Customer Reviews

Heart of the Soul: Emotional Awareness

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

"You are a soul that is temporarily utilizing your body." ~Gary Zukav

Is the world changing? Have we suddenly discovered a lack of fulfillment in our materialistic endeavors or have we always felt this way but have only recently decided to talk about it?

I have recently met more Multisensory individuals who believe we have a soul and who are striving for spiritual fulfillment. They see more than a world where we experience pleasure from our five senses. They also seem very aware that there is more to life than the American Dream. I myself have found out about the American Nightmare.

We are looking for a deeper life, a life where people care about one another, where we all feel valuable, safe and loved. Compassionate and wise individuals are heaven to meet and can be teachers who present stunning insight and convincing arguments to lead us to believe in our own ability to find authentic power.

To me, the American Nightmare is reaching the American Dream and realizing it is not everything you hoped for and your life becoming a whirlwind of things to do which just don't satisfy the cravings of your soul. Just because you have the big house, the car, the huge kitchen doesn't mean you will be happy. In fact, having too much can detract from your spiritual goals. Materialism can be a heavy burden for the soul who desires a world of freedom, love and joy.

After downsizing my life so I could spend more time washing my soul with encouraging words, I decided it was time to go back to where I first started on this journey and read another book by Gary Zukav.

I like his idea about viewing life as a school and that has become tightly woven into my own earth experience. If Earth is a School and teachers appear when we need them most, then Gary has been one of my teachers when I most needed the information he has to present to this student of life.

I see Gary Zukav evolving himself as I read each new book. "The Heart of the Soul" is his most organized work to date. Theory and heart are balanced fully. Linda and Gary balance one another fully and together they have created a beautiful work.

While "Seat of the Soul" and "Soul Stories" explained the basic principles, this is specifically a guidebook to the emotional world we experience on a daily basis but might have difficulty categorizing.

This is really a book for everyone who wants to figure out where our emotions come from and where they can take us on our spiritual journey. To grow spiritually and act from a place of authentic power, we often have to step back and observe those emotions that are evolving from fear. This can feel like an ocean is pulling you under and you are fighting to swim to the surface.

Gary almost suggests that we should allow ourselves to enter this ocean of emotions and observe the way the waves are moving until we can control the ocean with our own minds instead of letting the ocean control our bodies and minds.

You start to realize how powerful your mind really is. Instead of running off into life and only seeking your own pleasure, you start to think more about how your actions would cause other people to feel.

You become more aware of your intentions. You wait for your emotions to subside before making rash decisions that could change people's lives. Who has not made a poor decision when in a state of extreme anxiety, fear or anger? Waiting out the tidal waves of pain can leave you resting on a peaceful beach, observing the destruction yet knowing you survived.

Gary focuses on some real-life issues which can make your life hell. These include perfectionism, addiction to drugs and alcohol, overeating, obsessive compulsive behaviors, idol worship, power struggles, searching for salvation, judging others, anger, workaholism and even sexual addiction.

Either you can learn how to avoid the hell through your own personal experience, or you can be made aware of how to avoid painful situations in your life through a deeper awareness of what causes that pain. This book also contains illustrations, diagrams, empowering thoughts and authentic power practices to encourage emotional awareness.

I do not think one person has all the answers, but Gary?s thoughts are definitely pieces of the puzzle I need to make my life more complete. This book would not mean as much to me if I was not already on a spiritual path and had a belief in a God who sent Jesus Christ to take the burden of my sins, provide me genuine salvation for my soul and who can take my actions from stray emotions and toss them into a sea of absolute forgiveness. I am freed from my guilt and can rest in the knowledge of a loving God who put me on this earth to learn how to love. Failing only means I have to try again. God is always willing to forgive. Learning from our past mistakes is just part of life. Not making new mistakes might be very connected to becoming more emotionally aware.

To be interested in spirituality can at times only heighten the tests, create immense spiritual struggles and cause you to analyze your entire life so that you can then start to figure out was is eternally important rather than what is momentarily significant.

You don't always have to act on all your desires or be swayed by all your emotions. This book will teach you how to create a better life for yourself by listening to your emotions who become teachers in themselves or at least are classes you can either pass or take repeatedly through life.

~The Rebecca Review

As a counsellor, I have witnessed more aspects of life over the past thiry years than some people see in a lifetime - poverty, sickness, loneliness, hopelessness, extreme violence, greed, intimidation, the need for power and the relentless quest for a materialistic world at any cost. With that in mind, I can relate strongly to Gary Zukav's latest book, "The Heart of the Soul."

Wealth and power seem like a blessing to some, but unchained and left to run amok, those same desires can also lead to physical violence and the ultimate destruction of nations. When wealth and power control who and what we are, they are no longer blessings but a driven caustic obsession that eats and destroys the core of our being - the human soul.

Of all Gary's books, in my opinion this one is the most poignant, meaningful and impressive, especially when one recalls the tragic events of September 11th. It has come at a critical and appropriate time in our lives. Gary ofers suggestions on healing the soul, recognizing what is truly important in life, and finding peace and happiness within. That is a life lesson not everyone in the world has learned...and, unfortunately, some never will. We all know there is none so blind as those who will not see. This book is highly recommended and there are not enough stars in the rating for this one.

While not as insightful and useful as "Seat of the Soul", this book does help one to get in touch with his emotions, especially fear and emotional pain. Interestingly, it doesn't offer much help in knowing what to do with those emotions, but being aware of them is the first step toward personality/soul integration. For example, using Gary's guidelines, I am now frequently aware of my disguised "fear and doubt" and therefore have the option of changing those emotions to "love and trust".

This book is an excellent companion to Gary's revolutionary book, "Seat of the Soul".

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I had not read any of the author's works before, but was aware of his notoriety. There are not many ex-Green Beret officers who delve into New Age topics such as the soul, energy chakras, and emotional awareness...;-)

This work is very interesting, and for the most part, entertaining. The theme is that we, not other people, are the cause for our positive and negative emotions. How we deal with those emotions contributes to our state of being. The authors then describe how to become more emotionally aware by isolating our feelings into different "schools." The analogy is that life is the ultimate teacher, and that we have to master one school (emotion) before graduating to the next.

The authors appear to have a sincere desire to help others become more emotionally aware; however, the subject matter becomes somewhat repetitive. They discuss a variety of emotions and life events, but how many times does the reader need to be reminded that your emotions are your own responsibility? Or that you need to be aware of them 24 hours a day? Most readers will not need the gentle yet continual cues. That tone took upon an adult-child quality; however, perhaps that is the author's teaching style.

One of his quotes was especially enlightening. And I paraphrase, "Pain is the flower, but the illness is in the plant." Mr. Zukav and Ms. Francis have provided the reader with a thought-provoking work. How one interprets the contents is another matter.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book.

Gary Zukav and Linda Francis did a wonderful job in bringing those who have a hard time feeling and dealing with their emotions a powerful book that will help you journey "from your head to your heart."

This is a great book for people who feel a lot of anger, who try to stay in control, and have difficulty relating to others from the heart center with genuine authenticity. If you tend to run away from your feelings, only to find yourself feeling unloved, or thinking you are unlovable, than this book will help you with the many diagrams and self-help techniques. From sex addiction to drinking too much, to using outward activities to not deal with your emotions, The Heart of the Soul will help you uncover and notice what is blocking you so that you can embrace your truth, and learn how to express it genuinely from the inside out.
Barbara Rose, author of "Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE" and 'If God Was Like Man'
Editor of inspire! magazine

I'm currently doing extensive research, both professionally and personally, on soul and its implications, especially in a business context. Zukav's book looked interesting and relevant, but turned out to be repetitive and frustratingly incomplete. Its basic theme is a useful rework of the well-known seven-chakras model, linking physical sensation and thoughts to each of the seven centres. There's enormous emphasis, and much advice, on exploring emotional pain, seen from many different angles, such as anger and addiction; but almost nothing about what to do with that pain, and only the most cursory references to exploring the healthy side of one's inner landscape - which is equally important. In that sense, by leading readers into intense emotional space but leaving them dangling without adequate tools or positive models, the book could be downright dangerous. Interesting, and useful in some cases, but not to be recommended.

I must say I don't understand the other negative reviews. I found this book to be absolutely wonderful. Gary and Linda tackle the seeds of addictive behaviors, be it food, alcohol, drugs or sex. They also tackle issues such as perfectionism and work-aholism as well as others. I love the gentleness with which this book presents itself. It is not a book that you quickly read through and/or skim along. You need to read a section and actually think about what is stated to receive the full and rich benefits. Yes, it is written in a simple language and does repeat certain concepts; however, the concept is written to further stress that we need to look inward rather than be constantly reactive to our outside stressors. It offers yet another way of looking at our emotions by focusing on the energy of them and where that energy is released in our bodies. It also offers more seeds of self reflection. I loved this book and will recommend it to others whole-heartedly.

This book was, for the most part, very intuitive and it is obvious that Gary is a man of deep understanding. It could be said that this book is too simplistic, but the reality is that our human `predicaments` really are quite simple when you remove all the useless baggage that surrounds them. This book is shockingly honest and left this reader saying, "Wow, that sounds like me....wow, that`s exactly right, wow..." While most of what Gary says is undeniably true and somewhat eye-opening I was a bit disappointed at his lack of solutions...or at least I expected some sort of method or guidance out of the problems he describes so well. Big on causes, connections and symptoms, but comes up short in the `what to do about it` section. The reader may now realize the harmful emotions and why they occur, but what do they do about it? He says, now you can change this harmful pattern....ummmm....HOW?! I kept thinking the next chapter would give some sort of direction, but I was left waiting. Anyway, I put the book down with a better understanding of myself, my problems, and their underlying causes. A good starting point for anyone ready to have an honest look at themselves and their patterns of behavior.

This book was sent to me by a dear friend. She's an intelligent, accomplished person with some major personal challenges...just like you and me and Gary and Linda. She liked the book, so you might too. Its first 111 pages are basic metaphysics shaped by the Zukav view of authentic power and life as Earth school, and now, emotional awareness. From that point on, both the psychological and metaphysical descriptions of how and why we humans behave are quite negative and questionable. Its the Zukav reform school view of life in Muddville...and there is no joy in Muddville or in this book.
So do yourself a favor and read more enlightened and upbeat alternatives. Books like Why Your Life Sucks and What You Can Do About It, by Alan Cohen, and Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting, by Lynn Grabhorn, provide an upbeat path to our authentic power to create lives of celebration and fulfillment. Loving What Is, by Byron Katie, provides a powerful process for reframing and healing our most debilitating mental and emotional states. And in The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle simply and exquisitely gives us powerful metaphysical keys for a life of inner peace and joy right here and now on planet Earth.
What these authors are telling us is that attendance at the Zukav reform school of life is optional...there really are better alternatives.

The basic message is that emotional awareness is a fundamental step on the path to personal power. Our great difficulty lies in the fact that we do not really want to experience our emotions because they are just too hard to take. Zukav and Francis explain how to work with our seven bodily energy centers to identify the source of bodily and emotional pain.

While The Heart of the Soul teaches how to do a quick bodily scan so that blocked emotional energy can be more easily perceived, we are not really told how to work with, change, or transcend our emotions. This is a great frustration for the reader. It's sort of like reading a book that tells the virtures of physical fitness but doesn't tell you how to get fit.

That said, Zukav and Francis do a great service by drawing our attention to emotional weakness. They also link emotional maturity to spiritual growth in a way that makes sense. (The Spiritual Reviewer)