Sage-ing While Age-ing
by Shirley MacLaine
(Atria Books, 2007, hard cover $26)

With her trademark perceptive humor, actress and author Shirley MacLaine shares her thoughts, life-long observations and probing questions in this most recent book that delves beneath the surface in a personal—and global—quest for truth, deeper understanding and enlightenment.

As the title implies, MacLaine writes from the point of view of one who has lived many years (and lives) in gathering a wealth of experience. Initial chapters share reflections of her early years: dancing, acting, political involvement and getting to know the Hollywood persona. But then, as now, MacLaine reveals her desire to move beyond the surface drama, to explore the key questions of why we are here and how we can become more conscious of events that may illuminate our own personal and universal reasons for being.

Indeed, MacLaine is keen to observe the value of synchronicity in life—as she describes it, a “religion without dogma, wherein all are free to draw their own conclusions from personal experience.” Drawing upon her own synchronous adventures as catalysts into deeper exploration, MacLaine uses this book to explore a wide range of interests. From the benefits of wholesome nutrition, a proper alkaline/acid balance in the body, and incorporating alternative medicine into our healing regime to the dangers of prescription drugs and many substances still allowed by the FDA (aspartame, fluoride, etc.), MacLaine urges readers to become more responsible for our own healthcare.

Other chapters explore past lives, Atlantis, karma, pilgrimage and prophecies, as well as the nature of fear and death as means to expand awareness. With her movie star connections, MacLaine is able to talk with the best and brightest in the fields that interest her. The result is a homey sharing of what she has learned from a diverse range of scientists, philosophers, writers, researchers, astronauts and explorers of the psyche.

As MacLaine notes, “We need to remind ourselves of the architecture of our brains and what profound knowledge has been transferred there from our soul’s journey. We know EVERYTHING. The task is to live in a nonlinear way so we’ll remember we are all one and all part of the creative source.”

Ending chapters look to UFOs and the presence of star beings in our midst. These chapters are some of the most interesting in that MacLaine has obviously researched this particular topic quite well and her enthusiasm shows. In all cases, though—be it healthcare, politics, big business or visitors from other worlds, MacLaine calls us to deepen in our viewpoints, to penetrate beyond the merely surface status quo:

“I hope the disclosure of all truth will occur soon in this our theatrical illusion called Life. We’ve had enough cover-ups for “our protection” from the Church and State. We as human actors need to take responsibility for creating our own divine play now…We are ready for the truth beneath our role playing. We can rid ourselves of makeup, wardrobe, P.R., media manipulation and marketing. We are ready to be ourselves.”