A couple of months ago I was approached by the publishers of Gary Zukav's new book, Spiritual Partnership, to do a review on this blog. They assured me that it was just to be an honest opinion of the book, no strings attached. I said I would, as he is one of my favorite authors. I've mentioned him more than once on this blog, and some time ago I posted his Spiritual Partnership Guidelines. I can honestly say, his book, The Seat of the Soul, changed my life. I read it back in 1990, at a particularly difficult time, and it quite literally changed my worldview and launched me on a spiritual path of over 20 years. So I probably would have given a review on this book anyway, following my belief in sharing books that might be of value to some of you. Having them send me an advance copy for free was icing on the cake. That being said, here is my take on the book:
Zukav believes we are on the precipice of the greatest change possible or imaginable. The evolution of mankind from five-sensory to multi-sensory. He believes that we have crossed a threshold and there is no turning back. The entire human experience is being reshaped with new values, goals and intentions. The old kind of power, used throughout history to manipulate and control, which now only produces violence and destruction, is being replaced by authentic power. Authentic power is an expanded awareness and includes the five senses, but also a second system. The second system detects intelligence, compassion, and wisdom. It manifests in a knowing that cannot be explained through the five senses. Such as knowing someone is going to call you before they do, or that there has been an accident involving a family member, an intuition to begin your life's purpose, if you haven't already.
This evolution in human experience has two parts. Process A involves expanded awareness and is happening without input on our part. Process B involves choice, and is what this book is all about. How to choose to heal frightened parts of ourselves and not react in unconscious ways that only incur more drama and pain. Thus the Spiritual Guidelines. I call this concept "disciplined thinking." Learning how to connect with your intentions, utilizing your body's language, to help steer your thinking in a healthy and karma-free direction.
This book would appeal to those individuals who are looking for a mechanism to connect and heal parts of themselves that keep surfacing. Especially those parts involving addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, shopping, over-eating, etc. It would appeal to those individuals who would like to live a life moving toward authentic lifestyles based on a value system aligned with their soul purpose. While many of the concepts have been explained in previous books by this author, it was nice to hear how he overcame issues related to his own experience.
Below is a trailer for the book:
28 comments:
interesting stuff...
Sounds like a winner. :)
Nancy - many of us have felt a great change coming, could this be it? How wonderful if this thinking is correct. I am going to read this book as I feel somehow connected to this line of thinking and living. Thanks for the review.
Zukav is a gentle, intelligent man. I read a few of his early works ... but my experience was that he finds a new way to repackage the same old information.
Claiming that we are about to experience a shift in the evolutionary stream to use of all the senses and to more authenticity, seems somewhat silly to me as it discounts the millions of people who do so already and ancient cultures that did this, and more.
I wonder how he accounts for current tribes and groups operating with the concepts and limitations of the dark ages ... causing havoc in the world with their primitive behaviors - how will they be brought along in this new evolutionary shift?
We all need to use our intuition, all our senses and our critical thinking skills to examine what is put out there for us - with a profit motive.
I'll go take a look at the book at the bookstore and make a decision then. It sure looks interesting. You tell it well!
I think I tend to agree with Bonnie. Of course I haven't read the book or any of his books so I'm basing this on your review.
The Age of Aquarius was supposed to bring about great and wonderful loving changes and the world has gone to hell in a hand basket with the divisions in the country getting only and ever deeper.
I certainly hope that human beings evolve beyond their present state, but I don't see any evidence of it.
I read the same book about twenty years ago and it too knocked my socks off. It helped me through some very difficult times. Thanks for the connection. I shall check out this new one.
You always write a fine review, Nancy. Thanks for that. I also have to say that I found myself nodding in agreement with Bonnie's comment. There's no doubt to me that there is change afoot, but I'm not so sure yet about its global impact.
Brian - Check it out if you find it interesting. Or go to his website to learn more about him and his partner.
Natalie - You might like it.
Good Cook - I do think we are evolving. But I think things will get much worse before it gets better. While I liked this book, and took some valuable tools from it, I'm not sure we've reached the point of it getting better yet.
Bonnie - The book is not for everyone. And I do agree that many of his books are much the same. The Seat of the Soul being ground-breaking. I noted that in the review. But I did find some new information in the book. He talks about relationships and how some are now working and some are not, and why. I found this to be of value. He reiterates connecting with how your body is signaling emotion, which I have been using in my own life and find of great value. And of course connecting with intention, which is not a new idea but one worth keeping at the forefront of all action. As for discounting all of the tribes already operating with all their senses, he actually uses them as an example. I only highlighted the book, I didn't hit on all of the concepts. Some will want to read it and some won't - which is the reason for the review.
DJan - You might like it.
Ellen - I think it will get much darker before the pendulum swings back.
lakeviewer - The Seat of the Soul definitely helped me in 1990. I was recovering from a brain tumor with two tiny children. His book was a catalyst for health at that time.
Hilary - It's worth checking out. I do not find that I believe everything written in all books. But if I take away a small seed of knowledge that helps me in my life, it's worth reading. I did find a few nuggets in this book.
You're not the first person to mention that many of the concepts he discusses are talked about in his other books as well. I think that's a good point and one to be taken into consideration if wanting to buy one of Zukav's books. Thanks for being on this tour! Love your review. :)
Oh I'm going to have to get that book. I loved Seat of the Soul. I know this is fiction but read The Celestine Prophecy...very interesting.
I, too, really liked "Seat of the Soul" and found it life changing but have not enjoyed his other books. I was almost going to read this book until I watched the video.
Trish - Thanks. I did enjoy the book. However, it was not as ground-breaking as Seat of the Soul.
Jill - I really enjoyed The Celestine Prophecy!
Marlene - They asked me to include the video, but I must say, I agree with you - it doesn't help sell the book.
I NEVER read books like this, but this one intrigues me.
Do you really believe that every life has a purpose?
Bee - I really do. I've read so many books about this sort of thing, and many more books about cutting-edge physics, and I have to say that I do believe there is more meaning in life than we've been led to believe. Read some of the near-death experience books and you begin to see that children, without the capacity for duplicity, have the same experiences as adults. Very interesting.
interesting, nancy, thank you for reviewing this.....i read seat of the soul and it really moved me in a new direction however i am not sure this one would...i think his ideas about the sensory broadening are NOT new, as other cultures and spiritual practices have believed and practiced this for thousands of years.....seems a bit egocentric but maybe that's me...i am with bonnie with this one....but thanks for reviewing it, interesting reading for me.
xx
linda - He talks about other cultures in his book. This is just a very broad brush stroke of the book. I'm not recommending it, as I try never to do that. But you may want to check it out for yourself before deciding it's not worth reading. I think Amazon gives you more to look at before you buy books sold on its website.
I, too, liked "Seat of the Soul." I've been on this past since I was 16 and someone gave me "Psycho Cybernetics." That would be several decades ago. I hope he's right. He's sure a lot more optimistic about the human condition than I am. In fact, I can't recall a time when I've seen more negativity in the world. I. Must. Focus. On. The. Positive! Good review, Nancy.
Thanks for the review. Change is definitely in the wind (and in the news 24/7!) and anything we can read or do or think can help.
How ironic you should mention this author......too long to explain in a small comment box....
I read Seat of the Soul when it was first published and like you found it a profound experience. His descriptions of the human psyche ring very true and his theory that we are evolving from five-sensory to multi-sensory beings feels right. My teachers have mostly been and continue to be the non-physical kind and I think reading counts for the ones I can't meet because they have died or are just too distant. I agree with Gary that our purpose in life is to align the personality with the soul; that mental illness is a shattered spirit; that we are reincarnated; that our choices result in positive or negative karma; that evil is an absence of light and that the universe is alive, intelligent and compassionate.
It was Carl Jung who said that man is indispensable for the completion of creation; that, in fact, he himself is the second creator of the world who alone has given to the world its objective existence. Human consciousness created meaning.
Seat of the Soul is a good book. I also read Soul Stories, (I think was the follow-up). I never did read his first book, though, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, of which he won the 1979 American Book Award in Science.
I used to enjoy him when he would appear often on Oprah...that is when she would be quiet and let him talk...as he is one of those quiet "thoughtful thinkers" before he speaks. I wrote to her once to tell her to let him say what he wanted to say, and apparently I was not alone in that.
Thanks for the review on this new one.
Very cool to be asked to write the review and to receive an advance copy! It sounds good, but I actually think I should read Seat of the Soul again instead. I was in a scrambled relationship when I read it and know I didn't pull from the book all that I could have.
I enjoyed reading your review and your writing style. I tend to be a greater fan of fiction than self-help books. I am a realist and skeptic and perhaps a bit of a cynic, but more power to you. The mysteries of the universe won't be solved by me I'm afraid or even during my lifetime.
Jayne - Thanks, and I agree, things are pretty dark right now. Hopefully, Zukav is right and things may be heading in the right direction. We can only hope.
Trish & Rob - It's about all we can do right now - put as much positivity into the world that we can.
luksky - Email me!
susan - This goes along with the new physics that states we are an expanding universe, not a dying one, and that consciousness is the engine.
Linda - He speaks slowly and thoughtfully, that's for sure. I really didn't like the trailer they asked me to include in the review. I think Zukav relates better through the written word. The trailer seemed too cheesy.
Lydia - It has always been one of my favorite books.
R.J. - We all have our own interests, likes and dislikes, which makes the world interesting. I'm so glad you liked my writing style! I like fiction as well - reading one now. I go back and forth. Sometimes not reading spiritual books for years, and then reading a bunch. It depends on what the world is doing, usually.
The Seat of The Soul.. was a very inspiring book for me..it came at a time in my life..that opened up a whole new way of thinking for me..We all take something diff from what we read..some things come at just the right time and others we are not quite ready and find it lacking..I have had books highly recommended and are still sitting by my bed , unfinished...:-)
I do agree times are changing you can feel it..a big change..as far as primitive cultures in the dark ages.. which was referred in one of the posts... you either evolve along with everyone to survive or slowly die off like some species that could not adapt to changes....
Hello from the 2nd half of my life in Long Island! I was blog surfing & then saw the your title & was intrigued. "Seat" helped me get through the loss of my Dad & the complete meltdown of my family in a way that I will be forever greatful. I would love to know that we are making progress...
Happy Mother's Day!
Best,
Colleen
Sounds like an interesting read. I'll have to look into it!
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