Brigid

There were so many great blog posts I read this year written about Imbolic, I decided to forgo my plan to publish one on our blog.  Instead I thought I'd showcase a wonderful book I picked up last year on Brigid, the goddess of spring in Celtic mythology, the goddess whose festival is Imbolic.

The book Brigid, by Courtney Weber, was published in 2015 by Weiser Books, and it really is a wonderful historical exploration of not only the goddess herself, but the Celtic mythology, religion, meditations and practices which surround her.  

This book is very intelligently written and well researched.  

It was honestly a joy to read...and I learned quite a bit.

Anyone with serious interest in Brigid and Celtic history should consider

adding it to their library.

Brigid is available on Amazon.

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The Five Tibetans by Christopher S. Kilham - Mind Body Spirit Odyssey Book Review

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The Five Tibetans, an up-close-and-personal look at five core Tibetan yoga traditions, is an ideal text for both the novice and advanced yoga student alike.  Written by Christopher S. Kilham - The Medicine Hunter - the book offers a detailed yet congenial account of what are commonly know as the Five Rites, or the Five Rites of Rejuvenation, which are central to traditional Tibetan yoga.    

            The author begins with a charming colloquial introduction to his own first experiences with the Five Tibetans, and even gives a brief history of the rites and their import to the West.  He goes on to provide an entire section on breathing techniques, which he indicates are central to experiencing the benefits of yoga, and then carefully provides an informative and intriguing description of the seven chakras and their functions.  The text includes an easy-to-understand diagram and concise lists that will allow students of all levels to benefit.

 

            He then goes on to describe, in great depth, kundalini.  This section was perhaps the most in-depth yet concise description of kundalini that this reader has experienced overall.  Kundalini is, according to the author, the most widely misunderstood element in yoga practice, and Kilham endeavors to provide the reader with a careful understanding of its nature and importance.    The remainder of the text hinges on the reader's understanding of this energy and its central role in yoga.

            Then Kilham brings us to the Five Tibetans themselves, and his description of these rites is positively stellar.  For the novice, this section will enlighten and inform, and for the more seasoned student, this section will serve as a refresher, a re-introduction of sorts.  Kilham provides photos of the exercises, which allow the reader to visualize the exact nature of each exercise.  He gives ample descriptions of the physical responses of each rite, and this aptly prepares the reader to experience the fullness of each application.   He follows this with more technique descriptions and the remainder of the text serves to provide a layout of tips for where to practice, how to practice and when to practice these rites.  Kilham gives advice on what to wear, how to behave, and more.   

            Readers of every background will benefit from reading this text.  It is informative but endearing, and the colloquial nature of the Medicine Hunter's no-apologies, straightforward discourse will enlighten those who are already practicing students, and those who wish to become so.  Everyone - even those who feel they don't have time in their busy schedules for yoga - should read this book.  

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The Five Tibetans by Christopher S. Kilham

Inner Traditions 

Publication date 8-17-11

Reviewed by Christina Dudley

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Mind Body Spirit Odyssey Book Review: The Evolution of the Spirit

The Evolution of the Spirit

Walter D. Pullen
Ozark Mountain Publishing

Reviewed by Christina M. Dudley

Each of us are travelers embarked upon a journey.  Some of us may arrive at our destination sooner than others, and yet others among us may take different, longer routes. Yet we arrive, nonetheless, at the appointed destination for our course.  As set out as beginners, however, we often find ourselves in need of a guide.

The Evolution of the Spirit, by Walter D. Pullen, may serve as an excellent guide for seekers in need of early direction.  The text itself is rich with detailed descriptions of divinity concepts, karmic laws, spiritual bodies, universal planes and more.  Each chapter contains detailed analyses of its contents, providing the seeker with an informative narrative that not only defines these realms and realities, but describes their importance and their role in the evolution of a seeker's spirituality.   It contains excellent but concisely written details of various disciplines and studies and an overall narrative of the evolution of the mechanics of spirituality, and may best benefit the less seasoned seeker looking for a layout of the demographics and history of spirituality. 

Pullen incorporates into the text details of every aspect of the pursuit of the spirit path:  personal mastery, devotion, meditation, sex, love, and even politics.  As the author illustrates, each of these realms is worthy of attention and study, in order that the seeker and/or student may not only further his or her knowledge of spiritual paths, but increase his or her skill and level of mastery, as well.  Perhaps the most important portion of the text to this reader was Pullen's narrative on the mastery of personality; wherein the author describes not only the importance of the mastering of the self, but also of the emotional and intellectual faculties as a whole, so that a balance of power may be realized in order to gain spiritual maturity. 

It is worth noting, however, that this is not a text that can be engaged lightly.  A student must devote time to reading the text, and then, as this reader did, perhaps re-reading it again, with a focus on each chapter as a separate setting.   With this in mind, its quite possibly one of the most essential reads for any neophyte, and the text itself may well accomplish the author's goal, which in his words are "not to say "this is the answer," but rather "to inspire and encourage people more about spirituality"  and to ultimately find their own path.  

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Book Review: For Seven Lifetimes

For Seven Lifetimes
An East-West Journey to a Spiritually Fulfilling and Sustainable Marriage
by Vatsala and Ehud Sperling
published by Inner Traditions

Review by Nellie Levine


I started reading For Seven Lifetimes the day it arrived in the mail, and I stayed up half the night with it, thoroughly engaged, touched, and uplifted. What was so compelling that night - what makes up the bulk of the book, is a collection of letters exchanged between two beautiful people, over the course of nearly a year. These letters were an expression of a courtship unique in many ways. They were the way in which two people met, grew to know and love each other, and ultimately, the way they came together in marriage.

In 1995 B. R. Vatsala, a woman of Brahmin heritage living in India, was perusing her newspaper, looking through the "matrimonials." Arranged marriages are traditional in India, though the tradition can take a variety of forms. The matrimonials are ads placed in major newspapers, through which men advertise in search of compatible wives. These go quite beyond the "personals" we are familiar with. Also, rather than a woman herself replying to such an ad, it is customary for a male relation to reply, and to take it from there. A woman may not even meet a groom-to-be until minutes before her wedding.

Vatsala was a little different, and known as a free spirit in her family. A leading clinical microbiologist by profession, she was highly respected in the hospital in which she worked, and was in demand on the lecture circuit. She lived alone with her mother, with whom she shared a meaningful relationship and a modest lifestyle. Although she had a genuine respect for tradition and a pure love for her country and heritage, she had a more independent as well as individualistic approach to marriage. Looking through the matrimonials was becoming a discouraging ritual. Until she saw Ehud Sperling's ad.

Ehud's ad certainly stood out from the rest. In the book we see the page from the newspaper, The Hindu, as Vatsala herself saw it. It was headlined "Brides Wanted," and included several dozen ads. Ehud's ad, which was placed by a close Indian friend, stated his professional background as a publisher of spiritual books, some personal traits, and made clear he was a Westerner of Jewish faith living in Vermont. He was intent on finding a bride, someone to create a family with, and unlike the other men he would welcome replies from the women themselves. The ad spoke to Vatsala, and she soon wrote her first letter of introduction to Ehud.

I am truly a romantic at heart, have been married for twenty years to the man I consider my soul mate and best friend, and simply love a good love story! I was immediately swept up in this story that first night I lay awake with the book - in the way Vatsala and Ehud met, and in the way they got to know each other.

The letters were not what many would think of as love letters, in many cases. Rather, they were the sharing in fullness, of who Vatsala and Ehud were as individuals. In their letters they both spoke intimately and deeply about their thoughts and feelings on society, culture, religion, spirituality, sexuality, family, heritage, and values. Some days they wrote letters about more mundane concerns - for Vatsala, that might mean describing running home from work in the rain during monsoon season; for Ehud, it might mean sharing walks he had taken with his dog Noogie. Whether simple or profound, the letters allowed the other a pure view into who they each were. The two gained a strong respect for each other, and over time, a very strong bond.

The book is not just letters. Vatsala openly shares her insights and reflections on specific points in her correspondence with Ehud. She shares questions and doubts (always short-lived) that she had at the time, her feelings after she mailed a letter and awaited a response, her belief in God and adherence to spiritual values, her work as a doctor and scientist. We also see the progression of this very long-distance relationship into a marriage - the preparations of a wedding and of traveling to the US. Through Vatsala's words, we see a very genuine portrayal of life in India, as well as a portrait of a woman in love - who really could have been any woman, anywhere, for the voice she has given her heart.

Some women reading the book may initially disagree with my last statement... In one of Ehud's letters, he expresses his wish for a wife to "obey" her husband, and in Vatsala's replies she essentially accepts this - though with an appealing sense of wit. This does make one pause. But, his words shouldn't be taken out of context, and the context in which I read them is one of only love and respect for his bride-to-be. One of the main points I came away from this book with, one of its beauties, and one of the things that make it so unique, as well as so wise with regards to making a marriage work, is the vision of marriage as sacred that Vatsala and Ehud joyously share. There is a spirituality to this - it is a balanced sense of selflessness that works both ways, and helps create a more perfect union, as well as an enlightened family dynamic. Also, Ehud clarifies that he would of course fully respect and honor his wife's feelings, thoughts, and wishes, always welcoming her input. He says in one letter, "Ultimately, the marriage should reflect the spiritual ideals of that greater marriage between the masculine and the feminine. The man must worship the goddess in his wife and conversely the wife must see her husband as her god. We are just reflections of the beloved, striving in our imperfect way for union and liberation. Marriage should be the foundation that helps us achieve those goals."  I would hope that the brief reference to obey, would not cause a reader to disregard everything else that this couple openly shares with us. Surely, Vatsala and Ehud have created a beautiful marriage, one of apparent honesty, equality, and shared values.

This book is an updated, revised version of A Marriage Made In Heaven that was first published in 2000, by Ten Speed Press. Vatsala and Ehud have now been married for sixteen years, and this new book reflects those years. I believe the Sperlings' new book is testament to their love and to their approach to marriage. For Seven Lifetimes is beautifully illustrated, and almost feels like a scrapbook in its design. It is a joy to read, fascinating in the way it brings together two cultures that seem very different but find many things in common, delightful for the development of a friendship between two highly intelligent and interesting people, and exciting for the ultimate coming together in marriage. There is much wisdom in For Seven Lifetimes - wisdom on living life well and fully, as well as of course, on creating an enduring, spiritually fulfilling partnership. Whether or not a reader agrees with every point shared in the book, I can't imagine anyone who would not come away from it enriched.

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Book Review: The Book of Enoch the Prophet

 
"And in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness, which was inexhaustible, and around it were many fountains of wisdom; and all the thirsty drank of them, and were filled..."
                                    ~The Book of Enoch the Prophet, XLVIII v. 1

When I first began reading The Book of Enoch the Prophet (which here refers to what is considered 1 Enoch) I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I'd read commentaries on its text before, and had heard the opinions of scholars about its various meanings, and I had even studied the lore behind Crowleyian version of Enochian magic and the sacred hermetic interpretations of its volume. But until recently, I had never actually read the text itself. All of the scholarly material I'd studied before did very little to prepare me for the actual work itself.



The text I chose was decided upon due to the fact that an introduction by R.A. Gilbert preceded its body, and I knew Gilbert's writing from other texts I'd read on Rosicrucianism. I decided to go with what seemed familiar to me, and I dove right in. I was prepared for a volume of heavy allegories, and poetic representations, but I wasn't quite prepared for spiritual "meatiness" of the text. The Book of Enoch the Prophet is, in most circles, considered part of the Pseudepigrapha, that is, a part of a volume of works whose originators are represented or purported as great figures of the past, but whose real authors are at best in doubt and disputed. This fact, however, does very little to subtract from the rich magic of the text itself, and though it is verbose and very deep, it really is a fabulous study for anyone involved in occult and/or hermetic and religious studies.


This particular text consists of several divisions. among which are the Book of the Watchers, referenced in Genesis as the fallen ones or the Nephilim, and is essentially a narrative of Enoch's travels in the heavens. The second division of the Book is considered to be the Book of Parables, and seems to be a continuation or perhaps even a disambiguation of the Book of the Watchers, only it includes a more in-depth look at Enoch's eschatology. The third division is the Book of the Course of the Heavenly Luminaries, which deals primarily with the sun and moon and their apparent journey through the heavens, as well as the Lunar Year. The fourth installment of the text is called The Dream Visions, and is the richest part of the text as a whole. It deals with symbolic representations of historical events within the context of a dream sequence, supposedly experienced by Enoch while in a hypnotic state or trance. This text itself ends with an installment known as The Epistle of Enoch, which appears to be, among other things, an outline for the rewards of the just versus the punishment and/or judgment of the unrighteous, as well as an exhortation from Enoch for generations that follow him.


The text is a rigorous read, to be sure. It may follow that any seeking reader might want to read the installments not necessarily in sequential order, but rather as their whim leads. This may very well go against the prescribed method of study by some scholars, but to ingest the entire text sequentially is definitely a laborious undertaking. However, it does prove to be a worthwhile study, and after finished the installments, I came to understand with some surprise how it was that Crowley and his colleagues determined the book to contain within itself a secret magic, or perhaps a hidden esoteric message.

Overall, the Book of Enoch (again here referring to I Enoch) - while certainly a text requiring dedicated and careful study- is also most certainly a book that must be read by any seeker or spiritualist intrigued by hermeticism or even Gnostic Christianity. While not included in the currently-defined mainstream Christian canon, it is included in the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is a very worthwhile and recommended read.
                                         ~  Christina Dudley


The Book of Enoch the Prophet
R.H. Charles
introduction by R.A. Gilbert
Weiser Books, 2003

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Thank you to Christina Dudley for this informative book review.  You can find Christina online at the
Capricorn Soap Company on Etsy.

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Book Review: Black Elk Speaks

"It is from understanding that power comes; and the power of ceremony (of the ghost dance) was in understanding what is meant; for nothing can live well except in a manner that is suited to the way the sacred Power of the World lives and moves"  ~ Black Elk Speaks


Black Elk was born a member of the Oglala Sioux peoples in 1863, and was closely related to Crazy Horse.  In 1930, already an aged man, Black Elk spoke intimately with poet and critic John G. Neihardt, and recounted to him the tale of his vision of the Six Grandfathers and the reconstruction and vitalization of his people the Oglala Sioux.  Neihardt, in turn, recorded those sessions in a text, and thus the body of Black Elk Speaks was born.

The text tells a long narrative of Black Elk's vision for the unification of his people.  The vision came to him during a time of great decimation and privation, when outsiders were robbing the Lakota of their land, food sources and their very way of life.   Black Elk recounts in his memories as shared to Neihardt the fierce bravery of his people and how valiantly they fought for their freedom, winning a historical victory at Little Bighorn and suffering great decimation and loss at the Battle of Wounded Knee.

The text itself, however, is more then just a retelling of history.  It has been hailed by critics as a religious classic, and some consider it among one of the greatest spiritualist texts of the modern era.  It is a stirring narrative of the memories of an aged healer who, as a young man before the reservation years, experienced a great vision, a vision to which he held fast for all of his days, in the hope that it's manifestation would arrive within his lifetime.  It carries not only lessons of acceptance and perseverance, but also a central message of universal love and wonder.

This is a book full of history and wisdom, and at the same time full of insight and hope.  It is a recommended read for anyone interested in not only the Lakota nations, but the history of what it means to be a human being; of the glory and danger that comes with being a traveler through this world.


 
Black Elk Speaks:  Being the Life Story of a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux, the Premier Edition, 2008, SUNY Press


~ Christina Dudley, Capricorn Soap Company 

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