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The Secret Spiritual World of Children: The Breakthrough Discovery that Profoundly Alters Our Conventional View of Children's Mystical Experiences

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One of my favorite childhood dreams, a recurrent one that I had when I was around seven or eight, is that I am conducting a symphony orchestra. That would be a special experience in itself. What makes this dream more interesting is that I am making up the music, note by note, as we go. Almost like the wand that Mickey Mouse borrows from the Sorcerer, as I wave my baton, the music comes into being. In the dream, that is a thrilling experience. What is even more interesting is that in the dream I am noticing that the orchestra seems to know what notes to play even though there are no notes until I wave them into being at that very moment. In the dream I am puzzling over how the orchestra can play the notes at the very instant that I create them.
Years later I can see in this dream many of the themes I've meditated upon in trying to come to a better understanding of a spiritual path that is natural to me, one that involves allowing improvisation to connect with a transpersonal source of creativity. While my adult self can both appreciate and understand the dream, my childhood self experienced the wonder and awe of the dream, but did not have any understanding of its meaning or source. Not all children, however, display the same lack the understanding of such experiences, according to Tobin Hart in his book The secret spiritual world of children (Inner Ocean Publishing). He shares many stories of children seeming wise beyond their years, children who experience cosmic consciousness and understand its significance and use the experience to guide them throughout their lives.
The idea that children are close to God certainly comes through loud and clear in Hart's stories. The children in his book have mystical experiences, visits by angels and other beings, they spontaneously offer healing words or touch to other children and adults, and they have psychic experiences of many varieties. An account of these experiences comprises only the first half of the book. He devotes the second half of his book to providing guidance to parents. There he skillfully weaves together insights for both parent and child as they attempt to respond to such experiences.
Spirituality is a mixed blessing, for while it may open the child to the secrets of the universe, such knowledge can also be a burden on the child. Adults face similar challenges and the parents may find their own spiritual issues mirrored in the struggles of the child. A vision of one's mission in life may also create pressure to succeed. Being given extraordinary insights, visits from angels, and other non-ordinary encounters may make the child feel "special" and disinclined to make the mortal efforts in life required of the rest of us. Awareness of invisible worlds that no one else can see can make a person, child or adult, feel alienated from others. Balancing heaven and earth is difficult, regardless of a person's age.
Psychic experiences offer their own special challenges and they are quite similar for both children and adults. Precognitive experiences, for example, especially about unfortunate events, can make the experiencer feel somehow guilty, as if knowledge of an event creates responsibility for it. Telepathic sensitivity can confuse a person's sense of self, requiring effort to discern one's own feelings from those of others. Balancing individuality with inter-connectedness is a lifelong riddle that requires the development of a stable ego, content enough to remain calmly in the background. The child's experience becomes a teacher for the parents as they endeavor to respond appropriately to the child.
Tobin's advice to parents seems to revolve around two key principles. The first is that the parent should endeavor to respond matter of factly to the child's reports. While it might seem inconceivable to us that we might deny the child's reality, making too big a deal of it can be equally harmful. The second, and more challenging, principle is for parents to cultivate a good relationship with their own spirituality and not vicariously live through their children. Although he allows for the probability that our species is evolving, he expresses some reserve about such concepts as "Indigo children." He argues, alternatively, that children have always had a secret spiritual life. It is the parents, he suggests, that are now highly interested in spirituality and have become aware of its existence in their children. The children may seem "special" in the parents' eyes, but this perception may be a compensating projection of the parents' own sad alienation from their own spiritual inner child. The child's spirituality often needs some help with incarnating into the workaday world. Parents who can embrace this need and provide a family atmosphere in which all parties are collaborating to bring heaven into earth seems to create the best classroom for the lessons spiritual experiences bring to the home. www.henryreed.com/publications/bookreviews

As Joseph Chilton Pearce wrote in the foreword, this book is "extraordinary and magnificent"!

Dr. Hart sets the tone of the entire work with the closing statement of his introduction: "This book is offered as a prayer to help us nourish the spirit within our children and within ourselves." His skillful interweaving of the stories of spiritual leaders with the mystical experiences of children is not only masterful but also heartwarming. The compassion and love for the children he interviews is palpable, and engaging. Challenging concepts are explored in a way that is relevant, and his insights provide practical solutions for parents and educators.

The questions supplied for enhanced communication offer a practical format to foster the growth of children's' sense of independence by enhancing their innate ability for self-reflection. By discussing impressions and inviting clarification, adults can gain valuable insights while encouraging meaningful dialogue that leads to healthy relationships and continuous discovery.

An enjoyable and useful read for anyone who has or works with children.

Once in a while an exceptional book comes along and you want to scream at the top of your lungs, "Hey, world, read this book - it will forever change the way your children are treated." Oh, if only I could make such a scream be heard.

"The Secret Spiritual World of Children" covers everything, not just dreams and visions, angels and fairies. It covers life, that pulsebeat within us that propels action, growth, societies and cultures - our history as humans on this very big world called Earth. Whatever you need to help you understand your children, speak with them, encourage them, help them - even practical and easy exercises and suggestions - all of this is lovingly tucked into this gem of a book. But Hart doesn't stop there. He goes on to speak to the child in all of us; and as he does, you will recognize yourself and your own childhood unveiled in a new way. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

P. M. H. Atwater, L.H.D., author of "The New Children and Near-Death Experiences" and "We Live Forever: The Real Truth about Dying."

I read this book a few of years ago, before my son was even walking. Looking back on it, I realize that I've incorporated many if the author's suggestions in working with my son, and I think that has helped him feel comfortable in talking to me about his experiences. He told me I was going to have a baby before I even knew I was pregnant; this prompted me to take a pregnancy test. He told me the baby was a girl when I was about two months pregnant. And, later, when I was very pregnant (about 8 mos or so), he told me that he was playing with his sister in his bedroom at night. He also tried to get me to 'see' her, by pointing out what he called 'balloons with light in them' that would appear in the bedroom. He said this light was Sofia and her friends. Later, a nurse at the Dr's office told me that she often hears about children his age (3 at the time) predicting pregnancies, etc.

It's just amazing that when you're aware, you can see children's spirituality unfolding naturally before your eyes. This awareness helps parents to nurture and acknowledge this spirituality, which in turn, I believe creates a well-balanced child.

Tobin Hart's book, The Secret Spiritual World of Children, is a wonderful guide for parents and other adults who want to know more about how children experience the spiritual-and how they can honor and support this experience in a child. Hart opens the door to the richness and complexity of children's spiritual life with stories, examples, and clearly drawn insights and understandings. He describes many actions that adults can take to respect and nurture a child's spirituality. The Secret Spiritual World of Children is an exciting and engaging read, a book that conveys wonder, understanding, and many aha! moments. For anyone who cares about children's spirituality, it's a book that you will want to read and savor.

I am so grateful that this book has been written.
It provides wonderful insight for parents, educators and even for children.
For those who need reassurance that there is more to life than meets the eye, that there is a spiritual world we may have forgotten about and for us all to have insight on how to be with, work with and live with our innate gifts and how to share them with others and not feel alone in the world.
Dr. Hart provides a hands-on approach for us to gain insight, learn and be involved.
For the lay person and accademia as well.
Thank you for this book Dr. Hart.
We welcome the next!

This book provided a multi-sensory experience that I was not expecting. Having both of my children now in their twenties, I thought this book would remind me of the precious times spent in awe of my childrens many moments of wonder. It did provide many memories but they were not all of the second-hand kind. Reading the first pages I was transported back to my own childhood. I was torn between devouring the entire book in one sitting or stopping to savor each delicous memory. I chose the latter and am so glad I did. Dr. Hart has proven to me that you are never too old to connect with your own spiritual innocence.

Dr. Hart does an incredible job weaving children's stories of spiritual experiences with the stories and words of great spiritual leaders, thinkers and artists. He also includes a thorough and useful section of the book that gives guidance to parents, teachers, and others interested in nurturing the spiritual lives of children. Each page offers new insights, perspectives and practical advice that I will use as a parent. Reading this book, I felt like I was in the presence of a gifted teacher who not only gave me the tools to become a better parent but inspired me to do so. This book is a refreshing alternative to the stack of "how-to" parenting books on my bookshelf. I have already bought a second copy to lend out because this is the kind of book that deserves to be discussed at length with other parents, friends and family.

This is a landmark book into a subject that has not been addressed sufficiently by mainstream psychology. Dr. Hart is an academic psychologist who has done an excellent job of researching and gathering a range of spiritual experiences that have occurred in the lives of ordinary children. It's very readable and the accounts are fascinating as well as remarkable in what they tell us about children and human potential. Anyone interested in psychology and spirituality should read this book.

As a former children's minister I have read many books about children's spirituality, but so many of them focused on church and forgot about children. Tobin Hart does a great job capturing the essence of the natural spirituality that exists within children and offering practical suggestions for nurturing spiritual development. His writing style is very personal and it is clear that he lets his children speak for themselves. He also does a nice job including the words of great spiritual leaders who share similar interests. This book is a must have for any parent, educator, children's minister, or just a friend to children.