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by Marisa
 Self-help books can get a pretty bad rap. Even Harriet Lerner , psychologist and author of the classic female life manual The Dance of Anger, bristles at "feverishly inspirational books that make large and silly promises." Which may be why she writes them so well.
The Dance of Anger analyzes the impact and importance of anger in intimate relationships, identifying common patterns while productively redirecting anger's path. Lerner states: "Anger is something we feel. It exists for a reason and always deserves our respect and attention." Where we often go awry is in its expression. And wow do we.
Many women (Lerner's book is specifically directed toward women, though is insightful for any reader) tend toward two distinct patterns: a) suppressing anger in the interest of propriety until it bubbles forth at a truly inappropriate time, ultimately diminishing our credibility despite our anger's rational origin, or b) expressing ourselves immediately, but in heated terms that can yield wildly unproductive labels like "crazy" and "bitch."
Good times, right? And that's just the angry iceberg tip. Lerner also delves into the balance of "I" versus "We" in relationships, and the dance between over-functioning and under-functioning partners. Generally, the more emotional responsibility one person carries, the less is required of their partner, and so goes the imbalance cycle.
So, excellent! Patterns exposed, true source of anger explored; Lerner's work is done, right? Well, if this were the brand of self-help book she derides, perhaps. But changing the pattern of our intimate relationships is more difficult and complicated than can generally be summarized, let alone accomplished, in ten easy steps.
What begins as an exploration of common patterns quickly expands to anticipate the effects of our changes on others. Resistance to change is a basic human truth, and when one person chooses to step boldly into personal growth, adjustment, and exploration, it generally follows that the surrounding people scream "Change Back!" as quickly and loudly as possible. By forcing change too soon, and creating a jarring, deeply uncomfortable dynamic, you may be first in line, begging yourself to return to pre-established patterns. Fortunately, Lerner is a step ahead of you, preaching patience and self-love as she guides us through our anger's evolution, identifying the possible responses among loved ones, and arming us with an informed perseverance.
So, is her process easy? Well, no. But sincere pattern-changing requires an exploration of perhaps decades-long emotional habits. Lerner isn't offering the psychological equivalent of a rapid weight loss diet so you can fit into that great new dress next week. She's teaching skills and awareness for lasting change. I'll dance to that.
by Nicole
 Today there are two different stories in the press concerning heart transplant recipients who took on some of the personality traits of their organ donors. Apparently the phenomenon is not uncommon, with about 70 such cases documented by scientists.
In the most recently reported case, a Georgia man named Sonny Graham received the heart of a 33 year old man named Terry Cottle who had committed suicide by putting a gun to his head. Wanting to thank the family of the donor, Sonny got in touch with Terry 's widow Cheryl. When they met, despite a very large age gap (Sonny was thirty years older than Cheryl), the two felt an instant attraction, and subsequently married in 2004. "I felt like I had known her for years," said Sonny. "I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I just stared."
Sadly, last week, in a bizarre turn of events, Sonny was found dead with a single bullet to the throat. With no foul play suspected, it appears that Sonny had used the same suicide method as the first owner of his heart to tragically end his life.
The second similar case, which was reported by The Daily Mail, has a less gruesome ending. Claire Sylvia, a former professional dancer from Massachusetts, had a heart and lung transplant in 1988 at the age of 47. While recovering from surgery she discovered she had developed entirely new cravings for very un-dancer-like consumables such as Snickers bars, green peppers, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and beer. "For some bizarre reason, I was convinced that nothing else in the world could quench my thirst," recalls Claire.
She noticed other physical and emotional changes too. She was much healthier, easily fighting off the colds to which she would have previously succumbed. She found she was becoming more independent, assertive and aggressive, and even began to walk with a more confident, and masculine, swagger. After dreaming of a man called "Tim L." one night, she searched through obituaries in old newspapers on file at a local library, and eventually saw one for a man named Tim Leighton, who matched the vague donor description she'd been given of an 18-year old male who died in a motorcycle accident. Like Sonny, Claire wanted to contact her donor's family to thank them. After tracking them down, a meeting was arranged, during which the family confirmed that Tim had shared Claire's new-found robust constitution and cravings.
Such stories certainly leave us thinking about the nature of our soul and where it resides. Those that would like to read more on the subject might like to read Claire's book A Change of Heart, which was first published in 1997 and is available via Amazon.com.
by Nicole
Deepak Chopra is perhaps the world’s most popular spiritual guru. He is certainly one of the planet's most prolific authors. But there’s a confusing array of books strewn about on the path to enlightenment. Chopra offers a handy shortcut to the spiritual road Buddha mapped out, selecting ten of the best guides to get you on the fast track to Nirvana.
“These are my favorite books because they explain the philosophy of Buddhism in a very easy and practical way,” says Chopra. “In addition, they clearly show that Buddha's message was no different from the universal message of great beings such as Jesus, Confucius, and Socrates. The essence of all these teachings that have their roots in the wisdom traditions is that at a deep level consciousness is inseparably one, that the world that we inhabit is a projection of our elective consciousness, that everything interdependently co-arises. Unlike other religious teachers, however, Buddha defers in that he does not advocate a belief system, an ideology or a dogma. Like a great physician he identifies the problem: the human condition. He then identifies causes of suffering and follows with the prescription. In my view the following books explain the four noble truths and the eightfold noble paths in the simplest and most practical way.”
Deepak Chopra's new novel, Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment, the tale of the prince who awakened to become the Buddha, is out now.
by Nicole
 Over the weekend I just finished reading Josephine Tey's classic mystery The Daughter of Time, which reexamines the evidence surrounding the disappearance of the Princes In The Tower. Whether the culprit was Richard III (the last Plantagenet king), whom traditionalists hold accountable, or Henry VII (father of Henry VIII), whom Tey and many modern historians think most likely responsible for the murder of the young heirs to the English throne, the similarities between Henry VII and George W. Bush couldn't escape my notice.
Both usurpers to the throne came to power under highly dubious circumstances. Bush thanks to some election jiggery-pokery; the first of the Tudor kings with the help of power-hungry factions of the English nobility who colluded with the French.
Both had to look to the law to ratify their newly seized seats of power. Bush via some friendly Supreme Court judges; Tudor via some questionable acts of a conspiratorial Parliament.
Both have bent the law for their own gain. Tudor by retroactively declaring himself king from the day before the battle in which he took Richard III's life and crown, thus ensuring that anyone who fought against him was by default guilty of treason (which was punishable by death). As for Bush, where do I start?
Both are masters of Morton's Fork, a paradoxical form of reasoning, whereby a choice between two alternate options ultimately leads to the same unpleasant conclusion:
- Henry VII: If a subject lived in luxury, they could clearly afford to pay tax. Conversely, if a subject lived frugally, it was a sign they were hoarding their wealth and could therefore also afford to pay tax.
- Bush: If Saddam Hussein refused to let the weapons inspectors into Iraq, it would serve as proof that the Iraqi dictator had weapons of mass destruction, and would be considered grounds for war. If Hussein cooperated with the weapons inspectors, and no WMDs were found, it would serve as proof that he was hiding them, and it would be considered grounds for war.
Both were masters of manipulating the law of the land for their own political gain. Tudor created the Star Chamber, a conclave of Privy Counsellors whose rule was essentially above the law, while Bush created an ever-expanding concept of Executive Privilege.
Finally, both were masters at revising, and rewriting their own self-serving histories in their own lifetimes:
- Henry VII
Reason For War Version 1:0 The Princes in Tower, and therefore their sister Elizabeth of York, were illegitimate and had no claim to the throne.
Reason For War Version 2:0 Elizabeth of York, who was now Henry's wife, was a legitimate heir (as were The Princes In The Tower if they lived), and therefore as her husband he was the legitimate King of England.
- Bush:
Reason For War Version 1.0 We invaded Iraq because Hussein was responsible for 9/11.
Reason For War Version 2.0 We invaded Iraq because of WMDs.
Reason For War Version 3.0 We invaded Iraq to bring freedom to the country.
Ultimately it's taken historians five hundred years begin to see through the (Thomas More constructed) pro-Tudor Tonypandy (faulty collective memory or popular history). In 2508 will school kids be reading about Hussein’s WMDs and personal involvement in 9/11? Lets hope the historians who chronicle Bush's reign are less biased and see through his contemporary attempt at Tonypandy before putting pen to paper. In the meantime, don’t believe everything your history teachers told you (or Shakespeare or Showtime for that matter).
by Lael
 Tired of being dissed by literary types like Jonathan Franzen and lied to by dissembling memoirists like James Frey, Oprah retreated for awhile to safer book club fare. Featuring long dead, canonical writers such as William Faulkner and John Steinbeck connected her viewers to American literary history and also served to keep controversy at bay. She dipped her toe back into the waters of contemporary authorship when she chose to promote reclusive novelist Cormac McCarthy's The Road. She does so again with her latest selection, esteemed spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose . And if humiliation is what the iconic TV personality and media mogul wishes to avoid, this latest pick is certainly an excellent bet.
Oprah's choice of Eckhart's book isn't merely a safe one; it's also one Daily Mantra wholeheartedly applauds. Few people on the planet have a soapbox the size of Oprah's. When she uses it to promote substantive teachings and practices she does us all a service.
Eckhart writes and speaks out of the same deep stillness he advocates and is therefore a healing and transformative presence. Anyone interested in encountering this presence and tapping into this wisdom can do so in the company of Oprah, who on March 3, 2008 is starting an ongoing ten week class via her website in conjunction with the diminutive German born and British trained advocate of present moment awareness. Along with live classroom webcasts, the unfortunately named "webinar" interactive seminar series will also provide Q&A opportunities with Oprah and Eckhart, a workbook, an online community, and archived classroom videos.
For most, spiritual awakening is an ongoing process rather than a sudden happening. Given our human need for reminding when it comes to the most basic truths, Oprah's class on Eckhart's teachings offers a useful opportunity. Newcomers along with longtime fans of his work, including the earlier, widely read The Power of Now, would both likely benefit from this refresher course on staying present.
by Lael
 A colleague of mine while pregnant with her first child dreamed of a dark-haired infant named Isabelle. Taking her dream to be prescriptive, she and her husband went on to name their firstborn Isabelle. Thankfully, like the baby in the dream, their Isabelle was a girl.
Some cultures have naming traditions. Jews, for instance, often name children to honor loved ones who have passed. Hence the number of Jewish women named Maxine in honor of a beloved grandfather or uncle Max.
Mira Nair's lovely film The Namesake, like the Jhumpa Lahiri novel of the same name on which the movie is based, is a study both in different cultural approaches to naming and in the power and importance of names. In the story, an American OB-GYN is taken aback when his patients newly immigrated from Calcutta explain their plan to let a grandparent name their child, a process that could take as long as six years.
While to American ears six years may sound a bit exaggerated, generally speaking, parents everywhere invest time and energy into the search for the right or perfect name. Given the profound power of the word, that everything we say and do constitutes a living communication with the divine, this care in naming seems altogether wise. Surely the name that one's child will associate with himself or herself and hear continually is of the utmost importance.
Going right for the big guns, many Catholic and Christian Spanish speakers name sons Jesus, while Italians have been know to use the name Salvatore which means savior. I once met an expectant Indian wife and Jewish husband who were going back and forth between Siddhartha and Abraham. If I'm not mistaken, they eventually chose the former as the first name and the latter as the middle name: Siddhartha Abraham, certainly a distinguished and venerable mouthful. Many give actress Gwyneth Paltrow a hard time for naming a son Moses. I disagree with these haters. What's not to love, I wonder, about most Hebrew prophet names including not only Moses but also Isaiah, Elijah, Aaron and Samuel.
Even if it didn't once belong to an enlightened or deeply spiritual being, a name can still have special spiritual significance. Did my Great Aunt Grace live an especially grace-filled life? If so, then her charming, slightly antiquated name was surely a good choice. And then there's the popular Hindu name Maya meaning illusion that reminds one of the dream-like nature of the world.
 Pagans or anyone else wishing to move beyond well-worn biblical and classical standbys will find Phoenix McFarland's New Book Of Magical Names a handy resource. Pagans aren't the only ones acutely conscious of the magical energy within names, however. The oddball but no doubt entirely earnest monikers that Puritans sometimes gave their children attest to a similar awareness. Some of the strangest Puritan names include "If-Christ-had- not-died-for- thee-thou-hadst- been-damned" (nickname "Damned") and "Fly-fornication." While these are probably best left to the dustbin of history along with the Puritan name "Dust," other Puritan appellations such as Mercy, Joy and Verity retain their beauty and surely their power as well.
More important even than anyone's particular name is how that name is spoken and thought. May we all utter one another's names, and our own as well, with kindness in our hearts and on our lips. And regardless of what we name our young ones, may terms of endearment like sweetheart and dearie become universal and prevail.
by Carmen
"When you maximize your happiness, you do what is best for the species."
I am in complete accord with this statement, offered by Mark Devon, a Harvard educated student of evolutionary theory, whose book The Origin of Emotions claims to identify "each emotion's purpose, trigger and effect." That every emotion or reaction of human expression is rooted in evolutionary necessity is not a new concept, and his assertions, such as the correlation between the pursuit of individual happiness and human evolution, would no doubt be blessed by Charles Darwin and Ayn Rand.
 Here are a few of Devon's assertions:
- Mothers only love their children for 33 months.
- Men only love a woman for 42 months.
- Only women feel infatuation and heartbreak.
- Only men feel jealousy.
- You feel revenge when a rule breaker harms you.
- You stop feeling revenge when you retaliate.
The book is available on Amazon.com, but you can download the whole book in PDF format for free from his website.
by Nicole
 The Daily Mantra is powered by tea. Lots of it. So when we heard about a new diet book called The Ultimate Tea Diet, we just had to take a look. It's written by the self-styled Dr. Tea, a.k.a. Mark Ukra, who owns West Hollywood's Tea Garden emporium. Dr. Tea's family has been in the tea business for over 200 years, and the good doctor has traveled the world in search of the rarest and tastiest examples of the elixir. The boundless energy the drink gave him lead to positive lifestyle changes and health benefits, the secrets to which he passed along to regulars at his store. As he compiled this recipe for a healthy life into a book, Dr. Tea tested his formula on an army of 18 volunteers, who lost a combined total of 197 pounds in just eight weeks.
Dr. Tea's diet is no fad regime though. His tea-infused program is backed by solid scientific research, since it turns out the Camellia sinensis plant, which all true teas (as opposed to fruit and herb infusions or "tisanes") come from, contains three magic compounds which work together to promote health and weight loss. The first of these compounds is caffeine, a stimulant that boosts thermogenesis, the process by which the body creates heat, which therefore burns calories and promotes weight loss. Too much caffeine, as Starbucks junkies can appreciate, can be a bad thing however, which is where the second compound comes in. L-Theanine is an amino acid that counteracts the harmful effects of caffeine, reducing both mental and physical stress and anxiety. The third key ingredient, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is a powerful antioxidant which prevents and repairs free-radical damage, providing protection against cancer and heart disease, among other things.
It's the combination and interaction of all three of these compounds, which are only found together in tea (and not coffee), that are at the core of Dr. Tea's hypothesis, which he promises will "boost your metabolism, shrink your appetite, and kick-start remarkable weight loss." These are big promises, but like the diet, the book is balanced, offering a sensible eating regimen, yummy tea-tastic recipes, and exercise advice, while dealing with both the science and the spiritual. After explaining in detail how tea can help us lose weight, Dr. Tea encourages us to find and address the emotional deficiencies or addictions, which we often attempt to fill with food. "The only way to get rid of a habit is to replace it with something else, preferably something new and positive in your life," says Dr. Tea. So reach for some leaves and a cup, put the kettle on, and drink your way to a new and improved you.
by Malayna
 On December 14th, 2006, inspired by church minister Will Bowen’s book A Complaint Free World, Daily Mantra author Malayna Dawn embarked on the challenge set out in the book (see previous story), to live life complaint free, armed with only a purple rubber bracelet that served to remind her of her commitment. Exactly one month on, we're checking back in with Malayna to see how she got on.
After deciding to try being complaint-free for just seven days, I must say that I am happier. Anecdotes from the book helped me to maintain my cool in traffic, like the idea that cars going slowly in front of me are merely going at the universe’s pace, and are meant to slow me down for my own safety. Or the story about people honking their horns if they’re happy, which gave me a reason to laugh when people honked at me, rather than taking it personally, which I'd usually have done. Instead, I'd just think to myself, “They must be really happy,” and move on.
To be honest, I delayed writing this article because I hadn’t found a device that worked to remind me consistently. I wanted to take off the bracelet (the memory aid recommended by the book's author) when I got home along with the rest of my jewelry, so I’d use a hair band, but I'd end up putting it in my hair. Despite these minor problems, I was able to see the impact of the familiar principles of positive thinking had taken hold, and that the ideas depicted in films like What The Bleep Do We Know? and The Secret had seeped into my subconscious, preparing me for this challenge. I was already monitoring my thoughts and speech, and, with the help of the book, found myself considering before speaking if what I was about to say counted as a complaint. If I thought it might, I'd try to word it differently, whether I had something on my wrist or not.
The book gives a lot of in-depth analysis to help each of us decide for ourselves what counts as a complaint, but the bottom line is intention. Will Bowen, the instigator and author of A Complaint Free World, offers this quote from motivational writer Eckhart Tolle which may just sum it up: “Complaining is not to be confused with informing someone of a mistake or deficiency so that it can be put right. And to refrain from complaining doesn’t necessarily mean putting up with bad quality or behavior. There is no ego in telling the waiter your soup is cold and needs to be heated up – if you stick to the facts, which are always neutral. ‘How dare you serve me cold soup…?’ That’s complaining.”
In the movie The Secret, Jack Canfield explains, “The Law of Attraction says ‘we’ll give you whatever you say and focus on’ so if you’re complaining about how bad it is, what you’re creating is more of how bad it is.” That is the basic concept behind becoming complaint-free: to create more good in our lives and the world by focusing our attention and energy on the positive, on constructive ideas, and on gratitude. The Complaint Free World book really can help us to reach that goal by giving us a place to start, supportive explanations, and a way to measure the change in our lives. I recommend that you pick up your copy and begin your journey as soon as possible. I’m still on my quest for 21 days free of complaint, criticism or gossip. But I know that even greater happiness lies ahead!
by Lael
 The Daily Mantra recently had the pleasure of conducting an intercontinental interview with novelist and Daily Mantra contributor Malayna Dawn. Malayna has recently relocated from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka, a country that figures prominently in her first novel, Echoes Across Time. Described on its cover as "modern day myth" and "[p]art spiritual adventure, part feminist fairy tale," Echoes is right up our alley and likely to resonate deeply with readers attuned to dreams, reincarnation or cross-cultural experience.
Malayna has written extensively about the Law of Attraction in her Daily Mantra posts so we were curious to learn, first of all, how her knowledge of this universal tenet figured in her approach to writing and getting published. Malayna had plenty to say on other topics as well, including the place of dreams and reincarnation in American and Sri Lankan culture, the inspiration she has received from writers like Julia Cameron and Joseph Campbell, and how writing nourishes her spiritually. If you are looking for creative inspiration Malayna's answers to our questions are a good place to find it!
click to read the rest of the post...
by Lael
 Amazon used to be simply a river in South America. Now, as virtual geography and commerce overtake real geography and nature, to many, it more readily connotes book sales and reader reviews. Anyone who might like to bypass Amazon the bookseller and put their money instead toward a trip to Amazon the river can join Bookmooch.com.
BookMooch, an online community for used book exchange, gives participants a way to swap books, not just with friends and neighbors, but with strangers around the globe via a point system that takes the place of regular currency. Step one is signing up and listing books with which you are wiling to part. Step two is earning one to three points by sending books to other Bookmoochers who have requested what you have. (Books sent to US addresses earn one point, while those sent abroad earn a whopping three.) Next, you, in turn, can use your points to request and then receive books from other members.
Amazon is not entirely out of the Bookmooch loop, however. The site, it turns out, supports itself by linking searches through to the online mega-bookseller. This tie-in in no way interferes with those wishing to indulge their bibliophilia gratis. We look forward to the day when Bookmooch.com includes a category for spiritual tomes among their many subject headings for browsing, but that's just one small gripe. On the positive side, altruistic Bookmoochers can donate their accumulated points to charities such as schools and children's hospitals.
Those more interested in the magic of serendipity and the good karma of "paying it forward" should visit Bookcrossing.com, a site that facilitates and encourages the releasing of books into the wild. As they define it, Bookcrossing is "the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise." According to participants, these reading matter releases can make for fun, urban mini-adventures that increase a sometimes solitary reader's sense of connectedness.
Finally, we here at Daily Mantra remind anyone craving books, videos or music but not wishing to part with green stuff or burden themselves with new possessions to visit their local public libraries which are reliable, free and, best of all, filled with librarians!
by Carmen
 The Oprah-fueled furor over Rhonda Byrne's book (and movie) The Secret has mostly died down - and those who took the pop-interpretation of the Law of Attraction to heart may be asking themselves "where's my sports car - I've been visualizing it for months!" There's more to The Secret than just that, of course, which I learned from a new book called The Secret Source.
My original reaction to The Secret was mixed - while I could appreciate the intent of teaching others about the art of visualization and the Law of Attraction, the blithe, slick and oversimplified way it aimed to appeal to the masses with promises of wealth and material acquisition through use of "The Secret" left me feeling as if I had just watched a sleazy infomercial.
If you remember the graphics and imagery prefacing The Secret movie, you may remember images of ancient Egyptians perusing stone tablets, and other fancifully-clad mystics poring over scrolls. We are led to believe that there will be explanations to these historical allusions, which are all implied to be the origins of the mysterious "Secret." These implications are not explained further.
The Secret Source not only explores and explains the Law of Attraction as only one of Seven Hermetic Principles, but also traces back through the Kybalion, the Emerald Tablet, and the New Thought Movement.
What I enjoyed about this book is the informative and objective presentation of The Secret's sources - providing context via historical fact and background, in support of The Secret's implied assertions of historical origin, as well as a more holistically responsible view of how the Law of Attraction can be used - not only for one's own profit, but for the improvement and healing of the human condition.
by Nicole
It's impossible to provide a definitive top 10 reading list, but these are the books, in no particular order, that inspired The Daily Mantra's writers over the past year.
- A History of Last Night's Dream by Roger Kamenetz
Everyone from the biblical Joseph to Sigmund Freud needs to chillax more and think less about their dreams. At least, that's what author Kamenetz learned from his work with dream shamans. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review)
- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
This best seller inspired one of our writers to travel and another to get her meditation groove on. Who knows what it may inspire you to do.
- Dreaming True by Robert Moss
It's not just science fiction; via dreams, Moss shows readers how to tap into the power of precognition. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.) We also loved The Three Only Things, by the same author, which turns readers on to the value of dreams, coincidence and imagination.
- Secrets of the Monarch by Allison DuBois
The real life Medium who served as the inspiration behind Patricia Arquette's TV character uses life lessons culled from her extensive conversations with the dead to encourage her readers to live life to the max. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- Big History by Cynthia Stokes Brown
From the big bang and the formation of matter to the rise of agriculture and today's developed cultures in a mere 248 pages. After reading this book you'll come to the realization that Brown's holistic approach to humanity, politics, history and geography is the only way to tackle such big subjects.
- The Spiral Staircase by Karen Armstrong
How a former nun and all round brilliant Brit became one of the foremost secular writers on religion: a beautiful book. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
Someone once said "the truth shall set you free." During the research for this book, Kinnamen held up a mirror to organized religion. The reflection was not flattering. By laying out the unfiltered facts, Kinnemen underscores the need for progressive change, and points us towards the core truths we should be living, embodying, and celebrating. (Click HERE for the Daily Mantra's interview with the author.)
- The Kundalini Experience by Lee Sanella
A book with a spine: the seminal tome explaining the experience of awakened Kundalini to the West. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- A Voluptuous God by Robert V. Thompson
Don't let the whole crucifixion thing fool you; the Christian God offers a good time. Just ask the Baptist minister who authored this book. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- The Elements Of Organic Gardening by HRH The Prince of Wales
Price Charles, who was born the same year as fellow environmentalist Al Gore, and is greatly respected by him, talks dirty, organically speaking. Whether you’re a royalist or a republican, whether you have an acre or a plant pot to play with, this holistic approach to gardening, and ultimately life, makes for an invigorating philosophical read. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
And finally, with full disclosure that this is by one of our own.....
- Echoes Across Time by Daily Mantra contributor Malayna Dawn
For reincarnation buffs, dreamy Pisces and loyal Daily Mantra readers, a "spiritual adventure" and "feminist fairytale" that's right up our alley and is likely to resonate deeply with readers attuned to past-lives, dreaming or cross-cultural experience.
Contributors: Lael, Marisa, Leigh and Nicole
You might also like to check out our Top 10 DVDs and Top 10 Essential Listening List.
by Lael
 Acclaimed poet and author of The Jew and the Lotus Rodger Kamenetz is garnering rave reviews for his latest book, The History of Last Night's Dream. This fascinating volume traces the place of dreams in Western culture and suggests that - from the biblical Joseph, whose hasty dream interpretations gained him the enmity of his brothers and landed him initially in servitude, to father of psychoanalysis and author of On The Interpretation of Dreams Sigmund Freud - dream interpreters have gotten dream analysis all wrong.
Seeking an encounter with nighttime visions less mediated by language, Kamenetz made pilgrimages around the globe to an assortment of contemporary dream experts. According to his website, this cast of colorful characters included an "87 year old female kabbalist in Jerusalem, a suave Tibetan tulku in Copenhagen, and a crusty intuitive archetypal dream master in northern Vermont."
Rather than treating them as intellectual puzzles, we should, according to Kamenetz, pay particular attention to the feelings that arise in dreams. He warns against relying on clumsy word-based interpretations that ultimately keep our dreams at a distance and instead suggests entering into a dream's images and felt reality. In other words, to plumb a dream's hidden depths a dreamer must, paradoxically, stick closer to its surface meaning.
In a recent Time Magazine interview, Kamenetz was asked whether his work with dreams had shifted his focus away from his religion, Judaism, which was central to his earlier two books. In response, the author pointed out the range of rabbinic opinion on the subject of dreams and cited the saying "A dream ignored is like a letter unopened." By demonstrating the transformative power of dreams, The History of Last Night's Dream inspires its readers to rip open their metaphorical envelopes and receive what they've been sent.
by Lael
 If you've been alive and listening to public radio in the US or UK since September 11, 2001, chances are you've heard the voice of freelance religion scholar Karen Armstrong weighing in knowledgeably and sympathetically about either Islam or another one of the world's major belief systems. When trying to communicate reasonably about faith to their listeners, broadcast producers and programmers gratefully relied and continue to rely upon the expertise of this author of, among other works, Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World and A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The same keen intelligence and ear for language that Armstrong brings to her studies of major figures like the prophet Muhammad, the Buddha and St. Paul, she also brings to the examination of her own life experience. Her lovely 2005 autobiography
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