Sera J. Beak

While I am not Beak's intended audience -- and, I confess, this was a small distraction as I began reading and she reminded her readers, more than once, that they are smart, twenty-something, post-modern women -- I moved past this snag with every intention of enjoying a slightly smug read of one more woo woo crystal approach to "get your spiritual feel-good on."

Well, her Harvard degree in mysticism and comparative religion, evidenced by her engaging, liberally-foot-noted prose, quickly reduced my slight smug to dust and called forth a bit of admiration. Either I'm way more post-modern than I realized, or I've been reading some of the same writers and so found myself nodding and smiling and generally feeling as if I've shared a fair bit of her journey. Woo hoo for Rumi, Jung, Jesus, and Buddha. Hello to the (new to me) Hindu group and a bit of wading in Tao and Gnostic thought. Hey, all truth is God's truth.

Beak asks questions that may serve as prompts if you choose to keep your own spiritual journal or Red Book. I liked these:

Am I being challenged to be more attuned in all areas of my life, not just the so-called spiritual areas? Am I encouraged to question beliefs and traditions? Am I made aware of the dark as well as the light? Am I encouraged to be honest about my issues and to take healthy action? Or am I avoiding some spiritual practice that would help me grow stronger because I know it would be demanding and would upset my easy life? Is compassion toward myself and other s a fundmental principe? Am I surrounded by wisdom, nonjudgment, sound ethics, and good humor?

One size does not fit all, and the
[b:The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark|401680|The Red Book A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark|Sera J. Beak|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347362949s/401680.jpg|391084] presents guideposts, ideas, principles, and views with an invitation that honors flexibility and individual preferences and needs. Delicious, indeed.… (meer)

I bought this one because I couldn't resist the title. I read it straight through because I couldn't resist her fearless authenticity. Truthfulness, though, is only half the equation for me. I want more than juicy tidbits of personal history. RHH satisfies this requirement. Whenever Sera Beak reveals intimate experiences or hard choices, she shares the insights gained from them. She gives them meaning. We are definitely accompanying her step-by-awkward step along her journey of awakening. It took a couple of chapters for me to acclimate to her liberal use of colloquial speech (e.g. “mash up,” “shout-out from my soul to yours,” and “walking all ninja-like”), but she’s also an academic with serious credentials in comparative religions. I’m impressed with how she incorporates that research into the book in a way that does not intrude on her personal story. Her path differs dramatically from mine, but I recognize bits and nuances of my own experience in hers. This is an intriguing book, even radical. The energy that explodes from it reminds me of Perfect Brilliant Stillness, by David Carse. I’ve read Red Hot and Holy twice. I’ll read it again. I’m drawn in by Sera Beak’s authenticity, passion, humor, and insights. But especially by her all-encompassing sense of devotion.… (meer)