No comments about Winning/Overcoming the Pain of Childhood: Take Control of Your Life and Come Out Ahead in Everything You Do./How to Use Your Past to Improve Your Future.

3 comments about Moon Mother, Moon Daughter: Myths and Rituals That Celebrate a Girl's Coming-of-Age.

1. OK, I cheated. I'm a male and I read a chick book.

   I read a chick book by, for, and about chicks. I know: I'm not supposed to. The cover is pretty damn clear-lots of red and purple (none of it associated with sunsets, gun barrels, or violent bloodshed), loosey goosey fonts and title, women authors, and a foreword by someone that wrote the woman's comfort book!

   This all screams new age chick stuff that by gender, inclination, and cultural boundaries I avoid.

   My excuse? I have a preteen daughter and another coming up in her shadow with all the subtlety of a heat-seeking missile. Everyone around our house is busy. Life is on fire, and right smack in the middle of it all, these girls of mine are growing up.

   So I picked up MoonMoon (as I started calling it) and tried to squelch my private image of women's moon groups as gatherings where they drop their drawers in a semi-circle and moon the moon so to speak.

   Even overlooking my stumbling male entrance, the authors were not prepared for me. They write, as I mentioned above, for and about chicks in the form of mothers and daughters (as if men never had daughters). But without belaboring my own passage into and through the book, I'll just say that I started getting some of my (Dad) needs met as soon as I hit the first chapter.

   The blending of content the authors used was effective. Instead of dragging me through long diatribes on new age coming-of-age theology (if you will), they interlaced their philosophies with cookbook recipes for events and practices, individual and family experiences, and demystifying retellings of pivotal female myths.

   It remains, cover-to-cover, a chick book, but I still gleaned what I wanted for my daughters and myself. I exited at the Moon end with some excellent ideas about what I can do with my daughters and what I can steer them towards and away from as they pass through these years.

   I assume for chicks it's a great read.




2. OK, I cheated. I'm a male and I read a chick book.

   I read a chick book by, for, and about chicks. I know: I'm not supposed to. The cover is pretty damn clear-lots of red and purple (none of it associated with sunsets, gun barrels, or violent bloodshed), loosey goosey fonts and title, women authors, and a foreword by someone that wrote the woman's comfort book!

   This all screams new age chick stuff that by gender, inclination, and cultural boundaries I avoid.

   My excuse? I have a preteen daughter and another coming up in her shadow with all the subtlety of a heat-seeking missile. Everyone around our house is busy. Life is on fire, and right smack in the middle of it all, these girls of mine are growing up.

   So I picked up MoonMoon (as I started calling it) and tried to squelch my private image of women's moon groups as gatherings where they drop their drawers in a semi-circle and moon the moon so to speak.

   Even overlooking my stumbling male entrance, the authors were not prepared for me. They write, as I mentioned above, for and about chicks in the form of mothers and daughters (as if men never had daughters). But without belaboring my own passage into and through the book, I'll just say that I started getting some of my (Dad) needs met as soon as I hit the first chapter.

   The blending of content the authors used was effective. Instead of dragging me through long diatribes on new age coming-of-age theology (if you will), they interlaced their philosophies with cookbook recipes for events and practices, individual and family experiences, and demystifying retellings of pivotal female myths.

   It remains, cover-to-cover, a chick book, but I still gleaned what I wanted for my daughters and myself. I exited at the Moon end with some excellent ideas about what I can do with my daughters, what I can steer them towards and away from as they pass through these years, and a good list of things to tell the little wife to do, as well (yeah, right!).

   I assume for chicks it's a great read.




3. This book is wonderful! The authors give tips, ideas and suggestions on how to celebrate a girl's coming-of-age. Menstruation is of course discussed, but it is the spiritual and emotional side, not the biological side (there are plenty of other books for that). The authors give their own personal stories with their own daughters as examples also. Chapters include Awakening Inner Wisdom and Intuition, Exploring your Dreams, Expressing your Creativity, Honoring your Body, Celebrating Coming-of-Age, plus much more. The book is full of mother-daughter activities, Goddess myths, practical advice and wisdom, from women who have been there. Though there is a short Goddess myth in each chapter, this book is for women of all faiths, even though it does have an Earth based spirituality slant to it. One of the authors mentions being raised Catholic, and one of the coming-of-age stories involves a young Jewish girl. From the first few pages:
   "This book is a spiritually focused book for mothers whose daughters are coming of age. Although this book is primarily intended to be used with girls ages ten to thirteen, many of these activities, concepts and messages can be shared with girls who are older...this book restores the timeless understanding that the coming-of-age process is one that should be honored and celebrated. This book is intended as a source of wisdom and support throughout the coming-of-age years....each of the twelve chapters introduces a key concept, such as the importance of finding a mentor, creating a supportive and loving community, spending time in nature, understanding natural cycles and rhythms, honoring your body's innate wisdom, using and trusting intuition, and being true to yourself. Each chapter also discusses opportunities for self-discovery and activities for greater awareness....the unique format of this book combines ancient wisdom, practical advice and fun activities designed to lend support to girls as they reach adolescence."
   This is a very important, very well written book. I shall treasure it for many, many years to come. Bottom line: buy this book.

5 comments about A Man Named Dave.

1. I loved this book. I already read A child called it & The Lost Boy. I was touched by all three. However A Man named Dave brought tears to my eyes and made me very emotional. I applaud David Pelzer for sharing his life. He seems to be a re-markable man.



2. I understand that I'm in the minority here, but I truly found this third book in the series by Peltzer to be preachy and over the top. I realize that the bok is a celebration of his triumph over the abuse and atrocities that he suffered, but I felt that the first two books were more "real" than this one. I can almost feel the presense of a finger reaching out, shacking, and wagging at the reader. I didn't even read the next one because I felt turned off by this one. No disrespect meant to the author.



3. This book is well written and I would recommend it to any teachers and students for insight into child abuse and how someone can make their life matter by not continuing the cycle of abuse. I also recommend A Child Called It by the same author.



4. Great book. Trilogy is a real eye opener to the world of child abuse.



5. As I read this book, I was so captivated and distraught at times. It touched me to the core and made me cherish and value life more. This is the last book of the trilogy by David Pelzer and the ending couldn't have been more befitting. How a beautiful family is destroyed due to the alcoholism of the parents stands at the core of this really brutal tale. If it was a work of fiction, one might just dismiss it, but the fact that a mother could be so brutal to her son, is just so very incomprehensible! The fact that the tragic life of Dave ends in triumph gives immense satisfaction to me as a reader. It's simply amazing how he survives through sheer determination and immense will power and eventually triumphs.
   The most poignant lesson here is the human ability to forgive. And Dave does forgive his mom in the end, thereby making him a `real' man. His challenges in life did not leave him bitter and resentful, in fact they compelled him on a greater course in life whereby he helped millions of kids who have suffered like him.

1 comments about Reclaiming the Inner Child: 4.

1. A collection of 37 articles that promises to reconnect the reader with his/her inner child. The book starts with describing the archetype of the inner child. The book then goes on to describe problems with the inner child. The finally the book offers suggestions with getting in touch with your own inner child. A valuable book with good information for any parent.

No comments about Moral Psychology (Developmental Psychology Series (Boulder, Colo.).).

1 comments about Your Inner Journey To the Real.

1. This is a remarkable book. Here, at last is a clear and unpretentious guide to the true purpose of life and the real identity of every human being. Distilled from actual lived experience it is extremely practical. At the same you cannot fail to become aware that this knowledge originates from a level of mind beyond that of even the most erudite intellect. Each sentence has a depth of meaning that will often compel you to stop reading in order to reflect.

   What makes this self-help guide unique and stand above any of the others that I have read, is that it provides a precise, simple diagnosis of the real root cause of humanity's problems. It revolutionizes psychology by its clear analysis of the foggy areas of the ego and its insidious emotional manipulations which so often sabotage relationships both with others and also oneself.

   I was surprised by the enthusiastic response to this book by a couple of readers in their early twenties and can only regret that it did not exist when I was their age!

3 comments about The Stories We Live by: Personal Myths and the Making of the Self.

1. If you want to understand narrative psychology in a developmental framework here is where to start. It is not overly technical, which is actually a bit of a drawback for those of us who would like more background and theory. But, it is an excellent intruduction to the field, very readable, and many people cite McAdams in their subsequent reserach (which I certainly will be doing).



2. A dear friend and life long student of Psych, who is about to become a doctor of Psych gave me this book several years ago. She'd written so many notes in it, which to me translates into value and reverance for what one reads. I always meant to read it, life just kept getting in the way. Finally it was time for me to meet the mind of Dan McAdams, at least as it was when he wrote this book, I think perhaps, slightly before it's time, maybe. It helped me to foster insights that have been like donning good reading glasses in a life with some patches of fog.
   
   It's always so refreshing to relearn something we already knew at a deep unconcious level and be able to resonate with that on a higher level. This is what this book does for me. I highly suggest it to those who are interested in writing (anything) or learning more about them selves and how we all effect each other as well. No man is an island we are simutaneosly land and water to each other. Thank you Dr. McAdams and Dr. Sunshine my friend for giving me this ray of light.



3. The book is a great read and informative of how one's identity is shaped through one's own narrative story.

5 comments about The Triple Goddess Tarot: The Power of the Major Arcana, Chakra Healing, and the Divine Feminine.

1. Isha Lerner has been a mentor of mine for years and I cannot say enough about how her works have changed my life...I started out with her first set "The Innerchild" and have added the others to my own collection and will never part with them ! I highly recommend...and be ready for the profound changes in your own life.



2. The first thing that struck me was the sheer beauty and power of the illustrations. You would not even need a "lwb" to be able to interpret what this deck means. The chakra section is just wonderful on its own, I am just dazzled by the deck! Finally a deck for those of us that just are not drawn to the more traditional types of decks. Bottom line - Buy this deck and have fun!



3. I was disappointed with this deck, especially after having read all the rave reviews... I did not think the illustrations beautiful as some of the other users did... Although I could see a lot of effort went into creating this set.. I have other Tarot sets, and I just could not get into this one...



4. I purchased this deck a few months ago during a troubling point in my life and upon opening the deck, I could tell this was THE deck for me. The images themselves are just breathtaking! I have used this deck often and now it is the one I go to first. It's a bit different than a traditional Tarot as the images are all female and most of the major arcana are given different names. The readings I have gotten from the cards have been extremely accurate and I love the chakra cards which can be used alone or with the other (alchemy) cards. The book which comes with it is lovely, although the writing style is a bit "flowery". However it is very sincere and you can feel the wisdom of this deck and "understand" it even without the book. There is a section on each card where it will recomend a food, herb or flower to help balance you. Beautiful deck for women!



5. This book & cards are rich with goddess symbolism and truth from the history of many cultures.Isha Lerner integrates traditional Tarot with new feminine based Tarot beautifully.She includes several layouts. I love that she called on the wisdom of her goddess friends for the artwork and inspiration to co-create this powerful oracle. I feel the Goddesses right there with me as I read the pages of this book. I bought 8 copies as gifts ...so far everyone is impressed

5 comments about Astral Voyages.

1. The book is fantastic for those who want to shed the physical realm. A great guide for the beginner in Astral Projection.



2. This book is riddled with fallacies and very poorly organized. Although some of the ideas were interesting, it seemed like the author just made everything up! It's amazing that something like this actually got published.
   I think this paragraph about the author's "trip" to one of the astral planes speaks for itself.
   "Suddenly the figure of the evil Darth Vader came out of the woods... My astral sense of humor was in attendance, as I created a can of spinach, opened it with miniature lightning bolts, and consumed this can of power immediately.
   Just like Popeye, my fists grew in size, and I punched Darth Vader right through his helmet..."
   How stupid does the author really think we are? This obviously reflects his opinion of the readers of his book.
   If you want to expand spiritually, I suggest reading something by Thich Nhat Hanh, or any author that knows what they're writing about.



3. I completely agree with the review that questioned Bruce Goldberg's knowledge of the subject matter. I purchased the book because the jacket suggested interesting subject matter. Trying to read through each chapter was agonizing. The author would do well to have a good editor organize the book, putting topics under a chapter heading appropriate to the content. Oh, I agree. The content seemed to have been made up. The book is riddled heavily with misinformation.
   I have an advanced degree in psychology and have studied unconventional therapy methods. Woe to his clients! Mr. Goldberg tries to impress by sprinkling his book with references to psychological theory. His training as a dentist attests to his background in psychology.
   The question of what to do with the book...I wouldn't give it to anyone, except as a joke. I certainly won't be referring to any information contained therein. Oh well, it's been a lesson in avoiding any works by this author in the future.



4. This is the only book you'll ever need on Astral Travel. The book is not filled with misinformation - perhaps to those who have not tried it or who gave up to soon. I stumbled on this book by mistake - having been astral traveling for years - so I bought the book and the Darth Vador thing might seem like a joke to some people, but it is infact funny to those of us who do astral travel and have had like situations happen. For someone who has been astral traveling for years (without books or guidance) I found this book incredible useful as it taught me new things that worked when I tried them out. The book is organized wonderfully and though a few chapters were hard to get through (a few only) it was still worth reading them as the information is very informative and really helps you reach new levels in your astral voyoages. I give it five stars and I highly recommend it.



5. A hair more than 250 pages, this book talks about (duh) astral stuff. I got it about a year or more ago because I wanted some base info on astral voyaging and this book fit the bill nicely. The first thing you see is a quote, by Greek philosopher Posidonius, more than 2000 years ago: "The body of the sleeper is as one dead, but the soul lives on in the fullness of its power." (Awesome, huh?)
   
   Astral travel, as the book says, is traveling at the speed of light, to a place where all past, present, and future events occur simultaneously. You may travel to a foreign country, the Moon, or just to the other side of the room. You might visit a friend or a relative. Wouldn't it be nice to take a journey and NOT have to think about MONEY for hotels, food, and plane fare? We use some ridiculous amount of that grey matter we call a brain, something like 3 %? Wonder what the rest is for? Hmmmm. So, open yourself up to the possibility and just think about it. I found the book very interesting. Anyway, the author said you astral travel when you dream anyway, so poo-poo that one, Bucko!
   
   Lots of people claim to have Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs) and Near-Death Experiences (NDEs). My oh-so-logical left-brained brother had a NDE during a lung cancer operation. It took him awhile before he could bring himself to tell me about it. It blew his logical brain all to heck when he waited on the "other side" while they decided if he would stay or go back. He said it was so beautiful there he didn't know which he wanted to do. Then they came and got him and took him back (but he only stayed about 6 more months). Anyway, this book talks about OBEs and NDEs as well as astral projection, astral entities, other dimensions, astral voyaging techniques, lucid dreaming, astral healing, and (woobie-woobie) astral SEX. Chapter 12 is "Astral Sex." I'm sorry, I can't discuss it with you; I don't know you that well. You'll just have to read it for yourself, but v-e-r-r-y interesting.
   
   Chapter 14 names some scientific groups who study astral voyaging and mentions a blurb on each and what they're doing: The Society for Psychical Research, The American Society for Psychic Research, The Psychical Research foundation, Stanford Research Institute.
   
   By the way, the book also provides some info on charkas, the auric body, aura colors, [ascended] masters and guides, the akashic records, and lots of other base info. It provides tips as well as techniques for astral voyaging--you know, the "how to". Like I said, an enjoyable book with lots of general info plus techniques. I suspect you will read it more than once, too.

No comments about Revenge of the Wounded Child.