Earth Books

From the outset, I have to say that I like Gary Snyder a lot. Less pretentious than Ferlenghetti and more perceptive than Ginsberg, his poems are like modern haiku, brilliant observations and juxtapositions that somehow manage to express what most artists simply cannot.

_Earth House Home_ is a collection of Snyder's prose, which happily enjoys the same distinction. It's an eclectic mix, with journal excerpts that read more like rough notes for poetry; book reviews that illuminate their subjects from unexpected angles; an account of day-to-day life at a Zen temple in Kyoto; and more, concluding with my favourite section, an almost Joycean account of Snyder's views on society and culture.

Get this, any way you can. You won't regret it. Also recommended for those just discovering Synder: _No Nature_, a 'collected works' of sorts.

This is my favorite book in the world. Period. Why? I suppose the attraction is Snyder's diamond cutter clarity and surface simplicity, coupled with his rhythmic West Coast venacular - this work woke me from my own "dogmatic slumber" and set me on a lifetime of travel.

Snyder may have been a Beat, but I would argue, only vicariously - that is, while some of the other "Beats" became verbose and morbidly self-absorbed, Snyder on the other hand conitnued to live according to his own quirky, West Coast intuitive understanding of the universe (learned from mountain peaks and bear droppings) beyond the modern materialistic social matrix that many of us find ourselves being gobbled up by. Here, Snyder offers us an alternative, or a reminder, that there are other ways to live, not just according to rigid social taboos; as such, he continues to influence many young people, even until today.

More importantly, perhaps, is that while many writers dabbled in Zen, Snyder LIVED it, moving to Kyoto in 1956 to study Rinzai Zen, and remaining in Japan on and off until to 1968.

The work that most moves me is "Tanker Notes." These stark prose/poetry journal entries were obviously written by someone who PRACTICES what they preach, with a keen, Zen-like attention to the task at hand, whether cleaning a ship valve or conversing with a drunken crew mate. In this sense, Snyder is a true boddhisattva, a real Dharma Bum, and what I like most about Snyder his is earthy honesty. He is not afraid to "go off course" so to speak, like (say) a drunken stupor or sampling the local nightlife in some exortic port - he wants to EXPERIENCE the world.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It you don't "get it," don't fret - it is not for everyone...but I think the fact that he travelled, studied, and returned to teach about environmental studies at UC Davis shows that Snyder, though at times blissfully playful and at peace in the universe, has a serious side as well.

Buy it today!

An outstanding collection of daily entries on hiking and climbing expeditions, where Kerouac, Whalen and others go up Mt. Crater, on Buddhist and Hindu ideas, on his trip to India with Orlovsky and Ginsberg and near the end of this journal; some essays on the new emerging psychedelic subculture - the 1967 Human Be-In, the subculture which existed throughout antiquity of the Gnosis, mystics, community and tribe. The idea of a matrilineal society, tribal, indigenous and I can so much relate to this type of open consciousness, the opening of the doors of perception in nature and mother earth and loving each other in emptiness - concept free- moments of the mind. I was also moved by his experience in an Ashram on a Japanese Island.

It's the year 2006 and its all new material for me. It seems I personally know Snyder when reading this. Much of the beats bring you right with them. I see what moved John Suiter in his "Poets Peaks," as I am hiking up New Jersey and New York Mountains I can feel much of these words.

I only regret that I was not with Snyder and the beats, that I have not been in certain areas of the East, that I was not with the later tribal communities; such communities that were far removed from today's one-sided Manichean society. The difference is in the level of consciousness; one aware of role playing identities, the other lost in subjectivity.

"A lot of it is simply being aware of the clouds and wind."

This book outlined things that are happening in our environment. It voices about issues from a physical, personal and political standpoint. Once you start reading it, you will not put it down. And the author is my professor-Smile

Very sobering and relevant! I hope more people read this book and spread the word that the time to make a difference is now! We cannot afford to wait any longer!

David F. Arieti's "The Earth is my Patient" is a well-written book about some of the world's most debated, most controversial and most overlooked issues. In its ambitious scope of trying to project to us readers that the world is indeed in need of our expertise as its "doctor", it had indeed succeeded.

Mr. Arieti discusses a wide range of political, social and environmental topics. It is quite amazing to note that even though Mr. Arieti is an enviromental science teacher by profession, he discusses each topic with such expertise that each topic in the book is brimming with information.

Every topic is an influx of information regarding the topic, and like a very effective writer, he feeds you the information, then he reasons out the points that contribute to the problems in the various topics. He deftly explains every point of problem so that, indeed, a reader could be moved to act on the problem. It is a book of symptoms of the larger problems that are threatening the world, and like a doctor, he had enumerated the symptoms and the points for solution. It is a half-cynical, half-informative book that seeks to inform you on what is happening in the world.

Generally, "The Earth is My Patient" is a great, informative book that imparts to you the value of saving your own planet, because, after all, this is all that we've got.

R.J. Stewart has written an incredible book introducing us to the Fairy Kingdom Tradition. This is a tradition that was readily accepted and believed in until the turn of the century. Now much of the planet has lost this connection. He explores what the fairy kingdom is, who fairies are, and why its important for the survival of humans and the planet to re-establish this connection. It is a very real place with real beings. There are a lot of wonderful exercises/ journeys in the book to help take you there (similar to shamanic journeys). The sequal to this book is the Power Within the Land. I use a lot of his work and journeys with the groups that I take to sacred sites in England, Scotland and Ireland.

Stewart opens the way for many people searching to make contact with the OtherWorld. A lovely book and guide -- I have found his work to be invaluable to our community and would like to personally thank him for being in service to the Faery so faithfully. All his books appear on my recommended reading lists! A must have!

Scotsman Stewart presents techniques of transformation from the Celtic faery tradition.He shows how you can regenerate Mother Earth by entering the Underworld and contacting otherworld beings(faeries).At the core of this book are visualization exercises (inner journeys): the Dark Goddess; the Tree Below; the Four Cities; and the Weaver Goddess.These are effective visualizations because they are placed firmly in the age-old Celtic traditions.This book helps you get in touch with the land and the deeper levels of you own being.Stewart is an authoritative writer on the esoteric, and on genuine Celtic traditions.

Here is a new format for our readers that provides quality material at a reasonable price for those who prefer a format other than written word.

Sounds True has a wonderful package here. A 4 CD set that contains Starhawk's book "Earth Magic". The book is actually spoken by Starhawk and is nicely boxed and presented.

First, the quality of the CDs themselves. We have nice overall audio quality. Starhawk comes across clear, with her rich vocal tones. If you have ever heard her speak publicly, as I have, you will appreciate the quality here. She has the same clarity and sound. Nothing is augmented or strained. And she does not drone, or annoy vocally. So it is a pleasant overall listening experience.

There are some background sounds. Drums and flutes denote the beginning and end of each disk. They are small in proportion to the rest of the disk, but a nice touch.

I listened to much of this material in my car. To be honest, it can be distracting in the car, as you are listening to some lessons and exercises in magical practice and your mind can tend to wander from your first focus of driving. I ended up listening to some of this material over again in the comfort of my work area, and I found I could focus better on the material better. So, a recommendation: don't listen to all of this in your car.

But I do see the value of having this on disk. Not just because it offers Starhawks material on disk for those who might be visually impaired. That is the most obvious benefit of having an Audiobook.

But we are also looking at meditations, which Starhawk leads you through. This format allows you to follow her guided meditation, and you can pause the disk, or give some thought to the material offered by Starhawk and then move on when you are ready.

The material presented here is Starhawk's own material. This is her tradition, her way of working, and much of it is based on the teachings of the Reclaiming Tradition.

So, the history presented on Disk One is taken from the Goddess movement aspect. On this disk she covers the history of the Goddess religions dating back to the dawn of Goddess worship. She leads us through the changes in religious practices as seen by the Goddess movement, and then bringing us back to Goddess worship today.

Disk Two looks at today's practices of Goddess worship and magic. She spends a lot of time examining magical practices through the Goddess as part of the Reclaiming Tradition. She discusses her beliefs in ethics, male and female energies, spirit and nature and the elements. She also examines life celebrations, festivals and cycles of change.

Disk Three moves into actual practices. If you have ever seen her speak publicly you know her method of incorporating a small ritual into her teachings. She does this again on this disk, discussing the Reclaiming Traditions way of working Ritual - incorporating the elements and what they mean. Very nicely done, and it provides some material to contemplate as well.

The final disk examines Goddess in your workings, intent and how it affects your practice, as well as grounding and centering and a final summary.

There is a lovely 21 minute drum meditation on Water. A very nice presentation, and one which I think you will find interesting. She even sings a little! It is a healing meditation, so it will encourage you to look deep within yourself.

The last track sums up very nicely what the purpose of this recording is all about. Starhawk discusses healing, from ourselves to the earth. Healing - and magic, being very earth-centered. This is Starhawk's message these days, and she gets this across well in the final track.

If you are a Starhawk fan, this is a great offering. It is not read, it is spoken from her heart. It gives us a really good look at the Reclaiming Tradition and its associated teachings, practices and philosophy.

If your focus is Goddess spirituality, you will find this an excellent addition to your library and your practice. Anyone who follows the Reclaiming Tradition will want to add this as well. And for those of us who respect Starhawk and her years of working in the pagan community, this audiobook gives us a glimpse of the woman and her message. boudica

If I hade any criticism, it would be there was a little too much emphasis on history, with room for more suggestions for today - expand the sacred rituals.

Well-known Wiccan and Pagan author Starhawk teaches rituals for connecting to and channeling the elemental forces of nature. Starhawk describes specific rites for drawing on the power of air, fire, earth, and water; celebrating sacred holidays such as the Solstice and the Equinox; and for giving gifts to the universe that return to us a hundred-fold. She is author of ten books, including The Spiral Dance and Webs of Power. More reviews at AudioColumn.com

I will be using this in my classes as the practical side of the book is easy enough ( for me) to understand without the help of a teacher. The theory is clearly explained and the author obviously wants to take care of you ( like a big sister ) I feel motivated by her words. The illustrations add to the charm although I would have preferred more professional drawings, it doesn't stop you from understanding precisely where the point is to work on. The photos are there to help with how to position each part of your body. I found this good value for money and I will be looking at her other books as I feel this was a good investment.

I've been teaching Qi Gong for over 10 years there are very few books written by women on Women's Qi Gong. There are even less books that I would recommend to someone who isn't already enrolled in a class. Earth Qi Gong for Women is an exception. The illustrations, photographs and instructions are thorough and easy to understand. Tina Zhang has taken her years of training in China and the U.S. and presented it in this gem of a book. She manages to effectively cover the principles and concepts of Qi Gong, its history and provides a complete workout in fewer than 150 pages. Of course I would recommend studying with Ms. Zhang, but if that is not an option please do not pass up the opportunity of reading her book.

The beautiful aspect of this book is it manages to let the reader get to know the joyful of Qi flowing into the theories - these theories tied in everything from basic understanding of qi gong history, principles to how practically practice qi gong - It gives a system and very nice-and-easy form for the readers to follow, and also includes a step by step instructions on the acupressure points massage for the eyesight improvement, a very helpful material! It is not a big book, but a simple yet powerful presentation on improving women 's general health with a very detailed and specific written in an authentic style. It makes sense that the healing aspect in qi gong practice builds on body's natural energy cultivation", and I also really like the chapter that says, "Finding the beauty in your true nature" shows the loving personalities of its author.

I reccomend that the best way for studying for the regents is taking practice tests after practice tests. You soon to being to basically memorize the questions on it. I got a 98 on the regents and tauight myself the whole course.

Barron's Regents Exams and Answers : Earth Science is one of the most valuable tools in studying for the New York state regents exam in Earth Science. It has many of the past regents to practice from, answers explained, and tips for when you take the regents. In the answers explained section it will tell you why the answer is right and even why other answers are wrong! I got a 95 on the regents with the help of this book. If you are taking Earth Science I would highly recommend that you get this book.

This book is good because it gives you many example problems that really were on the Regents and many of the problems appear again and again just with different numbers. It was very helpful and after doing all the problems and self-correcting myslef and then see why I got the answers wrong (or even right) by the explanation section, it was worth the time and money to get this book. It is a tool that will help you get through your studing in a great way.

This book looks like it's going to be a GREAT asset in my mineral hunting! I like the way it's set up, by state and then by county within the state. It lists the various sites, tells what has been found at each site and (by a code explained in the front of the book) where in each site the minerals were (in a field, in a mine, in the water, etc.). There are directions of varying degrees to each site. That's the one thing I'd quibble about -- some of the directions aren't that precise. But I understand that some of these sites are private lands, or not completely documented, and he can't come out and say, "Go fifty feet past the blue house, down a ravine, and to your left." In general, the directions seem good enough to get you close, and after that it's up to you.

He lists the rocks and minerals found at each site and gives some information about the quality at most places, including size of crystals found, color (and quality of color), and so on.

My only regret? I don't know if I'll have time to visit each site he has listed! So many rocks, so little time........

Although light reading, the text serves as a functional guide; lean and concise requiring the reader to become involved in cross reference.

One of a fantastic series of 4 chuck full of informational volumes dedicated to a particular geographic area. A must for any rock hound weather you travel or just live in the geographic area of the volume. If you can afford it, get all 4 regional volumes. Start with your area. The location information brake down of the minerals to be found in each state counties is so valuable you can't do with out it. Saves time, eliminate barren hunting grounds and it's so detailed as to where and how you find the minerals. This is just one of a fact full accurate guide series you'll want to have in your rock library. Don't settle for an older printing, this one is reprinted and has been updated.

A pleasureful read! Unlike "The Stand" (Stephen King), Ms. Hansen does not take 1,000 pages for character development, and that helps the reader to quickly identify with the main characters. I read the book in a week, and thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, the dialog and especially the message about how we each should approach our lives. I highly recommend this as a gift to the friend in your life who needs to slow down a little.

Earth Walk is a memorable tale, rich and satisfying like a full bodied wine. Eloquently contrasting the harshness of a Michigan winter with warmth of the Southwest, the author skillfully reveals the warmth and coolness of the characters' souls. Hansen's characters come alive and glow like the golden sunsets of the Southwest, where part of the book takes place.

She delves into the lives of the characters, their pasts, their silent struggles, and presents it with respect. Readers will find themselves comtemplating their own earth walk after reading this book.

This is a beautiful story of a woman's challenges as she faces the juxtoposition of her life in a contemporary world, and the world she wants to be more a part of: her Native American Indian heritage. Her challenge is which world does she truly belong to? She lives in her contemporary world as a professor at a Michigan University, and her "other" life, as the long time lover of a Navajo man living on the reservation in Arizona. The dichotomy in her life becomes devastatingly destructive when she is shunned from the world she wants desparately to be part of and she becomes lost. The story unveils the search for her and as the search progresses her own journal leads the way over the turbulence of her Earth Walk and the reader discovers it is this woman's soul we are searching for.

Why not come along as Polly McCanless Kent takes you on the journey of a lifetime. A journey that starts in London and takes you to the Jamestowne Colony in the new world of America.
The setting is 1621 London--and Payton Montgomery has made the decision to seek his fortune in the Virginia colony. Being a
'second son,' he wants to have a part in establishing a new system, allowing any man the right to own land.
Katherine Arlington's decision was not her own. In an attempt to keep her inheritance from her stepfather, and to avoid an arranged marriage with a man she doesn't love and never could, she flees to a relative's house in Plymouth. But before Katherine can arrive, she is drugged, kidnapped and placed on a ship bound for the Royal Colony of Virginia. She is to be offered as a wife to a gentleman named Payton Montgomery.
This is their story. Their coming together and their separation.
The story of brave souls who try their luck in the wild, new land
of America. A story of their struggle to work the land and fight off Indian attacks.
A story of spiritual awakening for Katherine and the softening of Payton's heart to let her in.
Katherine's journey wasn't her doing, but that of wicked individuals wanting to line their pockets with gold. But as it turned out, she was just what the colony needed. Her destiny lay in the primitive new world of Jamestowne Colony, and she would fulfill that destiny to help all men to be free.
P.S. Elsner
Author-Lavender Blue: Nick Dallas-Private Investigator

This powerful, passionate debut novel is impossible to put down. Superb fiction. A delightful reading experience.

You won't want to put this book down. Although it takes place in the early 1600's, a time when women and men were presented some harsh conditions and struggles in life, the author reveals how life's journey for spiritual growth then, and now, has not changed. Each character is well defined, and can be identified by the reader as a person living in our own decade. One understands that the basic nature of men and women is motivated by the same forces that have always existed. The story will sweep you away in its plot, and the adventurous events in the life of its heroin, Katherine, whose dreams of finding that special man in her life takes her across an ocean. Kidnapped and alone, she finds the best of herself and the courage to live her life one day at a time. The historical settings of the early days in the colonization of Jamestown, Virginia are descriptive and educational, well drawn and interesting. A story that will touch your heart and soul, and perhaps make you look at some universal truths in a new way.

Do you know where UFOs come from? Read B. Fox's Earth The Forbidden Planet and you might begin to think differently. This book has opened a whole new way of thinking for me. Prior to reading this, I had given very little attention to what transpired before the time of Adam and Eve. B. Fox led me back in time further than I had ever imagined. Her description of the abyss, which is sometimes known as hell made my skin crawl. I still feel shivers as I recall it. It sure reiterates that this is not my chosen destination. The portrayal of the power and strength of God weaves its way through the entire book.

I recommend this book whether you have an interst in UFOs or Science Fiction and whether or not you are a religious person. B.Fox does a great job of keeping things moving and making you want to turn the next page.

B. Fox's books (she also wrote The Agenda The Real Reason They're Here non-fiction) are excellent and very informative. Even in a fiction format it informs the reader and takes them to new heights to learn from if they've never studied the Bible or thought it even addressed the areas of aliens etc..the churches have clearly covered up this information for too long.

...

: Do you know where UFOs come from? Read B. Fox's EARTH: The Forbidden Planet and you might begin to think differently. This book has opened a whole new way of thinking for me. Prior to reading this, I had given very little attention to what transpired before the time of Adam and Eve. B. Fox led me back in time further than I ever imagined. Her description of the abyss, which sometimes is known as hell, made my skin crawl. I still feel shivers as I recall it. It certainly reiterates that this is not my chosen destination. The portrayal of the power and strength of God weaves its way through the entire book. I recommend this book whether or not you have an interest in UFOs or Science Fiction and whether or not you are a religious person. B. Fox does a great job of keeping things moving and making you want to turn to the next page.