45 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sylvia Browne on Relationships, April 9, 2007
"There have been so many self-help books for relationships written over the years, on topics ranging from `how to have a better sex life' to `how to stay married' and even `how to get a friendly divorce'. Yet I haven't seen a single volume on how to have a spiritual relationship with the different people in our lives." - From the book
In her book Spiritual Connections, controversial psychic Sylvia Browne tackles the topic of spiritual awareness among life's relationships. From the bank teller to the mechanic, romantic partners to yourself, Browne explains that each relationship present in your life is an opportunity to create connection, express love, and discover compassion.
While significant relationships tend to be ever-present--parents, children, siblings, co-workers and spouses--Browne contends that many frequently take these connections for granted, unaware that these relationships are present for a very good reason: you scripted them in your chart before incarnating in order to learn specific life lessons and expand your soul.
Browne also addresses the relationships that grace our lives at school, on the job, and out in society. From the bus driver to a teacher, the butcher to a secretary, each person--even if they happen to be aggravating or toxic--can teach us valuable lessons about our soul and higher purpose.
Spiritual Connections also covers the 47 life themes that Browne has identified through life experience, study and readings--and then explains the beneficial aspects to various combinations, as well as possible challenges between seemingly opposite life themes.
Each life theme, she explains, has a higher expression and a lower expression. The higher expressions of a life theme operate for the good of others and self while the lower expressions drain energy or sabotage connections with others. Browne also describes the difference between personality traits and life themes and their interplay among relationships.
Browne wisely notes, "For those of you who are looking for a relationship or want to try to repair a current one, you must start by looking inside yourself." She also reminds readers "The fear of rejection can make us act like what we think they other person wants--this can't last long, since putting and keeping up such a pretense is exhausting."
The last comment reminded me of Lance Armstrong's ex-wife who once appeared on Oprah. She explained how she tried to be who she *thought* Lance wanted over the years--but that her attempts actually pushed him away, because he felt he didn't know "the real" her.
Emphasizing honesty and flexibility in Spiritual Connections, Browne also shows readers how to cut others slack while remaining self-respecting.
The only part of this book that seemed a bit out of place was Browne stating that she's made mistakes as a psychic, but repeatedly stressed that she's "much more right than wrong"--countering accusations by skeptics and dismissing bad publicity. All that matters is motive, she says, because "No one is here to win a popularity contest."
While I whole heartedly agree with that last comment, I feel that Browne may be feeling the heat from the recent Shawn Hornsby case where she was exposed for telling Hornsby's parents that Shawn was "gone" (as in dead). As we now know, Shawn was and is alive--and there were other public appearances where Browne incorrectly predicted the fates of other loved ones.
Yet, she doesn't address this and other grievous mistakes, which is unfortunate. She could have used this opportunity to show the quality of humility by apologizing for causing grief to others--but, interestingly, humility is a trait that she openly decries in Spiritual Connections. (And frankly, I almost didn't read or review this book because of those cases.)
As in another recent book, she also defends her $700-$800 price tag for her "sessions"--saying that if a psychic is any good, they will not only have a long waiting list, but also charge a high fee. This is, of course, patently false. There are plenty Tarot readers, psychics, and mediums who are extraordinarily accurate, but charge modest fees. It's easy to have a large waiting list when you're appearing on Larry King and Montel on a regular basis--not to mention doing the occasional soap opera cameo!
One other criticism I have is the same one I had for her book
Mother God. When discussing the Spirituality life theme, Browne states, "If they're not careful, they can even be pulled into the occult."
The correct term is CULT. A cult--a group that seeks to control and isolate members--is entirely different from the OCCULT. The word "occult", a word sadly misaligned due to ignorance, merely means "Beyond the bounds of ordinary knowledge; mysterious". In many circles, psychic abilities, metaphysical studies, and Gnosticism would be considered of "the occult" simply because its existence has been "hidden" from public view for many years. (See my article The Occult, found on my site in the Articles section.)
If you're an enthusiastic fan of Sylvia Browne, you'll love Spiritual Connections. Those unfamiliar with Browne's books will likely find her conversational approach to relationships appealing, especially since Browne shares some of her own relationship challenges and outlines her interesting theory of Life Themes.
Fortunately, she doesn't beat a dead horse by recounting (yet again) her experiences with the "dark entity" that was her mother. But, in the spirit of "too much information", she *does* disclose that her parents had sex well into their 80's).
Accessible and practical, Spiritual Connections provides sensible advice for cultivating nurturing relationships and learning from ones that are toxic--honoring the spirit of love in self, others, and the world.
(Note: Two of the best relationship books with a spiritual bent that I've ever read are
The Five Love Languages and
The Five Love Languages of Children.
Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss is also good, especially if you're fascinated with the idea of "Life Themes" made pre-incarnation. I don't agree with her complicated wheel system, but Myss' work on archetypes can be incredibly helpful for understanding self and others.)
Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)
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