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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

This book caught my eye while I was browsing the shelves and I'm glad it did. It is wonderfully open about the ideologies it pulls from. And anyone that can meet with the Dalia Lama in one chapter and quote Charlie Chaplin in the next is interesting and quirky enough for me to read again. I’ll pull it off the shelf any time I feel myself taking life too seriously.

The Chaplin quote? “In the end, everything is a gag.” Now there’s a truism.

To be honest, author Sera Beak did herself a disservice by defining a market niche for her first book. The Red Book is marketed to "smart, gutsy, [young] spiritually curious women." The book is highly accessible in a variety of ways. Beak's writing style is conversational and easy. The topics are broken into short, pithy sections perfect for busy women, or whomever. The suggested exercises are written with the intent of being easily incorporated into the readers current schedule and daily show more practices. Pertinent, modern day examples are backed by Beak's deep personal experiences and explorations as well as her academic research, reminding readers that one's connection with the divine/spirituality/magic (take your pick) manifests in one's everyday life.

For those who are new to spiritual explorations or those who are re-remembering their connections to the Divine, The Red Book provides a lovely, heartfelt, fun (re)introduction. Overall, I would say that a couple of copies of The Red Book would be a good, contemporary addition to any metaphysical book store.

Admittedly I am not necessarily the ideal target audience for the book. While I fit the market demographic, being under 30 and female, The Red Book was a bit too, well, introductory for me. Personally I enjoyed reading a book by a kindred (but possibly braver) spirit. The thing I enjoyed most about the book was the list of teachers and resources that I gathered along the way that will no doubt lead to deeper knowledge and connections. (Not to mention from the extensive bibliography, the layout of which demonstrates Beak's desire to be both academically viable and modernly hip.) I was left thinking that Beak would be someone I would love to corner for a coffeehouse discussion (if you happen to read this...BM 08??). I am also looking forward to purchasing and digesting the oft-alluded to Blue Book, the possible follow-up to The Red Book that would explore more esoteric topics for the modern girl creating and living a magical existence in this busy world. show less