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January/February 2007 Conscious Media
Reader's Choice Reviews

Join the Reader's Choice Club and review books and CDs for New Connexion. The products you review are yours to keep-our way of saying thanks for volunteering and providing this valuable service. The club meets bimonthly to share insights on books and CDs reviewed. Email editor@newconnexion.net for details.

 

Horses and the Mystical Path: The Celtic Way of Expanding the Human Soul, Drs. Adele, Deborah and Thomas McCormick, New World Library, 2004, $14.95

What connotations does the horse on the cover have for you? What do horses have to do with mysticism and the Celtic Way? You note that the authors are psychotherapists and again you wonder how psychology fits into this puzzle. Actually, it all fits together rather well. To paraphrase the authors, their Peruvian stallion "awakened their inner natures and restored their oneness with the Cosmos."

The Celtic way, which is "grounded in the heart of nature," requires a surrendering of the ego, and working with animals points the way. The McCormicks use horses and their considerable psychology skills to teach seriously troubled people to "develop their human spirituality and intuition." The personal experiences these people have with the clever horses often lead to improved lives.

There are several fascinating anecdotes illustrating what can be achieved on both sides in the animal/human relationship. This book is informative in the fields of psychology and religion. There is even a bit of mystery that the reader will have to solve within his or herself.

-- Barbara Bowers

 

Editor's
Choice

Secrets of the Hidden Realms: Mystical Keys to the Unseen Worlds, Almine, Spiritual Journeys, 2006, $19.95

Secrets of the Hidden Realms provides spiritual seekers with an intimate view into the world of a dimensional traveler. Almine, a Toltec three-pronged Nagual, guides readers through eight realms of existence beyond our earthly awareness: the realms of the goddess, dreams, inner Earth, magical kingdoms, spirit world and angelic sphere. Through her dimensional journeys, Almine shares her spiritual insights in amazing and instructive anecdotes about working with other dimensional beings to unlock the mysteries of the universe. Filled with original symbols and charts, Almine opens the door for others to travel through these portals of wonder. Visit www.spiritualjourneys.com.

-- Vicky Thompson

 

Witnesses to the Unsolved, Edward Olshaker, Remiel Press, 2005, $22.95

Political intrigue and corruption. Greed, power and money. Author Edward Olshaker uncovered all this while investigating the evidence behind the deaths of many well-known, high-profile figures and icons in America. Olshaker pieced together information from seven prominent independent psychic detectives and their contacts in the spirit world. The results shed new light on these cases, often varying considerably from the "official" government or police reports. Beyond an interesting read on the deaths of such notables as Martin Luther King, Jr., rock icon Kurt Cobain, high level CIA and other government officials, the readings from the psychics and the spirits themselves are an indication that not all is what it appears to be, but that the truth is out there.

--Alice R. Berntson

 

Sacred Vow, C.G. Walters, Dragon's Beard Publishing, 2006, $13.95

Classified as metaphysical fiction, Sacred Vow is a love story of a very unusual nature. The writing starts out tentative, shy, uncertain; just like anyone who ventures into love for the first time. Any new relationship has complications, and Katerina and Ian, the lovers in this story, are no different. However, there is one catch. Ian and Katerina are trying to build a relationship across dimensional planes; visiting each other through meditations and visions. Walters does a fine job of expressing not only the awkwardness of a new relationship, but the hesitancy anyone might encounter in trying to explain non-quantifiable experiences to those around them.

--Kate Tanner

 

Neither Darwin Nor Genesis: A New Paradigm for Creation and Evolution, David Moyle, iUniverse, 2006, $10.95

For 150 years, a war of words has been fought between science and religion over which theory best describes life as we know it - Darwin's theory or the creation story in the Bible. In a bold new approach, Neither Darwin Nor Genesis clearly outlines the major flaws in both arguments and offers a whole new view of life, creation and evolution based on fundamentals of metaphysical science. This paradigm looks beyond the physical realm to uncover the invisible but intelligent forces which govern all things.

As we move into the new millennia with a world dangerously out of balance, this paradigm offers a world view that has been known to aboriginal cultures for eons and is currently supported by quantum physicists. Available at www.iuniverse.com.

-- Cathy McGuire

 

Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen, Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry, Penguin, 2006, $18.95

There have been a number of recent high-profile books and movies about what's wrong with our current food system. Grub provides ideas to improve the system and our lives.

The readable first section of the book is devoted to The six illusions around food production: choice, safe and clean, efficiency, cheap, fairness and progress. The second section describes the revolution in ecological farming, the revival of local foods and the flourishing of food justice. Section three focuses on practical solutions to get anyone's buying habits and kitchen stocked more in line with organic values.

Seasonal menus come with soundtrack suggestions, reading and film lists. The emphasis is on world vegetarian cuisine with some vegan, poultry and seafood recipes. Alas for the cook, this section of the book could have been laid out better. Recipes often run over a page-turn at inconvenient spots. On the bright side, there are many tips for cooking, and the world cuisine will expose even experienced cooks to many new dishes and ingredients.

--Gretchen D. Westlight

 

The Earth Path, Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature, Starhawk, Harper San Francisco, 2005, $14.95

Starhawk is a popular leader of the reclaiming branch of Wicca which combines political activism directly with magical practice. This book argues that not only should Pagans become more intimately involved in nature, but in science. What makes this book different is that although there are exercises concerning each element (air, fire, water and earth) which is basic to witchcraft; Starhawk argues that magical practitioners should partner with science. This is basic to the ecology movement -- conservation of water and use of alternative powers, learning specific birds and insects can create that moment-to-moment awareness leading to deep reverence of Mother Earth.

I was very moved by an eco-pagan version of the creation of the world story based on Gaia as an active element in the primordial ooze, pointing out how her flexibility helped shape the evolutionary process. Using only basic magical techniques and references, this book would would be fascinating to anyone with a basic interest in earth-friendly activities.

--Alaina Zipp

 

The Key - Unlock Your Psychic Abilities, Echo Bodine, New World Library, 2006, $19.95

This book and CD set by Echo Bodine provide step by step instruction on how to tap into and refine your psychic abilities. Bodine, a Christian based psychic, outlines simple steps and guidelines to assist you with the following: beginning journaling, setting boundaries, staying grounded, opening yourself up for the information to flow through you, and then providing tips on how to interpret and understand the information that comes through for yourself or your client. The guided exercises throughout the book and accompanying CD were both relaxing and fun to practice. The book provided adequate journaling pages for recording your progress or your personal thoughts. I found this practical guide for enhancing your psychic awareness clearly written, very informative and enjoyable to read.

 -- Jacque Valentine

 

Get Unstuck from Fundamentalism: A Spiritual Journey, Robert Parson Crosby, Vivo! Publishing, 2006, $16.95

I met Robert Crosby on beautiful Fidalgo Island in Washington this past summer. His eyes how they sparkled, his cheeks were quite rosy, and his belly didn't jiggle when he laughed, but oh was a beautiful sight he was. He joined our small discussion group, not to sign books or sell anything, but to share our stories of experiences and thoughts about fundamentalism. Get Unstuck from Fundamentalism was written to foster an understanding of how limiting and rigid beliefs can restrict our personal journey and cause deep misunderstanding in the world. It offers a taste of how to get unstuck, find your essence and understand the core moralities: graceful aging, striving for authenticity, commitment and congruency.

How are you stuck? I believe this record of his personal journey is worth every page, and the wise man who wrote it is a light to behold.

--Iris Turner

 

From The Cave, Frank Harris, Spirit Voyage Records, 2006, $17.99

You walked into your favorite jazz club on Saturday night. You hear familiar Sanskrit chants set to a smooth grooving beat. One week later, you go to a rock concert and the band starts singing a song to Shiva. This is the world of Frank Harris and his newest recording From The Cave. Imagine, Krishna Das chanting to smooth jazz. This CD is prefect for younger audiences that do not resonate with Sanskrit chants. This recording is interlaced with long instrumentals combining elements of jazz, rock and traditional sounds from South America, Africa and India. Harris is a musician who adds his passion to each track, featuring lush vocals imbedded in a masterful musical taste for Sanskrit chants. Harris blends many musical genres by taking the listener on a journey into the cave of a wondrous world of relaxation, meditation and chanting. Let your heart open to the joyous surrender and abandon the mundane.

-- Peter Scrogin