C: Is for the Celestine Prophecy

In 1994 there was talk about a book that had just been released. It had changed lives and the entire theater community was reading it. I was so busy I didn’t have the chance. I had left NY and when I came back in the fall of 1995 my world had changed for the better. I use to hate auditioning because it was full of backstabbing and catty comments. Everybody was trying to psyche out his or her competition. However in 1995 it had stopped and everyone was now discussing the 9 insights and waiting for the 10th. The Celestine Prophecy had arrived. What makes this so unique is how this book became such a success. James Redfield believed the timing of his book was crucial and decided to self-publish. Just as he went to print, he met Salle Merrill. Now husband and wife, James and Salle filled the trunk of their car with copies of The Celestine Prophecy and drove to bookstores, meeting readers and talking about the book. The first 3,000 copies they gave away. "Word of mouth took care of everything." In six months, the book had over 100,000 copies in print, was in all 50 states, and was appearing in countries around the world. "It sold not because of any publicity but because those who read it gave it to their friends everywhere." The book was so in demand Warner Books bought the rights and published the hard cover edition in March 1994. It was the #1 best seller in America in 95 and 96. It also took the world by storm rating #2 on the international best sellers list and rising to #1 in 1996. This phenomenal novel spent over 3 years on the New York Times bestsellers list. 1996, an eagerly awaited sequel, The Tenth Insight: Holding The Vision, became an instant bestseller. The two books spent a combined 74 weeks on the New York Times list. As of May 2005, it had sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Set in Peru it is the journey of searching for oneself through spiritual insights. Redfield wrote part of the novel in the high-energy vortexes of Sedona, Arizona an area that he and many others regard as a sacred place. I knew when I started this article that this would have to be in two parts so I leave you with the 1st 5 insights and will continue tomorrow. May you read these with clarity and apply them to your life and together we can make it a F.A.C.T

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...where attention goes, energy flows...influencing other energy systems and increasing the pace of coincidences in our lives.

THE FOURTH INSIGHT . . . THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER Too often humans cut themselves off from the greater source of this energy and so feel weak and insecure. 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--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.