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Book
Reviews:
Paths to a
New Vision
Reviews by Dawn Brunke
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Enlightenment
Blues: My Years with an American Guru
Andre
van der Braak (Monkfish Book Publishing, 2003; $16.95)
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This
well written, nonfictional account describes the author’s eleven years
living within a spiritual community while studying with teacher/guru
Andrew Cohen, a man often described as both controversial and
challenging. In an easy to read, engaging way, the book weaves together
several stories: Cohen’s rise to popularity in both America and
Europe; the growth (and a behind the scenes view) of his community; the
young author’s enthusiasm over Cohen and life in the community (first,
as a transcriber of Cohen’s lectures and, later, as an editor of
Cohen’s newsletter and books); and, van der Braak’s subsequent
disenchantment with Cohen and the community as he struggles to find his
own reality. Although van der Braak is not a sensationalistic writer, he
does liberally spice his account with plenty of specifics: enforced
celibacy or matching of couples; compulsory shaved heads for many; the
required purchase of flowers for thanks or apology; and what seems to be
an endless barrage of ego battering and battling of wills. The
particulars of van der Braak’s life (as well as that of others) are
often decided by members of the community or by Cohen himself.
Ultimately, of course, Cohen does not fare well in van der Braak’s
view, but neither is this a black/white portrayal of a guru and
spiritual community gone bad. Indeed, there are many shades of gray and
even the author notes this is simply his experience (albeit a very
convincing one in regards to the pitfalls of surrendering authority to
the teacher-guru relationship). Overall, this is an absorbing,
thoughtful account of a man (van der Braak is now a philosophy teacher
in Amsterdam) and his search for spiritual freedom.
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The
Aura Advantage: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain
What You Desire and Attract Success
Cynthia
Sue Larson (Adams Media, 2004; $10.95)
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Writer
and host of the intriguing Web site www.realityshifters.com,
Cynthia Larson focuses this highly readable book on all the advantages
of coming to know your aura. As Larson notes, our auras are simply
energy bodies in visible, palpable form that provide us with information
about our general character and disposition at the moment. Constantly
changing, flowing and interacting with ourselves and the world around
us, the aura is not something odd or strange, but an integral part of
who we are. One of the best things about this book is Larson’s ability
to engage her reader as she shares a steady stream of scientific
research to back up so much of what she is discussing. She shares her
story as a sensitive child who could see swirling patterns of colors and
feel energetic vibrations coming from others. Larson presents her
continuing exploration of the aura and the way many different
disciplines view and explain the various levels of underlying energy
that connect us all. Specifically, an early history of the aura is
included as well as in-depth discussion of each color and its related
properties. Further, Larson includes numerous ways to see and feel the
auras of humans, animals, plants and more. The book contains many
suggestions, ideas, exercises and experiments that anyone can do – not
only to help us learn to see with more than our eyes and to feel beyond
our usual senses, but also to help us discover how we interact and
relate to the energetic world. This alone is a fantastic gift and truly
wonderful means of discovering more about who we are!
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The
Other Kingdoms Speak: What the Animals, Plants, Crystals, ETs,
Angels, Mermaids & Fairies Have To Say
Helena
Hawley (Capall Bann (UK Publisher), 1999, £10.95)
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This
is Helena Hawley’s first book in a series of her continuing talks with
a wide variety of beings – as the subtitle reveals, from trees and
rocks and animals to angels and fairies. Although the number of books
that discuss ‘conversations’ with everything from animals to God is
growing rapidly, what distinguishes this book is the unique stance and
manner of Helena Hawley herself. I recently met Hawley in Hawaii, which
is why I was keen to review this book. She is an unusual and marvelous
woman who, I now know, writes almost exactly as she speaks. Almost
nothing is too odd to recount; indeed, in Hawley’s view, almost
everything carries an underlying hint of cosmic truth and, quite often,
humor. While this book is not nearly as polished as others are, it is
refreshingly original. As Hawley notes, “I am writing this book in
order to share what I have been given…I am certainly not the first
person to have had such experiences, but nonetheless I find these
happenings as valuable evidence that such things do happen when we allow
them to, and therefore they should be shared.” Recounting key events
from her childhood and young adult life, Hawley interweaves stories of
her awakening to other dimensions through meditation, movement, travel
and simply being in nature with her many dreams, meetings and
conversations with ETs, mermaids and all the rest. With encouragement
from the Light Institute’s Chris Griscom and animal author Linda
Tellington Jones, Hawley takes the advice from many animals and
conversational partners and commits to writing them down along with
including her own watercolor illustrations. As Griscom notes,
“Strengthened by the gratitude of experiencing a larger whole, we may
again allow ourselves to acknowledge that we are forever inextricably
connected to each other and that we can trust our compassionate
intuitive knowing of what is going on deep within the others around
us.” No small accomplishment, but what would the world be like if we
could open in such a way? Hawley’s book is one step forward.
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