rich in the Christian tradition as a mit-saint—have been immortalized in sto- than “life itself, fully awake, fully active, Magical Christianity as a practice for heal- basis for magical practice. Experiential ries and art since the 4th century. Desert fully aware that it is alive.” The 39 short ing and regenerating the spirit. meditations end each chapter and ex- Father is the account of one man’s jour- “seeds” that make up this book are in- Brown combines the insights he gained panded versions of most of the exercises ney—both inward and outward—to go be- tended to awaken and cultivate the con- as a student under Gareth Knight, a with appropriate sound effects and music neath the accumulated legends of this templative, mystical dimension of the spir- renowned authority on Kabbalistic magic, are included on the CD. strange and renowned figure of the early itual path for everyone. with his own study of ancient texts and “This is practical mysticism and enlight- Church (who lived in tombs and fought Every moment and every event of every practice of the esoteric Christian tradition, ened magic in formidable combination!” with demons), to discover whether the se- man’s life on earth plants something in his developing this new work, the official text —Gareth Knight, author of Experience of the Inner Worlds vere but compelling way of life of Anthony soul. For just as the wind carries thousands and formal course of training in what is of winged seeds, so each moment brings BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 47 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! JUDAISM, SUFISM & RUMI !

with it germs of spiritual vitality that come to rest Rumi’s 800th Birthday Celebration imperceptibly in the minds and wills of men. Most of RUMI, POET OF THE HEART passion of Rumi’s poetry are Robert these unnumbered seeds with Coleman Barks, Robert Bly & others Bly, Deepak Chopra, storyteller perish and are lost, because $27.95, DVD. Magnolia Films. Michael Meade, Huston Smith, and men are not prepared to isbn 9991493352 58 minutes others. Musical performances by oud Thomas receive them: for such seeds Celebrate Rumi’s 800th birthday with this beautiful, master Hamza El Din and world music Merton as these cannot spring up anywhere except in the soil award-winning 1998 film produced by Haydn Reiss. Originally artist and chant-master Jai Uttal add to of freedom, spontaneity, and love. broadcast on PBS, the film explores in heartful words and mu- this inspiring, “wine-soaked” film. It’s New Seeds of Contemplation is a revised sic how the 13th-century Persian mystic Rumi has New on narrated by Academy Award nominee and expanded version of Merton’s earlier become the bestselling poet in North America. DVD Debra Winger. book Seeds of Contemplation, covering a di- Rumi, Poet of the Heart presents Coleman Barks, “A full cup for the tasting.” —New verse range of subjects including faith, the pre-eminent contemporary translator of Rumi’s postry, in Age spiritual wonder, “the night of the senses,” live performance and intimate conversation. His collection, “It can’t get any better than this.” — and renunciation. The Essential Rumi, has delighted both devoted and new read- EarthLight Magazine of Spiritual Ecology ers. Joining Coleman to celebrate the earthy, joyous, spiritual RUMI: BRIDGE TO THE SOUL People ask, but which roof is your roof? INVITING GOD IN Journeys into the Music and Silence of the Heart I answer, wherever the soul came from Celebrating the Soul-Meaning translated by Coleman Barks and wherever it goes at night, my roof of the Jewish Holy Days $21.50, paper. HarperCollins. is in that direction. by David Aaron isbn 0061338168 92 pages From wherever spring arrives to heal the ground, from $18.00, paper. Shambhala. Coleman Barks, who was recently awarded an wherever searching rises in a human being. isbn 1590304586 208 pages honorary doctorate in Persian language and litera- There are many books that explain how The looking itself is a trace of what we are looking for. ture by the University of Tehran for his 30 years of But we have been more like the man to celebrate the holidays; Inviting God In translating Rumi, has collected and shows us why we should celebrate. Using who sits on his donkey translated 90 new poems, most of and asks the donkey where to go. biblical references, anecdotes, and teach- them never published before in any form. The Be quiet now and wait. ing tales, Rabbi result is this beautiful edition titled Rumi: It may be that the ocean one, David Aaron Bridge to the Soul. The “bridge” in the title is a the one we desire so to move into and become, takes us reference to the Khajou Bridge in Isphahan, desires us out here on land a little longer, through the Iran, which Barks visited with Robert Bly in going our sundry roads to the shore. Jewish liturgi- Coleman Banks May 2006—a trip that in many ways prompted Coleman writes, “I wrote this book to celebrate Rumi’s 800th cal year and ex- this book. The “soul bridge” also suggests birthday with, hopefully, a continuously unfolding metaphor plains how Rumi himself, who crosses cultures and religions and brings us that has several interchangeable parts: the Khajou Bridge in each major hol- all together, regardless of origin or creed, in the magic of his Ispahan, Rumi’s poetry, this human sojourn, a May evening of iday—from the spiritual caravan. hearing the silence that we remember when we sit by water, and most joyous to You that give new life to this planet, that intricate silence itself. It is a grandiose, imperfect gift. I am the most you that transcend logic, come. I am only hoping it will inspire spontaneity in someone. Rumi’s poems somber—re- an arrow. are just what they are, nourishment for the soul. Let someone veals God’s Fill your bow with me and let fly. else explicate them. I want to move with their motions.” ever-present Because of this love for you Also by Coleman Barks are The Soul of Rumi and Rumi: The love for us. my bowl has fallen from the roof. Book of Love. In Inviting Put down a ladder and collect the pieces, please. God In, Rabbi Aaron explores the deeper SPIRITUAL VERSES verse beautifully conveys the poetry of the original meaning of the Jewish holy days. Passover, by Rumi, translated by Alan Williams Persian couplets, while his introduction discusses he explains, celebrates un- $21.00, paper. Penguin. how the modern reader might approach Rumi’s writ- conditional love; Shavuot isbn 0140447911 422 pages ing. reminds us of freedom and I am the slave of that attractive lamp He layers his writing. He begins a story and then responsibility; Rosh from which your lamp received illumination. quickly moves into telling another story within that story, Hashanah is about account- Slave of that wave of oceanic light and another one within that… The Masnavi is a didactic ability; Yom Kippur sancti- which washes up a jewel such as this… poem bound together by the poet’s own voice, which is fies forgiveness. Rabbi The longest single-authored “mystical” poem ever itself composed of many voices moving between the high Rabbi David Aaron helps us to awaken written (well over 50,000 lines—twice as many as and low registers of its range, just as the nay, with which Aaron our connection to the his- Dante’s Divine Comedy and five times as many as Rumi begins the work, ranges through its several octaves. torical events that occurred Milton’s Paradise Lost), the Masnavi-ye Ma’navi, or Alan Williams has translated the first book “as faith- on those days, and to experience the holi- “spiritual couplets,” is the masterpiece of the Persian Sufi tra- fully as possible, and at the same time into a poetic form, days as opportunities to revitalize our rela- dition. Its author, Jalaloddin Rumi (1207–1273), was a poet namely iambic-pentameter couplets of blank verse. I have tried tionship with God. and mystic of the highest attainment, but he was first and fore- to keep faith both with the Persian language and with the po- most a spiritual teacher, and his Masnavi is a ladder to the spir- A holiday… is a holy day. It is… a time etic integrity of the couplet form. This first book of the to infuse paradise into the everyday. This itual world, leading the reader to the ultimate goal of the Sufi Manavi is the key to understanding the whole work.” is the power of celebration. My guess is path—union with God. Alan Williams’s translation into blank that the word celebrate connects to the THE RUBAIS OF RUMI ed into any of the languages of the contemporary Western word celestial. And from a Jewish Insane with Joy world. Now, Nevit O. Ergin, the translator of the complete perspective that would make sense, translations & commentary Divan-i Kebir, and Will Johnson present here 233 of the most because a Jewish holiday is a time to see the celestial within the terrestrial. It is a by Nevit Ergin & Will Johnson evocative of Rumi’s 1,700 rubais. time to acknowledge how the Divine $19.50, paper. Inner Traditions. Rumi urges us to dive deep into the interior of our heart and enters our world and meets us in time. isbn 1594771839 216 pages soul, to that place in which we once again merge and connect A Jewish holiday is referred to in Rumi is well known for the over 44,000 with the divine. Anything less, he says, than a complete dis- Hebrew as a Moed. This actually means a verses that appear in a 23-volume collec- solving into divine union will not provide the satisfaction and date or a meeting. In other words, a tion called the Divan-i Kebir. Yet Rumi also peace that we seek. The profound spiritual truths and visions holiday is a date with God. composed 1,700 rubais, short aphorisms contained in The Rubais of Rumi light the way to the path of re- Rabbi Aaron is an enthusiastic guide, and observations, whose depth and mes- connection to the direct energies of God. and his fresh view of the holidays can en- sage belie their brevity. the secrets of the mind’s attainment liven and enrich traditional observance. The form of rubais first became well known through the can only be found in madness Inviting God In will appeal both to practic- 11th-century collection The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. But un- whoever has become insane with love becomes the wisest one of us all ing Jews who want to reinvigorate their ob- like Khayyam, who like most poets would sit and carefully craft each word, Rumi would compose and speak his poems whoever gets familiar with the mysteries of servance of the holidays and to secular the heart through the spontaneous “language of poetry” that poured Jews who would like to find a new way to becomes a complete stranger to himself reconnect to their Jewish roots. from his lips as he traveled the streets of Konya, Anatolia (pre- Also by David Aaron is The Secret Life of sent-day Turkey). Very few of Rumi’s rubais have been translat- God.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 48 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008

! SUFISM, ASTROLOGY & TAROT !

THE GARDEN OF TRUTH Jalalludin Rumi met a wandering “jewel” The Promise of Sufism, named Shams-i-Tabriz. Upon meeting, the PLANETS IN PLAY Islam’s Mystical Tradition two men went into private retreat together How to Reimagine Your Life by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and emerged 90 days later in a radiantly Through the Language of Astrology $29.95, cloth. HarperCollins. transformed condition. And the astonish- by Laurence Hillman isbn 0060797223 256 pages ingly gorgeous wisdom-well of poetry that $22.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. We’ve all read about the laws and poli- poured through Rumi for the rest of his isbn 1585425877 348 pages tics of Islam, but Sufism is the poetry and life continues to nourish over 700 years Planets in Play is the first foundational book that lets the romance of the world’s fastest growing re- later. Rumi is now the most popular poet reader re-imagine his or her inner life through the self-ex- ligion. This ascetic and mystical movement in North America! ploratory language of astrology. Author Laurence Hillman— within Islam dates In The Spiritual Practices of Rumi, Will a widely respected astrologer with a loyal following and a for- from the early 9th Johnson unfolds the radical spiritual prac- midable online presence—reconnects the planets with the century. It has a tice that transpired between Rumi and character traits given them by the ancients. long and respected Shams. To put it simply, they sat and gazed Whether or not one accepts astrology as being “real,” its tradition of reject- into each other’s eyes. Because the eyes language and concepts can go a long way toward helping us see the archetypes that ing worship moti- are portals to the soul, their sustained gaz- play on our lives. In observing the strengths, weaknesses, and character traits of vated by the desire ing formed the basis of a devotional prac- each planet and zodiac sign, readers will receive a toolbox filled with instruments for heavenly re- tice that opened the doors to a profound- with which to newly understand their lives. ward or the fear of ly ecstatic state of divine union. He also The reader will then be able to make more conscious choices about how he or punishment, insist- explains how one may embark on the prac- she is living out these different aspects. To that end, Hillman provides specific tac- ing rather on the tice of intentional gazing to experience tics and highly practical ideas of how to expressly nourish or minimize these ten- love of God as the the state of ecstatic divine union. dencies through choice of behaviour, lifestyle, and personal surroundings. Case ex- sole valid form of From all accounts, what the two were amples, stories, and anecdotes run throughout the book to demonstrate and ease adoration. Nasr is doing together was nothing less than dying this process. the preeminent Sufi scholar in the U.S., into love, and such an experience is In its appendices, Planets in Play provides a guide in how to get a quality astro- and in the tradition of Martin Buber’s I rightly spoken of as a mystery. But logical reading, with an emphasis on one’s dominant archetypes. In addition, and Thou, here provides the beliefs and vi- wouldn’t it be wonderful to participate Hillman offers a basic grounding in astrology for those readers, therapists, or coun- sion of the mystical heart of Islam. ourselves in the practices that let them selors who wish to learn how the ancient art works at a psychological level without Sufism has made significant contribu- grow wings and fly toward the sun? necessarily committing themselves to its study. tions to the spread of Islam and the devel- Using the poetry and words of Rumi to Laurence Hillman (son of James) is a highly regarded professional astrologer, opment of various aspects of Islamic civi- document this radical practice step-by- teacher, and lecturer, and a force in the movement to merge astrology with depth lization (e.g., the Sufi poet Rumi is the step, Johnson leads an extensive search psychology. Also by him is Alignments. Visit his website: lhillman.com. bestselling poet in North America). Many through Rumi’s life to uncover the mysti- conservative Muslims disagree with many cal secrets of divine Union in sacred popular Sufi practices, particularly saint friendship and intimate partnering. Stephen Arroyo here explores how astrol- the Tarot. Described worship, the visiting of tombs, and the in- When you truly meet another in this ogy as a language of energy can be as- by many as “the Bible corporation of non-Islamic customs. way, at the depth of your souls, you both toundingly accurate and useful in illumi- of Tarot readers—a Consequently, in recent centuries Sufism pass over the threshold of separation and nating individuals’ energy exchange in all classic that will never has been a target for Islamic reformist and find yourselves swimming together in the close relationships. The preface, author’s outgrow its useful- modernist movements. ocean of union. Where formerly there note, introduction, ness,” the book has Here is the book that presents the ideas were two separate beings, two separate and early chapters of brought awareness of minds, two separate souls, now suddenly and principles held dear by this peaceful, Person-to-Person myth and modern there is a merger into a larger loving tradition within Islam, along with a conglomerate of being. The waters of this Astrology lay the psychology to the concise history of Sufi saints and schools sea are comforting beyond any ocean groundwork for seri- Tarot’s ancient eso- of thought. Sufism is a much-needed cor- you’ve ever bathed in. ous consideration of teric symbolism. In rective to the extremist Muslim funda- astrology as a signifi- This invitation “to enter into the experi- this new edition, The mentalists who capture the headlines and cant discipline. The ence to which Rumi’s poetry alludes and Major Arcana and The taint our perception of the religion of one- following chapters , and to mark out of which it was born” explores how Minor Arcana are together fifth of humanity. detail the influence the occasion, Rachel Pollack has revised that could look and feel today, “a wonder- “Nasr’s book is not a how-to introduc- of the four ele- and updated the book in light of her 30 ful set of practices that you and your tion on removing the veils erected by im- ments—Fire, Earth, years’ teaching, reading, and writing about friend can enter into right now.” perfection, which manifest as evil and Water, Air—on the Tarot cards. She has also written a new block our divine roots, but a wise and tan- What does matter is for you to hold on 12 signs, with a particular emphasis on the preface describing her own journey to your beloved and for your beloved to talizing overview.” —Publishers Weekly rising sign (Ascendant). through the Tarot’s world of symbols. This hold on to you through the shared Among other books by Seyyed Hossein connection of your gaze. Hold on to that The author shows readers how to exper- book uses the Rider Waite Deck as visual Nasr is The Heart of Islam. connection, and let it guide you in your iment by comparing birth charts, and ex- symbols. journey. Whether you physically touch or plains, through detailed descriptions, peo- Readings teach us a general lesson, and not, embrace each other through the gaze, ple’s psychological motivations and needs a very important one. In a manner no THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES and enjoy the feeling of two souls based on the positions of their Moon, explanation can possibly equal, they OF RUMI becoming one. Venus, and Mars. Appendices include as- demonstrate that no card, no approach to Radical Techniques for Beholding the Divine Also by Will Johnson is Forbidden Rumi. trological definitions, keywords, and sign life, is good or bad except in the context by Will Johnson Visit him at embodiment.net. tables that allow readers quick access to of the moment. $19.50, paper. New in the basics. Written in the author’s trade- Finally, giving readings gives each person a chance to renew his or her Inner Traditions. Paperback mark clear, accessible style, Person-to-Person isbn 1594772002 182 pages instinctive feeling for the pictures Astrology presents a new approach to find- themselves. All the symbolism, all the Using Rumi’s ecstatic poetry and what is Astrology, Tarot ing fulfillment in any kind of relationship. known of his life, this book purports to re- archetypes, all the explanations given in & Divination Stephen Arroyo has authored eight this book or any other can only prepare veal the actual books, which have made him one of the you to look at the pictures and say, “This practices that bestselling authors of modern astrology card tells me...” transformed books worldwide. Also by him is Astrology, draws on Rumi from a Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom Karma & Transformation. mythology and esoteric traditions and conventional PERSON-TO-PERSON ASTROLOGY delves deeply into the symbolism and Islamic scholar Energy Factors in Love, Sex, ideas of each card. It also gives the cards a into the mystic and Compatibility SEVENTY-EIGHT DEGREES OF modern psychological slant based on the poet who origi- by Stephen Arroyo WISDOM nated the dance $24.95, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. pictures rather than a system of occult A Book of Tarot . It also provides a concise his- of the whirling isbn 1583942041 symbolism by Rachel Pollack tory of tarot, introduces common spreads, dervishes. 320 pages, 50 pages of astrological tables $22.50, paper. Weiser. and is a clear and readable book for both In 1244, in Using a new language of energy based isbn 1578634083 368 pages the beginning and more advanced tarot what is now on the ancient “four elements” and in har- Now together in one book, the two vol- student. Konya, Turkey, mony with that used by the more ad- umes of Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom have Also by Rachel Pollack is Seeker: The vanced healing arts, renowned author inspired a whole generation of students of Tarot Unveiled.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 49 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! DIVINATION & METAPHYSICS !

action in our everyday spiritual practice. New Oracles Every chapter refers to some aspect of contemporary life and issues of immedi- THE BOOK OF SYNCHRONICITY divination traditions necessary. The technique is sim- ate concern. The Game of Divination ple: ask a question and then throw a die, while con- Elegantly written, with irony and hu- by Oberto Airaudi centrating on the question. Each answer is gained by mour, Godwin’s writing is not meant to $29.95, paper. North Atlantic. throwing the die four times, with more than two mil- preach but rather inform us on an often isbn 1556436831 272 pages + set of dice lion possible synchronistic combinations for each baffling field. Educated readers who are A modern translation of an ancient book of mag- consultation. The Book of Synchronicity draws on uni- curious about the esoteric and mystery ic by the contemporary Italian spiritual leader versal wisdom to help seekers solve personal prob- traditions and interested in finding sur- Oberto Airaudi, The Book of Synchronicity taps into lems, obtain advice, and gain insight into their spiri- prising, new approaches to subjects that the “Synchronic Lines”—rivers of spiritual energy tual evolution. veer away from the trends of current that flow through the universe. These lines link the Oberto Airaudi is the founder and the spiritual thought will be particularly drawn to this various celestial bodies and the intelligences that guide of the Federation of Damanhur in Italy, an eco- book. can access them. The lines’ path on Earth, according society and a United Nations award-winning model The Golden Thread weaves deep insights to the book, takes the form of 18 Major Lines for a sustainable future. In Damanhur, in keeping into the history of Western esoteric through which pour ideas, dreams, thoughts, and information. with the local tradition of adopting animal names, he goes by thought, revealing its hidden though Whenever a reader consults The Book of Synchronicity, he or she Falco, the hawk. foundational impact on the modern is in effect accessing this flow of knowledge. Damanhur is known for its Temples of Humankind, an ex- world. Godwin’s clear voice guides and ex- Easy to understand and use, the book can be consulted im- traordinary underground cathedral constructed by its citizens, pands our understanding in unexpected mediately for quick answers as well as longer divination and dedicated to the reawakening of the divine in every hu- and rewarding ways, illuminating fascinat- processes, with no further study or outside knowledge of other man being. ing and little explored areas of the peren- nial philosophy.” —John Jenkins, author EASY TAROT spreads. There is even a list of card combina- of Unlocking the Secrets of 2012 book by Josephine Ellershaw tions that commonly indicate specific “Godwin has the rare gift of discussing & Gilded Tarot deck by Ciro Marchetti events—such as pregnancy, a wedding, a new history—and esoteric history, no less—in $21.95, cards. Llewellyn. job, and more. an erudite yet very accessible way that is a isbn 0738711500 The cards contain archetypal images, pictures, pleasure to read. The Golden Thread is not book, 78-card deck & layout sheet and symbols that make a connection with one’s to be missed.” —Jay Kinney, coauthor, “You don’t need a special ‘gift’ to read subconscious mind...The Gilded Tarot is Hidden Wisdom; former editor, Gnosis tarot,” insists Josephine Ellershaw. And to breathtakingly beautiful; the magic and mystery prove it, she has boiled down 30 years of ex- of its images instantly transport you into another perience into a straightforward, easy-to-use dimension. This is really most important, for AND THE tarot guide for beginners. More than just a manual, Easy Tarot your cards should provoke an instant inner response, regardless NATURE OF REALITY is a boxed kit that also includes The Gilded Tarot—a stunningly of whether you understand it. With each image presented, it is Exploring the Out-of-Body State akin tobecoming immersed in the scene and merging into the beautiful and popular deck by the well-known Ciro Marchetti. by John Magnus story. How I wish these cards had been available when I first $19.00, paper. Hampton Roads. Ellershaw gently guides novices to become proficient, sensi- began to learn! tive, and responsible readers. Suit by suit, she introduces the isbn 1571744479 296 pages distinct characteristics of the minor arcana, court cards, and A quick guide to card meanings, sample readings, safe- Astral Projection and the Nature of Reality major arcana. You will learn how the cards link to one another guards, ethical guidelines, as well as tips for keeping a tarot di- goes beyond preconceived notions about and produce insightful relationships as their unique energies ary and what to do if the cards “don’t seem to connect”, are all how to get out of the body and then back merge in the Cross of Truth, the Celtic Cross, and other covered in this well-rounded introduction to tarot. in, as well as the dimensions to which the out-of-body adven- PATH OF THE SOUL DESTINY CARDS spond to joy by smiling. turer can travel. Intuitive Fractal Energy Art Physics is even showing a fractal re-construction Magnus starts with a by Cheryl Lee Harnish of DNA induced by states of Bliss which many brief history of astral $25.99, cards. Spirit’s Way. believe are a part of our evolution in Ascension. projection and then isbn 0978304705 44-card deck + 65-page booklet Digitally-generated images which “show” how guides the reader Destiny cards, often also referred to as tarot nature designs everything, fractals are one of the through a step-by- cards, divination cards or oracle cards have “new tools” on the planet today, to aid us in at- step course for reli- been used for centuries as a tunement. The 44-page guidebook which is in- able projection. He means of looking into the energetic and spiri- cluded with the deck gives heart-centered insight into each of explains how, once tual path of an individual. This deck, by vi- the fractal art card’s meanings. The guidebook is intended to out-of-body, we cre- sionary artist Cheryl Lee Harnish (who lives in be just that—a guide. All words and card meanings are con- ate our own astral Vancouver, B.C.), shimmers with high vibra- tained within the book, not on the cards—which allows a read- world, and he offers tions and loving energy. Each card is a magnif- er’s own intuitive guidance to be sensed in connection with the techniques for understanding our mind icent fractal artwork in itself. images themselves. and the nature of reality. Cheryl Lee Bridging the worlds of complex physics and Each reading from the Path of the Soul Destiny Cards offers in- Magnus offers detailed exercises and Harnish mathematics, fractal art has more resonance in sight into the emotional, physical or spiritual well-being of the proven techniques for reliably exiting all aspects of being—physical, spiritual and en- individual, focusing on the development of the soul and bring- your body, confronting the basic fears ergetic—than you might have imagined. Each intuitively chan- ing to light the many gifts a person has to offer, soul purpose that can hold you back, taking advantage neled fractal art piece created by Harnish emanates an energy; and path in life. of psychic side effects, taming your mind, in essence, it is like a “living organic art” and our auras re- These gold-trimmed cards make a lovely illuminated art gift, navigating a world in which you have the spond to this energy by expanding, the same way our bodies re- whether or not you use them for divination. ultimate power to create, integrating the lessons you learn from OBEs into your everyday reality, replenishing your energy, Moving chronologically from ancient ditions as stages of spiritual development. and much more. Metaphysics Egypt to 20th-cen- The Western Esoteric Tradition, includ- Incisive journal entries of his more than tury Europe, he ing , Gnosticism, alchemy, 100 out-of-body adventures will convince & Philosophy covers Hermes, magic, and , can be viewed as a you that it can be done and give you the Zoroaster, continuous “golden thread” running be- inspiration to go farther than you ever Orpheus, neath the surface of Western history. thought possible. THE GOLDEN THREAD Pythagoras, Plato, Those within the walls of traditional “Those readers who are eager, like The Ageless Wisdom the Gnostics, the faith—and even more so those outside it— Magnus, to “get [their] mind and body in of the Western Mystery Tradition alchemists and have drawn upon its perennial wisdom shape for the big exit” and experience by Joscelyn Godwin Rosicrucians, throughout the ages. worlds “that may or may not resemble our $19.95, paper. Quest. Freemasons, and The Golden Thread traces the intercon- physical universe” have come to the right isbn 0835608603 200 pages the Theosophists, nectedness of esoteric wisdom in the place. Magnus is passionate about his sub- In this concise survey, Godwin identifies as well as others. Western world, lending personal perspec- ject, knowledgeable in personal experi- the great movers and shakers of the Godwin views tive to an arrangement of text that is his- ence and adept at describing his topic Western Mystery Tradition, providing a each of these tra- torical and wisdom that is timeless, creat- with clarity.” —Publishers Weekly brief history and description of each. ing a source of inspiration that calls us to

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 50 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! VISIONING THE WAVES OF CHANGE !

2012 — Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities 2012 THE RETURN OF QUETZALCOATL times threatening experi- It seems to me that the accelerated destruction of the by Daniel Pinchbeck ences, disparate threads and biosphere by modern civilization is a willed cataclysm New in $18.00, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. synchronicities made new forcing an accelerated evolution of human consciousness isbn 1585425923 408 pages Paperback sense: Humanity, every sign to a more intensified state of awareness … The Cross Umberto Eco, Aldous Huxley, and Carlos suggested, faces an imminent destruction seems to be necessary to force our evolution, as humans are very good at finding a comfort zone and Castaneda and you get the voice of Daniel Pinchbeck, decision between greater self- staying in it. It was necessary to create a pressure-cooker whose first book, Breaking Open the Head, has been potential and environmental situation where there could be no safety zone except by hailed as the strongest contribution to psychedelic liter- ruin. The Mayan “birth date” completing the work of alchemical transformation. One ature since Terence McKenna. Yet nothing quite pre- of 2012 could herald the close way to describe what is happening is a “collective pares you for the lucidity, rationality, and informed au- of one way of existence and process of individuation.” … I think we are on the dacity of this seeker, skeptic, and cartographer of the beginning of another, threshold of that event now. Despite all current hidden realms. symbolized by the prophesied appearances, I believe there is reason to believe that post- In tracing the meaning of the end of the Mayan return of the Mesoamerican 2012 post-history will be a utopia of the lived and Calendar in 2012, and the imminent transition from deity Quetzalcoatl, the myste- realized imagination that will exceed our wildest dreams. one world to another prophesied by the Hopi, rious “Plumed Serpent” of ancient myth. In just the nick “A daring and intriguing, sometimes deeply disturb- Pinchbeck synthesizes indigenous of time, the skeptical modern mind can reclaim the sup- ing, very well researched and extremely readable book cosmology, alien abductions, pressed psychic, intuitive, and mystical dimensions of that puts an entirely new slant on 2012. From quantum shamanic revivalism, crop circles, being, and institute a new planetary culture. But it is physics to aliens; from crop circles to ; psychedelic visions, the current eco- only—and by no means assuredly—possible if we con- from shamanic hallucinogens to Rudolf Steiner; from logical crisis and the Judeo-Christian front the environmental catastrophe staring us in the the Amazon jungle to Stonehenge to Burning Man; Apocalypse into a new vision for our face. from fragments of jaundiced autobiography to the end- time. This is a riveting inquiry into Something is in the air: many, if not most, of us feel ing of worlds, Pinchbeck takes us on a mind-bending, Daniel Pinchbeck where humanity is immediately that real change—for good or ill—is afoot. Pinchbeck’s paradigm-rattling ride.” —Graham Hancock, author of headed—and its strange and star- journey is a metaphysical opus that tells the tale of a sin- tling congruence with the ideas of the Classical Maya. gle man in whose trials we ultimately recognize our own “Its conclusions are surprisingly robust, original, and A journalist, Pinchbeck found himself increasingly secret thoughts and unease over modern life. He offers thankfully optimistic.” —Sting pulled into the shamanic and metaphysical realms he a redemptive vision of where we are heading. In a re- was reporting on. As his mind opened to new and some- cent interview, he said:

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS OF 2012 The Mayan shamans ! Izapa as the origin place of the 2012 calendar and the Galactic Wisdom from the Ancient Skywatchers recorded essential spiritual “uncorrupted vision” of the early Mayan skywatchers by John Major Jenkins wisdom for those who are alive ! How the “Hero Twins” creation story encodes a hidden $29.95, 3 CDs. Sounds True. AUDIO at key moments in the cosmic blueprint for the evolution of human consciousness isbn 159179613x 3.5 hours cycle. As 2012 draws nearer, it ! The spiritual practices of the Mayan mystics, featuring becomes more and more Did the ancient Mayans predict that the “end of time” a guided exercise based on their shaman- important that we understand would occur in 2012… or is that a modern misunder- what they had to teach. ic traditions. standing of their intended message? Researcher John In the growing interest surrounding the year 2012, Major Jenkins, author of Maya Cosmogenesis 2012, goes On this 3-CD audio pro- John Major Jenkins has emerged as the most knowl- to the source—the original Mayan calendar found in gram, John Major Jenkins in- edgeable and trusted expert on ancient Mayan culture the city of Izapa—to find some astonishing answers. On vites you to explore the mysteries of the Mayan legacy, and its beliefs. On Unlocking the Secrets of 2012, listeners Unlocking the Secrets of 2012, he reveals that Mayans be- including: can discover the perennial wisdom passed down from ! lieved 2012 was not an ending, but a central point in the What is the Galactic Alignment of 2012? The astro- these extraordinary early astronomers—and why their rhythmic succession of human history. nomical phenomenon predicted by the Mayans, and message is so important to us today. how it will affect us

THE MYSTERY OF 2012 the original Mayan calendar and ahead as humanity responds to an overtaxed Nature’s Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities the wisdom it embodies “wake-up call”—the time for which we each were born. by Various Authors, edited by Sounds True ! Gregg Braden’s examination of Whether you are a skeptic, a true believer, or simply $25.95, paper. Sounds True. the scientific evidence for a shift in “2012-curious,” The Mystery of 2012 offers a thought-pro- isbn 1591796113 417 pages the earth’s magnetic field, and how voking and comprehensive exploration into the possi- Are we really coming to the end of a cosmic cycle? it will affect all life bilities of this approaching landmark in human history. Will there be an age of awakening, a new step in human ! Barbara Marx Hubbard’s and Pe- Over the years, questions about 2012 have continued evolution, or even an end to the world we know? For ter Russell’s explorations of the ac- to resurface in my awareness, and with increasing years, archaeologists have known the Mayan calendar celerating pace of evolution—why urgency. Each year I meet more and more highly predicts this date (December 21, 2012) as the end of an we may literally be transforming intelligent and serious spiritual practitioners who have era on Earth. Yet today, more and more researchers, into a new species seen, through direct inner vision, that the planet is being spiritual explorers, and even scientists are witnessing ! Ecologist Joanna Macy’s vision of offered an opportunity to evolve during this 2012 signs that 2012 will mark a critical shift in the history of “The Great Turning,” and how we can take part in this window. They believe that 2012 offers a “gateway of our planet. Now, for the first time, leading teachers on shift to a life-sustaining culture possibility,” an opportunity for awakening that requires ! the 2012 phenomenon present their insights in a single Daniel Pinchbeck’s investigation of the shift of con- our immediate attention. Moreover, a growing number of book: The Mystery of 2012. sciousness that will be necessary for humanity to sur- visionary writers and thinkers from diverse backgrounds— With articulate and lucid essays from dozens of vive 2012 futurists, scientists, artists, eco-philosophers, and social renowned experts on the question of 2012, this yeasty ! on the coming “Jump Time,” and her theorists—are writing about 2012 and the decade that anthology offers the information necessary to examine practical tips for dealing with its impact on your life follows as a time of unprecedented and accelerated the mystery from spiritual, economic, ecological, and ! Corinne MacLaughlin’s discussion of using spirituality planetary change… scientific angles—and to decide for yourself whether and consciousness to influence business and political Our goal has been to create an “investigative 2012 will end with a whimper or a bang. Among the pre- trends, how these arenas are already shifting and what reader”—a book designed to aid the open-minded person dictions and revelations in the book: we can expect in the next decade in exploring the mystery of 2012 efficiently, thoroughly, and from a number of different vantage points. ! John Major Jenkins’ journey to the source for answers— ! James O’Dea’s inquiry into the rich time of healing —Tami Simon, from her introduction

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 51 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! KRYON & THE ARCTURIANS !

How does it work? “The plained much about our THE INSTRUCTION Transmissions geometric forms,” Janosh changing times. Kryon Living the Life Your Soul Intended & Revelations explains, “provide an extra 11 is a compilation of fa- by Ainslie MacLeod dimension to our natural vorite live channelings $27.95, cloth. Sounds True. senses, activating our phys- from many different isbn 1591796059 268 pages ical, emotional, and spiri- places over two years. Have you ever sensed that your life has SACRED GEOMETRY Janosh tual evolution.” Sacred There are many refer- a deeper, more meaningful purpose—but Unlock Your Potential Geometry gives you a syner- ences to the Jews and to don’t know what it is? Psychic Ainslie with the Keys of the Arcturians getic collection of tools, including: Israel and Palestine, and MacLeod’s high-level by Janosh ! 33 stunning contemplation cards, each included are three chan- spirit guides have given $35.95, Sounds True. nelings given live in Israel, plus the infor- him a systematic ap- isbn 1591795648 89-page study guide, 33 with a hologram and its corresponding mation given from two re- proach to uncovering cards, journal, pad, pencil, CD theme—plus a display easel ! cent visits to the United who you really are—and Is there a geometric design to the uni- 100-page tracing-paper pad and pencil for Nations. the life your soul has verse? The ancient Greeks, Mayans, a kinesthetic experience with the holo- grams that “imprints” their underlying The word apocalypse planned for you. messages into your consciousness comes from the Greek and The problem is that ! 80-page hardcover journal for deeper re- literally means “lifting the most of us don’t know flection on the qualities and goals you are veil.” Is there anyone who what it is we actually working toward. thinks things are as they used to be? We want. We end up sailing Also featuring an 89-page study guide are indeed at a crossroads of civilization, from one place to the next, hoping to find and the loving and comforting words from who or what we’re looking for through explaining the principles and practical ap- luck rather than design. plications of sacred geometry, and a music this Angelic entity called Kryon continues CD by neuropsychologist John to give us clarity. The Instruction offers an alternative to this hit-or-miss approach. It explains how Consemulder for relaxation and focus If you are going to accomplish to create a happier and more purposeful while contemplating Janosh’s art, Sacred something and please anyone, then please life by finding out who you are and why Geometry will assist you in the activation of the divinity that you came with. Seek you’re here. your deeper potentials. peace on Earth and see yourself as an Egyptians, and others believed so, as evi- Now this unique teaching is offered as a More info: www.janosh-art.com. instrument of the divine intelligence that denced by their use of nature’s recurring created you. Claim the inside; stand step-by-step program for realizing person- mathematical patterns in up and claim that you are ready to be the al fulfillment. The Instruction will take you Multimedia architecture, music, and Lighthouse you came to be in a trying and through ten “doorways” to unveil the life Learning KRYON 11: LIFTING THE VEIL language. Today, this “sa- difficult time. plan your soul created before you were Kit cred geometry” finds new The New Energy Apocalypse by Lee Carroll This 11th Kryon book in this series rep- even born, including: expression in the creations of Dutch ! $18.00, paper. Kryon Writings. resents a culmination of live channelings Your Soul Age: Determining how it graphic artist Janosh, whose work has isbn 1888053194 384 pages all over the earth. Where is Earth going? Is shapes your beliefs and behaviors swept across Europe. With Sacred Geometry, ! Kryon is a loving angelic energy and 2012 a year to fear, or to celebrate? What is Your Soul Type: Are you a Hunter? he shares the life-changing gift revealed to Lee Carroll is the original Kryon channel. our real task on Earth? Thinker? Creator? What your Soul Type him in a series of meditative visions he re- Since 1989, the loving information from Kryon’s message has never changed, but reveals about your true self ceived from an energetic intelligence he this partnership has changed lives and ex- the things he spoke of in 1989 have all More info on Ainslie: soul-world.com calls the Arcturians. come about.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 52 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! GUIDANCE & BUSINESS !

dren’s futures and theirs. Read and lift Esther & Jerry Hicks & ‘Abraham’ your expectations; a saner world is possi- ble, and surely most desirable.” —Ray THE ASTONISHING POWER OF EMOTIONS Now, what if someone told you that you do have a Anderson, Founder and Chairman of Let Your Feelings Be Your Guide purpose in this life, and that your purpose is that of Interface, Inc. by Esther & Jerry Hicks allowing more joy? And what if someone told you that the $17.95, Book+CD set. Hay House. true measure of your success in life is your joy? isbn 140191246x 262 pages + audio CD As you read The Astonishing Power of Emotions, you’ll HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD $47.95, 8 CDs. “come to appreciate, and make peace with, where you Social Entrepreneurs isbn 1401912478 8 hours, unabridged are right now, even though there is so much more that and the Power of New Ideas This book by Esther and Jerry Hicks, who present the you may desire. Every thought you absorb will bring by David Bornstein teachings of the Non-Physical entity Abraham—their you to a greater understanding of your own personal $19.95, paper. Oxford. previous very popular books include Ask and It is Given, value and will show you how to open your own doors to isbn 0195334760 358 pages, b/w photos The Law of Attraction and The Amazing Power of whatever you may wish to be, do, or have.” Now published in more than 20 coun- Deliberate Intent—will help you understand the emotions that Abraham says: tries, How to Change the World is the first book to study a remarkable and growing you’ve been experiencing all of your life. Instead of the out-of- We will devote this entire book to assisting you in going with control, knee-jerk reactions that most peo- the flow of your natural Well-Being. We will discuss the essence group of individ- ple have to their ever-changing life experi- of nearly every conceivable situation that you could find yourself uals around the ence, this work will put those responses in, and we will offer guidance and suggestions that will cause world—social en- into a broader context. You’ll come to un- you to turn and go with the natural Current. We will help you trepreneurs. derstand what emotions are, what each of consciously rediscover the amazing sensory perception that you These men and them means, and how to more effectively were born with that helps you determine the direction of your women are true path. Jerry & Esther utilize your new awareness of them. bringing innova- Hicks Jerry Hicks writes in his preface: A free CD excerpt from an Art of Allowing Workshop with tive, and success- This is practical, Leading Edge information Abraham is included with the book. ful, grassroots that you can immediately put to use in order to create more of approaches to a what you want, or in order for you to be of more value to others. wide variety of social and eco- THE LAW OF ATTRACTION CD ! Ask and It Is Given: The P nomic problems, COLLECTION es assists you in reconnecting with the “Non-Physical” from rural pover- by Esther & Jerry Hicks AUDIO part of yourself, which will help you achieve anything ty in India to dis- $47.95, 13 CDs. Hay House. you desire. As you apply these Processes, your natu- crimination against gypsies in Central isbn 1401919723 13 hours rally joyful zest for life will be reawakened. Europe; from industrial pollution in the This exceptionally-priced CD collection compris- ! The Law of Attractio United States to child prostitution in es three of the most popular audio programs by Abraham: This is the series of recordings that launched Thailand. Esther and Jerry Hicks, who present the teachings of the basic Teachings of Abraham. You’ll see how all Like business entrepreneurs, social en- the Non-Physical consciousness Abraham: things, wanted and unwanted, are brought to you by the Law trepreneurs are creative, driven, and ad- ! Ask and It Is Given: The Law of Attraction: You’ll come to un- of Attraction (that which is like unto itself, is drawn). venturous. They embrace change, exploit derstand how your relationships, health issues, finances, ca- Esther and Jerry Hicks produce and present the leading- new opportunities, and think big. In How reer concerns, and more are all influenced by this Universal edge Abraham-Hicks teachings on the art of allowing our nat- to Change the World, Bornstein provides Law; and you’ll realize that it’s your birthright to live a life ural Well-Being to come forth. Among their books are Ask and vivid profiles of many such individuals, filled with everything that is good. It is Given and The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent. looking at the personalities, strategies, and techniques they have in common. An ABRAHAM: THE SECRET BEHIND form of love I’ve ever encountered.” In Search of Excellence for social initia- “THE SECRET”? How did this all start? How did Jerry and Esther tives that intertwines personal stories, by Esther & Jerry Hicks meet? How did they meet Abraham? Abraham dis- anecdotes, and analysis, the book is en- New on gaging, inspiring, and informative, weav- $47.95, 2 DVDs. Hay House. DVD cusses “The Law of Attraction,” “The Art of isbn 1401919022 3.5 hours Allowing” and our “Emotional Guidance System.” ing Bornstein’s thoughtful commentary Abraham, a group of obviously evolved teachers, They explain the intelligence behind concepts such with a set of diverse and instructive exam- speak their broader Non-physical perspective as, “life is supposed to be fun,” “the purpose of life is ples. Readers will see how social entrepre- through the physical apparatus of Esther. Speaking joy,” “there’s no such thing as death,” and “you can neurs bring about structural changes in to our level of comprehension, from their present be, do, or have anything you want.” their societies-—in other words, how one moment to our now, through a series of loving, bril- This 3-1/2 hour, double DVD set includes extras: person can make an astonishing differ- liant yet comprehensively simple—and very popu- 45 minutes of additional conversation: Stories from ence in the world. lar—recordings in print and in sound—they guide Jerry’s youth; Stories of close calls and life-changing The case studies in the book include us toward a clear connection with our Inner Being. events; Spring Screening: Audience reactions to meeting Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Abraham: The secret behind “The Secret”? features in-depth in- Abraham for the very first time; and a sneak preview episode Prize for the international campaign terviews with Jerry and Esther Hicks and Abraham—whom of In Other Words—“deeply chilled television”. against landmines she ran by e-mail from Esther calls “infinite intelligence” and Jerry refers to as “the purest her Vermont home; Roberto Baggio, a 31- year old Brazilian who has established 80 computer schools in the slums of Brazil; ! Business, Work progress not reflect How to measure the five capitals of Gen- Diana Propper, who has used investment the values that make uine Wealth: human, social, natural, built banking techniques to make American us happy: supportive and financial. corporations responsive to environmental & Right Livelihood ! relationships, mean- How nations, governments, communities dangers; and others, including a portrait ingful work, a and businesses are using the Genuine of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, a healthy environ- Wealth model to build a new economy of worldwide network for advancing the pro- THE ECONOMICS OF HAPPINESS ment, and our spiri- well-being. fession of social entrepreneurship Building Genuine Wealth ! tual well-being? How you and your family can apply the (ashoka.org). by Mark Anielski Canadian econo- Genuine Wealth model in your lives. $20.95, paper. New Society. The 2007 edition has a new foreword by mist Mark Anielski Anielski’s road-map towards this vision the author showing how the concept of so- isbn 0865715963 266 pages, charts has developed a new of flourishing economies of well-being will We all know that money can’t buy you cial entrepreneurship has expanded and and practical eco- resonate with individuals, communities unfolded over the last few years, including love…or happiness, but we have been liv- nomic model called Genuine Wealth, to and governments interested in issues of ing our lives as though the accumulation of the Gates-Buffett charitable partnership, measure the real determinants of well-be- sustainability and quality of life. the rise of Google, and the increased wealth is the key to our dreams. ing and help redefine progress. The “In The Economics of Happiness, Mark Why, in spite of increasing economic mainstream coverage of the subject. Economics of Happiness shows: Anielski has visualized an arresting and, People across society, from students to prosperity over the past 50 years, are many ! How economics, capitalism, accounting importantly, a possible future, in which af- conditions of well-being in decline and business leaders, from professionals to and banking, which dominate our con- fluence will be measured in terms of more post-retirement boomers, have sought to rates of happiness largely unchanged since sciousness, can be reoriented towards the happiness and less stuff. That is a world to the 1950s? forge new careers as social innovators, pursuit of genuine happiness. which all of us can aspire and for which we blurring the boundaries between business Why do our measures of economic ! How to rediscover the original meaning can work, for the sake of our grandchil- and social action. of the language of economics.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 53 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! THE GREAT TURNING / PEAK EVERYTHING !

PEAK EVERYTHING Ecology, Community HEAT Waking Up to the Century of Declines How to Stop the Planet from Burning by Richard Heinberg & Politics by George Monbiot New in $29.95, paper. New Society. $19.95, paper. Doubleday. Paperback isbn 086571598x 220 pages isbn 038566222x 276 pages The 20th century saw unprecedented THE GREAT TURNING We know that climate change could, if the worst predictions growth in population, energy consump- From Empire to Earth Community come true, destroy the conditions which make human life pos- tion, and food production. As the popula- by David Korten sible. It is now clear: we need a 90% cut in our emissions by tion shifted from $25.95, paper. Berrett-Koehler. 2030 to prevent runaway climate change from ravaging the rural to urban, isbn 1576754650 408 pages planet. This book explains how such cuts could be achieved the impact of hu- David Korten’s classic When Corporations without bringing industrial civilization to an mans on the en- Rule the World was one of the first books to end. vironment in- articulate the destructive and oppressive Monbiot analyzes the potential of energy ef- creased nature ficiency, renewable resources, carbon burial, nuclear power and dramatically. New in of the new transport and building systems to discover what works, what And the 21st Paperback global doesn’t, what costs the least and what needs to be done to make century ushered corpo- change happen. He is not afraid to attack anyone—friend or foe— in an era of de- rate economy. Now, a whose claims are false or whose figures have been fudged. His orig- clines, in a num- decade later, in The George Monbiot inal, sometimes shocking program shows that we can reconcile our ber of crucial pa- Great Turning, he ar- demands for comfort and security with the survival of the bios- rameters: global gues that corporate phere. To those who say that the requirements of the Kyoto protocol are impossi- oil, natural gas, consolidation of ble to meet, Monbiot responds not only that it is possible to hit far, far more ambi- and coal extrac- power is merely one tious targets, but that it is urgently imperative that we do so. And then he shows tion; yearly grain harvests; climate stabili- manifestation of how. ty; population; economic growth; fresh what he calls In his updated Canadian foreword, he calls us “a liberal and enlightened peo- water; minerals and ores, such as copper “Empire”: the orga- ple... but you could scarcely do more to destroy the biosphere if you tried”: and platinum. nization of society through hierarchy and This book aims to encourage people not only to change the way they live but also to To adapt to this profoundly different violence that has largely held sway for the force their governments to make such changes easier… My purpose is to equip you world, we must begin now to make radical past 5,000 years. Empire has always result- with the political tools you need—the arguments, technologies and ideas for changes to our attitudes, behaviours, and ed in misery for the many implementing them—to turn one of the most polluting nations on Earth into a place expectations. Peak Everything addresses and fortune for the few, which commands the rest of the world’s respect. many of the cultural, psychological, and but now it threatens the “A brilliant and terrifying critique of the crisis of human-induced climate practical changes we will have to make as very future of humanity. change… George Monbiot brushes aside our rationalizations… to examine the real nature rapidly dictates our new limits. He points to global ter- opportunities and what has to be done to achieve up to 90 percent reductions in This latest book from Richard Heinberg, rorism, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions by the industrialized nations.” —David Suzuki author of three of the most important and rising poverty as just “I was hooked right away. It’s by far the best single source on climate change: vig- books on Peak Oil, touches on the most a few of the signs that orously researched, honestly argued, and very well written.” —Ronald Wright, au- important aspects of the human condi- Empire has become un- David Korten thor of A Short History of Progress tion at this unique moment in time. sustainable and destruc- A combination of wry commentary and tive. sober forecasting on subjects as diverse as The Great Turning traces the roots of ECOHOLIC farming and industrial design, this book Empire to ancient times and charts the Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, tells how we might make the transition long evolution of its favoured instruments Products and Services in Canada from the Age of Excess to the Era of of control, from monarchies and bureau- by Adria Vasil Modesty with grace and satisfaction, while cracies to the multinational institutions of $24.95, paper. Random House. preserving the best of our collective the global economy. Korten also tells the isbn 0679314849 achievements. A must-read for individu- parallel story of the attempt to develop a 344 pages, 7x9, green ink illustrations Ecoholic is Canada’s als, business leaders, and policymakers democratic alternative to Empire, begin- best resource for practical tips and products that help you who are serious about effecting real do your part for the earth. You’ll get surprisingly informed ning in Athens and continuing with the change. dirt on what not to buy and why, and the dish on great founding of the United States of America. Richard Heinberg is the author of sev- But this remains an unfinished project— gifts, clothes, home supplies and more. Based on the Adria’s “Ecoholic” column that appears weekly in NOW, en books, including The Party’s Over, Korten documents how elitists with an im- this book is a cheeky and eye-opening guide to greening our lives. Powerdown, and The Oil Depletion Protocol. perial agenda have consistently sought to He is one of the world’s foremost Peak Oil undermine the bold and inspiring Included are: Greening your love life educators. The Best Green Products “American experiment.” Eco-tourism Cleaning, laundry, furniture, linens Empire is not inevitable, not the natural Keeping your home and garden pest-free Flooring, paint, insulation, carpets order of things—we can turn away from it. without harmful chemicals Kitchen cookware, appliances GETTING A GRIP Green gift-giving and ethical investing Korten draws on evidence from sources as Clothes, jewelry, shoes, beauty care Clarity, Creativity and Courage Choosing an eco-friendly career varied as evolutionary theory, develop- Baby toys, cribs, organic food, diapers in a World Gone Mad The big issues facing Canada and how to mental psychology, and religious teach- Garden fertilizer, pest control by Frances Moore Lappé get involved Office supplies, equipment, energy sav- $18.95, paper. Small Planet. ings to make the case that “Earth The Most Helpful Services ings Community”—a life-centered, egalitarian, Electronics and computer recyclers isbn 0979414245 186 pages Natural pet food, litter solutions sustainable way of ordering human society Alternative energy suppliers Frances Moore Lappé—author of many Sporting goods, camping equipment, Green general stores books, including Diet for a Small Planet— based on democratic principles of part- holidays Local organic food delivery nership—is indeed possible. And he out- The Most Current Information distills her world-spanning experience Incentives and rebates for greening your lines a grassroots strategy for beginning Avoiding toxins in our home and food and wisdom in a conversational yet hard- home Sustainable food choices hitting style to create a rare “aha” book. the momentous turning toward a future of Household hazardous waste disposal as-yet-unrealized human potential. Reducing energy and water use In nine short chap- ters, Lappé leaves The Great Turning offers a new frame- Also included is a city-by-city guide: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, readers feeling lib- work with which to understand our cur- Vancouver, Winnipeg. erated and coura- rent predicament, grasp the potential of But what’s exciting about this surge, this outpouring of interest in all things green, geous. She flouts this historic moment, and take action for is that everyone, from the trucker up the street to the CEO of Wal- conventional right- the future of our planet, our communities, Mart, is taking notice. And whether you’re expressing your concern versus-left divisions and ourselves. for the planet by reaching for organic milk, turning off the taps as and affirms read- you brush, driving a little less or not driving at all, it all adds up to a ers’ basic sanity— Every belief is about being careful; it’s movement… about keeping the body alive. I’m not their intuitive The tough part is that figuring out what’s green and what’s greenwash, knowledge that it careful. I don’t live that way. I look what’s eco-friendly and what’s ozone—deadly can be downright is possible to stop forward to whatever comes. Adria Vasil dizzying. This is where knowledge comes into play. The more you know, the more effective your choices, actions and movements can be. grasping at straws —Byron Katie and grasp the real

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 54 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! LIVING LIGHT, LIVING LOCAL !

THE NEW VILLAGE GREEN Living Light, Living Local, Living Large by Stephen Morris & the editors of Green Living Journal $20.95, paper. New Society. isbn 0865715998 264 pages, b/w photos The New Village Green gathers some of the best ideas and brightest voices of the green community; some famous and fa- miliar, others fresh and unknown. Each tells an absorbing sto- ry, and collectively they comprise a powerful chorus that pro- files the current state of the environment. This remarkable book gathers wisdom and insight from a compelling and thought-provoking virtual community. Each contributor brings a unique perspective that mingles reverence for the environ- ment with provocative thoughts for the future. Topics range from spirituality to so- lar panels and, just like a real village green, are juxtaposed with opinions from “the new village people,” including writers Bill McKibben and Michael Pollan; scientists James Lovelock and Donella Meadows; spiritual leaders Gandhi and Buddha. Practical, homespun topics are given equal time: good reasons to embrace alter- native currencies; tips for growing great garlic; solar dying; green weddings; com- munity-supported farms… Meant to be devoured in one sitting or sipped a little at a time, this book spring- boards the green movement into the future by acknowledging its roots in the past. Rachel Carson, Paul Ehrlich, and Helen and Scott Nearing are as relevant today as the Slow Food Movement and Peak Oil. The book is just packed with ideas, stories, tips, tools—all presented with savvy and verve. This lively feast will touch the heart of anyone who lives with conscience and hope.

THE GREAT NEIGHBORHOOOD BOOK A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Placemaking by Jay Walljasper $23.95, paper. New Society. isbn 0865715815 172 pages, 7x9, b/w photos The best neighborhoods are vibrant, convivial areas that sparkle with a special sense of place. If you think your neigh- borhood is (or could be) a special place, you have already tak- en the first step towards “placemaking”—the exciting and fun process that happens when people come forward to create neighborhoods they are proud to call home. Abandoned lots and litter-strewn pathways, or rows of green beans and pockets of wildflowers? Graffiti-marked walls and desolate bus stops, or shady refuges and comfortable seating? What transforms a dingy, inhospitable area into a dynamic gathering place? How do individuals take back their neighborhood? Neighborhoods decline when the people who live there lose their connection and no longer feel part of their community. Recapturing that sense of belonging and pride of place can be as simple as planting a civic garden or placing some benches in a park. The Great Neighborhood Book explains how most struggling communities can be revived, not by vast infusions of cash, not by government, but by the people who live there. The author addresses such challenges as traffic control, crime, comfort and safety, and developing economic vitality. Using a technique called “placemaking”— the process of transforming public space—this exciting guide offers inspiring suc- cess stories from around the world that show the magic that happens when indi- viduals take small steps, and motivate others to make change. This book will motivate not only neighborhood activists and concerned citizens but also urban planners, developers and policy-makers. Jay Walljasper is senior fellow of the Project for Public Spaces: www.pps.org. roots of today’s crises, from hunger and She believes there is “no reason we poverty to climate change and terrorism. can’t” create a values-guided, empowering Because we are creatures of the mind, says democracy based on the premise of “plen- Lappé, it is the power of “frame”—our ty,” where individuals and communities core assumptions about how the world take charge of public life and engage in works—that determines outcomes. She active listening, conflict mediation, dia- pinpoints the dominant failing frame now logue and judgment. Full of charts com- driving our planet toward disaster. By in- paring “Thin Democracy” constructs with terweaving fresh insights, “Living Democracy” alternatives, and end- startling facts, and stirring ing with a study guide for community vignettes of ordinary peo- “Group Talk,” the book includes numer- ple pursuing creative solu- ous examples of people practicing “Living tions to our most pressing Democracy,” from Nobel Prize-winner global problems, Lappé Muhammad Yunus, instigator of the inter- uncovers a new, empower- national microcredit movement, to School Frances Moore ing “frame” through which Mediation Associates, which teaches con- Lappé real solutions are emerg- flict resolution and peer mediations skills. ing worldwide. Writing with energy and heart, Lappé My book’s intent is to enable us to see convinces us we really can go for it. Lots what is happening all around us but is still more at smallplanetinstitute.org. invisible to most of us. It is about people in all walks of life who are penetrating the spiral of despair and reversing it with new ideas, ingenious innovation—and courage.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 55 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! WORLD AS LOVER, WORLD AS SELF !

THE SACRED BALANCE This special 20th-anniversary edition of Rediscovering Our Place in Nature WORLD AS LOVER, WORLD AS SELF The Man Who Planted Trees includes an in- by David Suzuki, with Amanda McConnell A Guide for Living Fully in Turbulent Times spiring foreword by Nobel Peace Prize & Adrienne Mason by Joanna Macy laureate Wangari Maathai, whose Green $22.95, paper. Douglas & McIntyre. $23.50, paper. Parallax Press. Belt Movement has planted millions of isbn 1553651669 320 pages, line drawings isbn 188837571x 260 pages trees and brought new hope to women This special 10th-anniversary edition of Our planet is in trouble. It is hard to go anywhere without and families in Kenya. The new afterword The Sacred Balance reexamines our place being confronted by the wounding of our world, the tearing of the by TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis tells in the natural world in light of sweeping very fabric of life… In the face of what is happening, how do we his own true story of planting trees in the environmental changes (global climate avoid feeling overwhelmed and just giving up, turning to the unlikely ecosystems of Los Angeles, and change) and recent many diversions and demands of our consumer societies? provides practical resources for taking ac- It is essential that we develop our inner resources. We have to advances in scientific learn to look at things as they are, painful and overwhelming as tion in our communities. This edition is knowledge (state of that may be, for no healing can begin until we are fully present to printed on 100 percent recycled paper. the world’s ecosys- our world, until we learn to sustain the gaze. “Jean Giono’s story of a man’s generos- tems, workings of the ity to nature—and through nature, to oth- A new beginning for the environment requires a new spiritual outlook. In World brain, science be- er humans—surely belongs among the as Lover, World as Self, now updated and expanded, Joanna Macy offers concrete sug- hind mother/baby most moving and endearing statements of gestions for just that, showing how each of us can change the attitudes at the root interaction, etc.). our hope. The story—vision and parable of our continuing threatening of the health of the earth. This extensively and manual—correctly opposes the tree- revised and ampli- The concerns that animate my thought and work are more than planter, the earth-husband, to the makers fied edition begins environmental. Nuclear issues and peace and justice issues have of war. In the figure of Elzéard Bouffier, summoned and shaped me just as much. My use of the word ecology, as with the recognition in deep ecology, often refers to the relational nature and structure of Giono summaries the best that can be said that we are creatures reality not just to environmental matters. of our species. It has given me much joy to of the earth, and as such, we are utterly de- reread this story.” —Wendell Berry, au- Using the Buddha’s teachings on Paticca Samuppada, which stress- pendent on its gifts of air, water, soil and thor of The Way of Ignorance es the interconnectedness of all things in the world and suggests the energy of the sun. These elements are Joanna Macy not just external factors; we take them into that any one action affects all things, Macy describes how decades our bodies, where they are incorporated of ignoring this principle has resulted in a self-centeredness that Earth Energies, into our very essence. What replenishes devastates the environment. Humans, Macy implores, must acknowledge and un- the air, water and soil and captures sun- derstand their connectedness to their world and begin to move toward a more fo- Architecture light to vitalize the biosphere is the diverse cused effort to save it. Personal Guidelines for the Great Turning & Eco-Design web of all beings. All species are our evo- Come from Gratitude lutionary relatives. This web of life unites To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe—to participate in the dance of all living things. life with senses to perceive it, lungs that breathe it, organs that draw nourishment from The book is woven around seven ele- it—is a wonder beyond words. Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of ments—earth, air, fire, water, biodiversity, all religions, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art. Furthermore, it is a REAL GOODS SOLAR LIVING love, and spirituality—which all human privilege to be alive in this time when we can choose to take part in the self-healing of SOURCEBOOK Special 30th Anniversary Edition: The beings need—not only to exist at all but to our world. Complete Guide to Renewable Energy also lead full, rich lives. Don’t be Afraid of the Dark This is a dark time, filled with suffering and uncertainty. Like living cells in a larger Technologies and Sustainable Living The exquisite balance of these elements body, it is natural that we feel the trauma of our world. So don’t be afraid of the anguish by John Schaefer creates and maintains the web of life on you feel, or the anger or fear, for these responses arise from the depth of your caring and $42.00, paper. New Society. Earth. We too are part of that web; like the truth of your interconnectedness with all beings. To suffer with is the literal meaning isbn 0916571068 634 pages, all living things, we are the sacred of compassion. 8x11, 1,200 b/w illus., photos, elements. We are made from and Dare to Vision charts sustained by earth and air, fire and water. Out of this darkness a new world can arise, not to be constructed by our minds so Concerns over dwindling resources and We are part of the totality of biological much as to emerge from our dreams. Even though we cannot see clearly how it’s going environmental degradation are driving diversity that maintains the planet’s life to turn out, we are still called to let the future into our imagination. We will never be support systems. We are held together by many to seek alternatives to our wasteful, able to build what we have not first cherished in our hearts. polluting love. And we express and celebrate our Roll up your Sleeves lifestyle. Super- understanding of our place on Earth Many people don’t get involved in the Great Turning because there are so many through the mysteries of the spirit. different issues, which seem to compete with each other. Shall I save the whales or help energy-efficient The author explains how people are ge- battered children? The truth is that all aspects of the current crisis reflect the same and clean tech- netically programmed to crave the compa- mistake, setting ourselves apart and using others for our gain. So to heal one aspect nologies—such ny of other species, and how people suffer helps the others to heal as well. Just find what you love to work on and take joy in that. as solar power, enormously when they fail to live in har- Never try to do it alone. Link up with others; you’ll spark each others’ ideas and sustain wind power, mony with them. Suzuki analyzes those each others’ energy. biodiesel fuel, Act your Age deep spiritual needs, rooted in nature, and many oth- Since every particle in your body goes back to the first flaring forth of space and that are a crucial component of a loving ers—are now time, you’re really as old as the universe. So when you are lobbying at your soaring in popu- world. Drawing on his own experiences congressperson’s office, or visiting your local utility, or testifying at a hearing on nuclear and those of others who have put their be- waste, or standing up to protect an old grove of redwoods, you are doing that not out of larity. liefs into action, The Sacred Balance is a some personal whim, but in the full authority of your 15 billion years. Real Goods, passionate book with concrete suggestions A love poem to the planet, the story of a personal journey, and a blueprint for based in California two hours north of for creating an ecologically sustainable, change, this rewritten contemporary classic shows us how to create life- and planet- San Francisco, has been the premier satisfying, and fair future. affirming communities. source for alternative energy hardware Also by Joanna Macy are Coming Back to Life and Joanna Macy: The Work that and information since 1978. Their mes- Reconnects, a 2-DVD set of her practices. sage is fully told in their Solar Living Eco-Philosophy, Sourcebook, a compendium of articles, product information, and philosophy that Deep Ecology McCurdy’s woodcuts, it becomes a time- tryside, revitalize his community, and collectively summarizes renewable energy less classic, ideal to read aloud for love of teach us about hope, humanity, and our choices. Fully updated, this “Special 30th- the green and living world—and for mar- own ability to create change in the world. Anniversary Edition” includes brand new veling at the resilient When I reflect that one man, armed sections on Peak Oil, Climate Change, THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES beauty of (human) only with his own physical and moral Relocalization, Natural Burial, by Jean Giono, nature. resources, was able to cause this land of Biodynamics and Permaculture. wood engravings Jean Giono’s extra- Canaan to spring from the wasteland, I am “Knowledge is our most important by Michael McCurdy ordinary fable brings convinced that in spite of everything, product” is the Real Goods motto, and $12.50, paper. Chelsea Green. to life a shepherd humanity is admirable. But when I their sourcebook delivers, in spades. isbn 1933392819 75 pages who plants 100 compute the unfailing greatness of spirit Considered “the bible of independent liv- and the tenacity of benevolence that it Jean Giono’s tale of Elzéard Bouffier, acorns a day for 30 must have taken to achieve this result, I ing and renewable energy,” it includes the inspired tree planter who single-hand- years. The shep- products ranging from energy-saving de- edly reforests a barren section of southern am taken with an immense respect for that herd’s tireless efforts old and unlearned peasant who was able vices like compact fluorescent lights to France, is one of the most beautiful and transform the coun- to complete a work worthy of God. home-scale energy-harvesting systems that inspiring stories I know. And with

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 56 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! ENERGY, WATER & GARDENS !

air systems, emergency preparedness, Beyond actually growing seeds, there are Designs for Water heating and cooling, water systems (grey- many ways to participate effectively in the water, drip, purification, conservation, preservation of our seed heritage. DESIGN FOR WATER composting toilets), lighting, vehicles, or Our lives depend on saving our seeds. Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Catchment, livelihood and learning, Real Goods pro- There will be no food to eat if we don’t and Alternate Water Reuse vides dependable information and access have seeds for tomorrow… There are by Heather Kinkade-Levario $29.95, paper. New Society. to tools and supplies through their mail millions and millions of us who already isbn 0865715807 236 pages, 7x9, b/w photos, charts order service (for which this book func- know how rewarding it is to grow some of In an era of dwindling resources, water is poised to be- tions as an introduction and catalogue). our own food. It is but a small step to let come the new oil as the entire world now faces the reality of See realgoods.com. plants go to seed, to learn how to harvest and preserve that seed and to choose the a decreasing supply of clean water. To avert a devastating John Schaeffer describes in his intro- best seeds for future harvests. shortage, we must not only look at alternate water sources duction “the steps necessary to begin to for existing structures, we must also plan our new develop- repair the damage we’ve done to the plan- ments differently. et through excessive consumption and re- THE FOUR-SEASON HARVEST It is time to design for water in all projects, at all levels—and just maybe we can liance on fossil fuels”: Organic Vegetables from learn to live with nature and maintain our water supplies for emergencies as well as for future generations. 1. Transitioning to renewable energy sources Your Home Garden All Year Long by Eliot Coleman Design for Water is an accessible and clearly written guide to alternate water col- in our homes and businesses on a massive scale. $27.95, paper. Chelsea Green. lection, with a focus on rainwater harvesting in the urban environment. The book 2. Cultivating an energy conservation con- isbn 1890132276 outlines the process of water collection from multiple sources—landscape, resi- sciousness and practicing it in our homes 272 pages, 8x10, b/w illustrations dential, commercial, industrial, school, park and municipal systems. It also provides and businesses. Originally published in 1992, The Four- numerous case studies (with illustrations), and details the assembly and actual ap- 3. Employing green building techniques that Season Harvest introduced readers to Eliot plication of equipment, including specific details, schematics and references. promote energy efficiency in all of our Coleman’s simple, efficient system of All aspects of rainwater harvesting are outlined, including passive and active sys- new buildings. growing and har- tem set-up, storage, stormwater reuse, distribution, purification, analysis and filtra- 4. Using solar and appropriate technology for vesting vegetables tion. There is even a section on rainwater harvesting for wildlife. water heating, water pumping, and both throughout the In addition to rainwater, there are several affordable and accessible alternate on-grid and off-the-grid living. 5. Using composting toilets and greywater year, no matter sources, including cooling tower bleed-off water, air conditioning condensate, gray systems in our homesteads. what the water, and fog collection. 6. Developing transportation systems and ve- climate—with Design for Water is geared to providing those making development decisions and hicles that run on alternative fuels, or if very little extra ef- guidelines with the information they need to set up passive harvesting techniques. they must use fossil fuels, that achieve fort. His success The book will especially appeal to engineers, landscape architects, municipal deci- maximum fuel economy. depends on grow- sion-makers, developers and land-owners. 7. Expanding home and community-based ing a large variety gardens to provide as much food locally as of vegetables suit- possible. ELECTRIC WATER ed to their season The Emerging Revolution in Water and Energy “The Solar Living Sourcebook is scrupu- and on simple, inexpensive designs for by Christopher Swan $23.95, paper. New Society. lously honest, technically flawless, and cold frames, unheated mobile greenhous- isbn 0865715858 220 pages, b/w photos steeped in experience and practical wis- es and root cellars. What if it was possible to combine energy and water in dom. There is nothing like it in the world.” Now, in this revised and expanded edi- such a way that would contribute to the reversal of global —Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest tion, Coleman takes his gardening classic warming and the restoration of the planet? What if it were and Natural Capitalism several steps further, describing the con- possible to have a better quality of life, without having to tinuing evolution and perfection of the give up anything? What if that plan made such economic winter gardening concept. Notable is the sense that governments and large corporations would buy knowledge, wisdom, and inspiration that into it? Gardening & Farming Coleman received on a winter pilgrimage As it turns out, it is possible to create an energy source by using key technologies to southern France in 1996. Daylength— that are already available. Most cities have enough rain and sun to meet their water the amount of sunlight—is the key that and energy needs, simply by using technology we already have. regulates plant growth. The simple crop- SAVING SEEDS Technologies already on the market set the stage for one system that supplies protection and storage schemes that As If Our Lives Depended On It Coleman has developed enable any home electricity and pure water, and one system for powering buildings and vehicles. This by Dan Jason gardener in a place such as New England system, plus somewhat more sophisticated appliances in homes and commercial $12.00, paper. Salt Spring Seeds. buildings, will replace the long distance grids, aqueducts and piping systems, as well as (where he lives) or the Pacific Northwest isbn 9000060931 54 pages dams, coal mines and oil fields. These new water-energy technologies are equivalent to By Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds (salt- to enjoy fresh food year-round, à la the the miniaturization of all the technologies that comprise the massive utility systems we traditional cuisine of rural southern now rely upon. All that technology can now be reduced to a unit about the size of a springseeds.com), this focused book is di- vided into four France. home furnace, plus a few modest changes to roofs and walls and a few new appliances, He adds stories and culinary insights change so thoroughly integrated with buildings the untrained eye wouldn’t notice parts, all part and from his tour of France, descriptions of anything unusual. Cities would no longer need power plants or distant reservoirs; they’d parcel of urging you be the power plant and reservoir. We would rely on sunlight and rain. to partake in the re- vegetable varieties suited to winter gar- dening in North America, and expanded Building on current mainstream trends in solar energy and wind power, Electric sponsibility and the joy of saving seeds. discussions of his already expert how-to on Water offers a clear vision of how the world’s energy and water infrastructure could growing and use of his vegetable “Cast of be transformed. The book provides an outline of the major issues that need ad- Part 1 is Dan’s per- sonal overview of Characters.” Suitable for avid home gar- dressing, including global warming, and provides a fascinating explanation of key deners as well as small-scale commercial how seed affairs technologies in plain language. It’s also a “heads-up” vision of business and job op- growers. have gotten to be portunities in restoration, with real-life examples, such as the Louisiana Coastal Coleman has also written what they are. This The New Restoration program, and lots of websites for further information. Organic Grower, a classic “in the field.” Unlike other books on this subject, Electric Water uses accessible language to pro- section is an encap- pose a workable plan for a revolutionary integration of technology and quality of sulation of 20 years of observing the life that will be of special interest to planners, engineers, and architects. FOOD NOT LAWNS seed world while participating in it as a Christopher C. Swan is a San Francisco designer, writer, and entrepreneur who How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden and mail order seed company. specializes in infrastructure. Your Neighborhood into a Community Part 2 has “some thoughts I now have by Heather Flores about seeds and some of the background utilize the sun, wind, and water to make independently on the earth provide plen- $29.95, paper. experiences that led to those thoughts. electricity for people living “off-the-grid.” ty of inspiration as well as practical ideas. Chelsea Green. I’m hoping this section excites you to the The Sourcebook is much more than just a Whether you’re a layperson or profes- isbn 193339207x possibilities of what might be in store for product guide; in its pages you’ll find live- sional, novice or longtime aficionado, the 344 pages, you if you take The Seedy Road.” ly, up-to-the-minute articles on all aspects Sourcebook puts the latest research and 8x10, b/w illustrations Part 3 is a beginner’s guide to saving of appropriate technology, written by ex- newest products at your fingertips. Food Not Lawns seeds. Saving seeds is simple, easy and perts who draw upon decades of actual ex- Whether it’s about reclaiming spoiled combines practical straightforward. perience. These stories of people who land, eco-home design, switching your ve- wisdom on ecological Part 4 lets you know that the revitaliza- have found ways to live more sanely and hicle to biodiesel, managing energy and design and commu- tion of seeds is already a social movement. nity-building with a

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 57 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! NATURE & CULTURE ! fresh, green perspective on an age-old sub- ject. Activist and urban gardener Heather Linda Kohanov and The Way of the Horse Flores shares her nine-step permaculture design to help farmsteaders and city THE TAO OF EQUUS nion that people, and women in particular, often ex- dwellers alike build fertile soil, promote A Woman’s Journey of Healing perience with horses. Some of the areas Kohanov ex- biodiversity, and increase natural habitat & Transformation through the Way of the Horse plores are how the equine mind compares with the in their own “paradise gardens.” by Linda Kohanov human mind, and what horses can teach humanity. But Food Not Lawns doesn’t begin and $19.00, paper. New World Library. The Tao of Equus is about horse therapy, horse end in the seed bed. This joyful perma- isbn 1577314204 362 pages training, and horse behavior, but it’s mostly about culture lifestyle manual inspires readers to The Tao of Equus considers the mystical nature of what these magnificent creatures are ceaselessly, apply the principles of the paradise gar- horses and the magical connection between horses patiently teaching us. It’s about the courage and den—simplicity, resourcefulness, creativi- and humans. Equine therapist Linda Kohanov tells humility, focus and flexibility it takes for a human being ty, mindfulness, and community—to all as- of an extraordinary spiritual awakening she experi- to listen to those messages. It’s about the quiet pools of pects of life. With infectious passion for enced with her black mare, reflection we experience in their presence. It’s about the Rasa. This incident led her to in- transformations that await us when we embrace our “gardening the planet,” Flores writes on seemingly irrational sufferings with the same grace and vestigate the apparent meta- the identification of garden sites, the wa- dignity that horses exhibit in the face of adversity. ter cycle and water conservation, soils and physical as well as scientific aspects of the “This work represents an extraordinarily moving account of composting, plants, how to save seed, pro- human-horse bond. Using neurological a gifted thinker, writer, teacher, and horsewoman who dares to ject design, the fostering of community in- research, cultural history, mythology, and venture deep within to explore the truth of the connection volvement, the inclusion of children in firsthand anecdotes from years of teach- Linda Kohanov that merges horse, human, mind, emotion, and spirit.” — projects, the sharing of information, and ing and facilitating equine therapy, & Spirit activism. Many of Flores’s ideas are for the Kohanov examines the profound commu- Riding extremely committed. Plant “guerilla gardens” in barren in- RIDING BETWEEN THE WORLDS above all, authenticity. tersections and medians; organize com- Expanding Our Potential through the Way of the Horse Drawn from years of personally experiencing the munity meals; start a street theater troupe by Linda Kohanov intuitive connection between human and horse, or host a local art swap; free your kitchen $17.95, paper. New World Library. Kohanov’s insights into equine wisdom are taken from refrigeration and enjoy truly fresh, isbn 1577315766 282 pages from real stories of those healed by horses. Her own nourishing foods from your own plot of From a highly perceptive author, equestrian, experiences of a deep connection to her herd of land; work with children to create garden teacher, and horse trainer comes a treatise on the horses—such as the compelling story of a foal’s play spaces. Flores cares passionately healing properties of horses—a follow-up to her birth—are also included. Her message is simple and about the damaged state of our environ- groundbreaking work The Tao of Equus. Be they undeniable: horses share an intense spiritual con- ment and the ills of our throwaway society. personal relationships with equine friends, fears nection with humans, and tapping into that realm In Food Not Lawns, she shows us how to re- being overcome in the saddle, or intimate experi- can do wonders for the soul. claim the earth one garden at a time. ences between rider and horse, the ways a horse “Linda has the courage to go beyond the limits of can be a healer are many. “Horses,” she maintains, our current beliefs in order to help all beings. “model an embodied spirituality, one that is both These conceptual and experiential stretches are just Nature as Teacher fully present in this world and deeply connected to what we need in these challenging times. Cherish her insights & Healer the soul’s divine origins.” Kohanov explores how these animals into the remarkable healing connections with our kindred support us on both levels, leading us to unexpected realiza- spirits and allow them to transform you. Read, learn, and blos- tions about fear, intuition, awareness, empowerment, and som!” —Allen Schoen, author of Kindred Spirits ANIMALS MATTER The Way of the Horse can open our conditioned A Biologist Explains Why We Should Treat WAY OF THE HORSE Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery bodies and minds to a whole new world of sensory Animals with Compassion and Respect and extrasensory awareness. To make it all by Marc Bekoff by Linda Kohanov $35.95, cards. New World Library. worthwhile, however, we must ultimately live in this $18.00, paper. Shambhala. expanded universe, learning to act and feel, assert and isbn 1590305221 160 pages isbn 1577315138 256-page hardcover + 40 colour cards respond, all at the same time. Dancing becomes the Nonhuman animals have many of the metaphor for leading without dominating, learning to This book-and-card kit brings Linda Kohanov’s same feelings we do. They get hurt, they follow someone else without losing your balance or suffer, they are happy, and they take care teachings about human-horse connections and your boundaries—and, at some point, upping the ante of each other. Marc Bekoff, a renowned bi- equine archetypes to readers interested in tarot to fluidly trade leads in true partnership. and animal divination cards. Useful as both a div- ologist specializing in In every culture, horses are known for their abil- ination deck and as a book for straight reading, animal minds and ity to take riders between this world and the other- Way of the Horse offers profound insight into the emotions, guides world, suggesting that the species has a gift for powerful relationship between horses and hu- readers from high helping people move between multiple states of mans. The book consists of 40 chapters, each de- school age up—in- consciousness. Way of the Horse allows people to scribing one card. Each chapter begins with the cluding older adults enjoy this experience even when not in the presence of these card title, key phrases conveying the card’s concepts, and a dis- who want a basic in- amazing creatures. cussion of the image, its meaning for the reader, and its myth- troduction to the top- Also by Linda Kohanov are The Tao of Equus and Riding ical/archetypal history. ic—in looking at sci- Between the Worlds. entific research, philosophical ideas, and humane values section in the science classroom? heart, throat, fore- that argue for the ethical and compassion- ! What can we learn by imagining what it New Culture head, and crown. He ate treatment of animals. Citing the latest feels like to be a dog or a cat or a mouse links each chakra to a scientific studies and tackling controver- or an ant? form of communica- sies with conviction, he zeroes in on the ! What can we do to make a difference in DIGITAL DHARMA tion. For example, important questions, inviting reader par- animals’ quality of life? A User’s Guide to Expanding Consciousness the highest chakras, ticipation with “thought experiments” and Bekoff urges us not only to understand in the Infosphere concerning the most ideas for action. Among the questions and protect animals—especially those by Steven Vedro evolved conscious- considered: whose help we want for our research and $19.95, paper. Quest. ness, relate to the ! Are some species more valuable or more other human needs—but to love and re- isbn 083560859x 222 pages, b/w illustrations newest technologies important than others? spect them as our fellow beings on this This juicy read is a smart and witty ex- of digital signal cod- ! Do some animals feel pain and suffering planet that we all want to share in peace. ploration of how we can develop a “yoga ing, smart devices, and not others? “Marc Bekoff is the wisest scientist I of teleconsciousness” to become centered and the always-on intelligence of grid ! Do animals feel emotions? know, for he is the only expert who truly in a frantic world. The Infosphere not only computing. ! Should endangered animals be reintro- loves animals in the way that children are affects consciousness, it also reflects it, says To heal and open our internal chan- duced to places where they originally able to love animals, with all his heart.”— Vedro, and it provides teachings for the nels, Vedro provides visualization exercis- lived? Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of When next step on our journey to wholeness. His es in each chapter. At a time when media ! Should animals be kept in captivity? Elephants Weep guiding metaphor is the chakra system, seems increasingly intrusive, this inge- ! Are there alternatives to using animals for Also by Marc Bekoff is The Emotional the body’s esoteric energy centres located nious book may help us use it to become food, clothing, cosmetic testing, and dis- Lives of Animals. at the spine base, pelvis, solar plexus, more compassionate, more balanced, and

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 58 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! NEW SCIENCE ! more aware. through fundamental Open-Focus exercis- In simple terms, Vedro explains the ad- es that can be used on a regular basis to Living “The Field” vanced technologies involved with the enhance our health and well-being. Internet, HDTV, GPS locating, MP3 play- Listeners learn how to “train the brain” to SCIENCE AND THE AKASHIC FIELD ers, and much more. He identifies the reduce stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and An Integral Theory of Everything New in benefits of emerging media as well the po- more. by Ervin Laszlo Paperback tential traps. Everyone has the ability to heal their $18.95, paper. Inner Traditions. isbn 1594771812 240 pages, 1 b/w illustration While this book is richly nervous systems, to dissolve their pain, to footnoted... it is not an slow down and yet accomplish more, to Science and the Akashic Field is now in a revised second edi- intellectual treatise but experience the deeper side of life—in tion which includes ongoing scientific studies, new research, rather a statement of short, to change their lives for the better new case studies, and a section on animal telepathy. personal wonderment at dramatically. Sages have long maintained that there exists an intercon- the connectedness of the The Open-Focus Brain offers readers a rev- necting cosmic field at the roots of reality that conserves and inner and outer worlds. olutionary, drug-free way to alleviate de- conveys information, a field known as the Akashic record. Steven Vedro For example, he con- pression, anxiety, and ADD; to reduce Recent discoveries in the new field of vacuum physics now nects the throat chakra to stress-related chronic pain; and to opti- show that this Akashic field is real and has its equivalent in the Internet and in doing so advances in- mize mental and physical performance. the zero-point field that underlies space itself. teresting theories about both, including These are safe and effective techniques This field consists of a subtle sea of fluctuating energies from which the idea that the Internet challenges us to used in Dr. Fehmi’s clinic for decades. all things arise: atoms and galaxies, stars and planets, living beings, “tell the truth—and confront lies—com- “The concept of open-focused attention and even consciousness. This zero-point Akashic-field—or “A- passionately.” In each chapter he details is useful and powerful… The techniques field”—is not only the original source of all things that arise in time the effects technology has had on human described in this book can make life fuller, and space; it is also the constant and enduring memory of the uni- development, from both a personal and more enjoyable, and more productive. I verse. It holds the record of all that ever happened in life, on Earth, global perspective, all while providing fas- recommend it.”—Andrew Weil, author of Ervin Laszlo and in the cosmos and relates it to all that is yet to happen. cinating insight into its technical work- Healthy Aging Scientist and philosopher Ervin Laszlo conveys the essential ele- ings. He accompanies his narrative with an ment of this vision of the “informed universe” in language that is accessible and impressive array of quotations from media clear. The informed universe lends credence to our deepest of the one- gurus like Marshall McLuhan and spiritual SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE ness of life and the whole of creation. We discover that, as philosopher William teachers such as Ken Wilber. The Revolutionary New Science James stated, “we are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected “Steven Vedro is the first to analyze our of Relationships in the deep.” technological development as a psycho- by Daniel Goleman The informed universe is a world of subtle but constant interconnection, a world spiritual process in such fascinating and $16.50, paper. Bantam. where everything informs—acts on and interacts with—everything else. This world elegant terms. He gives new meaning to isbn 055338449x 416 pages merits deeper acquaintance; we should apprehend it with our heart as well as our brain. Emotional Intelligence has sold more our awakening as a species.” —Anodea “A seminal book from one of the best thinkers of our time. Ervin Laszlo charts than five million copies worldwide. Now, Judith, author, Eastern Body, Western Mind the frontiers to which science is inexorably headed. In years to come people will once again, Daniel Goleman look back at the amazing foresight of this work.” —Peter Russell, Fellow of the has written a groundbreak- New in Paperback Institute of Noetic Sciences and author of From Science to God Science, Brain/Mind, ing synthesis of the latest findings in biology and brain science, re- Gaia & Cosmology vealing that we are “wired to connect” and LIVING THE FIELD the surprisingly Tapping into the Secret Force of the Universe deep impact of our by Lynn McTaggart $79.00, 6 CDs. Sounds True. AUDIO THE OPEN-FOCUS BRAIN relationships on isbn 1591795710 6 hours Harnessing the Power of Attention every aspect of our The cutting edge of quantum physics is not just found to Heal Mind and Body lives. in a laboratory or university—now, you can live each day by Les Fehmi & Jim Robbins Far more than we on the frontiers of science. Lynne McTaggart’s book The $29.95, Book+CD set. Shambhala. are consciously Field captivated readers with its exploration of the unseen isbn 1590303768 192 pages + 60-minute CD aware, our daily en- dimension where science meets spirit, but that was only the beginning. With Living This breakthrough book presents a dis- counters with par- The Field, this pioneering investigator presents a full-length audio workshop on us- armingly simple idea: The way we pay at- ents, spouses, boss- ing the scientific discoveries of the quantum age to supercharge your life, health, tention in daily life can play a critical role es, and even and consciousness. in our health and well-being. strangers shape our Book How can invisible quantum forces affect the way you live? In light According to Dr. Les Fehmi, brains and affect & CD of McTaggart’s research, the answer might astonish you: the very a clinical psychologist and cells throughout our essence of your thoughts, memories, and sentient mind arises from researcher, many of us have become stuck bodies—down to the level of our genes— the Zero Point Field. Your consciousness is not stored in your in “narrow-focus attention”: a tense, con- for good or ill. In Social Intelligence, Daniel brain—instead, your brain is a receiver that picks up the “signal” of stricted, survival Goleman explores an emerging science your consciousness from The Field. And through The Field, en- mode of attention with startling implications for our inter- coded in its infinite energetic frequencies, you are fundamentally that holds us in a personal world. Its most fundamental dis- Lynn connected to all other life. If you have ever picked up the feelings state of chronic covery: we are designed for sociability, McTaggart of a loved one from far away, known what your pet is thinking, stress—and which constantly engaged in a “neural ballet” worked in synchronicity with a team, or had a strong premonition of the future— lies at the root of that connects us brain to brain with those then you have already glimpsed the power of this quantum connection. common ailments around us. To “live The Field” is to continuously enhance your ability to receive the signal of including anxiety, Our reactions to others, and theirs to this unified consciousness. Distilling the best techniques from her acclaimed work- depression, ADD, us, have a far-reaching biological impact, shops, Lynne McTaggart gives you straightforward, practical tools to expand your stress-related mi- sending out cascades of hormones that access to the limitless energy and wisdom of The Field. Whether you wish to boost graines, and more. regulate everything from our hearts to our your health, increase your intuitive powers, turn intention into reality, or even un- To improve these immune systems, making good relation- lock your dormant extrasensory gifts, Living the Field will inspire your discoveries conditions, Dr. ships act like vitamins—and bad relation- and unfoldings. Fehmi explains that we must learn to re- ships like poisons. We can “catch” other Also by Lynn McTaggart is The Intention Experiment. turn to a relaxed, diffuse, and creative people’s emotions the way we catch a cold, form of attention, which he calls “Open and the consequences of isolation or so- Focus.” them in a radically different way. The The answers to these questions may not cial stress can be life-shortening. Goleman implications are of more than passing be as elusive as we once thought. And This highly readable and empowering explains the surprising accuracy of first theoretical interest: they compel us to Goleman delivers his most heartening book offers straightforward explanations the basis of charisma and impressions, reevaluate how we live our lives. news with powerful conviction: we humans and simple exercises on how to shift into a emotional power, the complexity of sexual Is there a way to raise our children to be have a built-in bias toward empathy, coop- more calm, open style of attention that re- attraction, and how we detect lies. He also happy? What is the basis of a nourishing eration, and altruism—provided we devel- duces stress, improves health, and en- describes the “dark side” of social intelli- marriage? How can business leaders and op the social intelligence to nurture these hances performance. The Open-Focus Brain gence, from narcissism to teachers inspire the best in those they lead capacities in ourselves and others. features eight essential attention exercises Machiavellianism and psychopathy. for improving health, along with an audio and teach? How can groups divided by Also by Daniel Goleman (and the Dalai Relationships themselves take on new CD in which the author guides the reader prejudice and hatred come to live together Lama) are Destructive Emotions and meaning, and so we need to think about in peace? Healing Emotions.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 59 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! IN A FAMILY WAY !

Family, Parenting, Walking the Path of Motherhood Education & Youth! FINDING YOUR INNER MAMA journey of motherhood. Women Reflect on the Challenges Included are writings by Adrienne Rich, Harriet and Rewards of Motherhood Lerner, Louise Erdrich, Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn, HONORING OUR CYCLES edited by Eden Steinberg New in Anne Roiphe, Sandi Kahn Shelton, Harville A Natural Family Planning Workbook $18.00, paper. Shambhala. Paperback Hendrix, Cheri Huber, Ariel Gore, Wendy Mogel, by Katie Singer isbn 1590304233 272 pages Daphne de Marneffe, Joan Peters, and many more. $15.00, paper. New Trends. Motherhood can be one of the most intense and Among the many themes explored are writings isbn 096708976x 112 pages, 8x11 transformative experiences of a woman’s life. While from the birth year, anger and tenderness, children In clear, everyday language, Honoring many books explore the do’s and don’ts of effective as spiritual teachers, parenting with mindful aware- Our Cycles describes what happens during parenting, few offer guidance on navigating the tu- ness, the sacred chaos of motherhood, power a menstrual cycle and how a baby is con- multuous inner experience of being a mother, with moms and the problem of overparenting, and “ex- ceived. It explains how to chart the body’s all its joy, pain, change, and uncertainty. Finding ceptional” mothering in a “normal” world. fertility signs to Your Inner Mama is the first anthology of writings to I thought that as a mother I would carefully mold know which days focus on the emotional and spiritual dimensions of mother- and shape my children. If I did my job right, my children would are best for becom- hood. The collection offers stirring selections from the best turn out to be well-adjusted, loving, thoughtful, and interesting ing pregnant or books, articles, and essays of the past and present, as well as people. In point of fact, motherhood is molding and shaping me. avoiding becoming two original essays. Busy mothers can dip into the book at any At the end of all this, I am the one who could end up well- pregnant, without time for guidance, support, and inspiration. Contributors to adjusted, loving, thoughtful, and interesting…So with this the use of hormon- the collection speak from a variety of backgrounds and per- collection I respectfully suggest to all of you that, from a certain al drugs. Included spectives, each shedding light on the meaning and value of the perspective, your children will raise you. That’s good news, isn’t is dietary advice for it? successful concep- nal bliss,” a state of happiness and ease that, she ex- tion and healthy MOMMA ZEN Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood plains, is available to us all. babies and fami- by Karen Maezen Miller Each chapter opens with a classical Zen teaching lies. New in $14.95, paper. Shambhala. story, koan, or Zen poem that encapsulates the les- Including blank Paperback isbn 1590304616 174 pages son addressed in the chapter. Just as Zen wisdom is charts, this book is for couples who want Dedicated to my mother, to my daughter, and to drawn from experience, Momma Zen captures the to care for their fertility naturally. You will the teacher I found in between kind of wisdom that real mothers wring from their learn significant detail about how to chart Combining humor, honesty, and plainspoken ad- real lives—recognizably true, accessible, and em- fertility signs; how to tell when a woman is vice, Momma Zen distills the doubts and frustrations powering. Along the way, Miller explores some “hot fertile and infertile; confirming ovulation; of early parenting into vignettes of Zen wisdom. topics” of contemporary parenting including disci- rules for not getting pregnant; natural Drawing on the author’s long practice of medita- pline, television, materialism, attachment vs. inde- family planning theory and practices; ways tion, and inspired by her own struggles as a first-time pendence, and nurturing one’s marriage after hav- to help you get pregnant; fertility aware- mother, Momma Zen follows the ing children. ness while breastfeeding; menstrual cycles timeline of early motherhood from Yes, this crying-out-loud life is your crooked path, and your health; and more. pregnancy through toddlerhood. The author In the same way that animals and the whose bumps and bends cannot be negotiated through mere takes readers on a transformative journey, earth give signs about their fertility, a reasoning. Time and again you’ll be stripped of your woman’s body gives signs about when she charting her own growth beyond her naive ex- preconceptions, judgments, ideas, theories, and opinions of can get pregnant and when she can’t. pectations, sense of isolation, and disorienta- motherhood and left to go straight on through the inexplicable Every woman can learn to read these tion to finding fulfillment in ordinary tasks, de- experience itself. Karen signs, which are part of her menstrual veloping greater self-awareness and Some chapter titles: Small Failures, Being Unprepared, Too Maesen Miller cycle. acceptance, and gradually discovering “mater- Tired, Just Eat, Workloads, Fresh Start, and Flowers Fall. Farmers think about the health of a cow before they bring a bull to her, and they WHAT MOTHERS DO inefficiency, and deadening fatigue. Yet the overrid- make sure their soil is healthy and that the ing sentiment is one of empowerment and wonder, weather is right before they plant a crop. Especially When It Looks Like Nothing We can also trust women to know when by Naomi Stadlen as Stadlen illustrates how seemingly insignificant they feel strong enough for a new $18.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. skills such as responding to a baby’s colicky cry, be- pregnancy and to care for a new baby. isbn 1585425915 276 pages ing instantly interruptible, or soothing an over-stim- Instead of preaching what mothers ought to do, ulated child to sleep profoundly contribute to an in- psychotherapist Naomi Stadlen explains what moth- dividual’s socialization, self-worth, and curiosity. Relationships, ers already do in the course of any exhausting day’s Remarkably perceptive and heartening, What work. Drawing from countless conversations with Mothers Do will resonate with mothers everywhere in Women & Men hundreds of mothers spanning more than a decade, search of understanding and wisdom. What Mothers Do provides lucid insight into the true Naomi Stadlen, a London psychotherapist and experience of motherhood and answers the peren- mother of three, has run the weekly discussion DIVINE DUALITY nial question common to mothers everywhere: What group Mothers Talking for more than 12 years. The Power of Reconciliation be- have I done all day? “The best book on parenting you have never heard of… gen- tween Men and Women Stadlen’s wise reflections, threaded throughout with the tle but revolutionary… exquisitely sensitive. This book is being by William Keepin, with voices of real mothers, explore unsentimental reactions to passed from mother to mother like contraband.” —The Cynthia Brix & Molly Dwyer motherhood—resentment, guilt, splintered identity, crippling Guardian (U.K.) $16.95, paper. Hohm. isbn 1890772747 196 pages Based on over 15 years of development, Catholic nuns and priests in India, and chological/dialogue forms of interaction transgender; cultural conditioning and the creative and compassionate processes most recently with members of the South between the sexes, Divine Duality describes power dynamics around sexuality and detailed in this book focus on the poten- African parliament. what can happen when a gender can finally be addressed openly tial for unity and integration among and honestly… where tears, outrage, In essence, the process is simple: transpersonal/spiritual dimension under- embarrassment, anguish, shame, women and men. Designed by author Will women and men gather together—on lies such work. By setting a context of for- absurdity, forgiveness, compassion, Keepin and his team equal terms, in integrity, dropping the giveness and mutual appreciation of the healing, and spiritual grace can all come at the Satyana usual conditioned denials, taboos, and sacredness of life, the women and men of forth in their innate and flowing Institute of excuses—and jointly explore the truth of a group or institution are empowered to wisdom… Such a forum is needed in Freeland, their experiences, vulnerabilities, insights, jointly confront the realities of gender op- every culture… It must go beyond mere and aspirations. Through this process Washington, these pression and conditioning. No other book verbal exchange and conceptual [“discussing the undiscussable”], they methods, and the re- currently deals with this subject with the understanding into a place of mutuality, make new discoveries and allow new markable individu- compassion, forgiveness, and awareness to dawn… embracing whatever depth of insight and proven results pre- als who offer them, communion. This book documents a healing is required and taking full sented here. have created no- modest first step in this direction. responsibility for the consequences of Gender reconciliation work seeks to table results within whatever is jointly discovered and provide this oasis of truth and healing groups as diverse as experienced. where issues concerning masculine and Reaching further than traditional psy- feminine; lesbian, gay, bisexual and

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 60 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! SEX & SOUL !

THE ENLIGHTENED SEX MANUAL wild play of sexuality. consider themselves highly sexually re- MENOPAUSE WITH SCIENCE AND Sexual Skills for the Superior Lover Sex can be a way of magnifying love’s sponsive talk in intimate detail about what SOUL by David Deida light through every cell, shining beyond gives them the greatest pleasure. They re- A Guidebook for Navigating the Journey $19.25, paper. Sounds True. fear, melding your hearts in the infinite define sex—based on how women really by Judith Boice isbn 1591795850 170 pages radiance of being. Sex can be experience sexual pleasure—confirming $21.50, paper. Celestial Arts. The secret to enlightenment and great enlightened—or not… When sexual what every woman knows instinctively, isbn 1587612917 248 pages sex is revealed to be one and energy emanates from its spiritual source, while creating a new language that every Integrating modern medicine and an- the same in this ground- New in your cells are enlivened and your spirit woman will understand. cient spiritual wisdom, Menopause with rejuvenated by the same force that might Based on extensive one-on-one inter- Science and Soul is an intelligent and breaking manual for adven- Paperback otherwise have been thrown off in more thoughtful compan- turous lovers. David Deida, trivial shivers and shakes. When you meld views conducted by Dr. Ogden with hun- author of Finding God through Sex, has sexual intensity with open-hearted depth, dreds of women, this thought-provoking, ion to navigating trained for decades in the art of spiritual your bliss grows spontaneously, fertilized wise, and unprecedented book transforms the menopausal and sexual awaken- by the forces of your fears, hopes, and how we view sex by giving us new ways to journey. Drawing ing. Here he pre- anxieties. think about sexual pleasure. from the latest med- sents his essential “Quite simply, the best sex manual in These are women who have found ical studies, natur- collection of skills print, for the enlightened, the unenlight- ingenious ways to be true to their own opath Judith Boice for opening to the ened, and everybody in between.” —Ken lives, both sensually and spiritually, no advises women on physical, emotion- Wilber, author of Integral Psychology matter which political wind happens to be bone health, phy- al, and spiritual re- Among David Deida’s other books: The blowing—and no matter what sexual toestrogens, diet wounds may exist in their pasts. Their wards of intimate Way of the Superior Man and Dear Lover. and exercise, and embrace. Direct message is that we can all move toward hormone replace- defining sex for ourselves and creating a ment therapy. At and provocative, world in which women—and men—can the same time she The Enlightened Sex WOMEN WHO LOVE SEX safely choose to love sex. The kind of sex Manual explores: Ordinary Women Describe Their Paths to that nourishes and delights us and expands also offers stories, interviews, and rituals ! how to transform Pleasure, Intimacy, and Ecstasy our spirits. It’s not such an impossible representing diverse traditions (Native simple “skin friction” into the deep em- by Gina Ogden dream, I think, if we all work together. American to Gnostic, Buddhist to Catholic) to nurture women’s mental and bodiment of ecstasy $18.00, paper. Shambhala. “A masterpiece of affirmation—refresh- ! emotional health. Intuiting the unity of consciousness and isbn 1590305035 248 ing, moving, and extraordinarily liberat- light through sexual union pages ing. For sexuality professionals, for our Essays and poetry from 16 prominent ! (among them Clarissa Pinkola How to develop sexual abilities as gifts of Wonderful sex students, patients, and clients, for anyone writers Estés, Carol Lee Flinders, Brooke heart rapture and bodily surrender does more than melt who loves women, and especially for any ! both body and soul; it Medicine Eagle, Marlise Wabun Wind, Breathing techniques to increase, de- woman who loves sex (or wants to love brings power, energy, Vicki Noble, and Carol Bridges) celebrate crease, and circulate sexual energy sex), Women Who Love Sex is the freshest ! and deep satisfaction the broad spectrum of women’s How to achieve the principal types of or- breath of air to come along in years.”—The to all aspects of our menopausal experiences and honour di- gasm—and all their varieties, and more. Journal of Sex Research lives. In this unique verse spiritual approaches to this signifi- For men and women, singles and cou- Also by Gina Ogden is The Heart and book, first published cant midlife passage. Whether you’re ples of every sexual orientation, here’s a Soul of Sex. For more, visit ginaogden.com. complete program for sustaining “whole- in 1999 and now re-is- struggling with hot flashes or reveling in body recognition of love’s light” in the sued, women who an unexpected rebirth of creativity, this

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 61 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! WOMEN & THE GODDESS ! comprehensive guide provides scientific book weaves a pattern of Goddess re- ful mixture of Goddess experience in the healing. She introduces the concepts of and soul-centered support. search, spiritual practices and contempo- present day, Cheryl’s knowledge ranges “spiritual DNA” and “spiritual genes” that “This is, hands down, the best book on rary ideas. It draws from the paleolithic and neolithic eras to let readers see they are not “destined” to menopause to come along! The lucky on the fields of his- modern times as we follow her explo- be sick and can be proactive in achieving woman using this carefully constructed tory and archaeol- rations of sacred sites from the Cave of the health. guidebook will basically have her own per- ogy, folklore and Bear in Crete to the Cave of Cats at Each chapter contains several sections sonal trainer overseeing her aging legend, earth mys- Rathcroghan in Ireland. A feast of infor- that guide readers in reflection and par- process. Judith Boice has the just-right set teries, and new mation, ideas, facts and visions.” —Kathy ticipation. They include: of talents to understand and articulate physics and an- Jones, Glastonbury Goddess Conference ! “Ask Yourself,” questions to ask yourself ‘the Change’ within its wholistic context— thropology… ex- Cheryl Straffon is well known and wide- about how a particular topic applies to physical, emotional, mental and spiritu- ploring the space ly involved in the international Goddess your life, with journaling practice al—all interconnected aspects impossible where science and network. She edits Goddess Alive! ! “Attitude Shifts,” which contains affir- to separate. The personal interviews with magic meet. mations and reminders of the healing brilliant and accomplished women heal- The book is di- thoughts and actions… “As you incor- ers, teachers, mystics and guides sharing vided into eight SPIRIT HEALS porate these attitude shifts into your heal- their own menopause stories are touching chapters, each one Awakening a Woman’s Inner ing journey, you immediately lessen the to the core—demonstrating the very wis- dedicated to a festival in the Wheel of the Knowing for Self-Healing energetic burdens carried by your body dom Judith Boice assures us is meant to be Year, beginning with Samhain and ending by Meredith Young-Sowers and mind.” the outcome of this rigorous but natural rooted in the earth at Autumn Equinox. $19.25, paper. New World Library. ! “Activities,” which guides readers step isbn 1577315774 304 pages part of the female life cycle.” —Vicki What makes this book different is Cheryl’s by step through changes. Spirit Heals is a wide-ranging manifesto Noble, author of Shakti Woman breadth of knowledge and experience, By doing these practices on a regular on how women heal and how they can in- combining myth and folklore, knowledge basis, you create a daily plan for staying corporate aspects of spirit, emotion, mind, of the goddesses, plants, and practices in- steady and enhancing the flows of subtle and body in their healing journey. Author DAUGHTERS OF THE EARTH volved in each festival, and giving an ac- energy that support your body. A little Meredith Young- Goddess Wisdom for a Modern Age count of the very personal rituals devised effort every day makes all the difference. Sowers explores a Some days you’ll have more time than by Cheryl Straffon and performed by the women’s group that wide range of re- others, but try to do at least one activity $26.95, paper. O Books. she is part of. isbn 1846940168 sources, external daily—whether a meditation, breath Goddesses from all over the world are 226 pages, b/w photos and internal: doc- awareness and/or the Healing Art of complex, multi-faceted, complete beings Modern society is experiencing tors, nutrition, Loving Touch. of female power, wisdom—and Based in part on her extensive work- a tremendous revival of interest in occasionally capriciousness! Their chemo, radiation, Goddess spirituality, which is found, in var- relationships with the Gods, the men and massage, acupunc- shop teachings, Spirit Heals is an in- ious forms and flavours, in all ancient cul- other females in their stories are usually ture, surgery, ener- formed, loving reminder fitted with a tures and civilizations. As we become more complicated, ambiguous and challenging. gy work, medita- toolkit for “opening your mind and heart acutely aware of the fragility of the natural They reflect the reality of our relationships tion, visualization. to the very depths of potential and possi- balance and of issues such as climate with those we love and encounter in our She explains how bility for your healing and for your life’s change, we feel a pressing need to redis- passage through life, and the complex focused participa- direction.” cover our age-old relationship with the individuals that we all are. tion to rekindle Also by Meredith Young-Sowers is The earth and the cycles of life and time. This “Combining legend, landscape and kindness and passion can occur simultane- Angelic Messenger Cards. women’s ceremonies to create a wonder- ously with any other treatment to enhance

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 62 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008 ! INDEX OF AUTHORS & THEIR TITLES IN THIS ISSUE !

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 63 ! FALL - WINTER - SPRING 2007 - 2008