5 comments about A Mythic Life: Learning to Live our Greater Story.

1. Through sharing fascinating details of her entire life and family, as well as people she has known and worked with, such as Margaret Mead, Jean Houston demonstrates vividly how we can all be more fully awake to our lives and the myths we all live by, whether we consciously know them or not. Reading her stimulates the reader to want more of her writings, which are plentiful and available.She also has a website worth pursing, at Jean Houston.org. An enjoyable read.



2. Readers of this book will have sharply diverging reactions to it, and I myself am of two minds. At her worst, Jean Houston can come across like a precocious and hyperactive college kid: flip, full of herself, flaunting exuberance, self-promoting, greedy for catharsis, disorderly ideas sprouting everywhere like psychedelic mushrooms. On the other hand, at her best, she's brilliant, scholarly, profoundly creative, wise, kind, and funny. On the balance, happily, I found the latter set of characteristics predominant here, although the less attractive side of her nature will be readily apparent to anyone unsympathetic to her style and her philosophy. This is an autobiography of sorts, although one in a style that only Jean Houston could conceive: utterly non-linear. What she actually gives us is series of anecdotes from all stages of her life, interspersed chaotically with a fireworks display of philosophical musing, human potential pep talks, New Age proselytizing, scientific speculation, and lectures on her original brand of mystical anthropology. Interestingly, she's the daughter of neither a scholar nor a mystic, but of an itinerant Hollywood gag writer, whom she loved dearly and who ran the family like an overbearing-but-lovable gypsy king. Numerous accounts of his lautish stunts pepper his daughter's book and bring comic relief. He was a direct descendent of Sam Houston, the flamboyant Texan general and politician, laying down a genetic strain that seems not at all improbable once you begin getting a sense of what Jean Houston is about. Of her retiring Sicilian-American mother, we learn very little. Dr. Houston's central animating idea, like that of her teacher and colleague Joseph Campbell, is that certain myths are universal among all peoples and all times, including our own, and they are the main drivers of psychological and spiritual essence of human existence. Exploring ourselves in light of these myths is key to fulfilling life - hence the book's title. Jean Houston takes this idea much further than Campbell did, and makes it the centerpiece of the teaching, lecturing, and mystical psychotherapy which has become both her life's calling and her business. This is compelling material and she presents it with eloquence and passion, despite the interference which her manic style at times brings to the narrative. I recommend "A Mythic Life", although it's not for everyone, and readers should be prepared for what they're getting.



3. After hearing the esteemed, distinguished artist, poet, preacher personality as narrator and inter-locature for Deepak Chopra and James Hillman, I've read or listened to her everyday for months! Their tour of "Mythical Journey" came to Glen Memorial the EMORY Campus Church with packed house. There was a stage full of video cameras++ beautiful backdrops for a future TV show on NPR!
   
   Listening to her dialogue with Deepak from "The Evolving Human," becomes obvious how Houston is continually evolving in her naive talents: "for writing limericks, cooking gourmet meals or being able to talk to dogs." In fact, one of her many books is The Use of Spiritual Theraphy with Animals! Her epic-autobiog, A MYTHIC Journey has exceeded any possible evaluations in hearing her at Glen Memorial.
   
   The high-light Chapter of Altered States lifted me thru her own experience under LSD in Greenwich Village with a guide, Michael Corner, empowering her to use a dramatic exchange as part of her practise of pschotherapy! Those pages carried me smack into the request of help from eminent Gestalt psychologist, Fritz Perls to visit him in his Central Park Apartment. All these incidents were encouraged by Margaret Mead.
   
   Her Mentors from age 12 included awesome, Tielhard de Chardin, she knew only as, "Mr. Tayer," Joseph Campbell, Paul Tillich, Reinhold Niehbuhr, Margaret Mead, Martin Buber. Then I read that she conversed with Helen Keller, Annie Sullivan, Mother Teresa, the Aldous Huxley Family.
   
   It strikes me, she just as well included: The OT Prophets, Major Poets of England, even Jesus' disciples in the NT!
   
   What an awesome, brilliant, encouraging, inspiring, genius of one single-minded personality! Semi-retired Chap. Fred W. Hood



4. Profound as always is Dr. Jean Houston! Your life can be as mythic as the triumph of Jason of the Argonauts OR as tragic as the Greek fall of Icarus ... you decide. Life deals you cards at birth that you can't change. But you can play them to the best of your ability in each moment ... towards a Royal Flush. You decide.



5. This book is an absolute gem. A mind-blowing, fascinating autobiography written by a master storyteller and teacher, conveyed with great intelligence, detail, passion, and humor. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Living Beyond Miracles.

1. If you enjoy Chopra or Dyer you will love this audio program. Recorded live at a unity church, it captures the two of them in uniquely inspired moments summarizing the best of their parallel philosophies on life, God and metaphysics. I've read and listened to much of what Dyer and Chopra have produced and this is probably the best thing either of them have put out because it so beautifully summarizes the essence of spiritual philosophy. I bought 15 copies just to share with friends and family. A must for your listening library.



2. Dr Wayne Dyer CDs makes my day. And Deepak Chopra is fantastic.
   Wayne changed my life for better & made me a better person.
   This CD is Fantastic as His other CDs.
   I have Deepak's book 7 Spiritual Law of Success which is really one of the best book ever (I buy it for everybody as present), but this is the first time I heard him and it was wonderful.
   I recommend this CD to everybody.

1 comments about On the Toltec Path: A Practical Guide to the Teachings of don Juan Matus, Carlos Castaneda, and Other Toltec Seers.

1. I found this book insightful and meaningful for unlocking Toltec Wisdom. Like Castaneda, Eagle Feather comes to this work without preaching to the choir as one might find in the Ruiz lineage of Toltec wisdom. But to adequately access this information one must leave their traditional training at the door and enter with a mind open to take in the knowledge without personal bias or expectations about its value. Its value is discovered by engaging the practices.
   
   The Toltec path as articulated in the work of Castaneda unfolds through the Socratic Method as Castaneda uses questions rather than judgment to reveal these complex concepts. Castaneda is always asking Don Juan questions to reveal the deeper truths of this energetic system. Rather than a free flowing condemnation of western or eastern modalities, one is free to engage the frame on its own terms to ascertain its value for one's life. This differs substantially from the Ruiz lineage, where those authors trained in these methods critique negatively any concept not in confluence with their own, using the same methods they repudiate, but then announcing they are free from concepts altogether. Essentially, they are engaged in a shell game: now you see it, now you don't. The same is true for judgments. While condemning judgments, they nevertheless employ many of their own in their critique. You won't find this type of self-righteousness in the work a Eagle Feather or Castaneda.
   
   The aim, of course, is to get the reader beyond the concept itself and into the energy to which the concepts point. Eagle Feather's captures the same modes of articulation but in a different style than Castaneda. Nevertheless, his strategy is both powerful and effective.
   
   As a downside of the book, Eagle Feather changes the names of the concepts that many people accustomed to this work might be familiar. Another question is raised in Eagle Feather's assertion that Don Juan Matus was his primary teacher. Most of his examples are referrences to Castaneda's apprenticship and not his own; this certianly begs the question. If Eagle Feather learned this tradition directly from Don Juan, why does he not use his own experiences in the context of his booK?

5 comments about The Prayer of Jabez for Women.

1. I found this book to be insightful, though not quite as good as Secrets of the Vine (written by her husband, Bruce). Darlene Wilkinson gives the Prayer of Jabez a slightly different spin, putting her perspective on it. But beware of several items: 1) this is written from her perspective, so don't presume that all she says will apply or even make sense from yours; and 2) asking for God to enlarge your territory doesn't necessarily mean make you rich. I noticed a few other reviewers of Bruce Wilkinson's book thought that it meant make me rich. I took it to mean, make me more effective for Your kingdom, Lord, by taking me out of my comfort zone (my territory). Just as King Solomon prayed for wisdom and God, because He was pleased with his request, made him the richest king of all time, so with Jabez. The very same day I began my 30 day trial (I am still in it, by the way), God granted my wish by opening a position at my church for me to minister through serving. The Lord has truly blessed me through this prayer. It is 100% effective if you keep your eyes open and don't expect physical riches. For me, the riches I am seeking are those to be found in my eternal home. Though I'm not going to turn down any earthly riches if that is God's plan!



2. This is a great book to read to understand the prayer of Jabez. It not only goes into great detail about each line of the prayer but the author also gives personal accounts on how God has expanded her and her friends territories. A must read. Short and sweet.
   God Bless



3. I would have enjoyed this book more if I had not already read The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson. This version lays out much of the same information, with a few insights for women tucked in. The overall message of both books (which is valuable) is the same. I felt I was reading something that I had already read before. However, the prayer works, as many people have discovered. If you have not read one of the books from this series and you are looking to have a closer walk with God, you will find inspiring information.



4. This book was so thought pravoking and such a blessing. I recommend this for anyone that feels that their life is not where they want it to be.



5. This is a great book, wonderful insights, I read it New Years Eve, great way to start my new journey.

5 comments about Writing and Enjoying Haiku: A Hands-on Guide.

1. Simply yet elegantly written, this book provides good pointers on writing haiku. More than just imparting tips on writing techniques, Reichhold explores the philosophical principles behind haiku, which emphasise the importance of seeing with the heart and leaving aside one's ego in the approach to life. Haiku is a way of life - The Way of Haiku.



2. I think the title said it all. If you write Haiku or are fascinated by Haiku get this book!



3. Yes, I am doubtless set in my ways.
   
   Set like concrete?
   an Antiquity writing . . .
   Haiku, not 'in-the-know'?
   
   Jane Reichhold's 2002 "Guide" presents many ideas about writing haiku that are new to my experience, and perhaps too staccato for my taste.
   As well as asking, "Am I set in my ways?" . . . I must also ask, "Where have I been?"
   
   Fortunately I do not feel compelled to please the multitudes when writing haiku. For years I have been greatly influenced by suggestions that there is therapeutic value in writing peotry. Richard Wright's experience seemed of such value I have wished to follow his example.
   (See "Haiku, This Other World" by R. Wright, isbn #1559704454) He wrote:
   "The low of a cow
   Answers a train's long whistle
   In the summer dusk"
   
   Isn't it inescapable that one's personal style is an important ingredient of an individual's haiku? I feel that the author sometimes contadicts herself, or perhaps she is simply offering us more latitude as we find our own style?
   
   My favorite haiku in this volume by the author herself is the dedication:
   blue ink
   the words not yet written
   in the iris
   
   (This commentary-with-a-small-'c' is by mcHaiku, 7-3-08)



4. There are a number of stylistic annoyances in Jane Reichold's "Writing and Enjoying Haiku": her too-frequent, idiosyncratic use of the passive voice; her proclivity for "persons" instead of "people"; a tone that aims for conversational but comes off as unpolished; and the air of haiku-as-mysticism that weighs upon much of the presentation.
   
   Despite all this, Reichold has some genuinely good tips for writers. Her ideas for writing exercises (rephrase each line of a haiku you already know) and teaching haiku (write one on the board each day without necessarily discussing it, for the class to digest), among others, may suggest fresh possibilities to both experienced writers and haiku beginners.
   
   Two caveats: one, a dearth of examples can make it hard to appreciate some of the techniques she attempts to describe; many techniques do not include even one example. Two, the focus here is on the practice of haiku--reading and writing them. For a more wide-ranging introduction, see William Higginson's Haiku Handbook.
   
   ~



5. This is an excellent book about the Haiku style. Jane Reichhold is a talented writer. She presents her information in an engaging and interesting manner, and she covers a lot of information that I haven't encountered in other Haiku books, such as the forms of Cinquain and Sijo, which aren't Japanese, but which are similar in form to the haiku. Her work is compelling and comprehensive
   
   It's called a "hands-on guide" but don't read anything into that at all. By "hands-on" she means she invites readers to scribble whatever kind of notes they want to in the margins. By that definition, every book is a "hands-on" guide. It's not a workbook. There are no exercises.
   
   My only complaint is that the structure is all over the place. If you already know something about haiku and its associated forms like senryu, tanka, renga, haibun, and haiga, you'll pick up a lot of information about the styles and techniques of the pivot, the line connection, the way the imagery should work, and the types of links from this book. If you're coming at this as your first book, you'll be confused. Start with something like How to Haiku and then come back to this.

2 comments about Awakening Exercises: For Students of the Fourth Way: for the teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky.

1. This isn't just a book of philosophy, it's a guide to the daily practice and application of the principles of George Gurdjieff's Fourth Way. If you have any interest in the work of George Gurdjieff and you would like a taste of what it's like to practice his method and way, this book is for you. I refer to this book daily and I find the practices to be both relevant and effective.



2. These exercises do not come from Gurdjieff or his students. They are invented by the people from an equally self invented study group without any connection to Gurdjieff or his students. They purport to be based on Gurdjieff aphorisms, but these aphorisms seem to be misunderstood or not taken in the right way. While these exercises may not be terribly harmful, they are certainly not the Gurdjieff Work.

No comments about Spirituality in the Workplace: What It Is, Why It Matters, How to Make It Work for You.

3 comments about The Way of Vastu: Creating Prosperity Through the Power of the Vedas : Achieve Success Through Indian Feng Shui.

1. The Way Of Vastu: Creating Prosperity Through The Power Of The Vedas by Michael and Robin Mastro is a dynamic easy-to-use reference of the many explorations of Indian Feng Shui. Informing the reader of how the shape of a building or property affects success, the powerful influence of the Cardinal Directions and the Planets, Mantras and Yantras: sacred codes to awaken priority, correcting geopathic stress in home or office, how using altars and ceremonies might generate abundance, and how to coordinate interior design to create a balance and harmony. The Way Of Vastu is highly recommended to all readers for its inevitably helpful content.



2. If you don't know of Vastu, nor mantra, nor yantra, then if you can read the small print this is a pretty good book.



3. A very crisp, visually appealing, and clear introduction to Vastu. Enough reasoning and background is provided for every idea presented. This is an introductory book though, I wish there were more details and practical tips.

5 comments about The Red String Book: The Power of Protection (Technology for the Soul).

1. i know many readers were disappointed that the string didnt come with the book but i am glad that it doesn't. the red string is not a fashion statement. if you read the book and still feel compelled to wear the string than order it. the wait is that much sweeter.



2. If one could get their mind to belive what this book offers, it would be great. Without that the book is just another self-help book on the shelf.



3. I had a beautiful experience having a "red string" ceremony with two other seekers whom I had shared a previous Kabbalah resource with. It was extraordinarily moving. I wish the instructions had been more explicit as I "wasted" some string by cutting it in thirds (there were of us). It should have been more specific about how to "measure" the string size before cutting.



4. I don't know about the rest of you readers but I was so turned off by this little book I didn't even finish it, so maybe I should not comment.
   I did not like the idea of commercialising Kabbalah. Something very profane rings here. Advertised as the Power of Protection is that a gimmic? Who needs to be frightened into reading a book?
   Read the beautiful books by Kushner if you are interested in Kabbalah.
   Turned off and turned away.



5. The text is somewhat redundant. The basic idea could easily have been summarized in a few pages. A great effort was made by the author to repackage a superstitious idea and make it appeal to an intelligent mind.

5 comments about Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman's Guide to Recovering Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life.

1. I am a major fan of the hardcover edition of this book and plan to order paperbacks as gifts for my friends. Author, Abby Seixas, tackles the subject crucial to all of us living in this culture of rush: how to slow down and live more effectively, enjoyably, and unselfishly. She provides practical tools on how to quiet your racing thoughts, live in the moment, and realize the life you were meant to live. Too often, we are slaves to unnecessary stress which limits the lives we were meant to lead. This book will help you not only to stop and smell the roses but to feed and nurture the whole garden that is your life. The price and the time you will spend on this book will be returned to you 10 times over in the rewards you will reap in your daily life.



2. As the newness of 2008 wears off, many of us have returned to our old ways. Our to-do lists tyrannize our days, and it seems twenty-four hours simply aren't enough to `get it all done'. Enter Abby Seixas, a smart thinker who's devised a plan to help us women stay on track without falling into the trap of too-much-doingness. Finding the Deep River Within: A Woman's guide to Recover Balance and Meaning in Everyday Life, fulfills on its promise. In six simple steps, freedom from the tyranny of our busy lives is ours. Ms. Seixas advises us to take time in, create boundaries, befriend feelings versus the rejection we often bring to negative emotions; reduce high expectations of ourselves; practice being in the moment; and, my favorite, doing something you love.
   
   How much time do we spend each day doing the things we think we have to do? What compels us to complete these despised rituals? There's safety in misery, if it's familiar. Ms. Seixas allows us to break free of the chains that have bound us. Through gentle, guided exercises and a victory log to record our triumphs, this book offers a wholesome perspective on the insanity to which we subject ourselves. Finding the Deep River Within is a quiet place of the soul. It's nice to know there's someone who's found it for herself and wishes to share that joy we all carry within.
   
   Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff and Sahm I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe, lives near Munich, Germany, withh her husband and two children.



3. FINDING THE DEEP RIVER WITHIN has been a powerful resource both for me personally and for clients in my psychotherapy practice. Over the last several years, I have gained much insight and support from the work of Pema Chodron. So, it was a delight to discover this very practical psycho-spiritual guide for women, with a similarity to Chodron's teachings. The author has a down-to-earth, gentle approach to self-awareness, self-care and learning to take life as it comes. Abby Seixas' work is an invaluable guide to living life with more aliveness, richness and depth. I highly recommend this book!



4. Abby's book is so well written and full of wisdom, yet never preachy. I give it 5 stars!!
   This is a book I'll continue to refer back to for encouragement and sustenance as I look for support in living soulfully. I had the benefit of sharing it in a group setting and found it helpful to digest the different suggestions over weeks. May I suggest getting your book club to spend some time with this gem, or gather your sister or auntie, or dearest friend to companion you on "Finding the Deep River Within".
   
   After reading Abby's book, "lowering" is now "taming" expectations which makes such a difference in how I view the situation at hand. I find myself correcting my thought and saying aloud to friends who say they're "lowering" expectations (especially those of us who are new parents). I'm able to relax the perfectionist voice in my head that takes over every once in a while and even get a laugh out of the situation of chaos at my feet : ) This is just one example of many reasons I recommend and appreciate Abby's book!



5. The title of this book says it all, "Finding the Deep River Within." Author Abby Seixas accompanies the reader on an adventure inward, providing practical tools for navigating the journey, while holding space for the mysteries that unfold. Abby's heart and soul and passion to support women in reclaiming balance and meaning comes through powerfully in this beautifully written book.
   Corrie Woods, author of The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional LivingThe Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living: Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, Beautiful Life!