lory_enterenchanted's Reviews (582)

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

This was a really helpful introduction to the practice of centering prayer, a contemplative practice that is aimed at becoming awake to the constant presence of God rather than working with discursive thoughts and emotions. It includes a brief but lucid explanation of why contemplative prayer was lost to the Western tradition, a strange episode in our spiritual life that is thankfully now over, and of how Centering Prayer came to be developed. It also touches on some of the author's reservations or differences of opinion/emphasis with her mentor, Fr. Thomas Keating, which I appreciated, as it is important to appreciate and honor great teachers without necessarily agreeing with every single thing they say. I'll be reading more on Centering Prayer and more of Bourgeault's work.

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

This was an interesting but ultimately unsatisfying approach to understanding a complex woman. Many of the writers spoke little about L'Engle or were only very tangentially involved with her. Large chunks of important experiences/allegations were gingerly glanced at, while trivialities and repetitive padding got plenty of space. I hope she will get a proper biography at some point, by a writer who can be both sympathetic and objective, and can assemble confusing and conflicting material in a coherent way. 

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

I was never interested in Orsinia when I read Le Guin as a kid. I bought Orsinian Tales thinking it would be more Earthsea or The Wind's Twelve Quarters and put it aside, baffled and bored by the lack of magic or spaceships. But now it strikes me as one of her most impressive works, utterly immersive and not at all fantastic, except in being about an imaginary country. The characters live, within their vividly described setting, the language is beautiful, subtle and oblique, the thoughts about love and freedom as as relevant now as in the 1825 of the story. So glad I finally read this and I'll definitely be reading the Tales as well.

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

A dual-strand narrative with a difference -- some may find the ending too cutesy-weird, but it was of a piece with the rest. Dark and involving, ultimately a narrative of liberation that brings to the fore the creative role of the reader as well as the writer. When ARE we going to get to read Jiko's life story? That's what I'd really like to know.

It's a fine idea to focus on Anne Sullivan Macy, the brilliant, damaged woman who has always been in the shadow of her famous student, but due to the loss or absence of primary material, Nielsen has to step in with much speculation, much "perhaps" and "could have been." Some of this is inevitable when writing biography, but here it begins to seem like padding. And I object to the frequent "must have beens" which assume feeling and thoughts which may or may not have been the case. 

I ended up feeling it would have been more interesting and revelatory to read the original source material, the letters and autobiographical manuscripts from Macy that do exist, with linking notes and commentary, rather than subjecting her to so much external interpretation.

I read this as I'm working on my own project, writing about the healings in the Gospels. In general, the argument is that such healings occur through a temporary lifting of the "separating robe," that descends upon us in early childhood and causes us to separate self and world. This is the source of independence but also of egotism, i.e. sin. 

Comments on individual healings were mixed; I found some points interesting but disagreed with others, particularly the reading of the event referenced in the title. Kuhlewind says the man at the pool of Bethesda didn't answer Jesus's question, but I think he did -- by saying he needed help. For those of us reluctant to open up and ask for help in our healing process, that is quite an important model and I don't think it should be discounted.

In the final chapters I became lost, it was too anthroposophically technical for me and not really helpful on a personal level.

This little book could have used a lot more attention editorially. Why were excerpts from the King James version of the Bible used? A more modern, accurate translation would have been preferable, since close reading of the text is essential. Identifying Steiner's works by CW number alone is annoying, necessitating looking up all of those numbers in another source to know what book or lecture series is being quoted from. There should have at least been a list at the end of the book giving more information about each source. Translations in various places were not co-ordinated; e.g. Steiner excerpts in the text and in the Appendix were translated differently. Lots of sloppiness like this.

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

I found this disappointing. The focus veered all over the place and I couldn't really connect well to any set of characters. The central plot kept returning to Cleo, whose unrequited love for Neil was inexplicable given his apparent total lack of interest in her or any attractive qualities. Then in a sudden denouement, it was revealed he had been nursing an unspoken passion for her. (Sorry for the spoiler, but I don't think it's really a surprise, even if unprepared for by the utter lack of romantic tension in the rest of the book.) Couldn't there have been some ambiguous moments, not to mention some clue why these two might have been attracted to each other? Strangely unsatisfying.

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

This is one of the most beautiful, most consoling and wise books I have ever read. I want to give copies to every one of my loved ones as well as all my health care providers and therapists. If only all healers were like Dr. Remen the world would be a different and better place.

Lately I have become disillusioned with doctors, due to their arrogance and closed-mindedness, their coldness and lack of true caring. This book helped me to see that there is another side to this challenging profession, that modern doctors are actively trained to deny their human qualities and thereby handicapped as healers. The healing profession is as much in need of healing as the people it is treating. This book is a wonderful step towards all of us discovering our innate capacities to heal ourselves and each others, not because we are "professionals," but because we are human beings.

I think "Kitchen Table Wisdom" is a poor choice of title though. I understand the wish to highlight its simple, homey qualities, but it sounds a book about food, or at least about homemaking. Which it is, but also so much more. I think "Healing Stories" would be a better title -- because the book is composed of stories that are healing as well as stories that are about healing. And it's also concerned with healing our stories, bringing back our sense of meaning and coherence in our lives.

I checked this out from the library but I'm going to buy a copy and read it again soon.

Reviews and more on my blog: Entering the Enchanted Castle

Excellent and highly unusual balance of spiritual and scientific wisdom, honoring both sides of the truth, in which artistic and rational methods are not in opposition but complement and complete one another. It's both/and, not either/or! If only more scientists would start to think this way, we might actually have a future.

I was only disappointed that Kimmerer is too dismissive of Western tradition and its contributions. Nothing is gained by categorically devaluing the Judeo-Christian worldview, in spite of the atrocities done in its name. It doesn't have to be that way. (Eve was an indigenous woman too!)

The title of this book is a misnomer -- it's not really about ritual in general, which would be an immense topic, but about the sources and some selected manifestations of Christian religious ritual, with particular reference to the communion service of the Christian Community, the movement within which the author is a priest. I think the book will be mainly of interest to readers who are familiar with that service; others might be confused or simply uninterested unless they have some experience of what Baan is talking about. For those who do seek a deeper connection to this service, known in English as The Act of Consecration of Man, the book is invaluable.