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REVIEWS @ THE BOOK OF THE SOUL: plans for the next ones. One amazing notion _ serpents" ida and pingala—is the secret to Rational Spirituality for the is that part of our soul energy, when we are achieving enlightenment. It is the font of Twenty-first Century in a present lifetime, is retained in the ether-__ true knowledge, or gnosis, and Gardiner by lan Lawton ic realm to assist in interlife planning believes it has been at the core of secret Lawton Publishing, Southampton, 2004 involving other souls with whom we may be _ societies through the ages, including the ISBN 0-95491 76-0-X (306pp tpb) sharing a journey which may not come to Knights Templar and Freemasons. Availability: http:/Avww.ianlawton.com pass until a future time period! But how to achieve this gnosis? The tradi- nour last jssue we ran Ian Lawton's article Lawton's efforts are indeed commendable, tions and rituals handed down by Masonry, Det Lives, Future Lives and the Nature not only in distilling the findings ofa num- for instance, are teaching devices aimed at of Time" Lawton is the author of Genesis ber of pioneers in the field but in fostering a the individual achieving enlightenment, but Unveiled (see NEXUS 10/01) and co-author worldview that establishes our reality Gardiner argues that the Temple of of Giza: The Truth (7/01), and despite his beyond mere materialism and in offering Solomon—the First Temple—never existed . ’ ° : guidelines for individual soul progress. as bricks and mortar. King Solomon and the track record he had to self-publish his latest work, The Book of the Soul, as his previous publisher (Virgin) wouldn't commit itself to GNOSIS Queen of Sheba were not real historical peo- ple but existed in an esoteric sense: their a book about spirituality! This well-edited by Philip Gardiner union represented a balance between male book has a wealth of mind-boggling infor- Radikal Books, Underwood, UK, 2005 and female energies. The true Temple is mation about the journey of the soul that is ISBN 1-9041260-4-9 (281 pp tpb) built by us and is ws, he concludes. relevant to a wide readership. Availability: Australia—Gary Allen Book Backing up his argument, Gardiner refers Lawton was an atheist until something was __ Distribution, tel (02) 9725 2933; UK— to a number of other esoteric traditions triggered in him a few years ago that led him Gazelle Book Service, tel 01524 68765; including Hermeticism, Buddhism and to research past life regression with himself __ http://www.philipgardiner.net putism, as well as the etymology of many as the subject. But it was his inherent scep- n his travels around the world exploring acres: The hich oie clu rel os the de ystical ticism that helped him develop the concept archetypal artefacts, myths and symbol- sores ft appencie ells en . a ken © of "rational spirituality". It encompasses a ism, Philip Gardiner has gained much chin and ns a a ine oF snal hi Wore logical, coherent approach to understanding __ insight into esoteric knowledge. In his pre- SP @n¢ P oto images that support his case. the soul's journey, supported by scientific vious book The Serpent Grail (co-authored evidence, the work of many inspired psy- with Gary Osborn; reviewed in NEXUS chotherapists and their willing subjects as 12/06), he uncovered what he believes to be well as by age-old traditions. a serpent-based cult, traceable to ancient A broad purview is covered—from near- Sumeria and earlier cultures, which involved death experiences, past-life regressions, the consumption of a concoction of snake future-life progressions and children who blood and venom. remember their last lifetime, to karmic evo- In Gnosis, he explores the hidden truths at lution, soul energy division and spirit pos- the heart of the serpent or snake cults, which session. The sections on past-life reviews in _ are linked with magic and myth in almost the "interlife" period as well as life plans every culture whether Australian Aboriginal, and choices are especially compelling, with Ethiopian or Indian. In the latter especially, Lawton's analysis of soul groups, the the concept of kundalini—the energy which akashic library and etheric-level councils travels up the spine via the seven chakras or overseeing reviews of lifetimes and making _ energy centres, intertwined by the "energy plans for the next ones. One amazing notion is that part of our soul energy, when we are in a present lifetime, is retained in the ether- ic realm to assist in interlife planning involving other souls with whom we may be sharing a journey which may not come to pass until a future time period! Lawton's efforts are indeed commendable, not only in distilling the findings of a num- ber of pioneers in the field but in fostering a worldview that establishes our reality beyond mere materialism and in offering guidelines for individual soul progress. GNOSIS by Philip Gardiner Radikal Books, Underwood, UK, 2005 ISBN 1-9041260-4-9 (281 pp tpb) Availability: Australia— Gary Allen Book Distribution, tel (02) 9725 2933; UK— Gazelle Book Service, tel 01524 68765; http://www. philipgardiner.net n his travels around the world exploring archetypal artefacts, myths and symbol- ism, Philip Gardiner has gained much insight into esoteric knowledge. In his pre- vious book The Serpent Grail (co-authored with Gary Osborn; reviewed in NEXUS 12/06), he uncovered what he believes to be a serpent-based cult, traceable to ancient Sumeria and earlier cultures, which involved the consumption of a concoction of snake blood and venom. In Gnosis, he explores the hidden truths at the heart of the serpent or snake cults, which are linked with magic and myth in almost every culture whether Australian Aboriginal, Ethiopian or Indian. In the latter especially, the concept of kundalini—the energy which travels up the spine via the seven chakras or energy centres, intertwined by the "energy 70 * NEXUS serpents" ida and pingala—is the secret to achieving enlightenment. It is the font of true knowledge, or gnosis, and Gardiner believes it has been at the core of secret societies through the ages, including the Knights Templar and Freemasons. But how to achieve this gnosis? The tradi- tions and rituals handed down by Masonry, for instance, are teaching devices aimed at the individual achieving enlightenment, but Gardiner argues that the Temple of Solomon—the First Temple—never existed as bricks and mortar. King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba were not real historical peo- ple but existed in an esoteric sense: their union represented a balance between male and female energies. The true Temple is built by us and is us, he concludes. Backing up his argument, Gardiner refers to a number of other esoteric traditions including Hermeticism, Buddhism and Sufism, as well as the etymology of many languages which gives clues to the mystical secrets. The appendices include a detailed glossary of terms, a timeline of snake wor- ship and photo images that support his case. www. nexusmagazine.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2006