Reviews (1)

interesting chain of events
In this tale of the author's search for a "healing" conference, Riendeau finds healing in unexpected ways through people she encounters on the journey. The details are vivid and real. I once lived on the subcontinent and could relate to some of her culture shock. Riendeau is certainly braver than I. There were many times during her trip where I would have said, "okay, enough is enough, I'm going home now." But she hung in there, and retells the story in this interesting book. ... Read more

Book Description

1910. The trenchant and dramatic style of the author will make her autobiography much more readable than the usual scientific account, and those who have already familiarized themselves with the supernormal will recognize material which will help throw light upon obscure portions of better attested facts, in as much as they are reported without that consciousness of their interest which comes from a study of the literature of the supernormal. Miss Jones was a well-known poetess in this country, having published several volumes of poems, including a collected edition in 1907. She was also a successful inventor and practical business woman. These accomplishments made her well enough known to make attention to her psychic experiences desirable. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

An enlightened perspective on daily life
This book simply defies being categorized.The Serpent's Dance, Book 1 (of a trilogy) seems to be three things at once.First, it is a fictionalized account of the author's experience that portrays a transformational shift from being the victim of circumstances to intentionally creating his world.It integrates the author's experience with ancient wisdom, which results in "ah-ha" experiences for both author and reader.

Second, the book is very entertaining and rich with imagery.I found it difficult to put down.Yannam's vivid descriptions put readers in the middle of the action.

Third, The Serpent's Dance is almost an instructional book.At a minimum, Yannam implies that similar insights and mastery of self are open to practitioners of meditation.

Yannam's descriptions are so vivid it's like you are there.And such insights he has!When our hero gets the green light to move in with a new girlfriend and is given free reign to redecorate her house while she goes on vacation, instead of red flags, he sees an opportunity.Of course when she returns, the confrontation is inevitable.A serpent named Siddhah is Shri's confidant and mentor throughout the book.In conversations with Siddhah, Shri discovers how problems can be opportunities for learning.The serpent illustrates how events actually played out perfectly to reveal the actors' inner needs and unspoken intentions.

Historically, the symbol of the serpent emphasizes knowledge or inner wisdom, with an initially frightening aspect.The serpent is at once both revered and reviled.It exemplifies wisdom and secret knowledge, similar to the wise old man.

In The Serpent's Dance, Book 1, the serpent at first represents the destruction of the author's physical world and his point of view about the "reality" he has experienced in relationships and a near-fatal accident that left his lower half paralyzed.

Shri (as protagonist) has a conversation with the serpent in which he discovers that destruction is necessary for creation to occur.Further he discovers how various problems in relationships and the accident actually served the purpose of manifesting his inner needs or unconscious motivations.In other words, there is perfection in how things turned out that lead to inner development.

Siddhah's secrets seem to echo many of the enlightened perspective of the world's treasured spiritual writings.They actually make sense when presented next to the episodes in the author's life.

I heartily recommend Serpent's Dance for its entertaining and readable style.As Shri fearlessly bares his soul, you just might also learn something about yourself.

A Compelling Read...
Reviewed by Mary-Helen Leonard ...

Serpent's Dance is a brave and intimate account of one man's challenging journey to discovering his true nature. Compelling because of its honesty, mystery and logic. I eagerly anticipate Volume II.

A courageous look into the depths of oneself
Reviewed by Sharon Parker...

It takes a lot of courage to do what Shri Yannam has done -- to take a deep, honest, fearless look at oneself. I longed to read Serpent's Dance before it was called 'Serpent's Dance' and before it was ready to go to print. And I longed to read it after it did! And I'll read it again and again -- because the wisdom inside this book is truly timeless, and it transcends any and all belief systems. This book will draw your attention to the 'dance' that's happening within you, within that relationship you have with your lover, and with your world at large.

Shri Yannam is truly a blessing to all of us. Here is someone who's so incredibly worldly and sagely -- both at the same time! This will become apparent to the reader right from the very first chapter of the book. I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I have.

A marvelous journey...
...A marvelous journey into the realms of spiritual self-discovery. There are fine insights in here which the readers will enjoy and find useful in employing in their own lives.

This book is from the depths of his heart
...This book opens with a exciting, riveting dialog of the development of a North Texas weather phenomenom, a Tornado, its' touchdown and the resulting chaos, devastation and frightening circumstances. So what does a Tornado have to do with a "Serpent's Dance"? For that matter, what is a "Serpent's Dance"?

As you will see, Shri Yannam proceeds to skillfully and cleverly craft this attention-getting stormy opening into the introduction of the touchdown, destruction and change of perception that was brought into his own personal life. It is the true story of his courage, toughness, anger, tears, and then the eventual peace, or at least reconcillation, of coming to terms with human life in a new form, from a changed- perspective.

In most every book I have read I have become aware of the occurence that somewhere amongst the pages lies a few lines or paragraphs that "glue" the book together. That is, they very directly, sometimes profoundly, express, coincisely, what the message is that the author seeks communicate in through the entire book. Here, I believe that I have found such words on page 58.: "For now, suffice it to say that compassion by the self, for the self would have worked a lot better. But you see - if you had compassion, then you would have been heart-centered. Which you weren't. You don't know what it meant to be heart-centered, nor did you really want to know. You humans turn yourselves into overwhelmingly complex bundles of energies when you slip into your heads and out of your hearts. The head is always trying to figure things out as it tries to make sense of the infinity of variables that life seems to throw at you. The heart already knows all [that] there is to know. [The composer] Mozart once said, "All the music [that] I want to compose has already been written. Such an awareness can only come thru [sic] a heart- centered awareness, from a sense of being that permeates you through and through." And further: " If you had self-compassion, you would not have needed a crisis to awaken you. A warm, open heart allows for simple, powerful awareness to settle into your bones, without effort, without struggle, without friction, without pain, where no stick-and-carrot method can do the trick. A heart will take you places where no head can, [nor] no head will!

Summing it up, this entire book was apparently written by Shri Yannam from his heart and soul and it does profoundly have heart. It is his desire now to give this to the world. ... Read more

Book Description

The ten years from the civil rights movement to the new age produced the greatest advance toward equalitysince the abolition of slavery and also brought defeat of the most massive war machine in human history, all this by peaceful protest!For the people profiled in THE SIXTIES, it was a bewildering spiritual search as police undercover agents agitated in favor of violent protests, while rich communists stonewalled to preserve the status quo.The black heroine overcomes female impotence. An atheist libertine transforms into a religious guru.Funny and miraculous! ... Read more

Book Description

This is the autobiography of Ann Walker a worldwide renowned Spiritualist Medium, and, even though she describes herself as an 'ordinary housewife and mother', she has been described by the Daily Mirror as the 'next Doris Stokes'.

In this book, Ann takes us through the stages of her troubled and traumatic life. After thirty-seven years she is introduced to her spiritual guide called White Arrow who opens up a whole new world for her. Ann Walker's remarkable true story has a message for each and every one of us and at the same time endorsing the fact that we all have our very own White Arrow.

She still continues to have faith in the spirit world and over the years Ann and White Arrow have helped thousands of people find faith on their pathway.

On her many journeys with White Arrow, she has written three further books, Little One - Message From Planet Heaven, The Stone Of The Plough, and The Messenger The Messiah. ... Read more

Book Description

The Journey of Rainsnow, centuries in the making, yet destined for our own times, is an extraordinary book, at the same time personal and universal, private and planetary.

The Journey of Rainsnow is the story of one man’s mystical odyssey of self-discovery, as he leaves behind the fetters of his "rational" past, to map out a new territory of life within his heart.It is a story which moves from the hard, practical streets of New York City, to a New Age awakening, driven by paranormal experiences, powerful synchronicities, and a vivid stream of past-life memories, which give us glimpses of times and places as diverse as ancient Egypt and Greece, feudal Japan and imperial China, Maya and Aztec Mexico, Native North America, and Nazi Germany.As the adventure unfolds, so, too, do history’s most critical lessons, and the deepest mysteries of life.

The Journey of Rainsnow, destined to be a New Age classic, is truly a must read for anyone immersed in the search for life’s meaning; for anyone committed to the struggle of our world to heal and survive.

Reviews (1)

A fantastic odyssey!
I've been interested in reincarnation for a while now and although I've read a few books about people's experiences, they tended to be fairly sketchy, giving only occasional glimpses into the past with a lot of loose ends and leaving plenty of unanswered questions. But this book blows away everything else I've read as J Rainsnow has put in so much detailed information about the many lives he has regressed himself back to.

The book describes how he first got into past life regression and then how he learned to use self-hypnosis to regress himself on a regular basis. Now while reading about a number of someone's past lives might not seem that interesting on the face of it, with each life he describes you really do get drawn into it - the struggles, the dreams, the loves, the successes, the failures and death of course - plus the post-death experiences which are really something. In fact some lives I thought I would not be interested in at all I found myself being very much touched by.

What really adds some of the best value is the wonderful insight that he brings to the purpose and meaning of these lives - plus the higher perspective he gives to life in general. Though the very best thing for me is to simply know that such deep inner exploration is indeed possible. Definitely the best book I've read in a long time. ... Read more

Book Description

1866. Birth and Parentage; His First Ideas of Religion and Scholastic Life; Travels; His Life as a Man of Science Ends; His Spiritual Site Opened and Seership; His Most Important Writings. ... Read more

Book Description

1897. This work is the result of exhaustive research into the life of Michael Scot, the Scottish translator and astrologer. At the court of Emperor Frederick II, Scot worked with other scholars on the translation of Aristotle's works and Averroes' commentaries. He penned many original works dealing with astrology, the occult sciences and alchemy, and through these works became known as a wizard. He was the subject of popular legends wherein he possessed a demon horse and a demon ship. ... Read more

Book Description

1919. Theosophist, astrologer, Mason. A history of Alan Leo's life and work, written by his wife and others.Contents: Alan Leo's faith; parentage and early life; early days in astrology; marriage and home life; passing of Alan Leo; some reminiscences; reminiscences and appreciations; horoscope of Alan Leo; Alan Leo, restorer of inner teachings of astrology; and books by Alan Leo. ... Read more

Book Description

Cagliostro, was a Mystic, Mason and adept at magic, alchemy, and psychic healing.Herein is a biographical sketch of his life.Illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Ancient Literary Forms for the 21st Century
This book is meant to be read slowly, which is what I did. Gail's work contains many layers of meaning; some are understood by simply reading the page, others emerge with subsequent thought or further reading. One of the neatest things about this book is that Gail has taken the ancient forms of Japanese Haiku and Chinese Haibun and fast forwarded them to tell a 21st century story. I recommend the book - don't read it cover to cover. Savor it.

I'm sending this one back
There is more white space than words in this "artsy" book with disjointed sentences and corresponding haikus (called a haibun).It is a difficult ambiguous read.I don't want to work this hard.Since there is nothing about the book in the description I took a chance.I can't believe this got past an editor.This book may be self-published.I don't recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Biographical sketches on Dr. John Dee, Franz Anton Mesmer, and Thomas Lake Harris. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Short but sweet.
I read this book years ago. It was all too brief. I wanted to know more, much more about Cabeza de Vaca. Henry Miller offers an amusing introduction to this short work. ... Read more