Book Reviews:

 

Slowing Down, Clearing Space, Opening to Relationship

Reviews by Dawn Brunke  

 

The Slow Down Diet:  Eating for Pleasure, Energy, & Weight Loss By Marc David  Healing Arts Press, 2005, softcover, $14.95 See www.InnerTraditions.com or www.marcdavid.com for more.

 

Eating fast, on the run, under stress and deadlines is obviously a menu for digestive disaster. And yet, at some point, most all of us succumb to the lure of fast foods, eating at our desks or on the road, munching on chips without much awareness, simply to ‘fill the void.’ The problem occurs when we lose our conscious connection with food on a daily basis, failing to appreciate the nourishment, healing, fulfillment and gastronomic bliss food can bring to our life. It gets worse when we binge and diet, using food as a punishment or reward.

Nutritionist and author Marc David says forget diet plans and feeling guilty. Instead, slow down and appreciate. Relax—really feel and taste and smell and enjoy what you’re eating. By increasing our pleasure and awareness of what we ingest, we will naturally choose higher quality foods, thus bringing a healthier, more wholesome level of nutrition not only to our cells, but to our souls.

David divides his book into chapters that focus on the eight universal metabolizers: relaxation, quality, awareness, rhythm, pleasure, thought, story, and the sacred. He infuses real life situations with scientific explanations of why slowing down and working with the wisdom of our body actually increases the metabolic process much more than starving ourselves. Each chapter also features exercises (the mental kind, such as Think Nutritionally or Tips for Quality Eating and Living) and a few concise key lessons that can be referred to at a glance.

This sensible, well-written book is engaging, easy to read and inspiring on so many different levels. David reminds us that it is usually not food that is the issue, but our relationship with food. As such, he offers a bounty of practical tools, tips, ideas and suggestions that draw upon his 20 years of experience in nutritional medicine, the psychology of eating and the science of yoga. In short, this book presents a holistic view of reconnecting not only with the pleasures of eating, but with the pleasures of learning and loving more about ourselves.

  

 

Space Clearing Kit: Working with Nature to Enhance the Energies of Your Home By Christan Hummel  One Source Publications, 2004, softcover,  Includes CD; $29.95. See www.earthtransitions.com for more.

 

“In ancient times, humans were intimately attuned to the environment for their most immediate and basic survival, and a type of innate wisdom prevailed: a wisdom that honored the sacredness of the Earth, and recognized the importance of humans maintaining harmonious relationship through rituals and ceremonies.” So writes author and workshop leader Christan Hummel, long noted for her work in examining, clearing and transmuting earth energies around the world.

As humans gradually disconnected from our more personal relationship with the environment, we began to forget some of that innate wisdom our ancestors knew and lived by. We set out to conquer the land, losing ourselves in urbanization, industrialization and technology. As those paradigms of control and domination of nature are slowly shifting to ones of cooperation and co-creation, however, we have a chance to reconnect ourselves, to awaken our dormant abilities to work with the land and within our homes, opening to a deeper bond with nature and spirit.

This kit (consisting of a soft-cover, spiral-bound book and accompanying CD featuring guided meditations of various clearing processes) is a step-by-step exploration of how (and why) we can clear space that has been overlaid with negative, noxious, or stagnant energies and immerse ourselves in communicating with the natural world. Hummel integrates scientific and historical perspectives with a wide variety of do-at-home experiments that can help deepen our sensitivity to the earth and energies all around us. These range from sensing tree auras and detecting subtle energy imprints to connecting with one’s co-creative partners in nature and working to transmute energies. Chapters focus on grounding, discovering the essence of Feng Shui, connecting with the Spirit of the Land, and using a array of methods (including sound, intention, prayer, ritual, conscious awareness and more) to respectfully transform the environment in a way that honors, aligns and attunes energies of a space to their highest potential of expression.

Hummel is especially sensitive and reverent to the ancestors of the land and all the guardians, guides, devas and spirits who help the earth and are willing (if only we ask) to connect with us. She wisely notes that the current over-emphasis on rules and regulations (such as exhibited by some schools of Feng Shui) steers us away from the power of direct experience and from trusting our own inherent intuitive abilities to engage a meaningful relationship with nature and our planet.

This book is chocked full of information and extremely simple to use. Illustrations and photographs accompany the text, along with quotes, notes, summaries and exercises. More than that, the text is engaging, stimulating and a lot of fun. In fact, one of the points nature devas often stress is that humans don’t seem to have enough fun. “If you really want to connect with those realms,” notes Hummel, “then you need to operate on their vibrational frequency, and they are truly Masters of having Fun.” Let the merriment begin!

Book & CD Reviews:

Retreats

Reviews by Dawn Brunke

 

It’s an invitation It’s a sacred dance                                 ~Ava & Dennis Sakowski

Sanctuary: for women moving towards menopause and beyond By Kim-Marie Walker (onyx communications, 2005, CD, $14.95; See www.onyxcommunications.com for more.)

 

Due to endometriosis and the removal of an ovary and fallopian tube, Kim-Marie Walker experienced a gradual transition to menopause at age 36. Even though she began a regimen of massage, energy work and changed eating patterns, she found “something was missing.” She also found that she was not consistent with self-care. As she began to ignore and resent her body, Walker became despondent about menopause. She relates that the turning point came not then, but eight years later, when she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. This time, instead of allowing helpless feelings to rule, Walker decided to change the way she thought about her transition. “When you change the way you look at things,” Walker notes, “the things you look at change.” 

Walker created her CD—aptly named Sanctuary—as a retreat of “balance and beauty.” The 18 cuts include Walker sharing stories and insights from her personal journey along with exploration of some of the simple yet powerful tools and techniques that helped her.  These consist of visualizations and meditations (including a walking meditation), ideas for creating one’s own affirmations, and five exercises in journal writing.

 

With her rich, soulful voice (both spoken and sung) and wealth of experience, Walker is an able guide. She is not afraid to delve into the biochemical and hormonal aspects of menopause and balance these scientific aspects with intuitional feelings, thoughts and associations. She includes basic definitions of medical conditions with explanations that are easy to understand and, at the same time, leads us to ever deeper awareness of our inner worlds.

 

Emphasizing how important it is to let go of thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve our wellbeing, Walker persuades in a gentle, yet no-nonsense manner, encouraging us to dig for our own answers and awareness, so as to take on the power of who we really are. She reminds us that menopause is a time to rediscover the beauty of one’s life—“not only a time to claim your wisdom, but a time to be your wisdom.” In short, Sanctuary is a wonderful resource, a true treasure for those women near menopause.

 

 

 

The Fasting Handbook:   Dining from an Empty Bowl   By Jeremy Safron    (Celestial Arts, 2005, softcover,      $11.95)   See www.lovingfoods.com or    www.tenspeed.com for more.

 

Raw food pioneer and long-time living foods health practitioner, Jeremy Safron notes that people fast for a variety of reasons: from a desire for better physical and emotional health to spiritual practice and increased brain power.  By limiting what we consume to include only certainly substances for a period of time, our bodies and minds go into mini-retreat. We acquire some inner breathing room, give our digestive systems a break, begin to release toxins and old habits, and are often surprised to find that we let loose a variety of things we no longer need (both internally and externally) for our wellbeing.

 

In his well-written handbook, Safron covers the basics of fasting along with outlines for assorted fasting plans and some excellent starter recipes. He emphasizes the importance of starting and ending fasts, as these are key times for the body in rejuvenating and recovering. (Quick rule of thumb: spend twice as long coming out of a fast as going in.) In addition, we need also to listen to our bodies and be gentle.

 

Safron is a knowledgeable guide in presenting many different types of fasts—from fasting on fruits, sprouts, raw foods, juice, water and even air to fasting from speech, the media, one’s work, sweet foods, chemicals and starch. Also included are guidelines to cleanse the different systems of the body (lymph and lungs to blood and gallbladder) and ideas about custom tailoring your own fast. Fasting assistants, such as sleep, walks in the woods, sweats and soothing music, are also explored.

 

What is particularly refreshing about this book is its very lightness. Not only is the book slim (only 90 pages), but the text is clear and easy to read. Safron gives the basics without overwhelming; he offers a variety of alternatives without confusing. The clarity and brevity of the book thus go hand in hand with the subject matter, offering readers a concise approach to improving health and happiness.

 

 

Sacred Romance By Ava and Dennis Sakowski  (Ava and Dennis Sakowski, 2004, CD, $15) See www.TheSacredRomance.com for more.

 

Singers, songwriters, musicians, performers and former Alaskans, Ava and Dennis Sakowski write that their CD was inspired “by a lifetime of living, seeking and searching” and that their songs reflect that inner spiritual journey.

 

Indeed, the lyrics on this delightful CD are truly light-filled and thoughtful, often gently probing beneath the surface to touch a deeper sense of belonging.  Consider Butterfly: “I see a butterfly floating on the breeze ~ She lands on a daisy in the grass  ~ I hold out my hand and she lights on me ~ Our eyes meet and then I ask: Am I dreaming you or are you dreaming me? Who will we be when we awake? When will I live where the world does not divide between you and me, butterfly?” Or, in a larger way, the unifying connections of Be Happy: “All around the world ~ People come in many colors ~ All around the world ~  People come from many cultures ~ We believe in different things ~ We call God by different names ~ But one thing remains the same ~ What we hope and what we pray ~ We all want .. Be Happy ~ We all want .. Be Proud  ~ We all want .. Be Safe ~ And we all want .. Be Sound”

 

While most of the songs are written by both Sakowskis, the majority are sung by Ava, whose lovely, clear voice is both distinct and crisp. Dennis sings background and is often heard on the acoustic and string guitar, though his lead vocals in “Good Friends” treat the listener to some very pleasant mellow tones.

 

Each of the ten songs has a unique personality—from the poignant melody of the title song to the island calypso beat in “Be Happy.” This is an instantly engaging, feel-good CD. That the music and lyrics are genuine and heartfelt is obvious; they reach out to touch and uplift, to resound throughout our being and center us in a happy heart and clear mind. Best yet, no one is excluded. As the intertwined words and music of “Sacred Romance” declare, we are all invited to the sacred dance.