A Review of
Betsy Otter Thompson
Walking Through Illusion
Jesus Speaks of the People who Shared His Journey
An Emotional Biography
RuPauls Drag Race is over….WHAT TO DO? Get your spiritual read on thats what!
Well folks it looks as if Spring is here and the sun will indeed shine. The Triangle Mirror wishes each of you a wonderful, fun filled summer. As you are planning your summer reading list I would encourage you to give Walking Through Illusion a spot high on the list. To me the names used are infinitely less important than the message therein. If you are uncomfortable with the name Jesus, I would recommend inserting the deity of your choosing. This author is one to watch. You can tell I am having RuPaul end of season withdraws when the best way for me to describe her is ….Betsy Otter Thompson you are a fierce Bitch!
“WALKING THROUGH ILLUSION – Jesus speaks of the People who shared his Journey – features a series of stories about biblical people who either knew Jesus or knew of him, and were influenced by him in one way or another. It is not a book about Christianity; it is about people who lived long before Christianity began. The book makes no attempt to preach religion; the author believes that we don’t take our beliefs with us when we leave here; we take the love we found from having them”. In a nonjudgmental and caring manner the author addresses, through her interview, insights on issues relative to our daily lives. This book has claimed a position in my spiritual library next to the bible, Drawing Down the Moon, A course In Miracles and Psychic Self Defense. The author used what she describes as an “energy merge” to pen this book, it feels much like the Seth books from the 70’s, only a bit more easy to follow.
When Walking Through Illusion found me, it sat on my reading table for about a month, then it moved with me as I would work, play or watch TV, I carried it with me for a couple of months. Then one evening I picked it up and began to read and did not stop until the end. Those of you who know me understand that my spiritual path is tumultuous and rocky yet consistent in its momentum and passion, a book about Jesus and Illusion?…..my first inclination was to send it packing faster than Venus De-lite! However for several months I had been thinking about the popularity and prominence of channeling during the 70's 80’s and 90’s, and what I perceive to be the lack of spiritual pioneers and envelope pushers of years past, enter Betsy Otter Thompson. She catapults channeling and spiritual pioneering into 2011 with a vengeance, can I get a big Shangela Laqifa Wadley Hallelu!
In a style akin to Marianne Williamson or Byron Katie, the choice of chapter layout is flawless and easy to read containing interview, worksheet and personal insights. The personal insights section at the end of each chapter pulls everything together as only a “spirit guided” individual can. I found myself looking forward to the insights section, which seemed odd to me as I assumed the "meat" of the book would be found in the interview. It was reassuring to read the authors views from a third party perspective. Some of the chapters in the book include:
Obstacles: What obstacles stymie growth?
Advice: Whose Advice is Worthy?
Hatred: What does Hate Create?
Approval: Why is approval necessary?
In the chapter about Gifts: Jesus is interviewed about his experience with Bartholomew and explains What Qualifies as a Gift. When I completed this chapter I looked around the room at a flat screen TV, Two Laptops and many material possessions and thought, my love for my family, those who share my life and the ability to read and learn, these are gifts. I was reminded of Lesson 1 in A Course in Miracles, “Nothing in this Room Matters”. Betsy, by virtue of “energy merge” includes the common truth that Love, Family and the energy we leave behind, do indeed matter. One of the gifts RuPaul gave to me this season was the fashion forward stylings of Ms Raja and that sickening runway walk, You better work!...again not appropriate.
Fairness: As a gay man this is an often uttered word in relation to Marriage, Job Discrimination and Bullying. Jesus discusses his experience with John the Baptist. I found much of the questioning unique and the turn of phrase so crisp. The interview section about Employee: John…Job Description: Baptizer to be a very cool twist on a well-known story. As I read this I thought about my own experience when I felt life was being less than fair. I also thought about poor Mimi Imfurst and how she was unfairly kicked off the race due to a tricky dance move she used to impress the judges…Can anyone yell, GET HER OFFA ME!...but I digress.
When I finished the book I was speechless, those of you who know me realize that is not often the case. Each chapter of Walking Through Illusion focuses on the growth of the individual with a common goal of the evolution of the species. Betsy Otter Thompson uses words much like an alchemist uses mundane ingredients to create gold. By this “energy merge”, she has carved into the group soul, information destined to become a building block for our collective spiritual DNA. As we hurl toward 2012 it behoves us all to broaden our spiritual understanding, this book should be required reading.
I find great pleasure in the varied spiritual paths of my friends and associates, from conservative Christians, Witches, pagans, Jews and atheists (yes hate to break it to you but atheism is a path as well) the group is a cornucopia of belief systems and I believe all would benefit from reading this book. The book is available at Amazon.com, or ask your favorite bookseller.
Until Next Time remember, If you can’t Love yourself, then how in the hell are you going to love anyone else? Can I get an Amen up in here? Now Sashay Away!
For additional information about Betsy Otter Thomas visit her homepage at http://www.betsythompson.com/
