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The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation

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The realness of Jerry's journey touches my life. Each story teaches me something about myself and I am always in need of just what is being said. Sometimes I don't know I have that need inside but by the end of each story I am comforted and challenged to come to a more honest place about where I create from, live from, love from and am reminded of how unique each person's journey is and how universal. I respond to the book as an art person, a person seeing how God is in simple clear acts and consequences and how the world will survive it's constant greed and destructive enterprises. I have seen Jerry work and his studio and he makes what he does out of junk, simple things and cast offs. I think of the beauty in those bits and how he can see their possibility. He sees that in people and does not write them off as criminal or junkie or even great artist. He finds what they are about by their nature and his own. I think this book is invaluble for teachers, artists, seekers and cynics..It is beautiful as well as intelligent and heartfelt.

Artist Jerry Wennstrom shocked the New York art community in 1979 when he destroyed his paintings at the pinnacle of his illustrious career. Guided by an inner passion to connect directly to divine consciousness, Wennstrom gave away his possessions and began a journey based on complete surrender to life experience. THE INSPIRED HEART shares Wennstrom's personal journal of how he lived for years in a state of grace and faith, discovering divine intelligence and inspiration in a wide breadth of experiences. Wennstrom at various times fasted, experienced the sublime joys of sharing special moments with neighborhood children, and faced potential muggers with loving kindness... to receive loving kindness in return. THE INSPIRED HEART shows us how, "Enlightenment is not a grand finale that leaves us blissfully risen, Buddha-like, above the suffering of the world. It is a deep and unconditional surrender to what already exists and total trust in the larger inherent intelligence, which is willing to lead the way."

I love the color pictures of Wennstrom's art in the middle of this book, and the way Wennstrom's autobiographical short stories weave themselves in dreamy fashion through the places and times of his fascinating life. THE INSPIRED HEART shares the raw and simple beauty of one man's pure heart as it shows us how miraculous, magnificent and rich our lives can be when we let go of everything and allow ourselves to be fully present in this moment, now.

-- Cynthia Sue Larson
author of "AURA ADVANTAGE: How the Colors in Your Aura Can Help You Attain What You Desire and Attract Success"

This is a wonderful account of an unusual life, not just the vision of an artist, but a vision of what it means to be a human being, to face the fear of contact with the world around us and to begin a life guided entirely by the heart. YOu won't be able to put this down until you've read to the end.

"The Inspired Heart; An Artist's Journey of Transformation" by Jerry Wennstrom is an unexpected gift and complete experience to read. There are many books written about the artist's spiritual/creative/intellectual journey. This book IS the journey! Selene

Jerry Wennstrom has written something universal and transformational. I could not put his book down. It is a quiet book with a powerful message.

The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation tells the true story of Jerry Wennstrom, a rising star in the New York art world, who destroyed all of his paintings and spent the next 10 years wandering, seeking and listening. With no possessions, money or set plan, Jerry simply trusted that the Grace of God would guide him to wherever he was supposed to go and provide for him whatever he needed in order to survive. His book, The Inspired Heart, shares anecdotes about the people he met along the way and what he learned from those experiences.

Jerry did not shy away from people living on the fringes of society such as potential muggers, alcoholics and mob bosses. Instead of reacting with fear and judgment, Jerry looked for the humanity in these troubled individuals and offered genuine compassion and thoughtful insight, even when it looked like they might try to harm him.

His willingness to make himself vulnerable to such uncertain, unknown and precarious circumstances helped him find a level of faith that is inspiring. His life is a true example of how when we allow ourselves to trust in the greater intelligence present in the Grace of everyday life, we become open to a way of living where fears, doubts and judgments are replaced with an ultimate freedom, peace and deeper awareness for the inherent goodness in our self, others and God.

I read and interviewed Jerry on his book on Intuitive Soul Radio, you can listen to his interview at http://www.IntuitiveSoul.com in the archives for Feb 26th 2009. Jerry shares his spiritual journey that goes deep into his psyche where he had to let go of everything and who he was to discover his connection with God. He is a gentle soul that experienced real doubt, and yet was able to hold onto his faith and belief that this death of the ego was necessary for his unfolding of his Being. Once he was able to fully let go, which took him 15 years, he was able to discover himself all anew. This journey is brave and the one less taken. We can all relate to his journey through our own experiences with our death of the ego. Jerry does it in such a way that it reminds us of what is truly important. Who he is, his art and his life are not separate but all universally interconnected. He reminds us of the Magic that is necessary for us to survive this life. May you find joy in this inspiration.

Autobiographically written by Jerry Wennstrom, The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey Of Transformation is the story of an artist's journey in search of truth. In 1979, New York artist Jerry Wennstrom destroyed his own paintings, gave away his money and possessions, and sought to purge his personal identity, and in the process, open himself to wonder. This remarkable artist's memoir is enhanced with black-and-white photographs and a 16-page inset section of full-color plates showcasing a series of magnificent interactive box art. The Inspired Heart is a unique and quite remarkable contribution to 20th Century Art History reading lists.

The Inspired Heart: An Artist's Journey of Transformation
(ISBN 0-9710786-9-6) Sentient By Jerry Wennstrom

This is a book that gives a whole new meaning to the term "starving artist." It's for all those who have ever wondered what would happen if they cast their fates to the wind and let life unfold as it would. Jerry let go of the illusion we call "control" when he destroyed all his artwork and walked away from his artistic career to find his unique spiritual path. Individuals among us have always left the tribe to find a different way to see the world and eventually bring that vision back to the tribe to continue our evolution. The information that Jerry brings back could not be more timely as we watch the inevitable shortcomings of excessive materialism.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide
To Believe Or Not To Believe: The Social and Neurological Consequences of Belief Systems

The Inspired Heart and In the Hands of Alchemy:The Art and Life of Jerry Wennstrom

"One of the most magnificent things about Jerry is his profound and courageous innocence. He has created a friendship with a part of himself which is in love with the world, and his art displays that. Jerry is one of the few people I know who, in a very quiet way, has actually claimed his happiness in existence." - David Whyte author- The Heart Aroused and Crossing the Unknown Sea

"In the Hands of Alchemy is a delightful film, an alchemical mixture in itself of inspiration, spirituality, art and the story of a remarkable human being." David Spangler, author of Blessings; Parent as Mystic, Mystic as Parent and Everyday Miracles.

"When Jerry Wennstrom destroyed his art in 1979, he threw himself into the great unknown searching for a more authentic life. Walking the road of radical emptiness, the result was the emergence of a completely genuine voice, gentle, sensitive to the stirrings of the divine in everyday life, and creative beyond reasonable bounds. Wedding compassion and creativity, In the Hands of Alchemy is a rare celebration of life and the joy of spiritual surrender." Chris Bache, author, Dark Night, Early Dawn
Jerry Wennstrom is one of a kind - and his point is that any of us can be that. We can, like him, walk straight into the heart of mystery and emerge more ourselves than we could ever imagine. His tells his story of being called to destroy his art, of struggling to hear any message but that one, of surrendering his will and allowing the soft something beyond will to guide him. It's all a fabulous tale worth hearing again and again like a great myth, and it's a deep, simple instruction for how to find ourselves in the middle of a life that seems real, but is often missing the central character. Jerry's amazing recent artwork, and his extraordinarily beautiful and talented wife Marilyn swirl around this story of a courageous soul, making it even more compelling. Best would be to know Jerry as I am privileged to do, second best is watching this film. -Vicki Robin - Co-author, Your Money or Your Life