By James Redfield..... Has anyone read it? What'd you think? It's really changed the way I look at things, the way I do things.. On a day to day basis.. Kinda crazy.

Never heard of it. Care to give a summary?

pretty good book, very interesting, different perspective on life... its fiction but it definately had some eye opening stuff and good points. I think they have a sequel to it out now 2.

Well it's a little hard to explain. But, its about this ancient manuscript found in peru. The govt wants to cover it up because it goes against what the church teaches, and they want to destroy it. But, it's all hush hush. A guy goes out in search of copies of the differant insights.. Along the way he learns them. I'm only half way in but because of it I've been seeing things like I never saw them before it's weird to see things in a differant way and be able to relate things to your life. And be like THAT MAKES SENSE!! lmao

Yeah the second one is supposed to be horrible. I dunno I buy into it. seems to work for me. But, who knows.

I read it in the early 90's when it came out ... loved it ... I had been looking at eastern philosophies quite a bit at the time ... it was cool to read a novel which illustrated some of the notions ...

This is the first of a series ... it is followed by The Tenth Insight ... and Secrets of Shambala...Celestine Vision...

interesting stuff for sure


Nine Insights
The First Insight... A Critical Mass
A new spiritual awakening is occurring in human culture; an awakening brought about by a critical mass of individuals who experience their lives as a spiritual unfolding, a journey in which we are led forward by mysterious coincidences.

The Second Insight... The Longer Now
This awakening represents the creation of a new, more complete worldview, which replaces a five-hundred-year-old preoccupation with secular survival and comfort. While this technological preoccupation was an important step, our awakening to life's coincidences is opening us up to the real purpose of human life on this planet, and the real nature of our universe.

The Third Insight... A Matter of Energy
We now experience that we live not in a material universe, but in a universe of dynamic energy. Everything extant is a field of sacred energy that we can sense and intuit. Moreover, we humans can project our energy by focusing our attention in the desired direction, in that where attention goes, energy flows, influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives. It is possible to see this energy enveloping all living things.

The Fourth Insight... The Struggle For Power
To gain energy, we tend to manipulate or force others to give us attention and thus energy. When we successfully dominate others in this way, we feel more powerful, but they are left weakened and often fight back. Competition for scarce, human energy is the cause of all conflict between people.

The Fifth Insight... The Message of the Mystics
Insecurity and violence ends when we experience an inner connection with divine energy within, a connection described by mystics of all traditions. A sense of lightness or buoyancy along with the constant sensation of love are measures of this connection. If these measures are present, the connection is real. If not, it is only pretended.

The Sixth Insight... Clearing the Past
The more we stay connected, the more we are acutely aware of those times when we lose connection, usually when we are under stress. In these times, we can see our own particular way of stealing energy from others. Once our manipulations are brought to personal awareness, our connection becomes more constant and we can discover our own evolutionary path in life, and our spiritual mission, which is the personal way we can contribute to the world.

Here the four main "control dramas"—the Interrogator, the Intimidator, the Aloof and the Poor Me—are discussed. Each person unconsciously prefers one of these four to suck energy out of others (as described in the Fourth Insight). A way of getting these under control is disclosed.

The Seventh Insight... Engaging the Flow
Knowing our personal mission further enhances the flow of mysterious coincidences as we are guided toward our destinies. First we have a question; then dreams, daydreams, and intuitions lead us towards the answers, which usually are synchronistically provided by the wisdom of another human being.

The Eighth Insight... The Interpersonal Ethic
We can increase the frequency of guiding coincidences by uplifting every person that comes into our lives. Care must be taken not to lose our inner connection when we have become part of romantic relationships. Uplifting others is especially effective in groups wherein each member can feel energy of all the others. With children it is extremely important for their early security and growth. By seeing the beauty in every face, we lift others into their wisest self, and increase the chances of hearing a synchronistic message.

The Ninth Insight... The Emerging Culture
As we all evolve toward the best completion of our spiritual missions, the technological means of survival will be fully automated as humans focus instead on synchronistic growth. Such growth will move humans into higher energy states, ultimately transforming our bodies into spiritual form and uniting this dimension of existence with the after-life dimension, ending the cycle of birth and death.

That sounds very interesting! I will have to check it out. Thanks for all of the info. =)

It is a very good book. They made a movie which was not nearly as good as the book and kind of corny, but you still got the message.

I see the coincidences all of the time.

Great Book!

.....or rather the lack thereof. There are no coincidences.

It's describes a spiritual awakening of the writer by experiencing nine spiritual insights while in Peru.

Mushrooms might have been involved.

Wow. I did this "journey" all on my own without reading this book or books. As I was reading through this I was floored...lol Wow

Still like the "happy accidents" definition of serendipity