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October 02, 2008
RRN: "Steering by Starlight"
Reading Right Now: "Steering by Starlight" by Martha Beck
Actually, I'm not so much "reading [it] right now" as I have just finished it and am going back through to re-read my favorite parts.
This book is so good that it made me want to read everything Martha Beck has ever written. Even before I started the book, I was a fan of Beck's from her columns in Oprah magazine. Now, I love her even more.
I knew the book was affecting me when I caught myself assessing the "shackles off or shackles on" feeling of various moments and situations. And again when I started recognizing the ravings of my inner lizard—that fearful, panicked part of my brain that is always alerting me to potential "lack and attack." (Otherwise known as the amygdala, the fear center of the brain.)
One of the most fascinating parts of the book, for me, was reading about "shaman sickness" (pages 154-159). I have to admit though that I was a little weirded out by how closely I fit the profile of a shaman (or potential shaman). Seriously, the only thing I'm missing is a miserable childhood. I read the list of characteristics usually shared by shamans, contrarians, and medicine people, and my inner lizard started screaming, "Oh, no, you don't! Don't be looking at me like that. I know you are NOT looking at me."
I like this book so much I'm going to have to update my Recommended Books page so I can add it.
Posted by Selena at October 2, 2008 08:45 AM