Ancient Wisdom, modern applications
586959
Elizabeth Haich explored Yoga in the mid 20th century and although the prose is somewhat old fashioned by modern standards, the information is as relevant as ever. Long before well known authors wrote about positive affirmations or mind training the Yogis recognised the power of the mind. This book explores this ancient wisdom, and is therefore, well worth revisiting.
2681600
This compact book combines and distills much in the way of ancient wisdom traditions, martial arts philosophy, pop-cultural touchstones, and "New Thought" (LOA, The Secret, Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance, Deepak Chopra, Napoleon Hill, et. al.) into a quickly digestible new-age feel-good primer on how to achieve career progress while maintaining balance with work and life. The fact that there isn't much new here doesn't take away from the veracity of the message, and for some it might be an extremely accessible intro certain topics if they haven't been previously exposed or read widely on them. While it is clearly intended as promotional literature for Chris's business/life coaching services, it still manages to entertain and is immensely readable. The numerous quotes and references also facilitate accessibility of the writing and offer good starting points for discussions and seminars. Chris makes some very important points on the importance of proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, meditation, and offers suggestions about goal-setting, mentoring, and other relevant topics.
3304284
Alchemical Medicine for the 21st Century (subtitled 'Spagyrics for Detox, Healing and Longevity'  is among the best "first" books for someone new to alchemy, providing the reader with a concise and very well-written compilation of alchemical history as well as practical facts and easily-implemented suggestions on how to use the healing properties of plants and the ancient art and science of spagyrics for the treatment of contemporary health problems.

This is wisdom, coming down to us from great antiquity and until now shrouded in a wantonly impenetrable jargon that is finally surfacing in the new century.  I much regret that this book didn't exist (nor did anything even remotely like it exist with the possible exception of Frater Albertus' "The Alchemist's Handbook") when I first took up my own study of the Great Work.

Spagyrics is a branch of medicinal alchemy, borne in ancient Egypt but not fully developed until the late renaissance by the Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus (AKA Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, d. 1541). Spagyrics is a holistic therapy that promotes healing at all levels of the human being - body, soul, and spirit. Spagyrics harnesses the life force in plants to help the body rebalance and recover from illness.  The word is derived from the Greek "spaos" and "gyrein," meaning "to take apart" and "to put together."

In the spagyric process, a plant is chemically separated into its components, known as "salt," "sulfur," and "mercury."  These are not the elements of the periodic table so familiar from high school chemistry, but alchemical nomenclature for the soul of the plant (or individualized essence, i.e., the essential oils),  the plant's life force (liquid distillates), and its physical body (insoluble salts or alkaloids).  It is the work of the alchemist-spagyricist  to separate and recombine these three basic principles as often as necessary until they are in perfect proportion and harmony with each other, and yield a "living remedy."  This work is undertaken at specific hours of specific days, the so-called "planetary hours" at which the plant's subtle energies are at their zenith.

Most of the first part of this book is history, with  the second half of the book detailing the methods for making spagyric essences as well as providing plant profiles and information on the therapeutic actions of alchemical preparations. Chapter six ("Making Spagyric Essences") is especially worthwhile, and details the means for formulating both tinctures (without distillation) and essences (distilled formulae). Following author Goodrick-Clarke's instructions, and adhering to her safeguards and cautions, anyone with ordinary kitchen skills and even a small knowledge of herbalism can create remedies of substance and value.

"Alchemical Medicine for the 21st Century" provides a rare and enjoyable introduction to its principles, methodology, and the basic practices of spagyric alchemy, and is profoundly worthy of the attention of serious students and practitioners of deep and real healing.  I thoroughly recommend it to all.
4812967
This is a wonderful book and has such an interesting concept ... the author uses quotes from various sources/people and then breaks it down helping us to adapt these sources of wisdom to our daily lives. I highly recommend this book.
3769881
Having only read a handful of metaphysical texts in this life, I took on Ancient Wisdom for a New Age with a bit of hesitation regarding my ability to both understand and relate to the information presented.  I am happy to report that not only is the book universal enough for the layman to understand, but also engrossing enough to hold his/her attention throughout.  Some of the information is more esoteric but most can be practically applied to everyday life.
 I particularly like the framework in which the information is conveyed.  A conversation between a motivated student and his/her teacher proves to be a really effective way to present big ideas.  It certainly helped me contextualize what I was reading.
 This book would be a solid addition to both consistent readers of metaphysical texts and those looking to branch out and discover new things.
3507743
I love this book.  If want a book that provides sound real-world clinical applications for the wisdom of The Buddha, then this is the book for you.
2889508
Relationships are everywhere, whether it is with our spouse or at work. Lisa integrates fluently ancient wisdom of Ayurvedic dosha types for healing relationships. She has put together a framework for different styles of relationships and how to go about nurturing each style of relationship. I loved reading this book, as she wisely integrates ancient wisdom into modern life
105427
I have been trying to follow the guidelines in this book and it has turned out as a miracle for my life. This book is really a masterpiece that combines ancient knowledge with modern thinking and comes out with the most suitable techniques of living life to fulfillment.
2660443
This work is a skillful and faithful explication of a deep wellness practice. It describes in detail (text, photographs and drawings) a systematic method of moving a light wand through specific patterns that relax and open the physical body to increased flows of circulation and energy. The seventeen sets of movements have been brilliantly formulated, sequenced and, according to tradition, refined by physicians over centuries of observing the resulting beneficial effects on each and every system within the human body.

Should you ask yourself how a single system can effectively function for users of ALL AGES and physical conditions, you may find the answer embedded within the wise and sensitive application of GRADUATED STAGES of movement. This way both athlete and elder progress to the limits of personal capacity. A simple starting position slowly flows a short initial distance, returns to "home base", relaxes, then gently repeats the movement extended "just a bit" further, again returns home, relaxes and repeats until discomfort is sensed. This point describes TODAY'S MAXIMUM and is not exceeded throughout the remainder of the set.  Each person employs the same safe, gentle and highly effective method to reap the many benefits of enhanced levels of circulation of blood and lymph, neuromuscular co-ordination, muscle toning and lengthening, joint function and mobility, posture, poise and balance.

Wellness practitioners and enthusiasts alike will quickly recognize the value of this system in arresting and reversing the effects of modern sedentary lifestyles. As one who has received the benefits of this practice for many years, I congratulate Michael on his engaging, comprehensive and masterful presentation of this ancient system to modern readers
4423498
Written by an award winning Harvard Business School Professor, this book contains a deeper sense of wisdom.

My observations are:

1.  It does not take too long to read, (which is an advantage in today's busy world).

2.  I feel that the concept mentioned in the book can improve the quality of one's personal life, as well as enhance one's professional life at work.

3.  In my opinion, everyone can learn something from this book, and it is suitable for all ages

Happy reading!
163933
I love reading ancient texts of martial arts, warriors, and the like because I find in their articulately crafted words such great wisdom about life in general. When it all comes down to it life is about that balance and realizing that everything comes full circle. Reading this book I was reminded that we must not focus all efforts into only one thing and to clear the mind of anything that could cause confusion. The illustrations were excellent to help shape the story. Perhaps things can be said best by text from the latter part of the book.
In emptiness exists Good but no evil
Wisdom is existence
Principle is existence
The Way is existence
The mind is emptiness
1860202
The times, they are a-changin. Today, even as technology has achieved immense successes in changing the quality of life for many, there is yet much to be done in the health sector. There are a lot of chronic bodily malfunctions, e.g. neurodegenerative disorders, some forms of cancer, diseases caused by resistant bacteria and even fibromyalgia for which there is no specific cure. On the other hand, many people are also exploring the New Age/Vedic paradigm that all answers are within you, especially when it comes to diseases for which there is no cure according to conventional medicine, either for yourself, or your loved ones. This ebook documents the authors own story as he cured himself of a nagging chest pain which would not let him sleep and which had been plaguing him for months on end.

After trying out several health giving options, including an early morning jog, a healthy diet, an assortment of herbal teas and acupuncture, the author approached a healer trained in kinesiology by Donna Eden, author of the seminal book Energy Medicine. This treatment helped for a short length of time, but it also paved the way for the author to understand and to modify a certain technique based on the principles of Kinesiology,  In this ebook, the author describes in detail how he uses this technique to communicate with his own spiritual DNA (see the Kryon books by Lee Carroll) to get specific yes/no answers to specific questions. This is followed by the actual conversation that the author had  with his spiritual DNA. Questions like what to eat, whether to exercise, how long something would take to heal and so on are taken up, The documentation continues until the pain disappears.

This is a very well written ebook in the best traditions of the same, concise, easy to read and packed with information with a personal touch. Yet this book affirms something more. This something is a gestalt, a sense of the ever present reality of the energy body that has all the answers we seek. A sense that with a few tweaks with our bodily movements, we can get answers to our life questions, answers that can make a real difference to our lives. This kind of documentation is very much the need of the hour, as we grapple with problems that require the use of coping faculties that we did not even know we possessed, faculties that are accessible only to our extended selves that stretch outside  of space time. We, need to realize that energy medicine is  real and one can indeed find solutions we seek, if we only ask in the right way.

Warmly recommended.
4210394
a wonderful book drawing together ancient wisdom, psychic abilities , the CIA and questioning the dualism of modern thought, It is a book advocating a philosophy of oneness.
1349600
The un-conventional wisdom contained in this book defies the age-old logic taught to us over the last century. But is it a co-incidence that we are getting sicker and sicker?? New ideas spark new results, and they were good results for me. As a long time sufferer, the ideas, information and methods contained in the book helped me overcome and end many of the chronic problems I had from eating too much fiber and mis-guided lifestyle habits learned over time.

If you are suffering then you need this book, in my opinion it will shift your thinking on conventional wisdom.

Good luck

PD
2541632
Whisper of Stone by Tess Dawson is like reading several books inside one cover, and for that reason I think it it a "must have" for anyone practicing a polytheistic tradition with roots in the ancient Near East. Even if one's path is not specifically Canaanite, there is useful information to be had. This is especially true given that information about Canaanite polytheism is either hard to come by or terribly biased.

It is composed of four sections: Introduction (which introduces us to the gods and goddesses of ancient Canaan) Ritual, Celebrations, and Magic.

The "Introduction" section is a nice blend of up-to-date historical & archaeological information and UPG regarding them. This includes an introduction to the geography and mythology of the region so that they can be placed in context. I found the stories drawn from UPG to be inspiring, it really helped the personalities of the gods come alive for me. There's an emphasis on interacting and forming a relationship with the gods, not just the "use deity X to get Y" treatment I have seen elsewhere.

The "Ritual" and "Celebrations" sections provide the same blend of research and accessibility for modern practitioners. Included in these chapters is a ritual calendar with seasonal festivals, and ideas or celebrating each festival. All festivals and ritual forms are based off of Levantine symbolism and yearly cycles, so they will seem different to readers coming from a more Neo-pagan perspective. The seven components and ritual forms all have ancient precedents, and the reasons for using them are well documented. While many things are included based on modern speculation, I'm all right with that, educated guesses must be made when re-creating ancient festivals, and this is a modern rebirth of an ancient tradition for modern people, not a historical re-enactment.

The "Magic" section provides a nice "toolkit" for anyone interested in ancient Levantine magic, or wishing to integrate ancient practices into modern magic. There are alphabets, lists of symbols, incense and herbs, stones and other substances, animals and a Ugaritic to English glossary. When a modern substitution is mentioned in these lists, it is noted that ancient Canaanites did not or probably did not have such things. All this is a nice change of pace from most lists of correspondences, which are based on western ceremonial magic that does not always fit with the symbolism and mindset of Canaanite religion. Assuming the moon is feminine and associated with feminine issues, for example, would not fit well into a ritual or magic working where the moon god is quite masculine!

All told, it is a very meaty, heartfelt and useful book. As I read it I felt like I was being presented with a whole religion in book form, with room to adapt for individual practitioners. Even the book itself is attractive and sturdy.
4161368
Having studied TCM in the past, albeit minimally, this book was a welcome refresher and practical adaptation of TCM for the modern woman.  Xiaolan Zhao makes encouraging points about proper diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques for the three primary phases of a woman's life.  My review drops to four stars only because I would have liked to have seen more food lists and recipes as far as what helps to stimulate the various Qi and Meridians Ms. Zhao discusses throughout her book.  She was very informative on what can stagnate or reduce the flow of Qi, Liver and Spleen Qi in particular.

On a personal level, as someone who suffers chronic depression and anxiety, my mind is always open to new possibilities for relief, and many of the techniques described in "Ancient Healing for Modern Women" have been exceptionally useful to me for well-being beyond just "feminine issues".  I particularly loved that Ms. Zhao incorporated all aspects of health--mental, physical, and spiritual well-being--into her book; it holds very true to the TCM principle that our health goes far beyond our physical well-being.
1521666
Dr. Peale's timeless classic provides insights that offer practical help for daily living.  Though written about 60 years ago, the insights are amazingly up to date.  One can see, for instance, the patterns and practices of the "mindfulness" movement in Dr. Peale's book.  We've used it in our Church Book Club, and find it richly rewarding.  The bigger print in this edition offers a tremendous improvement over the tiny print in previous editions.  Highly recommended.