KIRKUS REVIEW
A conversational, inviting catalog of encounters, abilities and phenomena that aims to elevate mundane existence into a mystical realm.
Psychologist Farrell has taken to heart Hamlet’s admonition: “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” Compiling anecdotes from his patients’ experiences, his own life, archaeology and history, Farrell lays out evidence that “more” is and has always been going on, no matter what country, culture or century. Without sensationalism, preaching, passing judgment or forcing conclusions, he explores the unbidden (visitations from the dead, protection by nonphysical forces), the intentional (voodoo, shamanism, meditation, energy healing) and elements of nature (animals, crystals, stone circles). Many of his tales come from addicts and/or prisoners who were under his care, an impressive percentage of whom improved their lives after undergoing a mystical experience. The discussions of meditation practices and healing techniques expand from simply describing examples to efficiently explaining how to perform them, including some that aren’t widely known, such as a simple relationship-healing exercise that involves breathing the energy of love in and out of the heart. Farrell comes across as a trained scientist who has found himself marveling at spiritual experiences, which he openly seeks and embraces in his own life. His agenda here is to demonstrate the universality of what he has discovered and collected throughout his practice and life, as he explores intersecting paths between physical and mystical existence. In this compelling book, that journey becomes everyone’s.
An infectious, open-minded point of view and superior skills in spinning a yarn make for a companionable, captivating guide.
