THE LIVING SOUL

An engaging account of the author’s journey into New Age spirituality.

After a childhood spent in a staunch Baptist home, Gibson was plagued by questions about Christianity that neither his parents nor his pastor could answer. He began to explore meditation, eventually becoming accomplished at both transcendental and kundalini meditation. At age 37, while meditating, Gibson saw a radiant being he calls the Golden Man, who told Gibson that his name was Djehuti, another name for the Egyptian god Thoth–though he told Gibson that he was not actually a god, even if some communities had worshipped him as such. Gibson suggests that spiritually aware people from all different faith traditions can meet–indeed, have met–light beings, “transformed humans [who have] gone through years of spiritual training, meditation, and discipline.” Throughout, Gibson adopts a light tone, even joking about Djehuti’s bad hair days, which is a refreshing change from the self-important tone of many spirituality guides. After his first encounter with Djehuti, Gibson was understandably unnerved. He avoided meditation altogether for six months, until he was willing to open up to what Djehuti might have to teach him–indeed, his relationship with Djehuti changed Gibson’s life. Djehuti actually aided Gibson at his work, showing up in the hospital to help him care for dying patients and deliver newborn babies. Nonetheless, Gibson wouldn’t risk discussing his spiritual experiences with his colleagues, lest they think he had lost his mind. In fact, he and his girlfriend Donna broke up because she couldn’t deal with his spiritual quest. Fortuitously, Gibson met Kathy, an eager novice to the spiritual world who was open to walking into uncharted territory–eventually, the pair married. After finishing his medical residency, Gibson opted for private practice, where he would be free to integrate spirituality into his medial practices.

Nourishing soul food for the spiritually inclined.