This book will be indispensable for Shamanic Breathwork practitioners as it surveys the top people in tI received an ARC in advance for a fair review.
This book will be indispensable for Shamanic Breathwork practitioners as it surveys the top people in the field. The transformational stories are incredibly inspirational and offer us pathways and validation as we make our own journeys. The tools are varied and really directly applicable to the practice which has helped so many people.
If you are curious about breathwork this is a nice accessible way to get a variety of perspectives....more
Sacred Death arrives just in time to help us with our current worldwide crisis. Our cultural conditioning moves us to suppress information and feelingSacred Death arrives just in time to help us with our current worldwide crisis. Our cultural conditioning moves us to suppress information and feelings around the dying process, and as healers we know that anything left buried will start to cause problems and eventually need to see the light of day.
Sacred Death provides a great array of experiences and perspectives to aid in this work. The sensitivity to the process is paramount as each contributing author grounds their tools for healing in their own story of passing through the death of someone close to them.
I really like the format-- the length of each contribution makes them all much more accessible, and the size of the book yields a lot of good material....more
True story indigenous shamanic culture philosophy and world view by a person raised as an outsider in our culture who through trials and initiations iTrue story indigenous shamanic culture philosophy and world view by a person raised as an outsider in our culture who through trials and initiations is accepted into another, and then must leave it and return to ours.
Essential. Cannot speak highly enough. Synchronisticaly my reading overlapped my journey into my most powerful shamanic experience so far, and was a really helpful guide and inspiration for my process....more
Just came back from a 5 day silent retreat and was gutted to see the vague and ineffective meditation instruction gBest meditation book ever (so far)!
Just came back from a 5 day silent retreat and was gutted to see the vague and ineffective meditation instruction given there, not the fault of the teacher or the tradition because all of them are like that-- the one size fits all instruction, evasive/vague/unhelpful answers to questions, claim that their way of teaching is the best way.
This book blows them all away. I came to this already having had an awakening experience through an open awareness practice of some years, and what this program is doing for me after a couple of months with just one 30 minute sit a day is amazing.
If you ever wondered what "single pointed" awareness was, this is your best chance to get there and find out....more
I resisted buying this but am now so glad I did. The fiction format is perfect, as all the assertions about the nature of reality if presented as factI resisted buying this but am now so glad I did. The fiction format is perfect, as all the assertions about the nature of reality if presented as fact would rub me the wrong way. How wonderful to read a fantasy novel where the protagonist is an adult female and the challenges faced are those faced by adults on a spiritual or self improvement path. A most welcome change from all the novels about adolescent boys!
The secret history of the world presented here is somewhat resonant with Da Vinci Code type stories as well as the nonfiction Secret History of the World by Booth.
I read this at the same time as a series of energetic/spiritual/mental/emotional openings were occuring for me. I don't want to say the book caused them, but it was certainly part of the whole package. There is a payload of wisdom here.
Not quite five stars as the prose while decent was slightly clunky. As good or better than many mainstream fantasy writers, but not top notch....more
The author does an amazing job of very logically unpacking her near death experience and with very few words does a fantastic job rationally defining The author does an amazing job of very logically unpacking her near death experience and with very few words does a fantastic job rationally defining terms, providing analogies, and concisely addressing very difficult subjects like "the problem of good and evil" with a great deal of illumination.
Highly recommended if you have interest in this area. It's impressive how many answers to big questions are presented here, in a transmission that I found personally effective.
I agree with another reviewer that draws a connection with the non phsyical reality described in Jane Roberts's Seth channeling. The material in Sudman's work is strong enough that, placing it side by side with Seth, I feel like I am seeing the emergence of a unique American (western?) metaphysical tradition.
As such, it speaks to those of us who are raised and educated as materialists, and may use but are not entirely suffused with the spiritual techniques and traditions of other cultures.
My only quibbles with this book are the sometimes clumsy feel to the language, which while logical is not always smoothly flowing. As well the chatty parenthetical asides suggest a light or nonexistent editor which is not surprising given the small publisher and the goofy title. So, while this book is short it does require the reader to take it slowly....more
About half prison memoir, which since the author was a super chill buddhist monk is not so harrowing or dramatic or exciting as the average prison memAbout half prison memoir, which since the author was a super chill buddhist monk is not so harrowing or dramatic or exciting as the average prison memoir, and half collected teachings. At first I was disappointed, but at a recent silent retreat the teachings were just the right thing. Concise, clear, wide ranging, nice perspective. A little bit old school......more
Worthwhile but not perfect. Ayani has a lot of experience, and background in Andean traditions and the eclectic assortment one expects from a westerneWorthwhile but not perfect. Ayani has a lot of experience, and background in Andean traditions and the eclectic assortment one expects from a westerner.
This book presents her own model of the personal-oriented metaphysical universe and discusses the ways in which one needs to heal in order to make progress.
I found the book to be very helpful, to have real transmission qualities, and to have inspired a few impromptu sessions of profound personal healing as well as adding new conceptual tools to my kit.
On the other hand I found the emphasis on the model to be way too heavy and note that there were several healing modalities absent from what she prescribes, due in part I would guess to the limitations of her own individual experience as well as things she decided for whatever reason she ought not to talk about. There is for instance a dedication to San Pedro but no discussion of entheogenic healing practices.
The book was strong enough that I have decided to try out her other more practice oriented material....more
Imagine a way of looking at the world where symbol and reality where woven into one-- one system of characters being alphabet, number, calendar, divinImagine a way of looking at the world where symbol and reality where woven into one-- one system of characters being alphabet, number, calendar, divination, and each representing the trees around you, the seasons you voyaged through. This is the Ogham, the indigenous british writing system.
Karen Cater has produced a lovely book where she documents her voyage into this mind space. Full of her lovely illustrations and vignettes, the personality of trees and where she finds them, their usefulness. Here a mention that Alder makes good bridge pilings, there a recipe for willow vision water.
In the end this is all bits that hang together only organized by her experience, of which this is an enjoyable and edifying glimpse. Because we do not have the mindset of the Ogham. This book may help approach....more
This is a great book written by a long time student of labyrinths and earth mysteries, and contains much useful and rare information. Lots of picturesThis is a great book written by a long time student of labyrinths and earth mysteries, and contains much useful and rare information. Lots of pictures, lots of experiential exercises, really casts a wide net. Recommended.
Unfortunately the prose is amateurish. It's completely readable but the clumsy wording is distracting in places, and at times simple things are ridiculously over explained and unusual complicated things are given few words-- the meaning is not always clear.
Nor is all the information here to be taken as given-- there are contradictions with some information Jeff Saward's site, who is a friend and fellow labyrinth enthusiast. Also some incorrect information regarding tunnels under Macchu Picchu which many experts get wrong, admittedly. So while this book is a real treasure trove of info be a little careful....more
This is a book about Marma science, which is the Indian version of the Chinese meridian system. It was apparently written by a master in this field whThis is a book about Marma science, which is the Indian version of the Chinese meridian system. It was apparently written by a master in this field who was in year 2000 selling a line of skin care products and rejuvenation treatments based on this science.
Joseph Kurian not so long after he wrote this disappeared, like, people have looked for him and cannot find him. Whether someone else disappeared him or whether he disappeared himself, I don't know.
So somewhere buried amongst extensive verbiage devoted to touting his products, there might be esoteric knowledge not normally seen by the uninitiated. Or maybe if you read it you will find it a frustrating bunch of marketing for makeup.
There are a number of very good maps of the Marma energy systems, rare, some common mudras, and instructions on a mahamudra series of movements I can't find anywhere on the internet as of this writing, which I find both easy and very beneficial.
Prices on the limited number of these books out there are already getting pushed high by used resellers......more
How could I not love a book that not only nails right on the head the lies that prop up our current corporate political charade but also continually sHow could I not love a book that not only nails right on the head the lies that prop up our current corporate political charade but also continually stresses the need for personal change and spirituality to be at the heart of any revolutionary change?
I recommend the audio book as the man is after all a stand up comedian and it's his own material he's reading.
The only question remains is the one he ends the book with: what are you going to do about it?...more
The root text is only 21 pages. This is the super awesome 5 star part that I will return to again and again. Very very good Dzogchen 5 stars, sort of.
The root text is only 21 pages. This is the super awesome 5 star part that I will return to again and again. Very very good Dzogchen instruction. Great translation. 5 stars.
Then the commentary on the root text by the translator, about 40 pages-- awful. Most of this is saying the exact same thing with the exact same words as the root text, but with more words in the middle thrown in, which makes it very hard to read and not at all clear. Very little added value, except for the very occasional observation. One star.
Then the history of the first translation, about 80 pages-- which contains a lot of biographical detail of Evans-Wentz. Historically interesting, nicely written, if that sort of thing is interesting to you. Also some stuff about Jung. 3 stars-- a pleasant way to spend your time if you have nothing better to do, like meditate for instance ;-)
My interest is in the underlying sacred geometry of the cathedral, and there is heaps here. The underlying unit ofThis book really is a tour de force.
My interest is in the underlying sacred geometry of the cathedral, and there is heaps here. The underlying unit of measurement and its derivation, proportions related to musical notes, link with other gothic cathedrals and older sites of geomantic worship, these are just a couple of examples off the top of my head.
The book also has a huge amount of historical material about Knights Templar, the Ark of the Covenant, and theories about who built Chartres and why and how. I have heard too many new age alternate history stories to take any of them seriously at this point (a triumph of misinformation campaigns perhaps?) but you will be well served if these are to your liking.
The author does a very good job of packing in a huge amount of material that will be satisfying to many different flavours of readers, though materialists will of course be offended at the very existence of this tome ;-)...more
This book is in many ways an unpleasant read. An enneagram expert told me what my type was; this book is not the best for that.
Mostly in the sections This book is in many ways an unpleasant read. An enneagram expert told me what my type was; this book is not the best for that.
Mostly in the sections about one's type it reads 97% negative. It's all about the dysfunctional coping mechanisms one uses to get by. In each type there is also a very small section talking about the possible translation from ignorance to wisdom of this particular way of dealing with the world.
In the introductory portions that talk about the system the possibility of this transmutation from deluded to wise/ignorant to enlightened are discussed more thoroughly, and this in conjunction with the small snippets in the type section are of aid to one who is somewhat along one's path.
There are pointers here to both spot one's own delusional behaviour and its transcendent counterpart, and this is very valuable earning the 4 stars, but there is so much time spent on how screwed up we mostly all are, with surgical detail as to how, that the book must be put down and put deeply away after a while....more
Very available cheap, second hand(used). At first this book seemed very simplistic to me, but it has grown on me.
At the first and easiest level of useVery available cheap, second hand(used). At first this book seemed very simplistic to me, but it has grown on me.
At the first and easiest level of usefulness, you can look at the designs, see which one you like, and stare at it and do the mantra.
At the second level you can copy the outlines and colour them in.
At the third level you can make like a proper geometer and make the designs by hand with a compass and straight edge, and then colour that in, which as the author suggests is a form of meditation and with repetition a spiritual path in its own right.
To do my first one, and I have a bit of experience doing geometric constructions, it took four 3 hour sessions or so to end up with a complete design. This is a lot of time out of anyone's life, but my wife and I did them side by side as a togetherness activity, in addition to whatever other benefits, and it was certainly a better way to spend time than watching the box together.
It was helpful that there was a supply of art stuff around the house-- decent paper, coloured markers, pencils, compasses, ruled transparent straight edges, and paint. Maybe this wouldn't be such a good book for you if you had to buy all that stuff. Certainly try to go the less is more approach and work with what you have or make your purchases minimal. In the end what you make won't look exactly like what is in the book anyway, so roll with it, make do to some extent. You do need a compass though, and if so better a decent size still cheap compass like the "Helix Technical Giant Bow Compass" than the wee ones kids get in school. You could certainly manage with the latter though.
Making art is itself a great spiritual path, as one has to deal with all sorts of surges of both deluded and wise energy passing through. At the end, you've got a thing. Not just a thing, of which we have plenty these days, but a hand made thing. As an aside, I was made keen into the idea of computer controlled laser cutting of geometric designs into panels for a while, but even the coolest designs lack something compared to a hand cut, though imperfect design. Of course it is still just a thing even though it may be a thing that aids on your path of personal development for a while, but giving it away or letting it go some other way such as fire is also informative.
So yeah in the end, GOOD BOOK. Made the whole thing pretty easy as far as these things go. I don't agree completely with the way some technical aspects of the construction went, but hey that's the path of the artist, if I make another one, and I am planning to, I will do it more my way next time. The virtue of this book is that it makes it seem achievable, draws you in subtly, and you can get there. Or just look at the pretty pictures for a while and then pass it on to someone else.
This book does indeed provide an "overview," with a couple of paragraphs each on such diverse topics as tummo and dzogchen. It does not contain any orThis book does indeed provide an "overview," with a couple of paragraphs each on such diverse topics as tummo and dzogchen. It does not contain any original texts except for the 7 page song of Yuthok Nyingthig. There are 4 commentaries on the root text and this book devotes a page each describing the commentaries. There are no practices here, and on its own this book seems to have little value. If the author is your lama then I expect it might come in handy....more
I admit there is a problem where Dharma books get super high star ratings. That said, Mind Beyond Death seems to me now head and shoulders above otherI admit there is a problem where Dharma books get super high star ratings. That said, Mind Beyond Death seems to me now head and shoulders above other books I have given 5 stars.
This book was recommended to me by Jill Purce who is a western expert in such matters, along with Luminous Emptiness by Freemantle. The Freemantle book I find fluffy and am still dragging my way through, where Mind Beyond Death I would open at random and be uttterly consumed by the clarity and brilliance of the philosophy and practice instructions. This is really a must have if one has any other exposure to Bardo Thodal (Book of the Dead) teachings. This is one of the few books where the gushing description from the publishers is 100% true.
I will close with my favorite quote from this book: All practices are Phowa.
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