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Home , Alex Grey, The Divine Feminine

! “WE LIVE WITH MYSTERIES TOO MARVELOUS TO BE UNDERSTOOD” Mary Oliver !

HEN BANYEN OPENED in 1970, his issue of BRANCHES OF LIGHT Win a 500 sq. ft store on 4th Ave. Tis subtitled GROWING LOVE AND CONTENTS across the street from where the WISDOM HERE ON RARTH. At Banyen, 6 Music CDs NAAM restaurant sits today, I was 21, we offer a wide and deep collection of 9 New on DVD afire with newfound flames of con- over 20,000 books, audios and 10 Art, Creativity & Music BRANCHES OF LIGHT sciousness, yogic devotion, and videos, as well as and 11 Poetry, Writing & Stories News & Reviews from “Whole Earth poetry”... hoping to tools, altar and attunement aids, 13 Yoga & the Hindu Tradiditions Banyen Books and Sound serve the awakening community. incense and candles, essential oils and 14 & Recently I turned 60, and Banyen crystals, artful gifts and fabrics and 17 Tibetan Buddhism ISSUE 34 Spring, Summer & Fall 2009 continues as a lovely piece of music events... with “growing love and wis- 20 , Chi & the Martial Arts ! that not only I but about 30 of us dom” in mind. We’re honoured to be Publisher & Editor 21 BodyMind Healing Kolin Lymworth now play and serve in this cross- able to serve the needs of the healing 21 Healing Energies, Healing Herbs ! roads-like oasis of resonances, and spiritual community, and hope 22 Bodywork & Movement Managing Editor & Production renewals, and re-connections. What a you’ll drop by the store for “a drink.” 23 Food, Nutrition & Healing Michael Bertrand fine, great team it is, too! 25 Recovery ! OPE TO SEE YOU too Insides Laura Duncan Good Look Graphics 25 Inspiration & Self-Help Cover Fiona Gamiet Articulate Design HE BEAUTY OF SPRING Hat the Krishna Das 27 Psychology, Therapy & Dreams ! TTIME AT LAST ! YAY! Kirtan concert—should 29 Midlife Passages & ElderWisdom On the Cover May your inner and outer be a gem—on May 29 in 29 Jungian & Depth Psychology TK gardens be abubblin’ with Vancouver (see events p. 31 The Heart of Religion ! colour and growth. More 5). His last gig here in ‘07 31 Meditation The Banyen Staff and more of us are plant- was a magical evening of In the Store: 32 Western Teachers & Teachings Mark Adam, David Duhn, Vanessa Fisher, ing food, herb, and flower gardens loveflow and soul-harmonies. 34 Dying & Grieving Danielle Foley, Mahara Gabriel, these days, gettin’ back to basics, 34 Michael Galloway, Mandalynn Halldorson, returning to the rhythms— and intel- he wonderful Buddhist teacher 34 Bokudo Holy, Ingrid Jensen, Shelley Klotz, ligence—of the earth. It’s certainly TMichele McDonald said (here’s 36 & Ritual Karen Lawrie, Armin Medani-Nejad, time. As one author, David Holmgren your quote for spring): “I used to 36 Native American Medicine Ways Tom Oakley, Tobi Panter, Levi Shulman, in Future Scenarios [great, compact, define wisdom as the lowering of 36 , Magick & Pagan Paths Jacob Steele, Tessa Thornley, recommended] writes, “Economic Leslie Timmins, Chris Turpin expectations. It’s the continual low- 37 Celtic Spirit Generous Manager: Tanis Phillips recession is the only proven mecha- ering of expectation and just 37 Christian & Jewish Events & Publicity: nism for the rapid reduction of accepting... just what’s happening. 39 , Islam & Rumi Michael Bertrand, Nicola Aimé greenhouse gas emissions.” So the Very humbling!... Very liberating!” 39 , Tarot & Divination & Lizanne Fisher (in a supporting role) Earth-wrecking pace of human 40 & Philosophy Purchasing: “progress” is slowing down... He also nd Mary Oliver, in the title poem 41 Transmissions & Revelations Marina Gingrich & Rebecca Coates(books) says, “We can build local resilience Afrom her new book Evidence says 43 Business, Work &Right Livelihood Dawn Howlett & Karen McMahon no matter where we live, at the same (music, art, fabrics & gifts) “I ask you again: if you have not 45 Ecology, Community & Politics time as we make the greatest contri- Receiving: Dean Regan & Chris Piedt been enchanted by this adventure— 47 Eco-Philosophy, Deep Ecology Accounting: Melora Jaune & Jenny Chu bution to reducing greenhouse gas your life—what would do for 48 Earth Energies & Eco-Design ! emissions.” In this issue, you’ll see you?... I want to step out into some 49 Gardening & Farming 15,000 copies printed at Coastal Web Press on lots of new books on gardening, per- fresh morning and look around and 50 Planetary Culture New Heron Paper’s Rebrite 100% recycled maculture, “the long descent,” green (75+% post-consumer, the rest sawmill waste— hear myself crying out “The house of 50 Science, Gaia, Brain/Mind and no chlorine bleach). About 65 mature trees building and design, “Slow Money,” money is falling! The house of money 52 Family & Parenting were spared—and 45% less water and 70% less wild foresting, evolutions, transitions, is falling! The weeds are rising! The 53 Relationship & Sexuality electricity were used—by “re-using” the and good tools for smart green living. four tons of paper it takes to print this issue. weeds are rising!” {blessings} –Kolin 54 Women’s Spirituality & Healing ! 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BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 4 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009 ! BANYEN EVENTS !

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 5 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! SOUND AS A VEHICLE OF SPIRIT !

therapies including massage, aromathera- Music on CD py, meditation and yoga. Crystal Bowls & the Power of Sound Chris Conway plays tin and low Irish whistles, bamboo flute, zither, piano, key- SPIRIT & SPACE JEWELS OF SILENCE boards, guitars, theremin, kalimba, vocals, Guitar & Cello for Voice and Crystal Singing Bowls and bodhran, whilst Llewellyn weaves in by Michael Waters & by Ashana, with Thomas Barquee his piano and keyboards with ambient ef- Allannah Dow $19.95, CD. Angelic Tones. fects, and Juliana appears as a special $13.25, CD. Ladybird Music. isbn 9780010069396 66 minutes guest vocalist. These spacious melodies of- isbn 9789000086078 60 minutes Harmonic resonance for the journey within... for prayer, fer listeners an oasis of harmonic, irides- On Spirit & Space, “reclusive guitar mys- yoga, Reiki, bodywork and rest, Jewels of Silence features cent riverings. tic” Michael Waters deliciously duets with Ashana’s angelic vocal improvisations, crystal bowl playing Detailed liner notes about Celtic Reiki cellist Allannah and the vocal and keyboard artistry of Thomas Barquee, include instructions to allow listeners to Dow, and the accompanied by bansoori flute, esraj and santoor. “receive the energies… allow your breath- tendrils of im- This is a beautiful recording of great depth and exquisite sensitivity. With each ing to find its own natural rhythm and go provised and successive track, the listener floats into deeper and deeper states of profound re- with it…” They also include: labyrinthine laxation. The exquisite harmonics, accompanied by the constant droning of the !The Sea of Dreams, a 15-minute guided amazement will crystal bowls, shifts brainwave patterns almost immediately Celtic Reiki Manifestation meditation call- unfold. into alpha, theta or delta states, quieting the mind and sup- ing on the Essence of the Ocean From the first porting meditation, rest and dreaming. !The Wind of Enlightenment, a 15-minute notes Allannah The inspiration for Jewels of Silence came out of the many guided meditation calling on the essence of and I played requests I have received over the years for a CD of my crystal Air together it was singing bowl sound meditations. These meditations weave !The Dance of the Flame, a 15-minute guid- clear that we had found our way to the together prayer, guided visualization, color, toning, mantra and ed meditation calling on the Essence of Fire same field of play. This familiarity is such Ashana and Bowls crystal singing bowls, on a journey of light and sound through !Magical Earth, a 15-minute meditation call- that by far the most time we have played the seven main centers in the body, commonly known as together has been in performance, rather the , moving upwards from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. ing on the Essence of Earth. than rehearsal. It is our prayer that the gentle peace of Jewels of Silence will help you go deep within Whether or not you use these guided Both of us have played on the same indi- so that you may rest in the quiet stillness of your being. We offer it from our hearts to journey instructions to accompany the vidual instrument for over 35 years— my- yours, with gratitude and praise for the eternal light that shines in All. cuts on this CD, this music “calls on the self on my Yamaki Folk At the heart of each piece, the constant drone of crystal singing bowls can be energy frequencies of trees, elements and Deluxe and Allanah on heard, played and intoned with sacred chant and mantra. Beginning with the root seas to help us identify with our true a 100-year-old French in the tonality of C and ending at the crown, in the tonality of B, the pieces selves and to heal. It allows us to recon- Cello named Sebastian. move sequentially up the seven main energy centers of the body, through the seven nect in a very personal and unique way Acoustic resonance par with the elemental Earth energies that are excellence! degrees of the Western musical scale. To deepen the meditative and healing effects, each piece also features seed sounds, or bija mantras—vowel sounds that can help available to and all around us, so that we Michael Waters & Together, Michael’s activate and balance the chakras. can restore balance, not just to our selves Allannah Dow guitar and Allannah’s Ashana’s angelic voice can also be heard on her popular CD All is Forgiven. but also to our planet.” cello make some fan- tastic dances together. The mood is quiet In Concert chamber music with occasional flares of Banyen ASHANA Sat., July 11, Unitarian Church TIBETAN CHANTS rhythmic celebration, with unusual atten- Event tkts: Banyen 604-737-8858 See p.5 for details FOR WORLD PEACE by the Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir tiveness to the resonant silences between OCEAN OF SOUND these lovely riffs. Some pieces are written $19.95, CD. White Swan. by Joseph “Pepe” Danza isbn 9780010068894 50 minutes compositions, some are entirely impro- $17.00, CD. Pepe Danza. The Tibetan Buddhist chants on this al- vised on the spot. All were recorded at live isbn 9780010068795 68 minutes bum had never been recorded until 2001, performances on Cortes Island, in “Pepe” Danza is a wildly energetic and accomplished when Grateful Comox, and on Protection Island in B.C. Vancouver musician, a veritable “Pilgrim of Sound.” His Dead percus- Tasty, organic, listenable—and local! huge collection of instruments from around the world re- sionist Mickey Waters has spent over 30 years playing quires a whole warehouse, and his many musical projects Hart brought guitar as a spiritual practice, and his play- in the city have delighted and trans- the Gyuto ing style—animated by his dedication to ported listeners. Monks Tantric the ayahuasca medicine traditions of the Ocean of Sound is a recording of Pepe sharing his Sacred Choir to his Amazon—has been dubbed Acoustic Sound experience with a live community. On it he plays Quartz California stu- Psychedelic Chill. In this vein he has also Crystal Bowls; Tibetan bowls; miscellaneous chimes, gongs and dio to record recorded two solo guitar which bells; Udu drum; Hang; Shakuhachi flute; Mbira (African the incredible form “The Medicine Path”: Famous in thumb piano); Andean Ocarinas; miscellaneous shamanic rat- multiphonics of their sacred rituals. The Mongolia and Lost in Tierra del Fuego. tles, rainsticks and river gourds; and Voice (chants from several monks gave Hart permission to overdub Allannah Dow spent 32 years playing spiritual traditions). classical cello. Her desire to sing her own Pepe Danza playing their voices, achieving the huge sound of The idea of Sound as a vehicle to Spirit is ancient, and it is my song has led to where her voice and in- a feather flute the 100-voice choir as one might hear at fondest wish that this CD will carry you to your deepest Center and their mountain monastery—with each strument combine to produce a sponta- that, whatever your present circumstances are, you know that Love monk’s voice singing a complete, extraor- neous outpouring that she describes as and Peace are always waiting for you at Home, just a Breath away. “singing in tongues,” and that carries the dinary chord. Pepe (sometimes with help from his friend and student Zamir) takes his audi- listener to the heart of the sacred cello. This is magnificently recorded extraor- ence on a profound experience of discovery, peacefulness, regeneration and spiri- dinary, ear- and mind-opening harmonic tual harmony. prayer in a tradition that goes back over a Event at Hollyhock The power of sound has tremendous potential to release internal knots and facilitate thousand years. our connectedness to the natural and original state of joy and tranquility that is our Mickey Hart remembers: birthright. Sound can also be used as an amplifier for prayer, meditation and the power The Dalai Lama once told me that MICHAEL WATER of our thought to affect material reality (nowadays called “manifestation”). Sacred and even if one human ear hears these healing sound also creates a safe place for community to gather and share chants, “it can do some good.” Robert connectedness and experience Spirit outside of dogmas or religion. CHASING BEAUTY Hunter gave me a cassette of this sacred —PLAYING Also by Pepe Danza are the CDs Emerge and Coraz in Latino. music in 1967, and that’s where it all started. I listened to it over and over for MUSIC FROM THE SOUL CELTIC REIKI mentalist Chris three years without knowing what it was. The chants were magnetic and all- by Chris Conway & Llewellyn Conway and top consuming; their very sound is so potent July 22–26 $16.95, CD. Paradise Music. Reiki composer that one does not need to be familiar with isbn 9780010069433 61 minutes Llewellyn, Celtic scripture. I remember thinking what hollyhock.ca Here be music for a style of Reiki which Reiki can also be power these sounds have—without uses vibrations from the earth and certain used for Usui Reiki realizing they were human voices. or 800-933-6339 types of trees and plants to create energies Healing treatments The four tracks on this recording are for healing. Featuring Celtic multi-instru- and a wide range of

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 6 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! KIRTAN, FLUTE & RAGA !

OPENING THE HEART by Lavelle Kirtan — Devotional Chanting Opens the Door $17.95, CD. Lavelle. HEART FULL OF SOUL I have been singing these chants for many years isbn 9780010067255 47 minutes by Krishna Das and with every day they get deeper and more Lavelle is a musician and sculptor living $20.95, 2 CDs. Nutone. powerful as the beauty and mystery of the Name in the San Juan Islands of Washington. As isbn 9780010068801 unfold. May the blessings of all the Saints and Sages she says in her liner notes, always be with us and by their blessings may we be 2 hours 20 minutes My music expresses It was Krishna Das’s desire to create a record strong enough in that love to carry ourselves and others through all of life’s hard stuff.—Sarva the wavelengths of that would allow people to immerse themselves in Mangalam interwoven simplicity a night of kirtan. Heart Full of Soul fulfills that vi- and multiplicity of sion, transporting audiences into Krishna Das has been called the “chant master creation… Through a full live concert experience. It of American Yoga” by The New York Times, and the layers of time, within was recorded in 2007. “Pavarotti of Kirtan” by Yoga Journal. His unique- every tree, there lives Night after night, in ashrams and temples, ly heartful, gravelly Brooklyn voice is accompanied, at various a song. The tree shares cavernous cathedrals and modest community points, by Ty Burhoe on tabla, Arjun Bruggeman on drums, this song with the Mark Gorman on bass, Steve Ross on harmony vocals, David wind and the music continues forever, as theaters around the world, Krishna Das sits a gift, through the hands of the flute- down behind his harmonium, flanked by his Nichtern on electric guitar, Genevieve Walker on violin, and Nina Rao on finger cymbals. maker, the player of the flute and through band of supporting musicians, greets the you. Krishna Das crowd that has gathered to sing, closes his eyes, This CD of Native American Flute music and begins. And with his opening Om, every- Banyen Event begins with the mid-range of the red cedar one in the room sets off together on a priceless evening’s jour- flute, a soft grain wood, generating mellow ney along the path of devotion. KRISHNA DAS & Friends warmth… then moves into the lower tones Heart Full of Soul is a double-CD recording of just such an AN EVENING OF KIRTAN of a walnut flute, a wood of exceptional evening and just such a journey. It is rich with the burnished tonal quality. The music continues into treasure of the Divine Name, passed back and forth, back and Fri., May 29, 7:30pm deeper resonances from flutes of yellow forth between KD and the audience, as they travel together the cedar, spruce and ancient redwood, ac- varied terrain of the heart: from the funky rhythms of “Radhe St. Andrew’s Wesley Church companied by flowing water. This earthy Radhe Shyam” through the intense longing of “All One (Hare and tender music travels upward again, to Krishna)” and the balm of “Jaya Bhagavan,” and ending with tkts: $30 Banyen, 604-737-8858 the surface of present time. KD’s joyous version of the gospel classic, “Jesus on the Main See p.5 for details Deep pools of resonance… Tracks with Line”—a beloved concert chestnut here on CD at last. titles such as Dream Light, Shadows on a LIVE IN LOVE beautiful convergence of grace-filled events, emerging Still Pond, Clouds Passing, Flowering, and by Shantala from our desire to share the energy of live chanting First Hummingbird give you a feeling for $24.50, 2 CDs. Wolf Cub. with our international kirtan family. the gentle melodic “stillness” qualities of this new CD. isbn 9780010069273 2+ hours Along with our beloved spirit sister Gina Sala, we A powerful experience of live kirtan in a 2-CD set, united to co-create a powerful experience of deep spirit recorded in concert in Portland, Oregon. LIVE in and incredible heart. Manose and other wonderful Love offers the live energy of chant, flowing from the musicians and singers traveled far to join us for the YOGA RAGAS sublime to the ecstatic. Shantala (the dynamic duo creation of our recording. We hope LIVE in Love will by Manose & Friends $16.95, CD. New Earth. of vocalist Heather and master instrumentalist Benjy nourish your heart and spirit. isbn 9780010060706 72 minutes Wertheimer) is joined by special guests Manose (bamboo Among the many lovely chants (set in very tasty instrumen- Here’s a lovely CD featuring Manose, flute), Jami Sieber (electric cello), Gina Sala (celesetial voice), tal weavings) are “Ganesha Invocation,” “Ma Durga,” “Radhe,” the wild Krishna-like flute player who has and Talia Toni Marcus (violin), and venerable others. “Namaah Shivaya Om” (I honor the God inside myself and in appeared with For three days we sang with a loving and vibrant live audience all things) and “Bhaja Mana Ma.” A beautiful, heartful offer- Deva Premal in in the sacred space of Portland Insight Meditation Center in ing! recent years. Portland, Oregon, in August 2006. The birth of this project was a Also by Shantala is The Love Window. Recorded in Kathmandu, Yoga TRUTH LOVE CREATION Words for Yoga, Chant and Ragas presents a by Reema Meditation and founder of the moving collabora- $18.25, CD. NuTone. Usha Yoga Foundation, which tion between four isbn 9780010069044 72 minutes brings yoga to marginalized musicians who ex- Reema Datta is a classically trained yogi and musician whose communities worldwide. pertly entwine debut Truth Love Creation is a uniquely heart-honeying Reema’s beautiful voice the sounds of their instruments during massage of relaxing and meditative songs. Producer and musi- welcomes the listener into sa- two improvisational sessions. Together cian Ferenz Kallos has created a river of musical sounds that cred chants that warm like they blend the Bansuri flute, sitar, tanpu- blend her gentle, soothing voice with the honey on the heart. Her mes- ra, tabla, and ragini into a meditative, renowned Nepalese Bansuri flutist Manose sages of Love, personal em- slow-moving, and exquisitely entrancing (who performed with Deva Premal in powerment, healing and inde- musical journey. Their expert musician- Vancouver) to transport you into sacred space. pendence through Yoga make her a true renaissance teacher. ship creates an atmosphere ideal for med- Born into a family of yogis, Reema Datta has Reema easily bridges the Western and Indian worlds in her itation, yoga, and sweet, quiet times. been performing and teaching internationally unique approach and perspective. From an early age she has Yoga Ragas includes two evening ragas, since 2004. First introduced to Sanskrit Chants studied the Sacred Sanskrit chants with her mother. Her “Puriya Kalyan” and “Mangal Dhoni”— Reema Datta and Philosophy by her grandfather, she travels grandfather, a Yogi, philosopher, independent thinker and ac- both wistful and haunting, with nighttime annually to India to study with master yogis tivist, has been a powerful influence on her teachings and clearly encouraging individual medita- and musicians. Reema is co-author of the book Sacred Sanskrit work. tion. Manose’s refined, individualistic flute artistry—which we in Vancouver have enjoyed in concerts with Deva Mandala Offering, Praising Healthy Planet series, sales also generate Premal—really charms. It is Manose’s on- Chakrasamvara, Blessing the Offerings, donations to the cultural preservation ef- Event at Hollyhock going pleasure to be one of Nepal’s musi- and Great Sacred Music (to please all the forts of Tibet House. cal ambassadors to the world. Enlightened Beings). Great liner notes de- The world’s eyes are on Tibet as never KRISHNA DAS “The transformative harmony of Yoga liver more depth and dimension. before—and these prayers for healing, Ragas takes devotion and the essence of in- Gyuto Tantric University preserves one compassion and peace have never been HEART OF DEVOTION ner bliss to a higher level. Ideal music for of Tibetan Buddhism’s most esoteric tradi- more timely or more relevant. Tai Chi, meditation, moving mantra, re- tions, training many young Tibetan monks May 31– June 5 laxation, and times when you need to con- in the spiritual legacy of the Gyuto order. nect with your spirit.” —Hope Zvara, All royalties from sales of this recording go hollyhock.ca Certified Yoga Teacher to them (gyutocenter.com). In addition, Other CDs by Manose: Dyana Aman: as part of White Swan’s Healthy Cultures, or 800-933-6339 Meditation of No Mind and Notes from Home.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 7 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! THE SOUND OF THE UNIVERSE !

MONSOON POINT now ten years from now.” —Alternative EMERGENCE 2012 by Al Gromer Khan & Amelia Cuni Music Press The Soundtrack for Global Evolution $19.95, CD. New Earth. by Alex Theory & Daniel Pinchbeck isbn 9780010065589 55 minutes $19.95, CD. Sounds True. On the updated cover art for Al Gromer BUDDHA-BAR X isbn 9789000087907 67 minutes Khan and Amelia Cuni’s Monsoon Point, by Ravin Take a musical journey into the lush soundscapes of the there’s a depiction $38.50, 2 CDs. GeorgeV. 2012 phenomenon with Emergence 2012. Inspired by of a shadowed fig- isbn 9780010069068 2 hours 20 minutes Baktuns—or cycles of the classical Mayan calendar—this ure in a yoga pose, Buddha-Bar, famous for its legendary mind-bending music infuses psychoacoustic rhythms with while the sun sets restaurant-club in Paris and its ambient the chants of ayahuasca shamans and natural harmonics found deep within the over a shimmering lounge music collection, has birthed an- forests of South America… Vast… Inner… Spaces… Pulsing with the currents of lake. It was a well- other exotic com- creation. chosen picture, be- pilation. Ravin, the Created by sound healing visionary Alex Theory and Daniel Pinchbeck, best- cause it reflects the illustriously illumi- selling author of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, this album draws upon Theory’s mood of the music nated DJ who pro- extensive training in shamanic practice and music production to develop new perfectly. Khan duced several of modalities in music and sound therapy. presents a languid landscape of electronic the best record- Also by Alex Theory are the music CDs Light and Water. keyboard tones that find a balance be- ings in this series, has continued his VIBRATIONAL HEALING MUSIC tween being spiritually uplifting and sooth- ingly mellow. This is definitely an album perpetual alchemi- by Marjorie de Muynck cal quest with this $19.95, CD. Sounds True. isbn 9789000087891 60 minutes that is suited for winding down or internal new release: Buddha-Bar X. A clever blend As our planet orbits the sun, a measurable vibration exploration. Adding to the album’s spiri- of lounge, electro and acoustic flavours, known as the Ohm (Om) frequency permeates every liv- tual potency is the Dhrupad singing of disc 1 offers 17 cuts more in the world ing organism. On Vibrational Healing Music, composer Cuni, whose low, silky voice floats amidst groove from a diverse tribe of artists, Marjorie de Muynck offers you a therapeutic journey in Khan’s nuanced synthscapes. Keep this al- among them Thierry David, Temple of her signature tuning of Ohm, known for its ability to bum in mind for your next yoga session— Sound, Gaudi + Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, soothe, balance, and rejuvenate. its subtle fluidity would make it perfect for Cantoma, Bebo Best & the Super Lounge “The body, in its natural intelligence, is able to assimilate Ohm and all its beau- concentration and slow, deliberate asanas. Orchestra, Mercan Dede, Van Daler & tiful overtones and utilize these properties on a vibratory level,” explains de Re-mastered from its original release in Low Pressure, Pochill, and others. This is Muynck. Here, she organically combines ambient sounds of the earth from a sur- 1995 for the new film Sublime by Tony melodic global lounge and world music, prising array of sources, including the lovely syncopated rhythms of crickets and ci- Cranz, Monsoon Point features Amelia Cuni not Buddhist meditation music. That said, cadas. You will find yourself transported as your vibrational being harmonizes with who is a master of Dhrupad, the oldest sur- very tasty! the life-affirming frequencies of the earth. viving genre of classical singing in India. And Khan, whose first calling is as a The second CD is more staccato, get- Everything that exists is a testimony to the vibration that gave it form, from the five- sitarist, here masterfully floats the synth on-down dancey to a global house beat: pointed shape of a starfish and the petals characteristic of many flowers, to the peaks and Fifteen dance tracks from around the valleys that shape our own bodies. Without a doubt, the drone of bees and the bird’s song waves of what he calls “this new, meditative world include such artists as Lulu Rouge, are frequencies that create their own unique and sacred sounds, shapes, and geometries. classical music, which I call Paisley music” with otherworldly ahhhhh. Azam Ali, Kaya Project, Buscemi, Shantel, Also by Marjorie de Muynck are Sound Healing (book & DVD) and In the Key of Shaman’s Dream, and Jerry Dimmer. Earth (music CD). “The album possesses a timeless quality and will probably sound as good as it does “At last Ravin has returned to what re-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 8 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! DANCING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE ! ally works with these Buddha Bar CDs— here are “Speaking Curves,” “Skinny a hallucino- already a clas- World Lounge Music. There are plenty of Lights and Fat Beats,” “On the Other Side genic musical sic—plus extend- regular lounge, chillout, dance CDs of Here,” and “Road Rock-It.” that follows ed musical per- around, but I count on Buddha Bar to Under Gabrielle’s musical direction, the arduous formances; a bring in that Parisian sound from around the Mirrors assembled for Jhoom include journey of star- deleted scene; the world. The remixes are excellent…” — Allison Cornell on viola and vocals, Chloe crossed lovers commentary with Amazon.com reviewer Goodchild on vocals, Tony Levin on bass, Jude (Jim director Julie Sanga of the Valley on percussion, Robert Sturgess) and Taymor and mu- Ansell and many more. Dance journeys… Lucy (Evan sic producer JHOOM Though it’s only a miserly 37 minutes Rachel Wood) Elliot The Intoxication of Surrender long, this CD still pulses with Gabrielle’s as they and a Goldenthal; five by Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors characteristic get-on-down intensity and small group of behind the Julie Taymor $19.95, CD. Raven Records. “the intoxication of surrender.” musicians are scenes fea- isbn 9780010069471 37 minutes swept up in the turettes; a photo gallery, and more! Gabrielle Roth is the rhythmic pioneer raging waters of the volatile counterculture who founded “The Five Rhythms,” which New on DVD movement. Guided through their journey has become a by a pair known only as Dr. Robert (Bono) widespread— and Mr. Kite (Eddie Izzard), Jude and Lucy even trade- are eventu- marked—set of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE ally forced techniques for 2-Disc Deluxe Edition to find their dancing your directed by Julie Taymor way back to way into ecstasy $44.95, 2 DVDs. one another and balance. Columbia Pictures. after being She’s back with isbn 043396194625 split apart 133 minutes + extra features Jhoom, a smok- by powerful Julie Taymor, who directed The Lion We were talking - about the love we all could share ing collection of tripped-out tribal forces be- King, must have had the help of some old - when we find it rhythms that, given half a chance, will yond their control. The music in the film Sixties psychenauts with To try our best to hold it there - with our love send you into a state of trance ecstasy. New on consists exclusively of songs made popular their memories intact as she With our love - we could save the world Gabrielle Roth has been called “the high DVD by the Beatles during the time period de- crafted this amazingly true- - if they only knew. priestess of trance,” “ goddess,” “rock- picted in the movie. to-details film which uses great versions of ’n’roll shaman” and “simply, the only That heart-opening, heart-breaking zeit- Beatles songs to convey both history and a Try to realize it’s all within yourself American woman creating authentic am- geist of war in Vietnam, psychedelics, love surprising dose of love. It’s a “gettin’ high- No-one else can make you change bient-tribal music.” ‘n’ peace, public protests, and baby- er” musical with stunning visual textures …And to see you’re really only very small… Jhoom is a hypnotic blend of drums, boomers coming-of-age is artfully which really “vibe” with the essence of “the And life flows on within you and without you. bass, strings and female chants, an adren- evoked—in surprising vignettes and im- times.” aline rush and a whirl of electrifying tribal ages. And the music, of course, is pure -from “Within You, Without You” Set against the anti-war protests, rock & grooves that will awaken the spirit- hunger Beatlemania, which carries the whole feast by George Harrison from roll revolution, and mind-expanding psy- within you, while keeping your feet and along. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) chedelia of the 1960s, Across the Universe is body in constant motion. Among the cuts This 2-disc set includes the film itself—

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 9 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! VISIONARIES !

GARBAGE WARRIOR by Oliver Hodge $24.50, DVD. New on Alex Grey & the Transformative Power of Art DVD Mongrel Media. ART PSALMS Plan,” which aligns universal and individual creativi- isbn 9789000083114 by Alex Grey ty. The entire text of Grey’s spoken word perfor- 86 minutes + 40 minutes extra features $27.95, cloth. North Atlantic. mance, “Worldspirit,” is included here. (Worldspirit Wondering what you can do as our glob- isbn 9781556437564 is also available separately as a DVD/CD set.) al warming world heads toward the cliff? 203 pages, colour illustrations, Three annotated portfolios, “Meditations on the This amazing film will ribbon marker Divine Feminine,” “Meditations on the Masters,” inspire you. In the Church of Vision and “Meditations on Mortality,” explore the connec- What do beer cans, Where creativity is religion. tion between drawing and meditation as ways of see- car tires and water We seek through art ing. Equally meaningful for art lovers, the health To recover our center, bottles have in com- and spiritual communities, and anyone seeking to To remember our soul’s task… mon? Not much un- develop their creativity, Art Psalms features over 150 less you’re renegade The power of art as a transformative path is the theme of this inspiring collection from artist Alex new reproductions of drawings, , and sa- architect Michael cred geometry to enrich and awaken the inner artist Reynolds, in which Grey. Art Psalms combines poems, pictures, and “mystic rants” that fuse visionary in each of us. case they are tools of Art can be worship and service. choice for producing creativity and spirituality. Grey’s oracular poet- The incandescent core of our soul. thermal mass and en- ic invocations show that both art’s creation Alex Grey is best known for his psychedelically inspired vi- ergy-independent housing. For 30 years and observation can be a practice of love and sionary paintings that integrate the anatomical body with the New Mexico–based Reynolds and his ener- communion with the divine. And that transcendental light of the soul. Grey’s artworks are chronicled getic green disciples have devoted their Creativity itself is the Juicy Edge of Being! in the oversize art books Sacred Mirrors and Transfigurations, as Our current artistic dilemma is to wake up lives to advancing the art of “earthship Alex Grey well as in his pictorial philosophical text, The Mission of Art. To the truth that we are the One Godself, Fear of failure stops many, biotecture” by building self-sufficient, off- Creating the Universe—Every day. But Death stops everyone. the-grid communities where design and Many of these writings have been shared at gatherings world- function converge in eco-harmony. So love without restraint, wide, especially at New York’s Create the New, Imagine: no need for power lines, sewage (COSM), a sacred space co-founded by Alex and Allyson Grey. lines, or even water lines. And beautiful Follow the courage of your highest dream. Selections include “Soul Marriage,” which invites the reader to Fate favors your daring. too! commit to personal and global transformation; “Guidance for Risk surrendering to Love, These experimental structures went far Servants of God,” precepts for life as a sacred path; and “The And gain your Soul. beyond building codes, creating conflict between Reynolds and the authorities. WORLDSPIRIT DVD consists of: Frustrated by antiquated legislation from by Alex Grey & Kenji Williams ! 1-hour video of the live 2003 performance seam- the fossil fuel era, Reynolds lobbies for the $35.95. Magnetic Presence. lessly interwoven with Alex Grey’s art, in both 2.0 right to create sustainable living test sites isbn 9789991488639 stereo and 5.1 surround-sound audio where designer-builders can really learn 2.5-hour DVD + audio CD ! 1-hour “art only” video featuring Alex Grey’s images what works. His ability to rise above the WORLDSPIRIT, a DVD/CD double-disc set, is a set to the soundtrack of the performance—in both bureaucratic “horse shit” with humour landmark audio-visual theater experience featuring vocal and instrumental versions and spunk makes for great eco-education. poetry and storytelling by visionary ! Multimedia 40-minute documentary on the creation of World- While politicians are humming and artist Alex Grey, music by electronic Learning spirit hawing, Mother Nature strikes, leaving composer and violinist Kenji ! Kit 3 bonus music videos by Kenji Williams communities devastated by tsunamis and Williams, and multi-screen projec- ! Chapel of Sacred Mirrors Animation hurricanes. Reynolds and his crew seize tions of Alex Grey’s world-famous paintings. CD consists of the soundtrack of Worldspirit per- the opportunity to lend their pioneering WORLDSPIRIT is a prayer formance, plus additional bonus tracks by Kenji Williams. skills to those who need it most. For the realization of our integration with Included is a stunning 28-page colour booklet which in- Shot over three years and in four differ- The web of creation cludes Grey’s essay, “What Art Can Do,” along with his lyrics ent countries, Garbage Warrior is a timely And for the transformation of our species from the performance, including “Artist’s Prayer,” From one gripped in fear and self-annihilation portrait of a determined visionary, a boot- “Lamentations,” “Buddha Embryo,” “Progress of the Soul,” strappingly practical hero of the 21st cen- To a species that stands for love, Wildly creative peace, and liberation… and “Worldspirit Invocation.” tury. The artist honors the gifts of sound and vision Earthship n. 1. passive solar home The incandescent core of our soul, By weaving them into works of art made of natural and recycled materials. 2. A glowing God’s eye, And sharing them with the community. thermal mass construction for temperature Infinitely aware of the beauty of creation, The Community uses them as wings stabilization. 3. renewable energy and Is interlocked with a network of souls, To soar to the same shining vistas and beyond. integrated water systems make the Part of one vast group soul. “A beautiful, brilliant, exhilarating multimedia presentation of Earthship an off-grid home with little to no The group soul of art beyond time sacred art and music. Dazzling from beginning to end, and utility bills. Includes extensive greenhouse- Comes into time deeply moving throughout. Highly recommended!” —Ken gardens. By projecting music and symbols Worldspirit Wilber, author of A Brief History of Everything Biotecture n. 1. the profession of Into the imagination. designing buildings and environments with Artist consideration for their sustainability. 2. a combination of biology and architecture. tone singing. An Event at Hollyhock “Hodge builds a nerve-wrenching sense Art, Creativity evocative, stimulat- of suspense with enough unexpected ing and visually twists and turns to be worthy of a & Music beautiful produc- Hollywood thriller—you will never be able tion which explores ALEX & to look at your home, society or the world a wide range of ALLYSON in quite the same way again. Not to be OF SOUND MIND AND BODY therapeutic appli- missed.” —Cinema Clock Music and Vibrational Healing cations of sound, GREY by Sound Healing Teachers from medieval $33.00, DVD. Macromedia. plainsong to cos- VISIONARY ARTS isbn 9781888138085 mic music! 72 minutes A segment on INTENSIVE This winner of the Hartley Film Award Cymatics features through the Institute of Noetic Sciences is commentary by , Jill Purce, July 31– August 5 now available on DVD. Rupert Sheldrake and Kay Gardner, illus- New on World-class composers, per- DVD trated by many cymatic images which are formers, health practition- not seen in any of Dr. Jenny’s original hollyhock.ca ers and leaders in mind-body medicine films. or 800-933-6339 Dragon vs Phoenix convey a wealth of information ranging by Alex Grey from music therapy to chanting and over-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 10 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! ART & POETRY !

THE NEW CREATIVE ARTIST i catch A Guide to Developing Your Creative Spirit the maple leaf then let by Nita Leland it go New Poems from Mary Oliver $32.99, cloth. F & W. Poet and meditation teacher Patricia isbn 9781581807561 Donegan shares her experience of the EVIDENCE 176 pages, 8x11, colour photos & haiku form as a way of insight that anyone Poems illustrations, ringbound with hardcover can use to slow down and uncover the by Mary Oliver This updated and expanded edition of beauty of ordinary moments. With themes $29.95, cloth. Beacon. The Creative Artist (originally published in such as honesty, transience, and compas- isbn 9780807068984 88 pages 1990) breathes new sion, Donegan’s Haiku Mind offers 108 In this new volume of 46 poems, Mary Oliver delves even life into a popular clas- haiku and a commentary on each as an im- deeper than she has in the past into the mysteries of life, love, sic, providing lots of petus to meditation and as a key to un- and death. Exploring the evidence presented to us daily by the tools and ideas to help locking the wonder in what we find right natural world, inspired by the familiar lines from William artists reach greater before us. Wordsworth—“To me the meanest flower that blows can give levels of creativity, in- / Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears”—Oliver offers spiration and artistic COMPASSION poems of arresting beauty and insight. Never afraid to shed the pretense of acade- don’t hit the fly— fulfillment. With a mic poetry, never shy of letting the power of an image lie in unadorned language, he prays with his hands Oliver’s work in Evidence reflects on the power of love and the great gifts of the nat- fresh, eye-catching de- and with his feet sign that showcases 50 ural world. The Dalai Lama was once asked how to percent new material, the book highlights In “There Are a Lot of Mockingbirds in This Book,” she writes: teach children compassion in a world full but this isn’t nature the many inventive, amazing techniques of violence and intolerance. And he where the sweetest things, with great examples which show how many replied, “teach them to respect insects.” being hidden in leaves other artists have done it. This will get For if we can learn to care about and thorn-thick bushes your brushes twitching! something that is tiny, strange, and not reveal themselves rarely— always easy to relate to, then we can Artist and longtime teacher Nita Leland this is a book realize that insects, like everything in believes that creativity lives in everyone. of the heart’s rapture, Nature, share the same life. And in turn The New Creative Artist will encourage you Mary Oliver of hearing and praising… to develop and strengthen your natural cu- we could eventually realize that all human Mary Oliver, acknowledged by The New York Time’s Book Review as “far and away, riosity, flexibility, independence, and play- beings—not just our particular group or country—also share the same life. Haiku is this country’s best-selling poet,” has many titles, recent among them being The fulness, to become the artist you want to often about noticing and caring for the Truro Bear and Other Adventures and New & Selected Poems, Volume Two. be. This visual how-to book offers over small. 110 fun activities to exercise your creative As our culture speeds up and our per- RED BIRD muscle. For example: Poems sonal lives feel overbooked and busy, New in ! Explore what drives you by creating an by Mary Oliver haiku can offer an easy way to slow down, Paperback autobiographical collage. $18.25, paper. Beacon. appreciate the simple things around us, ! Jot down ideas for projects and tech- isbn 9780807068939 96 pages and give us a moment to reflect on our niques and place them in a jar for ran- Red Bird is a new harvest from one of our most avidly read lives. dom retrieval when you need a jumpstart. and loved living poets. This collection of 61 new poems, the ! Target “dull” subjects and find ways to most ever in a single volume of Oliver’s work, includes an en- make them interesting. POETRY AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE tirely new direction in the poet’s work: a cycle of eleven ! Push your creative boundaries by trying Reading, Writing, and Using Poetry in Your linked love poems—a dazzling achievement. As in all of Mary new methods and media: paper crafts, Daily Rituals, Aspirations, and Intentions Oliver’s work, the pages overflow with her keen observation Japanese brush , creative quilt- by Robert McDowell of the natural world and her gratitude for its gifts, for the many people she has ing, inventive photography, grown-up fin- $23.50, cloth. Simon & Schuster. loved in her 70 years, as well as for her beloved and disobedient dog, Percy. ger painting, monotype, and many more. isbn 9781416566502 264 pages But the poet also turns her attention with ferocity to the degradation of the earth Nita’s instructions address the creative Poetry is the language of devotion in and the denigration of the peoples of the world by those who love power. She chews challenges of today’s artist, while coaching prayer, chant, and song. But, over the cen- into the hard lesson that this earth is fallen and fragile, now more than ever, and artwork in a wide variety of styles and turies, it has disap- unless we learn to cherish the world, we will destroy it. Red Bird is Mary Oliver’s mediums. Her practical advice is com- peared from reli- most wide-ranging book of poems. bined with inspiring exercises and insights gious ceremonies, Red bird came all winter from other artists. academic curricu- firing up the landscape as nothing else could. la, and public dis- course. In Poetry as Of course I love the sparrows, Poetry, Writing Spiritual Practice, those dun-colored darlings, the first inspira- so hungry and so many. & Stories tional and instruc- I am a God-fearing feeder of birds. tional guide to I know He has many children, combine poetry not all of them bold in spirit. and spirituality, HAIKU MIND Still, for whatever reason— 108 Poems to Cultivate Awareness Robert McDowell perhaps because the winter is so long & Open Your Heart restores poetry as and the sky so black-blue, by Patricia Donegan the natural language of spiritual practice or perhaps because the heart narrows $18.95, cloth. Shambhala. and invites you to recognize poetry as “the as often as it opens— isbn 9781590305799 232 pages pure sound and shape of your spirit,” as- I am grateful Haiku, the Japanese form of poetry writ- serting his belief that “poetry makes you ten in just three short lines, is celebrated into a tuning fork of the Divine.” that red bird comes all winter for its ability to ex- [When we read and write poetry,] it is firing up the landscape press a simple mo- as if a long-settled cloud in our mind as nothing else can do. ment in a pro- suddenly dissipates, and we are divine Among Mary Oliver’s other books are Thirst and Why I Wake Early. found way. The once again. haiku moment, as Vividly illustrated with a wide range of or never learned, the mechanics and ter- This profound meditation on the rela- it is called, refers poems from all historical eras and poetic minology of poetry—trochaic feet and tionship between poetry and the Divine is to a heightened traditions, and numerous religions and tropes trip us up; we can’t tell a villanelle an inspiring and friendly companion for awareness of the faiths, along with McDowell’s own and his from its shorter cousin, rondeau; and a anyone who loves poetry. world around us students’ work, Poetry as Spiritual Practice terza rima may as well be a tanka—this is also “In the way that Rumi allowed us to and how, in that will reintroduce you to the unique plea- an instructional handbook on reading and touch the heart of our soul, Robert small, transient sure of verse. Meditations and exercises writing poetry. An engaging guide through McDowell—with lyrical grace—shows you period, the throughout will allow you to integrate the landscape of world poetry, McDowell how to easily create poetry that can propel greater essence of reading and writing poetry into your own argues along the way for the many practical your spiritual journey beyond normal real- our lives is reflect- spiritual journeys and daily life. benefits of poetic literacy. ity into cherished mystic realms.” — ed. Since many of us have long forgotten, Denise Linn, author of Sacred Space

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 11 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! NOVELS & POEMS !

WHAT MAKES A CHILD LUCKY A Novel Mirabai & Hafez — by Gioia Timpanelli $22.00, cloth. Norton. Versions by Robert Bly isbn 9780393067026 127 pages In a timeless moment in rural Sicily, a boy experiences the KNOCKING ON THE TAVERN DOOR brutal killing of his best friend and is kidnapped by the mur- Thirty Poems by Hafez New in translated by Robert Bly derers. No child should have to know evil so intimately, and Paperback $18.99, paper. HarperCollins. isbn 9780061138843 128 pages yet once he does, what will save him? His salvation lies in the Now in English is a fine selection from the great Persian poet Hafez, so beloved cycles of the seasons, the sturdy earth and its gifts in a time of in Iran that almost every family there keeps his Divan close at hand. When Robert starvation, the animal sense that enables one to anticipate the Bly and Coleman Barks visited Iran, they heard schoolchildren singing Hafez po- whims and impulses of others and, most important, familiari- ems at his graveside. For some fifteen years, the great Islamic schol- ty with the Ancient Grandmother, who knows the entire play of good and evil. ar Leonard Lewisohn has worked with Robert Bly to produce this Based on a Sicilian folktale, this slim but powerfully moving novel investigates translation, which for the first time carries into English Hafez’s nim- what makes someone able to transform bad luck into good. Gioia Timpanelli uses bleness, his fierce humour directed at the mullahs, his astonishing her storytelling background to create a flowing narrative that recognizes the range of thought, and the delight of his love poems. rhythms of nature and how being in touch with them can protect one from sur- A master of the ghazal form, one of the greatest inventions in the rounding troubles. history of poetry, Hafez may be considered as Rumi’s wild younger I lived with them for a little more than nine months in a world that was the cut-out Robert Bly brother, and is now translated into an English that helps us under- side of our ordinary one, different yet strangely familiar. stand his true genius. Uniting the most ancient forms of storytelling with a modern sensibility, What Makes a Child Lucky is a treat for lovers of Italo Calvino and of the Mediterranean. ON THE WAY TO THE GARDEN This American Book Award Winner is the perfect gift for anyone who has ever The Garden is breathing out the air of Paradise today. cared for a child in trouble, and for readers who were once themselves children in I can sense myself, and this lively wine, trouble. Wisdom literature at its wisest and most literary told by a much loved pub- And this friend whose nature approaches the divine. lic speaker and teller of tales. It’s all right if the beggar claims to be a King today. “No-one in the world, yes in the world, can tell a story better than Gioia Timpanelli. His tent is a shadow thrown by a cloud; You’ll read her work for story but you’ll go back for the of her word pictures and His banqueting hall is a newly sown field. the music of her lines.” —Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes Paradise is here in the simple tale that the May meadow tells; the wise person lets the BRIDA future and its profits go and accepts the cash now. A Novel Please don’t imagine that your enemy will by Paulo Coelho ever be faithful to you. $18.99, paper. HarperCollins. isbn 9780061578953 256 pages The candle the hermit lights will always flutter out in the Brazilian Paulo Coelho broke sacred ground, and crossed worldly church. over into worldwide fame as an author, with his symbolic mas- Make your soul strong then by letting it drink the secret wine. terpiece, The Alchemist. Since then, while also writing more than This rotten world has its own twelve books, Coelho has dedicated his writing to the ideal of Plans: to press our dust into bricks. helping people to follow their wildest dreams. My life is a black book. But don’t rebuke a drinker like me too much. This is the story of Brida, a young Irish girl, and her quest for No human being can ever read The words written on his own forehead. knowledge. She has long been interested in various aspects of magic but is search- ing for something more. Her search leads her to people of great wisdom, who be- When Hafez’s coffin comes by, it’ll be all right to follow behind. Although he is a captive of sin, gin to teach Brida about the spiritual world. She meets a wise man who dwells in a he is on his way to the Garden. forest, who teaches her about overcoming her fears and trusting in the goodness of the world; and a woman who teaches her how to dance to the hidden music of the Among Robert Bly’s other books are The Winged Energy of Delight and The Soul is world, and how to pray to the moon. Here for Its Own Joy. Go in search of your Gift. I can’t go with you today, but don’t be afraid. The more you understand yourself, the more you will understand the world. And the closer you MIRABAI: ECSTATIC POEMS will be to your Soul Mate. translated by Robert Bly & Jane Hirshfield New in Among Coelho’s other books are The Witch of Portobello and Warrior of the Light. $15.50, paper. Beacon. Paperback isbn 9780807063873 120 pages ECOTOPIA This lovely collection of poems by Mirabai—one of the A Novel great woman poet-saints of India—will appeal to anyone who by Ernest Callenbach loves spiritual poetry. Robert Bly has teamed up with Jane $16.50, paper. Bantam. isbn 9780553348477 181 pages Hirshfield, a leader in the field of feminine spiritual poetry This new edition of the classic environmental novel Ecotopia and a respected poet herself, to bring us a passionate and in- offers a visionary blueprint for the survival and “thrival” of our spiring selection from the ecstatic poems of Mirabai which planet. Originally published in 1975, it provides a fascinating are still being sung throughout India today. view of an imagined future that we are now living. The cell I give my heart without fear to the Beloved: phone, called a picturephone, is there, as are electric taxis. As the polish goes into the gold, I have gone into him. Through many lives, I heard only the outer music. The buses creep along at about ten miles an hour, but they come Now the teacher has whispered into my ears, every five minutes or so. They charge no fare. When I took an And familiar ties have gone the way of weak thread. experimental ride on one, I asked a fellow passenger about this, and Mira has met the Energy That Lifts Mountains— he said the minibuses are paid for in the same way as streets—out of general tax funds. That good luck now is her home. Smiling, he added that to have a driver on board to collect fares would cost more than the fares could produce. Mirabai was a figure of legendary proportions. Born a princess in Rajasthan, India, in 1498, Mira (as she was commonly known) fought tradition and celebrated The novel is set in an ecologically wise future society, Ecotopia, founded when northern both the body and the spirit in her work. After leaving her royal California, Oregon, and Washington secede from the Union to create a “stable-state” ecosys- family, Mira wandered the land and developed a following as a tem: the perfect balance between human beings and the environment. Now, twenty years lat- kind of martyr. She died in 1550, a beloved Hindu poet-saint. Full er, this isolated, mysterious nation is welcoming its first officially sanctioned American visitor: of drama, passion, and yearning, Mirabai’s language easily en- New York Times-Post reporter Will Weston. trances, expressing deep emotion with a refreshing simplicity. Skeptical yet curious about this green new world, Weston is determined to report his findings objectively. But from the start, he’s alternately impressed and unsettled To read Mirabai is to awaken more deeply into your own life… Her poems sing of what it is like to see through the colors of the world to by the laws governing Ecotopia’s earth-friendly agenda: energy-efficient “mini- their single source, and of what it is like to find that this seemingly cities” to eliminate urban sprawl, zero-tolerance pollution control, devotion to trees infinite vision can vanish… Mirabai’s experience is as recognizably Jane Hirshfield bordering on worship, ritual war games, and a woman-dominated government that grounded in a fully human passion as it is in the realm of spiritual has instituted the twenty-hour workweek and employee ownership of farms and realization. —JH businesses. Bombarded by innovative, unsettling ideas, swept off his feet by a rela- Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems includes an afterword by John Stratton Hawley that dis- tionship with a sexually forthright Ecotopian woman, Weston’s conflict of values in- cusses what is known of Mirabai’s life and reputation, plus a few beautiful illustra- tensifies—and leads to a startling climax. tions from traditional Indian art.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 12 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! WRITING & YOGA !

fulfillment of their potential. Yoga & the Hindu “Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy is one of the THE THREE MARRIAGES most important new books on how these Reimagining Work, Self and Relationship Traditions two profound sister sciences can be inte- by David Whyte $28.50, cloth. Riverhead. grated in the modern context. The book isbn 9781594488603 335 pages presents a compelling model of Yoga ther- Poet David Whyte describes three crucial INSIGHT YOGA apy that is bound to become much more by Sarah Powers, foreword by Paul Grilley marriages in our lives: to our Work, to our Self, and to an significant, as Yoga moves beyond a physi- $27.95, paper. Shambhala. Other. cal therapy to a complete system of medi- isbn 9781590305980 cine, health and well-being for body, mind This sense of belonging and not belonging is lived out by 196 pages, 8x11, b/w photos and spirit.” —David Frawley, author of most people through three principal dynamics: first, through Acclaimed yoga and meditation teacher Yoga and Ayurveda relationship to other people and other living things Sarah Powers is known and loved for her (particularly and very personally to one other living person, in Also by Mukunda Stiles: Structural Yoga relationship or marriage); second, though work; unique approach— Therapy. and third, through an understanding of what it Insight Yoga—which means to be themselves, a discrete individual combines traditional alive and seemingly separate from everyone and everything else. yoga with the meridi- YOGA AND In The Three Marriages, he argues that it is not possible to sacrifice ans of Chinese medi- The Diet of Enlightenment one relationship for the others without causing deep psychological cine, as well as by Sharon Gannon damage. Too often, he says, we fracture our lives and split our ener- Buddhist meditation. $19.50, paper. Mandala. Using Yin (passive) isbn 9781601090218 144 pages, French flaps David Whyte gies foolishly, so that one or more of these marriages is sacrificed Drawing on both the author’s extensive and may wither and die, in the process impoverishing them all. and Yang (dynamic) Whyte looks to a different way of seeing and connecting these relationships and poses, she demon- studies of Vedic tradi- prompts us to examine each marriage with a fierce but affectionate eye as he shows strates a series of different yoga sequences tions and her long- time interest in ani- us the importance of cherishing all three equally. that bring benefit to organs, muscles, mal rights, Drawing from his own struggles to achieve this goal as well as exploring the lives joints, and tendons—as well as the mind. Yoga and shows of some of the world’s great writers and activists—from Dante and Dickens to Joan She also provides a foundational explana- Vegetarianism how the physical and of Arc, from Austen to Dickinson—Whyte reveals that our core commitments are tion of traditional Chinese medicine theo- spiritual practice of irrevocably connected. Only by understanding the simultaneously robust and deli- ry and mindfulness meditation instruction. yoga is historically cate nature of the three marriages and the stages of their maturation, he maintains, Sarah Powers brings us on an inspiring and structurally tied can we create a real portrait of what makes us tick and a real sense of finding a place journey inward, and shows the path for cul- to a vegetarian in the world. tivating a lasting relationship with yoga lifestyle. When they In prose at once lyrical and inviting, Whyte investigates captivating ideas for that strengthens our physical well-being are used in tandem, bringing a deeper satisfaction to our lives, “a deeper, almost poetic perspective… a and our mental and emotional clarity. she argues, they form slightly more dangerous but more satisfying sense of self than one defined by ideas Excellent, clear photographs show the pos- a strong framework for physical and spiri- of balance.” es and sequences. tual attunement, and promote a healthy David Whyte is the author of several books, among them Crossing the Unknown In describing her own journey, Sarah re- lifestyle. Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity and River Flow: New and Collected Poems. calls a certain “aha” moment: I now knew it was possible to feel fully If you wish to truly step into content and undivided within myself. I transcendental reality and have a lighter sensed that a regular yoga practice could impact on the planet, adopting a OLD FRIEND FROM FAR AWAY So let’s pick up the pen, and kick some be an invaluable tool for radically opening compassionate vegetarian diet is a good The Practice of Writing Memoir ass. Write down who you were, who you my body and mind, for helping me see my place to start. Not everyone can stand on by Natalie Goldberg are, and what you remember. habits of conditioning, and for preparing his or her head every day, but everyone $16.00, Paper. Through timed, associative, and medi- the ground for true understanding and eats. You can practice compassion three Simon & Schuster. tative exercises, Old Friend from Far Away insight. times a day when you sit down to eat. isbn 9781416535034 336 pages guides you to the attentive state of thought “This is a teaching of great warmth and Sharon Gannon is a pioneer in teaching $32.50, 2CDs. Sounds True. New in in which you discover and open forgotten intelligence.”—Richard Rosen, author of yoga as spiritual activism. She is co-creator isbn 9781564559593 Paperback doors of memory. A beautifully written The Yoga of Breath of the popular Jivamukti Yoga Method, 2.5 hours, abridged celebration of the memoir form, a course “When I first met Sarah it didn’t take me which offers a path to enlightenment Natalie Goldberg’s classic Writing Down full of practical teachings, and a deeply af- long to figure out that she was a yogini of through compassion for all beings. the Bones broke new ground in its ap- fecting meditation on consciousness, love, relentless curiosity and great depth. In Vegetarianism is taught as one of the five proach to writing as life, and death, Old Friend welcomes aspir- Insight Yoga she lets the reader into her principles of the Jivamukti Yoga Method. a life practice. Now, ing writers of all levels and encourages thinking, her practice, and her life in a way Yoga and Vegetarianism emphasizes the Old Friend from Far them to find their unique voice to tell that both inspires and instructs.” —Judith importance of understanding ahimsa, the Away delightfully their stories. Hanson Lasater, author of A Year of Living practice of non-harming and , transforms the prac- Old Friend from Far Away recreates Your Yoga as the first step in marrying yoga and veg- tice of writing mem- Goldberg’s popular workshop style with its Also available by Sarah Powers is her etarianism. oir. As Joan Halifax terse, demanding writing “sprints” that Insight Yoga DVD. says, “this remark- Compassion is an essential ingredient of train the hand and mind to quicken their ahimsa. Through compassion, you begin able book is about pace and give up conscious control. These to see yourself in other beings. Developing life, its richness, its exercises divert the eye from the obvious AYURVEDIC YOGA THERAPY compassion does something more that is stains, its strange- and redirect it to the tactile details we by Mukunda Stiles of special interest to the yogi. It trains the ness, failures, and miss, the embarrassments we pass over, $25.95, paper. Lotus Press. mind to see beyond outer differences of fun, and how we re- and the complications we overlook in the isbn 9780940985971 form. You begin to catch glimpses of the trieve it from the hidden part of our imag- blur of everyday living. 272 pages, b/w illustrations inner essence of other beings, which is ination through the craft of writing.” Mukunda steers away from an increasing happiness. You begin to see that every “The brilliance of this book is that it im- single creature desires happiness. In the center of our mediately gets you writing your story. It tendency to “medicalize” yoga therapy by speed, in the core of our opens the inner treasure and the inner avoiding prescriptive rec- All actions, says Gannon, originate as forward movement, we are zoo, makes you wriggle and weep, pawn ommendations for specific thoughts, so the “perfection of action” often confused and lonely. the family jewels, laugh out loud, tear medical diagnoses. He that yoga strives for must come from a per- That’s why we have turned presents sequences of fect thought—a thought free of selfish de- so full-heartedly to the down memory lane, and reawaken to the mystery of your own life.” —Jack Vinyasa and pranayama sire, anger, and hate. Freeing oneself of memoir form. We have an needless cruelty, harm, and injustice— that it can save us. Kornfield, author of The Wise Heart suited to the various which includes eating meat—can trans- Writing is the act of Ayurvedic body types. Yoga form both the individual and the world. Natalie reaching across the abyss of Banyen Event therapists and practition- Sharon Gannon is also co-author with Goldberg isolation to share and ers using this book can ac- reflect. It’s not a diet to NATALIE GOLDBERG cess a deeper level of pre- David Life of Jivamukti Yoga. become skinny, but a relaxation into the TALK & BOOKSIGNING in July ventative self-care, attuning to the rhythm fat of our lives. Often without realizing it, see banyen.com for info soon of each individual. Enlivened by wisdom we are on a quest, a search for meaning. teachings, it provides food for body, soul What does our time on this earth add up and spirit, guiding practitioners towards to?... also at Hollyhock, July 3-8

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 13 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! PRACTICING FOR A JOYFUL LIFE !

“The Yoga Masters” Buddhism YOGA WISDOM & PRACTICE it is illustrated with over 60 new For Health, Happiness, and a Better World step-by-step sequences of yoga pos- HAPPINESS IS AN INSIDE JOB tures specially shot in India and ac- Practicing for a Joyful Life by B.K.S. Iyengar New in $29.00, cloth. DK. companied by Iyengar’s illuminat- by Sylvia Boorstein Paperback isbn 9780756642839 ing observations on technique, $15.00, paper. Ballantine. 256 pages, 7x9, colour photos throughout their significance, and their bene- isbn 9780345481320 176 pages One of the world’s leading practitioners and fits. This book not only presents This heart-to-heart with teacher Sylvia B.K.S. Iyengar teachers of Yoga for over 70 years, at age 90 B.K.S. Iyengar’s practical advice on how to Boorstein is a small, polished gem of a Iyengar still actively teaches and travels. “Iyengar perform key yoga postures, but also book that seems Yoga” is followed by certified teachers across the draws on a wide range of other material taken from somehow even more world, and his seminal text Light on Yoga has been a interviews and world lecture tours, to the many intimate and heart- bible to generations of practitioners. texts Iyengar has written about yoga and about his felt than her previ- Yoga Wisdom & Practice is a practical and inspiring antholo- own life’s journey. ous books Pay gy of Mr. Iyengar’s insights into yoga, life and the path to peace Among Iyengar’s other books: Yoga: The Path to Holistic Attention, for and happiness. Yoga practice lies at the heart of the book, and Health and Light on Life. Goodness’ Sake and It’s Easier Than You FROM THE HEART OF THE LOTUS Swami has a way of making his often subtle and sur- Think. The whole The Teaching Stories of Swami Kripalu prising points. For example, in a parable about idea of this book, by Swami Kripalu, mind control, “The Demanding Daughter,” we she writes, is that compiled & edited by John Mundahl learn of a young spoiled woman who will only mar- “restoring caring $24.50, paper. Monkfish. ry on the condition that she can find a husband who connection... and isbn 9780976684398 288 pages, b/w photos will allow her to strike him on the head seven times maintaining it when it is present, is happi- Swami Kripalu (1913–1981) was a renowned mas- a day with her shoe. Each story is set off by a partic- ness.” Her quiet insistence that the ter of kundalini yoga. Even though he maintained ular yoga principle that the Swami illustrates Buddhist practices of mindfulness, medi- the most rigorous spiritual discipline for himself (in- through the story. tation and metta (lovingkindness) can cluding 12 years spent in complete si- “In this book, you will find a collection of stories quiet the mind, deepen concentration lence), he was fond of telling unfor- related by Bapuji (as his followers affectionately and lower anxiety is both convincing and gettable, often funny and called him) during his time in the U.S. at the Kripalu inspiring. heartwarming stories as a way of mak- Ashram. If you read deeply his word, imagine his an- Sylvia offers warm, wise, and helpful ing his teachings relevant to everyday life. For imated expression and feel the depth of his wisdom, you will ways we can experience happiness right in Swami Kripalu the spiritual teachings of yoga ap- receive the same gift of insight and love that Bapuji gave to us the midst of the muddle plied equally on or off the mat. directly during those precious few years.” —Yogi Amrit Desai of our lives. She’s discov- These 102 never-before-published teaching ered in more than three Swami Kripalu From the Heart of the Lotus was compiled and edited by devo- stories of the yoga master Swami Kripalu are at tee John Mundahl who spent four years with Swami Kripalu decades of practice as a once down-to-earth and transcendent. The during his stay in the U.S. psychotherapist that the secret to happiness lies in actively cultivating our ca- mately to develop a positive outlook on and joy one brings to others. POWER YOGA FOR HAPPINESS 2 Sylvia Boorstein pacity to connect with the world and ultimately experience hap- This small, powerful book explores the Surf Edition: All Levels… All Good kindness: with ourselves; piness. As he says, “Law of ”—central in , by Eoin Finn with friends, family, colleagues; with $21.50, 2 DVDs. Eoin Finn. Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism—from Yoga is one of the those we may not know well; and even isbn 9789000080052 both a historical and a spiritual perspec- great ways to remove with those we may not like. She draws 6.5 hours blockages so that we tive, and explains how to tap it to enrich from the heart of Buddhist teachings to Catch the yoga and surf wave with can experience the full and enlarge one’s experience of the world. show how Wise Effort, Wise Mindfulness, Vancouver-based yoga instructor and “blis- on bliss of being alive. The Sanskrit word karma simply means and Wise Concentration can lead us away sologist” Eoin Finn’s But it is only one part “to do.” Karma is the Golden Rule: what from anger, anxiety, and confusion, and Power Yoga for of it. So is a deep you give out is what you receive. In mod- appreciation for nature into calmness, clarity, and the joy of living Happiness 2 (the Surf ern science this notion is expressed as and the ocean, along in the present. These qualities strengthen Edition). With its focus “every action has an equal and opposite re- with the support of a our ability to meet encounters of every on core strengthening, action.” In this succinct book, Jeffrey network of caring kind with balance and intelligence. forward bending, Eoin Finn stretches individuals. Surfing is Armstrong introduces the science of kar- For me, having my mind in a shoulder openers, his deltoids the icing on the cake… ma, and the ways in which benevolent mood so I am protected from twists and hip openers, Even if you don’t surf cause and effect control our lives. animosity, resentment, jealousy, or presented in seven rou- in the ocean, surf through your life. Stay If we really are eternal beings, then the envy—from the pain of feeling in that flow that all surfers feel. Why just tines of various lengths things that we do by using our free will disconnected from others—is the drift around in life when you can glide? (ranging from 34 to 85 have the potential to unfold over very long immunity I want… Having my mind in minutes), this DVD will challenge, inspire Also by Eoin Finn: the DVDs Power Yoga periods of time, with very complex unrestricted caring mode means that my and deepen your yoga practice. Though for Happiness and Pure and Simple Yoga. consequences… In that case, cause and prayers have already been answered. the routines of this align- effect need to be studied over many lifetimes, and justice, or the balancing of Happiness Is an Inside Job resonates with New on ment-based vinyasa (flow- the knowledge of a psychotherapist, the DVD ing) yoga class offer signifi- KARMA the scales of action and reaction, will be played out over a much longer period of compassion of a spiritual teacher, and the cant cross-training benefits The Ancient Science of Cause and Effect time. wisdom of a grandmother. Sylvia’s vivid by Jeffrey Armstrong for surfers and athletes, the practices will stories capture our minds and our hearts, $15.95, cloth. Mandala. Integral to Armstrong’s view of karma help everyone from those who surf the and the simple exercises she suggests can Internet, to those who ride ocean waves. isbn 9781601091062 are the devas, or divine beings, who are 96 pages, b/w illustrations constantly delivering to us the results of be done while you read. Free of dangerous contortions and follow- “This book will convince you that your ing Eoin’s All Levels, All Good format, Karma, says Vancouver teacher Jeffrey our actions. They remember what we have Armstrong, is not about retribution, done in previous lives and ensure that own happiness really is much more avail- there are cues for two or three levels for able to you than you may have thought.” every pose so beginners can practice safe- vengeance, punish- there is long-term cosmic accountability. ment, or reward. They are the continuity between our vari- —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You ly and more advanced practitioners can go Go, There You Are deeper. A useful booklet provides good Karma simply deals ous lives and remember our history even maps of the territory. with what is. The ef- when we forget. Understanding karma re- The expansive beaches, rolling waves, fects of all deeds ac- veals the profound interconnectedness of brilliant clouds and sunsets of Costa Rica tively create past, all life. Event at Hollyhock provide a natural backdrop, while the in- present, and future “This book for the modern reader is one vocative original “liquid soul music” of experiences, thus of the best introductions to this profound EOIN FINN Brian Carson sets the stage for a great ex- making one respon- and often misunderstood topic.” —David YOGA OF HAPPINESS perience. Eoin believes that the goal of sible for one’s own Frawley, author of Yoga and Ayurveda October 1 – 4 life, and for the pain the physical (Hatha) yoga practice is ulti- hollyhock.ca or 800-933-6339

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 14 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! BUDDHISM !

TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF Making A Home of the Buddha’s Household Getting to the Heart of Buddhism by Lin Jensen THE WISE HEART Among the discoveries here: practicing beyond $18.50, paper. Wisdom. A Guide to the Universal Teachings “self-improvement”; the psychology of love and com- isbn 9780861715541 264 pages of Buddhist Psychology passion; Buddhist personality types and the methods In Together Under One Roof, Lin Jensen by Jack Kornfield for transcending the illusion of self; “Behaviorism turns his keen eye and powerful prose ex- $21.00, paper. Bantam. with heart”: Buddhist cognitive training; interdepen- plicitly to the teachings of the Buddha, to isbn 9780553382334 448 pages dence and our individual responsibility to “tend the traditional Zen sto- $44.00, 6 CDs. Sounds True. world.” ries, and to the isbn 9781591796152 7.25 hours, abridged The Wise Heart is the fruit of a life’s work that also practices of medi- In The Wise Heart, one of the leading spiritual includes such classics as A Path with Heart and After tation and compas- teachers of our time offers the most accessible and il- the Ecstasy, the Laundry. Filled with touching stories sion—as well as the luminating guide to Buddhism’s trans- from Kornfield’s Buddhist psychotherapy practice intricacies of every- New in formational psychology ever published and portraits of remarkable teachers, it also includes day language and Paperback in the West. a moving account of his own recovery from a vio- the natural world, A wise psychology teaches us how to love ourselves and lence-filled childhood. For meditators and mental health pro- truth and beauty, others without prerequisites, in spite of the difficulties of life. fessionals, Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, The Wise Heart family, and the Trained as a monk in Thailand, Burma, and India, Jack offers an extraordinary journey from the roots of conscious- myriad ways our Kornfield experienced firsthand the life-changing power of ness to the highest expression of human possibility. simplest actions af- Buddhist teachings: the emphasis on the nobility and sacred- “He brings to life a way to understand and cultivate mind- fect our whole ness of the human spirit, the fine-grained fulness, compassion, lovingkindness and true wisdom that pen- lives. analysis of emotion and thought, the precise etrates to the core of what liberation is all about.”—Jon Kabat- The Buddha’s household encompasses techniques for healing, training, and trans- Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses the whole universe yet manifests its whole forming the mind and heart. In contrast to the “This masterpiece of a dedicated life’s work unveils the prin- entirety in single neighborhoods and medical orientation of most Western psycholo- ciples of an ancient ‘science of mind’ that are woven seamless- individual houses. The Buddha’s gy and psychiatry, here is a vision of radiant hu- ly into a wondrous map of the human heart—one that is as- household is none other than our own and the Buddha has taken up residence man dignity, and a practical path for realizing tonishingly consistent with the discoveries of modern neuroscience.”—Daniel Siegel, author of The Mindful Brain there—and in our collective body and Jack Kornfield it in our own lives. mind as well. We are one family under one roof sharing one mind. Lin Jensen’s previous books, memoirs of TTHE EXPERIENCE OF SAMADHI Leigh Brasington, and others. These discussions fo- growing up and growing old and of the An In-Depth Exploration of Buddhist Meditation cus on the practical experience of samadhi, bringing hard-won but gentle wisdom gained in his by Richard Shankman the theoretical to life and offering a range of appli- daily public meditations for peace, were $22.00, paper. Shambhala. cations of the different meditation techniques. both critical successes earning a special isbn 9781590305218 236 pages The diverse views and approaches presented here are place in readers’ hearts. This book takes Dharma practice comprises a wide range of wise a real testament to the value and effectiveness of a wide up symphonic variations on one main instructions and skillful means. As a result, medita- assortment of skillful means. All of these teachers are theme: we are all “in it” together, we are tors may be exposed to a diversity of approaches to well trained and practiced. All are grounded in a all living under one roof—and there’s al- the core teachings and the medita- genuine depth of experience and wisdom… We are ways a glowing hearth right here in this, tive path—and that can be confus- fortunate to live in a time when we can be exposed to the Buddha’s household. ing at times. In this clear and acces- the many teachings and approaches to Dharma practice. I take up residence in the Buddha’s sible exploration, Dharma teacher household when I give myself and longtime meditator Richard Appendices focus on “Does it matter where you wholeheartedly to whatever I’m doing, Shankman unravels the mix of differing, watch the breath?,” the Four Stages of Enlightenment, wherever I’m doing it, and whomever I sometimes conflicting, views and traditional Organization of the Pali Canon, and more. happen to meet there. Richard teachings on how samadhi (concentration) is “A wonderfully broad overview of the role of concentration “The essays that comprise this book are Shankman understood and taught. in Buddhist meditation as well as in-depth exploration of med- so deeply and movingly humane, so in In part one, Shankman considers the range itative experience. This book is a valuable and inspiring re- tune with a joyous oneness with all that ex- of teachings and views about Samadhi and jhanas (states of source.” —Joseph Goldstein, author of One Dharma ists, and a deep sense of personal respon- meditative absorption), examines different approaches, and “This book will be strongly welcomed not only by all those sibility in the face of that unity, that they considers how they can inform and enrich our meditation who sit on the meditation cushion but also by many who want virtually sing. If you want something that practice today. to know about the experiences of meditative concentration reads kind of like Anne Lamott’s religious Part two consists of a series of interviews with prominent and unification of the mind. It will be a classic.” —Christopher writing meets the Dharma check out contemporary Buddhist teachers, including Jack Kornfield, Titmuss, author of An Awakened Life Together Under One Roof. You will not be dis- Sharon Salzberg, Bhante Gunaratana, Christina Feldman, appointed.” —Chris Faatz Lin Jensen is also author of Pavement: Reflections on Mercy, Activism, and Doing DANCING WITH LIFE tor-in-chief of Esquire magazine: of being incarnate—alive in a body… “Nothing” for Peace and Bad Dog! A Memoir Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning Finding a way to be at ease with the I had no plans. I did not know what city of Love, Beauty, and Redemption in Dark and Joy in the Face of Suffering or even what country I would be living in, dance itself is a crucial skill in finding Places by Phillip Moffitt let alone what I would be doing with my freedom and meaning in life. $27.95, cloth. Rodale. time. Had I known that I would spend Why do we suffer? Is there a purpose to isbn 9781594863530 308 pages most of the next few years living in various our pain? Can we affect how much we suf- Phillip Moffitt is a vipassana meditation meditation centers in rooms so small that I fer? Noting how we humans have wrestled teacher at Spirit Rock Centre in often could reach out and touch both with such questions for thousands of years, hillip Moffitt, author of walls, I might not have so cheerfully left California. Dancing with Life is his Phillip explores the twelve insights that un- Dancing with Life, will be in my comfortable Manhattan apartment. P first book—and it’s a beauty. It derlie the Buddha’s core teaching—the Vancouver June 12-14 to teach a is, Jack Kornfield says, “a book For years he lived a moment-to-moment Four Noble Truths—and uses these often that practice of living without goals: “Just now. neglected insights to guide readers to weekend meditation workshop will be Just be present in this moment.” Gradually, more meaningful lives. called “Dancing with Life: on the reading he learned how to dance with life. Moffitt writes: “These twelve insights Finding Meaning and Joy in the lists of sincere Even under the best of circumstances, teach you to dance with both the joy and Buddhist stu- life is challenging, and much of the time it pain, finding peace in a balanced mind and Face of Suffering.” dents for genera- is difficult. It is always uncertain, calm spirit. As the most specific, practical To register for this Friday evening, tions ahead.” constantly changing, and mostly out of life instructions I have ever encountered, your control. Whether it is taking you on a all day Saturday and all day In 1987, they serve as an invaluable tool for anyone wonderful ride or stepping on your toes, Moffitt walked Sunday retreat, please visit the life will move you with the rhythm and in who seeks a life filled with meaning and away from his the direction of its own unfolding, well-being.” Westcoast Dharma website at highly successful irregardless of your best intentions. Life Phillip Moffitt also writes “Dharma www.westcoastdharma.org. post as chief ex- dances and you must dance with it. This Wisdom,” a bimonthly column in Yoga ecutive and edi- is the necessary price and mysterious gift Journal.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 15 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! NEWS FROM THE DHAMMA !

faced with the pos- sibility of a new Thich Nhat Hanh and the Art of Living chapter in their THE ART OF POWER tions and teaches each of us how to access the true lives. Many have by Thich Nhat Hanh power that is within our grasp. life sentences and $14.95, paper. HarperCollins. When you look deeply, you see the pain and most have been isbn 9780061242366 218 pages suffering in the world, and recognize your deep desire deeply acculturat- Turning conventional understanding of power to relieve it. You also recognize that bringing joy to ed to the life of vi- on its head, renowned Zen master Thich Nhat others is the greatest joy you can have, the greatest olence and abuse Hanh shows how whether we want it or not, power achievement. In choosing to cultivate true power, you that is all too com- remains one of the central issues in do not have to give up your desire for the good life. mon in prisons. In New in all of our lives. Every day, each of us Your life can be more satisfying, and you will be happy letters written dur- Paperback and relaxed, relieving suffering and bringing happiness exercises power in many ways, and ing a 4-year period to everyone. our every act subtly affects the world we live in. This after this course, 15 inmate-meditators of- struggle for control and authority permeates every “Power” fascinates, corrupts, compels… Yet this fer direct and intimate access to their aspect of our private and public elder (he’s recently been allowed to return to thoughts, struggles, dreams and triumphs lives. The me-first mentality in our Vietnam) demonstrates how true power can free us after taking part in this intensive, volun- culture seeps into our decisions and choices. and bless us. tary meditation program. Corrections of- This bottom-line approach to getting ahead Power is good for one thing only: to increase our happiness ficers, wardens, judges and others ask: may be most visible in the business world, but and the happiness of others. Being peaceful and happy is the “Can this program really reform such the stress, fear, and anxiety it causes are felt by most important thing in our lives and yet most of the time we hardened inmates? Will the changes last?” us all. suffer, we run after our cravings, we look to the past or the future These letters will help you decide for for our happiness. Thich Nhat With colourful anecdotes, precise language, yourself. Hanh and concrete practices, Thich Nhat Hanh illus- Since the age of 16 (he’s now 80+) Thich Nhat Hanh has Some of those we meet in these pages trates how the current understanding of power been a Buddhist monk and a peace activist. He’s author of have managed through their minds’ leads us on a never-ending search for external markers like job many books including Peace Is Every Step and Anger. Visit him patient, persistent, knowing introspective title or salary. The Art of Power boldly challenges our assump- at plumvillage.org. efforts to confront and then at last become decisively free within of the old, crushing weight of heedless impulse run harmfully touch with our Buddha selves; and how to see our THE BLOOMING OF A LOTUS rampant—brothers now in a shared, Guided Meditation for Achieving the Miracle of parents more deeply. These potent journeys will inwardly energetic thoughtfulness… Mindfulness bring both beginning and experienced practition- Phillips manages to enable the by Thich Nhat Hanh, translated by Annabel Laity ers into closer touch with their selves, their families, imprisoned to become the reader’s $19.50, paper. Beacon. and the world we share. informants and teachers so that a prison isbn 9780807012383 160 pages “Thirty-nine different views through the crystal of brotherhood can become a universal First published in 1999 and now in a revised edi- mindfulness, each one an exercise to cultivate brother- and sisterhood and a narration tion, The Blooming of a Lotus is a teacher-in-a-book, peace and healing and transformation within our- becomes a spur to the reader’s reflective presenting the lovely guided meditations that selves. Any one of these meditations, if practiced life. Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh himself with sincerity and wholeheartedness, can make the —from the foreword by Robert Coles shares in person. Based on the teachings of the richness of the present moment apparent and bring Letters from the Dhamma Brothers is an ab- Buddha, the exercises in this wise book are broad- you closer to yourself.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of solutely compelling story of an astonish- ranging and varied. Some nourish readers with “the Wherever You Go, There You Are. ing treatment program with prison in- food of joy”; others offer help in healing separation “Reading this rare book on the refinement of mates that, against all odds, actually and loneliness. All guide readers toward deepened awareness meditation practice is meditation itself.” —Joan Halifax worked. It should reshape the ideas of all and healing insights. “Here the deepest, subtlest teachings of the dharma are of us—policy makers and citizens alike. A companion book to the author’s The Miracle of made as immediate as the miracle of our own breathing.” — Mindfulness, this revised and expanded edition of The Blooming Joanna Macy, author, World as Lover, World as Self of a Lotus includes five new meditations which show the reader Among Thich Nhat Hanh’s many other books are Anger and ZEN WRAPPED IN KARMA DIPPED how mindful consumption and mindful actions can help pre- The Art of Power. IN CHOCOLATE vent suffering and water the seeds of compassion; how to be in A Trip through Death, Sex, Divorce, and Spiritual Celebrity in Search of the True Dharma THUNDERING SILENCE If we know the better way to catch a snake—putting by Brad Warner a forked stick behind its neck first—it will not bite us. If Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Catch a Snake, $18.00, paper. New World Library. we try to put the teachings into practice before we Revised Edition isbn 9781577316541 225 pages by Thich Nhat Hanh truly understand them, they can harm us and others as well. How does a real-life Zen master—not $14.50, paper. Parallax. just the eternally calm, cartoon-like Zen isbn 9781888375985 80 pages Near the end of his life, the Buddha declared, masters imagined Thundering Silence presents the early teachings of “During 45 years, I have not said anything,” to en- by mainstream cul- the Buddha on how to see reality clearly without be- courage his disciples not to be caught by words or ture —help others coming caught by notions and ideologies, however ideas. Thich Nhat Hanh calls this statement “the through hard noble. These teachings can liberate us from the roar of a great lion, the thundering silence of a times when he’s prisons of our mental constructions and allow us to Buddha.” dealing with too enjoy life fully. We must be free even from true teachings, not to much pain of his The monk Arittha declares that enjoying sense mention non-teachings. This is the meaning of the own? How does he pleasures is not an obstacle to the practice of mind- parable. Even if we undertake the crossing, if we are meditate when the fulness, precipitating a dispute among the community of attached to what we learn, we have not understood it properly, world is crumbling monks. In explaining the difference between indulgence and and we have been bitten by the snake.... All teachings are offered around him? Is attachment, on the one hand, and appreciating life’s simple as skillful means to help us along on the path. They are not meditation a valid joys, on the other, the Buddha offers the teaching of the raft absolute truth. If we do not know how to use these teachings skillfully, we will be enslaved by them. response or just and the shore (“After arriving at the shore of liberation, we have to another form of let go of the raft we used in order to get there.”) and the parable of Among Thich Nhat Hanh’s many other books are Peace Is escapism? These are the questions Brad the snake: Every Step and Answers from the Heart. Warner ponders in Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate. LETTERS FROM THE DHAMMA not for breaking the law. She hangs with periential understanding and the libera- During the year Warner spent giving BROTHERS convicted thieves, murderers and rapists tion from suffering.” Vipassana, which talks and leading Zen retreats across Meditation behind Bars because she believes that a 10-day, 100- means “seeing things as they actually are,” North America, his mother and grand- by Jenny Phillips hour course in Vipassana meditation will is a Buddha-inspired system of meditation. mother died, he lost his dream job, and $17.95, paper. Pariyatti. lead them not only to manage stress and The way of the Buddha is known as the his marriage fell apart. In writing about isbn 9781928706311 222 pages, b/w photos anger, but teach them that “experiencing “Dhamma.” how he applied the Buddha’s teachings to Jenny Phillips, a cultural anthropologist and observing one’s misery with constancy When the first 10-day Vipassana medita- his own real-life suffering, Warner reveals and practicing therapist, has spent a con- and equanimity, looking at it squarely with tion course came to a close at Alabama’s how Buddhism isn’t some esoteric pie-in- siderable amount time in prison, though patience and fortitude—is the path to ex- Donaldson Prison in 2002, 20 men were the-sky ultimate solution but an excep-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 16 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! THE CLEAR EYE OF ZEN !

SAILING HOME Zen Baggage from Red Pine Using the Wisdom of Homer’s Odyssey ZEN BAGGAGE to Navigate Life’s Challenges A Pilgrimage to China by Norman Fischer by Bill Porter $19.99, paper. Simon & Schuster. $33.95, cloth. Counterpoint. isbn 9781416560234 256 pages isbn 9781593761325 358 pages, b/w photos In Sailing Home, Norman Fischer—one of our best-known In the spring of 2006, Bill Porter, also known as Red Zen teachers—riffs on the universal lessons and personal Pine, traveled through the heart of China, from Beijing to guidance within Homer’s Greek epic. Hong Kong, on a pilgrimage to sites associated with the Maybe, like Odysseus, we are finally ready simply to return first six patriarchs of Zen. Zen Baggage is an account of that home to what we are, to our beauty and strength as well as our journey. He weaves together historical background, inter- limitations. Maybe we are ready to see that what’s wanted and needed is what was there all along, our animal life, our love and views with Zen masters, and translations of the earliest our presence. known records of Zen, along with personal vignettes. Porter’s account captures the The Odyssey is an ancient story that speaks to every generation: the struggle of a transformations taking place at religious homesick, battle-weary man longing to return to love and family. Odysseus’s striv- centers in China but also the abiding legacy they have somehow ings to overcome divine and earthly obstacles and to control his own New in impulsive nature hold valuable lessons for people facing their own in- managed to preserve. Porter brings wisdom and wit to every situa- Paperback tion, whether visiting ancient caves containing the most complete ner battles and everyday conflicts—people who are, like Odysseus, collection of Buddhist texts ever uncovered, enduring a six-hour “heartsick on the open sea,” whether from dealing with daily skirmishes at the of- Buddhist ceremony, searching in vain for the ghost in his room, fice or an international war. Sailing Home breathes fresh air into a classic we thought Red Pine waking up the monk in charge of martial arts at Shaolin Temple, or we knew, revealing its profound guidance for navigating life’s rapids. (Bill Porter) meeting the abbess of China’s first Zen nunnery. Fischer weaves Buddhist, Judaic, Christian, and popular themes, as well as his own unique and sympathetic understanding of life, in his Zen was something new. Who else besides Zen masters delivered wordless lectures or offered sermons in a cup of tea—no Taoist or Confucian I’ve ever heard of, and no recasting of Odysseus’s familiar wanderings as lessons that everyone Buddhist prior to Bodhidharma… can use. With meditations that yield personal revelations, illuminat- ing anecdotes from Fischer and his students’ lives, and stories from Zen was and remains the quintessential invisible tradition. It isn’t a tradition in the many wisdom traditions, Sailing Home offers us a new way to view our normal sense. It’s just the mind in action. I think it was more a matter of an invisible path: when to wait and when to act, when to speak our mind and tradition, unrecorded in a land known for not keeping records, namely India, arriving in when to exercise discretion, how to draw on our innate strength and a land known for its record keeping. Nornan Fischer distinguish between truth and deception, and how to deal with aging Porter’s pilgrimage steps become our own, and his wry wonderings, memories, and changing relationships. and seasoned savvy about Chinese Buddhism make for a most engaging read. It’s a The Odyssey’s metaphors helped me and my students to understand the Buddhist rare journey with earthy insights many readers will appreciate. path, and our own progress on it, in ways we had not considered before. There is so much baggage we burden ourselves with over the years that keeps us from Following its episodes, Fischer found that he could speak more effectively about seeing things the way they are. Some baggage we carry with us for a single thought, some for years, and some for lifetimes. But there isn’t one piece that isn’t our own how messy and confusing life actually is. He could talk about what really happens, creation. rather than what should. Sailing Home makes the case for a spirituality that is intel- ligent, flexible, humorous, open-minded—and realistic. Among Porter/Red Pine’s other books are The Collected Works of Cold Mountain, “We all sail across the wine-dark sea, and Fischer, beloved for his forthright hon- The Diamond Sutra, and The Heart Sutra. esty and kind heart, guides us to understand our own odyssey, our own hard-earned, THE PLATFORM SUTRA vulnerable, mysterious life journey, with genuine compassion and newfound un- derstanding.” —Jack Kornfield The Zen Teaching of Hui-neng New in Also by Norman Fischer: Taking Our Places: The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up. by Red Pine Paperback $22.00, paper. Counterpoint. isbn 9781593761776 364 pages to it once and for all. There is a way out of ductory text in compact The Platform Sutra occupies a central place in Zen this mess humanity has found itself in. It’s form. This slimmed- (Ch’an) Buddhist instruction for students and spiritual just that the answers to the cause of down reference explains seekers. It is often linked with The Heart Sutra and The suffering—and the way to end it—are the core Buddhist doc- Diamond Sutra to form a trio of texts that have been revered nothing like what you think they are or trines and the practices imagine they should be. and studied for centuries. However, unlike those other su- of meditation and tras, which transcribe the teachings of the Buddha himself, Zen monk and punk rocker Brad Warner in an engaging manner. The Platform Sutra presents the life and work of Hui-neng, offers us, as he says, a “big snarly ball of Included are discussions the controversial Sixth Patriarch of Zen—the poor, illiter- confessional vomit” in his third book (his of important Buddhist ate boy who became the notoriously unorthodox leader of earlier titles are Hardcore Zen and Sit Down doctrines such as Zen (often pictured tearing up the holy books)—and his understanding of the fun- and Shut Up). Those familiar with his previ- “Karma and Rebirth” and “Dependent damentals of a spiritual and practical life. Hui-neng’s instruction still matters—the ous work will find this book exceptionally Arising”; the role of meditation; types of seventh-century school of Direct Awakening that he founded flourishes today, con- plainspoken and pungent. meditation; tantric practices; death and tinuing to influence the Rinzai and Soto schools of contemporary Zen. The bassist for the punk band Zero dying in Tibetan Buddhism; a lexicon of Every word he speaks is directed at freeing people of whatever concepts block their Defects, Brad Warner is also a Zen priest Buddhist terms; and a great English- awareness of their own nature. This is the teaching of Hui-neng: See your nature and and Japanese monster-movie marketer. His Tibetan-Sanskrit Glossary. A survey of the become a buddha. The rest is simply a deconstruction of the walls that imprison us in website is hardcorezen.blogspot.com. four main sects of Tibetan Buddhism and our dungeons of delusion—including the delusions that arise in the course of studying a succinct history of the Tibetan cultural and practicing the teachings of the Buddha. region complete this work. This volume completes Red Pine’s translation of what he considers a triptych, the Tibetan Buddhism In light of the many fantastic other two parts being The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra. These previous trans- representations of Tibetans, their religion, lations have included valuable commentary from various past teachers; however, in and their culture, there is a clear need for The Platform Sutra, Red Pine has chosen to include his own commentaries, which authoritative sources on the subject. My A CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO goal in writing this book is to present the show deep insight within a primarily Zen-style point of view. Fundamental teachings TIBETAN BUDDHISM of Zen, such as cultivation of samadhi, the Bodhisattva precepts, and the aspiration essentials of the history, doctrines, and by John Powers practices of the tradition and to provide an towards awakening, all receive a thorough inspection through Red Pine’s clear Zen $14.95, paper. Snow Lion. overview of the teachings of its most eye and immaculate scholarship. A much-needed presentation of a primary Zen isbn 9781559392969 165 pages influential figures. Some readers will no text that will be greatly appreciated by practitioners, scholars and fans of Asian lit- Lucid and economical, A Concise doubt be disappointed that Tibetan erature. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism delivers a Buddhism turns out to be less exotic than Red Pine includes a full Chinese text and glossary as well. brisk, fast-moving survey. For many years, they had imagined, but I hope that the Powers’ nearly 600-page Introduction to more fantastic notions about Tibet will be tionally practical way to deal with whatever human being. We all have access to this Tibetan Buddhism has served as the field’s replaced by an appreciation for the richness of this ancient tradition and the life dishes out. something without even suspecting it most authoritative and comprehensive in- exists. The Buddha was not full of shit profundity of its teachings. There is something very profound, troductory text on Tibet’s distinctive when he said the cause of suffering could perhaps we can even say holy, in every Buddhist tradition. Now Powers has re- be uprooted and that you can put an end sponded to requests to provide an intro-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 17 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! CULTIVATING THE PATH !

PERFECT JUST AS YOU ARE Buddhist Practices on the Four Limitless Ones—Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Chögyam Trungpa & the Path of Liberation Joy, and Equanimity THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING peal strongly to both beginning and advanced prac- by Pema Chödrön New on and the Path of Liberation titioners of Buddhism. $30.50, 8 CDs. Shambhala. CD by Chögyam Trungpa The first noble truth of Buddhism is the truth of isbn 9781590306284 8 hours $21.00, cloth. Shambhala. suffering. The Sanskrit word for “suffering” is duhkha, Spiritual practice, Pema Chödrön teach- isbn 9781590306680 160 pages which could also be translated as “misery,” es, has nothing to do with self-improve- Here is a pithy and compelling presentation of “restlessness,” “uneasiness,” or “frustration.” Seeing our ment, since, as the the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the founda- pain as it is, is a tremendous help. Ordinarily, we are course’s title tional teachings that are studied and followed by so wrapped up in it that we don’t even see it. We are claims, you’re al- Buddhists of all traditions. The Four swimming in oceans of ice water of anxiety, and we ready perfect right Noble Truths begin with the essential don’t even see that we are suffering. That is the most fundamental stupidity. Buddhists have realized that we now. The limitless insight that all humans suffer, and they are suffering, that anxiety is taking place. Because of qualities of loving- go on to describe the Buddhist path of that, we also begin to realize the possibility of salvation kindness, compas- liberation from suffering. or deliverance from that particular pain and anxiety. sion, joy, and equa- Chögyam Trungpa—the renowned Tibetan Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987) was a meditation master, nimity are your Buddhist master who was a major figure in the teacher, and artist who founded Naropa University in Boulder, deep-down, ulti- transmission of Buddhism to the West—presents Chögyam Colorado, and an international association of meditation cen- mate reality, and these key teachings in his characteristically force- Trungpa ters known as Shambhala International. He is the author of those are qualities ful, provocative, and inspiring style. Drawn from several books including Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior that can’t be improved upon. If you’re not never-before-published materials, The Truth of Suffering will ap- and Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism. feeling particularly kind, compassionate, joyful, or equanimous at the moment, take troduction and a new essay. heart: the Four Limitless Ones are there TRUE “Trungpa’s notion of Dharma art is not merely like seeds, waiting to be cultivated through The Path of Dharma Art by Chögyam Trungpa, edited by Judith Lief reproducing and interpreting a collection of practice—and, being limitless, they’re rich $20.00, paper. Shambhala. Buddhist symbols or ideas, but it is an approach to enough to be worked with for a lifetime. isbn 9781590305881 224 pages, b/w illustrations art as meditation, an attitude of directness and un- This intensive program of study and prac- An expanded edition of Dharma Art (1996), this selfconsciousness in creative work. Lief’s inspired tice provides the tools you need to access book presents Chögyam Trungpa’s teachings about selection and careful editing make this an essential these radiant states and to nurture their the power of art to awaken and liberate. Trungpa book for those committed to the view that the artist growth for the sake of all beings, including extends the principles of dharma art to everyday should be a spiritual teacher.”—Publishers Weekly yourself. Here’s some of what you’ll life, showing how any activity can provide an op- learn: portunity to relax and open our senses to the phe- ! How cultivating the Four Limitless Ones nomenal world. This edition includes a revised in- is the antidote to depression, irritation, and isolation ! Basic meditation instructions to get you NATURAL WAKEFULNESS lections from question-and-answer sessions with started in the foundational practice Discovering the Wisdom We Were Born With students from retreats that he’s led. Finally he ! A wealth of guided meditations for gen- by Gaylon Ferguson shows how we can support each other in wakeful- erating these radiant qualities to yourself, $25.00, cloth. Shambhala. ness through community. others, and the world isbn 9781590306574 204 pages He encourages us to assess our “spiritual ! Writing and reflection exercises to bring “Awaken-ment” is inherent in each of us, and progress” with honesty and without judgment in the Four Limitless Ones powerfully into every one of us can do it. That’s the heart of order to see where our sticking points are and to real life Shambhala dharma teacher Gaylon Ferguson’s re- get past them, and he provides exercises and much ! A simple chant you can use to create love markably encouraging message in his long-awaited practical advice. His friendly and supportive ap- and good will around yourself first book—backed by more than 30 years of study proach to practice is perfect for new meditators, ! Powerful on-the-spot practices you can and teaching, where he’s inspired thousands of peo- and it will also provide renewed inspiration for use throughout the day, even when ple on the spiritual path. anyone who’s been practicing for years. there’s “no time to practice.” The meditative mind is not something we need to If we catch even a passing glimpse of our Do the program at your own pace. It fits attain, he says, it’s our very nature. But it’s also true distractedness, even a whiff of our lost-in-thought, perfectly with any other kind of medita- that some effort is required to get in touch with it—and that ef- continually-daydreaming-about-the-past-and-future ordinary tion you’re doing. And since no previous fort is what spiritual practice is about. Gaylon Ferguson high- state, we’ve already begun to wake up. knowledge of Buddhism is required, it’s lights two essential aspects of the path of awakening: learning “This welcoming book offers a wise, warm-hearted, and prac- also ideal for those new to spiritual prac- to trust that we are already naturally awake and committing to tical understanding of the awakened heart. Reading it is like tice. After you’ve completed the material meditation practice. And he shows how each supports the oth- talking with your best dharma friend, who helps you to shift in Perfect Just as You Are, you’ll want to lis- er in our efforts to become fully who we are. from being lost in thought to spacious and kind attention.” — ten to it again periodically—any time you Teaching the fundamentals of meditation, he goes on to Jack Kornfield, author, The Wise Heart need a refresher course in compassion, provide exercises and guided contemplations intended to help Gaylon Ferguson is an acharya, or senior teacher, in the loving-kindness, equanimity, and joy. us experience innate wakefulness. Along the way, he shares se- Shambhala International Buddhist community. Among Pema Chödrön’s books: When Things Fall Apart and No Time to Lose. life of study, re- Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s early life story, difficult circumstances, however tumul- treat, and teach- told in his own words. The second half tuous. He always remained quite still, like BRILLIANT MOON ing. The formative comprises recollections about Khyentse a mountain, effortlessly exuding an all- The Autobiography of Dilgo Khyentse events of Rinpoche by his wife; his grandson and pervasive confidence that evoked confi- by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s life, heir, Sechen Rabjam Rinpoche; and other dence in those around him, and an ab- $40.00, cloth. Shambhala. and those insights lamas and friends who knew him well. solute, unshakeable equanimity.” isbn 9781590302842 and experiences Who could ever forget Dilgo Khyentse —Dzongsar Khyentse, author of What 350 pages, 35 b/w photos that caused him to Rinpoche if they had ever seen him? Both Makes You Not a Buddhist Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–1991) mature into the in his spiritual realization and in his was one of the most respected and influ- warm, brilliant, physical appearance and build, he was ential Tibetan Buddhist teachers of our and highly realized larger than life… When you speak of the age. He was a personal teacher to many of meditation master master and remember him, the power, the Tibet’s great meditation masters, includ- and teacher he blessings, and the compassion of the lineage all come through. —Sogyal ing the Dalai Lama. There was something was, are deeply inspiring. The details of Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of remarkable about his presence that im- his early life and spiritual training reveal Living and Dying, from his foreword pressed everyone who met him—a quality an authentic and human view of Tibetan of mind that comes across even in pho- culture, as well as the hardships endured “He was a great leader, and just like a tographs. by the Tibetans who fled their country majestic American Indian chief or a distin- Through lively anecdotes and stories and reestablished their tradition in exile. guished samurai general, Dilgo Khyentse Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche tells about his The first part of Brilliant Moon includes Rinpoche was never affected by chaotic or

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 18 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! THE DALAI LAMA’S GLOBAL JOURNEY !

EMOTIONAL AWARENESS THE OPEN ROAD Overcoming the Obstacles to Psychological Balance New in The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama New in by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Paul Ekman Paperback by Pico Iyer Paperback $17.00, paper. Henry Holt. $16.95, paper. Crown. isbn 9780805090215 240 pages isbn 9780307387554 288 pages The lively bond sparked between the Dalai Lama and psychol- Here is the first serious consideration—for Buddhist and ogist Paul Ekman, whose groundbreaking work helped to define non-Buddhist alike—of the 14th Dalai Lama’s work and ideas the science of emotions, shines forth in this rambling intellectu- as a politician, scientist, and philosopher. Pico Iyer has been al treat of a book. These two luminaries share their thinking engaged in conversation with the Dalai Lama (a friend of his about science and spirituality, the bonds between East and West, father’s) for the last three decades. Now, in this insightful and the nature and quality of our emotional lives. read, he captures the paradoxes of the Dalai Lama’s position: Edited from 39 hours of dialogue, Emotional Awareness prods though he has brought the ideas of Tibet to and pushes toward answers to central questions of emotional experience. What are world attention, Tibet itself is being remade the sources of hate and compassion? Should a person extend her as a Chinese province; though he was born in compassion to a torturer—and would that even be biologically possi- one of the remotest, least developed places on earth, he has become ble? What does science reveal about the benefits of Buddhist medita- a champion of globalism and technology. He is a religious leader who tion, and can Buddhism improve through engagement with the sci- warns against being needlessly distracted by religion; a Tibetan head entific method? of state who suggests that exile from Tibet can be an opportunity; an Accompanied by commentaries on the findings of emotion re- incarnation of a Tibetan god who stresses his everyday humanity. search and the teachings of Buddhism, their interplay—amusing, chal- Moving from Dharamsala, India—the seat of the Tibetan govern- His Holiness lenging, eye-opening, at times moving—guides us on a journey in the Pico Iyer ment-in-exile—to Lhasa, Tibet, to venues in the West, where the Dalai the Dalai Lama understanding of emotions. Lama’s pragmatism, rigor, and scholarship are sometimes lost on an They address issues ranging from the importance of mindfulness, audience yearning for mystical visions, The Open Road illuminates the hidden life, the the evolutionary function of moods, meditative breathing and the cultivation of com- transforming ideas, and the daily challenges of a global icon. passion. Ekman and the Dalai Lama are articulate, deeply serious scholars, and their [The Buddha] always took pains to tell people he was no more than an experimenter, investigations into “the varieties of anger,” the destructive potential of contempt and doing nothing that the rest of us could not do; his aim was simply that of a doctor at a the power of forgiveness contain a wealth of fascinating insights. The Dalai Lama’s hu- sickbed, eager to find an immediate solution to the problem at hand, without claiming his mour and curiosity do much to enliven the text. He and Ekman delight in invoking was the only or even the best solution. By speaking, as he often did, of a “path,” he was everything from traditional Buddhist thought to Western philosophy, Darwin, com- saying, in effect, that we could always go further, that everything was in a constant state of munism and personal anecdotes in a single breath. flux and that all he was doing was showing the way so that others could take it in new directions. Emotions unite and divide the worlds in which we live, both personal and global, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama had been pushing along the same road for several decades motivating the best and the worst of our actions. They save our lives, enabling quick action now. in emergencies. Yet how we behave when we are emotional can make our lives, and the lives of those we care about, miserable. Without emotions there would be no heroism, “Pico Iyer’s exceptionally intimate portrait of the Dalai Lama takes us beyond glob- empathy, or compassion, but neither would there be cruelty, selfishness, nor spite. Bringing al celebrity image and into a true private audience with a leader of tremendous com- different perspectives to bear—Eastern and Western, spirituality and science, Buddhism and plexity. Without ever losing compassion or respect for his subject, Iyer (like a good psychology—the Dalai Lama and I sought to clarify these contradictions and illuminate Buddhist, actually) peels away layer after layer of illusion, revealing critical truths some paths that might enable a balanced emotional life and a feeling of compassion that about this man at every possible level.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love can reach across the globe. “Pico Iyer delights, weaving with scintillating intelligence and evident fondness a Among the Dalai Lama’s other books is The Art of Happiness. Also by Paul Ekman is spell-binding tale of the 14th Dalai Lama’s uncanny power on the world stage. The Emotions Revealed. Open Road intertwines an insider’s access to telling detail with a well-seasoned jour- nalist’s skeptical sensibility. This thoughtful, thought-provoking book will open read- ers’ eyes. I couldn’t put it down.” —Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence BECOMING ENLIGHTENED by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, translated & edited by Jeffrey Hopkins $26.99, cloth. Simon & Schuster. isbn 9781416565833 256 pages $47.00, 6 CDs. isbn 9780743579698 6 hours, unabridged In Becoming Enlightened, His Holiness the Dalai Lama power- fully explores the foundation of Buddhism, laying out an ac- cessible and practical approach to age-old questions: How can we live free from suffering? How can we achieve lasting happi- ness and peace? Drawing from traditional Buddhist meditative practices as well as penetrating examples from today’s troubled world, he presents step-by-step ex- ercises designed to expand the reader’s capacity for spiritual growth, along with clear milestones to mark the reader’s progress. By following the spiritual practices outlined in Becoming Enlightened, we can learn how to replace troublesome feelings with positive attitudes and progress on a path to achieving a deeper, durable peace—within our- selves and in our world. Full of personal anecdotes and intimate accounts of the Dalai Lama’s experiences Dalai Lama Info as a lifelong student, thinker, political leader, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Becoming Enlightened gives readers all the wisdom, support, guidance, and inspira- tion they need to become fulfilled in their spiritual lives. This is a remarkable and empowering book that can be read and enjoyed by seekers of all faiths. Readers at every stage of their spiritual development will be nourished by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s loving and direct teaching style. I am frequently asked what the Buddhist outlook is, and I respond by saying its view is dependent-arising, and its prescribed behavior is nonviolence. Dependent-arising means that all phenomena—whether physical, mental, or otherwise—come into being based on certain causes and conditions. Nonviolence means to be motivated by compassion, which calls for helping others and, if that is not possible, then at least doing no harm. Dependent- arising and compassion are the essence of the Buddhist religion and the keys to its highest state: enlightenment. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, the world’s foremost Buddhist leader, travels exten- sively, speaking eloquently in favor of ecumenical understanding, kindness and com- passion, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace. Jeffrey Hopkins served for a decade as the interpreter for the Dalai Lama.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 19 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! T H E T A O !

Western readers, and reveal that Kuan Yin Taoism, Ch’i is the mystery and power of the divine Chi & the Energy Body feminine, who transcends all doctrines, & the Martial Arts FUSION OF THE EIGHT PSYCHIC CHANNELS creeds, and traditions. Opening and Sealing the Energy Body The book is divided into three sections: by Mantak Chia ! The origins and evolution of Kuan Yin THE SECOND BOOK OF THE TAO $16.95, paper. Inner Traditions. in early China, Buddhism, Taoism, and Compiled and adapted from the Chuang-tzu isbn 9781594771385 shamanism and the Chung Yung, with commentaries 114 pages, colour illustrations throughout ! The myths and stories about Kuan Yin by Stephen Mitchell ! The chi energy is a key to everything, capable of opening Fresh translations of 100 Kuan Yin po- $28.50, cloth. Penguin. any blockage you have in your mind, body, or spirit. It is just a ems, which function as both literature isbn 9781594202032 202 pages matter of letting the chi marinate into it. Soon the toxic energy and tools for divination and prophecy. $28.50, 4 CDs. will have relaxed away, and the area will be radiating with The Kuan Yin Chronicles is for any Western isbn 9780143144373 beautiful energy… Chi can make the brain and organs soft as a reader who wants to connect with the ancient 4 hours, unabridged child’s. power of the Goddess in their lives. The most widely translated book in The Fusion of the Eight Psychic Channels practice world literature after the Bible, Lao-tzu’s The fact of the matter is that there are very builds upon Chia’s Fusion of the Five Elements and few examples of the Divine Feminine. And Tao Te Ching, or Book of the Way, is the Cosmic Fusion practices and is the final step in preparation for the Practice of the amongst those, only a few are considered classic manual on Immortal Tao. Mantak Chia shows how to open the Great Bridge deities of compassion—the Virgin Mary and the art of living. Channel and the Great Regulator Channel—the last of the eight Kuan Yin are just about it! Following the suc- psychic channels that connect the twelve organ meridians and en- As the quest for less patriarchal mani- cess of his own ver- able energy to flow from one meridian to another. By opening these festations of the Divine grows in the light sion of the Tao Te psychic channels in conjunction with the Microcosmic Orbit, prac- of feminism and other social forces which Ching, translator titioners can balance and regulate the energy flow throughout the have challenged the hegemony of the Stephen Mitchell body to protect all the body’s centers. male deities, Kuan Yin has arisen as a has composed his in- Mantak Chia Master Chia also illustrates the Spinal Cord Microcosmic Orbit model of the generous, caring Divine. novative The Second practice, which strengthens and wraps the spinal cord with energy, Book of the Tao. and the practice of Sealing the , which creates a thicker aura to protect the Drawn from the body and facilitate the reception of higher frequencies of the Universal Force. VITALITY, ENERGY, SPIRIT work of Lao-tzu’s Mastery of the practices in this book enables the creation of the energy body need- A Taoist Sourcebook disciple Chuang-tzu ed to receive the larger Universal Force vibrations accessible through the Practice translated & edited by Thomas Cleary (4th century BCE) of the Immortal Tao. $23.00, paper. Shambhala. and Confucius’s Mantak Chia founded the Universal Healing Tao System in 1979 and has taught isbn 9781590306888 280 pages grandson Tzussu (circa 481–402 BCE), and certified thousands of students and instructors from all over the world. He is The “three treasures” of human life— The Second Book of the Tao offers Western the author of many books, including Fusion of the Five Elements, Cosmic Fusion, and vitality, energy, and spirit—are envisioned readers a path into reality that has nothing The Multi-Orgasmic Man. in Taoist thought as to do with Taoism or Buddhism or old or the source of creativi- new alone, but everything to do with truth. ty, capability, and intel- Mitchell has selected the THE SIX HEALING SOUNDS ligence. This compre- Taoist Techniques for Balancing Chi freshest, clearest teachings hensive anthology by Mantak Chia from these two great stu- traces the teachings on $18.95, paper. Inner Traditions. dents of the Tao and adapt- these three treasures ed them into versions that isbn 9781594771569 96 pages, colour & b/w illustrations throughout through the long histo- reveal the poetry, depth, ry of Taoism, high- and humour of these wool- Thousands of years ago Taoist masters discovered that a healthy organ vibrates at a particular frequency. They lighting the quintes- Stephen ly old texts with new clari- found six sounds with the correct frequencies to keep sential works on their Mitchell ty. Alongside each adapta- practical application tion is his own nifty each organ in optimal condition. To accompany these Six Healing Sounds, six postures were developed to activate for mental and physical well-being. Along commentary, at once explicating and com- with brief selections from the classic plementing the text. the acupuncture meridians, or energy channels, of the cor- responding organs. sources of Taoism by Lao Tzu and Chang- This book is a 21st-century wisdom tzu, the book presents a rich selection of book, bringing a new, homemade sequel In The Six Healing Sounds Master Mantak Chia explains how the pressures of modern life can cause excess heat to become trapped around tales and sayings from Taoist literature, as to the Tao Te Ching into the modern well as a broad range of writings from the world. Mitchell’s renditions are radiantly the organs, causing energy blockages and sickness. He shows readers how the vi- brations of the Six Healing Sounds and their accompanying postures redistribute Complete Reality school, including essays lucid; they dig out the vision that’s hiding and commentary from such figures as Lü beneath the words; they grab the text by this excess heat to the cooler regions of the body, thereby stimulating and balanc- ing chi energy and restoring the vital organs. Regular practice of the Six Healing Yen, Chang Po-tuan, and Liu I-ming. the scruff of the neck—by its heart, real- As Cleary writes, this anthology ly—and let its essential meanings fall out. Sounds promotes optimal health for the organs, increased sexual pleasure, emo- tional balance, and the prevention of illness. contains a variety of traditional Taoist The book introduces us to a cast of vivid educational materials dealing with the characters, most of them humble artisans The Six Healing Sounds presents vocalizations and accompanying postures that dissolve the tensions at the root of unhealthy chi flow and organ malfunction. theory and practice of the “inner or servants, who show us what it means to alchemy” by which vitality, energy, and Included is a 50-minute audio CD of practices for balancing chi. be in harmony with the way things are. Its spirit are unified, groomed, refined, and wisdom provides a psychological and Among Mantak Chia’s many books are Sexual Reflexology and The Taoist Soul Body. purified, a process believed by Taoists to moral acuity as deep as the Tao Te Ching it- restore the original wholeness and health of the natural human being. It covers a self. The Tao that cannot be named is the THE KUAN YIN CHRONICLES range of teachings from ancient classics to When you truly understand intelligence of the universe: whatever is The Myths and Prophecies of the Chinese modern talks. the Tao that cannot be named, happening right now. Goddess of Compassion you become rooted in not-knowing. “Cleary has brought Buddhist, Taoist, Among Stephen Mitchell’s other books by Martin Palmer This is called “inner radiance.” and I Ching texts from Chinese into are The Gospel According to Jesus and & Jay Ramsay, with Man-Ho Kwok Add to it, it is never full; English with the energy of a person carry- Bhagavad Gita. Mitchell is married to $18.95, paper. Hampton Roads. Take from it, it is never depleted. ing antique furniture out of a burning Who can tell where it comes from? Byron Katie and co-wrote two of her isbn 9781571746085 188 pages house. He has translated or retranslated It is the inexhaustible treasury. books: Loving What Is and A Thousand Kuan Yin is the most important, best- more sacred texts from Chinese than any Mitchell’s meditations and risky reimag- Names for Joy. loved deity in the Chinese world. She is the ining of the original texts keep catching us living expression of other scholar this century. His books, full off-guard, opening up the heavens where compassion and the of ancients’ advice, speak to a large, spiri- before we saw a roof. He makes these an- center of devotion in tually hungry audience.”—David cient teachings at once modern, relevant, most Chinese homes Schneider, San Francisco Chronicle and timeless. and workplaces. Yet she “Chock-full of timely advice for mental, phys- is barely known in the ical, and spiritual health… Here are the keys to Every ism is a wasm. It’s already old understand and practice reality in our everyday news: an exoskeleton from which the West. The authors of living truth has moved on. The Kuan Yin Chronicles lives, whatever our religious or philosophical in- introduce Kuan Yin to clination.”—Lightworks

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 20 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! HEALING ENERGIES !

Speaks, Broken by Modern Life, Healing Ties emotionally as well. This book is an es- and Eastward Journeys. Harrington exam- sential read for anyone who is battling can- The Mysteries of Chi Gong ines the development of each of these nar- cer, or their loved ones. Some of these sto- CHI GONG ratives. For example, in her chapter “The ries will move you to tears. Yet, you will The Ancient Chinese Way to Health Body that Speaks,” Harrington traces the finish the book feeling spiritually cleansed by Paul Dong & Aristide Esser idea that physical symptoms are the out- in a way. $15.50, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. ward expression of the mind’s secrets, and For physicians, inklings isbn 9781583942581 212 pages, b/w photos that revealing those secrets can heal— and intrusions are disturbing. Doctors Chi Gong: The Ancient Chinese Way to Health bridges the whether the revelation takes place in the cannot be candid with colleagues or pa- divide between Chinese and Western science, systems of confession box or on the analyst’s couch. tients because they are trained to disre- health care, and spiritual practice. Using proven step-by- Armed with a knowledge of these gard the inexplicable and unbelievable. step exercises, chi gong instructor Paul Dong and psychia- narratives, we are able to understand how They’re taught to discount elusive, evanes- trist Aristide Esser demonstrate basic and advanced chi mind-body medicine can be “about” so cent powers of the soul. Superstition, gong exercises that increase vitality by maintaining the bal- many different things at once, and how it omens, and divine spirits smack of mad- ance of bodily energies. They teach how to prevent and can have an effect at the same time on so ness. many different levels of our culture: the cure ulcers, hypertension, heart disease, and other ail- But patients have the same experiences. spiritual and the secular, the elite and the Life-threatening illness or surgery fre- ments; and also how to achieve a relaxed and therapeutic popular, the mainstream and the meditative state that promotes health and longevity. The marginal… quently brings dormant spirituality to life. authors encourage practitioners not only to augment and strengthen their martial The soul often needs more than intensive and spiritual disciplines for their own well-being, but also to develop external en- Where do these stories of mind-body care alone can give. The Scalpel and the Soul ergy for the benefit of others. illness and mind-body healing come from? explores how premonition, superstition, What is their relationship both to modern More than an instruction manual, Chi Gong functions as a complete survey of this hope, and faith not only become factors in medicine on the one hand and traditional how patients feel but can change out- healing art. The authors discuss chi gong’s history, famous practitioners, applica- religious and folk stories about illness on tions for health and the martial arts, and the role of chi in exceptional human func- the other? What can their prominence in comes; it validates the spiritual manifesta- tioning and mind-body interactions. our culture today teach us about our own tions physicians see every day; it empowers About twenty million people in China practice chi gong. More than one hundred imperfectly secularized experience of patients to voice their spiritual needs types of chi gong are common, falling into three broad categories: still exercises, moving illness, the curious ways in which we when they seek medical help; and, finally, exercises, and a combination of these two, still-and-moving exercises. Although the navigate a path between science and it addresses the mysterious, attractive pow- different schools of chi gong training have their respective idiosyncrasies, all methods sense-making in our own time? ers the soul exerts during life-threatening involve breath, thought, and body parts. As a cultural history, The Cure Within events. Combining information from Western scientific investigations as well as person- guides its readers on a journey through cul- al insights from Paul Dong’s practice, the authors provide a thorough explanation ture and time: from medieval Catholic ex- of the concept of chi and its role in traditional Chinese medicine. They also discuss orcisms to 19th-century hypnosis; from Healing Energies, the groundbreaking use of chi gong in cancer treatments, and take the reader on 1950s self-help books about the power of Healing Herbs a visit to one of China’s many chi gong clinics. positive thinking to contemporary efforts to understand what happens to the brain MYSTERIES OF THE LIFE FORCE during meditation by hooking up My Apprenticeship with a Chi Kung Master REIKI: THE TRUE STORY Buddhist monks to MRI machines. by Peter Meech An Exploration of Usui Reiki Harrington uses case studies and stories $14.95, paper. Sentient. by Don Beckett isbn 9781591810551 152 pages of healings to show how deeply embedded $27.95, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. This book chronicles the first seven years of an extraor- the idea of positive mental health is in the isbn 9781583942673 dinary apprenticeship that took place in Toronto between quest for physical health, as well as the 200 pages, 7x9, colour photos & images the author and a celebrated chi kung master from ways that contemporary medicine has in- Reiki: The True Story is a comprehensive Shanghai. corporated a focus on mind-body healing investigation of Reiki as both a healing Chi kung is sometimes described as an internal martial into its black bag. This is a fascinating practice and a life- art, and during the author’s apprenticeship, he learned study of an age-old but still much debated long path of spiritual how to manipulate the mysterious life force called chi. topic. awakening. Author Originally, the author wanted to interview the chi kung and Reiki expert Don master after watching him perform on Ripley’s Believe It or Beckett weaves to- Not. Instead, the author became an unwitting apprentice and embarked on an in- THE SCALPEL AND THE SOUL gether a new story Encounters with Surgery, the Supernatural, credible journey of inner exploration that continues to this day. about Reiki’s origins and the Healing Power of Hope and its founder’s true Many astonishing events occurred during the apprenticeship, such as frequent by Allan Hamilton vision. The founda- telepathic exchanges between master and student, the throwing of chi-energy over $17.50, paper. great distances, and at least one instance of what could be called Jedi mind control, Tarcher/Putnam. tion of this book is right out of the movie Star Wars. isbn 9781585427130 240 pages the teachings of a group of Reiki founder To complete the first phase of the apprenticeship, the author had to pass a big A young burn victim remains in a coma un- Makao Usui’s original students, who held test, but the nature of the big test was never disclosed. In fact, an important part of til a ghost appears. their master’s knowledge in secrecy for the big test was discovering exactly what it consisted of, and this detective work is A doctor discovers he can predict when a pa- more than 70 years. the narrative thread that pulls the reader through the story to its startling conclu- tient will die. After a general introduction to Reiki, sion. By turns suspenseful, philosophical and humorous, this book takes the reader A clinically dead patient later recounts extra- Beckett presents a thorough history of the on a fascinating journey into the mysterious world of chi kung. ordinary details about the private lives of her discipline (including the testimony of “Peter Meech, the author of this engrossing tale, provides his readers with an ad- caregivers. some of Usui’s students) as well as an in- venture more authentic than anything in the Castaneda books as he slowly develops A physician needs the help of a Navajo depth manual for practice. The author what his chi kung master refers to as a ‘Chinese brain.’” —Stanley Krippner, co-au- shaman to exorcise the spirit of his dead patient. rounds out his exploration with material thor of Becoming Psychic These things really from world renowned, contemporary “The pages sparkle with wit and wisdom and contain facts about chi kung found happened—and neu- Reiki Masters, Beckett’s own insights into nowhere else.” —Alberto Villoldo, author of The Four Insights rosurgeon Allan the nature of Reiki energy, as well as in- Hamilton was involved formation about the chakra system, yin and yang, and the Five Transformations. Chair of the History of in every one of them, The book concludes with a chapter enti- Science Department and many more. Based BodyMind Healing tled “Beyond Reiki,” which bridges knowl- at Harvard, on thirty years of med- edge of Reiki with the lesser-known prac- Harrington offers a ical experience, The THE CURE WITHIN tice of Johrei. Thorough explanations captivating survey of Scalpel and the Soul A History of Mind-Body Medicine coupled with cutting-edge discoveries the main mind-body tells the untold stories by Anne Harrington about Reiki’s past make this a compelling healing narratives that behind remarkable pa- $18.50, paper. Norton. volume for novice and experienced practi- we draw on to try to tients and strange isbn 9780393333978 336 pages tioners alike. In The Cure Within, Anne Harrington make sense of dis- events, and shares the moral and spiritual Don Beckett has been practicing Reiki tries to explain why we draw connections ease. lessons found in them. since 1991 and has initiated others since between emotions and illness, and helps Six narratives that Hamilton is a Doctor that you wish was 1999. He has also practiced various kinds of trace how today’s myriad alternative and she identifies are The Power of Suggestion, your own, someone who deeply cares formal meditation for more than 25 years. complementary treatments came to be. The Power of Positive Thinking, The Body that about healing you not only physically, but

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 21 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! HEALING ARTS !

AROMATHERAPY Phillips’s gentle and soothing style is won- A Complete Guide to the Healing Art THE SUBTLE BODY derfully reassuring and healing. Simply by Kathi Keville & Mindy Green An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy reading this book will lend some relief, $23.50, paper. Crossing. by Cyndi Dale but when you use the techniques, well-de- isbn 9781580911894 244 pages, 8x10 $45.50, paper. Sounds True. served miracles are bound to happen.” — In this encyclopedic guide to the most isbn 9781591796718 482 pages, 8x10, colour illustrations Fred Gallo, author of Energy Tapping for fragrant of healing arts, master aro- All healers are “energetic” healers, whether they know it Trauma matherapists Kathi or not. Because every health issue has a physical and an en- Keville and Mindy ergetic component, even a simple physical treatment like Green draw on bandaging a cut also impacts the body’s spiritual, mental QUANTUM-TOUCH CORE their extensive ex- and emotional welfare. The Subtle Body is a comprehensive TRANSFORMATION perience with encyclopedia devoted to the critical world of our invisible A New Way to Heal and Alter Reality botanical therapies anatomy, where so much of healing actually occurs. by Alain & Jody Herriott to provide a one- Created for healing professionals and patients alike, this volume provides a lexi- $22.95, paper. North Atlantic. stop resource for con of terms, illustrations, and detailed entries about our energetic biology and isbn 9781556437816 students and prac- how it relates to our physical being. This invaluable information, beautifully laid 248 pages, 7x9, b/w photos titioners. From cos- out with colour illustrations, will help you enhance any form of health care, giving Quantum-Touch teaches techniques metics and per- you the knowledge you need to develop an integrated approach for your clients’ for focusing and amplifying life-force en- fumes to therapeutics for balancing body, well-being—or your own. ergy (chi) through mind, and spirit, Aromatherapy will help Compiled by energetic healer and scholar Cyndi Dale, The Subtle Body examines: simple breathing ! you harness the healing power of plants to Energy-based therapy principles from the world’s healing traditions—including and body-aware- enhance your beauty, health, and overall Ayurveda, Qigong, Reiki, Quabalah, and many more ness exercises. This ! sense of well-being. The science of subtle anatomy: the ancient models and the newest research on the practice stimulates This thoroughly revised and expanded unseen fields that determine our physical condition our biological in- ! edition includes: True integrative care: how combining Eastern energetic modalities with Western telligence to pro- ! The history and theory of aromatherapy, scientific rigor yields optimum results mote healing in ! from ancient uses to modern-day per- The meridians, fields, and chakras: detailed information and diagrams about the everything from fumes role of these energetic structures in our overall health major immune dis- ! ! More than 100 formulas for first-aid and The role of intention in healing: how the beliefs of a healer, patient, and everyone orders to chronic medicinal treatments, aphrodisiacs, skin involved affect the outcome of a treatment. pain to emotional disturbances. and hair care, massage oils, and more For those who want to make the leap from being good healers to great ones, one A new addition to Alain Herriott’s suc- ! Updated herbal listings and resources for thing is clear: we need to care for every aspect of our well-being. With The Subtle cessful series that includes Supercharging making your own formulations Body, practitioners and patients alike now have a resource for understanding the Quantum-Touch, this manual of advanced ! Instructions for extracting and blending physical, energetic, and spiritual elements of human health—for an informed, techniques is geared toward those who al- essential oils at home complete approach to healing. ready know the basics of Quantum-Touch ! New sections on Ayurvedic aromathera- “The Subtle Body belongs in the library of every truly conscious person on the plan- or have backgrounds in general energy py, environmental sustainability, and mas- et.” —Christiane Northrup, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom healing, Chinese disciplines such as tai sage therapy techniques. Cyndi Dale is also author of Advanced Chakra Healing and Advanced Chakra chi and gong, or the yogic and dance “A jewel… It captures the essence of Wisdom (8 CDs). disciplines. Techniques are presented aromatherapy and presents it in a clear, in- through step-by-step exercises that facili- telligent, and engaging manner. It is my fa- in treating—from digestive ailments, from unstoppable suffering to heartfelt tate the energy flow through both vorite aromatherapy book and I recom- headaches, and high blood pressure to connection and peace. teacherand patient. This energy transfer- mend it to all my students.” —Rosmary asthma, skin rashes, and allergies, to name Building on the ence encourages bone alignment, stress Gladstar, author of Herbal Recipes for a few. AIDS cocktail ap- reduction, and deep and lasting healing. Vibrant Health Wood, who has systematically studied proach that reflects Quantum-Touch Core Transformation Kathi Keville is an internationally ancient and traditional herbal literature, the fact that chron- shows how to truly experience oneself known herbalist, aromatherapist, and mas- takes a historical view and presents infor- ic pain is complex emotionally, spiritually, and physically, sage therapist, with more than 40 years in mation in a thoughtful, engaging, non- and no one tactic is and to begin to open consciousness and the field. Mindy Green is the clinical aro- technical style. In addition, he provides re- likely to solve the enter a whole new level of being. Written matherapist for Aveda Corporation. markable case studies as well as insight problem, in the trademark thoughtful, engaging into the “logic” of each plant—its current renowned expert style of Quantum-Touch authors, this and past usage, pharmacological con- Maggie Phillips book is an authoritative resource for any THE EARTHWISE HERBAL stituents, and other elements that togeth- presents a 10-1 alternative-health professional involved in A Complete Guide to New World er produce a comprehensive portrait of pain plan com- serious bodywork. Medicinal Plants each herb. prised of easy What is discovered while practicing by Matthew Wood Also by Matthew Wood is The Practice of strategies based on this work is unique to each person. The $34.00, paper. North Atlantic. Traditional Western Herbalism. somatic experience. Even if the reader’s more you practice, the more you isbn 9781556437793 Bodywork, Movement & Somatics pain is perceived as a “10” at the onset of discover. This discovery is not limited; anything you put your attention on begins 488 pages, b/w illustrations the program, with 10 being intolerable, to unfold. If you stay out of your own In this companion volume to The the somatic building blocks help shift the Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old way, this is, you do not allow logical pain one point at a time until it gradually thought to interfere, whatever you place World Medicinal Bodywork: diminishes to “1” or even “zero.” Showing your attention on has its own natural way Plants, Matthew Movement & Somatics how the common professional interven- to express itself. This applies to: healing, Wood, an expert tions—medication, physical therapy, business, emotions, or something as herbalist who has acupuncture, biofeedback—may be more mundane as mowing the lawn. —from the used medicinal harmful than healing, Reversing Chronic Introduction herbs with tens of REVERSING CHRONIC PAIN Pain stresses self-treatment throughout, in- “This is a spectacular discovery worthy A 10-Point All-Natural Plan thousands of pa- volving sufferers in attaining lives not sim- of the great sages, and if taken to its logi- for Lasting Relief tients over a 25- ply endured but actively enjoyed. cal conclusion it causes us to open to a by Maggie Phillips, year career, pro- “Maggie Phillips uses her considerable foreword by Peter Levine much larger and expanded sense of self.” vides detailed expertise in hypnosis, Somatic —Richard Gordon, author of Quantum- descriptions of $23.00, paper. North Atlantic. isbn 9781556436765 Experiencing, and the treatment of pain Touch: The Power to Heal New World (North to create an intelligent, holistic, refreshing Alain and Jody Herriott travel interna- American) herbs 228 pages, b/w diagrams Reversing Chronic Pain offers a dynamic new roadmap for reversing pain. Her ap- tionally teaching the Quantum-Touch and their uses. proach is smart and sophisticated, yet user- workshops. See www.quantumtouch.com. Organized as a materia medica (names framework for joining body and mind to speed the healing of traumatic pain from friendly and accessible. Most important, and descriptions of herbs/plants are listed her methods work.” —Belleruth alphabetically), the book explains the use the body level up. Each chapter presents a body-centered skill set that can be mas- Naparstek, author of Invisible Heroes: of the whole plant (not just “active ingre- Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal dients”) in the treatment of the whole per- tered through a broad menu of practice exercises. The resulting interlinked so- “Reversing Chronic Pain is a tremendously son and describes symptoms and condi- helpful guide for dissolving fear and trau- tions that the plants have been successful matic building blocks help readers shift from physical pain to body awareness, and ma that perpetuate chronic pain. Maggie

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 22 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! STRENGTH, RESILIENCE & VITALITY !

prove your performance at work, lose selves, our communities, and the environ- weight, eliminate addictions and unpro- ment at large. Taking a clear-eyed look at Movement Wisdom ductive patterns of behavior, develop a sat- what science does and does not know MOVE INTO LIFE isfying romantic relationship, and more. about the links between diet and health, The Nine Essentials of Lifelong Vitality Because each energy tapping exercise he proposes a new way to think about the by Anat Baniel takes less than a minute to complete, you question of what to eat that is informed by $27.95, cloth. Crown. can use these techniques anytime to in- ecology and tradition rather than by the isbn 9780307395290 320 pages, line drawings throughout stantly balance your energy and boost your prevailing nutrient-by-nutrient approach. Articulating and amplifying Feldenkrais’s system, Move confidence. In looking toward traditional diets the into Life consists of nine ways to overcome dysfunctional Although the process of energy world over, as well as the foods our fami- mind-body connections that prevent people of all ages psychology was developed using applied lies—and regions—historically enjoyed, from feeling life-enhancing vitality and optimal health. kinesiology, muscle testing is not required we can recover a more balanced, reason- Your level of vitality is directly connected to your brain. in order to use the techniques in this book. able, and pleasurable approach to food. When your brain thrives, growing and making new con- We’ve analyzed various types of problems Pollan’s bracing and eloquent mani- and through extensive clinical experience nections, you are invigorated, infused with a new sense of festo—a pleasure to read—shows us how we’ve provided you with treatment we might start making thoughtful food aliveness and possibility, capable of infinitely new ways of sequences for every issue examined in this choices: moving, thinking, and feeling. Combining book. As you will learn, tapping with your cutting-edge neuroscience, the work of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, and fingers on different meridian points will, in Eat food… don’t eat anything your her own method based on more than 30 years of experience work- most cases, successfully treat each great great grandmother wouldn’t ing with thousands of people around the world, dancer and psy- condition or problem. recognize as food… Avoid food products bearing health chologist Anat Baniel has defined the Nine Essentials your brain Energy Tapping makes these new and needs to flourish: moving with attention; turning on the “learning claims… When the Kellogg’s strawberry- highly effective techniques widely avail- vanilla breakfast cereal bars can boast switch”; experiencing subtlety; breaking harmful habits through Anat Baniel able. You will find energy tapping to be about being “heart healthy,” health claims variation; living more slowly; setting flexible goals; firing enthusi- rapid, painless, thorough, and actually have become hopelessly compromised… asm; using the imagination; and cultivating awareness. quite enjoyable. One client referred to it Avoid food products containing In this breakthrough book, she offers specific, practical advice for incorporating as “acupuncture for the soul.” ingredients that are a) unfamiliar, or b) those Essentials into everything you do to achieve immediate and powerful bene- A major revision of the essential self- unpronounceable, or c) more than five in fits. help book for energy psychology, Energy number, or that include d) high fructose In Move Into Life, you’ll: Tapping, Second Edition, offers the latest de- corn syrup… Get out of the supermarket whenever ! Learn the Nine Essentials your brain requires to thrive, including movement with velopments in this exciting field. possible. attention, subtlety, and variation Fred Gallo is a licensed psychologist who ! Experience simple, safe physical and mental exercises that satisfy those needs and offers professional training in Advanced thus awaken your vitality Energy Psychology. He has authored sever- THE WHOLE-FOOD GUIDE TO ! Discover why and how these methods work al books, including Energy Tapping for ! Find easy ways of incorporating the Essentials into your daily life so every activi- STRONG BONES Trauma and the clinical book Energy A Holistic Approach ty—from washing the dishes to working at your desk, from interacting with your Psychology. by Annemarie Colbin loved ones to your favourite sport—brings you renewed vitality. $28.95, paper. New Harbinger. Endorsed by leading physicians, scientists, and transformational teachers, the isbn 9781572245808 257 pages, 7x9 Anat Baniel Method will help you enjoy renewed energy and stamina. You’ll be Food, Nutrition Osteoporosis is a major health threat for lighter on your feet. Your memory will be better. Thinking and problem solving will & Healing 55 percent of people 50 years of age and become easier. If you are active in a sport or yoga, or work out at the gym, you will older. We all know it’s es- notice yourself performing better and with greater ease and fewer injuries. Most im- sential to maintain portant, you will experience yourself moving more fully into your life. strong bones to keep an “The distilled wisdom of a great guide.” —Larry Dossey IN DEFENSE OF FOOD active lifestyle, but aside An Eater’s Manifesto New in from taking a daily calci- THE ANATOMY OF PILATES by Michael Pollan Paperback by Paul Massey $16.50, paper. Penguin. um supplement, is there $33.95, paper. North Atlantic. isbn 9780143114963 244 pages really anything you can isbn 9781556437809 160 pages, 7x10, 175 colour illustrations do to improve your Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Created by Joseph Pilates during the early 20th century, bone health? In The Pilates is used by millions today to improve their physical These simple words go to the heart of Whole-Food Guide to and mental well-being. Much of its appeal lies in its simple, Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food, the well- Strong Bones, nutritional teacher low-impact approach, which is ideal for injury prevention, considered answers Annemarie Colbin gives readers a com- rehabilitation, and general physical health. Based on a se- he provides to the plete lifestyle program, including some ries of precise movements and the employment of equip- questions posed in 100 delicious and satisfying recipes, that ment such as rubber balls and exercise bands, Pilates em- his earlier title The can strengthen bones and prevent osteo- phasizes concentration, control, alignment, core stability, Omnivore’s Dilemma. porosis. and proper breathing. Humans used to The subject of bones turns out to be im- The Anatomy of Pilates shows what actually happens to the body’s muscles and know how to eat mensely complex. After all, our bones are joints during Pilates exercises. Each two-page spread features detailed anatomical well, Pollan argues. not just the hangers for our muscles and illustrations of an exercise (with muscle actions highlighted in red), a detailed de- But the balanced di- organs. They are also a repository of the scription of the exercise and its objectives, the particular breathing pattern to be etary lessons that many minerals that our bodies need to used, a list of the specific muscles being worked, visualization techniques, comple- were once passed down through genera- function properly. They are an essential mentary exercises, and more. The Anatomy of Pilates is an accessible, authoritative tions have been confused, complicated, part of our metabolism, keeping the pH of guide for current and prospective teachers of Pilates, practitioners at all skill levels, and distorted by food industry marketers, our blood at the right level. Indeed, bones physical therapists, and other health professionals. nutritional scientists, and journalists—all are less like stones and hard objects and Paul Massey is a Pilates expert and a chartered physiotherapist in England. of whom have much to gain from our di- more like a flowing current of nutrients etary confusion. As a result, we face today and minerals. When we are in balance—a a complex culinary landscape (“nutrition- dynamic balance that involves constant ENERGY TAPPING the power of our own bodies. Your body’s ism”) dense with bad advice and foods that movement, just like riding a bicycle—the How to Rapidly Eliminate Anxiety, Depression, energy system is a powerful force. When are not “real.” These “edible foodlike sub- nutrients added to and drawn out of our Craving, and More Using Energy Psychology out of balance or dis- stances” are often packaged with labels bones are in equilibrium and our bones by Fred Gallo & Harry Vincenzi rupted, stress, anxi- bearing health claims that are typically remain strong. When more nutrients are $23.95, paper. New Harbinger. ety, depression, and false or misleading. Indeed, real food is extracted than are replenished, the bones isbn 9781572245556 other negative emo- fast disappearing from the marketplace, to become weaker. 304 pages, 7x10, b/w drawings tions can take hold. be replaced by “nutrients,” and plain old With Colbin’s program for stronger Imagine if you could think about a This book shows eating by an obsession with nutrition that bones you’ll learn the best foods to eat to problem that you have been struggling you how to create is, paradoxically, ruining our health, not to build bone mass and find out which foods with, tap with your fingers at key locations customized energy- mention our meals. actually weaken bones. You’ll also discover on your face, torso, and hands, and then tapping programs to Writing In Defense of Food, and affirming what puts you at risk for bone fracture, experience the problem suddenly vanish, reduce the impact of the joy of eating, Pollan suggests that if we and why medication and estrogen therapy all within a matter of a few minutes. negative thoughts would pay more for better, well-grown may not work for you. Colbin vividly de- Energy Tapping is a wonderful guide to and feelings, im- food, but buy less of it, we’ll benefit our- scribes how the nutrients in whole foods

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 23 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! ! build bone mass and how exercise and MODERN-DAY MACROBIOTICS finding personal balance can improve Transform Your Diet and your health and prevent fragility fractures, The Raw Food Revolution Feed Your Mind, Body and Spirit menopause-related bone loss, and osteo- by Simon Brown, porosis. THE GREEN SMOOTHIE REVOLUTION foreword by Michio Kushi “The bones of the body renew them- The Radical Leap Towards Natural Health $25.95, paper. North Atlantic. selves every seven years. With the whole- by Victoria Boutenko isbn 9781556436437 some wisdom of this book, you can help $17.50, paper. North Atlantic. 160 pages, 7x10, colour photos your bones provide a firm scaffold for isbn 9781556438127 176 pages A macrobiotic diet is beneficial not just your body.” —Mehmet Oz, coauthor of Thanks to processed and fast foods, being overworked, physically, but spiritually and emotionally. YOU: The Owner’s Manual and feeling stressed while eating on the fly, it is increas- Consisting of Also by Annemarie Colbin is Food and Healing. ingly difficult for most of us to eat anywhere near a bal- grains, vegetables, anced diet. We may not be obviously sick, but may suffer nuts and seeds, from lack of focus, insomnia, sluggishness, or any host of and other foods MINDFUL EATING symptoms caused by nutritional deficiency. Green Smoothie that are primarily A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Revolution takes aim at this silent epidemic by restoring whole, living, and Joyful Relationship with Food balance to our diets. unprocessed, it by Jan Chozen Bays Green smoothies, generally green vegetables blended combines foods in $18.95, Book+CD set. with fruits in smart, delicious combinations, require a way that balances Shambhala. blenders instead of juicers, simplifying prep and cleanup time. Green smoothies the body’s ener- isbn 9781590305317 will keep in cool temperatures up to three days—handy for work or travel. gies. Modern-Day 175-page paperback + 75-minute audio CD Combining nutrition and know-how with recipes that pack a powerhouse punch, Macrobiotics is Practiced for centuries in the Zen tradi- Victoria Boutenko reintroduces long-neglected fruits, vegetables, and greens in the both a cookbook and a practical guide to tion, mindful eating is an approach that most persuasive style for our busy lives: with fast prep and delicious results. understanding and adopting a macrobiot- involves bringing Featuring 150 recipes, Green Smoothie Revolution offers both simplicity (4 ripe ic lifestyle. Along with menus and com- one’s full attention pears, 1 bunch parsley, 2 cups water; blend well) and enough variety to keep taste plete eating plans—including a one-day to the process of eat- buds happy and nutrients coming from a wealth of options. tone-up, three-day detox, ten-day regener- ing—becoming fully Victoria Boutenko teaches classes on raw food all over the world. Her (and her ation diet, and four-month healing diet— present to the family’s) teachings have inspired raw food communities everywhere. Also by her are it helps readers tailor a diet to their spe- tastes, smells, 12 Steps to Raw Foods and Fresh: The Ultimate Live Food “Cookbook.” cific needs. Nearly 80 recipes cover every thoughts, and feel- meal of the day, from appetizers to ings that arise dur- SWEET GRATITUDE desserts, and are tagged with icons indi- ing a meal. A New World of Raw Desserts cating what types of energy the dish im- Whether you are by Matthew Rogers & Tiziana Alipo Tamborra parts. Colorful reference charts help read- overweight, suffer $27.95, paper. North Atlantic. ers find useful information at a glance. from an eating dis- isbn 9781556437441 232 pages, 7x9, colour photos Health benefits; buying and storing ingre- order, or just want to get more out of life, In this gorgeously illustrated recipe book, master dients; shortcuts and ten-minute meals; this book offers a simple tool chefs Tiziana Alipo Tamborra and Matthew Rogers of learning what to eat for digestive health, Book San Francisco’s legendary Café Gratitude present a & CD that can make a remarkable weight loss, and common ailments like difference. Jan Bays, a physi- tempting array of delicious and decadent raw-food de- colds and headaches; and ordering in cian and Zen teacher, offers a wonderfully lights, as well as a philosophy of celebrating life and restaurants are also covered. Luscious, clear presentation of what mindfulness is love for ourselves and the planet. full-color photographs capture the vibrant and how it can help us create a healthier The recipes range from simple and quick to ad- flavors of this healthy, delicious diet. vanced and detailed, showing how versatile commonly relationship with food. In Mindful Eating It takes the body about 10 days to used fruits and nuts are for whipping up innovative she shows us how to rediscover the simple replace all its white blood cells, so eating act of eating, thereby gaining control of and beautiful desserts. They provide information on foods with strong living energy for this our eating problems from the inside out. techniques and specialty ingredients while emphasizing the seasonal and the re- period could have a significant influence Along the way she reviews the relevant re- gional. Ideal for anyone looking for healthier dessert choices as well as a valuable on your well-being. In four months, the search, offers medical information, and resource for people with special dietary needs including those who cannot con- body changes all its red blood cells, so presents numerous practical exercises sume dairy, gluten, or refined sugar, Sweet Gratitude shows readers how to craft what eating a healing diet for this period will drawn from her workshops. Though she may be the most elusive item in the culinary canon: the guilt-free dessert! lead to more profound changes. doesn’t promise instant results, Bays offers Sweet Gratitude contains fresh takes on old favorites like pumpkin pie and In the mid-1980s, Simon Brown studied readers a guide to lifelong health through tiramisu, as well as ingenious new creations like Pomegranate Fig Tart, Brazil Nut under Michio Kushi and assisted him with a measured attitude toward food; hers may Chocolate Ganache, and Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies with Goji Berry Jam, consultations. Now directing a study cen- well be the healthiest, most sane diet book Almond-Coconut Joy Truffles, a variety of ice-cream sandwiches, and cheesecakes. tre in London, Simon is a father of four to hit shelves in a while. Did you know the raw-food diet is now one of the five most popular “diets” in the who has raised all his children macrobiot- world? In the Zen tradition we practice ically, and is also a highly regarded practi- bringing skillful attention, curiosity and Matthew and award-winning chef Tamborra create delights at Café Gratitude, tioner of and shiatsu. inquiry to all our activities, including the San Francisco, which serves over 1,500 people a day! Rogers is also co-author of I Michio Kushi, recognized as the world activities of tasting and eating. The Zen Am Grateful, a wonderful raw “cookbook” from the kitchen of Café Gratitude. authority on macrobiotics, became a pro- teachings encourage us to explore our ponent of macrobiotics after meeting its present moment fully, asking ourselves SUPERFOODS founder, George Ohsawa, in Japan in The Food and Medicine of the Future questions like: 1945. In the early 1960s Kushi and his wife by David Wolfe Am I hungry? Aveline founded Erewhon, the first natur- Where do I feel hungry? What part of $16.95, paper. North Atlantic. al food company in the U.S. me is hungry? isbn 9781556437762 160 pages, colour photos What do I really crave? Superfoods are vibrant, nutritionally dense foods that What am I tasting just now? have recently become widely available and that offer Event at Hollyhock These are very simple questions but we tremendous dietary and healing potential. In this lively, seldom pose them. This book will help colour-illustrated overview, well-known raw-foods guru you find answers to some of these David Wolfe profiles delicious and incredibly nutritious GABOR MATE´ questions and will give you tools to continue to discover answers in the future. plant products such as goji berries, hempseed, cacao beans (raw chocolate), maca, spirulina, bee products, and AMING THE “If you give yourself over wholehearted- a host of others. As powerful sources of clean protein, vi- T ly to the practices described here, you will tamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, good fats and HUNGRY GHOST be thanking yourself and Dr. Bays for re- oils, essential fatty and amino acids, and other nutrients, they represent a uniquely covering your life and for enjoying the promising piece of the nutritional puzzle. Each superfood is described in detail, ac- blessings of food in ways that feel liberated companied by easy and delicious recipes. This accessible guide presents persuasive September 13 – 18 and delightful.” —from the foreword by arguments, based on sound science, for the pivotal role of superfoods in promot- Jon Kabat-Zinn ing nutritional excellence, health and well-being, beauty enhancement, sustainable hollyhock.ca Mindful Eating also includes a 75-minute agriculture, and the transformation of diet, lifestyle, and planet. audio CD containing guided exercises led Also by David Wolfe are The Sunfood Diet Success System and Naked Chocolate. or 800-933-6339 by the author.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 24 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! ADDICTION, RECOVERY & INSPIRATION !

THE 12-STEP BUDDHIST Recovery Enhance Recovery from Any Addiction THE LAWS OF MANIFESTATION by Darren Littlejohn, by foreword by Robert Thurman $17.50, paper. Weiser. IN THE REALM OF $18.99, paper. Beyond Words. isbn 9781578634392 156 pages HUNGRY GHOSTS isbn 9781582702230 292 pages Over 30 years ago, a small band of people began an in- Close Encounters with Addiction Darren Littlejohn is not a Tibetan lama tentional community in Scotland called Findhorn. They by Gabor Maté or a Zen master; he’s a recovering addict lived by applying principles of attracting to oneself, through $22.00, paper. Random House. who has been to isbn 9780676977417 love, whatever materials, energy, or help were needed to hell and back. Like promote wholeness or further growth. David Spangler, who 464 pages, b/w photos so many of his In this compassionately original book, was one of those early residents of peers in recovery, Findhorn, began writing down how those In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, physician Littlejohn experi- Gabor Maté gives us a laws worked. In 1975, his writings were first enced great diffi- published as The Laws of Manifestation. This surprisingly broad culty in staying look at the epidemic long-unavailable book is now available again with a new 50-page in- sober while follow- troduction by the author, “Gaian Manifestation: Beyond Will and of addictions in our ing a traditional society, and tells us Attraction.” 12-step program. Spangler shows how we can all transform our lives by working why we are so prone to Once he began to David Spangler them and what is with these natural laws. In clear and lucid prose, he recounts the study Western psy- history of manifestation and how to grow in spiritual riches (the needed to liberate chology combined ourselves from their most important of all) in a step-by-step guide to inner attunement. While other “ex- with Eastern phi- perts” in this suddenly burgeoning field tend toward applying manifesting energy hold on our emotions losophy, Littlejohn discovered how to ad- and our lives. toward real estate, money, and myriad materials, Spangler looks at the basis of what dress the spiritual suffering of an addict he describes as a change of form, or state, or condition of being, NOT creating For over seven years from a deeper perspective. Gabor Maté has been the staff physician at something out of nothing. It doesn’t matter what your addiction is. the Portland Hotel, a resi- This is what manifestation is: the working of natural laws of energy exchange and New in To begin with you may not be sure you’re dence and harm reduction transference within a consciousness of the Whole and through an attunement to the Paperback addicted to anything. But in my Presence of Wholeness... It is a dynamic state of consciousness. On human levels, facility in Vancouver’s experience, most people aren’t willing to Downtown Eastside. His patients are chal- manifestation does not replace working for a living. It is simply a different way of do any work, let alone the difficult work, expressing the livingness of the work and the work of living where work is truly seen lenged by life-threatening drug addic- unless as an old-timer used to say, their as “Love in Action”. tions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV “ass is up against the wall, suckin’ and, in many cases, all four. But if his pa- plaster.” If you’re an addict like me, you David writes, “If you want to explore more deeply my current thoughts and teach- tients are at the far end of the spectrum, have a choice: a spiritual way of life or ings around manifestation, I invite you to visit the Lorian website, www.lorian.org. there are many others among us who are addiction. And I wish you well in all your manifestations. May they be the blessing you intend also struggling with addictions. Drugs, al- While conventional 12-step programs them to be.” cohol, tobacco, work, food, sex, gambling help addicts become sober by removing Also new by David Spangler are World Work and Incarnational Spirituality. and excessive inappropri- the drug of choice and trusting in a high- ate spending: what is amiss er power, they rarely delve into the causes Banyen DAVID SPANGLER THE SECOND ECOLOGY with our lives that we seek of suffering in the first place. The 12-Step Event November 13 - 14 See p. 5 for details such self-destructive ways Buddhist uses the wisdom of Buddhist psy- to comfort ourselves? And chology to uncover the untold emotional, why is it so difficult to stop psychological, and spiritual causes that living often prevent many from seeing the can all benefit greatly by observing them.” these habits, even as they drive addicts to seek the refuge of drugs transcendent and extraordinary elements —Thich Nhat Hanh threaten our health, jeop- and alcohol. It is designed as a comple- in the simple activi- Among Gunilla Norris’s other titles are Gabor Maté ardize our relationships mentary practice to more standard treat- ties and events in Inviting Silence and A Mystic Garden. and corrode our lives? ments, not a replacement for them. life, Norris focuses Beginning with a dramatically close view Working within the 12-step philosophy, on seeking and ap- of his drug-addicted patients, Dr. Maté The 12-Step Buddhist incorporates exercis- preciating the sa- THE COMPASSIONATE LIFE looks at his own history of compulsive be- es, meditations, and inner dialogues. cred in everyday Walking the Path of Kindness haviour. He weaves stories of real people Littlejohn’s approach makes Buddhism life. by Marc Ian Barasch accessible for addicts, and the twelve steps who have struggled with addiction with If we listened to $21.95, paper. Berrett-Koehler. the latest research on addiction and the understandable to anyone, without the one another with isbn 9781576757567 336 pages brain. Providing a bold synthesis of clini- Christian emphasis of traditional 12-step the humility of First published as Field Notes on the cal experience, insight and cutting-edge programs. knowing that we Compassionate Life, this book is an open- scientific findings, Maté sheds light on This is a frank account of Littlejohn’s do not know, then minded, curious this most puzzling of human frailties. He own tumultuous life path, with savvy ad- depth would be journey into the proposes a compassionate approach to vice, alternative suggestions, and illumi- there for both heart of this thing helping drug addicts and, for the many be- nating spiritual revelations. In his fore- speaker and hearer; there our stories, our called compassion. haviour addicts among us, to addressing word, Robert Thurman writes: needs and sorrows, as well as our joys A “Western would be sounded. It is no accident that the void addiction is meant to fill. Buddhist,” Barasch The 12-Step Buddhist provides medita- the old-fashioned term for being well is to I believe there is one addiction process, tions and exercises that will be life chang- be sound. panhandles and whether it manifests in the lethal substance ing for those who apply themselves with sleeps on the dependencies of my Downtown Eastside discipline and patience. Divided into four sections, Simple Ways: streets with the patients, the frantic self-soothing of Towards the Sacred offers us a wide range of homeless, commu- overeaters or shopaholics, the obsessions accessible ways towards the Holy in our dai- nicates in sign-lan- of gamblers, sexaholics and compulsive Inspiration ly lives—in our bodies, our dwellings, every- guage with chimps, internet users, or in the socially acceptable day things, and in the practice of gratitude. sits in on an Israeli- and even admired behaviours of the & Self-Help No matter what our spiritual background, Palestinian en- workaholic. Drug addicts are often these ways are completely available to any of dismissed and discounted as unworthy of counter group for youths, and speaks with us, as long as we make conscious choices to people who have donated kidneys to com- empathy and respect. In telling their embrace them in our daily routines. The stories my intent is to help their voices to SIMPLE WAYS plete strangers. More emcee than preach- idea of mindfulness is described serenely be heard and to shed light on the origins Towards the Sacred er, he also introduces us to many heart- and nature of their ill-fated struggle to by Gunilla Norris and lyrically and in a way that encourages a wise people along the way. $20.95, cloth. Bluebridge. personal journey, not blind adherence to overcome suffering through substance The Dalai Lama points out that the isbn 9781933346113 138 pages another’s map. The guidance and advice of- use. Both in their flaws and their virtues Tibetan term for compassion, tsewa, they share much in common with the In her latest book, meditation teacher, fered present a very practical and accessible generally means love of others, but “one society that ostracizes them. If they have psychotherapist, and spiritual writer way to appreciate and celebrate holiness in can have that feeling toward oneself as chosen a path to nowhere, they still have Gunilla Norris has distilled a lifetime of daily life—a gentle call to live our lives fully well. It is a state of mind where you much to teach the rest of us. In the dark seeking and reflecting into a beautifully and in cooperation with a transcendent, lov- extend how you relate to yourself toward mirror of their lives we can trace outlines worded, lucid, and practical primer for ing presence. others.” If it’s true that what goes around of our own. prayer, meditation, and mindful living. “Gunilla Norris’ precepts for meditating comes around, compassion is about Also by Gabor Maté is When the Body Says No. While the demands and pace of modern and living have a translucent quality. We nothing if not love’s tendency to circulate. And radiate.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 25 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! TEACHERS !

Beckwith on Spiritual Liberation Chopra Says We Cannot Ignore Christ

SPIRITUAL LIBERATION THE THIRD JESUS Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential The Christ We Cannot Ignore by Michael Bernard Beckwith by Deepak Chopra New in $29.99, cloth. Beyond Words. $17.50, paper. Crown. Paperback isbn 9781582701998 250 pages isbn 9780307338327 256 pages Michael Beckwith is the dynamic spiritual leader who $34.00, 4 CDs. Random House. touched millions of readers and viewers in The Secret. Here isbn 9780739354254 5 hours, abridged he has written his spiritual message, along with his ap- In The Third Jesus, Deepak Chopra provides both a chal- proach to embodying that message in daily life: a process lenge to current systems of belief and a fresh perspective he calls “aspiring toward spiritual liberation.” on what Jesus can teach us all, regardless of our religious In Spiritual Liberation, his first book, Beckwith addresses background. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but some fundamental questions about the process of waking three. up. Through personal and moving accounts, he teaches First, there is the historical Jesus, that maverick rabbi that inner spiritual work, not religiosity or dogma, liberates Yeshua from Galilee, the man who lived more than two us. He draws on a wide spectrum of ancient wisdom teachers such as Jesus the thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian theology Christ and Gautama the Buddha; contemporary spiritual luminaries Thich Nhat and thought. Next there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an in- Hanh, Sri Aurobindo, and the Dalai Lama; and Western contributors to the New stitutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood, and devout believers. And fi- Thought tradition of spirituality such as Emanuel Swedenborg and , nally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching to create a profound new belief synthesis. embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the indi- Evolved people understand that there’s a celebration going on throughout this great vidual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to be in what some might call Universe and that a cosmic celebration can be localized within you when you realize grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment. that life is not a problem to be solved but a magnificent mystery to be lived. I am quoting the most basic of Jesus’s words, but we have no choice but to start at the Read silently or aloud, passages from Spiritual Liberation can be included during beginning. “Radical” comes from the Latin word radix, or “root.” Jesus the radical went meditation or prayer. Each chapter includes an affirmation that distills its core con- to the root of the human condition, and his approach to suffering was to eradicate it, cepts into a sentence or two for the reader to easily practice throughout the day. literally to tear it out by the root… In the ferment of this changing world there resides an opening for Jesus’s radical Also included are Embodiments—deep meditations designed to anchor awareness vision to be renewed. Spirit, like water, remains fresh only if it flows. in everyday life. Beckwith combines spiritual, educational, scientific, governmental, economic, Ultimately, Chopra argues, Christianity needs to overcome its tendency to be ex- and social elements. Topics such as “Evolved People,” “Transcending the Tyranny clusionary and refocus on being a religion of personal insight and spiritual growth. of Trends,” and “Inner Ecology” bring together insights from a range of spiritual In this way Jesus can be seen for the universal teacher he truly is, whose teachings paths to form a coherent practice that is neither Eastern nor Western but truly glob- of compassion, tolerance, and understanding can embrace and be embraced by all al. of us. “Activism and are called upon in Michael’s writings to show us how we “This book helps to heal the divorce between East and West, underscoring that can meld into a Beloved Community and therefore become one.” —, au- there is only one wisdom and that it demands much of all of us no matter what tra- thor of Be Here Now dition we come from and especially at this perilous time in human and earth his- tory when we are finally realizing we are all in this together, and together we will LIFE VISIONING perish or rise.” —Matthew Fox, author of One River, Many Wells A Step-by-Step Process for Realizing Your Highest Potential JESUS by Michael Bernard Beckwith A Story of Enlightenment $36.50. Sounds True. Multimedia by Deepak Chopra isbn 9781591796817 Learning $29.95, cloth. HarperCollins. 45-page workbook, 2 audio CDs, Kit isbn 9780061448737 273 pages 30 teaching cards Deepak Chopra’s new novel expands on the themes ad- The spiritual laws of the universe are waiting vanced in his recent nonfiction title The Third Jesus. The to work for you. But what are these laws, and how do you apply them? With Life narrative focuses on the “lost years”—the Visioning, Michael Bernard Beckwith presents a complete kit to help you discover, mysterious unrecorded span of time in understand, and consciously apply these laws with clarity to manifest your soul’s po- Christ’s life between the ages of twelve tential. The result? A life of plenitude, purpose, creativity, and fulfillment. Life and thirty. Chopra has imagined Jesus’ Visioning launches you on your journey with: path to enlightenment moving from ob- ! A 45-page workbook for practicing the inner technologies of meditation, affirma- scurity to revolutionary, from doubt to mir- tive prayer, and visioning acles, and then beyond as the role of the ! Two guided-practice CDs including a 30-minute Life Visioning session for ex- Deepak Chopra long-awaited Messiah. Chopra portrays the young adult Jesus as a pressing and receiving infinite love, wisdom, and beauty malleable figure at the center of a host of pivotal political, cultural ! Thirty Life Visioning Cards grouped in two sets: one to guide your evolutionary and religious shifts. The threads of his spiritual leadership become evident during journey, and one to inspire you on the spot with Michael’s profound teachings. these formative years, but Christ must devote himself to growing in enlightenment “The highest vision for your life is unprecedented, and literally beyond your about the full nature of his identity and message. Not surprisingly, the Jesus in this imagination,” teaches Beckwith, who’s head of the Agape International Spiritual story draws on both Western and Eastern sources for revelation. Center. With Life Visioning, he offers you a direct and immediate way to co-create Evangelical Christians—as well as traditional theists—may have a difficult time your life with the Divine. Visit his website at www.agapelive.com. processing Chopra’s portrayal of Christ, particularly the overtones of (God is all) and monism (all is one). Perhaps the most compelling elements of the Exploring through the multiple lenses as What can we learn from story line involve Judas and Mary Magdalene, two of the New Testament’s most of psychology and biology, pop culture exceptionally empathetic complicated and controversial figures. Not a work of doctrine, Jesus, A Story of and theology, history and philosophy, people? Can we increase Enlightenment is a creative, literary work of imagination. Barasch weaves a stirring and wonderfully our kindness quotient with “I don’t want the Jesus in this book to be worshipped,” writes Deepak Chopra. readable account of his search to find practice? How do we open “The events of the tale are pure fiction.” That said, the Jesus of Nazareth revealed within himself and others: the ability to our hearts to those who do in this fresh exploration can perhaps illuminate spiritual lessons that might be lost live compassionately. us harm? What if the great in more literal Gospel readings. Marc Ian driving force of our evolu- Among Deepak Chopra’s many other books are Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment Don’t know how to handle your hus- and The Book of Secrets. band, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, boss, em- Barasch tion were actually “survival ployee, parent, child, friend, enemy? Love! of the kindest”? Everything else is just a finger in the dike, It is not tooth-and-nail competition but keys—but mainly consisting of insightful spinning a gripping, thought-provoking, holding back an ocean that, ironically, you conciliation, cuddling, and cooperation depictions of actual experiences and ex- and entertaining tale… An essential could happily drown in. Sometimes I think, that may be the central organizing periments—Barasch creates a persuasive guidebook for anyone who cares deeply trying to get it through my own thick sea- principles of human evolution. argument that a simple shift in conscious- about the human condition, and about wall of a skull, that compassion means only ness can have a tremendous, lasting im- how we can help each other find our way this: When in doubt, just love. Drawing from influences as disparate as Buddhist monks and skeptical neurosci- pact on our psyches, our relationships, our through with love and guts.” —Daniel He examines such fascinating questions entists, Sufi mystics and the bonobo mon- health—and the very fate of the earth. Goleman, author of Social Intelligence “Barasch is a bard of the human heart,

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 26 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! INSPIRATION & PSYCHOLOGY !

Sound unbelievable? It’s real and ab- solutely doable—if you actually follow the Wayne Dyer: Living the Wisdom of the Tao program this book lays out. No matter CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, designed for actually living the Tao or the Great Way what you think you know about money, CHANGE YOUR LIFE today. Some of the chapter titles are “Living with wealth, prosperity, and abundance, Living the Wisdom of the Tao Flexibility,” “Living Without Enemies,” and “Living Busting Loose from the Money Game will open by Wayne Dyer by Letting Go.” Each of the 81 brief chapters focus- a portal to a new relationship with money $17.95, paper. Hay House. es on living the Tao and concludes with an exercise and a radically different way of living. isbn 9781401917500 392 pages called “Doing the Tao Now” to bring that particular For many years, Robert Scheinfeld has In China, 500 years before the birth of Jesus, a teaching to life. helped individuals in many countries cre- high being known as Lao Tzu (“the old fellow”) dic- He who keeps the Tao does not want to be full, but ate extraordinary results, in less time, with tated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the precisely because he is never full, he can remain like a less effort, and with much more fun. Also ultimate commentary on the nature hidden sprout and does not rush to early ripening. by him is Busting Loose from the Business of our existence. The text of these Dyer spent a year (on Maui!) reading, research- Game. 81 verses, called the Tao Te Ching or ing, and meditating on Lao Tzu’s messages, feeling the Great Way, offers advice and into and practicing them each day and then writing guidance that is balanced, moral, spiritual, these essays. This is a work to be read slowly, one essay a day. and always concerned with working for the Psychology, Therapy good. Set this book down right now. Take ten minutes to sit quietly Wayne Dyer while contemplating all that you have and all that is flowing into & Dreams In Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, in- your life on a Divinely orchestrated timetable. Be at peace and spirational teacher Wayne Dyer has reviewed give thanks for what is allowing your life to unfold so perfectly. Let hundreds of translations of the Tao Te Ching—one of the most go of all other hurried thoughts. translated books in the world—and has written 81 essays on EMOTIONAL FREEDOM Also available is Change Your Thoughts Meditations: Do the Tao how to apply Lao Tzu’s vision to our modern world. Included Liberate Yourself from Negative Now! CD as well as Living the Wisdom of the Tao, which includes are all 81 verses of the Tao, compiled from Wayne’s research- Emotions the text of the Tao Te Ching plus Dyer’s affirmations for each ing of 12 of the most-respected translations. Each chapter is and Transform Your Life verse. by Judith Orloff $27.95, cloth. Crown. the way you look at things, the things you look at LIVING THE WISDOM OF THE TAO isbn 9780307338181 398 pages change. The Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations $22.95, 3 CDs. Random House. by Wayne Dyer In Living the Wisdom of the Tao, Wayne Dyer pre- isbn 9780739357941 3 hours, abridged $10.95, paper. Hay House. sents the basic text of each of the 81 verses of the Picture yourself trapped in a traffic jam isbn 9781401921491 164 pages Tao along with an affirmation for each verse. feeling utterly calm. Imagine being un- This book offers you an opportunity to internalize 48th Verse flappable and re- and directly experience the great wisdom of the Tao Te Learning consists of daily accumulating. laxed when your Ching, a collection of verses authored by the Chinese The practice of Tao consists of daily diminishing; supervisor loses prophet Lao-tzu. The words Tao Te Ching translate to decreasing and decreasing, until doing nothing. “living and applying the Great Way. ” Although just 81 her temper. What When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. if you were peace- short verses, the Tao encourages you to change your life True mastery can be gained by letting things go their by literally changing the way you think. By reading own way. ful instead of anx- through the verses presented here (which I’ve pieced together It cannot be gained by interfering. ious? What if your after reviewing hundreds of translations)—along with the life were filled with corresponding affirmation I’ve created for each verse—you’ll be Affirmation nurturing relation- embarking on a path that encompasses the profound ideas that In order to enliven my experience of the Tao and live by its prin- ships and a warm Lao-tzu intended to convey… It is a new way of thinking in a ciples, I practice decreasing my reliance on things. sense of belong- world that needs to recapture its ancient teachings. Work with ing? This is what it the verses and affirmations regularly and you will come to know Also by Wayne Dyer is Change Your Thoughts, Change Your the truth behind the ancient Tao observation: When you change Life, his larger book on “living the wisdom of the Tao.” feels like when you’ve achieved emotional freedom. AMBITION TO MEANING DELUXE EDITION giving back. Through the intertwined stories of an Synthesizing neuroscience, intuitive Finding Your Life’s Purpose overachieving businessman, a mother of two seeking by Wayne Dyer, directed by Michael Goorjian her own expression in the world, and a director try- medicine, psychology, and subtle energy $36.95, 2 DVDs. Hay House. ing to make a name for himself, this entertaining techniques, psychiatrist Judith Orloff isbn 9781401924232 2 DVDs, approx. 5 hours film not only inspires, but also teaches us how to cre- maps the elegant relationships between $24.95, DVD. ate a life of meaning and purpose. our minds, bodies, spirits, and environ- isbn 9781401924225 2 hours Also featured in the film are Michael DeLuise, ments. With humor and compassion, she In this instructive film, popular inspirational au- Portia de Rossi, Ed Kerr, and Shannon Sturges. shows you how to identify the most power- thor and teacher Wayne Dyer literally stars in his Available in two formats: ful negative emotions and how to trans- own movie, exploring the spiritual regular edition single DVD: the 2-hour film form them into hope, kindness, and New on courage. Compelling patient case studies DVD journey from ambition to meaning. deluxe edition 2 DVD set: the 2-hour film plus 3 The powerful shift from the ego con- hours of additional interviews with Wayne Dyer. and stories from her online community, structs we are taught early in life by parents and society—which Among Wayne Dyer’s many books are The Power of Intention her workshop participants, and her own promote an emphasis on achievement and accumulation—are and Inspiration. life illustrate the simple, easy-to-follow ac- shown in contrast to a life of meaning, focused on serving and tion steps that you can take to cope with emotional vampires, disappointments, and rejection. BUSTING LOOSE FROM THE and the Relationships Game. Visit bustin- lidity or looking for alternatives. You can MONEY GAME gloose.com for more info, where readers become better and better at playing the A mistake is only a mistake when you Mind-Blowing Strategies for Changing the are reminded that “this work is not The game. You can pile up more “winnings”— don’t learn from it. Be aware that even Rules of a Game You Can’t Win Secret, the Law of Attraction, or another but you can’t win. Why? Because the with the best intentions, emotions can sometimes discombobulate us. They know by Robert Scheinfeld spin on manifesting, affirmations, visual- Money Game was designed to be un- just how to catch us off guard if we’re not $29.99, cloth. Wiley. ization or other popular personal growth winnable. centered… Through all the emotional isbn 9780470047491 technique. It’s an entirely different para- Busting Loose from The Money Game offers twists and turns of life, a sense of humor 230 pages digm!” an awareness program that has been my salvation. Many readers Are you in debt, struggling to make will make money a total non-issue in Emotional Freedom is a road map for those have recommend- ends meet or fed up with not having your life: no more worrying about bills or who are stressed out, discouraged or over- ed this influential enough money? Are you doing okay fi- balancing your checkbook. No more whelmed as well as for those who are in a program. The au- denying yourself what you want because nancially but want to do much better? Do good emotional place but want to feel thor is also work- it’s too expensive. No more asking yourself you feel trapped, restricted, or confined even better. As Dr. Orloff shows, each day ing on programs “Can I afford this?” or “Should I buy that?” by what it takes to sustain your success? presents opportunities for us to be heroes for busting loose Once you bust loose, there will be no If you answered “yes” to any of these in our own lives: to turn away from nega- from the Emotions restrictions of any kind when it comes to questions, you’ve been playing the Money tivity, react constructively, and seize com- Game, the money. And when you reach that point, Game. You were taught certain rules and other aspects of your life will open up and mand of any situation. Orloff’s “native Business Game, regulations, and you’ve been following expand too—in ways you can’t even tongue is intuition, that invisible, unspo- the Body Game, them faithfully, never questioning their va- imagine yet. ken language that peers into the poetry of

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 27 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! PSYCHOLOGY !

things,” and her writing is close personal experience. Her handbook wonderfully engaging. offers immediate help for the mind, the “A must-read for anyone The Power of EFT body, and—with the author’s gentle spiri- who’s tired of feeling frus- tual touch—also the soul. Topics covered trated, lonely, jealous, or TRY IT ON EVERYTHING include the causes of depression; how to emotionally tense. Dr. Discover the Power of EFT take action when life becomes too diffi- Orloff shows you how to by Patricia Carrington cult; dealing with negativity; overcoming Judith Orloff achieve a lightness of be- $32.50, cloth. Try It. fear, worry, and panic; understanding ing and feel more positive isbn 9780981536316 228 pages anger; coping with loss; and much more. and peaceful. Highly recommended.” — Try It On Everything: Discover the Power of EFT explores EFT Climbing Out of Depression is a tried-and- Deepak Chopra (Emotional Freedom Techniques). EFT combines ancient true tested book that incorporates strate- Judith Orloff is also the author of Chinese medicine with modern psychology to create a remark- gies, tips, and success stories, many of the Positive Energy, Dr. Judith Orloff’s Guide to able new approach to physical and emotional challenges. Using author herself. Written in easily grasped Intuitive Healing, and Second Sight. EFT, you repeat selected phrases out loud as you tap lightly with sections designed to be read for the limit- your fingers on traditional acupressure points on your face and ed concentration spans that often accom- upper body, points that erase anxiety and increase effectiveness. pany depression, Atkinson leads the read- BORN TO BE GOOD EFT is gentle, easy to learn, and usually long lasting in its effect. It has proven re- er through the “why” of depression and The Science of a Meaningful Life markably effective in reducing or eliminating phobias and fears, pain, performance then offers “how-to” suggestions based on by Dacher Keltner blocks such as fear of public speaking, children’s issues, post-traumatic stress, and firsthand proven techniques. Reading this $28.50, cloth. Norton. many other common problems. It requires no medication or machines and can be book is similar to having a conversation isbn 9780393065121 used by virtually anyone, anywhere, at any time. with a compassionate friend, one who has 336 pages, b/w photos & illustrations This book teaches you how to do EFT so you can start using it on issues of your “been there” and knows what to say and According to psychologist Dacher own immediately; shows you how it is being applied by real people to deal with a how to help. Keltner humans are not hardwired to lead wide variety of highly stressful situations; explains the reason the method works lives that are and supplies in-depth information about the participants in the widely acclaimed “nasty, brutish, and documentary DVD Try It On Everything, for which it is a companion book. EMOTIONAL BULLSHIT short”—we are in More info: www.emofree.com. The Hidden Plague That is Threatening to fact born to be Destroy Your Relationships good. He explores TRY IT ON EVERYTHING —and How to Stop It The Revolution Starts Within a mystery of hu- by Carl Alasko by Nicolas Ortner man evolution: why $16.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. $39.00, DVD. Try It. New on isbn 9781585426669 246 pages have we evolved isbn 9780981536309 DVD In this groundbreaking book, therapist positive emotions 1 hour 30 minutes Carl Alasko contends that bullshit is not like gratitude, Ten participants join EFT (Emotional only everywhere amusement, awe, Freedom Technique) practitioners for a re- but it’s getting and compassion treat that changes their lives forever. Their stronger and more that promote ethi- personal transformations offer evidence of EFT’s effectiveness as a healing modali- hazardous to our cal action and are ty as individuals heal grief, chronic back pain, insomnia, addictions and phobias. psychological well- the fabric of cooperative societies? EFT (also known as tapping) is a set of techniques which utilize ancient Chinese being every day. Keltner builds upon Charles Darwin, meridian points to relieve emotional distress and physiological pain. It’s a self-ad- From the highest John Bowlby, and contemporary students ministered technique where you stimulate meridian points by tapping on them with precincts of com- of emotion Paul Ekman and Jonathan your fingertips—literally tapping into your body’s own energy and healing power— merce and politics Haidt to posit a “new science of positive combined with verbal statements that acknowledge and address the issue. to the most aver- emotion.” He bases this science on the In Try It On Everything: The Revolution Starts Within leading wellness experts, physi- age, everyday con- Confucian notion of jen, which describes cians, and bestselling authors including Norm Shealy, Cheryl Richardson, Jack versations, we’re the satisfaction of bringing out the good- Canfield, Bruce Lipton, Joseph Mercola, Joe Vitale, Bob Proctor, Patricia all affected. And ness in oneself and others. Keltner argues Carrington and more discuss the healing power and benefits of EFT and testify to yet most of us remain largely unaware of that emotions like affection, trust, love, its astounding ability to transform myriad psychological and physical ailments. compassion, and awe are hardwired in hu- its influence. Alasko explains that this is When I found EFT, I was startled by the results, I knew I had to find a way to get this mans across cultures. because EBS is inspired by three inter- information into the mainstream. This film shows real people getting real results. We locking dynamics inherent to our psycho- By combining stories of scientific dis- don’t just talk about what EFT can do, we show how it alters the lives of ten covery, personal narrative, and Eastern participants. The results are astounding. —Nicolas Ortner, the film’s producer and EFT logical structure: denial, delusion, and philosophy, with a broad range of playful practitioner blame, which work together in an intricate examples illustrated with more than fifty dance in which first a truth is denied, then The DVD weaves touching, personal stories of “real life” participants including photographs of human emotions, Keltner delusion creates an alternate truth, and fi- Jodi who released the pain brought on by fibromyalgia, Jonathon, a Vietnam vet discusses his central thesis—that laughing, nally blame is shifted to someone else. who combats his post-traumatic stress disorder, and Rene who resolves his deep blushing, touching, teasing, loving, em- Drawing on case studies from his prac- grief and depression following the death of his wife in a car crash. pathizing and other not-very-scientific- tice over 20 years, Alasko reveals that The 86-minute DVD features include instructions on EFT and “How to Tap” and seeming subjects can be methodically ana- whether it’s a casual “I forgot,” or a pre- a “Making of the Film” commentary. A companion book by Patricia Carrington is lyzed in terms of their importance to our meditated deception, emotional bullshit also available. survival. With sophisticated and entertain- always erodes trust and drives people ing research, Keltner shows that smiling apart. Emotional Bullshit outlines a path for and laughter have different origins and your thinking about the place of rational and alone. Climbing Out of Depression is a recognizing and breaking free from this functions, that teasing and politeness are thought in our lives upside down. It will warm, simple, and practical guide to real most vicious of cycles which is corroding related, that getting soldiers to kill re- also leave you feeling very good indeed— help for those lost in the darkness of de- trust and breaking down community. quires damaging the structures of good- with a broadened and exhilarating sense pression—written Alasko details how people try to escape ness, and that altruism, awe, and religious of the potential for compassion and coop- by someone who from the negative emotions of anxiety, feeling are demonstrable components of eration.” —Michael Pollan, author of The has experienced it anger, fear, and pain by using what he evolved human brains. Born to be Good is a Omnivore’s Dilemma and found a way terms the “toxic trio” of denial, delusion, profound study of how emotion is the key out. and blame. One first ignores or minimizes to living the good life and how the path to Unlike clinical a fact or a responsibility (denial), then cre- happiness goes through human emotions CLIMBING OUT OF DEPRESSION books that ap- ates a more favorable reality (delusion). that connect people to one another. A Practical Guide to Real proach depression When things fall apart, one simply shifts and Immediate Help from a theoretical, the responsibility onto someone or some- In the words of the Dalai Lama: “If you by Sue Atkinson want to be happy, practice compassion; if academic view- thing else (blame), and the cycle repeats $16.50, paper. you want others to be happy, practice point, what makes itself. The author provides numerous case Tarcher/Putnam. compassion.” It has taken a sympathy this book distinc- studies of these principles in action and, breakthrough for science to catch up to isbn 9781585426850 188 pages tive is the fact that with plenty of hands-on, step-by-step ex- For many of the millions of North this wisdom of the ages. Ironically enough, the author herself amples, shows how to satisfy our core Americans who suffer from depression, compassion may be a prerequisite to the has suffered from depression for many needs—which eliminates the temptation climbing back out of the pit of gloom can pursuit of self-interested happiness. years. Atkinson does not write as an ex- to lie. Well done and recommended. “Building on the latest science of hu- seem almost impossible. Depression often pert, or as a depression counselor, but as man emotion, Born to be Good will turn leaves its victims feeling paralyzed, numb, someone who knows the feelings from

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 28 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! BRINGING OUR DREAMS TO LIFE !

make their later years fulfilling, empower- Midlife Passages ing, and creative, this wisdom-filled book New Dreaming Books is based on the real-life stories of hun- THE SECRET HISTORY OF DREAMING & Elder Wisdom dreds of older folks who have chosen to by Robert Moss thumb their hairy old noses at age-regulat- $29.00, cloth. New World Library. ed stereotypes and make their 50s, 60s, 70s isbn 9781577316381 328 pages THE AGE OF MIRACLES and beyond more satisfying. What do the first major oil discovery in Kuwait, Mark Creating the New Midlife Goldman and Mahler have collected Twain’s fiction, and Harriet Tubman’s success conducting by these interviews and intertwined them slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad have in com- $15.95, paper. Hay House. with bracing practical action steps on how mon? They were all experienced first in dreams. Dreaming is isbn 9781401917203 184 pages to reinvent yourself in midlife or in retire- vital to the human story. It is essential to our survival and evo- Marianne Williamson, the Course in ment—the “adult-escent” years. Their lution, to creative endeavors in every field, and, quite simply, Miracles–inspired author of Return to Love, premises are that post-career life is a to getting us through our daily lives. Robert Moss traces the is sadder in these quest, not a crisis; that readers should fo- strands of dreams through archival records and pages, and more cus on what is gained with age, not lost; well-known writings, weaving remarkable yet true accounts of histori- tender. As we grow that one must always accept personal re- cal figures influenced by their dreams. With eloquent prose, Moss de- older, it’s natural, if sponsibility for making choices; and that scribes beautiful Lucrecia de León, whose dreams were prized by pow- we still feel anything attitude affects outcome. erful men in Madrid and then recorded during the Spanish at all, to feel more The secrets of their book’s title involve Inquisition, as well as the fascinating dream correspondence between vulnerable. The attitude, forgiveness, risk-taking, intimacy, Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung. The Secret History of Dreaming address- good news is that health, humour, creativity, and spirituality. Robert Moss es the central importance of dreams and imagination as secret engines this is really Focusing on “what’s next,” the book in the history of all things human, from literature to quantum physics, progress and not a shares the personal stories of Late from religion to psychology, from war to healing. failing. We learn as Bloomers who are finding new satisfac- In the first half of the book, he discusses instances in which seers and dreamers we age to take a lit- tions, continuing to learn, serving others, have changed the course of history by gaining otherwise inaccessible information tle more time, exploring meaningful work, and telling us while also considering the history of dream interpretation and the history of which can be taking all that the later years are the most fulfill- dreams as inspiration in medicine and the arts. The second half presents the bi- greater care with everything. We listen bet- ing of their lives. ographies of four remarkable and distinctive dreamers—Joan of Arc, Lucrecia de ter, and we’re not as quick on the judg- León (whose dreams predicted the defeat of the Spanish Armada), Mark Twain, ment draw. We’re more compassionate, and Winston Churchill. and can be more in synch with the uni- verse’s life-giving energy. Millions of baby Jungian, Archetype Ibn Khaldun’s 14th-century introduction to world history begins by describing boomers are discovering these truths every dreaming as one of the six essential conditions for a human society, as important as & Shadow Work climate, geography, and food supply. day now. One of my aims in this book is to help renew our understanding that dreaming is a In The Age of Miracles she now asks us: vital understory in the human odyssey. How would we live were we not afraid LIVING YOUR UNLIVED LIFE Robert Moss is the pioneer of Active Dreaming. His many books include of death? How would we live if we felt full Coping with Unrealized Dreams and Fulfilling Conscious Dreaming, Dreamgates, and The Three “Only” Things: Tapping the Power of permission from ourselves and others to give to life everything we’ve got? Your Purpose in the Second Half of Life Dreams, Coincidence, and Imagination. You can visit his website at mossdreams.com. by Robert Johnson and Jerry Ruhl With those thoughts in mind, $16.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. Williamson guides the reader to go after LUCID DREAMING isbn 9781585426997 272 pages the life they want—to be proactive. Only A Concise Guide to Awakening in Your Dreams Our abandoned, unrealized, or under- when “we go for it” do we flourish. Midlife and in Your Life developed talents do not just “go away” is what you create. We are not too old to by Stephen LaBerge Book through under-use change; if anything, with age comes knowl- $19.50, Book+CD set. Sounds True. & CD or by tossing them edge, Williamson counsels. isbn 9781591796756 off. Instead they go 75-page paperback + 65-minute audio CD That we age, if we are lucky enough to underground and The average person spends nearly 25 years of their life do it, is a given. How we age is up to us. become trouble- sleeping. But in all that time you can get a lot more than The purpose of this book is to take a few of some—sometimes its issues and look them squarely in the just a healthy night’s rest. tormenting—as we What if right now, reading these words, you suddenly re- eye, put love into some of its more fearful places, and experience miracles we might grow older. alized that you were actually dreaming—and that in this otherwise have missed. You can’t just domain you could do anything imaginable? That is what it’s See www.marianne.com. ignore or forget like to dream lucidly, teaches Stephen LaBerge. With Lucid that which is Dreaming, the author of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming teaches his simple, urgent in you. If proven methods for becoming fully conscious in the dream state. With expert in- you try to shut it struction gleaned from LaBerge’s 20 years of pioneering research at Stanford SECRETS OF BECOMING A LATE down, it comes University, now anyone can learn to consciously explore and use their dreams for BLOOMER back up as a mood, or an acting out, or Staying Creative, Aware, self-discovery, creativity, fantasy fulfillment, emotional healing, and profound spiri- some type of illness. and Involved in Midlife and Beyond tual insights. Includes two complete guided dream induction sessions on CD. by Connie Goldman & Richard Mahler In Living Your Unlived Life, using People often report that their lucid dreams are among the most vivid, intense, $18.95, paper. Fairview. warmth, humor, and elegant simplicity, the renowned therapist pleasurable, and exhilarating experiences of their lives… But the possibilities of lucid isbn 9781577491705 324 pages New in dreaming go far beyond mere entertainment. Robert Johnson, writing with First published in 1995 and now re-is- Paperback With Lucid Dreaming, you can experience the same essential methods that sued with new afterwords by the authors, fellow Jungian psychologist LaBerge uses to train “onieronauts” (lucid dream travelers) in his studies at Secrets of Becoming a Jerry Ruhl, helps us understand our own Stanford University. Join him to learn: Late Bloomer pro- heritage of unlived life—and how it must ! How to develop excellent dream recall—even if you now find it difficult to re- vides an updated be examined and transformed if we are to member your dreams image of aging. make peace with ourselves and others in ! Simple, tested ways to experience clearer and more frequent lucid dreams “Blooming” is a middle age and beyond. ! How to access your imagination, deepen your meditation practice, and overcome key word here. The The authors provide intelligent ways to shyness and other waking-life obstacles—in the dream state old view of maturity explore paths not taken, without causing ! Using dreamwork to promote emotional healing as a period of stag- damage to ourselves and to others. They ! Insights from the Tibetan dream work tradition, and more. nation and decline show how to: ! identify those unfulfilled hopes, yearn- By cultivating awareness of and in your dreams… you can add more consciousness, is here updated more life to your life. In the process, you will increase your enjoyment of your nightly with the reality that ings, or needs that have gone “under- dream journeys and deepen your understanding of yourself. By waking in your dreams, the latter part of ground” you can waken to life. life can be an excit- ! discover how we unconsciously burden ing time of growth, productivity, and new- others—friends, spouses, coworkers— found pleasures—if we know the secrets of with our unlived hopes becoming a Late Bloomer. ! create new life options and unlock hid- An inspiration for those who aspire to den talents

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 29 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! PSYCHOLOGY WITH GRAVITAS !

Robert Sardello: Connecting Soul & World James Hollis: Living a Considered Life

LOVE AND THE SOUL Creating a Future for Earth WHAT MATTERS MOST by Robert Sardello Living a More Considered Life $22.00, paper. North Atlantic. isbn 9781556437533 by James Hollis With economies in peril, war in the Middle East, geno- $28.50, cloth. Gotham. isbn 9781592404209 cides, global warming, and a host of other grim phenome- The author of Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life na, the world has never seemed so besieged. The solution, here delivers his best shot—a unique look at real happiness, says Robert Sardello, lies with the individual. In this timely, at what it takes to find one’s fearless, authentic path. thoughtful book, he explains how the soul can engage with Real liberation comes not from glossing over or repressing the outer world to produce radical change. Because we painful states of feeling, but only from experiencing them to the think of the world as a vast mechanism and behave as me- full. —C.G. Jung chanical objects in it, the results are devas- Why are we here? What is the meaning of tation and dysfunction. The key is to learn existence? What truly matters the most in to identify with the plight of the earth by de- life? To even begin to answer these ques- veloping a true sense of individual imagina- tions, we must start by exploring our own in- tion and conscious awareness of inner purpose and beauty in con- ternal ideals, values, and beliefs. Presenting the unique perspective junction with the soul of the world. Sardello shows how to achieve of Jungian analyst and author James Hollis, What Matters Most helps this awareness and bring what is inside out into the world, inspiring readers learn to appreciate (even be amazed by) events unfolding Robert Sardello James Hollis balance and stability. within, even as the external world creates constant struggles. A world of terror can only be balanced by a world of love. The presence of terror Our own dynamic depths generate questions, images, and movements, whether we reveals, however, that the kind of love now needed is love as a force, not love as track them or not, respect them or not. sentiment, desire, feeling, or religious notion. The level on which the new sense of love needs to be worked is one in which we are able to see the individual and culture in its Hollis’s warm, accessible tone encourages us to learn to tolerate ambiguity, em- wholeness, as a unified field. In order to work in this manner a complete transformation brace growth rather than security, respect the power of Eros, engage spiritual crises, of consciousness is required. and acknowledge the shadow of mortality. Providing wise pointers and personal re- Using the Grail legend and the myth of Sophia—known as the Soul of the flections to address our deepest worries, What Matters Most yields far more than self- World—as well as writings by Jung, James Hillman, and Rudolf Steiner, Love and the help clichés. Hollis guides us in uncovering the heart of the matter, discovering Soul helps readers imagine a revitalized Earth by exploring the significance of griev- what it means to truly live life to its fullest, most meaningful state—as fully engaged ing, the transformative power of radical receptivity, the creative power of dream- citizens of the world—and to risk being who we really are. ing, and a new basis for community. We are not here to fit in, be well balanced, or provide example for others. We are “Whatever Sardello touches breaks open with startling new meaning. Now he en- here to be eccentric, different, perhaps strange, perhaps merely to add our small piece, ters the great arena of our cultural disorders so that we can suddenly see them our little clunky, chunky selves, to the great mosaic of being. As the gods intended, we afresh… At last his work is out, available to anyone recognizing the need to reimag- are here to become more and more ourselves. We, too, must enjoy amazement at what unfolds from within us while our multiplicitous selves continue to incarnate in the ine the soul’s plight in a world astray.” —James Hillman, author of The Soul’s Code world, contribute, and confound. SILENCE The Mystery of Wholeness We so often lose sight of destiny’s plan by trying to live up to others’ expectations. by Robert Sardello However, our psyche does not forget and will send out a call for us to change—a $16.95, cloth. North Atlantic. isbn 9781556437939 call that may come in the form of suffering, depression, illness, or boredom. The With its beautifully rich prose, Robert Sardello’s author encourages us to work through the suffering, even entering therapy if nec- newest book, Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness, invites us to ex- essary, to begin the work of going home. For Hollis, however, home is not a build- perience silence as an ever-faithful companion presence, a ing or place but rather a return to the self. With references to prose, drama, poet- creative heart-felt experience that renews, restores, and ry, and popular culture as well as examples from his private practice, Hollis shows deepens the body’s response to the internal and external us how we can look deeper into our soul, or psyche, and do the work we must do world. Drawing on images and ideas from the Trials of St. to become the person we were meant to be. Anthony, , Depth Psychology, and Hollis, the most popular Jungian writer of late, has written a number of books, Phenomenology, the book delves deeply into the subtleties including Why Good People Do Bad Things. of silence, exploring the phenomenon as a source of whole- ness and revitalization. THROUGH THE DARK WOOD Silence is palpable. It is a kind of subtle substance, which we can almost reach out to Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life feel. And yet it is not there around us unless it is also here within us. It has favorite by James Hollis New on gathering places, such as the natural world, a forest, the mountains, the empty plains; $77.00, 6 CDs. Sounds True. CD the outback is thick with it. Other places of subtle congregation are cathedrals, caves, isbn 9781591796794 7.25 hours sacred sites, and cemeteries. In meditation we run into it at the moment when our James Hollis’s books are the most widely read of any interior becomes a vast exterior and we no longer know if we are inside or outside. Jungian author. Based on his books The Middle Passage Sometimes it gathers between human beings. It presents itself at births, at deaths, and at and Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, Hollis ex- most religious ceremonies. It sometimes comes when we pray. The religion of the Quakers is founded on it. But it requires going to the edge of selflessness before it will plains how the second half of life is a pivotal time of re- appear, so religion itself does not guarantee its presence. birth when we stop living out the expectations of others— and start answering our soul’s true calling. Sharing his own insights from 35 years of experience in spiritual psychology, Have you ever looked at your career, your relationships, or your role in life and Sardello takes us on an inner journey beyond the chaotic noise of the ego to a place wondered, “Is this why I’m really here?” If so, your “midlife crisis” is here. of inner communion and self-healing. Silence opens our eyes to the importance of “When the illusions of our youth begin to crumble,” explains James Hollis, “we cultivating the nurturing aspects of silence in our personal relationships and en- reach a turning point that the poet Dante called the ‘dark wood.’” With Through the ables us to awaken the inner currents of spirituality that ultimately lead to a path of Dark Wood, this author and Jungian analyst reveals the steps we all must take on our universal compassion, service, and healing. road to true maturity, meaning, and fulfillment. Among Robert Sardello’s other book is Facing the World with Soul. How do you know when you’ve reached the “second half” of life? According to Hollis, the first sign comes when you feel dissatisfied by where you are today—and ! transform fruitless fantasies or “silly” Shop of the Heart hear a call from within to live a more purposeful life. This marks the collision be- dreams into tools for inner growth by cul- “Why is it, even when we have done tween your “False Self,” created from the expectations of others, and your instinc- tivating “active imagination” what we were supposed to, something still tive “True Self.” Drawing upon his experiences with hundreds of clients, Hollis pro- start truly living in the present moment nags from within? What is this unlived vides an essential map for traversing the universal challenges of midlife, such as ! revitalize a connection with God and spir- life that summons us, demands account- building genuine relationships, cultivating a mature spirituality, and letting go of it and attain peace in purpose in our ma- ability from us? Johnson and Ruhl, two old beliefs that no longer serve you. ture years. wise souls, effectively define this unlived “Robert Johnson’s work always has that life for us, provide questions and exam- The second half of life isn’t about looking for easy answers. It’s about honestly exploring the questions that bring richness and value to your life. naked intensity that tells you you’re in the ples to lift it into greater clarity, and pro- psychic house of an honest man. In this vide methods of dialoguing with our sepa- With Through the Dark Wood, this penetrating thinker shares a lifetime of insights book, he says, ‘Life is unendurable without rated energies in service to an enlarged, about how to navigate your life’s most turbulent passages—and emerge from the an occasional taste of Paradise.’ He re- more authentic personhood.” —James darkness wiser, stronger, and in greater harmony with your soul’s purpose. minds us where to look for that.” —Robert Hollis, author of Why Good People Do Bad Bly, poet, co-editor of The Rag and Bone Things

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 30 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! GETTING TO THE HEART OF IT !

A LIFE AT WORK story of how, after a The Joy of Discovering motorcycle accident THE SPIRITUAL ASCENT What You Were Born to Do and subsequent cri- A Compendium of the World’s Wisdom by Thomas Moore sis of faith, his heart presented by Whitall Perry, $16.50, paper. Broadway. opened to the work introduction by Huston Smith isbn 9780767922531 188 pages of renegade $45.50, paper. Fons Vitae. C.G. Jung once wrote that creativity is Benedictine monk isbn 9781887752046 1142 pages an instinct, not an optional gift granted to Bede Griffiths, Once again in print, this tremendous labour of illuminated a lucky few. If you don’t find a way to be whose ashram in scholarship is a truly magisterial compendium of spiritual creative in life, that instinct goes repressed India “followed in doctrine spanning four ages and the hemispheres. More like and frustrated. the footsteps of all a library than a single book, this volume is now in a paperback In A Life at Work, Thomas Moore (Care the Eastern and edition with durable sewn bindings, apt for a volume of such of the Soul) walks readers through the diffi- Western mystics who perennial potency. cult alchemical process of discovering their had walked this common path toward Think of any subject vital to life’s journey. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have ac- deepest purpose in union with the Divine.” Paul then presents cess to what the finest minds of the world’s great civilizations have had to say on that life. With his now- 12 steps of the spiritual journey, what he subject and the associated attitudes which could help ease or sustain one’s way? famous blend of calls a pathless path that blends the wis- This awesome encyclopedia of humankind’s spiritual truth offers such a feast. spirituality and psy- dom of Christianity and the spiritual First published in 1971 as A Treasury of Traditional Wisdom, The Spiritual Ascent chology, he ex- teachings of yoga for a holistic daily spiri- takes readers on a journey from the creation of the cosmos to final reabsorption in plores the strong tual practice. the Divine Source, a journey defined by the traditional stages of the soul’s trans- desire all of us These cross-cultural prototypes formation. Guiding the way are such focused counsels as are found in Eckhart, have to feel ful- represent the spirituality of the future that Philo, Rumi, the Talmud, Shakespeare, Ramakrishna, Black Elk, the Psalms, the filled and satisfied is being birthed in our time. Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, Muhammad, Confucius, and Milarepa—among by our work and Drawing on a deep knowledge of many, many others. careers. This is a Christian scripture as well as Hindu phi- In the words of the anthologist, personal and con- losophy, Russill shows that the mystical The reader is invited to enter upon a spiritual journey. In this book one will encounter templative guide core of religion offers much more than the heritage shared in common with all humanity, in what is essentially timeless and to traversing obsta- the simple solace of unthinking religious enduring and pertinent to one’s final ends... a pattern of the human personality in the cles such as inflated egos, despair, and fear dogma. By demonstrating that these two cosmos that is unerringly consistent, clear and struck through with a resonance infallible in its ever renewed reverberations of the one same Reality. that prevent us from finding purpose in seemingly separate and irreconcilable reli- our careers. He also shares the struggles of gions can actually unite in one person’s “...the primordial heart of all the great religious and philosophical traditions, great thinkers and artists who grappled spiritual practice at the core of his life—as popularized by Aldous Huxley as the . Perry’s is the essential with their own uncertainty before finally they did in his—he offers an alternative to reference work... Anyone who is interested, not just in reading maps, but in going finding their calling. For anyone who feels religious intolerance and strife, as well as somewhere with his or her life, will find this the most comprehensive guide that has dissatisfied at work and questions the path hope for personal liberation. been compiled.” —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions “This astounding collection... well chosen, organized, cross-referenced, indexed, they have chosen, this is a poignant and I am not suggesting that Yogis, or practical meditation. Hindus, become Christian any more than I and bibliographed... undermines a world of ecumenicism with THE GOODS: the This book is about the search for a life want Christians to become Hindus. The harshest statements at the far end of every mystical tradition and literature earth work—not just a job, but an activity or intention behind this work is not about has.” —Stewart Brand, Whole Earth Catalog group of activities that gives you a sense of conversion to either path. The hope, meaning and purpose. It is a book about rather, is that Christians and Hindus heal the spirit and soul of work, and it will the wounds that intolerance, lack of Maisel explains why the paradigm shift practice that is currently provide you with ideas for hearing the call knowledge, and prejudice have generated. from seeking meaning to making meaning enjoying a renaissance in is this century’s most pressing intellectual a variety of settings. It is and doing what you were born to do. Russill Paul trained as a Christian monk goal. The Atheist’s Way describes the beau- used as an adjunct to Showing how finding the right work, and yogi under the direction of Bede ty, power and righteousness of personal conventional medical finding one’s vocation, is also part of the Griffiths in India. He has also written The meaning and provides both nonbelievers therapies for health is- care of the soul, he astutely urges people Yoga of Sound (book & CD) and is a and believers with an atheist blueprint for sues ranging from can- to think about having not just one but a va- renowned musician who has created al- living. cer and heart disease to riety of callings. His consideration of the bums such as Tantric Embrace & Ecstatic According to Maisel, the atheist’s way is post-traumatic stress dis- pleasures and foibles of friendship in the Heart. workplace is especially insightful. not humanism, not existentialism, not order and addiction. Although confident that even the most spirituality, and not psychology, but a path These techniques can also be applied to mundane job can be enjoyable and life- THE ATHEIST’S WAY that embraces aspects of all those ap- moments of emotional turmoil, interper- giving, Moore sets the question of voca- Living Well Without Gods proaches to life. Unlike recent bestsellers sonal conflicts, and virtually any stressful tion in a broader frame, suggesting that it by Eric Maisel about atheism, this book doesn’t rail situation. Self-guided imagery can be im- is best addressed as a part of fashioning $17.00, paper. New World Library. against religion and believers. Instead, it plemented as a stand-alone practice or in- lives that are organically whole and mean- isbn 9781577316428 187 pages announces that an indifferent universe corporated into other self-help practices, ingful. Though still influenced by Jung, Creativity coach and author Eric Maisel turns need not deter humans from creating lives such as meditation, cognitive behavior Moore draws inspiration from a delightful his attention to atheism and shows you how to of value and integrity that are at once sus- therapy, or 12-step programs. Leading array of sources, including Yeats, Socrates, make rich personal tainable, rich, and real. At a time when practitioner Leslie Davenport presents and Rapunzel. The book’s governing meaning despite the ab- people are burdened by the feeling that this versatile healing tool and makes it metaphor, alchemy, is often apt; Moore sence of beneficent gods they and their efforts don’t matter, Maisel available to anyone. notes that both alchemy and finding a and the indifference of offers a picture of the universe and of a Scripts for end-of-life issues, spiritual life’s work require patience through a the universe to human purposeful life that floundering unbeliev- heartache, and cancer, fear of change, long refining process, and both are about concerns. ers can wholeheartedly embrace. anger, financial problems, diabetes, and “With this book Eric Maisel does what career transition are found here, as well as the process, not just the end result. The word atheist is Some of the chapter titles give a good sense a larger, friendlier, none of the New Atheists have succeeded guided imagery for creating an inner sanc- of the territory: “Getting Nowhere,” “The and more glorious in doing: elaborating what atheists do be- tuary and receiving inner guidance. Calling,” “Creative Chaos,” “The Daimon of word than you might imagine. It stands for lieve.” —Hemant Mehta, author of I Sold Life is rich with imagery, whether our Work,” “Loving What You Do,” “To Work is to a conviction about the nonexistence of My Soul on eBay eyes are closed or open. This book shows Pray,” and “Be Grounded, Fly High.” gods, but it represents other things as well. you not only a reliable path into your It is about a solidarity with nature and deep, inner wisdom but also teaches you with the universe: we are not afraid of the Meditation how to open your spiritual eyes in daily universe in which we live, we do not life, allowing you to recognize messages The Heart of Religion create dragons and devils with which to from the heart of the world. scare ourselves, we are not frightened that Free, downloadable guided imagery ses- a vacuum is empty or that we begin dying JESUS IN THE LOTUS HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION sions that accompany many of the exercis- as soon as we are born. We are exactly, THROUGH SELF-GUIDED IMAGERY The Mystical Doorway between Christianity es in the book are found at precisely, and wholly natural. by Leslie Davenport and Yogic Spirituality www.LeslieDavenport.com. He rejects the notion that life has any $18.95, paper. Celestial Arts. by Russill Paul “Davenport’s work is insightful, original, inherent meaning to seek, demonstrating isbn 9781587613241 208 pages $18.95, paper. New World Library. and eminently useful for people of all ages that meaning is a decision and that until Tapping into the heart’s wisdom isbn 9781577316275 235 pages and professions.” —Angeles Arrien, au- we decide what is meaningful, nothing is. In Jesus in the Lotus, Russill Paul tells the through guided imagery is an ancient thor of The Second Half of Life

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 31 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! MEDITATIONS & TEACHINGS !

So many ways to be here: among the many of precisely the kind of dialogue each per- nifty exercises are these: “dear body, thank son can have with their own thoughts. Beginning Meditation you,” “earth intimacy,” “a meal with heart,” The results, even in the direst situation, “the gift of silence,” “this sweet moment,” can be unimagined freedom and joy. QUIET MIND “body signals,” “attend, befriend, and sur- All the suffering in the world is caused A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation render,” “walking barefoot,” and “recharge by believing our stressful thoughts… Every compiled & edited by Susan Piver your body.” painful feeling is the result of believing a $16.50, Book+CD set. Shambhala. thought that isn’t true for us. Don’t isbn 9781590305973 A Prayer for Healing believe me: test this for yourself. 120-page hardcover + 78-minute CD Prayer is a form of meditation; it is quiet People who do The Work as an ongoing A growing body of scientific research shows that medi- time for setting a heart-filled intention, and practice report some amazing results: tation can reduce stress, improve mental performance, holding a mindful awareness of the present ! Alleviation of depression: Finding reso- and make us happier. For those who are cu- moment. Use this practice to send healing Book lution, and even happiness, in situations rious about meditation and would like to intentions to your body. You can easily & CD that were once debilitating give it a try, Quiet Mind is a great place to be- make it part of your everyday routine. Find a quiet, calm place to sit or kneel ! Decreased stress: Learning how to live gin. This book-and-audio program brings together six of the most respected comfortably. Feel free to close your eyes. with less anxiety or fear Buddhist teachers in America, each known for presenting meditation in practical, Tune into the pattern of your breathing, in ! Improved relationships: Experiencing accessible, and inspiring ways. and out, rise and fall. deeper connection and intimacy with Insight meditation is the practice of liberation: by making friends with our old Pay attention to the part of your body your partner, your parents, your chil- that causes you the most pain or suffering. wounds, fears, anger, and loneliness, we free ourselves. dren, your friends, and yourself Maybe it’s your heart? Perhaps it’s your Each teacher offers a short written teaching along with an audio recording of a ! head? Could it be your stomach? Reduced anger: Understanding what guided meditation practice from his or her Buddhist tradition—including Tibetan Visualize that part of your body as if it makes you angry and resentful, and be- Buddhism, Zen, and Vipassana (or Insight Meditation). It also includes a section by were being held very gently and safely in coming less reactive, less often, with less Richard Faulds on yoga poses and stretches useful for meditation practitioners. your loving arms. intensity Additional sections give guidelines on creating a daily practice, and answer com- As you hold this part of your body in ! Increased mental clarity: Living and monly asked questions. your loving embrace say aloud to yourself, working more intelligently and effec- When you can just sit, having the experience you have, whatever it is, without com- “This prayer holds the power of healing in- tively, with integrity paring it to what it should be, you will have true ease. tention. May I experience relief and sereni- ! More energy: Experiencing a new sense ty throughout my body.” Contributors include Sakyong Mipham on shamatha, the practice of tranquillity; of ongoing vigor and well-being Larry Rosenberg on vipassana, the practice of clear seeing; Ed Espe Brown on Jeffrey Brantley, director of the ! More peace: Discovering how to become zazen, the practice of freedom; Sharon Salzberg on metta, the practice of loving- Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction “a lover of what is.” kindness; Judith Lief on tonglen, the practice of transformation; and Tulku Program at Duke University’s Center for Among Byron Katie’s other books are Thondup on using meditation to heal the body and mind. For all the variety and Integrative Medicine, is also author of Loving What Is, I Need Your Love—Is That richness of experience these teachers offer, there is a remarkable unity in the sim- Meditations for Calming Your Anxious True?, and A Thousand Names for Joy. plicity and focus of their brief essays. Interested meditators—whether Buddhist or Mind. not—will find this introduction clear and very useful. THE END OF YOUR WORLD Western Spiritual Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of STILL THE MIND Enlightenment Simple Breathing Practices for Inner Peace Teachers & Teachings by Adyashanti by Bodhipaksa New on CD $26.50, cloth. Sounds True. $25.95, 2 CDs. Sounds True. isbn 9781591799634 218 pages isbn 9781591796831 2.25 hours WHO WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT $77.00, 6 CDs. The average person has 12,000 thoughts per day—most YOUR STORY? isbn 9781591799450 7.5 hours of them a recurring handful of reruns, rehearsals and dis- Dialogues According to teacher Adyashanti, at the tractions. [Who counts them? How can they tell where one with Byron Katie, heart of spiritual awakening is something thought ends and the next begins?] On Still the Mind, medita- edited by Carol Williams that is likely to “end your world.” Why? tion teacher Bodhipaksa, of the Western Buddhist Order, $18.95, paper. Hay House. Because with spiritual awakening, instead offers a useful program for anyone looking to move beyond the chatter of a too- isbn 9781401921798 316 pages of a new version of busy mind, while laying the foundation for a daily meditation practice. Two CDs of This book is a collection of 23 dialogues you, you find no ver- instruction and guided sitting sessions will help you discover the breath as an un- with Byron Katie that occurred through- sion of you—your tapped source of mental clarity and inner peace, as you learn to settle into the deep- out the true nature beyond est parts of yourself. Bodhipaksa’s gentle teaching style and straightforward delivery and Europe. Some of any point of view— take the mystery out of meditation. His step-by-step instruction will help you to cul- the people who “that which is contin- tivate your own daily practice right in the middle of your busy life, as you explore: worked with Katie ually partaking of all ! The 1-2-3’s of sitting practice, from the best times to meditate to what you can ex- have painful illness- experience, in each pect in your first few days, weeks, and months es, others are and every instant.” ! How to evolve a spontaneous and self-motivating practice that is both joyful and lovelorn or in messy Offering a map for empowering divorces. Some are those who’ve had a ! Using the breath as a natural gateway to your inherent wisdom and clarity simply irritated with glimpse of spiritual ! How to channel your newfound mindfulness into your relationships, career, and a co-worker or wor- awakening only to see it slip away after a creative pursuits. ried about money. few hours or days—he calls it the “I got Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned meditator, Still the Mind guides you What they all have in it/I lost it” phenomenon, and it perplex- into a practice which can help you access greater self-awareness and self-confi- common is the will- es many of us—The End of Your World pre- dence, increased calm in any situation, and harmony within and without. ingness to question, with Katie’s help, the sents Adya’s take on the reality of enlight- For more, visit the author’s online teaching site: wildmind.org. painful thoughts that are the true cause of enment and the total “re-wiring” of your their suffering. In every case we see how being that accompanies it—what Katie’s acute mind and fierce kindness Adyashanti calls “our journey into the in- helps each person dismantle for them- Some of us live finite, our true nature as pure conscious- 5 GOOD MINUTES IN YOUR BODY selves what is felt to be unshakable reality. from the neck ness itself.” 100 Mindful Practices to Help You Accept While the dialogues in Who Would You Be up, forgetting to This in-depth course offers straight talk Yourself & Feel at Home in Your Body Without Your Story? make fascinating read- by Jeffrey Brantley & Wendy Milstine nourish and ap- and penetrating insight, helping us navi- ing—some are both hilarious and deeply $20.95, paper. New Harbinger. preciate, or even gate the pitfalls and cul-de-sacs that “un- moving—they are intended primarily as isbn 9781572245969 247 pges, 6x6 be comfortable enlighten” us along the journey, includ- teaching tools. Each took place in front of Five Good Minutes in Your Body offers 100 in, our bodies. ing the trap of meaninglessness; how the an audience, and Katie never lost connec- simple, fun activities, mindfulness exercis- The mindfulness ego can “co-opt” realization for its own tion with that audience, repeatedly re- es, and visualizations that you can do in practices in this purposes; the illusion of superiority that minding each person in the room to fol- just five minutes to learn to love, accept, book will help may accompany intense spiritual break- low the dialogues inwardly, asking and feel a renewed sense of appreciation bring us back throughs; and the danger of becoming themselves the questions the participant for your body. into our bodies, ease our stress, breathe “drunk on emptiness.” must ask. The dialogue between Katie and Learning to be mindful of our bodies again, and actually enjoy being in our bod- Covering topics often kept private be- these volunteers is an external enactment can be hard in this fast-paced “whirled.” ies! tween student and teacher, The End of

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 32 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! AWAKENING TO OUR CONNECTIONS !

Your World is an invitation ! Dealing with the “four F’s”—fight, flight, to an honest investigation freeze, or freak—and other common ob- of what you really are— Oneness stacles to emotional connection and how to live when you ! How to release blocked emotions to heal discover it. Among those THE REVELATION OF ONENESS your past in the present. topics are: Dialogues on Nonduality and Spiritual Awakening “No matter what your endeavor may A central step in spiritu- by Jeff Foster be,” explains Cushnir, “emotional connec- Adyashanti $27.95, paper. Non-duality Books. ality: asking, “What do I tion is the path to your greatest possible isbn 9780955829048 276 pages know for certain?” wisdom and achievement.” The One Thing The Revelation of Oneness, by refreshing British “awaker” What it means to “live without a center” Holding You Back provides you with the Jeff Foster, points to the possibility that the spiritual “Velcro thoughts” and how to release principles and practices you need to make search, and indeed all the seeking of the mind, can come their grip emotional connection a natural part of to an end once and for all. In the absence of the mind’s “Fierce grace” and the return to harmo- your everyday life. searching there can be a clear seeing that ny with reality Among Raphael Cushnir’s other titles “all there is, is Oneness.” In this clarity of Living undivided on the level of heart, are How Now and Setting Your Heart on Fire. Oneness, life loses its heaviness, and what mind, and gut is, is always enough. Jeff Foster writes: The phenomenon of the enlightened ego. Some people have called this “spiritual awakening”; however, it’s not TOWARD AWAKENING something complicated, and it’s not reserved for the lucky few. It’s an When it is all said and done, what we An Approach to the awakening as simple and obvious as the sound of the rain splish- Teaching Brought by Gurdjieff are left with is nothing. We are totally splashing up on the roof. It’s a bit like having a dream, and getting lost empty-handed, with nothing to grasp on Jeff Foster by Jean Vaysse in it, and then waking up, and opening your eyes, and looking around $22.50, cloth. Morning Light. to. As Jesus said, “The birds have their and realizing that yes, of course, it was just a dream. nests in the trees and the foxes have their isbn 9781596750302 170 pages holes in the ground, but the son of man In a series of question-answer dialogues, Foster describes many of the subtle ways A classic back in print, Toward has nowhere to rest his head.” There is no our minds cling to illusory concepts and pursuits—even to spiritual ones. At the Awakening provides a clear summation of concept, no thought structure upon which same time, Foster consistently returns to his core message of non-duality—a mes- the major points of the teaching brought you can rest. sage that has parallels in the writings of such teachers as Nisargadatta, Adyashanti, by Gurdjieff. Vaysse says about the ideas: Also by Adyashanti are the books and . Whoever approaches them for the first Emptiness Dancing and True Meditation. See There is a growing sense that freedom is all there is, that it goes right to the heart of time without prejudice feels touched to adyashanti.org. what you are, that it is constantly available and costs nothing. And that’s what non- the core by a truth duality points to—the absolute freedom right at the heart of life. It’s a radical message to which he cannot be sure. And yet it’s as soft and gentle as a kiss from a loved one. deny and called THE ONE THING HOLDING Also by Jeff Foster are his earlier books Life without a Centre and Beyond Awakening. upon to put into YOU BACK Visit him: lifewithoutacentre.com. question all the Unleashing the Power of Emotional values his life has been based on Connection until then. by Raphael Cushnir AWAKENING INTO ONENESS $26.95, cloth. HarperCollins. The Power of Blessing in the Following a logi- isbn 9780060897390 220 pages Evolution of Consciousness New in cal progression, $39.00, 4 CDs. Sounds True. by Arjuna Ardagh Paperback Vaysse first express- isbn 9781591796848 4.25 hours, abridged $17.50, paper. Sounds True. es the meaning of an inner life, and what What’s keeping you from reaching your isbn 9781591796732 232 pages the possibility for that might be, then fol- goals—is it time? Money? Support? A discovery in southern India has caught the attention of lows a logical exposition of the path to be According to spiritual teachers from many traditions from around the traveled in order to move in that direc- Raphael Cushnir, world. It is the phenomenon called the Oneness Blessing tion, beginning with an exposition of the it’s none of the (also known as “deeksha”), a powerful key ideas of the structure of humans, the above. The answer transfer of energy believed to elicit the real- practices of “self-observation” and “self- lies in your resis- ization of unitive consciousness. It is simply remembering,” the concept of Presence, tance to a specific an infusion of scientifically proven brain- and the dual roles of essence and person- set of emotions changing energy from a person who has experienced a series of ality in determining the overall nature of unique to your life transmissions and is capable of sharing it with others, usually by each individual. He outlines the obstacles experience. In The touch. According to Sri Bhagavan, co-founder of Oneness to awakening, as well as the first steps to- One Thing Holding Arjuna Ardagh University, just 64,000 people receiving this blessing is enough to ig- wards awakening. Missing in many other You Back, this nite a transformation in global human consciousness. Awakening books about the Gurdjieff teaching is the emerging voice in into Oneness is an account of the history, science, and transformative capability of key role played by sensation, a topic that contemporary spiri- the Oneness Blessing. Vaysse covers with a clarity based on his tuality offers common-sense teachings and Ardagh shares dozens of firsthand accounts of Deeksha’s life-changing effects on own actual experience. practices to help you identify, fully feel, individuals from all over the world, from the mystical children who first experi- John Pentland, a leader of the work in and release your resisted emotions for in- enced it nearly two decades ago to its continuing exploration at the Oneness North America for many years, said this ner peace, renewed energy and creativity, University under the guidance of teachers Sri Bhagavan and his wife, Sri Amma. about Toward Awakening: “Jean Vaysse soft- and realer relationships. The Blessing is something few will be able to ignore in the years ahead. It has proven ens the rather terrifying impact of It’s detachment from our emotions that to be the fastest growing spiritual development in living memory. Gurdjieff’s teaching as it is transmitted by holds us back, he writes. We need to con- He explores the most common effects of the Oneness Blessing, from reduced Ouspensky. He gives substance to the nect with our emotions, especially those mental chatter and heightened awareness to effortless peace and the cessation of ideas, several of which have become popu- we avoid, resist, or dismiss. They are “the unwanted habits; the five major criticisms aimed at the Oneness movement; why lar in modern psychology, and-—without key to our dreams,” and anything, when fully experienced, can be recognized as pure joy and bliss; how detracting too much from what the pupil learning to connect with Deeksha heals personal and professional relationships; and enlightenment as a spe- has to do for himself—begins to show how them is the rarely taught cific threshold of neurological functioning. they are related together. His book is one but important skill he The Oneness Blessing was different. It was fast, clean, and accurate. It seemed to hit of the first accounts to hint at the practical teaches here. the mark every time and deliver the goods. Moreover, it seemed to have an intelligence approach to work through giving attention Raphael Cushnir first of its own; it knew where to go and what was needed, whether it was healing, releasing to the sensation of the body, a study of shared this vital informa- memories, or just deepening silence. which was central in Gurdjieff’s method tion in an article for O, Raphael More info: awakeningintooneness.org. and which has been carefully transmitted Cushnir The Oprah Magazine. The Also by Arjuna Ardagh are The Translucent Revolution and Leap Before You Look. by Madame Jeanne de Salzmann.” overwhelming response A respected heart surgeon, Jean Vaysse from readers inspired him write the book. lived from 1917 to 1975. Join this renowned teacher and workshop leader to learn a bodycentered approach Event at Hollyhock to emotional mastery that includes: ! The 2 x 2 Process—a simple, powerful mod- RAPHAEL CUSHNIR ONE THING HOLDING YOU BACK el for correctly identifying and safely en- June 29 – August 5 hollyhock.ca or 800-933-6339 gaging even your most difficult emotions

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 33 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! TRANSPERSONAL REALMS !

the lives of those Dying, Near-Death who survive this GOING ON BEING kind of encounter Life at the Crossroads of Buddhism and Psychotherapy & Grieving with death. Lessons by Mark Epstein from the Light is $22.00, paper. Wisdom. written for persons isbn 9780861715695 154 pages THE LAST ADVENTURE OF LIFE who have never Before he began training as a psychiatrist, Mark Epstein Sacred Resources for Living and had an NDE them- (author of Thoughts Without a Thinker) immersed himself in Dying from a Hospice Counselor selves yet wish to Buddhism through influential teachers such as Ram Dass, by Maria Dancing Heart learn from those Joseph Goldstein, and Jack Kornfield. Buddhism’s positive $22.00, paper. Findhorn. who have. Dr. Ring outlook and the meditative principle of liv- isbn 9781844091379 261 pages recounts many in- ing in the moment profoundly influenced Anyone who is grieving, preparing to spiring NDEs not his study and practice of psychotherapy. die, caring for ill loved ones, or interested only from persons of all ages, but those of Going on Being is an intimate chronicle of in exploring new blind persons too. For the first time he those formative years as well as a practical guide to how a Buddhist ways to view spiritu- also discloses his collection of cases where understanding of psychological problems can help anyone change ality and death will persons journey beyond the Light. Such for the better. Epstein gives readers a deeply personal look into his value this essential remarkable testimony is then used as a ba- life, thoughts, fears, and hopes, while detailing the influences that Mark Epstein tool for healing sis to provide helpful guidance and practi- have shaped his worldview. Inspiring with honesty and humility, and prayer. As an cal exercises in order for readers to live a Going on Being is a compassionate look at how uniting the worlds of introduction to life of greater self-insight, self-compassion, psyche and spirit can lead to a new way of seeing reality. hospice, the book and concern for others, as well as to be Listening to birdsong between sittings on his first meditation retreat, he writes: maintains that hos- better prepared for death, dying, and be- pice care is an ex- There was a recovery involved in this listening, a recovery of what is sometimes reavement. called celebration, or magic, or awe. In psychodynamic language, it was a recovery of perience grounded Through meditation, study and mental going on being. No longer endeavoring to manage my environment, I began to feel in spirituality—the exercises, you can tap into the healing en- invigorated, to find a balance, to permit a feeling of connection with the spontaneity of force that binds ergy of the loving, nonjudgmental Being the natural world and with my own inner nature. My awareness became more everything togeth- of Light glimpsed by many at death’s kinesthetic and affectively dense, richer, deeper, and, in a curious way, more personal… er. This interconnectedness of all things is door. You can simulate a panoramic life- Surrounded by a landscape of sound, I began to open simultaneously to a landscape of demonstrated in inspirational stories, po- feeling… Just as I was learning to accept my thoughts but not be run by them, I could review of your entire existence, catapult- attempt the same in my feeling life. etry, scripture, prayers, and guided medi- ing your values away from competitive ma- tations that will assist those wishing to go terialism and toward love, service, “Going on Being opens the door on what it means to understand ourselves, to grow spiritually deeper. Further supported by cooperation; and you can integrate the in- and to change.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of The Kindness Handbook chapters on grief, relaxation tools, and a sights commonly reported by NDE-ers Among Mark Epstein’s other books are Going to Pieces without Falling Apart and wealth of additional reference materials, into daily practical living. That’s the mes- Psychotherapy Without the Self. the book becomes a treasury of hope and sage of this manual. Veteran NDE re- healing that reframes the experience of searcher Ring, here writing with Swiss tion of no-self, death as one of transformation—a new ad- NDE investigator Evelyn Valarino, in- while the central venture in life. Entheogens / cludes many previously unpublished NDE focus of Western Practice: I could die today cases and distills techniques he has taught psychotherapy is Psychedeics Pick a simple daily activity, something at workshops. Ring presents intriguing ev- the self. This book, that you do at least once everyday, such idence to support his belief that NDEs as turning on the faucet, turning on a light which includes switch, getting into your car, putting on or represent an authentic, objective experi- writings from the THE ALCHEMICAL DREAM taking off your clothes, climbing a ence, not a self-protective hallucination or past 25 years, wres- Rebirth of the Great Work a neurological artifact of a dying brain. tles with the com- by Terence McKenna New on staircase, taking a drink of water, opening DVD a doorway. Choose one of these activities. “This book changes lives. My students plex relationship $32.50, DVD. Then for one week whenever you perform love it. In one reading it dispels a lifetime between Buddhism Mystic Fire / Sacred Mysteries. the activity say to yourself: “I could die of fear and misinformation about death and psychotherapy isbn 9789991562858 55 minutes today.” and the universe we live in. Penetrating, and offers nu- In 1996, psychedelic raconteur Terence Stop for just a moment in the process of beautifully written, the best single volume anced reflections on therapy, meditation, McKenna set off to Europe with a film this activity and reflect on the truth of the on NDE research.” —Chris Bache, author and psychological and spiritual develop- crew to make a movie simple phrase, “I could die today.” What if of Dark Night, Early Dawn about an esoteric pe- this could be true? It could be true, you ment. riod of European his- know. Any one of us could die, anytime, “In this remarkable book, Ring presents A bestselling author and popular speak- any day. What if YOU were to die today? evidence that merely learning about the er, Epstein has long been at the edge of tory that scholar What feelings arise within when you think near-death experience has similar positive the effort to introduce Buddhist psycholo- Frances Yates this thought? Who comes to mind? What effects to those reported by people who gy to the West. His unique background dubbed “the activities? What hopes and dreams? What actually have had near-death enables him to serve as a bridge between Rosicrucian burdens or responsibilities do you feel experiences.” —Stanley Krippner the two traditions, which he has found to Enlightenment.” liberated from? be more compatible than at first thought. McKenna died in Pay attention to what arises within Engaging with the teachings of the 2000 but others have when you say this to yourself every day: I Buddha as well as those of Freud and pieced together the could die today. —from Chapter One: footage into this film, Truth: Letting Go is Liberating Transpersonal Winnicott, he offers a compelling look at desire, anger, and insight and helps rein- The Alchemical Dream. “This is skillful advice from a revered Psychology terpret the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths At the dawn of the 17th century, a small hospice worker who speaks from the deep and central concepts such as egolessness group of Protestant nobles, magicians, experience of a true heart.” —Stephen and emptiness in the psychoanalytic lan- and reformers dedicated themselves to a and Ondrea Levine, authors of Who Dies? guage of our time. vision of a new social order informed by Maria Dancing Heart is a spiritual coun- PSYCHOTHERAPY alchemy, mysticism, and the progressive WITHOUT THE SELF “An autobiographical journey based on selor and former minister who has worked the author’s personal experience and pro- mysteries of the emerging Rosicrucian in hospice care for more than a decade. A Buddhist Perspective movement. This network embraced, in by Mark Epstein fessional expertise, backed up by solid re- McKenna’s words, “the myth of the al- $17.50, paper. Yale. search findings from Buddhist scholars chemical marriage”: a moment when isbn 9780300143133 260 pages and well-known psychologists. The LESSONS FROM THE LIGHT ideas, esoteric practices, and politics Immersed in Buddhist psychology prior Buddhist view of emotional life is pon- What We Can Learn from came together to change society. This to becoming a psychiatrist, Mark Epstein dered, as is the psychoanalytic view of mys- the Near-Death Experience budding movement was killed in the by Kenneth Ring (also author of Thoughts Without a Thinker tical experience through Sigmund Freud’s Thirty Years War, a nightmare from which $21.95, paper. Moment Point. and Open to Desire) first viewed Western eyes… Intriguing insights include that the Europe woke to find itself changed. In isbn 9781930491113 340 pages therapeutic approaches through the lens ego rightfully exists and that we have many those bloody decades, Europe became A near-death experience (NDE) can be of the East. This posed something of a false selves.” —Library Journal “modern,” with alchemy now relegated to not only a revelation of the most profound challenge. Although both systems promise the history of charlatanism and the and soul-shattering beauty, it also has the liberation through self-awareness, the cen- metaphors of poetry. power to drastically transform and enrich tral tenet of Buddha’s wisdom is the no-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 34 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! THE ALCHEMICAL MIND !

terial mineral nor a merely psychological product, but as meaning itself, a reflection & the Healing Potential of LSD of the recognition that “meaning lies in LSD: DOORWAY TO THE NUMINOUS peutic tool before the substance was interdicted, his the confrontation of contradiction, the co- The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research research has been the impetus behind a vastly ex- incidentia oppositorum, the rediscovery of into Realms of the Human Unconscious panded cartography of the unconscious, including the real ambiguity of being.” The by Stanislav Grof two new realms still unacknowledged by official aca- Alchemical Dream offers up a glimpse or two $22.50, paper. Inner Traditions. demic circles—the perinatal domain, which holds of that imaginal garden through the key- isbn 9781594772825 272 pages, 48 b/w illustrations memories of the various stages of birth, and the hole of historical time. (Thanks to Erik In 1955, psychiatrist Stan Grof, then a Czech transpersonal domain, which mediates experiential Davis for this review) medical student, began studying the effects of LSD identification with other species and mythic figures, on human subjects (including himself) in pioneer- visits to archetypal realms, access to past life memo- ing experiments focused on schizophrenia symp- ries, and union with the cosmic creative principle. THE JAGUAR THAT ROAMS toms. Over time, Grof’s interest shifted to diagnos- This research provides a map of the psyche es- THE MIND tic and therapeutic use of psychedelics, in part sential for understanding such phenomena as An Amazonian Plant because of his first visit to the U.S. (where he now shamanism and near death experiences as well as Spirit Odyssey lives) in 1965, when “the American psychedelic other non-ordinary states of consciousness. This by Robert Tindall movement was profoundly influencing con- map has led to the development of important new therapies in $22.50, paper. Inner Traditions. temporary culture.” psychiatry and psychology for treating mental conditions often isbn 9781594772542 276 pages, colour photos First published in 1975 as Realms of the seen as disease and therefore suppressed by medication. It also Here be page-turning adventure into Human Unconscious and now re-released as provides a new threshold to understanding and entering the the heart of the jungle, the heart of vege- LSD: Doorway to the Numinous, this book fore- numinous realm of spirit. talismo, and the sees the psychedelic experience causing a “rad- Included is a new epilogue, “The Psychedelic Research heart of human ex- ical revision of the current scientific world- Renaissance,” which reviews worldwide recent psychedelic psy- perience. You can Stan Grof view.” Though the LSD experience can chotherapy research as of early 2009: almost smell and taste the earthy encompass virtually “any perceptual, emotion- Western culture is once again opening up to the idea of using brew. al or psychosomatic manifestations,” and varies wildly among psychedelics as medicines and beginning the healing of the deep individuals and individual trips, Grof finds subjects’ reported traumas of our society, a fitting tribute to the power of the ideas The Jaguar that experiences indicative of complex mental processes at work: and data presented by Dr. Grof. Roams the Mind is a journey into the some subjects relive childhood and “in-the-womb” experi- “Stanislav Grof is the undisputed world authority on LSD vanishing world of ences, some “regress” to previous lives and non-human life and the human psyche, and this book provides the best car- Amazonian forms. Grof’s engrossing state-of-the-science overview argues tography of consciousness for understanding the profound im- shamanism—an convincingly that continued LSD research will help patients, pact of entheogens on the mind.” —Alex Grey, artist and au- adventure of initia- parents, policymakers and even spiritual seekers. thor of Sacred Mirrors Based on his 2,500 clinical sessions using LSD as a thera- tion and return—that explores the unique reality at the heart of the healing system. Robert Tindall shares his journeys who are involved with LSD in any way, as parents, LSD PSYCHOTHERAPY through the inner and outer landscape of The Healing Potential of Psychedelic Medicine teachers, researchers, legislators, or students of the the churches of ayahuasca and with the by Stanislav Grof, human psyche. The approach to healing described Kaxinawa Indians in Brazil; his experi- new introduction by Albert Hofmann in this book is inspired by the eternal desire of hu- ences at the pioneering center for the $25.95, paper. MAPS. mankind for wholeness and an enduring grasp of treatment of addiction, Takiwasi, in Peru; isbn 9780979862205 reality. and his studies with an Ashaninca master 374 pages, b/w & colour illustrations Stanislav Grof, M.D., began his research into the shaman deep in the rainforest jungle. The sensationalism surrounding the widespread psychotherapeutic uses of LSD in 1960 at the use of LSD in the late ’60s and the subsequent leg- Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague, The plant, in short, had taken me islative overkill virtually ended psychotherapeutic Czechoslovakia. More than 30 years of work in this through a catharsis and a spiritual LSD research. Much of what had been learned over field make him eminently qualified to write this awakening that decades of therapy, thirty years of scientific medical study was so dis- churchgoing, or meditation might have book. He is the founding president of the never achieved. torted or suppressed that no objective overview was International Transpersonal Association, and has available to the general reader—except for this taught and lectured in academic and workshop set- Moving beyond the scientific approach book. tings worldwide. Dr. Grof is the author of numerous other to medicinal plants, which seeks to reduce LSD Psychotherapy is a complete account of a remarkable books, the latest of which is The Ultimate Journey: Consciousness them to their chemical constituents, chapter in the ever-continuing inquiry into our transpersonal and the Mystery of Death. Tindall illustrates the shamans’ intimate re- nature and origins. The controlled studies described in this “If I am the father of LSD, Stan Grof is the godfather. lationships with plant spirits. He recounts book reveal exciting and challenging data about the nature of Nobody has contributed as much as Stan for the development many sessions and scenes, marveling at the human consciousness, perception, and reality itself. Drawing of my problem child.” —Albert Hofmann, research chemist varied skills of experienced guides. on this work Dr. Stanislav Grof outlines a new cartography of and author of LSD: My Problem Child The songs of the curanderos work inside the human mind, one which accounts for experiences such as Hofmann concludes his introduction, written on his 102nd the body, calming, directing, and mediating shamanic trance, near-death experiences and altered states of birthday, this way: between the extremely powerful effects of the plant and those seeking healing, helping consciousness. This vision is also the foundation for Dr. Grof’s It is my wish that a modern Eleusis and a modern psychiatry revolutionary Holotropic techniques (for more to translate that power into something possi- will emerge, in which seeking humans can learn to have ble to digest, control, and navigate through. info, see www.holotropic.com). transcendent experiences with sacred substances in a safe setting, This book is also a visual feast, with numerous colour draw- and in which LSD and other psychedelics become once again Tindall explores the three pillars of ings and paintings created by research participants. Many of tools for psychotherapeutic healing and for discovery of the Amazonian shamanism: purging (drawing these depict archetypal images from the collective human con- breadth and depth of the mind. When that day comes, Stan will disease out of the body), psychoactive sciousness, which form a powerful addition to the text. LSD have laid the cornerstone and his classic work, LSD plants (including the ritual use of ayahuas- Psychotherapy is a valuable source of information for those Psychotherapy, will be the jumping off point for further ca), and diet (communing with the innate developments and refinements. intelligence of teacher plants). Through trials and revelations, the subtle inner log- Adopting a tweedy de- recover… the light trapped in matter, the chedelic shamanism to be a living alchem- ic of indigenous healing unfolds for him, meanor, Terence tells this lux natura… the universal medicine curing ical tradition that “is not seeking the stone, including the “miraculous” healing of a tale against the backdrop of all ills, the answer. It is what everyone is but has found the stone.” woman suffering from a brain tumor. his alchemical and cultural looking for and no one can find.” He acknowledges that LSD and rock ’n’ Culminating in a ceremony fraught with speculations, and the result Inevitably, psychedelic shamanism rears roll were insufficient Rosicrucian triggers: terror yet ultimately enlightening, is a rather satisfying romp its feathered head. McKenna makes the “a failed alchemy instead of the dissolving Tindall’s journey reveals the crucial com- through politics and the claim that the alchemical imagination “ap- and re-crystalizing at a higher angelic lev- ponent missing from the metaphysics of Terence imagination, historical facts pears to be the identical phenomenon” as el.” Yet he puts his money on the spirit of the West: the understanding and appreci- McKenna and romanticism. the psychedelic rapture achieved through novelty and life, which he sees as an energy ation of the sentience of nature itself. Visiting an alchemical laboratory that plant medicines. Once psychedelics are of dissent waged against materialism and Included is an appendix by Susana still lurks in the bowels of the castle of mentioned, we leave the esoteric under- the confines of the modern ego. Bustos, “The Verse of the Plant We Heidelberg, he characterizes the goal of belly of Europe and enter the world of Particularly beautiful is his understand- Follow,” that explores how icaros, the mu- alchemy as “the self that we are trying to jungle shamanism, where he posits psy- ing of the alchemical gold as neither a ma- sical songs of the shamans, work and heal.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 35 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! SHAMANS, NATIVE AMERICANS & PAGANS !

Linda Hogan, in The Great Without, says: Shamanism & Ritual AWAKENING THE ENERGY BODY Too rarely is it understood that the soul From Shamanism to Bioenergetics lies at all points of intersection between by Kenneth Smith human consciousness and the rest of DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRIT $16.95, paper. Bear & Company. nature. ANIMAL isbn 9781591430841 226 pages These and other pieces in The Inner The Wisdom of the Shamans Each of us inhabits an energy body whose interactions Journey: Views from the Native Traditions con- by Lucy Harmer are the principal determinant of all we see, feel, think, or vey the possibility of a life based on respect $15.50, paper. North Atlantic. otherwise perceive. Even as modern science is establishing and love for the earth; a view that, in light isbn 9781556437960 100 pages of the ecological tragedies the contempo- In Discovering Your Spirit Animal, shaman- the uncertainty of physical matter, it is asserting the reality rary world , is more relevant than ic healer Lucy Harmer presents a practical of our existence as interconnecting quantum energy fields. ever. approach to under- For over 5,000 years, shamans of the Toltec tradition have standing spirit ani- studied and worked with the energy body, learning to rec- mals and applying ognize and understand its structure and perceptual capac- Wicca, Pagan Paths their power to spe- ities as well as mapping it as an objective, measurable part cific situations in of our anatomy. In Awakening the Energy Body, Kenneth Smith’s thorough grounding & Western Magick daily life. Written in in the Toltec tradition allows him to bring forth an instructive overview for non- clear, simple lan- Toltec adherents of the latent possibilities available to the energy body and how to bring awareness and objective form to it. guage and featuring GREEN EGG OMELETTE compelling stories The purpose of this book, then, is to provide the context and means to enable you to An Anthology of Art and Articles from the enhance your cognitive skills of awareness and learning so that you may time and again and anecdotes, the Legendary Pagan Journal revitalize your life, even redefining what that means. Realizing this quest rests on finding book explains what edited by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart the energized moment of your energized reality. a spirit animal is, $18.95, paper. New Page. describes its pur- Using evidence from the emerging scientific discipline of bioenergetics, which isbn 9781601630469 pose, and shows studies the flow and exchange of energy, Smith shows that conscious awareness not 286 pages, b/w illustrations that understanding the “medicine” of only creates our reality but enhances the functionality of the human energy body, Since 1968 the Pagan magazine Green one’s spirit animal—assimilating its quali- allowing it to navigate the myriad realities of our world. He offers a specific set of Egg has informed, inspired, entertained, ties and characteristics—allows one to ap- strategies to manage the energy body in ways that are beneficial to both material ex- and infuriated genera- ply the lessons and messages they convey istence and spiritual development. He also discusses the ethical considerations of tions of devoted read- and use them for personal transformation. developing consciousness and how one can quicken personal evolution in order to ers, garnering many Lucy Harmer notes that particular animals live a full and complete life, while revealing where the worlds of ancient tradition awards along the way. that cross one’s path or appear repeatedly and modern science meet. Above all, it has served nearby probably want us to share in their “Relates the energy body’s dynamics to psychology, physics, sociology, and reli- as a primary catalyst and medicine, their teaching, their energy, gion; and it helps to further establish the fields of bioenergetics, Energy Psychology, journal for the entire and their spirit. and Transpersonal Psychology. I can imagine the Toltec shaman don Juan an- Pagan community. The Discovering Your Spirit Animal provides nouncing that Awakening the Energy Body offers us more than an ordinary path publisher, Oberon Zell- guidance for meeting and getting to know through the woods, since this is a path with true heart.” —Fred Gallo, author of Ravenheart, was the first one’s spirit animal through easy exercises Energy Tapping. to adopt the words “Pagan” and “Neo- and shamanic techniques. Harmer ex- Pagan” to describe the newly emerging plains how to discover the strengths, qual- The body postures seen in ancient art Americans—the Nature religions of the Sixties. Through ities, and skills one shares with one’s per- from Mayan, Egyptian, African, Native language, spirituali- his guidance, the magazine played a major sonal spirit animal, enabling one to learn American, Sumerian, and other ancient ty, ceremony, and role in reclaiming the spiritual heritage of how to reinforce this connection and ac- and indigenous traditions are a doorway folklore found with- pre-Christian Europe. cess innate wisdom and inner power, over- to inducing this kind of ecstatic trance. in the Indian cul- Green Egg Omelette is a richly illustrated come fears, increase natural healing ca- People who assume these postures in a rit- ture—is explored. anthology of favorite writings and artwork pacity, and improve relationships. ual context are able to experience ex- From the way from those legendary issues. It opens a Lucy Harmer, a feng shui and space panded and transformative states of con- things were, to the window into the birth, infancy, and ado- clearing consultant, has studied with sev- sciousness. way they are today, lescence of a transformative cultural revo- eral teachers, including Nyoman Jiwa, a Following up on the groundbreaking each chapter em- lution that is now, in the 21st century, en- Balinese priest, and Eliot Cowan, a introduction of this practice in her first braces and radiates tering its maturity. renowned Huichol shaman from Mexico. book, Ecstatic Body Postures, Belinda Gore both the beauty of Green Egg was an important vehicle for provides a new series of 20 sacred pos- the Native American culture and the many the journey of NeoPaganism in general tures and exercises that allow for a deep- hardships that tribes have faced over many and many individual Pagans in particular. THE ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE er understanding and utilization of these centuries. We were surfing the bleeding edge of Healing Postures for Spirit Journeys shamanic practices. She shows how to use Distilled from issues spanning over 30 cultural shift and, though there were by Belinda Gore the energy awakened by these practices years of Parabola magazine, this strong col- sacrifices and casualties, the collective $23.50, Book+CD set. Book influence of Pagan thought and passion & CD for healing, shape-shifting, initiations into lection illuminates the vast scope of the can today be felt in the field of human Bear & Company. the mysteries of death and rebirth, divina- Native American spiritual tradition. Well- isbn 9781591430964 160-page paperback, consciousness. May our efforts then and tion, spirit journeying, and restoring bal- known figures including Black Elk, Peter now suffice to save our biome, and may b/w illustrations + 60-minute CD ance to the cosmic patterns disrupted by Matthiessen, Arthur Amiotte, Joseph we love and celebrate the magic in our The human need for “The Ecstatic destructive human activity. To help reach Bruchac, N. Scott Momaday, and Joseph lives. —the Editor from 1988–‘94 Experience”—the ability to be free of the these deep, ecstatic trance states, The Epes reveal a continuing line of human ap- Selections from 40 years of Green Egg limitations of ordi- Ecstatic Experience also includes a 60- prenticeship with the earth in writings that nary conscious- include articles from numerous contribu- minute CD of shamanic trance rhythms to span many genres, from poetry and stories tors, including Antero Ali, Isaac Bonewits, ness—is as impera- accompany the journeys. to essays and interviews. tive as the need for Marion Zimmer Bradley, Darryl Cherny, In Native Earth, by Peter Matthiessen, he Phyllis Curott, LaSara Firefox, Ed Fitch, food. Renowned tells us: anthropologist Native American Jesse Wolf Hardin, Anodea Judith, Ralph Felicitas Goodman Indian existence is not separable from Metzner, Diana Paxson, Starhawk, and Indian religions, which is not separable claimed that being . Medicine Ways from the Natural World. Nature itself is deprived of ecstasy Experience the magick, the mystery, the “the Great Mystery”… the whole universe humor and the history as it first appeared was the fundamen- is sacred, man is the whole universe, and in the pages of the Green Egg. tal cause of all THE INNER JOURNEY the religious ceremony is life itself, the forms of addiction. Views from the Native Traditions miraculous common acts of everyday… “The Green Egg has become one of the Indigenous cul- edited by Linda Hogan The Wind, the breath, relates us to all staples of Pagan life, and rightly so in my tures and the civilizations of antiquity were $32.50, paper. Morning Light. other things, which are not inferior, nor opinion. For many years it has been a aware of this and developed specific ritu- isbn 9781596750265 372 pages, French flaps even separate from us; the humblest stone melting pot for Pagan opinion and expe- als to induce and channel trance energies In this eighth and final anthology in is a manifestation of life energy, and the rience; a means for elders to share and be- to detoxify and nourish the subtle body in “The Inner Journey” series from Morning smallest creature has something to teach ginners to learn. Paganism without the us in its accommodations. order to experience the ecstatic reality Light Press and Parabola magazine, the Green Egg would be unthinkable!” —Ray that gives life to matter. beautiful spiritual world of Native The Delaware say, “I exist, I breathe, I Buckland, author of Buckland’s Complete am breathed.” Book of Witchcraft.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 36 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! WICCANS, CELTS & JESUS !

Recent archaeolog- Celtic Studies ical work has un- Wiccan Evolution covered ancient texts that shed new KISSING THE LIMITLESS THE CELTIC QUEST light on the teach- Deep Magic and the Great Work of ings of Jesus, and Transforming Yourself and the World An Anthology from Merlin to Van Morrison edited by Jane Lahr modern scholar- by T. Thorn Coyle ship has revealed $24.95, paper. Weiser. $37.95, cloth. Welcome. isbn 9781599620459 the source material isbn 9781578634354 268 pages for the New Kissing the Limitless is a manual for self-liberation through 240 pages, 7x10, colour illustrations throughout A lavish feast for the eye and spirit, this Testament gospels. magic. Readers will learn to connect with “life power”—the Here, social histori- power of growth, decay, and renewal—and become self-pos- magnificently illustrated volume features classic works from Ireland, Scotland, an Rex Weyler “seeks the authentic say- sessed (akin to enlightenment). They will learn to use ings of this Jewish peasant Jesus, his mes- breath, will, and desire—the key compo- Cornwall, and Wales, winding the sage, and mission,” presenting an nents of effective magic—to, quite literally, accessible overview of these important reshape the world. The tools used to do this finest poetry, fa- bles, fairy tales, new finds, using recent dis- are breath work, shadow and dream work, pendulum work, aura coveries to give a fresh view reading, tarot, meditation, spells, and others. folklore, and lyrics into a magical and of Jesus’ message. This book was written to be used in concert with whatever pagan mesmerizing Celtic By reviewing hundreds of tradition you are currently involved in. There are at least three levels weave. Each sec- obscure, ancient texts, T. Thorn Coyle to it: part one will help you strengthen the foundations of your spiritual Weyler uncovers a consistent practice, part two will ensure that you are sound in body, mind, emotion, tion resonates with thread in the historical sex, and spirit, and have developed will and ethics, and part three will lead you further the mystical ideas into connection with your Godhood… The goal of the book is to help guide you of the Celts and the record regarding the actual Rex Weyler through the stages of personal consciousness that will then enable you to step into traditions of the Druids—the priesthood words, deeds, and teachings inclusive consciousness—a consciousness that encompasses the personal, political, that formed the core of Celtic beliefs. of Jesus. He shows how the message of environmental, social, mental and transpersonal. Structured according to the Celtic lunar Jesus has been misunderstood, and how Coyle weaves together many traditional spiritual perspectives with insights drawn calendar, The Celtic Quest is divided into the authentic Jesus message is useful to- from her own decades of practice and study. (“An astute reader will likely hear three sections: Song, Sword, and Star. day: echoes from whatever tradition she has immersed herself in.”) Each section offers “Song” reveals the Celts’ deep reverence Find the light inside yourself, and share grounded insights together with practical exercises for the reader to apply. As she for nature, celebrating the rebirth of the this with the world. writes, “That is how it goes with this work; the only purity is the gold we refine within.” land as well as the heart in great works by Give to anyone who asks; generosity creates abundance. Take a breath: do I really need to worry about this right now? If the answer is yes, what can I do ancient and contemporary bards. “Sword” reflects the passage of time with tales of Beware those who claim to speak on about it? If the answer is no, can I attempt to let it go? Magic requires waiting until the proper moment behalf of God; first, know yourself. and then acting with full engagement. Choice and will are the essence in fully accessing life power. courage and transformation that trace the Grace arrives not from obedience to Worry impedes freedom of choice and acting from will. Celtic heroes’ journey toward maturity. religious law, but from compassionate “At a time when most books on occult spirituality splash around the shallows or “Star” focuses on the Druidic beliefs in acts. reincarnation, shape-shifting, and pass down recipes by rote, Kissing the Limitless takes the reader on a dizzying and re- He uncovers astonishing insights about shamanic practices. warding plunge into the deep places of magic. Thorn’s passion, knowledge, and ex- Jesus and his followers: From the prophetic poetry of Yeats to tensive experience of magic inform every page of this significant new work.” —John ! The first Jesus followers weren’t “Chris- contemporary voices like Dylan Thomas Michael Greer, author of The Sacred Geometry Oracle tians.” Like Jesus, they were peasant Jews and Van Morrison, this gorgeous book will Also by T. Thorn Coyle is Evolutionary Witchcraft. with naturalist beliefs and pagan tradi- add mystery and magic to your library and tions. your life. Writers include William Blake, THE SHAMANIC WITCH ! Jesus borrowed freely from worldly wis- James Joyce, Katharine Tynan, Robert Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Earth and Other Realms dom (Taoism, Buddhism, Cynic philoso- Burns, and George MacDonald. Artists in- by Gail Wood phers). clude John McKirdy Duncan, Augustus $19.95, paper. Weiser. ! The Jewish Bible mentions many deities, John, Charles Rennie and Margaret isbn 9781578634309 244 pages including goddesses. Macdonald Mackintosh, Harry Clarke, Sir Shamanic practice seeks healing and wisdom from realms ! Jesus doesn’t speak on behalf of God. He Henry Raeburn, James Jebusa Shannon, that overlap the everyday world. The use of plant and animal speaks from his own experience. Peter Davidson, Tim Goulding, Glyn medicines, vision quests, trance work, and ceremonies to heal ! The meaning of titles such as “the Morgan, and Gewn O’Dowd. one’s self and others are the foundations of shamanism. So, Nazarene” and “the Magdalene.” Richly illustrated, this anthology reflects too, do Wicca and witchcraft use the magic and medicine of The voice of Jesus survived decades of plants, animals, and other realms. By learning to incorporate the beauty, diversity, and craftsmanship of Celtic art—including paintings, drawings, oral transmission before written records the practices of shamanism, the witch can enhance his or her appeared, and then centuries of revision natural abilities as healer and creator of positive change. metalwork, and photographs. The unique thereafter… The Shamanic Witch outlines the many similarities between the art of shamanism pairings of art and literature will inspire as I would not want to hurt the feelings of and the craft of the Witch and explores how the overlapping of these two traditions they celebrate the magic, power, and poet- any true believer—whether Hindu, can be used to enhance one’s practice. Where witchcraft brings belief and religion, ry of the Celtic spirit. Muslim, Christian, or Bantu—but the time Shamanism brings skills. has long since arrived for modern society to reckon with the misuse of religion and As Witches, we have an advantage when learning shamanism. The training in the horrors perpetuated on people in the meditation and the movement of energy in ritual and spell work, give the Witch name of religion. In the west, perhaps it is knowledge of how the energy of the Universe works. The Witch already sees herself as Christiain & Jewish time to rediscover what Jesus, a poor the tool through which energy flows and is directed. In addition, the Witch usually has Jewish peasant from Galilee, actually said. an understanding of one or more divination techniques and is accustomed to the idea Spirituality that wisdom comes from a variety of places from within and outside of the self. Weyler, with his knack for experientially apt images and telling ironies—while Sections include Understanding the World of the Shaman, Creatures and Spirits of Other probing to the heart of the matter—ap- Realms, Developing a Shamanic Practice, The Toolkit of the Shamanic Practitioner, The THE JESUS SAYINGS proaches this controversial subject with an Realms of the Witch, and Melding Worlds: Becoming the Witch-Shaman. The Quest for His Authentic open, objective, and thoughtful mind. The “Following the concepts and practices laid out in this book offers something be- Message Jesus Sayings entertains, enlightens, and yond basic core shamanism and witchcraft. It reminds you of your own innate by Rex Weyler can inspire seekers from all spiritual tradi- shamanic abilities and teaches you to put them into practice as a witch-shaman, or $19.95, paper. Anansi Press. tions. shamanic witch.” —from the foreword by Kristin Madden, author of The Book of isbn 9780887848193 408 pages Also by Rex Weyler: Chop Wood, Carry Shamanic Healing Not all of the words attributed to Jesus Water and Greenpeace: The Inside Story. were actually spoken by him, New in nor did he teach all of the Paperback doctrines taught as part of the Christian tradition. The canonical gospels mix fact and fiction, and many of Jesus’ sayings were lost for 2,000 years. So what did Jesus, or Yeshua, as he was known to his followers, really teach?

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 37 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! GNOSTICS, SAINTS & PRAYERS !

cation to the poor and the ation, this great Spanish mystic, and pre- sick—in readable and sim- sents us with—four centuries after Teresa’s The Gnostic Bible ple language for contem- death—someone we feel porary readers. The intro- we know: A woman intoxi- THE GNOSTIC BIBLE ductions to each story cated with God yet filled Revised Edition serve as helpful commen- with an overflowing love edited by Willis Barnstone & Marvin Meyer taries, further translating for the world. $32.00, paper. Shambhala. isbn 9781590306314 896 pages St. Francis of the wisdom and spirit of Assisi In spite of her reputation The result of a unique collaboration between a Franciscan literature. The for exotic altered states, renowned poet-translator and a leading scholar of early translators include rough- Teresa was a profoundly Christian texts, The Gnostic Bible presents the most signifi- Ecstasy of ly half of the 53 stories in the original col- St. Teresa practical woman. She had cant and beautiful sacred texts of gnostic mysticism. The lection, picking only the stories that “clear- little patience for flashy gnostics were religious thinkers who believed that salvation ly and forcefully present some sort of spiritual phenomena… Teresa left us a is found through direct mystical knowledge and personal discrete spiritual teaching by Francis him- legacy of some of the most stunning spiritual insights in all of religious religious experience. Gnostic writings offer striking per- self.” literature. She has served as an spectives on both early Christian and non-Christian “This free and vibrant new translation of thought. For example, some gnostic texts suggest that God inspiration, guide, and source of solace to charming tales from the life of St. Francis countless pilgrims of the inner wilderness, should be celebrated as both Mother and Father and that of Assisi… clearly show the revolutionary and her teachings are as relevant today as self-knowledge is the route to union with the Divine. impact that Francis had on his contempo- ever before. To know oneself truly allowed gnostic men and women to know God directly, raries, and how following the teachings of without any need for the mediation of rabbis, priests, bishops, imams, or other Jesus can be a subversive way of life.” — religious officials… Gnostics sought knowledge and wisdom from many different James Martin sources, and they accepted insight wherever it could be found… A JEWISH WOMAN’S PRAYER BOOK The sacred texts presented in this volume all help to clarify what is and who edited by Aliza Lavie the gnostics were. TERESA OF AVILA: $40.00, cloth. Random House. Dating from the 1st to the 13th century, the selections in this volume represent THE BOOK OF MY LIFE isbn 9780385522748 408 pages Jewish, Christian, Hermetic, Mandaean, Manichaean, Islamic, and Cathar forms of translated by Mirabai Starr, Unable to find sufficient solace in the Gnostic spirituality, and their sources include Egypt, the Greco-Roman world, the foreword by Tessa Bielecki traditional prayer book for times of Middle East, Syria, Iraq, China, and France. These texts, such as the Gospel of Mary $21.00, paper. Shambhala. women’s inexplica- Magdalene and the Gospel of Thomas, show that gnosticism was a world religion isbn 9781590305737 346 pages ble grief, and in- $44.00, 4 CDs. that sought truths in a wide variety of traditions and expressed those truths in pow- spired by the mem- isbn 9781590304365 4.5 hours, abridged erful and provocative mystical poetry and prose. The impact of gnosticism upon ory of her own Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), the other religions of the world was considerable, and that influence continues today. grandmother’s Spanish Carmelite nun and mystic, is one steadfast knowl- The way to wisdom and knowledge cannot be closed. Such a sense of wisdom and of the most beloved knowledge has made this sacred literature attractive to free spirits in the past and equally edge and faith, figures of the fascinating to many in the present day. Israeli professor Catholic faith—with Aliza Lavie began This is the first time that such a diverse collection of ancient gnostic texts has a broad appeal researching and been published in a single volume, and many of the texts have never before been among Christians compiling prayers translated into English. and non-Christians written for and by This expanded edition also includes the Gospel of Judas, recently discovered. alike. Her texts of Jewish women. “An enormously rich collection of sources—a wonderful achievement!” —Elaine spiritual instruc- Pagels, author, The Gnostic Gospels tion—such as The The stories that I heard taught me that Interior Castle and there was a common longing for Bubbe’s prayers, for Mama’s prayers, for the The Way of THE GNOSTIC BIBLE Book prayers of a women’s circle that had been translated by Willis Barnstone & Marvin Meyer & CD Perfection—balance broken. The acceptance of a standardized $22.95, Book+CD set. Shambhala. mysticism with an amiable practicality and prayer formula had led to the isbn 9781590306420 224-page paperback + 3 audio CDs are perennial classics. Her spiritual autobi- disappearance of the spiritual world of Gnosticism was a wide-ranging religious movement of the ography, which she called The Book of My women—their unique prayers, songs, first millennium C.E. whose adherents sought salvation Life, was written at the height of her influ- ceremonies, customs, and special versions through knowledge and mystical experience. Sample the gnos- ence and at the direction of the infamous of blessings. tics in their own words with this unique book-and-audio set. The book, The Gnostics Spanish Inquisition, to spell out her teach- A Jewish Woman’s Prayer Book is the result and Their Scriptures, provides a brief yet thorough introduction to gnostic philoso- ing for them. of Lavie’s extensive research—a beautiful phy, while the audio program allows you to encounter the gnostic scriptures as the Humility is the ground of prayer, and and moving one-of-a-kind collection that living oral tradition they were intended to be. The selections are taken from among the deeper the soul bows down in prayer draws from a variety of Jewish traditions, the most important—and most poetically beautiful—of all gnostic texts, including the higher the Beloved will lift her up. through the ages, to commemorate every the Gospels of Thomas, Judas, and Mary Magdalene. Teresa’s autobiography includes her occasion and every passage in the cycle of The selections in this book-and-audio-CD set have been gleaned from the larger, lively early life (she was the last person any- life, from the mundane to the extraordi- complete volume of The Gnostic Bible, which spans almost 900 pages. one would have expected to become a nary. It retrieves many communal customs nun), her first halfhearted attempts at and traditional prayers that had been monastic life, and her eventual conversion nearly lost to time, and preserves them for the generations to come. the source of many of the most famous to an existence consumed with passion for LITTLE FLOWERS This elegant, inspiring volume includes OF FRANCIS OF ASSISI stories about Francis—including the ac- God. She goes on to talk of her visionary special prayers for the Sabbath and holi- A New Translation counts of his preaching to the birds and of experiences and offers insightful interpre- days and important dates of the Jewish by Robert Hopcke & Paula Schwartz his receiving of the stigmata—and they tations of them. Teresa of Avila is a remark- year; prayers to mark celebratory mile- $16.00, paper. Shambhala. are based on stories that circulated about able record of someone struggling to put stones, such as bat mitzvah, marriage, isbn 9781590303757 160 pages him in the years after his death. words to the ineffable—and it is imbued pregnancy, and childbirth; and prayers for This collection of folk tales, legends, Robert Hopcke and Paul Schwartz pro- with Teresa’s great and generous spirit. comfort and understanding in times of and narratives about the life of Francis of vide the first truly new translation of the She recounts a mystical experience: tragedy and loss. Each prayer is presented Assisi and his follow- Fioretti in 40 years, and in doing so they I cannot express in writing the glory I in Hebrew and in English translation, ers appeared about 75 bring the spiritual classic up to date, using experienced… It cannot be put into along with fascinating commentary on its years after the saint’s contemporary language to show Francis to words…. I recognized that everything we origins and allusions. Culled from a wide death, in the early be a living, breathing human being who could ever desire was present together there, yet I didn’t see anything. Then range of sources, both geographically and 14th century. The walked the streets of Assisi in a state of someone, I don’t know who, said, “All you historically, this collection testifies that writings have re- spiritual, physical, and social enlighten- can do is understand that you can women’s prayers were—and continue to mained popular ever ment, through his own existence making understand nothing.” The voice urged me be—an inspired expression of personal since due to their Christ real in the world. The translators to reflect more deeply. “Compared to that supplication and desire. beauty and charm, have also edited the work to present the glory,” it said, “nothing else is anything at and because they are stories that most powerfully present all.” the nearest thing to a Francis’s spirit and teaching. Mirabai Starr’s English translation mir- biography of Francis They succeed in telling the tales of rors Teresa’s own earthy, vernacular that exists. They are Francis’s ministry—particularly his dedi- Spanish. It brings to life, for a new gener-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 38 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! SHEKHINAH, SUFIS & ASTROLOGY !

ON THE WINGS OF SHEKHINAH be made visible. Our thirst for wisdom and Rediscovering Judaism’s Divine Feminine THE GARDEN OF TRUTH understanding must go to the fountain of universal truth. These stories provide wa- by Leah Novick The Vision and Promise of Sufism, Islam’s Mystical Tradition $20.50, paper. Quest. by Seyyed Hossein Nasr ter from that fountain. isbn 9780835608619 210 pages $16.25, paper. HarperCollins. Now Nevit comes with the gift of these One effect of rising interest in the isbn 9780061625992 272 pages stories, his own wholly original fables. is a renewed focus on the Headlines are filled with the politics of Islam, but Sufism You might say they are inquiries into the Shekhinah, is the poetry and romance of the world’s fastest growing re- nature of human life, this astonishingly solitary consciousness that we endure, Judaism’s divine ligion. This mystical movement within enjoy, suffer, inhabit. These stories feel feminine principle. Islam dates from the early 9th century. It Written with honest and necessary, like pages torn from has a long and respected tradition of re- an explorer’s notebook… These stories are warmth and clarity, jecting worship motivated by the desire for not for school. They are for unlearning! On the Wings of heavenly reward or the fear of punishment, For the mature human imagination. — Shekhinah inter- insisting rather on the love of God as the Coleman Barks, from his foreword weaves historical sole valid form of adoration. Nasr is the views of this con- preeminent Sufi scholar in the U.S., and in the tradition of Martin cept with thought- Seyyed Hossein Buber’s I and Thou, here provides the beliefs and vision of the mys- Astrology, Tarot ful quotes and Nasr tical heart of Islam. guided The Prophet of Islam said, “Whosoever knows his self, knows his Lord”; that is, self- & Divination meditations. Rabbi knowledge leads to knowledge of the Divine. Sufism takes this saying (hadith) very Leah Novick offers healing strategies for seriously and also puts it into practice. It provides, within the spiritual universe of the both Jews and non-Jews turned off by rigid Islamic tradition, the light necessary to illuminate the dark corners of our soul and the THE ONLY ASTROLOGY BOOK gender roles. Awareness of the keys to open the doors to the hidden recesses of our being so that we can journey YOU’LL EVER NEED Shekhinah’s energy within and around us within and know ourselves, this knowledge leading ultimately to the knowledge of God, With an Interactive CD-ROM helps bring hope to a planet afflicted by who resides in our heart/center. by Joanna Martine Woolfolk war, violence, and environmental abuse— Sufism has made significant contributions to the spread of Islam and the devel- $19.95. Taylor Trade. this book shows how to find and use that opment of aspects of Islamic civilization (for example, the Sufi poet Rumi is now isbn 9781589793774 energy. the bestselling poet in North America). Many conservative Muslims disagree with 534 pages, 9x9, b/w illustrations + software CD Denied and suppressed for thousand of popular Sufi practices, particularly saint worship, the visiting of tombs, and the in- A great bargain for the price, this new years, the Divine Feminine returns at a corporation of non-Islamic customs. Consequently, in recent centuries Sufism has 2008 edition of The Only Astrology Book time when the breakdown of traditional been a target for Islamic reformist and modernist movements. You’ll Ever Need is belief leaves us desperate for love, for Here is the book that presents the ideas and principles held dear by this peace- full of updated security, for protection, for wisdom, for ful, loving tradition within Islam, along with a concise history of Sufi saints and information. meaning. It leaves us yearning for a schools of thought. Sufism is a much-needed corrective to the extremist Muslim The enclosed in- nurturing and cultivation of our whole fundamentalists who capture the headlines and taint our perception of the religion teractive CD- being, that we might be adequate stewards ROM allows you of the coming planetary civilization. of one-fifth of humanity. Among other books by Seyyed Hossein Nasr is The Heart of Islam. to cast your “Luminious and astute, this invaluable chart in minutes resource follows the journey of the just by entering Shekhinah through Jewish scripture, Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi penetrated to getting under your the date, time, the heart of Reality and returned with the skin, far under, way Midrash, and Kabbalah, concluding with and place of your birth into the computer. her rise among Jewish feminists who un- fragrance and flavor of Truth. Not only is deep down into he one of the greatest literary geniuses, areas of your Once your chart is created, derstand that the Feminine Face of God is but, perhaps more importantly, he also psyche that you Book & you are directed to corre- necessary to the health both of soul and addresses the most important subject that ordinarily rarely Software sponding pages in the book world. Rabbi Novick also offers profound can be addressed: the human being’s access.” to read about every detail of visualizations to help us connect personal- relationship with the Divine, with Truth —Will Johnson, your horoscope. This edition contains new ly with the Shikhinah. At the heart of the itself. While entertaining, inspiring, from his intro information on Sun signs, Moon signs, Mystery we discover Shekhinah as our informing, and subtly guiding us, Rumi’s Sufi stories have Ascending signs, placements of Planets in words touch us at the level where we most hope, our beckoning evolutionary vision, traditionally been your Houses, latest astronomical discover- need to be touched: the very depths of our and our point of contact with the spiritual ies, and more. hearts. a means of open- genius that resides within each of us.” — ing a portal into This edition of The Only Astrology Book Jean Houston, author of Jump Time The Pocket Rumi includes jeweler’s-eye states of extraordi- You’ll Ever Need still includes detailed in- Leah Novick, a pioneer in restoring the selections from the Rubaiyat, Ghazels, nary awareness. This collection of decep- formation about how to cast your own Feminine to contemporary Judaism, is ac- and selections from the Mathnawi. While tively simple stories by renowned Rumi chart the old-fashioned way and more im- tive in the Jewish Renewal movement. much of this has been published in other translator and Sufi Nevit Ergin has the portantly, how to interpret it once you’re books, some quatrains are new, as well as ability to remove readers’ complacent finished. “The Tale of the Bedouin and His Wife.” sense of identity and to expand their or- Although this is not the only astrology Sufism, Islam book that your library will ever need, it is THE SHIP SUNK IN LOVE dinary awareness of reality from every pos- still a valuable title that should be strongly & Rumi Should Love’s heart rejoice unless I burn? sible direction. In his stories the primrose For my heart is Love’s dwelling. path we travel suddenly turns into a trick- considered. Woolfolk, the horoscope If You will burn Your house, burn it, Love! ster’s hall of mirrors where we learn that columnist for Marie Claire and Redbook THE POCKET RUMI Who will say, “It’s not allowed”? we are not children of Adam and Eve so magazines, thoroughly covers sun signs, Burn this house thoroughly! moon signs, planets, the significance of edited by Kabir Helminski much as children of our . The lover’s house improves with fire. $7.95, paper. Shambhala. The protagonists and antagonists of the 12 zodiacal houses, and 21st-century From now on I will make burning my aim, isbn 9781590306352 256 pages, 3x5 these stories are constantly morphing and projections. The author gives an easy, log- for I am like the candle: exchanging places. They exist in a world ical way to integrate the interpretations of Trust in God is the best livelihood... burning only makes me brighter. where individuals are stalked by a cricket the sun signs, moon signs, planets, and I know nothing better than gratitude which Abandon sleep tonight; traverse for one houses in any given chart, something not brings in its wake the daily bread and its night the region of the sleepless. that is an “invisible monster with the face increase. Look upon these lovers who have become of a demon,” confront the ambiguous bur- easily done or often seen in general astrol- den of ridding oneself of one’s own corpse, ogy books. In recent years, Rumi’s poetry has been distraught and like moths have died and discover the “invisible fence of reality” “Truly lives up to its title.” —United Press found in bathrooms, shrine rooms, bed- in union with the One Beloved. Look upon this ship of God’s creatures existing in the layers of a discarded piece International rooms, backpacks, back- And see how it is sunk in Love. of art. The symbols in these stories are stage—wherever people booby traps designed to release the mind enjoy the fragrance of from the sense of its own importance and spiritual awakening and Banyen Event TALES OF A MODERN SUFI awaken the realization that “if you refuse to the magic of the flower- The Invisible Fence of Reality and Other Stories be born, you cannot die.” Blind faith, the ing heart. Here Rumi ap- AN EMERALD EARTH by Nevit Ergin, author says, has proved itself incapable of pears in a lovely June 26-27 foreword by Coleman Barks producing wisdom, tolerance, or world Shambhala miniature $17.50, paper. Inner Traditions. peace. This is because the answers to hu- with Sufi teachers edition, edited by Sufi isbn 9781594772702 140 pages manity’s problems lie beyond our ordinary teacher Kabir Helminski, See p.5 for details “As simple as his stories may appear to perception and require love and ecstasy to author of The Knowing be, they have a mischievous way of Heart. BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 39 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! METAPHYSICS !

THE ASTROLOGY Other people are a mystery. They OF SELF DISCOVERY behave as they do because of their own An In-Depth Exploration of the Potentials inner logic, not yours. Their realities are Deeper Meanings of the Tarot Revealed in Your Birth Chart different, their hearts are different, their by Tracy Marks ideals are different. Some are, naturally, RACHEL POLLACK’S TAROT WISDOM $22.50, paper. Nicolas Hays. more congenial. We can’t really love Spiritual Teachings and Deeper Meanings isbn 9780892541362 314 pages everybody. But we can understand, and by Rachel Pollack The Astrology of Self Discovery provides here astrology has a very loud and $25.50, paper. Llewellyn. important voice. More than anything else, isbn 9780738713090 guidance for achieving self-development it aids in understanding, and from through attune- 480 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations understanding comes genuine tolerance. Beloved by nearly half a million Tarot enthusiasts, Rachel ment to planetary And also compassion, which is one of the influences and Pollack’s Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom transformed the study of building blocks of love. Know something Tarot. Finally—after 30 years—the much-anticipated follow-up to gives direction to of the other signs, and elements, and you her revered classic has arrived! Enhanced by the author’s person- those struggling discover the world is much larger than you thought and much more interesting. al insights and wisdom earned over the past three decades, Rachel with life’s issues. Pollack’s Tarot Wisdomwill inspire fans and attract a new generation Combining astrolo- Liz Greene, a noted Jungian analyst as of Tarot students. gy, depth psycholo- well as a widely respected astrologer, is Alive with a rich array of new ideas, yet reverent to the history and tradition of gy, and spiritual also the author of Saturn: A New Look at an tarot, Rachel Pollack’s Tarot Wisdom is a comprehensive guide for all levels. All 78 teachings, Marks Old Devil and The Astrology of Fate cards are explored from fresh angles: tarot history, art, psychology, and a wide va- helps the reader riety of spiritual/occult traditions. Pollack also takes tarot reading in new and ex- make contact with citing directions—spanning predictive, psychological and spiritual readings, which the planets as they THE PSYCHIC TAROT are for asking the bigger questions on soul development. A whole section is dedi- function as internal archetypes and per- ORACLE DECK cated to the often challenging Court Cards. A wealth of new spreads are featured, sonalities, as well as gain in- by John Holland New in one for each of the Major Arcana and for each suit of the minor arcana. Other sight, perspective, and the $19.95, cards. Hay House. Paperback spreads, as well as how to make one to fit specific situations, are found in the isbn 9781401918668 tools for self-empowerment. “Readings” section. Written in a warm anecdotal style, this all-encompassing guide 65-card deck + guidebook She has helpful advice on how to prepare will reinvigorate your practice. Renowned medium and spiritual for and handle outer planet transits, espe- Rachel Pollack is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Tarot. She has pub- teacher John Holland has created The cially Neptune and Pluto, which she covers lished 12 books on the subject, including Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, consid- Psychic Tarot Oracle Deck to encourage your in depth. She also addresses the healing of ered the “bible for Tarot readers.” For the past 20 years, she has taught Tarot at innate psychic abil- the “inner child” and the feminine princi- Omega Institute in New York. ple as expressed by the Moon and the lu- ities to emerge. nar nodes as an expression of life pur- These 65 cards THE THOTH COMPANION pose. Provocative questions and have beautiful digi- The Key to the True Symbolic Meaning of the Thoth Tarot worksheets help the reader apply the life tal illustrations by Michael Osiris Snuffin lessons she presents. and striking gold $19.50, paper. Llewellyn. Marks’ experience as a psychotherapist edges. Each suit is isbn 9780738711928 240 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations and spiritual teacher has enabled her to easily recognized ’s Thoth Tarot—one of the most popular, synthesize her knowledge of psychology by its defining bor- beautiful, and enigmatic tarot decks—offers rich rewards with her astrological work to elucidate a der color. They are for those who can penetrate its complex symbolism. This path of deepening personal awareness made of sturdy book, written by a ceremonial magician and tarot expert, and cooperation with planetary energies. card stock and is a comprehensive guide to understanding and using this The unique insights in The Astrology of Self come with a stor- fundamental deck. All 78 cards are examined through the Discovery give fresh, new life to the practice age box. lens of , Qabala, and ceremonial magic—the of astrology. The cards include the 22 Major Arcana spiritual foundations upon which the deck was built. These detailed interpretations This revised edition of the bestselling cards, one to nine of four suits: Physical, reveal valuable insights, significant correspondences, and Crowley’s encoded se- astrological classic includes a new chapter Emotional, Mental and Spiritual, plus sev- crets. clarifying the interplay between free will en chakra cards. The absence of the court The tarot speaks to us in the language of symbols. Those who use the Thoth deck for and fate and in-depth coverage of cards of traditional tarot decks and the ad- divination will discover that knowledge of the symbolism of the cards will increase the Neptune and Pluto. dition of the chakra cards make it an in- clarity and depth of their tarot readings. I have included my own interpretations of the “About as fine a book on astrology as teresting “hybrid” of tarot and oracle. cards, which are derived from their symbols and based on my experience as a tarot This forms a comprehensive, user friendly reader… you’ll ever encounter: intelligent, clearly Like The Book of Thoth, this book is not an introductory text on the tarot. written, a pleasure to read.” —Horoscope deck fine for a novice or an experienced Also by Tracy Marks is her classic The Art tarot aficionado. Each card has keywords Once you’ve digested the meaning behind this legendary deck, this user-friendly guide can of Chart Interpretation. that serve as a springboard for their inter- help you use it for divination, developing intuition, meditation, and pathworking. pretation. In the accompanying book, John In Frequency, Penney Peirce shows you ASTROLOGY FOR LOVERS Holland shows how to include colour, how to feel your personal vibration and by Liz Greene symbolism, shapes, words, numerology Metaphysics work intentionally with energy to trans- $22.50, paper. Weiser. and the energy centers into readings. He & Philosophy form your life. By learning to find your isbn 9781578634262 365 pages includes several different spreads and en- “home frequency”—the highest, most nat- A 1980 classic back in print, Astrology for courages the use of imagination and trust- ural personal vibration you can attain— Lovers is an in-depth guide to relationship ing your intuition. This deck can help you FREQUENCY you can maximize clarity, minimize strug- compatibility—rich develop intuitive insights and helpful The Power of Personal Vibration gle, and discover new talents and with physical, sensu- guidance in all areas of life, whether mat- by Penny Peirce capacities. al, and psychological ters of love and relationships, business de- $32.00, cloth. Beyond Words. Awakening to the new reality that a advice for taking cisions, or even career changes. isbn 9781582702124 272 pages higher frequency reveals can help you each of the 12 signs After studying and using this deck, Science has long taught us to rely on dramatically improve relationships, find of the zodiac as a you’ll not only have a better understand- what we can see and touch so we often upscale solutions to problems, and mate- partner and lover. It ing of the language and wisdom of the don’t notice that rialize a life that contains everything you guides readers Tarot, but your psychic abilities will have our spirit, need. Frequency shows you how to man- through the distinc- been tuned up as you discover a new way thoughts, emo- age your energy “state” so you can stay on tive characteristics, to connect and interpret the cards. tions, and body are track with your destiny—and reap the mythology, sensual “Whether you are new to oracle decks all made of energy. benefits of the life you’re truly built for. hot-spots, and even or use them all the time, this new deck will Everything is vi- Peirce describes nine phases of the the shadow side of be a great addition to your six sensory tool brating. In fact, transformations process: each of the Sun signs and gives readers kit and I know you will love them.”—Sonia each of us has a ! Spirit Merges with Body, Emotions, and “insider tips” about themselves as well as Choquette, author, Trust Your Vibes personal vibration Mind ! potential mates. In this new edition, Liz John Holland is also author of The that communicates The Frequency of Life Increases in Every Greene has written the guide for finding Psychic Navigator (book and CD) and who we are to the Way, Everywhere ! The Personal-Collective Subconscious your dream date, your best lover, or even Power of the Soul. world and helps Mind Empties your true love. shape our reality.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 40 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! ALCHEMICAL GUIDES !

thor of Matrix Energetics peace between na- “Skillful methods for upleveling our tions to the pat- Modern & Practical Alchemy home frequency and uplifting not only our terns of human re- individual life, but throughout the cos- lationships mirror ON BECOMING AN ALCHEMIST mos… A most excellent energetic medi- the returning cycles A Guide for the Modern Magician cine, universally applicable to the times in of our past. As each by Catherine MacCoun which we live.” —Michael Bernard cycle repeats, it car- $18.95, paper. Shambhala. Beckwith, author, Spiritual Liberation ries a more power- isbn 9781590306871 264 pages Also by Peirce is The Intuitive Way. ful, amplified ver- True magicians don’t cause things to appear or disappear. sion of itself. They take what already exists—whatever they’re presented The key, accord- with—and transmute the harmful into the help- New in Transmissions ing to Braden: If ful, the useless into the valuable. Paperback you know where to The most accessible discussion of the psycho- & Revelations look in the past, you know what to expect spiritual dimensions of alchemy to appear in years, On when the same conditions return in the Becoming an Alchemist helps readers to understand how this al- present and future. For the first time in chemical transmutation is achieved—not through trying to change circumstances, THE INSTRUCTION print, the Time Code Calculator gives us a but through changing ourselves. At its essence, practicing alchemy involves devel- Living the Life New in tool to do just that. Through basic science oping an understanding of our relationship to the situation, person, or object in Your Soul Intended Paperback and step-by-step instructions, discover for question—and realizing that by changing our viewpoint, we can exert influence by Ainslie MacLeod yourself: over people and events. Refreshingly, the alchemical principles presented can be $19.50, paper. Sounds True. ! How the conditions for 2012 have oc- applied to all the ordinary challenges of life including relationships, family life, isbn 9781591797203 288 pages curred in the past, and what we can ex- work, health, finances, and creative endeavors. Have you ever sensed that your life has a pect when they repeat This richly gratifying exploration of alchemy is written for the advanced magical deeper, more meaningful purpose—but ! The “hot dates” that hold the greatest practitioner who is a novice alchemist. Presenting this ancient art as a kind of spir- don’t know what it is? threats of war, and the greatest opportu- itual graduate school, through vivid storytelling and crystalline prose she maps out Psychic Ainslie nities for peace the mental landscape of alchemy, showing how the process is similar to that used by MacLeod’s high-level ! How Earth’s location in space triggers cy- religious mystics. spirit guides have given cles of spiritual growth for humans Using the traditional components of alchemy as a metaphor, the base metal of a him a systematic ap- ! Your personal time codes for the key tragic life event or even a bad mood can become source material in the process of proach to uncovering events of business, relationships, and personal transformation. Everything in MacCoun’s cosmos stands ready to lead one who you really are—and change in your life toward the deeper truths of reality. the life your soul has ! How each cycle carries a window of op- “Catherine MacCoun is a great communicator, and she knows her stuff from the planned for you. portunity—a choice point—that allows us inside too. Blows a bright and refreshing breeze through the musty halls of her- The problem is that to select a new outcome for the return- metic and magical symbolism, and lays it all on the line. Highly recommended.” — most of us don’t know ing pattern Gareth Knight, author of Magic and the Western Mind what it is we actually ! What the 1999 ice cores from Antarctica “A true alchemist, Catherine MacCoun has transformed profound ideas into a want. We end up sailing from one place to the next, hoping to find who or what we’re reveal about past cycles of climate, glob- gold standard of what a book on magic should be. Excellently written with prose al warming, Earth’s protective magnetic that sparkles with clarity and wit, this book can serve novice and advanced practi- looking for through luck rather than design. The Instruction offers an alternative to fields, and what these things mean for us tioner alike with equal grace and insight.” —David Spangler, author, Blessing this hit-or-miss approach. It explains how today. Catherine MacCoun also wrote the acclaimed novel Beyond the Abbey Gates. to create a happier and more purposeful This way to make sense life by finding out who you are and why of the rapid, and often REAL ALCHEMY you’re here. dramatic, change of to- A Primer of Practical Alchemy Now this unique teaching is offered as a day’s world can guide us by Robert Allen Bartlett step-by-step program for realizing personal away from the destructive $23.50, paper. Nicolas Hays. fulfillment. The Instruction will take you choices we’ve made in the isbn 9780892541508 218 pages through ten “doorways” to unveil the life past. Gregg suggests that if A ground-breaking modern manual on an ancient art, plan your soul created before you were Gregg Braden we can see time from this Real Alchemy draws on both modern scientific technology even born, including: perspective, the past re- and ancient methods. ! Your Soul Age: Determining how it shapes veals the great secret of our moment in A laboratory scientist and chemist, Robert Allen Bartlett your beliefs and behaviors history and what we can expect as the provides an overview of the history of alchemy, as well as an ! Your Soul Type: Are you a Hunter? 5,000-year cycle of the Mayan calendar exploration of the theories behind the practice. Clean, Thinker? Creator? What your Soul Type ends in our lifetime. clear, simple, and easy to read, Real Alchemy provides excel- reveals about your true self Among Gregg Braden’s other titles are lent directions regarding the production of plant products ! Your Powers: Connecting fully and per- The Spontaneous Healing of Belief and The and transitions the reader-student into the basics of mineral work— what some con- manently with your spirit guides to create God Code. sider the true domain of alchemy. New students to practical laboratory alchemy will your destiny enjoy reading Real Alchemy and hopefully find the encouragement needed to un- ! Your Talents: Using your past lives to en- dertake their own alchemical journey. Bartlett also explains what the ancients real- hance the present. Event ly meant when they used the term “Philosopher’s Stone” and describes several very By taking you on a journey beyond this real and practical methods for its achievement. Is the fabled Philosopher’s Stone an plane, MacLeod uses The Instruction’s sys- GREGG BRADEN elixir of long life or is it a method of transforming lead into gold? Judge for your- tem to help you unlock the secrets of your 2012 AND BEYOND: self. soul’s purpose, and illuminate the path of Thorough yet concise, Bartlett covers theory and practice, including minerals, THE SHIFT HAS BEGUN your life. waterworks, and metallic works. Also included are treatises on astrology, Qabbalah, More info on Ainslie: soul-world.com. with Howard Martin herbalism, and minerals, as they relate to alchemy. Bartlett teaches this “celestial agriculture,” making it easy to understand and en- Thurs., Oct. 15, $45 abling the average person to create their own unique remedies at home through FRACTAL TIME the workings of the herbal kingdom. He is online at alchemylab.com. The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age Unity Church of Vancouver by Gregg Braden tkts: Banyen, 604-737-8858 $30.95, cloth. Hay House. ! You Retrench, Refortify, Resist, and Re- exercises for reversing misperceptions, www.bellaspark.com isbn 9781401920647 256 pages suppress feeling into a power spot, entering your $29.95, 4 CDs. See ad p. 2 ! Old Structures Break Down and Dissolve body in a deeper way and many more. isbn 9781401920661 4 hours, abridged ! You Stop, Let Go, and Relax into Your “Seeing ourselves as energy beings is the Merging modern discoveries of nature’s Truest Self most important breakthrough of our ! You Re-Emerge into the World like the patterns (fractals) with ancient views of a times. In Frequency, Penny Peirce clarifies cyclic universe, Gregg Braden offers a pow- Phoenix many of the energy principles that have ! Relationship, Family, and Group Experi- erful model of time—Fractal Time—and a previously been unacknowledged, but window into what we might expect for the ence Are Revolutionized which we can now intentionally use to ! year 2012 and beyond. Applying fractal Enlightenment Is Grounded in Every Bit keep ourselves healthy and improve the of Matter time to the history of the world and life, he realities we live in.” —Richard Bartlett, au- Each chapter has practical “Try This!” proposes that everything from the war and

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 41 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! IS 2012 THE KEYHOLE OF EVOLUTION? !

THE MYSTERY OF 2012 2012: BIOGRAPHY OF A TIME TRAVELER Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities The Journey of José Arguelles by Various Authors by Stephanie South $21.95, paper. Sounds True. $21.50, paper. New Page. isbn 9781591796749 424 pages New in isbn 9781601630650 308 pages, 40 b/w photos/illustrations $38.00, 4 CDs. Paperback “Although time (and not too much of it) will tell, I suspect isbn 9781591797227 5 hours, adapted that José will be honored as one of the most important Are we really coming to the end of a cosmic cycle? Will there thinkers in human history.” —Daniel Pinchbeck be an age of awakening, a new step in human evolution, or even What if someone told you that you were living in the wrong an end to the world we know? Archaeologists have long known time and that the unparalleled catastrophes of the world were the Mayan calendar predicts this date (December 21, 2012) as the largely due to an erroneous perception of time? Would you be- end of an era on Earth. Yet today, researchers, spiritual explorers, lieve it? and even scientists are witnessing signs that this period through 2012 is marking a crit- 2012: Biography of a Time Traveler is the authorized biogra- ical shift in the history of our planet. Now, for the first time, leading teachers on the phy of José Arguelles, the man who first introduced the date December 21, 2012 into 2012 phenomenon present their insights in a single book: The Mystery of 2012. mass consciousness with The Mayan Factor. The initiator of the Articulate and lucid essays from dozens of renowned experts on the question of Harmonic Convergence global peace meditation of 1987, Arguelles is 2012 examine the mystery from spiritual, economic, ecological, and scientific angles. also the founder of the annual Whole Earth Festival (1970) in Among the revelations herein: California, and one of the originators of the Earth Day concept. ! John Major Jenkins’ journey to the source for answers—the original Mayan calendar Following a life-changing vision at age 14, atop the Pyramid of the and the wisdom it embodies Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Arguelles began a lifelong journey to dis- ! Gregg Braden on the scientific evidence for a shift in the earth’s magnetic field, and cover the underlying mathematics and prophecies associated with the how it will affect all life José Arguelles Mayan calendar. 2012: Biography of a Time Traveler is an engaging jour- ! Barbara Marx Hubbard’s and Peter Russell’s explorations of the accelerating pace ney through the inner and outer realms of this visionary. As the story of evolution—why we may literally be transforming into a new species unfolds, you will follow Arguelles through many startling synchronicities and trans- ! Ecologist Joanna Macy’s vision of “The Great Turning,” and how we can take part in formations of consciousness. Through his amazing saga, you may see that every detail this shift to a life-sustaining culture of your own life is also precisely designed, down to the most seemingly mundane cir- ! Daniel Pinchbeck’s investigation of the shift of consciousness that will be necessary cumstance. for humanity to survive 2012 By uncovering the Mayan codes, Arguelles discovered the telepathic nature of time. ! Jean Houston on the coming “Jump Time,” and her practical tips for dealing with its He also realized that the human species is living in artificial time, which is disrupting impact on your life its planetary environment and destroying its civilization. ! James O’Dea on the rich time of healing ahead as humanity responds to an over- This book sheds light on the crisis our planet is undergoing today and offers clues taxed Nature’s “wake-up call”—the time for which we each were born. about how we can realign with natural time to make a peaceful transition on Whether you are a skeptic, a true believer, or simply “2012-curious,” The Mystery of December 21, 2012. 2012 offers a comprehensive exploration into the possibilities of this approaching (Check out noosphereconference.org for Bali solar eclipse gathering of July 22, landmark in human history. 2009 with Arguelles and others.) Over the years, questions about 2012 have continued to resurface in my awareness, and Stephanie South is coauthor (with Arguelles) of the seven-volume Cosmic History with increasing urgency. Each year I meet more and more highly intelligent and serious Chronicles. spiritual practitioners who have seen, through direct inner vision, that the planet is being offered an opportunity to evolve during this 2012 window. They believe that 2012 offers a “gateway of possibility,” an opportunity for awakening that Ring the bells that still can ring requires our immediate attention. Moreover, a growing number of visionary writers and thinkers from diverse backgrounds—futurists, scientists, artists, eco-philosophers, and social Forget your perfect offering theorists—are writing about 2012 and the decade that follows as a time of unprecedented There is a crack, a crack in everything and accelerated planetary change… Our goal has been to create an “investigative reader”—a book designed to aid the open- That’s how the light gets in. minded person in exploring the mystery of 2012 efficiently, thoroughly, and from a number of different vantage points. —Tami Simon, from her introduction —Leonard Cohen, “Anthem”

2012 THE ODYSSEY New on TIMEWAVE 2013 New on Armageddon Is Not What It Used to Be DVD The Future is Now: The Odyssey 2 DVD by Sharron Rose & Jay Weidner by Sharron Rose $25.95, DVD. Sacred Mysteries. $32.50, DVD. Sacred Mysteries. isbn 9789991533896 99 minutes isbn 9789991562865 88 minutes This DVD is a metaphysical road trip to talk with some of the What lies ahead for the human race? Will we reach the destiny brightest talking heads on the “2012 event horizon.” that awaits us? In the film 2012 The Odyssey, author Sharron Rose 2012, when the Mayan calendar ends, seems to portend some went on a quest to understand the many prophecies around the unraveling of time, some dawning of a new era… or something. year 2012. In this sequel to that film, she travels further into the What does it all mean? Here is a timely and enjoyable odyssey “wormhole” of the “stargate” of the “unraveling of time.” across the United States with author Sharron Rose. Driving During this fascinating expedition into the nature of time it- around the country, she interviews some of the most influential self, Ms. Rose listens to many of the world’s experts on mythology, teachers of our time, including José Arguelles, Gregg Braden, John Major Jenkins, alchemy, astrology, anthropology and ancient history. See José Alberto Villoldo, Rick Levine, Jay Weidner and others. Arguelles, Gregg Braden, Riane Eisler, William Henry, Jean The big questions are concerned with the end of time as we know it, what is going Houston, John Major Jenkins, Rick Levine, Dennis McKenna, Terence to happen to us, and how these things are recorded in ancient prophecy. McKenna, Daniel Pinchbeck, Geoff Stray, Whitley Strieber, Alberto The information level is high, and there are several highlights. One is the Georgia Villoldo and Jay Weidner discuss topics such as the shift of the ages, Guidestones. This remarkable monument was erected in 1980 outside a small town in the galactic alignment, global warming, the pervasive role of the me- Georgia. The group that commissioned it is mysterious and the message contained on Sharron Rose dia in our lives, the secret place of refuge, the mystic work of these huge granite monoliths is amazing. It is like a modern-day Stonehenge. The Benjamin Franklin, renewal of the American spirit and the transfor- Guidestones are aligned in a precise way with the Sun, Moon and stars and have a new mation of humanity. “Decalogue” engraved in eight modern languages. The capstone has carvings in four Journey with Ms. Rose beyond the Georgia Guidestones, Denver Airport, Cross of ancient languages. Hendaye and Mayan Calendar to the Sacred Valley of Peru where we sit in a purifica- Another highlight shows Sharron meeting with a group of Incan elders who travelled to the tion ceremony with the powerful Shaman/healers of the Q’ero people and listen to U.S. to share their message of the end times and how people need to prepare. their powerful prophecies for the future of humankind. This film is upbeat and hopeful about changes on the planet that have been proph- Lovely visionary graphics and the elfish voice of dear departed Terence McKenna esied, are occurring right now, and are due to culminate in 2012. Yes, the Mayan cal- add dimension and punch to this film. endar is ending then, but it is more to herald a different and new time for our exis- While firmly based in a rich perspective on our past history, and a new understand- tence. It will be, and already is, a time of opportunity for mankind. ing of the nature of the times we live in, Timewave 2013 offers a clear, yet positive vi- A follow-up film is also available, called Timewave 2013: The Future is Now. sion of planetary unfolding. It also reminds us of the cosmic wisdom of our Mother Also by Sharron Rose is her book The Path of the Priestess. the Earth, of which we are a growing part of the heart of the art!

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 42 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! SHIFTING INTO THE NOW !

THE GREAT SHIFT anger toward compassion. She forms the Co-Creating a New World Sisters of Light, a group of young women for 2012 and Beyond who, although they have few medicines to Slow Money & Real Wealth edited by Martine Valée offer, bring gifts of love and forgiveness to $21.95, paper. Weiser. their fellow prisoners. They form a bond INQUIRIES INTO THE NATURE OF SLOW MONEY isbn 9781578634576 256 pages of the heart that sustains them, links souls Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered This book brings together many chan- in a healing balm that loves up to and by Woody Tasch neled sources of important information through the gates of death, and keeps $23.95, cloth. Chelsea Green. on the changes oc- them connected through the horror of isbn 9781603580069 200 pages curring in our their daily existence. This remarkable book (“a real-time peek world, ourselves, Many touching and heartfelt lessons in under the hood at a process of fiduciary ac- our universe, and the deeper arts of healing are related in tivism, serving as a provocation, a catalyst, an invitation”) the evolution of this book. presents the path for bringing money back down to earth— consciousness Author Tarra Light was raised in an East philosophically, strategically and pragmatically, and with leading up to the Coast Jewish family but had little knowl- an entrepreneurial spirit informed by decades of work by year 2012. It is ad- edge of the Holocaust while growing up. the thousands of CEOs, investors, grant-makers, food pro- dressed in part to During past-life regression therapy in ducers and consumers who are seeding the restorative Lightworkers, for 1996, she began to access a previous life as economy. whom the energy an inmate at Auschwitz. Her newly un- We’ll soon see a flood of books proposing micro- and macro-economic fixes to shift now gearing locked memories form the basis of this the financial crises of the day. Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money brings a differ- up has been ongo- eloquent testimony. ent vision—a meta-economic vision, looking above the top line and below the bot- ing for at least the last 20 years and it in- tom line, a new way of seeing what is going on in the soil of the economy. cludes actual instructions about what to do This is the path towards a financial system that serves people and places as much to co-create a new world order. Business, Work as it serves industry sectors and markets. To discover this path, and to begin to walk down it, is the mission of Slow Money. This mission emerges from decades of work We won’t get to 2012 in the same & Right Livelihood as a venture capitalist, foundation treasurer, and entrepreneur by Woody Tasch, bodies that we started with, and we won’t whose explorations shed new light on a truer, more beautiful, more prudent kind get there with the same belief system that we once had. These are some of the of fiduciary responsibility, a new responsibility not stuck in the industrial concepts reasons why it is so difficult for so many at LESS of the 19th and 20th centuries, but which reflects the new economic, social and en- this time. We have to let the changes Accomplishing More by Doing Less vironmental realities of the 21st century. happen because if we don’t, by the time by Marc Lesser One of the principal measures of our success will be the extent to which we have 2012 rings our doorbell, we will be $18.050, paper. New World Library. catalyzed substantial new capital flows to enterprises that create economic opportunity exhausted from so much resistance. isbn 9781577316176 173 pages while respecting, protecting, and promoting the fertility of the soil. The messages in The Great Shift are posi- A certain kind of busyness is crucial to Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money investigates an essential new strategy for in- tive. “You don’t have to logically do any- life, allowing us to earn a living, create art, vesting in local food systems, and introduces a group of fiduciary activists who are thing but ‘show up’ with spiritual intent, and achieve success. exploring what should come after industrial finance and industrial agriculture. and the DNA quantum field is activated in But too often it con- Theirs is a vision for investing that puts soil fertility into return-on-investment calculations. your body,” Kryon says, through channel sumes us and we be- Could there ever be an alternative stock exchange dedicated to slow, small, and . He tells us to expect changes come crazy busy, local? and peace we may have never thought to nonstop busy, and Could a million North American families get their food from CSAs? see in our lifetimes, even in the Middle we expend extrane- What if you had to invest 50 percent of your assets within 50 miles of where you East. He says, “God is not a controlling ous effort that gets live? force. Look for the love.” us nowhere. Marc Such questions—at the heart of Slow Money—are the first step on our path to a Featuring the channelled writings of Lesser’s new book new economy and a new culture. Kryon, the Hathors, Mary Magdalen, and shows us the benefits Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money is a call to action for designing capital mar- the High Council of Sirus, The Great Shift of doing less in a kets built around not extraction and consumption but preservation and restora- is part progress report from the field and world that has increasingly embraced tion. Real wealth. “In Soil We Trust.” part travelogue for the acceleration of cos- more—more desire, more activity, more Is it a movement or is it an investment strategy? Yes. mic consciousness that the Mayans, things, more exhaustion. Egyptians, Hopi and many others know Many of us inhabit a busyness-as- AGENDA FOR A NEW ECONOMY about. religion world where it is all too easy to From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth fill our days with overwork or sensory by David Korten over-stimulation so that we don’t have to $19.50, paper. Berrett-Koehler. OF AUSCHWITZ face the difficulties or hard truths of our isbn 9781605092898 192 pages A Spiritual Memoir of Forgiveness and Healing lives. If we are unhappy, busyness makes Today’s economic crisis is the worst since the Great by Tarra Light a convenient excuse so that we don’t have Depression. However, as David Korten shows, the steps being to acknowledge what’s not working in our $22.00, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. taken to address it do nothing to deal with the reality of a jobs or our families. Sometimes stating isbn 9781583942710 200 pages failed economic system. It’s like treating cancer with a band- how busy we are becomes code for “I aid. Korten identifies the deeper sources of the failure: Wall Using a past-life memory of the must be (please, I hope I am) measuring Holocaust to point to the timeless truth of up to expectations, because, after all, I’m Street institutions that have perfected the art of creating Love in the face of constantly doing, giving, striving, “wealth” without producing anything of real value: phantom the worst night- achieving, and working just as hard as I wealth. Our hope lies not with Wall Street, Korten argues, but with Main Street, mare of suffering, possibly can!” which creates real wealth from real resources to meet real needs. He outlines an Angel of Auschwitz Less is about stopping, about the possi- agenda to create a new economy—locally based, community oriented, and devoted holds the vision of bility of finding composure in the midst of to creating a better life for all, not simply increasing profits. It will require changes the future possibil- activity. The ideas and practices that to how we measure economic success, organize our financial system, even the very ity of the human Lesser, a Zen teacher with an MBA, out- way we create money, an agenda Korten summarizes in his version of “the economic heart. lines offer a radical yet simple approach address to the nation” he wishes Barack Obama were able to deliver. Natasza Pelinski to transforming a lifestyle based on end- We have no more time or resources to devote to fixing a system based on false values is a young Polish less to-do lists into a more meaningful ap- and a discredited ideology. We must now come together to create the institutions of a Jew taken to proach that is truly more productive in new economy based on a values-based pragmatism that recognizes a simple truth: If Auschwitz. Her every sense. the world is to work for any of us, it must work for all of us. childhood stolen “Marc Lesser dives into one of the most Corrective action begins with recognition that our economic crisis is, at its core, a moral from her, she quickly matures and in the pervasive and persistent difficulties of our crisis. Our economic institutions and rules, even the indicators by which we measure eco- process discovers she has psychic gifts. She time—overwhelming busyness—with nomic performance, have consistently placed financial values ahead of life values. develops a relationship with the ghost of a courage, deep practical know-how, pro- “The financial crisis can be a healing crisis, and Korten gives us prescriptions that professor, who becomes her spirit guide. found spiritual understanding, and kind- could actually give us a thriving and just economy that works for people and the He in turn enlists her aid on a mission of ness…Goes way beyond most self-help planet. I hope every reader feels a sense of relief at hearing the truth and a renewed salvation for the Jewish people. As well as books, yet stays within everyone’s reach.” passion for civic engagement, now knowing what direction we need to steer our helping her survive in the brutal condi- —Norman Fischer, Zen abbot and ship.” —Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or Your Life tions of the camp, he teaches Natasza the teacher, poet and author of Sailing Home David Korten is also author of When Corporations Rule the World and The Great secret of healing and how to move past Turning: From Empire to Earth Community.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 43 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! MONEY & LEADERSHIP !

common maps is part of what belonging is all about, and the success that comes to Transform Your Bad Money Habits groups and organizations that learn and YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE earn. That sometimes making a living feels more strive well also increases belonging. 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship like making a dying. That it may be easy to dislike This newly revised and expanded edi- with Money and Achieving Financial your job, but hard to leave it. That money can frag- tion adds fresh focus on what it takes to Independence ment time as well as relationships with family and organize work group partnerships— by Vicki Robin friends. Your Money or Your Life presents a road map where people feel equally responsible for & Joe Dominguez with Monique Tilford to free ourselves from this money trap. the success of joint projects or processes. $17.50, paper. Penguin. Vicki Robin and co-author Monique Tilford in- It’s been updated with new chapters, new isbn 9780143115762 328 pages, charts troduce the concept of “FI (financially indepen- material on learning conversations, and This “bible of voluntary simplicity” is a refreshing dent) thinking”—Financial Intelligence, Financial techniques to create cultures of clarity. guide to helping individuals define their needs and Integrity and Financial Independence—and ex- align their psyches and life trajectories accordingly. plore the nine steps to becoming a “FIer.” FIers These Seattle authors, well known for their road have found that: CREATING A WORLD maps to achieving the enjoyable freedoms of fru- ! On average, people at all income levels lower their WITHOUT POVERTY gality, tell us not just how to manage our finances expenses by 25 percent—and most feel happier. They Social Business and the Future of Capitalism but how to integrate them with the rest of our lives. It may be find that their relationships with their partners and children by Muhammad Yunus the only book you ever read on finances that really makes improve. $16.00, paper. Public Affairs. sense to your heart as a human being. ! Money ceases to be an issue in their lives, and they finally have isbn 9781586486679 286 pages In this book, the authors outline their nine-step program for the intellectual and emotional space to take on issues of greater The author of Banker to the Poor and transforming the way we think about, earn, importance. winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (for his and spend money. It shows us a painless way to ! They retire their debts, increase their savings and are able to pioneering of “mi- get out of debt, develop savings, reorder our live happily within their means. cro-lending” that material priorities and live well for less. ! They increase the amount of their “free time” by reducing ex- has helped millions Discovering the power of “enoughness”—and penses and the amount of time on the job. work their way out knowing how much is enough for you—can Many books about money assume your financial life func- of poverty success- help you live more deliberately and meaning- tions separately from the rest of your life. This one is about fully) outlines his vi- Vicki Robin fully. putting it all back together, so you can embark on the road to sion for a new busi- This new 2008 edition of Your Money or Your financial independence and finally begin to make a life, rather ness model that Life—featuring updated resources, an easy-to-use index, and than just make a living. combines the pow- anecdotes and examples particularly relevant today—arrives at “The distinctions in this book are so empowering, so liber- er of free markets a time of economic crisis, when many of us are struggling to ating, and so transformative that the book should be a re- with the quest for a pay mortgages, debts and grocery bills while simultaneously quired text for everyone who has a bank account. This is one more humane weathering layoffs and watching financial portfolios shrink. of the best and most truthful books you will ever read about world—and tells This book recognizes that many of us spend more than we money.” —Lynne Twist, author of The Soul of Money the inspiring stories of companies that are doing this work today. THE CURE FOR MONEY MADNESS pects of your money life: earning, spending, saving, In the last two decades, Break Your Bad Money Habits, Live Without investing, giving, borrowing. free markets have swept Financial Stress—and Make More Money! In this book, you’ll learn: the globe, bringing with by Spencer Sherman !How much your money madness has been costing them enormous potential $27.95, cloth. Broadway. you for positive change. But isbn 9780767928557 232 pages ! How wealthy you truly are, by using the revolu- traditional capitalism can- Not just another book about money, The Cure for tionary Actual Net Worth statement not solve problems like in- equality and poverty, be- Money Madness is a guide to overcoming the distort- ! How “small and boring” can help you outperform Muhammad ed perceptions of money that become ingrained in the top investors—without watching the market Yunus cause it is hampered by a childhood and affect us negatively throughout our ! How to communicate about money in ways that narrow view of human na- lives. This “money madness” poisons our relation- create deeper connections with your spouse, parents, ture in which people are one-dimensional ships, impedes intimacy, and keeps us from making children, friends, and colleagues beings concerned only with profit. as much money as we can and enjoying the money ! How to know what is truly enough. In fact, human beings have many other we have. Sherman offers a proven, three-part pre- “In these difficult financial times, The Cure for drives and passions, including the spiritu- scription for changing these patterns: through self-awareness; Money Madness offers sanity, clarity, and truly helpful under- al, the social, and the altruistic. Welcome through the author’s proprietary Rainbow Portfolio, a mad- standing to calm the heart and regain a wise perspective.” — to the world of social business, where the ness-free wealth-building investment strategy that has become Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart creative vision of the entrepreneur is ap- the cornerstone of his extraordinary success as a wealth man- “Part basic sanity, part good financial advice… shows you plied to today’s most serious problems: ager; and through a new approach to sufficiency and an ex- how to have the cake you really want—and savor it as you eat feeding the poor, housing the homeless, panded vision of net worth. it, too. That’s the power of going for ‘having enough’ rather healing the sick, and protecting the plan- Money madness, Spencer shows us, comes from unproduc- than ‘having it all.’ —Vicki Robin, co-author of Your Money or et. tive messages that we received long ago. “It takes money to Your Life Creating a World Without Poverty tells the make money.” “My net worth equals my self worth.” “Paying Spencer Sherman is co-founder of Abacus Wealth Partners, stories of some of the earliest examples of rent is just throwing money down the drain.” “Don’t talk about a values-based investment advisory firm. See www.curemoney- social businesses, including Yunus’s own money.” Turning around beliefs like these can transform all as- madness.com. Grameen Bank. It reveals the next phase in a hopeful economic and social revolu- tion that is already under way—and in the CLEAR LEADERSHIP and leadership in Clear Leadership puts you on the road to worldwide effort to eliminate poverty by Sustaining Real Collaboration and groups possible. improving your effectiveness as a leader by unleashing the productive energy of every Partnership at Work, Revised Edition They are self-aware- developing the skills to get things done in human being. by Gervase Bushe ness, so you know the open, build real commitment to deci- When the time is right, a new idea is $33.50, cloth. Davies-Black. where you stand; sions, develop synergistic teams, openly capable of transforming the world. isbn 9780891062271 320 pages descriptiveness, so discuss failures and successes, and learn What will it take for people to say what you can communi- from everyone’s experience. “Yunus moves the debate beyond the tired argument that the rich should sim- they mean and mean what they say, with cate clearly; curiosi- Clear leadership is about creating clarity ply donate to those less privileged, and interactions based on accurate under- ty, so you can draw in every interaction and every group you standing, not assumptions and fantasies? out others; and ap- are a member of. It requires understanding demonstrates that the free market can in Clear Leadership, by Vancouver-based con- preciation, so you the nature of experience and the reasons it fact be used to the advantage of the less sultant and teacher of organizational de- can inspire top per- seems so difficult to get people to tell the well off…This book is a must-read for pol- velopment Gervase Bushe, offers a formance. Using truth of their experiences to each other. icymakers or philanthropists, and its con- roadmap to such a workplace. Clear true-to-life stories, practical exercises, and * versational style and straightforward logic Leadership details the four fundamental sample dialogues, Bushe identifies the When organizations are partnerships, also make it appealing to the layperson.” skills needed to combat the interpersonal barriers to truth-telling and offers expert then finding ways to describe, discuss, —Scotland on Sunday mush that hampers honest communication guidance on how to turn the power of in- choose, learn about, change, and discard maps among everyone is critical to and bogs down even the most effective terpersonal clarity into action. effective striving and learning. Having managers. These skills make partnership

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 44 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! EVOLUTION’S EDGE !

THE LIFE YOU CAN SAVE tive global system Acting Now to End World Poverty into a peaceful, co- by Peter Singer operative one, or The End of the Industrial Age? $28.00, cloth. Random House. enter a catastroph- isbn 9781400067107 206 pages ic decline. THE TRANSITION HANDBOOK Around the world, a billion people Evolution’s Edge From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience struggle to live each day on less than many shows that limitless by Rob Hopkins of us pay for bottled economic expan- $27.50, paper. Chelsea Green. isbn 9781900322188 water. Yet for the sion is impossible 240 pages, 9x9, b/w illustrations & photos first time in history, on a finite planet. Great storytelling, permaculture wisdom, and social mar- it is now within our Our growth-based keting! This bright Brit has found a way for people worried reach to eradicate global system will collapse as critical re- about environmental apocalypse to invest their efforts in world poverty and sources become scarce and major ecosys- ongoing collective action that ends up looking more like a the suffering it tems fail. However, new ideas, values, and party than a protest march. brings. In The Life technologies can help us avoid disaster We live in an oil-dependent world, having arrived at this level of dependency in You Can Save Peter and create a better world. Using evolu- a very short space of time by treating petroleum as if it were in infinite supply. Most Singer uses ethical tionary systems theory, Evolution’s Edge ex- of us avoid thinking about what happens when oil runs out (or becomes prohibi- arguments, plains how societies evolve and why rapid, tively expensive), but The Transition Handbook shows how the inevitable and pro- provocative thought nonlinear change is not only possible but found changes ahead can have a positive outcome. These changes can lead to the experiments, illumi- inevitable. It describes: rebirth of local communities that will grow more of their own food, generate their nating examples, and case studies of char- ! Collapse—how cascading crises will soon own power, and build their own houses using local materials. They can also en- itable giving to show how our current re- provoke system failure courage the development of local currencies to keep money “local.” sponse to world poverty is not only ! Transformation—how emerging tech- There are now over 30 “transition towns” in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand insufficient but ethically indefensible. nologies, ideas, values, and social orga- with more joining as the idea takes off. They provide valuable experience and Part plea, part manifesto, part hand- nizations are supporting the evolution of lessons-learned for those of us on this side of the Atlantic. With little proactive book, this short and surprisingly com- a sustainable system thinking at the governmental level, communities are taking matters into their own pelling book sets out to answer two diffi- ! Analysis—how societies evolve into in- hands and acting locally. Within peak oil and climate change is the potential for the cult questions: why people in affluent creasingly complex, conscious systems greatest economic, social, and cultural renaissance we have ever seen. And as this countries should donate money to fight ! Action—how a common, cooperative vi- book shows, the “how-to” can be fun. global poverty, and how much each should sion can accelerate constructive global If your town is not yet a Transition Town, this upbeat guide offers you the tools give. The author’s goal is to reduce, if not change. for starting the process. eliminate, extreme poverty in the world. We examine emerging technologies, “Rob Hopkins is the Gentle Giant of the green movement, and his timely and He presents life-and-death situations that ideas, values and social organizations; we hugely important book reveals a fresh and empowering approach that will help us pose moral dilemmas, then leads the read- analyze their role in supporting the revolu- transition into a materially leaner but inwardly richer human experience. Full of re- er through arguments stemming logically tion of a sustainable system. We then ana- liable, readable, far-reaching scholarship, and warmhearted practical advice on how from these dilemmas to arrive at the con- lyze the major developing global trends to instigate transition culture wherever you are, this book will energize and regen- clusion that it is morally wrong not to give and probably future scenarios… erate your commitment to place, community and simple living.” —Stephan aid to those suffering from lack of food, We explain how we can change destruc- tive behaviors and empower ourselves and Harding, author of Animate Earth: Science, Intuition and Gaia shelter and medical care. our social networks… Evolution’s Edge For more info on “exploring the head, heart, and hands of energy descent,” vis- A controversial modern philosopher, provides a rough map of the terrain that it www.transitionculture.org. Singer dismantles the justifications people humanity will have to cross on the way to make for not giving and highlights the suc- a sustainable future. cesses of such efforts as microfinance in Evolution’s Edge is vital reading for ac- THE LONG DESCENT Bangladesh. He investigates the psycho- tivists, educators, progressive thinkers, A User’s Guide to the End of the Industrial Age logical factors that work against giving to and anyone concerned about the state of by John Michael Greer $18.95, paper. New Society. the distant poor: parochialism, a sense of our world. A visually pleasing book, its isbn 9780865716094 259 pages futility, diffusion of responsibility. generous use of graphs and charts make Across the globe, the histories of empires won and lost, To help prospective donors, Singer in- clear concepts such as our evolutionary built and destroyed, show themselves like footprints in the troduces GiveWell (givewell.net), which footprint, projected climate change im- sands of time. Mayan temples in the jungle, Roman forts in investigates the work of charities and ranks pacts, world population and economic rolling British hills, crumbling Victorian architecture in them by their effectiveness. Singer doesn’t growth. the Caribbean—all these tell the story of civilizations risen ask readers to choose between asceticism Graeme Taylor is coordinator of BEST to power and passed away. and self-indulgence; his solution can be Futures (www.bestfutures.org): sustain- The Long Descent follows our present industrial society found in the middle, and it is reasonable able solutions through researching how down the same well-worn path that has led other civiliza- and rewarding for all. societies change and evolve. Singer is also the author of Animal tions into decline. Greer explains that this path involves a Liberation, the book considered to be the much slower and more complex transformation than the sudden catastrophes founding statement of the animal rights STATE OF THE WORLD 2009 imagined by many social critics today. The cultural stories we use to understand the movement. Into a Warming World world have, in turn, created our present environmental crisis and influence our fu- by the Worldwatch Institute ture. Global challenges such as climate change and peak oil are not problems to be $22.00, paper. Norton. solved but predicaments that must be lived with. isbn 9780393334180 The Long Descent offers concrete suggestions for just how to do this. A simple mus- Ecology, Community 262 pages, b/w illustrations & tables cle-powered toolkit and professions that involve doing useful things with one’s The year 2009 is pivotal for Earth’s cli- hands are high on the list, as are adopting an obsolete technology, taking charge of & Politics mate. Scientists have warned that we have your own health care, building community, and cultivating a garden. Greer also of- only a few years to fers a sage chapter on “The Spiritual Dimension,” which closes thus: reverse the rise in Those who attempt to imagine the next economy, the next society, or even the next greenhouse gas energy system might be well advised to take at least a passing glance in the direction of EVOLUTION’S EDGE emissions in order the next spirituality as well. The Coming Collapse and Transformation of our World to avoid abrupt and Focusing eloquently on constructive adaptation to massive change, this book will by Graeme Taylor catastrophic cli- be formative in the evolution of a post-industrial society. $24.95, paper. New Society. mate change. And “If, as Greer suggests, our ‘prolonged brush with ecological reality’ is not a slide isbn 9780865716087 the world commu- or a free-fall, but a stair-step, then we have time to see this book made required 306 pages, 7x9, colour charts nity has agreed to reading in every high school. This is both a past and future history book, written It’s now five minutes to midnight on the finalize negotia- from a perspective that is rare now, but will soon be widely shared.” —Albert Bates, Doomsday Clock, reflecting the fact that tions on a new cli- author of The Post-Petroleum Survival Guide we are closer to assuring the obliteration mate agreement in Copenhagen in late John Michael Greer is an organic gardener and scholar of ecological history. His of our species than we have been at any 2009. State of the World 2009: Into a widely-cited blog, The Archdruid Report (thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com), deals time since the early Eighties. We are rapid- Warming World is intended to inject new with peak oil, among other issues. ly approaching a tipping point, where we inspiration and energy into these national will either transform our violent, exploita- and international climate negotiations by conveying the profound long-term conse-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 45 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! RESPECTFUL OF ALL ! quences of the degradation of the earth’s atmosphere, with an emphasis on the hu- man and ecological effects of that trans- Speaking, Listening & Conversation formation. TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKING Speaking calls forth that voice and your power to This year’s book departs in important If You Want to Change the World, communicate based on who you really are. ways from the 25-year tradition of Tell a Better Story Authentic expression is creative, captivating and Worldwatch Institute’s annual, gathering by Gail Larsen enlivening. It strikes at the heart of the matter and captures the attention of the listener. more than 40 authors—far more than in $22.50, paper. Celestial Arts. When you have something important to isbn 9781587613425 192 pages any previous edition. It investigates a wide communicate, your delivery is powerful only when you The challenges of our time call for visionaries who range of potential paths of change, in- find what is real and heartfelt to you. Then your words cluding new technology, policy changes, are authentic and articulate communicators. are backed by purpose and passion. You create a consumption, and finance, with the ulti- Speaking coach Gail Larsen’s book, based on her connection with others when they don’t just listen—they mate goal of mobilizing humanity around legendary workshops, reveals the surprising source hear what you’re saying. That is real speaking. climate change and revealing global warm- of your power to catalyze audiences (your heart). “Brilliant! Our stories can make a real and human ing as one of the truly great challenges of Discover your “original medicine,” identify the core contact like nothing else, and the time to tell our sto- our time. The book includes 6 policy chap- message you were born to deliver, and access the ries is now. Gail’s message, backed by decades of experience ters and 22 concise essays on the many im- “Home Zone” that enables you to offer it to the world. and a sound method, is clear: Be the one to set in motion the portant issues affected by climate change, Transformational Speaking will show you how to express the world-transforming story that your life, and your life alone, full range of your magnificence as you learn to tell a better sto- as well as an extensive Climate Change has prepared you to tell.” —Sankara Saranam, author of God ry—one that uplifts and changes the world, one audience at a Reference Guide. Without Religion The Worldwatch Institute’s State of the time. Her proven program liberates the “speaker within” and “Gail Larsen’s work is having a significant impact on the abil- World reports have evolved into a transforms even the reluctant orator into an agent of change. ity of social change leaders to communicate their messages to remarkable source of intellectual wealth Transformational Speaking offers insightful advice on every- inspire support and action. This timely book makes her excel- that provides understanding and insight thing from defining your message and refining your delivery, lent training available to anyone who has something to say and not only on the physical state of this to managing the dynamics of a room, handling logistics like a wants to speak with power and confidence.” —Joel Solomon, planet but on human systems as they are pro, and building a connection with an audience of any size. linked with ecosystems and natural Board chair, Hollyhock Foundation You have within you a powerful voice for change. Real resources around the world. This edition Visit Gail at www.realspeaking.net. brings out clearly the difference between inaction based on a business-as-usual THE ART OF CONVERSATION British journalist Catherine Blyth was once de- approach and action to mitigate A Guided Tour of a Neglected Pleasure scribed as “the person you hope you’ll find at the greenhouse gas emissions in order to by Catherine Blyth next cocktail party—or the person you’d like to be.” avoid the worst impacts of climate change. $24.50, cloth. Gotham. —from the introduction The next best thing is a close encounter with Blyth isbn 9781592404193 284 pages on the printed page. Adopting a chatty, conversa- In The Art of Conversation, Catherine Blyth elo- tional manner to write about conversation, Blyth quently points out the sorry state of disrepair that mixes personal anecdotes into a salmagundi of se- RIGHT RELATIONSHIP conversation has fallen into—and then, taking ex- lected quotes from anthropology, history, literature, Building a Whole Earth Economy amples from history, literature, philosophy, anthro- philosophy and pop culture to analyze and give ad- by Peter Brown & Geoffrey Garver pology, and popular culture, she gives us the tools to vice on the dynamics of good conversation, not to $21.95, paper. Berrett-Koehler. rebuild. Her prose embodies the conversational val- mention the perfect riposte for every situation. She isbn 9781576757628 216 pages ues she promotes: It’s smart, succinct, self-deprecat- examines everything from small talk to pillow talk, Our current economic system—which ing, and light on its feet. from riotous raconteurs to crashing bores, from flattery to false assumes endless growth and limitless po- The Art of Conversation isn’t about etiquette, elocution, or smiles. Blyth probes layers of language, humour as social engi- tential wealth—has knowing how to hold your teacup with your little finger neering, baiting, lies, flirting, evasions and shoptalk. been ignoring the crooked just so. It’s about something simple and profound: Witty, eloquent and insightful, Blyth’s book is a delightful fact that the earth’s connecting. And the key is listening. encouragement to rediscover conversation as the best commu- resources are finite. nication technology. This is a wide-ranging look at the plea- The result is increas- Conversation has been the engine of intelligence since Homo sures of great conversation, including strategies for how to ing destruction of the became sapiens… But as schoolchildren and grammar-mangling academics prove, this tradition means diddlysquat unless each of bring it about, from the witty pen of an Englishwoman wise in natural world and us incorporates conversation into our personal evolution. its ways. growing, sometimes lethal, tensions be- tween rich and poor, TURNING TO ONE ANOTHER “When have I experienced good lisening?” “What is global north and Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future my unique contribution to the whole?” After each south. Trying to fix by Margaret Wheatley question, Wheatley combines personal reflections, problems piecemeal is not the solution. $25.95, paper. Berrett-Koehler. stories, quotations, and poems that help us reach out, We need to go beyond simply fixing prob- isbn 9781576757642 192 pages, 7x9 break down barriers, and connect. In this edition, she lems as they arise, or even as we anticipate Turning to One Another weaves together stories, es- has added two new conversation starters: “What is our them, and offer a comprehensive new eco- says, and poems inspiring us to talk with one another role in creating change?” and “Can I be fearless?” nomic model. about what really matters. Meg Wheatley consults I believe we can change the world if we start listening In a profound sense, economics and with communities and organizations around the to one another again. Simple, honest, human ecology are domains of relationship. world about new ways to organize, where people are conversation. Not mediation, negotiation, problem- Economics is about access to the means of valued as the blessing, not the problem. She has worked in the solving, debate, or public meetings. Simple, truthful conversation life. Ecology is about the mutual belly of the beast for decades, and her books such as Leadership where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and interdependence of life communities. and the New Science and Finding Our Way have articulated her we each listen well. This is how great changes begin, when Using right relationship as the unifying discoveries. people begin talking to each other about their experiences, mechanism, this book brings these two Part I explores the power of conver-sation and the condi- hopes, and fears. perspectives together, pivoting the lens of What would it feel like to be listening to each other again tions—simplicity, personal courage, real listening, and diversi- about our yearnings, our fears, our prayers, our children? human solidarity and the lens of ty—that support it. Part II contains quotes and images to en- ecological science into a single focus. I wrote this book to encourage and support you to begin courage the reader to pause and reflect, and to prepare for the conversations about things that are important to you. It has no Peter Brown and Geoffrey Garver use work ahead—convening truly meaningful conversations. Part other purpose. I invite you to notice what’s going on, to clarify the core Quaker principle of “right rela- III provides ten “conversation starters”—questions that in your thoughts and experience, and to begin speaking with those tionship”—interacting in a way that is re- Wheatley’s experience have led people to share their deepest around you. I hope you’ll join the conversation. spectful to all and that aids the common beliefs, fears, and hopes. “What is my faith in the future?” See also www.turningtooneanother.net. good—as the foundation for a new eco- nomic model. Right Relationship: Building a cern with the spiritual, as well as material, “We are all stewards of the Earth, but of- Whole Earth Economy poses five basic ques- well-being of the human race. ten lack specific information and advice tions: What is an economy for? How does Event at Hollyhock Brown and Garver outline a bold new on what we can do—personally and collec- it work? How big should it be? What’s fair? model for a just and flourishing earth. tively. Right Relationship provides a wonder- And how can it best be governed? They GAIL LARSEN They analyze why so many current re- ful guide for all of us.” —Jimmy Carter, for- propose new answers that combine an forms fall short, and explain what every- mer U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize September 6 – 9 acute awareness of ecological limits with a one can do to make this new model a real- winner hollyhock.ca or 800-933-6339 fundamental focus on fairness and a con- ity.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 46 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! PLANET CARE !

PLANETWALKER volume have often 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence been asked: Where by John Francis can I find out more $20.00, paper. about the psyche- National Geographic. New in nature-world con- isbn 9781426204050 Paperback nection? How can I 288 pages, b/w photos do hands-on work Even more difficult for me to understand in this area? is the burgeoning feeling of something Ecotherapy was com- spiritual and sacred in the ordinary act of piled to answer walking. I start to these and other ur- feel that each step gent questions. taken is part of an Ecotherapy, or invisible journey, applied ecopsychology, encompasses a for which there is broad range of nature-based methods of no map and few road signs. I am psychological healing, grounded in the not sure I am crucial fact that people are inseparable prepared, and the from the rest of nature and nurtured by discomfort both healthy interaction with the earth. frightens and Leaders in the field, including Robert excites me. Greenway and Mary Watkins, contribute In 1971, after essays that take into account the latest sci- witnessing an oil entific understandings and the deepest in- spill in San Francisco Bay, John Francis digenous wisdom. Other key thinkers, gives up motorized transportation and from Bill McKibben to Richard Louv to starts walking. A few months later, he also Joanna Macy, explore the links among takes a vow of silence—which lasts 17 ecotherapy, spiritual development, and years! Through his silence and walking, he restoring community. learns how to listen and his pilgrimage be- As mental-health professionals find gins. Planetwalker is the wonderfully in- themselves challenged to provide hard ev- spiring story of this man’s silent 20+ year idence that their practices actually work, walk across America to raise environmen- and as costs for traditional modes of psy- tal consciousness and promote world chotherapy rise rapidly out of sight, this peace. book offers practitioners and interested In silence, he earns a college degree lay readers alike a spectrum of safe, effec- and begins walking through the West to tive alternative approaches backed by a America’s heartland where he earns a growing body of experiential research and Ph.D. in land resources. When he reaches “inter-being.” the East Coast, the United Nations Environment Programme names him a Goodwill Ambassador and the U.S. gov- WILD FORESTING ernment recruits him to write oil spill reg- Practising Nature’s Wisdom ulations following the Exxon Valdez disas- by Alan Drengson ter. & Duncan Taylor Chronicling a young man’s call to pub- $24.95, paper. New Society. lic service, Planetwalker explores complex isbn 9780865716162 308 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations issues of environmental and social justice. This book is a forest feast for mind, It encompasses both John’s interior jour- heart, and hands from the two Victoria- ney as he confronts questions of life and based authors who death as well as his experiences of life on previously brought the road. Along with his own haikus, wa- us Ecoforestry: The tercolors and drawings, Planetwalker is Art and Science of filled with practical ways in which we too Sustainable Forest can become earth stewards and take our Use. own pilgrimages both great and small. And There is an as we discover with John on his extraordi- emerging revolu- nary walk, pilgrimage can lead to knowing tion in wild forest our kinship with all of life and the all-em- relationships. Wild bracing goodwill that unfolds from that re- foresting has alization. evolved from ecoforestry, going far be- Francis’s writing is beautiful and ex- yond merely having a minimum impact on presses his philosophy as well as his strong the world, to sustaining and promoting and continuing commitment to “the forest health, and biological and cultural health of the earth.” diversity. Wild foresting promotes the re- sponsible use of forests, connects indige- Eco-Philosophy, nous knowledge systems and unites a great variety of local practices tailored to Deep Ecology unique forests around the world. Prize- winning experts dedicated to reconcilia- tion in human-wild forest relationships ECOTHERAPY have contributed their stories to this com- Healing with Nature in Mind prehensive, in-depth anthology. The au- edited by Linda Buzzell thors give accounts of how wild foresting is & Craig Chalquist being practiced around the world, with $22.00, paper. Sierra Club. such diverse activities as wild farming, wild isbn 9781578051618 256 pages crafting, adventure therapy, restoration, In the years since Sierra Club Books permaculture, ecosystem restoration, and published Theodore Roszak, Mary Gomes, education. and Allen Kanner’s groundbreaking an- Wild Foresting is presented in eight the- thology, Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, matic sections that discuss topics as varied Healing the Mind, the editors of this new as tree meditation, wild humans, and eco-

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 47 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! HOW SHALL WE LIVE? !

about biodiversity, ancient forests, indige- Fully revised and expanded—the first nous cultures and endangered species. edition was written pre-9/11 and pre- New Prods from Derrick Jensen It is with humility that we look at how a Katrina, when few of us took the risk of so- number of remarkable humans and cial disruption seriously—When Technology HOW SHALL I LIVE MY LIFE? communities in various parts of the world Fails ends on a positive, proactive note On Liberating the Earth from Civilization are currently acting as butterfly wings for with a chapter on “Making the Shift to edited by Derrick Jensen setting in motion positive tipping for the Sustainability,” which offers practical sug- $25.95, paper. PM Press. renewal of one of this planet’s most gestions for changing our world on per- isbn 9781604860030 302 pages precious evolutionary manifestations—its sonal, community and global levels. forests… The lessons contained here, in In this collection of interviews, Derrick Jensen discusses Matthew Stein has built hurricane-resis- learning how to live responsibly with forest the destructive dominant culture with ten people who have tant and energy-efficient homes. A me- devoted their lives to undermining it. communities, are transferable to all other areas of human interaction with nature. chanical engineer, he has designed water We are in the midst of an apocalypse. This culture is killing filtration devices, commercial water filtra- “Wild Foresting reminds us that the the planet. Resistance must take many forms, tion systems, photovoltaic roofing panels, knowledge exists to restore and sustain the from the physical to the emotional to the medical bacteriological filters, drinking ecological health of our forests, and to re- intellectual to the legal (and illegal) to the fountains, computer disk drives, portable philosophical, and so on. The people interviewed store our relationship with the land. The fiberglass buildings and much more. in this book have all made powerful contributions to helping us see our next step is having the will to use that way toward resisting this deathly culture. knowledge.” —Mitch Friedman, Executive Whether it is Carolyn Raffensperger and her radical approach to Director, Conservation Northwest CHOOSING GREEN Derrick Jensen public health, or Thomas Berry on perceiving the sacred; Kathleen The Homebuyer’s Guide to Good Green Homes Dean Moore reminding us that our bodies are made of mountains, by Jerry Yudelson rivers, and sunlight; or Vine Deloria asserting that our dreams tell us more about Earth Energies, $19.95, paper. New Society. the world than science ever can, the activists and philosophers interviewed in How isbn 9780865716100 Shall I Live My Life? each bravely present a few of the endless forms that resistance Architecture 236 pages, charts, colour photos can and must take. & Eco-Design Energy efficient, non-toxic, healthy My work is motivated in great measure by my sense of loss, by the spreading homes are the hottest trend in the build- destruction and desecration of so much earthly beauty. By the accelerating loss of other ing industry. species—the extinction of so many other styles of sensitivity and sentience, by the WHEN TECHNOLOGY FAILS Homebuilders are destruction of wetlands and forests, the damming and draining of so many rivers to serve constructing green our own purely human interests. I’m trying to understand how it’s possible that a A Manual for Self-Reliance, Sustainability, and Surviving the Long Emergency homes in astonishing culture of intelligent critters like ourselves can so recklessly and so casually destroy so numbers—more than much that is mysterious and alive and in the course of it destroy so much of ourselves by Matthew Stein and our own capacity for wonder. —David Abram, philosopher and magician $38.50, paper. Chelsea Green. 350,000 in the U.S. isbn 9781933392455 alone in 2006 and Regarded as the radical philosopher-poet of the ecological movement, Derrick 92 pages, 8x11, b/w illustrations 2007. Jensen’s writing has been described as “breaking and mending the reader’s heart.” How does a home- Among his other books are Endgame and A Language Older Than Words. Is it not already too late if one waits until one is thirsty to begin digging a well? buyer who wants a green home know —Chinese proverb WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND There’s never been a better time to “be what to look for, what by Derrick Jensen & Aric McBay prepared.” Matt Stein’s comprehensive questions to ask a $32.50, paper. Seven Stories. primer on sustain- builder, which green home rating systems isbn 9781583228678 496 pages able living skills— to trust, and what homes are on the mar- What We Leave Behind is a piercing, impassioned guide to from food and wa- ket? Widely recognized green-building ex- living a truly responsible life on earth. Human waste, once ter to shelter and pert Jerry Yudelson provides answers to considered a gift to the soil, has become toxic material that energy to first-aid some common areas of concern, includ- has broken the essential cycle of decay and regeneration. and crisis-manage- ing: The global industrial system, argue environmental activists ! ment skills—pre- Energy-efficient home features Jensen (Endgame) and McBay, now produces huge amounts ! pares you to em- Water conservation fixtures of unsustainable toxic wastes. In fact, Earth is suffocating on ! bark on the path Non-toxic finishes plastics and persistent chemicals. The authors focus in on ! toward sustainabili- Green products some of these harmful products, discuss reasons why our ! ty. But unlike any Healthy indoor air culture produces so much waste, and explain why individual action is insufficient to other book, Stein Drawing from the expertise of dozens solve our enormous problems. Finally, they explore the kind of activism needed to not only shows you how to live “green” in of homebuilders, government officials protect our planet and make our culture life-affirming. seemingly stable times, but to live in the and green home experts, Choosing Green What began as one book, speciated into two books-in-one: one about shit, decay, face of potential disasters, lasting days or deftly takes the reader through these con- regeneration, life, death, and the suffocation of the planet under the weight of this years, coming in the form of social up- siderations with easy-to-use tables, charts, culture’s waste products; and the other about sustainability, denial, reformism, magical maps, score sheets and checklists. thinking, resistance, death, life, and the processes that many of us undergo in pushing heaval, economic meltdown, or environ- mental catastrophe. The book includes a glossary of green past our denial to confront the reality we face, and from there to acting to defend life on building terms, an extensive resource sec- this planet. When Technology Fails covers the gamut. You’ll learn how to start a fire and keep tion and a list of homebuilders, green rat- What We Leave Behind has a refreshing style, at once very personal and very pas- warm if you’ve been left temporarily ing programs and financial incentives. sionate. It is also thorough, with historical, scientific, statistical, and anecdotal evi- homeless, as well as the basics of installing This comprehensive book provides dence filtered through a lot of anger and some quirky humor. Their devastatingly a renewable energy system for your home prospective homebuyers with tools they beautiful prose reminds us that life—human and nonhuman—will not go on unless or business. You’ll learn how to find and will need to make a successful search for we do everything we can to facilitate the most basic process on earth, the root of sterilize water in the face of utility failure, their own green home. sustainability: one being’s waste must always become another being’s food. as well as practical information for dealing Also by Jerry Yudelson is Green Building How we perceive and think about the world affects how we behave in and toward with water-quality issues even when the A to Z. the world. This culture’s behavior is killing the planet. We need to change our behavior. public tap water is still flowing. You’ll learn This means we need to change, among other things, how we perceive and think about alternative techniques for healing equally the world. GREEN BUILDING A TO Z suited to an era of profit-driven malprac- And at base, that’s what this book is about. It is about remembering how to think Understanding the Language tice as to situations of social calamity. realistically—that is, to think like life itself, to think with boundaries as permeable as of Green Building deep, soft, rich soil. To begin to think again like life itself will be one step toward Each chapter (a survey of the risks to the by Jerry Yudelson protecting that life, on this beautiful and extraordinary planet, our one and only home. status quo; supplies and preparation for $19.95, paper. New Society. Among Jensen’s other books are A Language Older than Words and The Culture of short- and long-term emergencies; emer- isbn 9780865715721 220 pages, b/w photos Make-Believe. Aric McBay is also author of Peak Oil Survival: Preparation for Life af- gency measures for survival; water, food, Green building is the fastest-growing ter Gridcrash. See www.inthewake.org. shelter, clothing, first aid, low-tech medi- trend to land since the Internet, bringing cine, and healing; energy, heat, and pow- with it an enormous range of new prod- er; metalworking; utensils and storage; phobia. Case studies from the Amazon, practices are fusing ancient knowledge ucts, systems and technologies. Green low-tech chemistry; and engineering, ma- Australia, Norway and Thailand illustrate systems with contemporary ecological Building A to Z is an informative, techni- chines, and materials) offers the same ap- how wild foresting principles are adapted studies. A fascinating and informative cally accurate and highly visual guide to proach, describing skills for self-reliance in to different cultures and how emerging walk in the woods for everyone concerned green building, for both decision-makers good times and bad.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 48 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! PLANTING YOUR GARDEN ! and interested citi- tem that combines the best features of . It begins with wildlife habitat, edible landscapes, and THE ART OF SACRED GARDENING an introduction to conventional flower and vegetable gar- Creating Beauty and Abundance the importance of dens into a self-renewing landscape that in Harmony with Nature green buildings lets nature do most of the work. Rather by Claudia Raaen and a brief history than mastering your garden with gas-spew- $33.00, paper. Sacred Gardening. of the green build- ing rototillers and chemical fertilizers, let isbn 9780981115009 156 pages, 8x10, colour photos ing movement, Toby Hemenway show you how to create a One of the “devas” who has co-created the astonishingly outlines the bene- backyard ecosystem that balances the lovely gardens at Hollyhock has crafted a similarly beautiful fits and costs of needs of humans and nature. book. Claudia Raaen’s magnificent flower and nature pho- green buildings, He offers sections on gardener’s ecolo- tography is stunningly interwoven with wise and heartful po- and shows how you gy; natural patterns in garden design; ems, prayers, ideas, and garden practices. can influence the bringing the soil to life; catching, conserv- This book unfurls the petals of my heart, offering the fruits of my practice… This book spread of green buildings. The book ing and using water; microclimates and offers you the gift of nine open gateways leading you into your Sacred Garden. It touches on key issues, such as enhancing the many roles of plants and trees; bring- provides essential inspiration, support and nourishment for you to co-create a Sacred water conservation, reducing energy use ing in the bugs/bees/birds and other Garden of your own. Imagine a beautiful Sacred Garden sanctuary nourishing your helpful creatures; polyculture garden body and soothing your soul. Your wellspring of joy and fulfillment will blossom and and creating a conservation economy. flourish here. Blessed be. Green Building A to Z examines all aspects communities; growing a food forest; and of green buildings from “Architecture much more. It’s clearly illustrated where Long on luscious closeup photographs trembling with sunlit dewdrops, express- 2030” to locally sourced materials to envi- pictures can better show us how it works. ing the exquisite beauties and intelligences of flowering nature, this gift of a book ronmental site planning to natural ventila- Whatever size yard or garden you have is at heart about blossoming yourself as much as it is about creating a garden. tion to solar energy to zero-net energy to work with, you can apply basic perma- Highly inspirational, it will expand and deepen your “sense” of what gardening is all buildings… and much more. culture principles to make it more diverse, about, and what it offers us humans in terms of both nourishment and co-creativi- ty with Life. Green buildings are a major priority for more natural, more productive, and more achieving sustainable development beautiful. Best of all, once it’s established, Listen for your intuitive knowing. Be open to new ways of seeing and without sacrificing quality of life for all an ecological garden will reduce or elimi- communication. If anything interesting crosses your path or shows up, pay attention. Earth’s inhabitants, human and otherwise. nate most of the backbreaking work that’s Nature has a sign language. Let it be revealed to you. More than just a reference, this book needed to maintain the typical lawn and With specific activities to explore—sensitizing, opening, and getting-your-hands- emphasizes the importance of green build- garden. A great book. dirty—the book is organized in nine “Gates”: Seeding Your Intent, Your Inner ings and green developments for a sus- “Gaia’s Garden takes the native plants Attitude Conditions the Soil, Ask and Receive Before You Sow the Seed, Declaring tainable future. This “Green and organic gardening movement to the Sacred Space Within and Without, Gathering Your Sacred Ingredients, Designing Encyclopedia” brings it all together under next level.” —Joel Lerner, Washington Post with Nature, Nurturing Your Garden with Beauty, The Balance of Nature, and one cover—an invaluable resource for Celebration, Ceremony & Rest. businesspeople, homeowners, product You can dream up a Sacred Garden that is just right for you. It could be a small manufacturers, developers, building in- FRESH FOOD FROM SMALL SPACES container garden spilling out with colour and fragrance, a bountiful backyard garden, a dustry professionals and government offi- The Square-Inch Gardener’s Guide to Year- kitchen herb garden, a wild medicine garden, a self-sustaining family domain or a Round Growing, Fermenting, and Sprouting cials. beautiful bed of flowers. by R.J. Ruppenthal Jerry Yudelson is an engineer, a trainer If making a garden is not an option for you at this time, let the contents of this book $27.50, paper. Chelsea Green. provide nourishment for your heart to blossom and fertile ground for your imagination to in the U.S. Green Building Council’s isbn 9781603580281 take root. LEED rating system, and organizer for the 192 pages, 7x10, illustrations world’s largest green building conference. Books on container gardening have He’s also written Choosing Green: The been wildly popular with urban and sub- THE ART OF SACRED GARDENING Homebuyer’s Guide to Good Green Homes. Banyen urban readers, but TALK, BOOKSIGNING & SLIDESHOW until now, there Event has been no com- Fri., June 12 See p. 5 for details prehensive “how- to” guide for grow- Gardening & Farming ing fresh food in ing methods and space-saving techniques commonly in home gardens. Why is stor- the absence of such as reflected lighting and container ing your garden produce the key to self- “terracing.” Those with access to yards can sufficiency? Because with less than an acre GAIA’S GARDEN open land. Fresh Food from Small produce even more. of garden you can grow enough produce A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture With expertise in urban and indoor gar- to feed a family of four for a year. But with- by Toby Hemenway Spaces fills the gap dening that has been hard-won through out proper storage, most of it will go to $43.95, paper. as a practical, com- years of trial-and-error experience, waste since much of the produce ripens si- Chelsea Green. prehensive, and Ruppenthal shows that even urban multaneously in the summer. Learn sim- isbn 9781603580298 downright fun 400 pages, 8x10, guide to growing food in small spaces. It dwellers can contribute to a rebirth of lo- ple and enjoyable techniques for storing colour photos & illustrations provides readers with the knowledge and cal, fresh foods. your produce and embrace the wonderful This gardener’s reference is now revised skills necessary to produce their own fresh world of self-sufficiency. and also updated to address urban and vegetables, mushrooms, sprouts, and fer- Methods of storage described include limited-space permaculture. mented foods as well as to raise bees and HOW TO STORE YOUR GARDEN clamping, freezing, drying, vacuum-pack- Imagine a gar- chickens—all without reliance on energy- PRODUCE ing, salting, bottling, pickles and chutneys, The Key to Self-Sufficiency den filled with edi- intensive systems like indoor lighting and relishes, ketchups and sauces, jams and jel- by Piers Warren ble flowers, burst- hydroponics. lies, fruit butters and cheeses, and fer- $16.50, paper. Chelsea Green. menting. ing with fruit and Readers will learn how to transform bal- isbn 9781900322171 Your aim should be to store food only berries, carpeted conies and windowsills into productive 143 pages, colour photos with scented herbs vegetable gardens, countertops and stor- until the next season’s fresh produce is How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key available. This ensures you are eating the and tangy salad age lockers into commercial-quality sprout to Self-Sufficiency has been completely re- greens, all blended and mushroom farms, and outside nooks highest quality stored food at all times… vised and is the modern guide to storing Planning quantities and timing is essential in an eye-catching and crannies into whatever they can imag- and preserving for good storage. palette of colour ine, including sustainable nurseries for your garden pro- In the A–Z list of produce, each entry and texture. The honeybees and chickens. Free space for duce, enabling you flowers also nur- the city gardener might be no more than includes recommended varieties, suggest- to eat home-grown ed methods of storage, and a number of ture endangered a cramped patio, balcony, rooftop, win- goodness all year pollinators. Bright-feathered birds share dowsill, hanging rafter, dark cabinet, recipes. Learn about everything from how round. The easy-to- to make your own cider and pickled the abundant berries and gather twigs for garage, or storage area, but no space is too use reference sec- their nearby nests. Each plant plays a role small or too dark to raise food. gherkins to how to string onions and dry tion provides ap- your own apple rings. You will know where in building soil, deterring pests, storing With this book as a guide, people living plicable storage nutrients, and luring beneficial insects. in apartments, condos, townhouses, and your food has come from, you will save and preservation money, there will be no packaging, and This is not a dream. This could be your single-family homes will be able to grow techniques for the own backyard. Gaia’s Garden describes a up to 20 percent of their own fresh food you’ll be eating tasty local food while feel- majority of plant ing very good about it! home-scale permaculture gardening sys- using a combination of traditional garden- produce grown

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 49 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! NEW WORLDVIEWS !

Planetary Culture Global Future Emerging Science, Brain/Mind, Gaia & Cosmology TOWARD 2012 THE TRAVELER’S GUIDE TO Perspectives on the Next Age from Reality Sandwich DAMANHUR edited by Daniel Pinchbeck & Ken Jordan THE LIVING UNIVERSE The Amazing North Italian Eco-Society $18.50, paper. Tarcher/Putnam. Where Are We? Who Are We? by Esperide Ananas & Stambecco Pesco isbn 9781585427000 350 pages Where Are We Going? $23.00, paper. North Atlantic. RealitySandwich.com is one of the juiciest “evolutionary by Duane Elgin isbn 9781556437618 thought sites” on the web, thick with stoked, bright green, $20.75, paper. Berrett-Koehler. 210 pages, 7x9, colour illustrations edgy, visionary writing. It’s led by Daniel Pinchbeck, author isbn 9781576759691 229 pages Damanhur is truly an amazing place. of 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. And now Science has regarded the universe as Dubbed “a laboratory for the future” by its ecolutionary “lunchmeat” is in a book! made up mostly of inert matter and emp- philosopher-scien- This fresh, thought-provoking anthology ty space. At one tist Ervin Laszlo, draws together some of today’s most cele- time this point of this intentional brated visionaries, thinkers, and pioneers view was liberating, community with its in the field of evolving consciousness—ex- part of the own currency, ploring topics from shamanism to urban homesteading, the legacy Enlightenment- healthcare system, Daniel of Carlos Castaneda to Mayan predictions for the year 2012, and born rationalism and spiritual prac- Pinchbeck new paths in direct political action and human sexuality. that helped hu- tices has been in Toward 2012 highlights some of the most challenging, intelligent manity free itself existence since the pieces published on the acclaimed website Reality Sandwich. It is coedited by from superstition 1970s—yet, until a Daniel Pinchbeck and online pioneer Ken Jordan, and features original works from and fear and few years ago, it was Stanislav Grof, John Major Jenkins, and Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky); interviews with achieve extraordi- kept hidden from Abbie Hoffman and artist Alex Grey; and a new introduction by Pinchbeck. nary intellectual most of the world. Damanhur is centered Here are ideas that trace the arc of our evolution in consciousness, lifestyles, and and technological on the astonishing underground Temples communities as we draw closer to a moment in time that portends ways of living breakthroughs. of Humankind, nine ornate temples on that are different from anything we have expected or experienced. But this paradigm has outlived its useful- five levels carved into a mountainside, As Westerners, each of us has to follow a personal path to recover the numinous for ness. It has led to rampant materialism which have drawn comparisons with the ourselves, shedding our self-limiting beliefs and narcissistic complexes in the process. In and environmental degradation—if the fabled city of and have been called tribal cultures, initiation is ultimately a public process that requires an act of witnessing universe is essentially dead and we are “the Eighth Wonder of the from the collective before it is complete. The visionary knowledge gained through alive, then the inanimate stuff of the uni- World” by the British initiatory discipline only becomes meaningful when it is integrated into the community verse should be ours to exploit. But we newspaper The Daily Mail. through storytelling, dance, and pageant. In our postmodern world, those who undergo now know that the view of a dead universe initiation may need to create a shared cultural context to impart the wisdom they have Damanhur is situated in is not only destructive, it is also inaccurate gained from their ordeals. —Daniel Pinchbeck a special region with its and misleading. own profound and magi- Among the memes and vibes explored are Homo Luminus, the wounded healer, If we are to continue to evolve and cal history. Within ten ayahuasca, “psyching out the cosmos,” shamans and charlatans, reality 2.0, yoga as realize our potentials as a species, we minutes’ drive of Damjl, spiritual activism, radical interdependence and online telepathy, transforming re- Damanhur must become conscious of our partnership the center of Damanhur, Temple pression of the divine feminine, writing source code for democracy, finding peace with nature and one another… We see you will be able to enjoy between our sheets, blood and breath, and Jesus, and many more. The book ourselves as participants in a cosmic the natural beauty of the green is divided into sections on Initiation, The Shamanic, Art, Sex, Engagement, and garden of life that the universe has been Valchiusella valley—a picturesque valley Community. See you there! patiently nurturing over billions of years. A dotted with medieval villages and close to living-universe perspective invites us to the Alps—or visit the wealthy city of Turin shift from indifference, fear, and cynicism GLOBAL SHIFT to curiosity, love, and awe. with its fascinating esoteric history less How a New Worldview is Transforming Humanity than an hour away. by Edmund Bourne In The Living Universe, Duane Elgin mar- The purpose of this eclectic guide is to $28.95, paper. New Harbinger. shals evidence from cosmology, biology, give readers a taste of just some of the isbn 9781572245976 337 pages physics, even his participation in NASA- many treasures within Damanhur and the Global Shift explores the roots of such current planetary sponsored psychic experiments to show surrounding region—temple visits, festi- crises as climate change, diminishing resources, poverty, that the universe is actually a living field of vals, workshops, and healing treatments, and disease, and explains how a new convergence of sci- existence and that we are always in com- plus transport, lodgings, and restaurants. entific research and spiritual insight is propelling us to- munion with that field of aliveness Part two presents a fun overview of ward a more enlightened future. Edmund Bourne, a psy- whether we are conscious of it or not. Damanhur’s dramatic history through the chologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety disorders The universe is deeply alive as an colourful comic book Checkmate to Time, and phobias, believes a remarkable change is taking place evolving and learning system and we which places Damanhur in a mythic con- that will profoundly influence the way we see ourselves and humans are on a journey of discovery text linked to Earth and the Galaxy. our world. He suggests that the dominant materialistic, within it. We are learning to live within a living universe. If we lose sight of where Rounding out the guide are the personal separatist worldview—a perspective that leads individuals to value their own needs story of author Stambecco Pesco, one of we are (living in a living universe) we over the good of the whole—is giving way to a humanitarian spiritual orientation profoundly diminish our understanding of the first Damanhurians, and travel profiles towards life. Greater self-awareness, spiritual growth, and a sense of responsibility to who we are (beings of both biological and and essays by friends of Damanhur— the environment are seen as equally important as economic success and consump- cosmic dimension) and where we are Massimo Introvigne, director of the tion. This shift in values will revolutionize both the way humanity interacts on a going (growing into an ever more intimate Center for the Study of New Religions, an- global scale and how we live on a day-to-day basis. relationship with the living universe). thropologist Richard Grossinger, and oth- The prevailing social trends of unlimited growth and material consumption will not This is a worldview that, as Elgin ex- ers. continue, as they are not sustainable. On a global level, humanity will outgrow its plains, is shared by virtually every spiritual “The people of Damanhur have ex- adolescence, learning to become better stewards of the earth and its resources. Nations tradition, and the implications of it are pressed their creativity through the com- and cultures will increasingly come to honor each other as part of a global family, vast and deep. In a living system each part munal systems of education, economics, regardless of differences in race, religion, or nationality. Cooperation among nations is integral to the whole, so each of us is in- sociopolitics, environmental stewardship, will, out of necessity, begin to supercede conflict. timately connected to the entire universe. agriculture, and all the arts and crafts. The book also presents a call to actions we can implement now to foster person- Elgin eloquently demonstrates how that Damanhur and its temples are a beacon of al healing and bring our lives into alignment with the needs of the planet and a con- identity manifests itself on a whole series possibility for the future.” —Alex Grey, scious universe. Such actions include voluntary simplicity, nonviolent communica- of levels, from subatomic to galactic. We author of Sacred Mirrors and Art Psalms tion, forgiveness, mindfulness, caring for our bodies, and inclusive global thinking. are, he writes, far more than biological be- See www.damanhur.org for lots more. “An essential guidebook for navigating our time.” —Anodea Judith, author of ings; we are beings of cosmic connection Waking the Global Heart and dimension. And “life-changing conse- “A masterful overview of the shift in global consciousness and how it transforms quences flow from this new perspective.” our personal lives.” —Duane Elgin, author of The Living Universe Earlier books by Duane Elgin include Voluntary Simplicity and Awakening Earth.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 50 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! FINDING YOUR PASSION & MINDING YOUR BRAIN !

Ken Robinson MY STROKE OF INSIGHT A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor THE ELEMENT $16.50, paper. Penguin. How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything isbn 9780452295544 192 pages by Ken Robinson $33.00, 5 CDs. $28.50, cloth. Penguin. isbn 9780143144007 5 hours, unabridged isbn 9780670020478 274 pages, b/w illustrations This brain scientist’s journey through a huge stroke to Ken Robinson’s landmark speech at the 2006 TED con- recovery has become an inspiring exploration of human ference has been down-loaded more than a million times. consciousness and its possibilities. See Jill Bolte Taylor’s as- And now he has a book! tonishing talk on Ted.com, and also see her new interviews on Oprah.com. Discovering the Element is all about allowing yourself access In 1996, Taylor had a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side to all of the ways in which you experience the world, and of her brain. A neuro-anatomist by profession, she observed her own mind com- discovering where your own true strengths lie. pletely deteriorate to the point that she could not walk, talk, read, Just don’t take them for granted. New in write, or recall any of her life, all within the space of four hours. As Paperback The element is the point at which natural talent meets the damaged left side of her brain—the rational, languaged, detail personal passion. When people arrive at the element, they feel most themselves and and time-oriented side—swung in and out of function, Taylor alternated between most inspired and achieve at their highest levels. The Element draws on the fascinat- two distinct and opposite realties: the euphoric nirvana of the intuitive and kines- ing stories of a wide range of people, from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney to Matt thetic right brain, in which she felt a sense of complete well-being Groening, creator of “The Simpsons”; from Meg Ryan to Mick Fleetwood, drummer and peace; and the logical, sequential left brain, which recognized for Fleetwood Mac, to physicist Richard Feynman, singer Bob Dylan and others, in- Jill was having a stroke, and enabled her to seek help. cluding business leaders and athletes. It explores the components of this new par- I now existed in a world between worlds. I could no longer relate to adigm: The diversity of intelligence, the power of imagination and creativity, and people outside of me, and yet my life had not been extinguished. I was the importance of commitment to our own capabilities. not only an oddity to those around me, but on the inside, I was an The world is changing faster than ever in our history. Our best hope for the future is oddity to myself. to develop a new paradigm of human capacity to meet a new era of human existence. In My Stroke of Insight, Taylor shares her perspective on the brain, We need to evolve a new appreciation of the importance of nurturing human talent Jill Bolte Taylor its capacity for recovery, and the deep understanding she gained along with an understanding of how talent expresses itself differently in every individual. We need to create environments—in our schools, in our workplaces, and in our public from this unusual and inspiring voyage out of the abyss of a wound- offices—where every person is inspired to grow creatively. We need to make sure that ed brain. It would take eight years for Taylor to heal completely. Because of her all the people have a chance to do what they should be doing by discovering the knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human Element in themselves and in their own way. form, and most of all an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and Here’s how Ken Robinson sums it up: recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insights gained from her right brain that morning. This book is a hymn to the breathtaking diversity of human talent and passion and to Today Taylor is convinced that the stroke was the best thing that could have hap- our extraordinary potential for growth and development. It’s also about understanding the conditions under which human talents will flourish or fade. It’s about how we can pened to her. It taught her the feeling of nirvana is never more than a mere thought all engage more fully in the present, and how we can prepare in the only possible way away. By stepping to the right of our left brains, we can all uncover the feelings of well- for a completely unknowable future. To make the best of ourselves and of each other, being and peace that are so often sidelined by our own brain chatter. we urgently need to embrace a richer conception of human capacity. We need to Jill pushes the envelope in our understanding about how we can consciously in- embrace the Element. fluence the neural circuitry underlying what we think, how we feel, and how we re- “A great and inspiring book. It’s been said that an unexamined life is not worth act to life’s circumstances. She teaches us through her own example how we might living. True enough and Ken Robinson doesn’t let us off the hook. After the first more readily exercise our own right hemispheric circuitry with the intention of page, you have to abandon your ego and look for your own gifts and graces.” — helping all human beings become more humane. Warren Bennis, author of On Becoming a Leader I believe the more time we spend running our deep inner peace circuitry, then the Visit www.SirKenRobinson.com. more peace we will project into the world, and ultimately the more peace we will have on the planet.

Proposed is a contemplative science of EMBRACING MIND New in The Common Ground mind based on the sophisticated tech- Paperback Malcolm Gladwell of Science and Spirituality niques of meditation that have been prac- by B. Alan Wallace & Brian Hodel ticed for thousands of years in the great OUTLIERS $18.95, paper. Shambhala. spiritual traditions. The final section pre- The Story of Success isbn 9781590306833 272 pages sents meditations that are of universal rel- by Malcolm Gladwell Both science and spirituality search for evance—to scientists and people of all $30.99, cloth. Little, Brown. “ultimate truths.” God, the Big Bang, nir- faiths—for revealing new dimensions of isbn 9780316017923 308 pages vana, the theory of consciousness and human flourishing. Malcolm Gladwell, author of the best- evolution, relativity, Embracing Mind moves us beyond the sellers The Tipping Point and Blink, now takes quantum mechan- dogmatic debates between theists and us on an intellectual journey through the ics—these are some atheists over Intelligent Design and Neo- world of “outliers”—the best and the bright- of the concepts Darwinism, and it returns us to the vital est, the most famous and the most success- that have been ar- core of silence and spirituality: deepening ful. He asks the question: What makes high- ticulated as a result our experience of reality as a whole. achievers different? His answer is that we of that search. But “This book shows clearly and com- Malcolm pay too much attention to what successful the human capacity pellingly how Buddhism and other spiritu- Gladwell people are like, and too little attention to for exploring these al traditions may help enrich our under- where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their genera- ultimate sources of standing of the mind and its role in tion, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. truth—the one nature, without reducing it merely to a Gladwell casts his inquisitive eye on those who have risen meteorically to the top thing that unites material function or property of the of their fields, analyzing developmental patterns and searching for a common science and spirituality—is often over- brain.” —H.H. the Dalai Lama thread. The author asserts that there is no such thing as a self-made man; that “the looked. Embracing Mind argues (1) that sci- Wallace has been a teacher of Buddhist true origins of high achievement” lie instead in the circumstances and influences of ence has hobbled itself by ignoring its philosophy and meditation since 1976. one’s upbringing, combined with excellent timing. unique source of inspiration—the mind— Also by him are Contemplative Science: Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be and (2) that the schism between science Where Buddhism and Neuroscience Converge a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math (their cultures demand it), why and spirituality is unnecessary. In language and Genuine Happiness. top New York lawyers all have the same resumé, and what made the Beatles the accessible to any intelligent reader, the greatest rock band. In short, possibility comes “from the particular opportunities book first explores the veracity and history that our particular place in history presents us with.” This theme appears through- of major scientific “myths” and then pre- out the varied anecdotes. sents a viable science of the mind emanat- Intriguing and quite entertaining, Outliers will delight and illuminate, while leav- ing from contemplative spirituality, includ- ing you to mull over his inventive theories for days afterwards. ing Hindu, Christian, Sufi, and Buddhist views.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 51 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! SCIENCE & CHILDREN !

THE AKASHIC EXPERIENCE velop the skills Science and the Cosmic Memory Field needed to create a by Ervin Laszlo successful and joy- $19.95, paper. Inner Traditions. ful birth. isbn 9781594772986 278 pages EMPOWERING YOUR INDIGO CHILD You must realize A Handbook for Parents of Children of Spirit Knowing or feeling that we are all con- that a birth is like by Wayne & Ellen Dosick nected to each other and to the cosmos by an explosion of more than our eyes joy. Life surges up $18.95, paper. Weiser. and ears is not a in you, so strong isbn 9781578634446 210 pages, b/w photos new notion but that it breaks all Since the 1980s people have been writing about the in- one as old as hu- limits, all barriers. digo children. Today, many believe that nearly 80 percent manity. Traditional It is like a river of all children born are “indigos.” These are exceedingly indigenous soci- rising so high that creative, high-energy, perceptive kids who often don’t fit it engulfs and eties were widely in. They seem to have an awareness that is light years be- sweeps away everything in its path. What yond their age and quite often they are labeled as ADD, aware of nonmater- is it that “floods” over everything at a ial connections ADHD, or ODD when they are, in the words of the Dosicks, birth? It is life! It is love! And yes, it is joy! simply “children of spirit.” and incorporated And all this has so much strength that it them into their dai- can frighten and overwhelm you. What sets this book apart is that it approaches the issues facing indigos on a spiritual-energetic rather than purely cognitive level, and it is ly life. The modern Leboyer stresses how proper breathing world, however, prescriptive, teaching a specially developed set of games that can help heal indigo is the most important component for children both in their own bodies and in their earthly relationships. continues to dismiss and even deny these women going through childbirth. The intangible links—taking as real only that The Dosicks name 17 particular emotional wounds indigos hold in their bodies breathing should come from the lower and give specific exercises for healing each one. The games involve some hands-on which is physically manifest or proved “sci- belly and the exhalation should be ac- entifically.” Consequently our mainstream healing techniques, some scripted meditations, and other simple techniques. Each companied by a musical tone. Without game takes no more than two minutes to play, and this book features 101 black-and- culture is spiritually impoverished, and this musical dimension, breathing is mere- the world we live in has become disen- white photos showing parents exactly how to use the practices. ly a physical exercise. Leboyer found that Parents report they find their child: chanted. by using the music of the tambura, an In The Akashic Experience, 20 leading au- “Seems more at peace with herself and others. Appears to be more relaxed.” Indian stringed instrument whose tones “Very much in balance with himself... Doing well on homework... thorities in fields such as psychiatry, represent the embodiment of universal physics, philosophy, anthropology, natural Communication is better.” harmony, women could be transported to “Calmer and appears to be sleeping better... More independent.” healing, near-death experience, and spiri- a place of inner peace. The Art of Giving tuality offer firsthand accounts of interac- “More open. He gets along better with his brothers...” Birth includes breathing and singing exer- “Wayne and Ellen are no strangers to the issues of children on our planet! Years tions with a cosmic memory field that can cises and gentle movements to be prac- transmit information to people without of counseling, lecturing, publishing, and teaching the spiritual aspects of human ticed throughout pregnancy and during labour. nature led them directly into this wonderful endeavor. This book may well be the having to go through the senses. Their ex- Also included is a 26-minute CD of tambura periences with the Akashic field are now ultimate Indigo workbook.” —Lee Carol and Jan Tober, authors of The Indigo music to accompany the exercises. Children validated and supported by evidence from “Frederick Leboyer is a legend in his cutting-edge sciences that shows that there Wayne Dosick is a rabbi, educator, writer and healer. Ellen Kaufman Dosick has own time, and we have been blessed with been a practicing psychotherapist for over 25 years. is a cosmic memory field that contains all this book—a book that will show mothers information—past, present, and future. that giving birth is so much more than just The increasing frequency and intensity of the emergence of a baby. It includes won- THE INDIGO CHILDREN TEN YEARS LATER these Akashic experiences are an integral derful, unique letters from women that il- What’s Happening with the Indigo Teenagers part of a large-scale spiritual resurgence lustrate each point in the book.” — by Lee Carroll & Jan Tober and evolution of human consciousness Barbara Harper, author of Gentle Birth $16.95, paper. Hay House. isbn 9781401923174 286 pages that is under way today. Choices “The Indigo Children? Oh yeah… I know about them! Seeking a credible explanation of the Wasn’t there a movie about that? They’re those special kids Akashic experience calls, I believe, for who do psychic things and who have dark blue auras, right?” sustained research in the pertinent fields of RAISING AN EMOTIONALLY If that’s your take on the Indigos, then you really need to cutting-edge science, first of all in the INTELLIGENT CHILD read this book. The Indigo Children are not super-psychic physics of quantum holograms and The Heart of Parenting kids with dark blue auras. In fact, the Indigo moniker has nonlocal coherence as well as the theory by John Gottman, with Joan Declaire nothing to do with auras or being psychic. Some of these of self-regulation and evolution in $16.00, paper. Simon & Schuster. teenagers are actually the ones who are strapping on bombs complex systems. isbn 9780684838656 239 pages and bringing guns to school, so you can see that the subject here is far more pro- Among the contributors to this stimu- Every parent knows the importance of found than the sensational hype that often accompanies it. This book is all about lating book are Alex Grey, Stanislav Grof, equipping children with the intellectual the children of our planet, what really might be happening with them, why they do Stanley Krippner, Edgar Mitchell, Swami skills they need to what they do, and what we can do to help them and our educators survive. In ad- Kriyananda, Raffi, and Larry Dossey. succeed in school dition, the Indigos are slowly beginning to join the workforce (gasp)! Related books by Ervin Laszlo are and life. But chil- Carroll and Tober, the original authors of The Indigo Children, bring us a pro- Science and the Akashic Field and Science dren also need to found and frank discussion of this topic, ten years later. After all this time, what do and the Reenchantment of the Cosmos. learn to work with some in higher education say about these kids? What do industry leaders say? their emotions. Humanity is evolving, so you should definitely be aware of what these individuals Raising an are saying. It’s time to stop the circus that has been created around this subject and Family, Parenting, Emotionally get down to finding out how to help these children survive an earth they don’t un- Education & Youth! Intelligent Child is a derstand. Join over 15 educators, industry leaders, healthcare workers, parents and guide to teaching children from around the world who speak out in this book for a peek into the real children to under- issues surrounding the Indigos, and perhaps the future of humanity! stand and regulate The top five attributes of Indigos are that they have strong empathy for others; THE ART OF GIVING BIRTH their emotional they have an obvious sense of self; they often see a better way of doing things at With Chanting, Breathing, and Movement home, work, or school; they are talented daydreamers and/or visionaries. by Frederick Leboyer world. And as re- $19.95, Book+CD set. Book spected psychologist and researcher John Inner Traditions. & CD Gottman shows, once they master this im- isbn 9781594772764 portant life skill, emotionally intelligent how parents interacted with their children appropriate way to solve a problem or 103 pages, b/w photos + music CD children will enjoy increased self-confi- when emotions ran hot. deal with an upsetting issue or situation. Dr. Frederick Leboyer, author of the dence, greater physical health, better per- Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child will Written for parents of children of all groundbreaking book Birth Without formance in school, and healthier social equip parents with a five-step “emotion ages, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Violence which looks at birth from a baby’s relationships. coaching” process that teaches how to be Child will enrich the bonds between par- point of view, now explores the birth In my research, I discovered that love aware of a child’s emotions; recognize ent and child and contribute immeasur- process from the mother’s perspective. by itself wasn’t enough, but that emotional expression as an opportunity ably to the development of a generation Through the heartfelt letters of women channeling that caring into some basic for intimacy and teaching; listen empa- of emotionally healthy adults. sharing their experiences, and accompa- skills that parents practiced as if they were thetically and validate a child’s feelings; la- Also by John Gottman is Why Marriages nied by his advice and detailed commen- coaching their children in the area of bel emotions in words a child can under- Succeed or Fail. emotion was enough. The secret lay in tary, Leboyer reveals how women can de- stand; and help a child come up with an

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 52 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! RELATIONSHIP & SEXUALITY !

EROS ASCENDING The Life-Transforming Power of Sacred Sexuality by John Maxwell Taylor $18.95, paper. North Atlantic/Frog. isbn 9781583942604 384 pages You can use your own sex energy to give birth to yourself at increasing levels of coherence while also achieving optimum physical and mental health. The quest for lasting love is one of life’s essential pur- suits, in some ways the most essential. But it’s also a quest that’s impossible to separate from spiritual and sexual needs. In Eros Ascending, Maxwell Taylor offers a wide-rang- ing study of sexual dysfunction in society and explains how healthy sexuality can be an entryway to universal love and . Used as rocket fuel, sex energy can lift our consciousness to the stars to experience a state of being where love exists in and for itself and has no opposite. On a soul level, this is our natural state. Based on Taylor’s 23-year experience with Taoist practices, the book presents an engaging analysis of love, relationships, and sexuality from spiritual, romantic, and sexual perspectives. Taylor melds essential ideas by Jung, Gurdjieff, and Taoist Master Mantak Chia with science, biology, spiritual tradition, and current popular culture to shed new light on this mostly misunderstood subject. Not just for couples, the book is equally useful for single people who want to understand the methods for “learning to love yourself” in preparation for a fulfilling, long-term relationship. Taylor draws on his eclectic background as a playwright, composer, actor, musician, and longtime meditator in this persuasive plan for converting ordinary sexual en- ergy into food for the soul. Modern seekers of bliss and enlightenment through sexual union regard each other’s bodies as vessels for the god and goddess principle. They worship each other in the bedchamber as manifestations of divinity in human form. And they carry the sense of unified communion they gather there into their daily lives and interactions with each other. Eros Ascending covers a lot of ground. Among the many chapters are Shamelessly Seeding the World with Conscious Sex, The Return of the Sexual Temple Priestess, Raising Up the Serpent Power in the Garden of Eden, Who Falls in Love with What?—Animus, Anima and the Shadow, Learning Ejaculatory Self-Mastery, The Skin-Touch-Taste Factor, Moving Aroused Sexual Energy through the Body’s Inner Circuits, The Orgasmic Potential of the Physical, Astral, and Causal Bodies, Tapping our Own Sexual Healing Power, and many more. There is a supernal intelligence behind sexual arousal, the true purpose of which is to create for us ecstatic experiences of our own divinity. Also included are recommended books, videos, and resources on Taoist sexuali- ty, Tantra teachers and websites, female ejaculation, and more. Also by Taylor is The Power of I Am.

FEELING GOOD TOGETHER He shows us how to move from Self- The Secret to Making Troubled blame and Other-blame to Personal Relationships Work Responsibility and how to communicate by David Burns with “E.A.R.”: Empathy, Assertiveness, and $27.95, cloth. Broadway. Respect. There’s also a chapter, “The Dark isbn 9780767920704 274 pages Side of Human Nature,” which shows how “Why won’t my husband ever express his we may inadvertently be sabotaging our re- feelings?” “Why won’t my wife listen?” lationships. He reminds us of our part in “Why is my sister such creating and maintaining the problems we a control freak?” complain about. “Why does my ex act No matter who it is, I can show you like such a total jerk?” how to transform feelings of frustration “What’s wrong with and resentment into warmth and trust, and people?” it can happen much faster than you think. We all have some- In fact, sometimes it only takes a few one we can’t get minutes. along with—whether However, it will require some hard it’s a friend or col- work on your part, and you may have to look at some things about yourself that league who com- you didn’t want to see. plains constantly, a re- lentlessly critical boss, Rooted in 25 years of clinical experi- an obnoxious neighbor, a teenager who ence and research on more than 1,000 in- pouts and slams doors (all the while insist- dividuals, Feeling Good Together presents an ing she’s not upset), or maybe a loving, but entirely new theory of why we have so irritating spouse. much trouble getting along with each oth- In his bestselling book, Feeling Good, er. The book is filled with helpful exam- David Burns introduced Cognitive ples and brilliant, user-friendly tools such Behavioral Therapy, a clinically proven, as the Relationship Satisfaction Test, the drug-free therapy that has revolutionized Relationship Journal, the Five Secrets of the treatment of clinical depression Effective Communication, the Intimacy throughout the world. Now, in Feeling Exercise, and more, so you can enjoy far Good Together, he presents Cognitive more loving and satisfying relationships Interpersonal Therapy, a new approach with the people you care about. that will help you transform troubled, con- A professor of psychiatry at Stanford, flicted relationships into successful, happy David Burns has also written The Feeling ones. Good Handbook.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 53 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

! RELATIONSHIPS & WOMEN !

HOLD ME TIGHT shares her own discoveries and wisdom Seven Conversations for a New in gleaned from other women’s lives and art, Lifetime of Love Paperback especially poetry, to guide us on a seven- by Sue Johnson stage journey of recollection, reconnec- $17.99, paper. Little, Brown. tion, and recovery. isbn 9780316113014 320 pages The book is light, a feather, a promise. Heralded by the New York Times as the It hopes to reveal footprint and path, to couples therapy with the highest rate of offer a practical guide to exploring the success, spiritual dimension, including its Emotionally difficulties and pitfalls. Often the stages Focused Therapy overlap, circle back, and intertwine, works because it forming a pattern that reflects the views the love rela- multifaceted quality of the feminine spirit. tionship as an at- The stages—Forgetting, Remembering, tachment bond. Exploring, Practicing, Shadows on the This idea, once Path, Reclaiming—all lead to Accepting, a controversial, is condition woven throughout the stages. It now supported by is the knowledge that we never complete- science, and has ly “arrive,” we are always on the path. We become widely are always forgetting, exploring, practic- popular among ing, struggling, becoming, and remem- therapists around bering who we are. the world. “An exquisitely comforting book. If you In Hold Me Tight Sue Johnson, clinical know anyone who needs to be befriended by psychotherapist and creator of EFT, pre- her own story right now, who could use a little sents Emotionally Focused Therapy to the help accepting whatever difficult or unexpect- general public for the first time. Johnson ed things have come her way, as well as the teaches that the way to save and enrich a blessings we often forget to notice enough, or relationship is to reestablish safe emotion- if that person is you, this is the book to hold al connection and preserve the attachment close.” —Naomi Shihab Nye, author of 19 bond. With this in mind, she focuses on Varieties of Gazelle key moments in a relationship—from Recognizing the Demon Dialogue to Revisiting a Rocky Moment—and uses YOU GROW GIRL! them as touchpoints for seven healing A Self-Empowering Workbook conversations. for Tweens & Teens Through case studies from her practice, by Gina Scarano-Osika illuminating advice, and practical exercis- & Kim Dever-Johnson es, couples will learn how to nurture their $15.95, paper. Larson. relationships and will gain a new under- 9780943914732119 pages, b/w illustrations standing of how to love and love well. You Grow Girl! is a balanced, integrated workbook addressing core issues millions This book is designed to be used by all of girls aged 9–16 couples, young, old, married, engaged, struggle with every cohabiting, happy, distressed, straight, gay; in short, all partners seeking a lifetime of day—weight and size love. It is for men and for women. It is for anxieties, peer pres- people from all walks of life and cultures; sure, and dangerously everyone on this planet has the same basic deceptive media mes- need for connection. sages. Its goal is to “Dr. Johnson’s superb science, humor, help girls develop and clinical wisdom are finally accessible awareness and self-es- to all of us. I couldn’t pick a smarter, teem and to recog- warmer, and more real guide for this jour- nize and challenge ney.” —John Gottman, author of The Seven unhealthy messages. Interactive sections Principles for Making a Marriage Work on weight, size and food, stress, culture and peer pressure, and deceptive media and Internet images offer insight and Women’s Spirituality teach coping and problem-solving tools. Written in friendly, upbeat language & Healing the book is full of useful, but not boring, exercises interspersed with true stories from real girls. The many black and white REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE photographs feature normal, unglamor- Seven Stages on a Woman’s Journey of Spirit ized teens and include inspiring profiles by Linda Carroll of women whose lives and achievements $14.95, paper. Conari. offer healthy role models. Also included isbn 9781573243674 126 pages are worksheets you can fill in, which an- Each of us is born with a connection to swer questions such as “What factors pre- a divine essence. When we look at vent you from relaxing more?” women’s lives across Learning how to “Sit and Go Blah” will cultures and life- help you cleanse your mind and feel stages we can see that comfortable in your own skin. spiritual essence, yet You Grow Girl! helps girls recognize and in our everyday lives utilize the connection between their self- we often lose this esteem, thought patterns, eating habits, connection. For each and overall health to establish a balanced, of us, rediscovering integrated perspective. The authors, both our shared and par- mothers and professional counselors, ticular essence is our hope to foster healthy attitudes and good true life’s work. habits for a lifetime. They include sec- Remember Who You Are tions on coping skills, stress management, is a book to help us do just that. positive thinking, mindfulness, exercise In Remember Who You Are, Linda Carroll for enjoyment, and daily journals.

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 54 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009

BRANCHES OF LIGHT ! 55 ! SPRING - SUMMER 2009 Yasodhara Ashram British Columbia, Kootenay Rockies Canada’s Best Yoga Retreat

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