CHANGE MAKER

In this debut account of losing a beloved family member, a woman finds hope and joy in profound moments of spiritual connection.

When Austill-Clausen lost her beloved brother to AIDS in 1995, she embarked on a journey of grief—one that she says eventually brought her to a form of enlightenment. Through her connection with nature and animals, she says, she began to discover her own connection to the spirit of her brother—and to those of others, as well. An encounter with a manatee and a spiritual epiphany while riding her horse led her to contact a spiritual teacher, Nancy Arael, who showed her the power of her chakras and meditation. In this touching narrative, Austill-Clausen intimately describes her progress toward spiritual awakening, as well as her experience of sharing it with other members of her family. In one vivid scene, she tells of a moment one morning in 1996, when she connected deeply with the rocks, ice, trees, and other elements of a secluded landscape: “I realized all stones were alive, and each had its own power. I thought about all the times I had casually picked up a rock and flung it away without asking its permission.” An occupational therapist by trade, she writes in clear, conversational prose that skips no details about her meditation experiences and visions. As a result, what begins as a sad story of grief develops into a story of a world of fairies, spirits, love, and light. Readers who are interested in chakra healing, meditation, shamanism, energy crystals, and spiritual development in general will enjoy the rich, journalistic quality of Austill-Clausen’s book, and perhaps even feel prompted to follow in her footsteps.

A rich, insightful New-Age narrative about the author’s holistic development.