What Life Asks of You -
Steve Taylor's January Newsletter
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Dear
A slightly delayed happy new year to you! I hope you have had a good start to 2022. I had a slightly difficult start, as I caught the Covid virus. My wife and three boys had it too – it went through the whole family very quickly, so we had to spend the whole holiday period in isolation. For me, it was like case of mild flu, which lasted for a few days, with some
lingering after-effects. I felt fantastic when I was out of isolation. I felt really appreciative of my body and its healing powers, and of the beautiful natural world that I was experiencing again after 10 days. I still feel the same now. It's such a beautiful miracle to be alive!
Once I was feeling better, I finished off my new book DisConnected, which I sent to my publisher last week. I had an interesting synchronicity as I was finishing it. I don't get recognised very often - probably once every few months. Occasionally people
come up to me and ask "Are you Steve Taylor, the author?" I was sitting in a cafe, putting the finishing touches to book, when two guys spotted me and approached my table. I was telling them about my new book. One of the guys mentioned an obvious idea that I hadn't included in the book, but which I knew straight away that I ought to. I thought there was something missing from the conclusion and this was what I needed. I've actually written about
the idea before (namely that connection or union doesn't mean ceasing to be an individual) but for some reason it hadn't occurred to me to include it. It was almost as if the guys had come along to remind of it, before I sent off the book.
Online Workshop
This coming Saturday, On 29th January I'm leading on online workshop based on my books The Leap and Extraordinary Awakenings. The workshop will be recorded, so that you will be watch even if you can’t make the date and time. For further information, see here
Extraordinary Awakenings
I'm very pleased that my latest book Extraordinary Awakenings has been recognised as a Book of the Year by the Scientific and Medical Network, in its annual book prize. It's won a share of the prize with other illustrious works by Bruce Greyson and Iain McGilchrist. It's a honour to be listed in such company! The book was reviewed in Paradigm Explorer – the journal
of the Scientific and Medical Network – which described it as “An inspiring book that is accessible to all – from those who have experienced transformation through turmoil, to those who have only just been introduced to such concepts...This book not only offers hope in the midst of one’s darkest time - it offers hope for humanity."
New Videos
While in Las Vegas in December, I did a video interview with Jeffrey Mishlove as a part of his 'Thinking Allowed' series. It was great to meet Jeffrey in Las Vegas, and we discussed my research into spiritual awakening, and my book Extraordinary Awakenings. You can watch it here
Also, here's a video presentation I gave recently on my philosophical approach of 'panspiritism,' as a part of a conference for Bernardo Kastrup's Essentia Foundation. It's the first time I've attempt to summarise the panspiritist approach in a short presentation. You can watch it here.
New Poem
As usual, let me finish with a new poem. I don’t write many poems when I’m writing a book – they usually arise in the period between books. Here’s one I’ve just written.
What Life Asks of You
Life doesn’t ask much of you.
It doesn’t ask you find a great purpose
and change the course of history.
It doesn’t ask you to fill each day
with activity and achievement.
Life doesn’t ask for reasons
for you to breathe and eat and walk
just as it doesn’t ask the wind why it needs to blow.
Life doesn’t ask you to prove your value to the world
just as it doesn’t ask a mountain or river
to justify its existence.
Life is an unconditional gift
that we should accept with grace and gratitude.
Life asks for nothing but our awareness.
It only expects us to be present, as it unfolds.
Then everything else will follow.
All best wishes and blessings, Steve
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