February 2007 Books
West of Jesus; The Kabbalah Book of Sex; I Dare to Heal with Spiritual Power; Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability
West of Jesus
Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief
Consider the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what life is about. Kotler does. And when he came to a point where his story fell apart, he went surfing.
This is one man's story of finding himself by going on a unique journey around the globe in pursuit of the origins of a very peculiar surfing legend: the story of the Conductor, a mythical surfer who could control the weather.
In Kotler's own words, “ West of Jesus is… an adventure story that detours into the odd intersection of science, spirituality and sport. Because… those same neurochemical responses that create spiritual experiences in the brain are also present during action sports…. As strange as it may sound, the question ‘Is surfing a viable spiritual path?' is not nearly as stupid as it sounds.”
If you're a surfer, even if you gave up reading long ago, you'll revel in this energetic account of the international surfing community as related by a goofyfoot, stinkbutt amateur. Never been on a board? You'll come away in admiration of those who live for the next wave. And from California to Mexico to Bali to New Zealand, you'll immerse yourself in the tales anthropologists, indigenous folk, scientists and creationists tell… until the telling unwinds in the ubiquitous maybe and a glimpse of ever new frontiers.
The Kabbalah Book of Sex
& Other Mysteries of the Universe
Human beings are sexual by nature. And deep, wet kisses enhance your contact with your lover's soul. Maybe you know that.'
According to Yehuda Berg, the average person only experiences 1% of the sexual gratification and spiritual awakening available to us. The other 99% is hidden from us “behind the curtain.” Until now.
The Kabbalah secrets of sex, love, death, the human soul, and the meaning of life are revealed in this amazing book. Seventh Heaven? It's a sacred place you go to during orgasm. We all touch into the 99% now and then, and by understanding and making use of the secrets of Kabbalah, so clearly presented in this book, we can come to spend more time there.
This is a work chock-full of information we can all benefit from, presented in a clear, straightforward, and enjoyable manner.
But there's more than information. The book also contains scripts from the' Zohar , widely considered the most important work of Hebrew mysticism, which Berg says work on an energetic (as opposed to mental) level to elevate the consciousness of anyone who will take the time to look at them.
—Chiwah
I Dare to Heal with Spiritual Power
If you have read Joel Vorensky's first book, I Dare to Heal with Compassionate Love , you know that life has been an emotional challenge for him (duh—isn't it for all of us?) and that he has sought out diverse approaches, including peer counseling and circular breathing, to develop the ability to express and heal his wounds.
In his second book,' I Dare to Heal with Spiritual Power , Joel shares his experience in applying these and other techniques to situations involving other people. From 9/11 to the San Diego fires of 2003 to classrooms where he has worked with emotionally challenged children to relationship issues and beyond, he provides a down-to-earth discussion of moving into spiritual wholeness via personal stories and life lessons learned. Favorite songs, quotes and poems, mostly composed by local talent, are featured for inspiration.
Joel Vorensky is a San Diego resident with an eclectic professional background and contagious passion. This book was a finalist in two book award competitions.
—Chiwah
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Ecovillages: New Frontiers for Sustainability
For the last 20 years, ecovillages— communities created by and for people actively seeking to minimize their ecological impact while maximizing peace, opportunities for happiness and self-fulfillment, social justice, and a sustainable way of life—have sprung up all around the world.
Ecovillages is the twelfth in a series of booklets known as the Schumacher Briefings. The current volume is a clearly crafted overview of the ecovillage movement that brings together a wealth of information and insight not found elsewhere in the sustainable living literature.
Beginning by setting the historical context within which the ecovillage movement can be seen and understood, Dawson proceeds to provide views into five functioning ecovillages (in Europe, Senegal, India, The U.S.A., and Brazil).
Dawson attributes much of the success of the movement to the ability of ecovillages to demonstrate the viability of new ecologically benign solutions to problems of food production, heating, wholistic education, earth stewardship, and growing sustainable local economies and governments. Peace activism and international solidarity are also seen as vital contributors.
The thing that stands out most, as Dawson points out, is the amazing creativity of the proponents of the movement, who are “pioneering new models on multiple fronts.”
But there is still a long way to go if the ecovillage movement is to provide viable options for “the coming energy famine.” Dawson identifies three major internal opportunities facing ecovillages: deeper integration in the larger local community, becoming more easily replicable, and developing strategies for becoming and remaining self-financing. He goes on to discuss possibilities for facilitation at the governmental level.
Ecovillages and the other booklets in this series are “must reads” for anyone considering entering into or founding a cohousing or other intentional community. There is no time to reinvent the wheel. This series will give you valuable grounding to better your chances of success.
—Chiwah
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