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BOOKS WE THE PEOPLE ARE THE MESSIAH by DEBORAH and JACK BARTELLO Project Enlightenment Press $14.95 (softcover) reviewed by Tony Stubbs Having edited We the People Are the Messiah and worked with the authors, Jack and Deborah Bartello, through several incarnations of the book, I got to know them well, and found them to be a delightful couple. Jesus once told them that Deborah is the "antenna" for divine energies and Jack is the anchor. Together, they make a powerful team, and can be justly proud of the book (not that pride is even part of their vocabulary). The book opens with the authors being cajoled by spirit into accepting an assignment to move to Mt. Shasta and open a retreat center. They go through all the self-doubt that plagues anyone catapulted onto a spiritual fast track, especially when Jesus takes them back 2,000 years to when they were his contemporaries. Next, we are introduced to the Lighthouse, as the center was called, and taken "behind the scenes" of the month-long retreats with fascinating firsthand accounts of participants and the changes wrought in them as Jesus and other ascended masters worked to clear away the deeply engrained, ossified emotions and negative connotations associated with Christ. The Sunday School stories will never be the same after you have read the chapter "Through Jesus’ Eyes," in which the authors report on how they merged with Jesus and were taken back to, and relived, his lifetime. The Bartellos undertook the ten-week Project Lightstar, in which they and four "interns" dismantled the old "pious, overworked Jesus" paradigm and co-created the new, playful "Christ Heart." In the chapter "Living the Christ Heart," the authors offer 12 deceptively simple practices that allow the reader to reap the same benefits they did. For me, the climax of the book is the inspirational and stimulating chapter, "Jesus Speaks," wherein Jesus directly addresses the reader. This chapter will rekindle your passion, creativity, and your desire to truly live as "the spiritual giant that you are." Jesus deftly demolishes two millennia of worn-out attitudes and platitudes, candidly replacing them with his own refreshing message and mission. His words of devotion, insight, love, and wisdom reveal who we are and what we are. In short, here is a path to love, a path that leads to the knowledge that we are God, and that we are, indeed, all the Messiah! REAL POWER Business Lessons from the Tao Te Ching by JAMES A. AUTRY and STEPHEN MITCHELL Riverhead Books $14 (softcover) reviewed by Kay Haneline The book Real Power could be viewed as a power tool to take the age-old wisdom of the Tao and apply it to our current-day business world. As in using any tool, it is best to read the instructions first. In this case, read the book from the beginning to the end to provide an overview of the material. This will also indicate how the authors interpret the Tao’s wisdom as business advice for today. This information then rests quietly in your mind. Then, when you encounter a challenge or are looking for a specific course of action, pick up the copy of Real Power resting conveniently on your desk. It now becomes a refreshing reference to provide insight and assist you in charting your actions. Coupled with a good cup of tea, a few minutes spent reviewing Real Power will provide you with a power break, recharging your creativity and problem-solving ability. This book offers a respite from a busy routine. Opening the cover and flipping through the pages will focus your energy, validating your instincts when it comes to resolving problems. In its application, Real Power is subtle yet strong. Each section within the individual parts of Real Power starts out with a quote from the Tao, then, in a page or two, addresses the application of the timeless information. Keep this book handy! Specifically, Real Power addresses relationships in the workplace. It identifies the components of true leadership. Age-old philosophy opens the doors to creating a harmonious and productive work environment. Part One, "The Wise Leader," points out that being open and flexible is vital to finding solutions to difficult situations. Expanding definitions and not limiting our expectations reveal greater possibilities. Part Two, "Giving up Control," reminds us that control is an illusion: "What is necessary is to be quick on your feet today and responsive to what the marketplace demands, while having powerful values that hold your culture and the harmony of the workplace together. Then be ready to change your mind tomorrow about particular strategies, plans or agendas, if necessary. That’s what the current of the Tao demands." Part Three, "Motivation," addresses success and failure, destructive competitiveness, anger, fear, power and money, the nitty-gritty of the business world, and how to fearlessly approach these issues. Part Four, "Creating a Community That Works," reveals the wisdom the leader uses in creating a joyful environment in which individual employees are valued: "The proof of whether a leader has created a place of freedom and nurture is that the employees will honor that leader, spontaneously and unconsciously. You’ll see it as good morale, productivity, and business results. And you’ll hear it in such comments as 'I love this place.' " The last part of Real Power addresses "Vision," expanding the concepts of the Tao in the largest way possible: "The wise leader realizes that when he is centered in the Tao, his company becomes centered in the Tao. And when one company is centered in the Tao, it becomes that much more possible for the rest of the world." Whether you are in the corporate world, a small business, or an individual relating to the business world, Real Power can be of value to you. It has often been said that there is pleasure in using good tools. Real Power is an essential "power tool" to be used and enjoyed. THE ECSTATIC JOURNEY Walking the Mystical Path in Everyday Life by SOPHY BURNHAM Wellspring $14 (softcover) reviewed by Donna M. Pinkston, M.A. In her latest book, Sophy Burnham explores the phenomenon of mysticism. Submitting numerous accounts from a myriad of people’s experiences with mysticism, Burnham has something to offer every reader. In the gentle unfolding of her own journey, she shares the stories of Hildegard of Bingen, Catherine Fieschi of Genoa, the Dalai Lama, Dante, Buddha, Ram Dass, George Forman, and many, many more. Not bogged down with details, Ms. Burnham lightly brushes over the varied sources of mysticism. In an almost journalistic account, she leaves no stone unturned. From her own journey through Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, Sufism, Zen, and astrology, Burnham describes the diverse faces of mysticism. Describing the expressions of mystical experiences, Burnham takes the reader from despair and loneliness through fear and insanity, only to lead us to a blissful state of union with the divine. The ample firsthand accounts of ecstatic union with the divine are bound to provide the reader with a few of his/her own experiences. Burnham also informs the reader about the scientific studies and surveys conducted on the topic of mysticism. Brainwave activities (alpha, beta, theta, and delta frequencies) are described. The experiments of Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) with hallucinogens are mentioned. Medical studies on self-regulation of body temperature are included, as is the survey conducted by social scientists Wm. C. McCready and Father Andrew M. Greeley, in which about forty percent of Americans described themselves as having had one or more mystical experiences. While the book is information-packed, Ms. Burnham immediately makes the reader comfortable by showing the common ground among all people. She states the eternal question: Is there a God and, if so, where? She talks of the bargains people make with God. She mentions the guilty wish many people feel in needing to earn the right to live. She even goes into her own midlife crisis and the feelings of having been stripped naked of all life's meaning. With this, she leads the reader to a place of surrender and the desire, wish, and prayer to be of service to the Divine. In light of the author’s active lifetime search for divinity, there are no words that can really describe this book. One simply must read it. NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION A Language of Compassion by MARSHALL B. ROSENBERG, Ph.D. PuddleDancer Press $15.95 (softcover) reviewed by Kate Lin How might our relationships be transformed if we could learn a way of communicating that put us more in touch with our compassion? What if we could learn new ways of interacting that helped us hear the deeper needs of others as well as gain clarity about our own needs? Nonviolent Communication provides a framework for staying connected to our compassion while having authentic exchanges with others. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) focuses on the actual language that we use. We learn to view others’ judgments and criticisms as expressions of their unmet needs. Similarly, we learn to view our own communication in terms of what we are feeling and needing. There are four main components in NVC, and these components are applied both when we are expressing ourselves and also when we are listening empathically to others. The first step is to notice nonjudgmentally what is happening in a situation. Next, we state the feelings that we have as a result of what we are noticing. Thirdly, we express the needs that are associated with those feelings. Finally, we make a specific request regarding what we would like the other person to do so that our lives might be enriched. Actual situations that are dramatic and volatile are presented along with the dialogue leading to their resolution. In one situation, the author was lecturing at a refugee camp in Bethlehem when someone in the audience called him a murderer. The ensuing dialogue between the author and the man in the audience is given, demonstrating the use of NVC by the author. An hour after the dialogue, the man who had called the author a murderer invited the author to his home for dinner. By focusing on the other person’s needs and feelings, we see the humanity that we all share. Not only is NVC useful for communicating effectively with others, it is also useful for resolving internal conflicts and depression. We can handle judgments and criticisms that we make toward ourselves in the same way that we handle judgments and criticisms directed toward us by others. Other areas that are discussed include the power of empathy, how to express appreciation, the use of force, and expressing anger. A distinction is made between the protective use of force and the punitive use of force. The protective use of force is based on a desire to prevent injury or injustice, while the punitive use of force is based on a desire to see people suffer for perceived wrongdoing. According to Rosenberg, anger is caused by thoughts of blame and judgment. Whenever we judge others, we are contributing to violence. Instead of judging others, we learn to translate each judgment into an unmet need. Rosenberg has taught the principles of NVC in workshops around the globe, including the Middle East, Croatia, and Rwanda. I highly recommend Nonviolent Communication for anyone interested in resolving conflicts, creating more intimate relationships, or exploring the connection between language and violence. WHY CHRISTIANITY MUST CHANGE OR DIE A Bishop Speaks to Believers in Exile by JOHN SHELBY SPONG Harper Books $14 (softcover) reviewed by Douglas S Johnson One need only tune into TBN (Trinity Broadcast Network) for an hour or so, or note the current number of members in the Mormon church (many of whom believe in a male God of physicality and gender right down to genitalia) or view the endless stream of bumper stickers that read something like "God said it! I believe it! That's it! " Given such evidences, one might begin to think that a title like Why [Theistic] Christianity Must Change or Die is a shade over-threatening or simply bombastic. In fact, aided by a new wave of young religious conservatives, the Father-God of classic Judeo-Christianity seems firmly ensconced on the (literal, physical) throne for a goodly time to come. If the title doesn't offend, the first six pages of this book (in which the idea of a personal God; the virgin birth, exclusive divinity, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; the Creation theory; and the infallibility of the scriptures are all deemed mere mythology and error) will send most fundamentalists scurrying madly for the waste can. Still, if one has the intellectual fortitude to be challenged (and even offended) and nonetheless proceed in order to judge new ideas only after having given them a fair chance, one may find that Spong is not the beast he first seems. If Spong's title and introduction are brazen (and some less charitable might say "defensive"), it is probably because he has been fighting an often precarious and even dangerous battle against unrealistic and prejudiced views in the (particularly Catholic) church for thirty-some-odd years now. He was, and remains, at the spearhead in regard to not only raising up homosexuals and women into respectable stance in the eyes of true Christians everywhere, but also in installing them into prominent positions of the Catholic church itself. (He has often received strange "thanks" for these considerations toward maligned groups: i.e. having his life threatened, or getting struck with an umbrella and being called a "bastard" and a "son-of-a-bitch" at his wife's funeral — all in the name of fundamentalist "Christianity.") What Spong, an ordained bishop in the Catholic church, proposes in his latest offering is (what will seem to some) a curious kind of non-theistic Christianity (and to others, a blasphemous sort). This Christianity no longer depends upon such things as "Father God personified," the "blood sacrifice for sins," "streets of gold," or "fire and brimstone." It is a Christianity with a flavorful Buddhist tang, a Christianity for the sake of Christianity, freed from all attachments to "reward" and "punishment," and even (consider the concept carefully!) from traditional ideas of "good" and "evil." Coordinately, Spong's Jesus is not the "Savior Jesus," though he is certainly of God (though not the only son of a personalized Father God). He is the son of God in that he lived his life in direct relation to universal goodness and truth. In this capacity, rather than by offering some sort of pagan redemption (via blood sacrifice), Spong's Jesus beckons men and women (of all sorts, persuasions, and even of all religions) to imitate him, not in doctrine, but in attitude and acceptance of all that is good in living. What Spong proposes is a way of thinking that rends traditional "Christian" doctrine like a worn-out temple curtain. Yet in all its revolutionary ideology and shocking acceptance, it is reminiscent of notions put forth by a predecessor-revolutionary whose "followers," some two thousand years later, have tamed his memory as one might domesticate a once-bold lion: those of Jesus himself. In His own time, Jesus Christ stepped forward to proclaim that religion was no longer a thing to serve the religionists (the hypocritical Pharisees and Saducees), but rather something to serve all of humanity. To the doctrine-driven Jews of this time, such an idea as that of an ecumenical, catholic church, a "religion of all humankind, for all humankind," was unthinkable — and blasphemous. (Thus, it is, of course, an enormous irony that much of present-day "Christianity" is based in the very doctrine-driven stuff that Christianity's founder fought so hard to end. Indeed, how can a church that denies membership to anyone for any cause be called "Catholic," let alone "Christian"?) Thus, Spong places himself at the cutting edge of Christianity, appealing to those modern believers who find themselves in a kind of spiritual and intellectual "exile" from the traditional church. While this reviewer does not think that fundamentalist "Christianity" is in any danger of passing away any time soon, I do believe that Spong gives the reader some very important ways to place the "Christ-spirit" back in "Christianity." Spong views his work very pragmatically, as merely one step along an unending path, admitting that generations from now, he may be considered "the old religious man, a hopeless conservative who was still stumbling in darkness toward a thin strain of light." Still, Spong takes his step forward, and he aims to take us with him. In the end, what else is there that any seeker can strive to accomplish? (Final note: this reviewer is at odds with some of Spong's ideas about the impossibility of miracles and his harsh adherence to science in a world that often transcends explanation, and some will be appalled by many of his proclamations. Still, even for those people, Spong's social commentary and his insistence on the restoration of a Christ-ian attitude toward all members of the human race remain well worth absorbing.) THE PROMISE OF PERFECTION by ANDREW COHEN Moksha Press $6 (softcover) Andrew Cohen opens the way to a new understanding of "Illusion," tells us how to bring fulfillment through "ceasing to want," and challenges us to be free from illusion and self-deception. 5-HTP Boost Your Serotonin Levels: by MICHAEL MURRAY, N.D. Bantam Books $11.95 (softcover) "Dr. Murray is…a champion of natural medicine who has much to teach psychiatry about relieving mental suffering."—Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., author of Healing Anxiety with Herbs THE HEART OF THE BUDDHA’S TEACHING Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by THICH NHAT HANH Broadway Books $13 (softcover) "Thich Nhat Hanh shows us the connection between personal, inner peace, and peace on earth." — His Holiness the Dalai Lama MOUNTAINS ARE MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS ARE RIVERS Applying Eastern Teachings to Everyday Life edited by ILANA RABINOWITZ Hyperion $22.95 (hardcover) A group of sincere, talented, and accomplished individuals delve into the teachings and practice of meditation and find in it many lessons that apply to real issues encountered every day. SEEKING THE WHITE ROOT An Australian Story by CINDA WOMBLES PETTIGREW and ROBYN D. WARNER Bald Eagle Press $14.95 (softcover) When Jane Lawton loses her parents as a child, her nanny, who is Aborigine, takes her to be raised by her people in the bush. At five, she reenters white society. Her struggle and spiritual awakening influence all around her, including readers of this sensitive, fast-moving novel. TO MAN IN TRUTH Enlightening Letters by BARRY LONG Barry Long Books $11.95 (softcover) A book of questions about truth, meditation, money, work, family, love, death, God, and women from men endeavoring to live the spiritual life. And answers — from a spiritual master. THERE IS A GOD IN YOU by PARAG and DIANE KARKHANIS Namaste Press $11.95 (softcover) How can you live a life free of fear — free of guilt, hate, and all the emotional baggage of life? The key is to recognize the God in you, and tap into that power. THE JOURNALS A Message from the Council of Ancients by R.T. STONE DaScribe $24.95 (hardcover) This well-written novel follows the path of a conservative businessman as he is guided by celestial agents of change who forcefully persuade him to examine many of his most rudimentary assumptions. FOOD ADDITIVES A Shopper’s Guide to What’s Safe and What’s Not by CHRISTINE HOZA FARLOW, D.C. KISS For Health Publishing $3.95 (softcover Booklet) Pocket guide to take shopping. Learn how to look for food additives and how they can affect you. A simple way to know what you are buying and ingesting. ON THE WINGS OF HEAVEN A True Story from a Messenger of Love by G.W. HARDIN with JOSEPH CRANE DreamSpeaker Creations, Inc. $17.95 (softcover) Author of best-selling The Messengers brings a new, real story of unexpected friendship between Joe and an angel. Joe is challenged to find the seven master souls who will speak of a new relationship between heaven and earth. LIFE SKILLS FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM Creating a New, Joyful Life by PAULA SUNRAY, Ph.D. Petals of Life Publishing $14.95 (softcover) "…an insightful book that I highly recommend to everyone interested in developing a practical approach to active interchange." — Caroline Myss, author of Why People Don’t Heal QUESTIONS FROM EARTH, ANSWERS FROM HEAVEN A Psychic Intuitive’s Discussion of Life, Death, and What Awaits Us Beyond by CHAR MARGOLIS St. Martin’s Press $23.95 (hardcover) Among those who have endorsed this book are Larry King, Regis Philbin, Joan Lunden, and Ricki Lake. Margolis teaches you how to listen and access your intuitive powers to enhance your life. THROSONS PRINCIPLES OF ASTROLOGY by CHARLES and SUZI HARVEY Thorsons $11 (softcover) An introductory guide to astrology and how it can help you understand yourself, your life, and world affairs while expanding your consciousness. MUSIC reviewed by David A. Young WOLVES Original Soundtrack Recording VARIOUS ARTISTS Silver Wave Records Silver Wave has an outstanding roster of Native American talent, and they've released anthologies before, but none has had the unity (or purity) of purpose displayed by this release, making it, by a comfortable margin, the most enjoyable various-artists compilation in the genre I've yet heard. That, in turn, means that this album succeeds on more than one level: as a discrete listening experience and as a resource for new fans of Native music wondering whose records to buy. My favorite such artist, Joanne Shenandoah, contributes "Deer Dance," and Robbie Robertson, formerly of The Band (and the film's narrator), turns in an amazing performance on "Peyote Healing." Another blast from the past arrives in the form of "The Whippoorwill," which answers the musical question, "What are Rita and Priscilla Coolidge (and Laura Satterfield) up to these days?" by identifying them corporately as Walela, another formidable Silver Wave act. In the process, they offer what, for me, is the disc's highlight. Others contributing to the soundtrack of the IMAX film (which opened at Seattle's Pacific Science Center recently and is scheduled to play there through June 2001) include Mary Youngblood, Paul Winter, and the breakthrough success Sacred Spirits. Bruce Cockburn is represented with "The Whole Night Sky," appropriately (due to its different, attention-demanding style) placed at the center of the playing order. Predictably, the cornerstone of the incidental music (from the original score composed and performed by Michel Cusson) is the Native flute. These pieces are generally brief, forming a textural mortar and strengthening the cohesion of the project. Wolves is a project of the National Wildlife Federation, and all proceeds from the sale of the soundtrack benefit the organization. I haven't yet seen the film, but the music suggests that it does justice to these magnificent creatures and their mystical role in the order of creation. When I have a chance to share this satisfying a listen and benefit a worthy cause or two (the Federation itself and the greater understanding of wolves it promotes) at the same time, I'm excited. With one tiny demerit for so closely mimicking the calligraphic style of the Dances with Wolves logo in its own, I wholeheartedly lift up Wolves as The New Times' album of the month. EPHEMERA CARLA LOTHER Chesky Records Among artists making their recording debuts in recent months, Carla Lother scores the number one position on my list with Ephemera. Her lovely voice is the centerpiece of this "unplugged" (except for the synthesizers) cluster of sonic jewels, and she showcases her considerable songwriting abilities on roughly half the cuts. Three songs feature musical settings of the poetry of W. B. Yeats, forming a seamless stylistic pairing in much the same way as Ms. Lother blends pop and folk (and classical) sounds into a unique, viable, and welcome musical statement. It's easy for me to imagine myself in 2027, looking back on Ephemera as being as important and as much of (and ahead of) its day as retrospect now allows me to view Carole King's Tapestry from the same distance. One difference is the inclusion of others' songs on Lother's album, although they are well chosen and compatibly executed. This is one of those rarities that lends itself equally well to intent and cursory hearings, and once the listener has internalized the life-affirming message of its lyrics and the comforting feel of its sounds, the record can be used to invoke its spell at even a very low volume. Perhaps the highest compliment I, avowed Dusty Springfield fanatic that I am, can pay this album is that Ms. Lother manages to breathe new life and meaning into "Roll Away," the Will Jennings ("My Heart Will Go On," "Tears in Heaven") classic I always thought would belong exclusively to Dusty. With its gentle strength and its flawless balance of roughly equal parts technical achievement and earnest gift, Ephemera marks the striking premier recording of a formidable artist. Welcome to my heart, Carla Lother. ONLINE 101 Insight Cards <http://www.101insights.com> Motivational, life changing cards for personal and spiritual growth. Sometimes a chosen card may invoke you to ask further questions. Request via e-mail a free worksheet designed specifically for the card that you have chosen. (This is one of my favorite sites for quick insight into my life.) The Hunger Site <http://www.thehungersite.com> Click on the "Donate Free Food" button, cosponsored by several corporations. With each click, a donation will be made to an international organization that distributes food to the hungry. PR Professional Daily! <http://coolsheets.com/pr/> Words rule online! For tips on how to say what you want to get the results you want, try this free e-mail newsletter service. Pro$perity Place <http://prosperityplace.com/> Fun resource directory on everything New Age, from Feng Shui to crystals, as well as free color therapy readings. "Did you know that lime green can cheer you up, writing in turquoise ink will enhance your creativity, and wearing red will energize and help you take charge?" Elana Lindquist publishes Fun with Success Online; sign up for her free newsletter at <http://www.seanet.com/~lindquist, e-mail <lindquist@seanet.com>, or call (253) 858-7969. |