Expo 2009 Online Exclusive Book ReviewsAll books reviewed by independent reviews unless otherwise noted  Garden Witch’s Herbal: Green Magick, Herbalism & SpiritualityEllen Dugan $19.95 QP, 9780738714295, Llewellyn Publications, www.llewellyn.comEllen Dugan’s Garden Witch’s Herbal is a comprehensive volume that addresses not only what herbs to plant, but also how, when, where, and why. Dugan, author of 10 books including Garden Witchery, Cottage Witchery, The Enchanted Cat, and How to Enchant a Man, livens up down-to-earth gardening advice and practical magic with mythological tales that correspond to the herbs, trees, and other plants covered in the book, as well as humorous personal anecdotes and spells and charms. The conversational tone of Garden Witch’s Herbal is a refreshing change from other garden-variety horticulture books and makes Dugan’s herbal entertaining as well as informative. Jayne Denker, Dragon-Droppings.com, Caledonia, N.Y.  The Flow of Life: Channeled Meditations from Angelic GuidesRoseann Buritz $16 QP, 9780980011715, Transparent Publishing, www.transparentpublishing.comIn The Flow of Life, Buritz shares the communications she has received from angelic beings she calls the Guides that show humans are “inherently free beings living behind a veil of memories.” The Guides begin by providing information on love, health, service, forging a relationship with God, and more, in order to help the reader learn to live “a free and honest life.” The final third of the book is dedicated to unraveling the psychology and removing the conditioning of memory that leave us bound to living our lives in an unconscious manner, devoid of spirit. A two-disc audio set, The Flow of Life Guided Light Meditations, also is available. Jayne Denker, Dragon-Droppings.com, Caledonia, N.Y.  Encyclopedia of AngelsRichard Webster $15.95 QP, 9780738714622, Llewellyn Publications, www.llewellyn.comDid you know that angels don’t necessarily have wings, but artists often painted them that way to symbolize spiritual power and the ability to move between heaven and earth? No matter what your interest in angels may be, you’ll find everything you’d want to know—and a lot you may never have thought of—in Webster’s Encyclopedia of Angels. A wonderful reference book on Christian, Judaic, Islamic, and Zoroastrian angels, more than 500 angels are listed alphabetically and cross-referenced with alternate spellings of names. The encyclopedia also covers how to communicate with angels and how to make contact with a guardian angel. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  Dying Unfinished
María Espinosa $16.95 QP, 9780916727451, Wings Press, www.wingspress.comAn autobiographical novel of familial relations spanning three decades and four generations, Dying Unfinished is, as Espinosa describes, “a kaddish, or lament, a final ritual of passage for my mother.” In this book, the alter ego of Espinosa’s mother is named Eleanor, an educated, wealthy woman married to a sculptor. She feels unfulfilled, never having developed her talent as a writer, and so creates an identity of sorts through casual affairs and anonymous sexual encounters. She and her daughter, Rosa, have a brittle relationship, and the novel illustrates how lingering resentment and generational conditioning contribute to ongoing tension over several generations. Jayne Denker, Dragon-Droppings.com, Caledonia, N.Y.  Most Good, Least Harm
Zoe Weil $15, QP, 9781582702063, First Atria Books/Beyond Words, www.beyondword.comMany of us are concerned about making the earth a better place for our children and grandchildren. In Most Good, Least Harm, author Zoe Weil teaches us how to deal with today’s political, environmental, and energy issues. She assures us that we can achieve the positive changes needed if we work collectively to rid the world of environmental destruction, materialism, and injustice. We can improve our planet and our personal lives by becoming more involved in our communities and making simple decisions with world-changing results. The wisdom of Most Good, Least Harm helps guide the reader to make mindful choices at each step of our daily lives, resulting in a collectively changed world. The author includes stories and examples illustrating the Seven Keys to MOGO (Most Good), then moves on to address the specific choices we make each day, and finally, provides a variety of resources as well as a MOGO questionnaire and action plan. If you would like to help create a more peaceful, healthy, and humane world, and make it a better place for the next generation, the MOGO path will show you how to make your life more positive and healthy through sustainable living and humane education. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  Body and Soul: The Other Side of Illness (2nd ed.)
Albert Kreinheder $25 QP, 9780919123496, Inner City Books, www.innercitybooks.net“The object of healing is not to stay alive. It is to move closer to wholeness. Healing may take place in death, death as the final healing. Whatever comes to us is ours, and we can handle it.” These are the words that Albert Kreinheder’s spirit teacher spoke to him in a dream. They were prophetic as well as informative. Less than two months after Body and Soul was originally accepted for publication in 1991, Kreinheder died. Surviving his earlier, first battle with cancer led Kreinheder on a journey of healing that leaves the rest of us a guide book for making peace with ourselves and, when the time comes, with our deaths. His approach was intuitive and applied the principles that Carl Jung developed regarding the subconscious, yet this book is much less complex than Jung’s writings and is written with a strong and compassionate voice. Kreinheder began by talking to the parts of his body that were malfunctioning in order to bring them into harmony with his true self. A Jungian analyst, he then used the same techniques with his patients, teaching them to use their symptoms to discover the parts of their life that were cut off from the their souls. He acknowledged that the work of changing our perceptions about our lives and starting over from scratch is something most people have great difficulty facing. He felt that disease tries to force us to change and, even though people still determinedly refuse to change, there is a deep yearning for “reconciliation with a long lost self.” Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, New York, N.Y.  Living in the Face of Death: The Tibetan Tradition
Glenn H. Mullin $16.95 QP, 9781559393102, Snow Lion Publications, www.snowlionpub.comWhether one is coping with the passing of a loved one or is simply interested in the mystery surrounding physical death, this collection of concise writings is a magnificent aid, with essays that expand on information from Buddhist texts such as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. In the essay “A Ritual for Caring for the Dead,” the experience of “clear light” is repeated in many contexts, providing insight into not only what it is like to pass from consciousness, but also the state before rebirth. “Self-Liberation by Knowing the Signs of Death” explains the three principal causes of death according to the first Dalai Lama: “exhaustion of life span, positive energy, and karmic life supports.” In the humorous epic poem “A Conversation with an Old Man,” we share in a life path that enlightens and leads to acceptance of the inevitable, perhaps even without bitterness for the process that takes us all. While it would be easy to surrender to morbidity, it would not reflect true understanding of life itself. Early in Living in the Face of Death we are reminded that we’d better do the work of navigating life and ultimately accept what we’ve been able to achieve as well as what we have been unable to attain. If there is one teaching that can be taken away from this treatise on mortality, it is that if we are on the path of “right living,” we will at least be fairly prepared for the unknown journey ahead. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.  Buddha for BeginnersStephen T. Asma $15.95 QP, 9781571745958, Hampton Roads, www.hrpub.comStephen T. Asma, author and illustrator of Buddha for Beginners, is a professor of philosophy at Chicago’s Columbia College. He studied Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia and in Shanghai, China. His book was first introduced in the late 1990’s and this revised edition allows him to “clarify further and nuance the basic arguments of the Buddha.” Philosophical Buddhism is the focus of Asma’s book as he looks for intellectual inconsistencies due to his sense of professional obligation to point out where Buddhist cultures conflict with basic philosophical dharma (eternal truth in Buddhism). Asma explains that Buddhism is an approach to retraining the human mind that may enable us to avoid some of our usual forms of suffering such as rage and addiction. Buddhism is a philosophy of emancipation and always strives to free human beings from a life of suffering. He challenges traditional beliefs and customs in this introduction to the philosophy of Buddhism for beginners and cuts through the New Age attitudes and viewpoints of Buddhism. His book is filled with illustrations often taking up the entire page but giving the reader a wonderful visual to accompany the story of The Buddha as it progresses. Asma’s book is filled with wonderfully complex and sometimes irreverent illustrations that takes the serious teachings of Buddhism and breaks it down for beginners. Throughout the entire book you will be entertained by his illustrations that accompany the story of the first Buddha, Guatana. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Kentucky  Healing Remedies: More than 1,000 natural ways to relieve the symptoms of common ailments, from arthritis and allergies to diabetes, osteoporosis and many othersJoan Wilen and Lydia Wilen $16 QP, 9780345503350, Ballantine Books, www.ballantinebooks.comThe Wilen sisters have created the best A-Z guide of healing remedies that I have ever seen. This book combines the best healing remedies from their previous books, plus many new entries including sections on diabetes, osteoporosis, ADD, anxiety, and children’s ailments. Healing Remedies is fairly comprehensive, and I liked that they included old remedies with the caveat that it just might be worth a try. The book is helpful by including sources for where to get some of the remedies or products that they recommend. The tips section at the back is full of new information for me and I am a “tip lover” so that was another plus for Healing Remedies. For example: I appreciated learning about a simple way to test my pills to see if they are just passing through my body in a way that does not allow me to absorb them. Susan LosCalzo, Lofty Notions, Rutherfordton, N.C.  Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs
Nyoshul Khenpo Rinpoche and Lama Surya Das $16.95 QP, 9781559393126, Snow Lion Publications, www.snowlionpub.com“Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower, but is already present, in open relaxation and letting go.” Natural Great Perfection, a thoroughly delightful work, starts out free and easy with this apt aphorism, then progresses to an autobiographical sketch entitled “Enlightened Vagabond,” which exhibits the perfect contrast between a scholar and a man of many foibles—embodied in the same person, who is able to exclaim, “Life is like that, full of unexpected twists and turns—illusory, impermanent, ungovernable, and unsustainable, and in the end, we’ll all die. What a spectacle!” Filled with the essential teachings of Buddhadharma, Natural Great Perfection encapsulates the essence of Dzogchen teachings: “Mind is very powerful: it can create both suffering and happiness, heaven and hell.” Additionally, “The extraordinary quality of Buddhadharma is that it gives us the means to recognize that this life is just like a dream.” These and other verities set the stage for understanding and for the rest of the writings in the volume, documenting the life of this very practical and playfully serious man. Later chapters include songs or poems and are almost pictorial in their evocative and descriptive power. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.  Angel Wisdom: Bring the Guidance of Angels into Your LifeGlennyce S. Eckersley and Gary Quinn $14.95 QP, 9781585427024, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, www.penguin.comInternationally acclaimed angel experts Eckersley and Quinn explain that angels often walk among us, and we are seeing a sharp increase in recorded angel sightings as people turn to them for help in these stressful times. Angel Wisdom is filled with stories of angels’ assistance, affirmations, visualizations, meditations and prayers, and instructions on how to be receptive to and accept the help of angels when it is offered. Angel Wisdom details how angels can be brought closer if we live in the moment and leave ourselves open to their love, and how to develop personal relationships with angels for inspiration, communication, and spiritual well-being. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  Everyday Angels: Bring the Angels into Your Life Each Day of the YearGlennyce S. Eckersley and Gary Quinn $14.95 QP, 9781585427031, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, www.penguin.comAngels represent a personal one-to-one form of spirituality for those who trust, believe, and leave themselves open to angelic guidance. This almanac-style book fills each date with practical techniques to help those interested in forging a relationship with angelic beings. Simply spending a few minutes on the daily story, affirmation, blessing, or meditation will help calm the mind, nourish the soul, and allow the reader to experience angel awakenings. Eckersley, an internationally known angel expert, and Quinn, a spiritual teacher and author of May the Angels be With You, remind us to call on angels for help and set aside some time each day for introspection, because angels are a part of our daily lives. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  The Soul Truth: A Guide to Inner PeaceSheila and Marcus Gillette $24.95 HC, 9781585426874, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, www.penguin.comHailing the first dozen years of the 21st century as “the most transformative time in the history of humanity on the planet,” Sheila Gillette, channeling a collective of archangelic beings by the name of THEO, and her husband Marcus share the latest information on this new era of humanity. In The Soul Truth, the Gillettes and THEO address the most common questions about humanity, spirituality, relationships, life, death, the afterlife, and the future to help readers successfully travel the spiritual path of what THEO calls “soul integration” and adapt to this new way of life on Earth. Jayne Denker, Dragon-Droppings.com, Caledonia, N.Y. Living Life As If Thinking Matters
R. L. Wysong $27.95 HC, 9780918112125, Inquiry Press, www.inquirypress.com“Once a belief is adopted, we tend to retire our minds.” Thus begins the gospel according to Wysong, who puts a pop spin on the scientific principle and challenges the reader to stop being a lemming and to try to make informed decisions instead. He puts responsibility for individual well-being back onto the individual. Living Life As If Thinking Matters could be considered a resource book for mainstream individuals interested in trying out a little “alternative lifestyle” stuff. A large part of the book focuses on health care and wellness, and many people will appreciate the section on pets (Wysong is a veterinarian). Wysong has a corresponding website, www.asifthinkingmatters.com, where readers can go to learn more about Wysong and his ideas. Some readers may not appreciate some of the things he tells them, but the use of cartoons and humorous quotes on nearly every page softens the sting a little. Not only has he provided a very interesting read, but his logical, feisty approach broadens the book’s potential audience. Anna Jedrziewski, Spirit Connection New York, New York, N.Y.  The Miracles of Archangel MichaelDoreen Virtue, Ph.D. $19.95 HC, 9781401922054, Hay House, www.hayhouse.comDoreen Virtue, a clairvoyant who works with the angelic realm and author of many books on angels, as well as a column for New Age Retailer, focuses on Archangel Michael in her newest book. A powerful celestial protector, healer, and guide, Michael’s purpose is to bring peace to Earth by eradicating fear and stress. In The Miracles of Archangel Michael, Virtue explores how Michael connects with us through our physical senses, and how every interaction is suited to each person and particular circumstance. The anecdotes Virtue relates remind us that heaven helps in many creative ways when we ask for assistance, so we need to stop and listen to our inner guidance and pay attention to messages from Michael that come through visions, words, and feelings. We know he is guiding us, she writes, when we notice blue or purple sparkling lights, a calming effect, or the heat that he radiates. His pure messages of wisdom, love, and power bring us closer to the creator. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s PotentialMichael Bernard Beckwith $26 HC, 9781582701998, Atria/Beyond Words, www.beyondword.comMichael Bernard Beckwith, featured in the movie The Secret, begins Spiritual Liberation with the dramatic story of his own awakening, when a moment of profound insight prompted him to radically change the trajectory of his life, which he then offered in service to “Love-Beauty,” his concept of the divine. Drawing on the deep well of wisdom of spiritual “wayshowers” throughout the ages, including Jesus the Christ, Gautama the Buddha, Osho, New Thought leaders, and the Dalai Lama, Beckwith weaves a rich synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas. At the end of each chapter, he offers an affirmation and a challenge to embody the teaching in a practical way. Beckwith expresses the core teachings he shares as founder and spiritual leader of Agape International Spiritual Center; namely, that people can master their thoughts by becoming fully conscious of them as they appear. This awareness, he says, helps us disengage from the ego’s control and is the hallmark of evolved people. When we stop confusing our thoughts with who we are, we come to recognize our authentic selves—beings without the limitations and definitions our egos cling to. This liberation allows us to experience life with greater clarity and joy, releasing us from our “agreement with mediocrity.” Spiritual Liberation includes tools for spiritual aspirants of all levels, including the basics of Beckwith’s trademarked Life Visioning Process. Some of his teachings are both modern and timeless. The book comes with a CD recorded live at Beckwith’s Agape International Spiritual Center and includes his teachings as well as musical performances by his wife, Rickie Byars Beckwith, and the Agape House Band. Connie Mears, New Age Retailer, Pottsboro, Tx.  Dedicant: A Witch’s Circle of FireThuri Calafia $19.95 QP, 9780738713281, Llewellyn Publications, www.llewellyn.comThe dedicant, author Thuri Calafia says, is the second step in the pursuit of the Wiccan religion—the point where the would-be Wiccan becomes passionate about the subject and thirsty for knowledge. Dedicant: A Witch’s Circle of Fire quenches that thirst and more. It is a book not just to read but also to work with, as one would work with a textbook in any course of study. Dedicant provides the foundation and is much deeper than the standard “Witchcraft 101” in that it provides a solid background leading to initiation, whether that be solitary or within a coven. The book includes chapters on dream work, wild crafting, ritual tools, sabbats, esbats, spell work, and how to know if you are ready to follow the Wiccan path and concludes with a beautiful initiation ceremony that can be done in solitary or with a group. The conservative heterosexual reader may be taken aback, at first, with chapters on sacred sexuality, particularly Beltane, and with references to lesbianism, bisexuality, and drug use, so a word of caution might be in order. The important thing to remember is the author is not recommending these lifestyles or practices but acknowledging they exist and to each his own. “An it harm none, do what thou wilt.” Arlene Shovald, Ph.D., Fresh Start Therapies, Salida, Colo.  Numerology for Healing: Your Personal Numbers as the Key to a Healthier LifeMichael Brill $14.95 QP, 9781594772368, Destiny Books, www.destinybooks.comEven for those uninitiated in numerology, this book offers a compelling approach to identifying and resolving underlying karmic and soul-purpose issues to help heal physical conditions. Utilizing one’s name and birth date, author Michael Brill describes the process for finding one’s key personal numbers, including the achievement number, minor challenges, major challenge, and karmic numbers. Using these as a basis for significant life themes, he then includes numeric interpretations of illnesses ranging from abscess to yeast infection, describing the underlying issues associated with each one. His clarity and focus give the reader a step-by-step guide that may be expanded into many areas of life, but also works well as a straightforward spiritual diagnostic tool. Janine DePaulo, New Age Retailer, Bellingham, Wash.  The Angel Almanac: An Inspirational Guide to Healing and Harmony
Angela McGerr $19.95 HC, 9781844006403, Quadrille Publishing, www.quadrille.co.ukThis inspirational and instructional book, by the author of Angelic Abundance and many other books on angels, is an excellent reference for anyone interested in working with their angels. The Angel Almanac addresses life transformation and healing with the wisdom of angels and includes instructions on how to call on angels to assist with life changes, connect with guardian angels, and work with the angel associated with each day of the week and with each zodiac sign. The volume also covers angelic numerology and angelic scripts. The Angel Almanac comes with the CD Angelic Meditations, which features three guided meditations and one for sacred breathing. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  All You Ever Wanted to Know from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Happiness, Life, Living, and Much More: Conversations with Rajiv MehrotraRajiv Mehrotra $16.95 HC, 9781401920180, Hay House, www.hayhouse.comIn All You Ever Wanted to Know, the Dalai Lama draws upon the depths of personal knowledge, insight, and experience that he has acquired during his life to discuss the essentials of living life on Earth. Through conversations with Mehrotra, his student of many years and trustee of the Foundation for Universal Responsibility, the Dalai Lama addresses topics such as religion in the modern world, Buddhism, compassion and happiness, suffering, karma, reincarnation, and universal responsibility. He asks that people who celebrate him rededicate themselves to becoming better human beings and develop real compassion in order to work toward diminishing their sense of personal self and instead better serve others. What is necessary now, he says, is to find the essence of what is important in our daily lives. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  The Faerie Book: A Complete Guide to the Magical World of FaerieSamantha Gray $16.95 HC, 9781906094928, Cico Books, www.cicobooks.comIf you lived in a house surrounded by enchanted woodlands in Ireland like Samantha Gray, you too might be able to see different types of fairies. In The Faerie Book, Gray details how to do just that. The author of several children’s books and a contributor to the Flower Faerie Friends series and other fairy books, Gray explains the character, lifestyle, magical powers, and habits of every type of fairy, both kind and mischievous, and provides practical tips and ideas to encourage their presence in your home and garden, as well as spells to summon them. She also includes instructions for seeing fairies, building fairy homes in your garden, inviting them into your home, and protecting yourself from malevolent fairies. This delightful little book is beautifully illustrated with original art by Emma Garner. Lois A. Rogalski, Miss Lois’ Curiosity Shoppe, Benton, Ky.  Lessons from the Miracle Doctors: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimum Health and Relief From Catastrophic Illness
Jon Barron $24.95 HC, 9781591202240, Basic Health Publications, www.basichealthpub.comLessons from the Miracle Doctors takes a realistic look at the shortcomings of the present-day medical industry and presents in detail a holistic “baseline of health” program that shows how readers can develop their own personal health program. Jon Barron, editor and publisher of The Baseline of Health Newsletter and the Barron Report, notes that the medical industry, despite its virtues, is sometimes the cause of illness and is by its nature centered on disease, not health. He builds his program around three principles: Your body is composed of a series of integrated systems; it is designed to be healthy; and you’ve got to do the entire program all at once to eliminate the causes of many diseases. Through the five parts of the book, Barron discusses specifics such as detoxification, supplements, hormone levels, exercise, and the role of thought. The last section examines health conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to cancer, diabetes to aging, and explains how his Baseline program can help offset them. He makes clear that he is talking about “not curing anything, just bringing your body back to the state it was in before symptoms manifested.” Once that has happened, he explains, your body takes over. Richard D. Wright, Tranquil Things, Derby Line, Vt.  The Key To Your Dreams: Unlock the Power of Your DreamsTamara Trusseau $14.95 HC, 9781847730596, New Holland, www.newhollandpublishers.comThe Key to Your Dreams in an excellent guide to dream interpretation. Using a method that differs slightly from most other books on the subject, Trusseau divides dreams into types—psychological, recurring, and predictive dreams; nightmares; and dreams affected by environmental conditions (heat, cold, wet, etc.) She dissects the dream overall, then addresses the symbolism it offers. The book includes an extensive dream dictionary for easy reference. Trusseau’s included examples, with background information, the dream, and the analysis, show novices how to approach their own dream analysis. Arlene Shovald, Ph.D., Fresh Start Therapies, Salida, Colo.  The Jaguar That Roams the Mind: An Amazonian Plant Spirit OdysseyRobert Tindall $18.95 QP, 9781594772542, Park Street Press, www.parkstreetpress.comRecommended for anyone interested in an in-depth account of plant spirit healing, The Jaguar That Roams the Mind covers Tindall’s two-year journey to the core of this shamanic tradition. Tindall travels to the lush regions of the Amazon, beginning in Rio and reaching a final understanding at a healing center in the heart of the Amazonian rainforest. Early in the journey, his teacher explains that one can identify five ways plant spirit healing is different from chemical healing: it offers a voice outside the boundaries of the ego, creates a religious and ethical experience, has unique therapeutic properties, involves paranormal experience, and develops the psyche. Later on, Tindall learns that, whereas Western medicine attacks disease intrusively by medication and surgery, the Amazonian healer’s work is extrusive, drawing disease out of the body. After Tindall endures an extended ritual involving plant consciousness, his teacher explains that once he learns how to direct the mind, there are no limits to what can be “read” through plants. In the end, Tindall learns that healings occur through re-embedding patients into “a hierarchy of being that supports and gives meaning to their process of living and dying,” and that when we call out to a reciprocal universe, we are heard. It may finally be, we learn, that in plant spirit healing it is the plant itself that orchestrates all the physical and psychological factors that shape the healing work. Richard D. Wright, Tranquil Things, Derby Line, Vt.  Crystal & Gemstone Divination: Your Guide to Reading the Messages of the Mineral Realm for Life Guidance, Health and Well-BeingGail Butler $17.95 QP, 9781889786421, Gem Guides Book Company, www.gemguidesbooks.comIn this comprehensive book, lapidary artist, mineral hunter, and stone reader Butler describes in detail the metaphysical attributes of 38 different stones, from their formation deep within the earth to their metaphysical attributes for healing and divination. Crystal and Gemstone Divination includes sections on how to cleanse and charge stones, how to use the stones for meditation and healing, how to make gemstone elixirs, and, most important, how to do healings and readings with gemstones alone or in tandem with tarot. Butler has created a new way to use the wonderful energies of stones to help people help themselves through divination. She gives the reader the necessary information to begin doing stone divination readings for themselves and others, and includes an excellent section on the ethics of giving readings. She also shares examples of readings she’s done for herself and others to give the reader a feel for how to cast and interpret what the gemstones’ energy is communicating. Susan LosCalzo, Lofty Notions, Rutherfordton, N.C.  The Egypt Code
Robert Bauval $27.95 HC, 9781934708002, Disinformation Company, www.disinfo.comThe Egypt Code is a continuation of the ideas in The Orion Mystery, Bauval’s previous book that he co-authored with Adrian Gilbert. In The Egypt Code, Bauval presents us with substantial evidence that not only are the stars in Orion’s belt represented by the three pyramids on the Giza Plateau, but other constellations are reflected by other major sites in Egypt. The Pleiades, Leo, and Ursa Major (Big Dipper) are also mirror-imaged by pyramids, a sun temple, and an observatory, respectively. Bauval explains how the early astronomers were able to recreate an image of the sky during their Zep Tipi (First Time) by following the sun, the helical rising of Sirius, and the cycle of precession. He proposes that the locations of important structures in Egypt were chosen to allow future generations to ritually experience the Duat, or the Underworld travels of Osiris (a representation of the star Sirius). When Sirius is below the horizon and out of sight for 70 days, there is an imaginary path on Earth between the temples and pyramids which represent stellar locations that are always visible. The Egyptians depended on the rising of Sirius to mark the return of the life-giving waters of the Nile that flooded the valley once a year and made it possible to grow food on the otherwise barren land. David Paulsen, Ekaha Enchantments, Keaau, Hawaii  Backwards Guidebook: A Companion to Backwards—Returning to Our Source for AnswersNanci L. Danison $15.95 QP, 9781934482025, A.P. Lee & Co., www.atlasbooks.comWhat is “god?” What does it mean to be a human being? What’s the distinction between being a soul or a “being of light?” In Backwards Guidebook, Danison addresses come commonly held ideas about spirituality, then describes her deeply personal adventure prior to and during surgery that gave her insights and newly discovered understanding of the strange behavior of “human animals.” In the chapter entitled “Nanci’s Death,” Danison attempts to make sense of what happened to her while under anesthesia. After sharing reflections about the possible meaning of existence (“high on the universal knowledge I had gained and the assurance that life did not end with human death”), Danison posits that the mission of human life is to understand “our true nature as a light being.” And few would quibble with her assertion that “love is the most important aspect of life; indeed, love is all that matters.” This guidebook uses a Socratic question-and-answer format, graphs, and exercises ranging from simple mind-clearing contemplative activities to deep meditative mantras. With the different drills, Danison’s accounts of her personal experiences, and the common wisdom she shares, the author gives the reader a multitude of ways to imbue themselves with potentially life-altering behavior. Whether or not one can agree with or grasp the impact of each of Danison’s personal experiences and assumptions, Backwards Guidebook is a fascinating journal that can be emulated and learned from; the student of consciousness can take away any number of useful tools in the quest for self-understanding. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.
 The Roswell Legacy: The Untold Story of the First Military Officer at the 1947 Crash SiteJesse Marcel, Jr. and Linda Marcell $14.95 QP, 9781601630261, New Page Books, www.newpagebooks.comJesse Martel, Jr. tells the story of his father’s participation in the Roswell UFO investigation with the help of his wife, Linda Marcel. The book does present much new information about this popular topic, but its main focus is on how the whole incident affected the Martel family from the beginning. Jesse Junior actually held craft remains in his hands as a boy and recalls very vivid impressions of that middle of the night experience which quickly propelled his father into the public eye. Unlike other books about Roswell, this one does not try to prove anything beyond a doubt. Jesse tells a very warm, friendly, and easy-to-read narrative concerning his and his father’s experiences and how they affected everyone in his family. Jesse Martel, Sr. had his story silenced by the military and replaced by a fictitious weather balloon tale. His wife was driven to heavy drinking and early prolonged dementia. Jesse, Jr. had to be very protective of his privacy and careful that his family was not harmed. Linda has a unique viewpoint from which she contributes a chapter to this book. Jesse gives convincing evidence that the debris was not from a weather balloon, spending a couple chapters talking about the balloon technology at the time. Of course there is information about government cover-up and stories from ex-government people, but it is presented in a chatty style that captivates and endears the reader. Jesse also speculates broad-mindedly about extraterrestrial visitations in general.
Jesse Martel, Jr. is a medical doctor specializing in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. He served in the US Navy from 1962-1971 and in the Army during the Iraq war in 2004-05. Linda Marcel is a retired nurse, a mother of two, and a grandmother of ten children as well as a breast cancer survivor. This book will be of interest to the UFO and Roswell enthusiasts as well as the casual reader who knows little about the topic.
David Paulsen, Ekaha Enchantments, Keaau, Hawaii
 Dogs and GoddessesLinda Segall Anable $15 QP, 9780981512709, Cascade Terrace Publishing, www.lindasegallanable.comA fun and wacky tale about three very different women, their dogs, and the power of friendship, Mother Earth, and Bruce Springsteen. My favorite part of the book is when one of the dogs has an out-of-body experience and learns that she needs to teach humans about “unconditional dog love.” This book is full of Goddess mysticism, Springsteen lyrics, and sexual discovery. Michelle Jones, New Age Retailer, Bellingham, Wash.
 Sound Healing: Vibrational Healing with Ohm Tuning ForksMarjorie de Muynck $59.95 QP & DVD, 9780615239439, Lemniscate Music, www.soundhealingtools.comThis book and DVD is intended as a manual to be used with the Ohm Tuning Forks. It gives the reader information about healing with sound, the importance of the Ohm tone, and how to use a tuning fork. It also gives detailed instructions about the different types of tuning forks from mid to high frequency and the other tools you’ll need, including the intention and intuitive power of the healer. The last chapter is dedicated to specific treatments. Michelle Jones, New Age Retailer, Bellingham, Wash.
 The Healing Echo: Discovering Homeopathic Cell Salt Remedies
Vinton McCabe $19.95 QP, 9781591200734, Basic Health Publications, www.basichealthpub.comA definitive guide to cell salts. This book walks the reader through the history of cell salts and how they work in the body. The author gives what he calls a “Brief Materia Medica” on the 12 cell salts along with a 156-page guide to using cell salts for the most common at-home applications. Michelle Jones, New Age Retailer, Bellingham, Wash.
 Making Room for Mr. Right: How to Attract the Love of Your LifeRobin and Michael Mastro $16 QP, 9781416583370, Atria, www.simonandschuster.comMaking Room walks the reader through how to use Vastu Shastra, the “science of harmonious living” to attract the perfect mate. The writers take readers through clearing, enhancing, and fine-tuning the environment as well as using altars, mantras, and the power of attraction to focus intent. The Mastros use case studies from their work to explain concepts. Michelle Jones, New Age Retailer, Bellingham, Wash.
 Breathe: A Seven-Step Guide to Unleashing Your Excellence Through the Breath of God Within YouKevin L. Franklin $18.95 QP, 9780981879208, RisenWorks, www.klfranklin.comBreathe touches on religions but is not written exclusively for the religious reader, rather it is for those who are looking for depth to their spiritual lives. Each chapter guides readers through what they need to understand before they can release the breath within them. Includes exercises, questions to ask yourself, and stories providing real-life examples. Michelle Jones, New Age Retailer, Bellingham Wash.
 As Long As Space Endures: Essays on The Kalacakra Tantra In Honor Of H.H. The Dalai LamaEdward A. Arnold (Editor) $29.95 QP, 9781559393300, Snow Lion Publications, www.snowlionpub.comThis collection by 24 different authors consists of 25 essays and writings on a wide range of fascinating subjects from the colorful 41-page translation of the Wheel of Time initiation ceremonial to a truly ground- breaking “Integrating Modern Neuroscience and Physiology with Indo-Tibetan Yogic Science”. With a gorgeous photo of the Dalai Lama on the cover surrounded by multi-color mandalas, the reader who buys this tribute collection will not be disappointed. A number of the works derive from the branch of Buddhism known as Vajrayana and the very advanced form of practice known as the Kalacakra. Just as Albert Einstein and prominent physicists since his time over a century ago have been seeking a “unified field theory” to explain matter, energy, and the forces of the universe, so too, has the Kalacakra sought to draw parallels between time, planetary movements, and their similar (and perhaps shared) cycles, even to the level of human breathing. Whether comparing gross distances through time or the subtle discrete energies within our bodily forms, Kalacakra, as many of the essays illustrate, attempts to describe how things work. Instead of denying sexual energy, it is given a place along side our ordinary states of being whether awake, asleep, or dreaming. Freud could have learned and expanded on his insights had he access to the careful rites and practices of the Kalacakra. These practices, for which the Dalai Lama is well-known as a strong exponent, date back to at least the year 1027, when already a millennia-old, they were brought to Tibet from India. As in most matters Tibetan, the exposition of the Kalacakra was developed into a much more complex and sophisticated lineage, and as several of the essays intimate, there are a number of different traditions. The Dalai Lama suggests a person should explore and learn among them. However, for many decades there has been a debate about how secretive to be about these tantric practices and whether other than as used by advanced meditators, their promulgation should be discouraged. Several of the essays are specifically aimed at the interpretation and interface of the Kalacakra in Tibetan tradition contrasted with Western science and medicine. In a painstakingly well-documented piece, Ivette Vargas [“Demon Diseases and Tibetan Medicine”] explores the origins and manifestations of illness. “Mental obscurations and impairment of the senses” are caused by demons. “Demons” more likely than not, are confused states of the mind rather than actual figures. “Poisons” of the mind lead to actual illnesses because the mind is imbalanced. Such ideas are not simply what is called in the West [WINDOWS-1257?]?psychosomatic? as we know that depression and other states of strain and stress result in a run-down body, susceptible to sickness and disease. This single essay alone has its own 2 ½-page Bibliography attached. The beauty of this series (Part III) is that an attempt is made and easily succeeds in giving the reader adequate background and evidence as to why the Dalai Lama has been so instrumental in contributing to what is now seen as a 21st-century global consciousness. If one has any question about this assertion, consider: [WINDOWS-1257?]?? the Wheel of Time [Kalacakra] symbolizes the energetic structure of an instant which gathers the three times -past, present, future-together in a field of unified love and wisdom” (page 407, from “Vibrating in Splendor”). There is no question that our patrons who are students of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama will find this collection to be supportive of his role in a contemporary planetary evolution of thinking; hopefully, someday, being as well. The identical energy that enables us to [WINDOWS-1257?]??breathe also sets the celestial bodies into motion” (page 400), and this reality underlies the subtle but powerful spiritual dimension of meditation. In a phrase, we are either in the flow and know it or we are not yet at that level of comprehension. This lovely book is a substantial building block toward that realization. The volume ends with 2 ½ pages of short biographical notes on the learned and deeply committed authors and should be stocked in our Religion, Buddhism or Yoga sections, with copies in both Philosophy as well as Science. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.  The Dark Red Amulet: Oral Instructions on The Practice of VajrakilayaKhenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche $16.95 QP, 9781559393119, Snow Lion Publications, www.snowlionpub.com The cover artwork of this text would be enough to sell many copies if they were stocked by our front check-out registers. As an invitation to the contents, the painting of Vajrakilaya suggests good things to the would-be reader, and they will not be disappointed. With over a dozen gray-tone plates inside, coupled with line-by-line commentary and the original Tibetan script, this is almost as much a visual feast as it is for the mind and spirit. The reader is forewarned in the text early-on that, “Vajrakilaya should not be practiced without receiving an empowerment from a master.” As one reads on, the reason for that caution becomes clearer. First, those who would engage in these meditations must have the proper motivation (page 3). Genuine compassion is but one, but we must also understand relative and absolute truth. The authors labor to provide the reader with an understanding of the balance between these qualities which leads in turn to great humility: “all beings are not only equal to you, but actually more precious to you than yourself” (page 4). Grasping a basic understanding we can grasp why the authors open Chapter Two with: “The Vajrakilaya transmission is a very profound, vast, and high tantric teaching” (page 11). This chapter concentrates on the history of the Vajrakilaya teachings. It focuses on key figures of lineage, along with geographical and chronological places and times. Some dominant figures emerge, Tsasum Lingpa being the key person whose visions and dreams from before the age of seventeen led him to wider experiences and journeys on his path to understanding and esoteric teachings. In one encounter a ring given to him by a young girl freed his “wind energy” and he was transported instantly far away near where he was given special knowledge and which lead to the unwinding of the Vajrakilaya through the discovery of a dark red locket (of the book’s title). As readers of Tibetan literature and philosophy know, the scattering of special teachings throughout the area of the one-time territory of Tibet is one reason why the revelations of the “terma”, or secrets make the countryside so revered: special repositories of knowledge may be found in rock niches and valley floors. The teachings may appear to be deceptively simple explanations of the Five Perfections and ways to live. But, they may, as in the case the authors make, represent paths to wisdom and comprehension that can only be understood as the highest and most supreme teaching” (page 46). Chapter Three begins the beautiful mingling of the Tibetan transmissions with their sometimes cryptic but always fascinating and illuminating translations. Examples (translated): “Are always, without wavering, one’s own mind. Thus I take refuge.” These practice meditations assist in removing obstacles and sending away demonic forces. Their essential purpose is to obliterate misguidedness. Further in the Practice Text, we learn the causes of most delusions: the five poisons, which are ignorance, attachment, anger, jealousy, and pride. Through the Vajrakilaya it is possible to transform the five poisons into five wisdoms. The practices continue as seemingly mythical forces are dispelled from black thuggish demons to feathered evil obstructions, some with apparent form, others, formless. When a Vajrakilaya meditator has destroyed these harmful forces, they maintain the wisdom power by subduing [one’s] own ego-clinging” (page 95). Toward the end of the Practices, the reader is treated to a powerful understanding of demonic forces encountered as a result of seeking: nightmares, bad omens, emotional problems, sickness, and discomfit are all attributable to demonic forces’” (page 134). These are emotions, pure and simple, and liberation happens when we stop clinging to our emotions as being real” (page 136). This practice has succeeded when all negative emotions are annihilated and we have become enlightened. The final 40 pages contain beautiful dual Tibetan and English prayers (meditations) on the Vajrakilaya practices before ending with a few pages of Notes, a Glossary, along with two short biographical sketches of the authors. This fine text belongs prominently displayed in our Religion/Buddhism sections. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.  The Secret History of DreamingRobert Moss $23.95 HC, 9781577316381, New World Library, www.newworldlibrary.comThe Secret History of Dreaming offers a heaping helping of history involving dreams—information you’ll never find in history books. This is the latest of six books, an audio, and a video on dreams by an author who is obviously immersed in the field and recognizes their importance of dreams, not just in history but in modern times as well. Robert Moss’s aim is to restore dreaming to its rightful place in history, giving credit to dreams as they affected the past and encouraging readers to become aware of their importance today. The book is not an easy read. It helps to have knowledge of history and religions to comprehend some of the material, but it’s so fascinating that the reader without benefit of a history or religious background will be encouraged to look things up. Moss writes of ancient Greek physicians who used dreams to diagnose and treat health problems. The “secret” in this book is the fact that so much of history, writing, inventions and just life in general are based on information from dreams. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), for example, based much of his writing on dreams. Harriet Tubman, famous for releasing fugitive slaves from the south, received information that helped in her work through “visions in the night.” Winston Churchill dreamed he would be England’s prime minister when he was 14 years old and throughout his life he relied on dreams for insight. Anyone who has ever doubted the validity of dreams will be convinced of their importance after reading The Secret History of Dreaming. Those who look to technology and scientific proof of the way things are will find they have a lot to learn from indigenous people such as the Andamans, for example, a hunter gatherer people on the islands in the Bay of Bengal who escaped the 2004 tsunami because they observed the movement of animals and birds and relied on information from dreams. Anyone interested in new insight into history or wanting to learn more about the meaning of dreams and how to work with them will benefit from this book. Those in the health care field will be especially drawn to references on the use of dreams in ancient health care as well as in psychoneuroimmunology, an evolving field in health care, which recognizes the body believes in images and recognizes that thoughts and feelings can make us well. Arlene Shovald, Ph.D., Fresh Start Therapies, Salida, Colo.  The Experience of Samadhi: An In-Depth Exploration of Buddhist MeditationRichard Shankman $18.95 QP, 9781590305218, Shambhala Publications, www.shambhala.comThere are hundreds of books that describe meditative practices with new publications arriving monthly. Few offer clarity while at the same time providing enough depth to satisfy the experienced person. Richard Shankman and Shambhala have managed to thread that needle between elementary principles and advanced concentrative techniques. Samadhi is a state of single-minded concentration that comes with mastery of the mind’s tendency to become distracted. Such focus can be confusing because in our popular culture we are shown musicians and athletic figures who appear to demonstrate notable concentration. Without detracting from their various talents, there is a certain paradox about such an unwavering ability. The still, undistracted mind stands at attention but it also is aware of much more than the noisy, easily fragmented mind of the average mobile work-a-day person, much less the personality that directs their consciousness with laser-like competitive drive. The author works hard in Chapter One to distinguish between a general sense of mindfulness and the attainment of concentration for its own sake free of the desire to influence others in the world for extraneous purposes. A clear, steady mind free of agitation and confusion produces a person with high awareness who can see and sense without distorting reality. Shankman posits: “living in a way that creates less suffering and more harmony for ourselves and others is a worthy endeavor for its own sake.” Beyond the exploration of Samadhi, The author then turns his attention logically to the “jhanas,” or meditative states in Chapter Two. “The four jhanas are distinctive states of high concentration in which the mind becomes unified.” These extraordinary states of rapture, happiness, and peace are typified by consistent mental clarity and a sense of considerable well-being. The author reminds the reader that the jhanas are consistent with the well-known Noble Eightfold Path. Each jhana builds upon the previous lower one, thus permitting a deeper more subtle jhana state to unfold. The remainder of this chapter explores the features of the jhanas, very human, very easily understood even by the casual reader: sense contact, feeling, volition, mind, gladness, intention, determination, equanimity, and energy to name a few. As other factors such as sloth, torpor, ill-will, restlessness, and doubt melt away with the work of the meditator, other more encompassing states such as balance of mind and joy replace them. The Third Chapter identifies levels and signs of concentration and outlines the eight attainments. Part Two of this wonderfully clear delineation of samadhi, which many consider to be the true state of a yogi, consists of eight interviews covering 74 pages. Each interview with a modern teacher of meditation is rich in insight and enhances the reader’s understanding of the processes utilized by these gifted teachers. This highly readable book has fourAppendices: including one on breathing, and another on the definition of enlightenment; the fourth is perhaps the most important as it addresses in fourteen pages, a series of practical meditation exercises using concrete symbols (kasinas) to assist the practitioner. The author appends eight pages of chapter Notes, a short Glossary, and a complete Index. This splendid work is one of the most clear and concise covering such an encompassing range and could only have been written by a master. It should be stocked in Religion, Buddhism, Meditation, and Philosophy sections. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash.  A Psychology of Hope: A Biblical Response To Tragedy and SuicideKaplan, Kalman J. and Schwartz, Matthew B. $22 QP, 9780802832719, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, www.eerdmans.comThere are few people who have experienced the vagaries of life and as a consequence have not thought about the cessation of this great gift of consciousness, whether by our own design or otherwise. In order to understand the alienation that humans experience that leads to suicide, Kaplan and Schwartz have looked much more deeply than most at Sigmund Freud’s claim that the aim of all life is death”. The interplay of ideas which are examined in this wonderfully insightful book ought to be basic to the education of all human services counselors. If Freud was correct and anger that finds no tenable outlet in the world will be turned inward by the individual with the commensurate result being self-destruction in some form or another, then life-affirming, hopeful beliefs are needed as a counterbalance. This thought-provoking examination of hope and promise is divided into 5 Sections consisting of 13 Chapters. Each chapter relies on a look at the entire spread of Religion and Philosophy since pre-Greek times. From Sophocles’ Antigone involving three suicidal episodes (page 89) through Biblical examples (page 46), we are given tales where suicide has been extolled or criticized over the millennia. The Greeks clearly felt that where honor and limited choices of action left little room for an individual to maneuver, suicide was rational. The authors go to great length to contrast the religious case against suicide in what might even be called hopeless conditions (page 218). One very well-known exemplar is the story of Job. Despite all that was heaped upon this poor man, he never bowed to the opt-out that other classical characters might have chosen. The authors work hard to illustrate that hope is a psychological advantage, and is one essential quality that (Western) religion has bequeathed to humanity. There is also a very interesting chapter (11) which examines contemporary questions about “death with dignity”, assisted suicide, and other “right to die” points of view and practices. This chapter might well be the most important to a general contemporary reader as it contains discussion about Dr. Jack Kevorkian and the well-known Hippocratic oath of “first do no harm.” The final chapter (13) most powerfully deals with what practical therapies can be deployed to help people untangle their conflicting and frequently self-destructive tendencies. In the end, the role of the psychotherapist emerges as one who helps to clarify and wherever possible offer hope in the gift of life with its inevitable tragedies while still allowing ultimately for individual choice. This highly readable book on what for many is a difficult subject has appended a thorough Bibliography with 14 pages of References. It also has seven valuable pages of classical and Biblical writings and indices for those who want to check on and read the context for the reasoning and illustrations of the authors. This book, with its evocatively beautiful sketch of a human form on the jacket should be stocked in our Psychology, Religion, Classics, and Philosophy sections. Thomas Peter von Bahr, Pacific NorthWest Group, Lopez Island, Wash. |