This Month's Books:

The Moon & Everyday

Living by Daniel Pharr

isbn: 0-7387-0184-x

This book is an absolute must for anyone that is truly interested in working "with" the energy of the moon. If you want your life to flow easier, understand your moods better, find meaning in the energetic and non-energetic times......you need this book!

This is not a book to be borrowed. This is a book to be owned. Make sure you have one of Llewellyn's calendars that let you know where the moon is everyday so you can work with this book on a daily basis.

Daniel Pharr explains in a very simple to understand method, how to use the lunar energies to truly work with, and transform your life.

This book will be a constant companion to me at my desk to assist my everyday decisions, I suggest everyone do the same.

In light, Aleesha Stephenson

The Essential Tantra

A Modern Guide to Sacred Sexuality by Kenneth Ray Stubbs, PH.D

ISBN1-58542-014-X

This book is a combination of three books that the author has previously written (and he plans to write a fourth as well). He has chosen to combine them into one book so that the reader can get a well rounded experience of Tantra and it's many different facets. He does an excellent job of assisting the reader in learning the art of Tantra.

In the first section of this book the focus in on massage. He teaches your how to assist your partner to relax and enjoy non-sexual and sexual touch. I felt the section was very well explained and anyone could easily grasp an understanding of how to perform this massage without referring to the book during the process. The author asks you to follow your intuition and your partners desires during the massage rather than sticking to "first we do this and then we do that etc." The illustrations are excellent and assist the reader in understanding the movements the author is explaining. The reader is also taught how to properly move energy which, I feel, is invaluable.

There is even a section on safer massage/sex in this chapter. In my opinion, it is extremely well written and gives excellent suggestions.

I do feel that there was a bit too much of a focus on the genitals in this section, however, since Tantra isn't about orgasm and sex, but more about connection on a soul level, I felt this part was a tad overdone.

"Sensual Ceremony" is the second section of this book.

The author's "Tantric Teachings" is completely worth the read. He covers everything from the types of oils to use during this massage to receptivity and relaxation.

There are many meditations in this books and I highly recommend them all. As a leader/participant of a guided meditation group, I seldom find meditations that I feel are in complete balance to the belief system I have........rather than telling someone what to experience allowing them their own experience and knowing it is right and perfect for them. The author does an excellent job in explaining this process. Well done!

There is a section on "Feeding Ceremonies," as well as the "Epicurean Bath." I can't recommend both of these highly enough. Pampering and getting in touch with your partner on a deep level is so important, especially with our busy lives in today's society. I appreciated the reminder of being relaxed, soothing and S L O W as this is sure to create a sensual experience indeed!

The section on "Solo Meditations" was beautifully written. The author assists you in focusing on yourself. Pampering yourself, getting in touch with your own soul. How can you truly connect with your partner when you are disconnected with yourself? Through breathing exercises, self-massage and other pampering he assists you in loving yourself. Often we forget to love ourselves and a gentle reminder can bring about great healing and inner-connection.

I used the breathing techniques from this chapter at the dentist office. What a relief to not focus on the scraping of my teeth during the cleaning process, instead feeling relaxed and in touch with myself - an excellent process indeed!

The section on "energy sensing" - I feel is sooo important. Finding the power within ourselves, tapping into our own hidden healing energies is a gift and this book assists us in unwrapping that part of ourselves.

"Sacred Orgasms" is the third section of this book.

All in all, this last section of the book is a good read. It allows the reader to accept or reject, without guilt, but also allows us to open ourselves up to another way of thinking/looking at - ourselves and our energies.

I absolutely love the section on creating our orgasms into a spiritual gift rather than just limiting ourselves to a physical feeling.

This entire book has been written in the form of poetry. It is very easy to follow and a joy to read. Rather than reams of text, it is broken up so that my eyes danced over the words.

The book is filled with beautiful drawing and illustrations. I really like the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They are sensual yet abstract. The illustrations at the end of the book (sexual positions) are beautifully done and I especially liked that people of different races, weights and ages were used - allowing the reader to 'fit' more comfortably in this learning experience.

I will be highly recommending this book to everyone I know. There is a video that goes with this book and I find it amazing that such an informative, gentle, loving, nonjudgmental book would put out a video without the same level of soul connection. The video is not at all in alignment with the book.

Reviewed by: Aleesha Stephenson