Movie, Book & Music Reviews
Several years ago, I read a wonderful book by William P. Young titled “The Shack.” The debut of this fictional book created quite a buzz and received mixed reviews for its unconventional theological depictions. A book that originally was written solely as a Christmas gift for his children soon found itself on the New York Times Bestseller List and creating quite the stir.
The story centers around Mack, a father who is mired in his great sadness, who asks the burning question: “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” Four years earlier, Mack’s young daughter, Missy, was abducted during a family vacation. Though her body was never found, the police did find evidence in an abandoned shack to prove that she had been brutally murdered by a notorious serial killer who preyed on young girls.
When Mack receives a note in his mailbox from “Papa” to spend the weekend at the shack, he reluctantly accepts this peculiar and mysterious invitation and sets out to spend a weekend with someone who he suspects to be God. During his weekend, Mack encounters in bodily form the Holy Trinity in a way he never expected or imagined. Papa (God) is a large, matronly African-American woman. Jesus is a young to middle-aged man of Middle-Eastern descent. The Holy Spirit is played by Sarayu (Sanskrit for air or wind), a small, delicate and eclectic woman of Asian descent. And he also meets for a time with Sophia, who is the personification of God’s wisdom.
The story lightly dances across the lines of conventional Christianity and New Spirituality as Mack’s life-changing weekend with the Trinity unfolds. It explores and subtly questions traditional ideas held within religious theology — such as heaven, free will, the cross, and forgiveness — with a gentle application of an expanded perspective and an invitation to the reader to move beyond preconceived notions.
I enjoyed this book for the eclectic spiritual journey, for tackling some of the big and mostly unanswered questions surrounding religion and life, and for its ability to step tenderly outside the box in such a colorful and loving way. It is unusual to find books in the fiction section of the bookstore that inspire me. But I believe, whether you read “The Shack” from a background in Christianity or a background in New Spirituality, with an open mind, this book has a gift to offer everyone.
(Lisa McCormack is the Managing Editor & Administrator of The Global Conversation. She is also a member of the Spiritual Helper team at www.ChangingChange.net, a website offering emotional and spiritual support. To connect with Lisa, please e-mail her at Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com.)
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com. Please label the topic: “Review”)
Hollywood Director Tom Shadyac, most notably recognized for directing blockbuster comedies like “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Bruce Almighty” and “The Nutty Professor,” detours away from familiar territory in his thought-provoking documentary “I AM,” where he tackles head-on probing questions that a large number of people in our world are asking today:
What is wrong with the world?
What can we do to make it better?
After a debilitating bicycle accident in 2007, Shadyac journeyed into a self-exploration of his own life and examined closely the obscure concept of “happiness.” As he sat in the living room of his 17,000-square foot mansion, surrounded by priceless antiques, expensive cars, and a luxurious private jet, he came to the realization that none of these “things” made him any happier. And he proceeded to sell and give away everything he owned, moved into a mobile home, and set out to create a documentary about what is “wrong” with the world.
Shadyac describes the movie “I AM” as the “Ultimate Reality Show.” The film highlights interviews with scientists, psychologists, artists, environmentalists, authors, activists, and philosophers in its quest to discover the meaning of all life. “I didn’t want to hear the usual answers, like war, hunger, poverty, the environmental crisis, or even greed,” Shadyac explains. “These are not the problems, they are the symptoms of a larger endemic problem. In I AM, I wanted to talk about the root cause of the ills of the world, because if there is a common cause, and we can talk about it, air it out in a public forum, then we have a chance to solve it.”
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the scientifically supported discoveries emerging out of this nonfiction documentary are in alignment with many of the messages held within the New Spirituality movement:
“Humans actually function better and remain healthier when expressing positive emotions, such as love, care, compassion, and gratitude, versus their negative counterparts, anxiety, frustration, anger and fear.”
“The heart, not the brain, may be man’s primary organ of intelligence, and that human consciousness and emotions can actually affect the physical world.”
“Humankind’s real power comes in their ability to perform complex tasks together, to sympathize and cooperate.”
“I AM isn’t as much about what you can do, as who you can be. And from that transformation of being, action will naturally follow.”
I wholeheartedly recommend this film of awakening, where science and spirituality link arms, out of which gives birth once again the undeniable realization that: We are all connected.
Visit the I AM website here.
(Lisa McCormack is the Managing Editor & Administrator of The Global Conversation. She is also a member of the Spiritual Helper team at www.ChangingChange.net, a website offering emotional and spiritual support . To connect with Lisa, please e-mail her at Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com.)
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com. Please label the topic: “Review”)
Earlier this year I was asked to edit Phoenix Tears, the Rick Simpson Story, a book that chronicles the series of events leading to the rediscovery of the medicinal role of hemp oil in curing serious illness, and the author’s attempt to bring this knowledge into the public domain. Spanning a decade, Rick Simpson’s courage in sharing his newly found knowledge has earned him deep respect whilst at the same time incurring the wrath of the legal system that eventually forced him into exile, from which he has only recently emerged.
From a small town in Nova Scotia, we learn how the author’s early experiences with illness in his own family was to influence his later decision to provide hemp oil to people who came looking for it. Produced on his own property and provided free of charge, we see that it was a deep compassion that drove Rick to help others whilst at the same time having to deal with constant interference and opposition from local groups. Eventually such would be the demand for hemp oil that instruction videos would be made available to demonstrate the distillation process, the intention being to supply people with the information whereby they could produce the oil themselves.
Since this story began, Rick has cured both himself and many others of various illnesses with hemp oil, as well as continuing to share the information that empowers everyone to do likewise for themselves. Traveling throughout Europe, giving talks and seminars, his desire is to awaken us all to the healing power of arguably the most medicinal plant Mother Earth has produced, and in doing so reconnect to our own healing potential.
Available from www.phoenixtears.ca
(Gemma Phelan is from Ireland where she works as an editor. In her spare time, she enjoys giving musical recitals and teaching various complementary healing modalities.)
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com. Please label the topic: “Review”)
My sister had just exposed to me this new point of view: Affirmations For the Everyday Goddess by Pamela Wells. Very thought-provoking affirmations. This “Goddess” stuff was new to me. I hadn’t really been exposed to or been around (in my mind’s current awareness anyway) Goddess thinking; however, I dug that title for sure. It was new and refreshing to me.
She was sharing how she really related to this certain Goddess and had her little statue in her kitchen window. The following day I visited a Unity Church as a guest of a friend. While we were in their gift shop, I looked over on the countertop while checking out and commented to Mary, “Look, there is a book on Goddesses. That’s what my sister was just speaking to me about.”
Well, as there are no accidents, this woman promptly turned around and said she was the author of the book. It was one of those times when one ‘knows.’ God is there as miracles are happening left and right. So I bought three of her books and had her sign them. She then gave us, Mary and myself, a little sharing of her life and insights right there in the front of the bookstore. It was a special moment for all.
The book is called: “Unveiling the Modern Goddess: Thru Symbolism, Chakras & Myth” by Karen Marie Castle. (Purchase the book on Amazon)
She shared with us how if she had not gone ‘inward’ (a deep meditation), that this book would not be here. She had this unexpected transformational experience during a Holotropic Breathwork session that lead to a whole different path in life for her, as detailed in her book.
I appreciate the colors of the cover of her book and her sharing her healing as she weaves her story around the ancient myth of the Goddess Inanna, who appeared to her during that meditation.
Personally, I am very grateful this book on “unveiling me as a Goddess” came into my life. My sister is the same one that years ago gave me my first Conversations with God, Book 1. That sat on my shelf for a few years because I thought the title was kind of weird. As the renowned and highly respected author/mentor/friend of that book and Conversation of God series of books, Neale Donald Walsch, says: “When the student is ready…the teacher will appear.” Jill led me to Conversations with God and now to adoring my Goddess within.
Thank you, Jilly!
I love you eternally.
An excerpt from the back cover of Unveiling the Modern Goddess: Thru Symbolism, Chakras & Myth, by Karen Marie Castle:
“The mystical story of the Goddess Inanna can guide us to achieving our greatest potential. Unveiling the Modern Goddess: Thru Symbolism, Chakra & Myth explores our own journey through life. Utilizing the chakras energy system and the symbol of Inanna’s myth gives us clues to understand our life development and indicates where we need to heal and thus become a more whole human being. Underlying this powerful understanding is a message for all women to come forward and take responsibility for our Mother Earth and for our children. Women are being called as beacons of light for our human evolution.”
(Mel Dee lives in the United States and is a nursing student, part-time bartender, part-time house attendant (a one-on-one mentor in their/our evolutionary process),animal lover, soul lover, people lover and peace lover! She also volunteers on the site www.changingchange.net as a spiritual helper.)
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.com. Please label the topic: “Review”)
For those of you yearning to hear the internal whispers of your soul amidst the noisy chatter of an unruly mind…for those of you longing to experience the calm bliss of simply “being” when your experience of life at this moment feels like a never-ending cycle of “doing”…perhaps the soothing voice and gentle rhythms of Snatam Kaur is something you would be willing to make a regular part of your day.
The transcendent power and healing qualities of the devotional chants of Snatam Kaur have elevated it to become one of my most beloved choices in my musical collection. Her songs combine a unique blend of ancient chants sung in Gurumukhi, the sacred language of the Sikhs, and English.
Snatam Kaur (whose name means universal, nucleus, and friend to all) uses her music to bridge diverse cultures, faiths, and traditions, and to promote peace and inner strength. When asked what her definition of ‘peace’ is, she replied, “I feel peace is defined in each person’s life in the moments of their greatest struggles and challenges. Peace is the ability to stay true to yourself, and in any situation find the light or find the way to grow and transform in that situation, while uplifting yourself and other people.”
The purity and clarity of Snatam’s voice radiates and her soft spiritual chants touch your soul. Her albums “Anand,” “Celebrate Peace,” and “Grace” are just a few of my personal favorites. You will quickly realize that understanding the language in some of the songs is not a necessary element to having a profound experience of bliss and peace, that her music transcends the confines of any one particular language, and that her universal message of oneness is one that is deeply felt.
The book When Everything Changes, Change Everything speaks to the importance of meditation, whether that be a sitting meditation, a walking meditation, or a “doing” meditation; that some form of meditation is “the single most important commitment of your entire life: a commitment to your soul, to be with your soul, to meet your soul, to hear and listen to and interact with your soul.”
If your attempts at meditation thus far have been unsuccessful, I invite you to consider incorporating the sacred mantras of Snatam Kaur as a gentle assistive tool to elevate your meditative experience to the next level.
I close now with the lyrics to one of Snatam’s songs, “Long Time Sun,” an old Irish blessing which is currently sung by thousands worldwide as a parting prayer in Kundalini yoga classes:
“May the Long Time Sun
Shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide your way on
Guide your way on.“
You may read more about Snatam Kaur and purchase her music on her website:
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.
I have come across a wonderful book that is ten years old, but whose subject—and treatment of it—is as fresh as this morning’s first breeze.
Awake Mind, Open Heart, by Cynthia Kneen, is a review of the basic points of Buddhist and Shambhala teachings and philosophy, offering a remarkably insightful explanation and right-there-in-front-of-your-face usage of a structure of reasoning called threefold logic.
This analytical tool, as Cynthia tells us, can be extremely powerful in approaching everyday problems, challenges, and circumstances. It can, as the book’s Introduction declares, “help you in conducting your work, talking to your kids, thinking through what’s puzzling you, negotiating with your car mechanic, or anything.”
Within the text itself this logic form is utilized to explore a wide range of topics, including how to “settle down” with yourself, how to summon courage for your daily encounter with life, discovering greater wisdom, attaining dignity, seeing the world as friend, and what being a genuine leader is all about.
I was particularly struck by a chapter titled A Joyful and Sad Heart, which, as it turns out, makes virtually the same point that is found in my own book, Happier Than God—that “happiness and sadness are not mutually exclusive.”
The chapter describes “the unique experience of joy and sadness combined”—out of which arises “a pragmatic tenderness to appreciate and be sympathetic to your situation,” and to be “the basic goodness” in the particular situation that you are now facing…whatever it might be. It is sort of an Eastern version of Byron Katie’s central idea of “loving what is.”
By means of illustration, the author tells of the word “hello,” and how it also means “goodbye.” Because everything is impermanent and nothing lasts, the author says we should really say “goodbye” when first shaking hands with someone. In this we see and feel both joy and sadness in the same moment. “Hello/goodbye, and I hope Hello again” is what might actually be said upon meeting someone, the book suggests. This is just one of many, many sweetly subtle treatments of life’s complexities.
Cynthia Kneen (pronounced “neen”) is a senior student of Chogyam Trungpa who has taught meditation programs for more than 25 years. She is also a practicing management consultant who lives in Boulder, Colorado. Her book, published in 2002, is a testament to the power of courage and dignity in everyday life, and as exciting a read today as I’m sure it was ten years ago when first released.
Highly recommended for its soft, gentle, almost sneak-up-on-you approach to some of life’s most challenging moments.
From Marlow & Company, ISBN 1-56924-551-7
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.
I have always been a huge fan of experiencing the artistic creations that spring from the passion of the most unexpected visionaries. And how delighted I was find this powerfully raw and thought-provoking small-budget film directed by Benh Zeitlin – “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” The realness of the film is perfected through the unique choice of using “non-actors” to fulfill his innovative vision.
The movie is narrated by a gutsy and soulful six-year-old African American Cajun girl named Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) who lives with her abrasive father Wink (Dwight Henry) in an isolated swampy bayou community in Louisiana called “The Bathtub,” a place she proudly calls “the prettiest place on earth.”
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” is a mystical and gritty journey that, upon the heels of Hurricane Katrina, touches upon some of the biggest challenges that our world is currently facing: global warming, pollution, class warfare, poverty, and alcoholism. The tiny but ferocious Hushpuppy contemplates her own importance and purpose in the world as an apocalyptic-like storm approaches and threatens their very survival, a storm for which she feels responsible for causing and imagines the “beasts” to be coming after her for.
Wink and Hushpuppy function within an unconventional and complicated parent/child relationship consisting of tough love, loyalty, confusion, physical abuse, and emotional breakthroughs. Their characters wrestle between layers of independence and compassion and human survival and vulnerability. As Hushpuppy’s father battles his own life-threatening disease, he teaches her how to fend for herself against the harsh elements and expects her to be responsible for her own basic needs of food and shelter. Hushpuppy, at the tender age of 6 years old, tries to make sense of the world, and in doing so, discovers the connectedness of all of life even amidst the brutal challenges placed upon her desolate community. And this, of course, is the message underlying The New Spirituality, and, in particular, the CWG book, When Everything Changes, Change Everything.
“When it all goes quiet behind my eyes, I see everything that made me flying around in invisible pieces” – Hushpuppy
~ By Lisa McCormack
(If there is a book, movie, music CD, etc. that you would like to recommend to our worldwide audience, please submit it to our Managing Editor, Lisa McCormack, for possible publication in this space. Not all submissions can be published, due to the number of submissions and sometimes because of other content considerations, but all are encouraged. Send submissions to Lisa@TheGlobalConversation.
