Month: October 2019

Living in a Mindful Universe: A book review

Date Posted: 2019/10/23

Book cover: Living in a Mindful Universe

Living in a Mindful Universe

A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Heart of Consciousness

by Dr. Eben Alexander and Karen Newell

Imagine, being terribly ill and falling into a coma. Imagine feeling suspended in time for seven days. Now imagine, miraculously awakening and remembering everything that occurred during those seven days. Much to the astonishment of his doctors and colleagues, that is exactly what happened to American neurosurgeon, Eben Alexander, in 2008. This near-death experience led Dr. Alexander to change his perspective about consciousness and to write an international best seller book about it — Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife.

Book cover: Living in a Mindful UniverseIn this new book, Living in a Mindful Universe: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Heart of Consciousness, he, along with co-author Karen Newell, shares the next phase of his journey to understand the true nature of consciousness. He asked the question; how do you explain the origin of consciousness if it is not a bi-product of the brain? What he has learned since his near-death experience, changed everything that he thought he knew about the brain, mind and consciousness. His years as a doctor and successful neurosurgeon did not prepare him for this “new world view.”

In Living in a Mindful Universe, he explains how his new awareness shifted him into exploring non-local consciousness. Here he bridges the gap between science and spirituality illustrating the true nature of consciousness — helping us understand the why and how.

He invites us to try the methods and modalities that he uses to cultivate a state of harmony with the universe and our higher purpose. He includes stories and teachings from other scholars who travel on his same journey.

These scholars included Karen Newall and Kevin Kossi, innovators in the field of brainwave entrainment. Newall and Kossi developed a series of audio recordings which helped to quiet the mind. They discovered that a quieted mind becomes more aware of our internal observer. This awareness gives us access to our expanded consciousness. You can find out more about this emerging field of audio meditation on their site Sacred Acoustics.

Dr. Alexander also discloses the adventures that the three of them have had with these recordings. These experiences caused life-long friendships to develop which brought Eben Alexander and Karen Newall together as co-authors. With this book, they offer a way of tapping into your greater mind and finding the power of your heart — to help heal relationships, stimulate creativity, seek guidance and more.

I recommend this book. I found the book extremely interesting and the teachings worth following.

If interested, Alexander and Newall offer a free, 33-day companion course to Living in a Mindful Universe. They use concepts from the course to help guide us into connecting “with our divine spiritual nature.” Find out more on Dr. Eben Alexander’s website at http://ebenalexander.com/33days/.

Real Magic: A book review

Date Posted: 2019/10/03

Real Magic Book cover

Real Magic

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science and a Guide to the Secrets of the Universe.

By Dean Radin
Penguin Random House (April 10, 2018)

Calling all skeptics.

If that’s you — or you just want to learn more about magic, check out Dean Radin’s new book, Real Magic. It is full of useful information and interesting stories as he takes us on his journey — exploring magic from an “evidence based scientific perspective.” Since scientists tend to dismiss magic, I was glad to see this scientific approach to magic.

A scientist approaches magic

You see, Dean Radin is a scientist. He currently serves as the Chief Scientist of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a non-profit organization supporting “consciousness research, transformative learning, and engaging a global community.” He has studied paranormal phenomena for decades.

Radin spends much of the book looking at the history of magic and science. He offers evidence on how magic has been around throughout written history – and yet rejected by the scientific community. Even when magic clearly demonstrates itself, some scientists cannot change their belief systems to accommodate their actual experiences. Radin gives us an example of this with the great skeptic himself, Michael Shermer walking away still shunning magic even after he just experienced it. (No “spoiler alert” needed. You can find this story on page 6 of the hardback.)

Real Magic Book cover

Magic is Everywhere

Despite the dismissal by fellow scientists, Radin concludes that magic is everywhere in our lives as demonstrated in prayers, in the wearing of sacred symbols, and in the multitude of books that have been written on the power of affirmations and positive thinking. I have believed in magic since I was a little girl growing up in South Africa. My career path reinforced these beliefs. Prior to becoming a Bioenergy therapist, I worked for 30 years as a psychoanalyst with the unconscious mind. Magic works in the same area of our minds – behind our consciousness.

As foreshadowed by the book title, Radin concludes that “based on a substantial body of experimental evidence, we can state with a high degree of confidence that real magic exists.” He predicts magic to evolve into a scientific discipline. This is encouraging.

It does exist

Radin does explain in detail some of the experiments which back up his claim that magic is real and present in our everyday lives. I am familiar with most of these experiments discussed — like the use of random number generators and mood studies of people who drank “blessed tea.” I still find them fascinating.

The book did encourage me to try a sigil ceremony which I did. According to various YouTube demonstrations, you write the object of your desire on a piece of paper. Then you take out all the vowels and any letters that are duplicates. With the letters that are left, you create a design, like a logo and send the intention of your desire into it. I had never done one before and am still waiting for the magic to work.

All in all, I feel that this book is a good read. I recommend it if you are relatively new to the world of magic. It would also make an excellent gift for a friend who is skeptical of magic or wanting to learn more.

You can listen to Dean Radin introducing his Real Magic book on YouTube. Enjoy.

Peace,

Ellen

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P.S. I am currently reading Living in a Mindful Universe by Eben Alexander. I will give you my review once I complete it. Until then, have wonderful, magical time.