New Radiance Reviews
June 2003
Adventure of Spirit:
A Perspective on the Human Journey
by Patricia Daly Lawn
iUniverse, Inc., 2003
Rev. Patricia Lawn has been an intuitive
counselor and metaphysical teacher for over 20 years. She is also a Registered
Nurse with a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling. In her first book, Adventure
of Spirit: A Perspective on the Human Journey, Patricia Lawn unfolds the
story of our spiritual selves, reminding us frequently that we are spirit beings
involved in a physical experience. It is when we forget that we are spiritual
essences that we stumble into situations that are not ideal for us.
Rev. Lawn describes many instances throughout her
life when she has encountered the spirit essences of others. In childhood, she
learned to hide the fact of these encounters; but as an adult she actively
sought them out. "It seems that the right experience, right book and right
teacher have found their way to me through the years," she says in the
chapter called "Spirit of Love," where Lawn describes her visit to
Medjugorje, a town famous for its sightings of the Virgin Mary.
In the chapter "Spirit of Transition"
Rev. Lawn tells how she combined her nursing skills and awareness of spirit to
help Hospice patients ease comfortably into the next part of their journey, the
non-physical part. There is much comfort and wisdom in the book for people about
to make their transitions -- and for their loved ones as well.
Throughout the book Patricia Lawn uses her own
life's experiences as a backdrop for rich spiritual teaching. Her path, as
described in Adventure of Spirit has unfolded in a certain direction
because of her expanding awareness of the spiritual aspect of herself. As she
says, "If you knew with certainty that you were a vital part of the God
Force with a particular job to do, how would you feel about your life?"
Adventure of Spirit is a well-written,
thoughtful book full of wisdom for spiritual seekers at all levels of awareness.
(Reviewed by Barbara Casey)
The Initiation
by Donald Schnell
Inner Ocean, 2002
The Initiation was written by Donald Schnell who is the
co-author of Fitonics with his wife Marilyn, who in turn is the co-author
of Fit for Life. Together, they publish a weekly ezine entitled "Success
for Today" and offer courses on enlightenment and self-mastery.
In 1997, Schnell received what he refers to as “an urgent
call to India from (his) Guru, Swamy Nagananda.” Shortly after his arrival at
Nagananda’s temple in South India, he was instructed to travel and not stay in
any one location for more than forty-eight hours. Upon his return he would be
initiated into the Swamy Order.
The book describes Schnell’s travels, his beliefs, his
initiation, Hinduism, and most importantly, his spiritual encounter with Babaji.
Babaji is regarded by many to be a spiritual master who is immortal. According
to Schnell: “It is recorded that Babaji is the immortal Yogi-Christ/Buddha who
works for the spiritual salvation of this age …Babaji works through the
prophets in every era to guide human evolution …His vision is a world filled
with prema, the divine quality of love, tenderness and compassion freely
expressed for one another from the heart.” He appeared to Paramahansa
Yogananda who wrote Autobiography of a Yogi and “he continues to appear
to be in his early twenties, even though he has lived maybe thousands of years.”
In his epilogue, Schnell maintains that he is a completely
changed man since his encounter with Babaji; he even finds it difficult to
separate Babaji’s ideas from his own. He also maintains that this revised
edition contains new content that he was unable to include in the first edition
since his complete memory of events had not yet returned. He feels that it
contains “a much better reflection of Babaji’s voice, tone and message.”
This book has received some high praise. Jean Houston has
called it “A metaphysical adventure story of the highest order.” It does
indeed appear to be a story, rather than 100% fact. For example, many specifics
were completely omitted, including the location in India of the remote temple
where he and Babaji had their encounter and the region of South India where
Nagananda’s temple is located. Schnell does not indicate why he was made a
Swamy. I am sure that Schnell has been influenced from the numerous visits he
has made to India over the years and has embraced many of the positive aspects
of Eastern philosophies. I couldn't help feeling that the encounter and
initiation described in this particular book did not ring as completely factual,
because of the missing details.
(Reviewed by Brenda Dupas)
The Other Mary: Discovering the
Keys to Serenity in Life
by Kelly Shaw
iUniverse, Inc., 2003
This book advertises itself as a “heartwarming story of a
true-to-life miracle” and in his introduction the author tells us that it took
him twelve years “to find the courage and introduce the world to Mary.” The
Mary he refers to is Mary Grace, a professor at the college that Shaw was
attending when they met. Or is she?
What she is, however, is an inspiration to Shaw at a time when
he badly needs guidance, and she gives him the gift of her “Eight Keys to
Serenity in Life.” The keys themselves are presented in a unique way and make
for interesting reading. I don’t believe that it matters whether or not the
reader accepts the “miracle” at face value or is a religious person; the
precepts that are presented have validity in and of themselves.
The book, however, would have profited by more rigorous
proofreading and editing and a less pedestrian style of writing. Otherwise it is
an admirable first attempt and the novel format makes it very readable.
(Reviewed by Brenda Dupas)
New Radiance
