January/February 2006 Living Now
Setting Your Heart on Fire: An Interview with Raphael Cushnir

by Connie Hill

Raphael Cushnir

Raphael Cushnir is the author of Unconditional Bliss, Setting Your Heart on Fire and his newest, How Now, 100 Ways to Celebrate the Present Moment. Raphael’s journey began twelve years ago when his life completely fell apart. During what he calls his "dark night of the soul," his mentor suggested a new direction: Don’t do anything. Experience the soup of suffering. And it worked!

R: In workshops, I ask if anyone has experienced a "dark night of the soul." Virtually every hand goes up. So, the question becomes what’s the best way to grow through it and be able to take something away that’s really powerful.

When I stopped staying busy and distracted, it felt authentic, though that was the only good thing at first. I kind of bumbled my way through, but I kept going. Six months later I had an extraordinary breakthrough, a moment of grace in which my heart burst wide open and I was filled with peace and love like I’d never known. I thought it was a rebound from so much gloom, but it never went away. That state of joy, peace and love is available to me in every moment and experience and the question became "Am I available to it?"

I started paying attention to what took me toward that state and away from it. I began to realize that what was true for me was true for others – simplicity, few steps and no complicated theory works best. It’s as Rumi says, "an open secret, there for all to see." Since I was a writer and observer, and I’m dedicated to clarity, my job was to explain this process in simple, accessible terms anybody could understand, immediately. My workshops and talks are about sharing this practice with people in the quickest, deepest way that makes it portable, so they can start using it right away.

C: Tell me about your newest book, How Now.

R: The publishers wanted to touch the widest group of people who’d benefit but would never buy a self-help book. They wanted to use my message in a beautiful book that people would flip through, reading a little at a time. I wrote the book wanting it to appeal to that wider audience, and also to give student a way of sharing the practice so others could receive it. I could only have 200 words per page and the practices had to be simple and clear. The book has really struck a chord and is available in Staples, of all places. And, beyond great book stores like yours, it’s also in the Pottery Barn. My editor said that any book that can be in Staples and Pottery Barn at the same time is definitely reaching a wide audience!

C: Thanks Raphael.

Raphael will be at New Renaissance on Thursday, January 12. Call 503-224-4929 to register or go to www.livingthequestions.org for information about Raphael’s other Portland events.

Connie Hill works at New Renaissance. She can be reached at 971-244-0567 ext. 2 or gmnite@yahoo.com.