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March/April 2004 Conscious Media
Reviews - Books and Music

God’s Messengers: What Animals Teach Us About the Divine
By Allen and Linda Anderson, New World Library 2003, $14.95

Can you feel the love of God through the paws of a dog or cat? Can you see it in the eyes of a ferret or a rabbit? Do animals have spirits which continue on after death? This collection of heartwarming stories by Allen and Linda Anderson answers these questions, and more, strongly in the affirmative. Many animal lovers, including Richard Simmons, have sent their favorite stories to be included. The book is full of interactions with animals such as guardian cats, playful dolphins, angelic llamas, and many more.
The book’s twelve chapters have titles such as "Is there a God?", "Does God help us find each other?", and "Does God help us be heroic?" The stories clearly show the deep, beautiful connections that exist between humans and their animal friends, and how those connections naturally reveal God in action. Individual stories are short and followed by short meditative exercises and suggestions for how to apply them to one’s own spiritual journey. This is a nice book to have stashed in your bag for those waits at the bank or the post office.
--- Sarah Saito

Breaking Open the Head: A Psychedelic Journey Into the Heart of Contemporary Shamanism
by Daniel Pinchbeck; Broadway Books; 2002, $14.00

This fascinating book reveals the mystical experience as obtained through the use of visionary compounds, along with the history, rituals, biochemistry and controversies surrounding their use. Pinchbeck, a cynical New Yorker in the throes of a self-professed spiritual crisis, sets off on a global journey seeking "inner knowledge...Nothing abstract, secondhand or second-rate." He tries iboga in Gabon, ayahuasca in Ecuador, psilocybin in Mexico and a variety of other compounds including Salvia and DMT. While emphasizing the ambiguous nature of the discoveries often gleaned from such drugs, and the importance of the framework supplied by the shamanic rituals when taking them, Pinchbeck ultimately comes to believe (as the indigenous peoples do) that these substances were purposely given to humanity to catalyze our spiritual potential. As he describes iboga: "The action of the drug actually was—as I had heard it described but wouldn’t believe—the equivalent of ten years of psychoanalysis compacted into one interminable night."
Although Pinchbeck is dismissive throughout of everything "New Age" (I guess because he believes the movement glosses over the dark side of the spiritual realm)—by the end he’s talking about hierarchies of celestial beings, Mayan prophecies and "how we must become our own shamans, wizards, and seers" and "take responsibility for the plight of our species" —which all sounds pretty New Age to me.
---Lisa U’Ren

Yearning For The Wind
Celtic Reflections on Nature and the Soul
By Tom Cowan, New World Library $14.95

The Author, Tom Cowan is a wonderful story teller; he has woven together mystical tales of nature and spirit in his book Yearning For The Wind. Within these pages of Irish fables you can feel the closeness the Celtic people have with the earth and how this connection is entwined with religion, mysticism and folklore to create a belief system unlike any other. Mr. Cowan, a master of Celtic shamanism and myth, leads us on a journey of exploration into the soul’s relationship with nature and its healing properties. He does this by relating his own personal experiences. If you but open your heart and your mind to the experience you too will connect to nature in a new and refreshing way; you do not need to be Celtic or of any religious believe to benefit from his enjoyable stories and inspirational reflections.
---Jude Norris

Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants,
by Claudia Muller-Ebeling, Christian Ratsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl, Inner Traditions $24.95

Witches and their medicine have long been the subject of fear and hatred. The authors of this book seek to shed light on how this reaction was cultivated in present society and the falseness of the image. They carry us from the beginning of time, when humankind’s relationship with nature was one of harmony, to the Inquisition and the rise of Christianity, when nature became something to tame and avoid.
In truth, the role of the witch in society was one of wisdom and healing. The witch’s relationship to the gods and nature, to fertility and the harvest was intrinsic. Herbs were used to heal, to ease pain, and to open the doorway to the unseen world, and the witch held the key to their safe use. The demonization of witchcraft forced the witch into hiding, her herbs into darkness. The knowledge that society as a whole has lost because of this change is clearly illustrated.
Thoroughly researched and intelligently stated, at first glance, this book may seem dense, but the chapters flow logically and are interspersed with descriptions of herbs and their uses throughout various regions and time. This book is wonderfully illustrated, from black and white drawings to lush full-color photos and art.
Although I would not recommend this book to those wholly unfamiliar with mythology or herbalism, a true student’s collection would be incomplete without it.
--- Deborah Kingry

Stress Reduction for Busy People
by Dawn Groves, New World Library, 2004, $10.95

Not particularly gimmicky or flashy, this book is full of very sound, basic information on stress reduction, touting regular exercise, nutrition, meditation and daily social activities. I particularly liked that after outlining all of the above stress buster activities, Dawn states "if you are still feeling paralyzed by the drama in your life, remember this: one month or year from now, you’ll hardly remember what drove you to distraction today. However, long-term stress will lead to weakened bones, extra body weight, relationship and immunological system problems…."
I also found the "crisis solution plan," of "move your body, narrow your focus and take action…" helpful. Specific stories are given of how this plan helped others who were feeling paralyzed by stress. What this book reinforces is that doing something, anything, is better than nothing. It gives no leeway for excuses.
This book is an easy read. Interestingly, the "busy people" series also contains books on massage, yoga and meditation. Judging from this basic primer brimming with helpful information, these other titles could well be worth a look, even for someone who is extremely busy.
---Alaina Zipp

♫_♪♪♫♪♫_♪   Music

Prem, $17.99 and Shanti, $17.99

Both of these CDs by Snatam Kaur Khalsa have a very pleasant sound, lovely vocals, (sometimes almost with a bit of a pop lilt) and soft "Indian" accompaniment including Sitar, Tabla, keyboards and woodwinds, which flow nicely. Most the tracks on "Prem" (her first solo release) are short mantras repeated over and over again with a stylized musical form. Some are a bit long for my taste. The chants on Shanti show a greater growth musically, are more diverse and have a much more creative feel. Both might be perfect on a rainy day to sit, let go and meditate, listening to these beautiful chants expressing peace, love, destiny and so much more. www.SpiritVoyage.com

The Sound Of OM, $16.99
Missa, $17.99

Thomas Barquee sets the mood with interwoven lead and vocal harmonies while his talented musicians blend eastern and western sounds to create two unique CDs of spiritual chants and rhythms. Both CDs, it seems, can take one's soul on journeys to the heavens and back. The latter of the two, Missa, with chants which ask to "Grant Us Peace" and "Eternal Light Shine Upon them", is the more satisfying with a greater sense of maturity coming forth through the entire production. Get away from the daily noise and clutter; allow the vibration of the music to enter deeply; relax, breathe and soar. www.spiritvoyage.com

The Harmonic Convergence 'Live' 

A new CD with 12 songs from Alan Peterson, Sharon McCann & Lon Jones recorded live at Artichoke Music in Portland late last fall. Engaging, uplifting, humorous, and thought-provoking, the music of Harmonic Convergence reflects the accumulated talent, wit, and wisdom of three seasoned northwest musicians. Acoustic guitars, and mandolin, support intelligent vocals with compelling three part harmonies.  www.alanpeterson.net