The Sharing

Messages channeled by Smith provide the basis for this compendium of metaphysical insights and advice for spiritual living.

The telepathic messages imparted to Smith by Hilarion, a spirit guide and teacher, are variations on a single theme: All people and things are actually “thread expressions” of the creator, who is referred to as The Sharing. It’s a more original expression of a common New-Age perspective, but Smith endeavors to answer the “So what?” question raised by this assertion more directly and practically than most New-Age books. Many chapters end with a “Suggested Exercise” and a “Practical Exploration” intended to foster a spiritual frame of mind. The author defines this outlook as “connection consciousness,” which means living with the knowledge that nothing and no one is ever separate from The Sharing and its “conscious love.” Hilarion is “traditionally viewed as…the consciousness once embodied in the apostle Paul,” writes Smith. There are gaps in, and challenges presented by, some of the observations. For example, the author says, all people are “thread expressions of the divine” and, therefore, should never be viewed as “good guys or bad guys.” Crime victims might need more explication before they agree. And since Hilarion seems to understand quite a lot about the intentions of The Sharing, it would be interesting to know if significant events in our lives occur for a reason and if those events are “messages from the divine.” Smith doesn’t venture down such side roads. Instead, she focuses on Hilarion’s core concept and admits that “just because I’ve written these concepts down on paper doesn’t mean I’ve mastered them.” It’s a refreshing admission that’s rarely seen in New-Age literature.

Her admirable humility, along with the advice in her book, will serve as useful guidance for anyone trying to walk a spiritual path.