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® REVIEWS public right-to-know. Sparrow defines the Christ encounter as DeAnna Emerson, a writer, scholar and — “any experience in which a person per- student of ancient religions and archaeolo- _ceives the presence of a being whom he or gy, argues in Mars/Earth Enigma that the __ she identifies as Jesus or Christ", and he structures are the marks of an advanced excludes encounters with other identified civilisation—but one which has hada sig- _ or unidentified spiritual beings. These nificant relationship with Earth. encounters can come in dreams, waking So what does it all mean? Emersonhas _ visions or near-death experiences, and discovered markings, or inscribed sym- happen unexpectedly to people of all ages bols, on the Martian Face which can be from all walks of life (not necessarily to likened to those symbols used by ancient — Christian believers), leaving witnesses in goddess-worshipping societies on Earth, no doubt as to their reality. and she includes many examples of such In his research, Sparrow has identified glyphs and scripts to prove her point. She _ several categories of Christ encounter: observes that the same sacred geometric awakening, physical healing, emotional symbols can be seen in the mystical healing, confrontational, initiatory, Pythagorean numbers and even in many of _ instructional and confirmational. The the crop circle pictograms, and suggests common thread running through all these that they may even contain within them personal stories is an experience of the the keys to higher-dimensional physics. power of divine love and wisdom, a This is a fascinating, multidisciplinary renewed conviction to life and living, and treatment which not only explains the her- _a feeling that Jesus Christ is with us itage of the matriarchal societies of pre- always—just as he's supposed to have history, but suggests a much stronger promised. These are moving stories, Mother Goddess connection with Mars whatever your belief system. than is usually recognised. Emerson also raises important issues concerning equali- ©THE PARADIGM CONSPIRACY ty of the sexes, the Vatican's role in the by Denise Breton & Christopher suppression of women, the condition of Largent world power structures, and the existence Published by Hazelden (1996), USA of extraterrestrial life. ISBN1-56838-106-9 (399pp h/c) Price: USD$23.95 + foreign p&h; ! AM WITH YOU ALWAYS: True CAN$32.95 Stories of Encounters with Jesus Available: USA—Hazelden, PO Box by G. Scott Sparrow, Ed.D. 176, Center City, MN 55012-0176, ph Published by Bantam (1995), USA (612) 257 4010. ISBN 0-553-37523-7 (231pp s/c) Everything we think, feel and do is Price: AUD$17.95; USD$11.95; CAN$16.95 shaped by paradigms, our mental models. Available: Australia—Distributed by When individual experience combines Transworld Publishers, 40 Yeo St, Neutral with the collective, a larger paradigm is Bay, NSW 2089, ph +61 (0)2 908 4366; — created, which we call consensus reality. USA/Canada—Bantam/Doubleday, ph The fact is, we can become so system- (212) 354 6500. bound that we don't even realise the model The Christ encounter phenomenon has no longer works for ourselves or society, been recorded throughout the last 2,000 let alone be able to change it. We unwit- years, but in contemporary times its expe- _ tingly participate in a big lie. rience would seem to be more widespread Authors Denise Breton and Christopher than is generally believed. In fact, it's sur- Largent, a husband-and-wife writing-and- prising just how common it is. teaching team specialising in philosophy Psychotherapist Gregory Scott Sparrow, and comparative religion, argue in The who specialises in an innovative transper- | Paradigm Conspiracy that our systems— sonal dreamwork therapy, has been government, education, religion, business, researching the Christ encounter for the science, cultural patterns and even the last five years and has amassed a variety family itself—can conspire to violate our of extraordinary accounts from ordinary human potential. people whose lives have suddenly become — These systems perpetuate themselves by transformed for the better—just when they promoting addictions to substances, emo- needed them to be. tions and processes which stifle individual 1 AM WITH YOU ALWAYS: True Stories of Encounters with Jesus by G. Scott Sparrow, Ed.D. Published by Bantam (1995), USA ISBN 0-553-37523-7 (231pp s/c) Price: AUD$17.95; USD$11.95; CAN$16.95 Available: Australia—Distributed by Transworld Publishers, 40 Yeo St, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089, ph +61 (0)2 908 4366; USA/Canada—Bantam/Doubleday, ph (212) 354 6500. The Christ encounter phenomenon has been recorded throughout the last 2,000 years, but in contemporary times its expe- rience would seem to be more widespread than is generally believed. In fact, it's sur- prising just how common it is. Psychotherapist Gregory Scott Sparrow, who specialises in an innovative transper- sonal dreamwork therapy, has been rescarching the Christ encounter for the last five years and has amassed a variety of extraordinary accounts from ordinary people whose lives have suddenly become transformed for the better—just when they needed them to be. NEXUS ¢ 83 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1996