BOOK REVIEWS
Caught In Fading Light
Mountain Lions, Zen Masters, and Wild Nature
By Gary Thorp
This outstanding journal now available in paperback, has been heralded as “The
Best Spiritual Book of 2002” by Spiritual and Health Magazine. Thorp weaves a
mystical recount of his quest to find the mysterious and elusive cat known to
most of us as a mountain lion — from his own backyard among the mountains of
Marin County, California.
Written in meditative chapters, a writing style known in Japanese as nikki bungaku, Thorp weaves the various episodes of his journey through the lens of the serious Zen student he is. This allows the reader to get a glimpse of the psyche of a serious Zen student practicing the Zen tradition.
Thorp’s multidimensional reflection on nature and the mountain lion mirrors his idea of his own personal quest. He describes the process by explaining that during his search for the elusive mountain lion, his own consciousness took on a “revolutionary pivot” as he realized the search for the mountain lion turned into a search for himself.
In “Caught In Fading Light,” Thorp discovers the journey can be as awe inspiring
as the destination. I believe we have all experienced this feeling during our
own search for self, whether it be through basic meditation, learning from the
lessons of life, or as Thorp discovers, through seeking to see and understand
the beautiful mountain lion as a Zen-like practice. An inspiring read, I highly
recommend this book for all audiences.
Published by Walker & Co., this book is available at your local bookstores.
Reviewed by Maryel McKinley
You Can Change the World
The Global Citizen’s Handbook for Living on Planet Earth
By Ervin Laszlo
With an outstanding introduction by Mikhail Gorbachev, Ervin Laszlo’s “You Can
Change The World” is a powerful read, coup-led with realistic and idealist
suggestions. It offers real solutions for literally saving our planet on many
levels — change this planet — and the people on this planet so desperately need.
Laszlo encourages the reader to become “Global Citizens” by show-ing us how to
start our own revolution of consciousness and how to pressure the government,
corporations and the media to live up to its highest good, for the sake of our
precious but highly exploited planet. With chapters on how to think and act
responsibly, and how we can change ourselves for the betterment of the world’s
future.
He even offers a tale of the ancient alchemists, written by Paolo Coelho, which
offers ways to sustain your vision without succumbing to burnout, which so often
happens to well-meaning truth seekers.
Today is the time for change, in the here and now, as Laszlo expounds upon in
this life-changing book. It’s all about action and evolving our consciousness,
not only for ourselves, but also for mankind. An outstanding book I highly
recommend for all.
Published by Select Books, this book is available at local bookstores and
www.selectbooks.com
Reviewed by Maryel McKinley
The Divine Doctor
Healing Beyond Medicine
By Joseph Michael Levry
RaMaDaSa Healing CD
By Joseph Michael Levry
Imagine having the keys to unlock the perfect state of harmony and health in
you.
“The Divine Doctor: Healing Beyond Medicine” reveals timeless and priceless
wisdom, once known only by masters and adepts, for healing the mind, body and
soul. The basis for this healing wisdom is also the foundation that leads us to
a more illumined and ascended state of being.
This knowledge can be utilized to restore one to a state of health and
wholeness. Much of this divine wisdom has been hidden in symbol and mystery and
is found sprinkled throughout sacred teachings embedded across many cultures.
In this book the mystery and symbol have been decoded and are simply laid out so
all may have access to this powerful healing knowledge. Specific techniques and
healing remedies are given for dis-eases such as cancer, heart, and mental
imbalances plus many more.
The second half of this healing pair, the RaMaDaSa Healing CD, is spectacularly
beautiful. The union of music with the mantra RaMaDaSa consoles our pain and the
source of our dis-ease and reaches the depths of our being.
Like many mantra or words of power, RaMaDaSa is a code that instills the seeds
of healing and perfect health in the mind, body and spirit. When paired with the
yogic exercises in the Divine Doctor it will move you to a state of harmony and
joy.
Published by Rootlight, Inc., this book and CD are available at
www.rootlight.com or (888) 852-2100.
Reviewed by Patrice Nerad
Polar Dance
Born of the North Wind
Photography By
Thomas D. Mangelsen
Story By Fred Bruemmer
Renowned nature photographer, Thomas D. Mangelsen, has produced another stunning
book filled with untouched photos of Polar Bears in their natural habitat.
Devoted to a lifetime of documenting the natural world, Mangelsen spends up to
nine months each year documenting the wildlife he cares about so deeply.
His hope is that “Polar Dance” will, “touch people on an emotional level and
move them to love and protect these fragile animals”. This 264-page hardcover
book is not only filled with magical photos of polar bears and other wildlife
indigenous to Alaska, but is also accompanied by a narrative-type story line
that provides amazing glimpses into the world of the polar bear.
Photos of bears nestling together, standing on hind legs almost dancing
together, and more, are all developed without computer imagery. It seems
impossible that someone could get so close to these ominous creatures with such
intimacy. This book and the work of Mangelsen is nothing short of miraculous!
He has been awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal Photographic Society,
The North American Nature Photographers Association’s Outstanding Nature
Photographer, as well as BBC’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His work has
also appeared in Audubon, National Geographic and Wildlife Art, and he has
appeared on television programs from CNN to Good Morning America. An excellent
gift item and coffee table piece that will be appreciated for years to come.
Published by Images of Nature, this book is available at your local bookstores.
Reviewed By Maryel McKinley
Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul
Amazing Sea Stories and Wyland Artwork to Open Your Heart
and Give You Hope
By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Wyland
The sea has always been alluring to me and that is why I bought this book long
before writing the review. Besides being a fan of Wyland’s art and a fan of the
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series, I knew it would contain engaging and
heartwarming stories about our animal friends in the sea and the relationships
we have with them. My expectations were exceeded. Out of all the CSS series I
have read, I like this one the most.
The authors of “Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul” have carefully
collected true stories to warm our hearts, give us hope and make us realize how
precious God’s underwater creatures are. This book has amazing stories of
swimming eye to eye with great whales, sharks and manatees, as well as legends
of dolphins saving a man. The pages also contain pictures of Wyland’s exclusive
paintings and a few wonderful stories of his own, adding even more to the appeal
of this book.
It’s no wonder that Wyland had a big part in creating this book. He has been a
leading advocate in the effort to protect our ocean resources. More than one
billion people see his art each year in museums, galleries, public art displays
and private collections throughout the world.
Another good reason to buy and read this book is that a portion of all proceeds
will go to the Wyland Foundation, which has partnered with the Scripps Institute
of Oceanography at UC San Diego to create a free, nationwide marine life art and
science educational program for every school in the nation. This program is
designed to teach children everywhere about the importance of our marine
resources. Your purchase of this book helps with the program. Ocean lovers, dive
in!
Published by Health Communications, Inc., this book is available at all major
bookstores, Wyland Galleries, and online at
www.wyland.com
Reviewed by Kathy DeSantis
The Divine Nature
of Plants
Wisdom of the Earth Keepers
By Laura Aversano
“The Divine Nature of Plants” is written from the perspective of author Laura
Aversano’s personal encounters with plant spirits. She discovered these “plant
spirits” while meditating on a Cherokee healing site at the foothills of the
Smokey Mountains. Aversano states that “The Earth Keeper Spirits” spoke to her
about the ancient ways. This included cures, remedies, prayer rituals and
ceremonies utilizing various plants the Elders of the Cherokee Tribe had used
for thousands of years.
Aversano explains that physical illnesses arise as a signal to the suffering
individual to awaken. Furthermore, she states that in order for us to heal from
illness at the core root level, one needs to be willing to look deeply within to
find the source of our original woundology. According to the book, this requires
a gentle, nonjudgmental process of letting go.
Aversano actually walks the reader through their healing process while sharing
the intuitive experiences she has had with many healing plants and their
individual vibration qualities. Each plant vibrates with very specific emotions,
which when used properly can help the healing process accelerate at exponential
rates.
What is special about this book is that the author not only offers cures for
various symptoms, she encourages the readers to commit themselves to the healing
process. She believes that with the exposure we have all had from the abuse of
antibiotics, drugs, dyes, chemicals in our food and pollution in the air, we
need to transmute the stagnant energy we as a species and our Mother Earth no
longer need.
Published by Swan Raven & Co., this book is available at your local bookstores.
Reviewed by Maryel McKinley
Wai Lana’s
Favorite Juices
Over 85 of Wai Lana’s Favorite Juice and Smoothie Recipes
By Wai Lana
The health benefits of natural antioxidants like vitamins A and C are still
being discovered. While supplements can be useful, the most complete source of
vitamins and minerals is fresh food, especially fruits and vegetables. One of
the most interesting and delicious ways to enjoy the benefits of fresh produce
is juicing.
Wai Lana, a well-known yoga instructor with a nationwide PBS television series
and numerous yoga videos to her credit, makes juicing seem easy and delicious
with this appealing book. Over 85 recipes are included, all beautifully
illustrated with luscious photographs. Many of the recipes will appeal to kids
as well as the rest of the family. The pictures alone will entice you into
trying these intriguing combinations. Each recipe includes a list of benefits as
well as ways to boost nutrition and flavor.
There are separate sections for fruit juices, vegetable juices, smoothies, and
desserts. There is even a section on how to use the pulp left over from juicing,
including recipes for pates, vegetarian burgers, and muffins. There are
fact-filled charts on vitamins and minerals, details on finding the best
produce, and on storing your juice, as well as information on supplements and
herbs to add to your juice for taste and added nutrition.
If you have been thinking about adding fresh juices to your life, or if you are
looking for some new and interesting juicing recipes, this is a great book to
explore. While the recipes require a juicer or at least a good blender, most of
the fresh ingredients are readily available in Southern California. Recommended.
Published by Wai Lana Productions, this book is available by calling (800)
228-5145 or at
www.wailana.com
Reviewed by Lyda Whiting
Across America, People Want to VEG OUT™
By Kathy Lynn Siegel
and Carey Ann Strelecki
With the population of the U.S. nearing 300 million, it is estimated that about
5 percent of Americans are vegetarian. That’s around 14 million people! In a
1999 poll by The Vegetarian Resource Group it was found that about 57% of the
population sometimes, often, or always orders a vegetarian item when eating out
— and that equals a huge number of people looking for meatless dishes and
healthy, nutritious fare.
Now, finding tasty vegetarian and vegan foods just got easier — introducing
VegOut!™ Vegetarian Dining Guide to Southern California. Whether looking for a
quick bite, a refined and elegant meal, or a place to buy fresh, organic
produce, VegOut!™ is the definitive resource to finding hot spots, hideaways,
markets and cafes that specialize in vegetarian cuisine.
The Guide covers central and southern Los Angeles, South Bay, Santa Monica, the
San Fernando Valley, Orange County, San Diego, and everything in between. VegOut!™
also features an alphabetical index, a cuisine index, an atmosphere index, a
“Top 10” index, a resource guide, and a glossary for those who aren’t clear on
the difference between quinoa and kombu. Each also has a convenient fold-out
map, so finding any location is a piece of cake.
The Southern California edition of VegOut!™ was published by Gibbs Smith and is
available at on-line booksellers and at your local bookstores.
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