Book Review

Wow. Just fucking WOW.

I've been reading bits and pieces of this book for a while now. It's one of the ones required by my Core classes, and it's the only one that we're required to read in full prior to class starting. Luckily, it's only about 150 pages. I just finished it.

Did I say wow? Wow.

The book is The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff.

I said wow, right?

Having never been a parent, I am doubly blessed at reading this book at this stage in my life. First of all, I am spared the guilt that many have clained to have after reading this book as mothers of grown and older children, suddenly realizing all the ways they went "wrong". Just to be clear, the book does not try to create guilt; rather it points out that we've all been "victims" of this for generations, and how were we to know better, especially when our "advanced" society is telling us differently. Secondly, if I have a child, I know I would want to incorporate the things in this book when raising him or her. (My chances of having a child, and views on childrearing, which really haven't changed a whole lot since reading this book, will be another of those eventual posts.)

I've never really studied much on attachment parenting, but what little I know of it makes me think that this is the book upon which it's based. I know some of you who read this have practiced some form of attachment parenting (blyssmouse? elorie? isarma?), and I'm wondering if any of you have already read this book, if it was part of the recommended attachment parenting cirriculum, if there is such a thing. And, of course, if you have any thoughts on it.

Like any theories, it's not perfect. The original edition was written in 1975, with no changes that I'm aware of other than the addition of an introduction, added 10 years later. There is some conjecture, especially regarding addictions (specifically heroin) and homosexuality, that I'm not sure I agree with. However, they make sense within the context of the book. My "civilized" education in psychology can't imagine it could be that simple. And, even though the book never once implies that things are the faults of either the mother (parent) or the child, years of being an advocate (informally, of course) for those who have different lifestyles makes we want to see language that isn't there, which somehow makes homosexuality a fault, something that can be cured. Which is never said, and I'm not sure it's even implied. But I've personally gone for the biological basis for so long that seeing a theory other than that raises my hackles a bit, out of habit, even when no "badness" is implied. However, I will say that in my extremely limited experience with lesbians (not bisexual women), I have yet to meet one that wasn't sexually abused by a father figure. And the description of the childhood of boys who are homosexual later in life certainly corresponds to what I know of the childhoods of the gay men I know well enough to be familiar with their childhoods. But, as blckwngdorcl pointed out when I expressed this to him, it's just as likely a combination of factors, like everything else in life.

It also mentions some theories about meditation, including the idea that the brain waves produced in meditation are similar, if not identical, to the brain waves produced in infancy. But it doesn't provide any empirical evidence for this. I don't know if there weren't studies on this when the book was written, or, if there have been studies of this since then, if they've upheld this theory. I'm not in the mood to look it up right now, though.

Let's just say this book makes a LOT of sense. There were many times reading the book that I cried, or felt like it, just noting the injustice of how we "civilized" cultures raise our children. Yes, the book used emotional language, no doubt designed for that effect. I'm familiar with that type of tactic in persuasive discussions. But this spoke to my heart, my soul. It felt absolutely right, and really mostly expounded on several views I already, apparently instinctively, held on childcare. (Granted, I haven't always had these theories. I've arrived at them over the years, and they feel intrinsically right to me.)

Anyway, the point is, I *HIGHLY* recommend this book. To ANYONE. Mothers, fathers, children. You all fall into that category. It's a short book, it's about $16, and, at Borders at least, can be found in the child psychology section. Read it.

The Good News, and the Bad News

I created a Core_Energetics community on LJ, with open membership and open posting. I will eventually weed through my own back entries and post my experiences with Core to the group, and probably my recent post on The Continuum Concept, too. My initial mention of LJ to some of those in the class would indicate that most have no idea what it is, so I'm not necessarily counting on my classmates joining or contributing to the community. Even so, feel free to join, ask questions, whatever.

That was the Good News.

The Bad News is that I inadvertently replaced all my user info with the user info for the Core group. I had to re-do my user info page, and I know I've forgotten some stuff. Especially distressing to me is that I can't remember the title for my friends page. If anyone can remember anything I previously had, and no longer do, on my user info page, please let me know. I also had a code/button for oral sex donations... I think I got that from envoy, but I'm not sure...

Full of Thankfulness and Awe

Y'know how I said recently that the Universe seemed to be providing for me? And how, earlier this week, I was a little worried, 'cause my client was in the hospital, and that cut my hours way back? Well, the reason I was worried was 'cause I still owed $450 for the Core classes, and another $275 in rent by Friday, and, had I had all my shifts that were scheduled, that would have been tight, but not a problem. But, with them being cut back... Yeah, scary.

So, when I was leaving earlier today to go pick up liljuice from work, I stopped at the mailbox, since I hadn't yesterday.

In it?

A check from my insurance company for $500, from the accident I got in last November on the way to toguspyder's birthday party.

That'll cover Core, plus a little more, and my paycheck, combined with blckwngdorcl's, if necessary, will definitely cover rent. Not much else, maybe gas, but, once again, the Universe has provided. And, in doing so, continues to tell me that I'm on the right path.

Thank you, God.

In Somewhat Related News...

I saw in savage_rose's LJ where she had gone to see What the Bleep are We Doing Here?, a movie that had been recommended by Pam. I had been looking for it for a while now, but couldn't find it anywhere, and even when I was told where it was, couldn't find it there, either.

However, now that I know it's actually playing, I've decided that blckwngdorcl and I are gonna go see it tonight. It's a bit of a stretch of our budget, but I believe it'll be worth it. Granted, I made that decision before finding the check in the mail, so now I'm even more sure it'll be worth it.

Having not seen the movie myself, I really can't say much about it, but the website for it is http://www.whatthebleep.com/, and it looks fascinating, and right up my alley. I'm sure I'll post a review later. I do remember reading an article on the water molecules a while back, though, and being fascinated by that. What what I can tell on the website, with pretty much no advertising, the few theatres that do end up running the movie end up holding it over by popular demand. It's ranked #26 at the box office, and is apparently only playing on 88 screens in the whole country, so I'm thinking that's pretty good.

Anyway, anyone who wants to go, call me, or feel free to meet us there. Not entirely sure which time or which theatre we're gonna end up at, but I'll be happy to relay that information. lunenoire, I'm hoping you read this!

jupitercornwall, the beast in the bed assures me he's going to be waking up soon, so I'll wait on him for the shower and stuff and bring him with me. We're still looking at next Friday for the extra money for the motherboard, though, 'cause I just don't have that much right now.

:)

What the Bleep Do We Know?

I can't really describe this movie. Go to the website (posted in my last, or at least a recent, entry), look it over, then forget all that and go see the movie. It's scientific, and spiritual, and awe-inspiring and joyous and ...just plain wow.

Just go.

All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go

I'm feeling effervescent and creative right now, but really don't know of an outlet that suits me, so I thought I'd come here and see what happened when I started typing. This might be long, and there won't be a cut tag. Remember, you were warned.

Watching What the Bleep...? has put me in a mood. But really, I was in that mood to begin with. I was in a pretty decent mood before I even got that check in the mail, and getting that just made me allsortsa joyous.

I use the word joyous a lot, and often sarcastically. But, to take a turn of phrase from Lemony Snicket, joyous is a term which here means awestruck, delighted, in love with the world, loved, trusting, full in heart, and other such good things.

I'm following my path. And the world is coming into alignment around me as I do. The Universe is providing for me to do so. Undoubtedly, I'm forming the new neural networks the movie speaks of. Networks of joy instead of despair, progress instead of stagnation, prosperity instead of poverty.

Will there be bad days? Of course! That's OK, though. Even on my bad days, I recognize that there's some higher purpose in it. Hell, 20/20 hindsight even leads me to suspect I got hit last November simply so I COULD get a check in the mail today that would cover my classes. I'm glad no one was hurt, though.

Everything's falling into place. It's coming full circle from the BP gather sumbel, where my first non-structured oath/toast/boast was all three. I don't remember the exact words, but I said something like, "I am the Blade and the Mirror. May we all have the courage to look at our reflections and slice away that which is false." I'm sure those aren't the exact words, in fact, but that's what I was meaning. I can break that down. The oath in that is a bit 2-fold. I'm not only stating that I'm the Blade and the Mirror, I'm making a pledge to follow that path. I'm also pledging myself to look at my reflection and take that blade to myself. The toast is to everyone there, and to humanity as a whole - may we all learn to face our darkest fear (ourselves) and grow. The boast is that I AM the Blade and the Mirror. I strive towards it, but I am already that. I just need to remember it, and act in accord.

I'm very pleased that, even if it's taken a while, that is coming to fruition. I feel I've upheld my end of the bargain, so to speak. No dishonor to the sumbel will come from me, and that pleases me.

It's not just a one-year commitment for me, though. The year since that ritual is almost up, and though I've upheld my oath, it still remains. For me, it's a lifetime commitment. That's a bit overwhelming, so for now, I'll take it one day at a time. In my mind, the current chunk I'm willing to bite off is 4 years. That's my current goal, beyond the one day at a time thing.

(This entry was pre-empted for a while by surfing a bit to see what our options for our second anniversary are. Just one more year to go, walkingbear!) ;)

Ah... in spite of the cup of coffee I had earlier (Mmmmm, Zombia AA from the Coffee Shop of Horrors, compliments of the lovely chalice66), I'm feeling a bit sleepy, drowsy, what have you. A content feeling, like the end of a long, productive day. And really, I haven't been all that productive, I don't think. But my mind has been working a mile a minute, and there's just so much STUFF.

And my heart is full.