First published in 1999, this brilliant expose on a wide range of spiritually sensitive topics - from races to world religions - may be a book whose time has finally come.
Illuminating Physical Experience by Foley, Shaffer and Davidsson is a rare and hard to find gem in the world of metaphysical literature.
Illuminating Physical Experience delicately covers a wide range of sensitive topics [mostly] without offending. Each world religion is analyzed for its spiritual strengths and weaknesses; an analysis that leaves an objective reader feeling that no one religion is overly judged or elevated but each receives its fair share of praise as well as criticism.
A similar analysis is done of the five human races: red, yellow, brown, black and white. Again, spiritual and karmic strengths and weaknesses are presented - a topic even more politically incorrect than critiquing religions. But again, it's accomplished with a sense of non-judgment that fails to offend.
Perhaps not surprising, the white race gets the harshest evaluation. But even this feels more self-reproaching than racist, due to the fact that the three authors themselves are white.
A significant portion of the book is devoted to body symbology a la Louise Hay. However, it is quite unique and original, and in no way plagiarizes the Hay material. Whereas Louise Hay revolutionized the understanding of the mental aspect of health with her 1984 book
Your Can Heal Your Life, the body symbology of
Illuminating Physical Experience is more focused on the spiritual and emotional causes of disease, although mental judgments as part of the disease process are also included.
Paraphrasing the book: Diseases are
caused by emotional blockages. The
reason why the emotions are blocked are mental judgments. And there is always some physical
mechanism through which the disease manifests, such as a bacteria or virus, injury or auto-immune response, although the mechanism is never the real cause.
Illuminating Physical Experience also contains fascinating sections on a wide array of other topics, some of which are likewise politically explosive, such as: Abortions and miscarriages; homosexuality, transvestites and transsexuals; and why our children kill. [The book was published only months after the Columbine High School shooting.]
Other less "dangerous" but none-the-less fascinating topics covered include: Emotional ownership; soul fragmentation; releasing vows and hexes; psychic cording; Atlantis and Lemuria and much more. In Appendix II is an extensive list encompassing 20 healing modalities to help facilitate spiritual and emotional growth.
In summary,
Illuminating Physical Experience offers a unique and inspiring perspective on a large number of important spiritual topics. Fresh and thought-provoking, it's a must read for anybody with a serious interest in the metaphysical.
More Information:
Mr. Johnson grew up in Colorado. Since graduating with an MA in English literature, he has traveled and lived in many countries including the UK, France, Sweden and Norway, offering metaphysical classes and workshops. The book in this review is available from the web-site
Unconditional Self-acceptance, which also offers free spiritual articles on
The Long Dark Night of the Soul and much more.
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