November 2006 Books
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed; Longinus: Book I of The Merlin Factor; You Are What You Love; Reaching Through the Veil to Heal; The Secret
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed
And Other Things I’ve Learned
My mother didn't try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that.”
So begins the telling of a story quite different from what I would have expected. Having always considered Alda a calm and balanced man, I'd have thought he'd enjoyed a balanced childhood. So much for assumptions!
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is a charming invitation to an insider view of Alda's personal life. The title refers to the day young Alan's dog died, and his father, in a misguided attempt to relieve the pain of his loss, suggested they take its body to the taxidermist. The book isn't about that, and yet it is. If we learn nothing else from Alda's story, we can't avoid the lesson that life frozen into a still frame never looks or feels quite the same.
Raised by a mother who lived in a reality all her own and a father who was a singer and burlesque performer, Alda relates many of the opportunities afforded him to observe (from the wings) the culture of burlesque theater and the skewed world view he acquired growing up in that environment. It was only later, he says, when he entered the world of acting, that he became aware of the many ways in which acting differs from performing . As an actor, he found himself forced to reach inside to access emotional depth that performing would never have touched; in this way, he relates, acting actually became an important teacher of life for him.
Those of us who, like Alda, grew up in dysfunctional families in the fifties will relate to Alda's tale of difficulty relating to his mother, for well we remember how denial was the way of the world. There were some things one simply never spoke of, and mental illness was at the top of the list. “How much easier it could have been for my father and me,” he says, “to face her illness together, to compare notes, to figure out strategies. Instead, each of us was on his own, and I alternated between thinking it was his fault and thinking it was mine.”
Alda is a magnificent storyteller, among his many other talents. (If your only connection to him has been TV, you may be interested to learn that he is a noted Broadway actor and the only person ever to win an Emmy for acting, writing and directing during his eleven years as Hawkeye on M*A*S*H.)
The entire tale is extremely human, funny and touching, elegantly told by an emotionally mature man. In its own way, it is your story and mine. I strongly recommend the book, which goes on sale Sept. 13. An author-approved abridgment is available on CD, with Alda narrating.
—Chiwah
BACK TO TOP
Longinus
Book I of The Merlin Factor
Longinus: Book I of The Merlin Factor tells the story of Gaius Cassius Longinus, the battle-hardened centurion of Rome assigned to guard the crucified Jesus. But while guarding Jesus Longinus stabs him in the ribs with his spear, ensuring his death. It is a simple act, but one that changes his life forever and leads him through a sinuous series of experiences that include encounters with Mary Magdalene, Celtic Druids, Greeks, a Jewish rabbi and many other unforgettable characters.
The book follows the journey of Longinus' sword, examining the legends and myths surrounding its rumored supernatural and occult powers and capacity for good and evil. Maines' exploration of the role of this mysterious weapon in both traditional religion and mysticism will enchant even readers who don't normally enjoy religious or historical legend.
You Are What You Love
You Are What You Love is a spiritual GPS map by which you can find your inner way home again. This book offers a heartfelt and soulful exploration of the truth of who we are as Spirit, in need of a human experience.
The central core of the book is based on the wisdom of the Swedish mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg and his insights into the nature of Spirit. Swedenborg said that Heaven gave him permission to break through to the purely spiritual dimension, beyond physicality and mortality. Having spent years gaining a profound understanding of his work, Vaishali demystifies mysticism by offering answers to many thought provoking questions about the pursuit of Ultimate Truth.
BACK TO TOP
Reaching Through the Veil to Heal
Reaching Through the Veil to Heal embraces the subject of life, death and grief from an unusual perspective to help you understand and heal from loss.
Having precious little understanding of what their grieving journey will entail, most people are immediately caught up in the tidal wave of emotions that typically accompany a significant loss. Drake shares amazing true stories of how communication with the spirits of deceased loved ones has helped those left behind in their healing process. Her book will challenge your perception of death by bringing knowledge of the world beyond the boundary of the physical body.
The Secret
The secret is out!
Actually, it's been out for a long, long time. Perhaps you first read about it years ago in The Master Key System by Charles F. Haanel, James Allen's As A Man Thinketh , or Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich … or maybe you heard about it in the Abraham channelings, or from a progressive minister or friend.
Maybe you've even experimented with it to bring you greater health, career success, wealth, or perhaps your soulmate. It is said to be the secret to being and having everything you've ever wanted.
But now, the cat is out of the bag nearly worldwide. The Secret a feature-length historic and factually based movie based on the Universal Law of Attraction. Known throughout history to a fortunate few—select giants like Hermes Trismegistos, Buddha, Plato, Newton, Emerson, Beethoven, Jung, Churchill, Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Einstein, and Charles Fillmore—The Secret has been passed throughout the ages, traveling through centuries... to reach us. Touted as The Secret to everything—to unlimited joy, health, money, relationships, love, youth: everything you have ever wanted—The Law of Attraction is explained by a cast of illustrious experts ranging from quantum physicists to philosophers and channelers.
I found the presentation of the Law of Attraction both interesting and oriented toward making it more accessible and useful to all of us. It really does give you all the information you will ever need to understand and live the life of your dreams. I think the following three quotes from the movie combine to say it pretty well:
“What we think about and thank about, we bring about.” —Dr John DeMartini
“When you're visualizing, when you've got that picture playing out in your mind always and only dwell upon the end result.” —Mike Dooley
“So we are the creators, not only of our own destiny but ultimately we are the creators of universal destiny, we are the creators of the universe.” —John Hagelin
The challenge with the Law of Attraction has always been to bring it into action when things appear to be at their worst. I believe a good way to move beyond that challenge—and move beyond it we must—would be to watch this movie over and over, until using the Law of Attraction becomes so inculcated in our consciousness that it comes naturally to us, regardless of circumstances. We have a lot of opportunity today to change the world for the better, and this is a necessary step if we are to succeed in that.
And on a personal level, when you make The Secret your natural way of life it will change your life forever. The Secret is available on DVD, and individuals and new thought organizations around the country have been staging home viewings. For a limited season, broadband users just about everywhere can view the movie via ultra-fast video technology from Vividas that's just like watching TV—no downloading required— for just $4.95 per view. Traditional and new media routes such as Cinema, Broadcast Network, Cable and Satellite Television, Podcasting and 3G Services are set to pick it up as well, and there are substantial offers on the table from film distributors, DVD retailers and TV networks. Negotiations continue in several major territories including the USA, Canada, the UK and the People's Republic of China.
Unfortunately due to contractual obligations with the commissioning broadcaster, viewers in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia are not able to view The Secret on Vividas or purchase the DVD at this time.
PRIME TIME PRODUCTIONS is an independent film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia. Its objective is to produce exceptional quality, commercial film and television with broad audience appeal, giving sustained attention to production values and viewer needs. The Secret is available in CD form at SoulScape in the Encinitas Lumberyard. —Chiwah
BACK TO TOPHOME - FEATURES - NEWS - FROM THE PUBLISHER
LETTERS - COLUMNS - MUSIC REVIEWS - BOOK REVIEWS
PLANETARY CYCLES - CALENDAR - ABOUT TLC - CONTACT US
CLASSIFIEDS - RESOURCE DIRECTORY
ARCHIVES - SUBSCRIBE - ADVERTISE - SEARCH
