Karen L French
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February 23rd, 2022

2/23/2022

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The Book of Numbers by William Harston
John Blake Publishing (Metro Books)
978-1-86066-112-9

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Recommended Read this week is 'The Book of Numbers' by William Harston, a mathematician and industrial psychologist, published by John Blake Publishing. Personally, as an avid collector of information and data, I enjoyed his fun reference book about the meaning of specific numbers, in literature, art and music, statistical information, coincidences, oddities, and numerical historical facts. Was Douglas Adams was right about 42 being the answer to life, the Universe and Everything?

The author, William R Harston, 
is a journalist who writes the Beachcomber column in the British newspaper the Daily Express and is an accomplished chess player. He played chess competitively from 1962 to 1987, with a highest Elo rating of 2485. Randomly, during his time as a PhD student at Cambridge, Hartston became the first person to stack the pieces from an entire chess set on top of a single white rook.

​For many years Harston has been a TV commentator for chess tournaments, such as the BBC Play Chess, and other TV credits. He is involved in a number of creative areas, running competitions in creative thinking for The Independent newspaper and the Mind Sports Olympiad. Harston has numerous book titles to his name, a large number of which are about chess.

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CELESTIAL GEOMETRY by Ken Taylor

2/16/2022

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Celestial Geometry - Understanding the Meanings of Astronomical Sites by Ken Taylor
Watkins Publishing Ltd
978-1-78028-386-9

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Recommended Read this week is 'Celestial Geometry: Understanding the Meanings of Astronomical Sites' by Ken Taylor, Watkins Publishing Ltd, 2019. Ken Taylor's extensive research explores over 60 archeological sites, some well known and others less so. Each site 'enshrines remarkable achievements' of ancient astronomers around the world. A fascinating book linking the Earth to the Heavens using mathematics and sacred geometry. There is the occasional mention of the various sites' uses, rites and ceremonies. More detailed specifics about the sites, such as materials used, is not really covered. Nevertheless the book is excellent!
Ken Taylor has an well founded reputation for thoroughly researched books on ancient traditions. With experience as an archaeologist he has written extensively on Palaeolithic alignments, celestial events, earth energies, astronomy and mythology. ​Ken Taylor has also worked as a freelance journalist, website editor and runs a small publishing business. 

He has written 6 books and has co-authored a further 6 in partnership with his wife Joules.  Titles include:

Early Heaven Oracle (Rider,2002 ) 
Tarot for Today (London House, 2000)
Werewolves (2009)  and Ghosts ( 2010) for Spruce.


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THE EYE: THE SEER AND THE SEEN by Francis Huxley

2/10/2022

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The Eye - The Seer and the Seen by Francis Huxley
Thames and Hudson
978-80500-810347


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Recommended Read this week is 'The Eye - The Seer and the Seen' by Francis Huxley, Thames and Hudson.  Not  a huge book but a good general overview of the importance of the Eye as a symbol in different cultures. Also because Huxley was an effective advocate and activist for indigenous peoples and the Eye is my favourite symbol.

Francs Huxley (1923 - 2016) was an anthropologist and botanist with diverse interests and a lifelong interest in shamanism and the altered states of consciousness often experienced by sacred 'healers'. In the 1950's his pioneering fieldwork among the Urubu people of the Amazon basin and his book 'Affable Savages' (1956) resulted in new personal reflective approach to the study of culture, rather than objective. He was also an activist for indigenous peoples, founding Survival International with fellow anthropologists. Survival International provides a platform for exposing genocide, violence, slavery and exploitation.

Francis was the son of Julian Huxley, biologist and first director general of Unesco. He was part of a dynasty that included Julian’s brother, the author Aldous Huxley, and half-brother, the physiologist and Nobel laureate Andrew Huxley. Francis was also the great-grandson of Charles Darwin’s friend Thomas Henry Huxley.
Works of interest
The Invisibles: Voodoo Gods in Haiti (1969), he describes his encounter with possession, magic and psychic healing.
The Way of the Sacred (1974) he expands this personal perspective on healing to include the study of myths, religious rites and sacred symbolism.
​With his fellow anthropologist, Jeremy Narby, he co-edited Shamans Through Time (2001), a collection of five centuries of writing on the subject.
​Tribes of the Amazon Basin in Brazil (1973), identified groups threatened by Brazilian economic expansion and described the sad impact on their religious, spiritual and psychological health and wellbeing.


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February 04th, 2022

2/4/2022

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A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe by Michael S Schneider
Harper Perennial
978-0-06092-671-7

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Recommended Read this week is 'A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe' by Michael S Schnieder published by Harper Perennial.  

Another book that is a readable and informative introduction to sacred geometry. Schnieder focuses on the drawing/construction of the geometric principles created by 0, 1 to 10, sequentially. He includes relevant quotes, examples in nature, the human body, myths, art and architecture. Plenty of interesting material about each of the numbers but he does not draw any conclusions.

Calling himself 'an educator and writer who encourages a love of learning' on his website Schnieder provides numerous workbooks and CDs about 'the intersections of mathematics, nature, art, science and culture'.



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    Sharing my passion for archetypal symbolism, especially sacred geometry, in nature, the Arts, sciences, philosophy and society.

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Gateway to the Heavens
A glorious work that fires the imagination and helps us appreciate the truth of our reality.
NEXUS magazine
Do you realise you actually shape your destiny and shapes influence your destiny. If you want to understand how this works ask Karen to give a talk about it or read her excellent book. You may have hated even the mention of geometry at school, but Karen's simple and illustrated explanations will give you a real insight into this fascinating topic. 
Jo Pelle, NSFH
The Hidden Geometry of Life
The harmony in our world and the cosmos is awe-inspiring, and is brilliantly portrayed here in images and words which reveal the connection between art, geometry, science, consciousness and spirituality.... An illuminating book indeed!
NEXUS magazine
The attentive audience was enthralled by Karen's introduction to the principals of this truly multi-dimensional topic ... The energy in the room, by the end of the evening, was well and truly charged! 
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    • The Gateway Series >
      • Gateway to the Heavens: How geometric shapes, patterns and symbols form our reality >
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        • FIRST EDITION Gateway to the Heavens
      • The Hidden Geometry of Life: The science and spirituality of Nature >
        • LOOK INSIDE The Hidden Geometry of Life
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