Author(s): Gary Zukav

Mind/Body/Spirit

"The longest journey you will ever make is from your head to your heart. So writes Gary Zukav, author of this book. It is also a painful and challenging journey, as it requires you to become aware of your emotions. This is one of the most difficult tasks you will have, yet it is necessary if you are to achieve authentic power and spiritual growth.

Authentic power, say Zakov and his spiritual partner Linda Francis, involves aligning your personality with your soul, and it's difficult to achieve because it forces you to face up to the unhealthiest aspects of yourself. The less familiar you are with your emotions, the more difficult it is. But the rewards it produces are beyond measure. Becoming aware of our emotions is an unfamiliar concept for most of us. We tend to think of emotion as something deep inside ourselves that becomes apparent only at time of stress, or when something good happens. In fact, emotion is present all the time and does not depend on other people, our environment or the state of the world. It is dependent only on ourselves.

Authentic power means 'being fully engaged in the present moment'. It means unlimited creativity, harmony with others, being compassionate and non-judgemental and living with joy. It is the life we are all being called towards throughout every moment of our existence. There is no room for fear, self-doubt or self-hatred, or indeed, hatred of others. In this book, successor to 'Seat of the Soul', Zakov and Francis show you how to bring yourself closer to your soul using authentic power practices. And the key to this is to become aware of everything you are feeling all the time. 'Your emotions', say the authors, 'are the force field of your soul.' Zakov describes life as a school, which he calls the Earth school, and we are all students in it learning how to create authentic power and gain fulfilment.

Using simple exercises, you can learn how to become aware of your emotions using the seven centres or chakras and recognize whether an emotion leaves a centre in fear or in love. When your emotions leave your centres in love, you have authentic power. If all this sounds daunting, remember that you are having to do something you may never have attempted before. To do it requires constant practice. It is a new way of life, leading you towards completeness and joy. It requires total commitment - but you are assured that you will never regret it."