Set adrift by sudden unemployment, web designer Michelle Thomson is at an impasse in her life when she is introduced to a charismatic spiritual teacher known only as Ma. Though initially skeptical, Michelle is soon captivated by Ma's energy and insight and begins to find new meaning both in Ma's teachings and as a member of her insular community. While at first she blossoms under Ma's guidance, when Michelle uncovers deception at the heart of all she has come to believe in, she is forced to face the ultimate test any spiritual teacher can give.
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Editorial Reviews
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"One of the many achievements of..."The Heart of a Cult"...is that it realistically explores the vast gray area...[of cults] without ever resorting to sensationalism. Cults, Phoenix reveals, are not always easy to define or identify. Most alternative spiritual groups tend be made up of smart, idealistic people, not wackos. And while such groups can be destructive, they can also offer real benefits to participants...The story feels refreshingly real and doesn't resort of over-the-top plotting to keep the reader turning pages...Phoenix is a smart, clean writer who knows how to create believable characters through dialogue and just a few salient details...Although self-published, The Heart of a Cult is better written and more readable than half the titles on many major publisher's front lists...Lena Phoenix offers a knowing, engaging and deeply human look at a borderline cult that illuminates as much as it entertains." --The Daily Camera
"This debut novel is a must-read for those interesed in spiritual communities and transformation." --Enfuse Magazine
"This debut novel is a must-read for those interesed in spiritual communities and transformation." --Enfuse Magazine
About the Author
Lena Phoenix is a graduate of the Naropa University Inter-Arts Program. She has been a participant in numerous alternative spiritual groups. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two enlightened cats.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Woman's Journey,
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This review is from: The Heart of a Cult (Paperback)
The Heart of a Cult is a captivating story about a vulnerable young woman spiriling into what she perceives to be a spiritual awakening, but what turns out to be not much more than a reality check AND enormous debt.
The narrator, Michelle, a Denver-based web site designer suddenly finds herself downsized. Facing her 30th birthday without a job (or a boyfriend), and a best friend who is so engrossed with her new boyfriend and a spiritual teacher known as "Ma," Michelle allows herself to be talked into attending a lecture in Boulder. Something clicks for Michelle when she enters this seemingly welcoming community and she ends up moving to Boulder and investing an enormous amount of money she doesn't have to a lecture series. Further, she volunteers her time to create a web site for Ma, a project she'd normally charge $5000 to complete. The style Lena Phoenix presents feels more like memoir than fiction, and this makes it easy for the reader to not only believe everything that happens, but also to understand it. Instead of getting upset with Michelle for handing over more cash and more hours, and for rationalizing so many of the inconsistencies in Ma's teachings, I found myself saying, "yes, I can see how easy it is for a person in this situation to behave like this and believe these things." The writing is easy to read, several typos notwithstanding, and I recommend for readers who enjoy reading first novels and for anyone interested in learning more about how and why people get involved with cults or alternative spiritual quests. From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life," and "The Things I Wish I'd Said," McKenna Publishing Group.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Read & Good Lessons,
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This review is from: The Heart of a Cult (Paperback)
Spiritual search is part of so many lives. It is easy to be misled and make mistakes. This story is entertaining, and it is more than that. It is eye-opening. It's easy to get caught up in things that are neither true nor helpful, especially when we are vulnerable. I enjoyed it immensely!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is a great story and conveys wonderful spiritual lessons,
This review is from: The Heart of a Cult (Paperback)
The Heart of a Cult demystifies what a cult is like, with a very realistic and evocative portrayal of a spiritual community. The process of Phoenix's protagonist's introduction to this community and the personal develpment of the protagonist feels completely authentic. Phoenix's story neither condones or condemns, but let's the reader create their own view from an inside look into becoming involved with a spiritual community and being involved with a spiritual teacher.
Phoenix is a truly delightful writer. She touches on life issues that face all of us, especially those with an interest in spiritual growth and discovery. This is a great read and leaves you with a sense of possibility and hope.
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