John MacEnulty developed lymphoma in 1991. As his family wrestled with the decision to turn off life support and prepared for his death, a healing miracle occurred. MacEnulty writes the turning point came for him when he discovered that "my desire to live was no longer fear driven. The love of my family and friends made me realize my life was complete, and that it was okay to die. The paradox was that when I was no longer afraid to die, I was flooded with a desire to live to experience more of that wonderful love."

Shortly after that awakening, MacEnulty began sending out short personal essays and reflections, first by hard copy and later through the Internet. The concept of these "emanations," as he termed them, was inspired from T. S. Eliot's poetry and the belief that everything emanates from the deep still point of the turning world.

I have been on the Eman8tions email list for over a year. Quite often I have been touched by the daily musing -- is it a poem? a spiritual story? a mirrored insight? a glimpse into sudden awakening -- that speeds it way to my computer (as well as to 2,000 other computers) each morning. All too frequently have I thought, this man should write a book. Lucky for us all, he has.

"Finding the Love" is a collection of 150 emanations -- a variety of bright, poetic gems that sparkle with unexpected insights. MacEnulty's potent phrases and surprising, yet somehow deeply familiar, ideas slide unobtrusively into the mind, heart and soul -- reminding, nudging, comforting, encouraging and amusing.

The book itself is lovely -- paper that feels good, a pleasant cover, and each emanation fills the space of a single page. The subject? Anything and everything. Titles range from Ubiquitous Wisdom and Simple Answers to Shadow Integration and Trying Not To Be Fooled.

This is a wonderful collection by a wise, humorous, and creative writer. And, in case you are wondering about the lymphoma, seven years ago MacEnulty's oncologist pronounced that the cancer was no longer in remission, but cured. How did it happen? As MacEnulty himself notes, "The great mystery works mysteriously. To understand it we must be willing to be mystified."

For more information on ordering the book or joining the free Eman8tions e-mail list, visit www.geocities.com/eman8tions.

~Review by Dawn Brunke

"What you are seeing and hearing right now is nothing but a dream," writes Don Miguel Ruiz, a teacher of Toltec wisdom and knowledge. In his first chapter, "Domestication and the Dream of the Planet," Ruiz explains how humans are dreaming all the time, how we were conditioned to dream even before we were born, from society's dream and the greater dream of the planet. Upon birth, we are raised in the dream, conditioned ever more deeply by our parents, friends, teachers, and everything around us within the dream. Awakening from the dream is not easy, especially when everything we are taught and believe we experience reinforces the idea that the dream is not a dream at all, but real.

So, how does Ruiz know about this dream? Thirty years ago, he awoke suddenly after having fallen asleep at the wheel of his car. As the car crashed into a wall of concrete, Ruiz had a near death experience, feeling himself out of his physical body while carried to safety by two beings. Stunned, Ruiz left the practice of medicine and began studying the ancient esoteric wisdom of the Toltecs in the Mexican desert.

In this concise and deeply powerful book, Ruiz shares four agreements -- (1) be impeccable with your word; (2) don't take anything personally; (3) don't make assumptions; and (4) always do your best -- by which we may transform life from an unawakened dream state to one of freedom, personal power, and awareness. Although the agreements sound simple enough, putting them into practice is another story entirely.

Ruiz writes eloquently and is encouraging as he explores the underpinning of each of the agreements. Still, in order to really understand and begin to practice this wisdom, we must confront the illusive nature of our dream. The shattering of illusions is rarely easy, however. Be warned that the wisdom held in this little book may just change your life forever.

~ Review by Dawn Brunke

Do you have a book to recommend? Would you like to write a guest book review? Please call or e-mail Dawn Brunke at (907) 373-4667 or brunke@matnet.com.