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March/April 2006 Conscious Media
In Review

Books

To Health…Naturally - A breakthrough discovery in human health: Equilibrium Theory
by John Goetz
Shadow Publishing, 2004, Paper/ 580 pages / $18.95

This is an encyclopedic reference work that could well become a standard of the Alternative Health library. It was Hippocrates who said, “Let food be your medicine” and Goetz’s book illuminates the very foundation of health – the interaction of physiology with the often baffling field of human nutritionand deficiencies.
Equilibrium Theory explains the factors that throw the body out of homeostasis and explains in detail how to bring it back into balance, interweaving and cross-correlating the best scientific research in the fields of physiology, nutrition, herbalism and biochemistry.
One drawback is that for some of the herbs and minerals in the book you may need to use the Internet and hone up your alchemy skills, but it could be worth the trouble if they work as advertised. Order the book at www.tohealthnaturally.com.
--MK

Who Built the Moon?
by Christopher Knight and Alan Butler
Watkins Publishing, 2005, ₤16.99

This compelling book by the authors of the bestselling Civilization One and The Hiram Key, explores the mind-boggling proposition that our moon was artificially manufactured to make human life possible on earth. Whether or not you buy into their conclusions, the trek through the fields of mathematics, paleoarchaeology, physics and astronomy is most enjoyable and intriguing, and the logic seems pretty irrefutable. If you are curious about the cosmos, this book is warmly recommended. www.watkinspublishing.co.uk
--MK

The Spiritual Art of Being Organized,
by Claire Josefine
Winter’s Daughter Press, 2004. $ 16.95

If you need a different motivation to decrease clutter, this chaos-conquering book could be it. Full of beautiful quotes and concise, easy to read suggestions it will make even the most entrenched mess maker think about making a few changes. This book artfully emphasizes how rearranging and sorting items can help you move forward in your life.
--Alaina Zipp

Let Your Goddess Grow! 7 Spiritual Lessons on Female Power and Positive Thinking
by Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D.
The Goddess Network Press, 2005, $19.95

In this book of women's wisdom, Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D., explains how to replace old, negative thought patterns with powerful ideas. Her seven lessons guide the reader to manifest more success while deepening the relationship with spirit. Let Your Goddess Grow! gently leads one to the concept of the divine feminine and explains why both men and women need more of Her. This book will gracefully show you how to harness your own power to create a positive and balanced life. www.thegoddessnetwork.net

The I Ching for Writers, Finding the Page Inside You
by Sarah Jane Sloane,
New World Library, 2005 , 14.95

Whether you want to jump-start a writing practice or are interested in new modes of divination, this book might fit the bill. Providing the simplest instructions I have seen for throwing I Ching (ancient Chinese divination system), this delightful book gives the option of writing prompts, predictions and advisory’s for each throw. I used it for “bibliodivination,” merely opening the book randomly and finding the wisdom for me in that page. This book is a great idea and would be well worth it with new ideas and great quotes.
--Alaina Zipp

American Wholefoods Cuisine
by Nikki & David Goldbeck
Penguin books, 2006, Paper/ 580 pages /$21.95

This new paperback edition of the classic by the Goldbecks is an exciting and encylopedic collection of vegetarian recipes enlivened by their visits to more than thirty countries throughout Europe, North Africa, Central America, Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the US. American Wholefoods Cuisine emphasizes wholefoods in place of refined ingredients – and makes them taste delicious! Although rushed lifestyles make eating overprocessed, unnutritious convenience foods seductive, with most of its delicious recipes using seven or fewer ingredients, American Wholefoods Cuisine can help you take the plunge into a healthier way of feeding your body.
--MK

Dreamer's Book of the Dead – A soul traveler’s guide to death, dying and the other side
Robert Moss
Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, 2005, $16.95

Robert Moss survived three near-death experiences in childhood and has been dreaming with the departed all of his life. In Dreamer's Book of the Dead, he explains that we all can have entirely natural contact with the departed in our dreams, and gain first-hand knowledge of life beyond death. As we become active dreamers we can heal our relationships with the departed and move beyond the fear of death.
The book provides powerful Active Dreaming practices from ancient and indigenous cultures for journeying beyond the gates of death for wisdom and healing. In dreams, says Moss, we drop our left-brain inhibitions, and can all be gifted intuitives, able to see future events and the consequences of our present actions. Navigating by synchronicity, he suggests, is the dreamer's way of operating in waking life.
--MK

Shafts of Light: Selected Teachings of Swami Ashokananda for Spiritual Practice
Sister Gargi and Shelley Brown,
Kalpa Tree Press 2004, $12.95

Someone once said that everyone is on their own path to God. Swami Ashokananda’s writings reveal his own journey along his path to God through the teachings of Vedanta, “the way to a higher state of being.” This book, a distillation of over eight hundred of his teachings and thoughts compiled by two disciples, is well worth reading and digesting.
Divided into themed sections like The Interference of Ego, and Be Purposeful, his sayings are short and refreshingly direct. In the section on Truth he says, “Either something is true or it is false. If it is true, whether you like it or not, you have to swallow it.” And on the subject of the Mind: “The mind is so hard that an atomic bomb will not make a dent in it, but meditation will.”
This book can be read in one long sitting if desired, to get a sense of the wholeness of Vedanta. It can also be savored slowly over the course of days or months. There is much to learn here.
--Sarah Saito

Other Media

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
A documentary by Judy Irving and Mark Bittner

Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is the true story of Mark Bittner, a formerly homeless street musician, and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco. These cherry-headed conures were originally escaped pets who began to breed in the wild of the city. While he is not a scientist, Mark becomes something of an expert after consulting local bird breeders and rescuers. Not your typical "nature film," we become involved as Mark feeds, names, studies, nurses and protects the parrots. This delightful film with its surprise ending is a real crowd pleaser that reveals answers to some of life’s biggest questions for both Mark and the parrots.
Wild Parrots has been chosen by the Spiritual Cinema Circle as the feature film selection for the March 2006 Spiritual Cinema Club. The Spiritual Cinema Circle licenses uplifting, inspiring shorts, documentaries, and features from around the world for its monthly DVD selections that serve the millions who identify themselves as “spiritual but not religious.”
“Seeing the wild parrots express behaviors that we recognize as love, fear, and jealousy and the surprising spirituality of the parrots, will be a treat for our subscribers,” says Stephen Simon, co-founder of The Spiritual Cinema Circle. “We seek out films that warm the heart. Our members enjoy movies that make them feel better about being human, and Parrots does exactly that.”
--Arielle Ford

Special Offer For New Connexion Readers: Join the Spiritual Cinema Circle now and you will get your first month free (you pay just $3.95 shipping & handling). visit www.spiritualcinemacircle.com.

Unknown White Male
Directed by Rupert Murray

Unknown White Male is the true story of Doug Bruce, a Brit in New York City who had been a successful stockbroker. On July 3, 2003, Bruce realized, while on a New York City subway train to Coney Island, that he didn’t know who he was and had no memories of his past. His longtime friend, filmmaker Rupert Murray, recreated the scenes up to when he was identified, and then followed Bruce through his real-time search for himself, and his creation of a new life. We see him confront old lovers, friends and family in his attempt to piece together his life and identity. The fact that it doesn’t find a definitive answer is no surprise, and no shortcoming. It is an absorbing film that raises profound questions in the viewer to echo those of Bruce himself.
In theaters March, 2006. www.unknownwhitemale.com.

Dakshina
by Deva Premal
White Swan Records, 2005, $17.98

The lush arrangements of Premal's new CD Dakshina entrance the listener from its opening tribute to Saraswati to a final beautiful hymn to the inner guiding light within all of us. Good for meditation or background music, the subtle instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, bansuri flute, all manner of keyboards, exotic samplings and the full sound of the Bollywood Strings. Premal's voice is double, triple and quadruple tracked in varying degrees in the majority of the tracks, and the effect is always fresh and uplifting. This CD is sure to be new and timeless with each listening voyage following a Dakshina returning to the source of her devotion.
--PJ