Synopses & Reviews
Australian aboriginal people have lived in harmony with the earth forperhaps as long as 100,000 years, in their words, since the First Day.In this absorbing work, Lawlor explores the essence of their culture asa source of and guide to transforming our own world view. While not romanticizingthe past or suggesting a return to the life of the hunter/gatherer,
Voicesof the First Dayenables us to enter into the mentality of the oldestcontinuous culture on earth and gain insight into our own relationshipwith the earth and to each other.
This book offers an opportunity to suspend our values, prejudices, andEurocentrism and step into the Dreaming to discover:
A culture whose antiquity predates even the controversial civilizationsof Atlantis and Mu.
Initiatic and ritual practices that reveal the origins of esoteric,yogic, magical, and shamanic traditions of ancient and modern times.
A culture that rejected agriculture, architecture, the subjugation ofanimals, writing, and clothing.
A people that valued kin, community, and the law of the Dreamtime astheir greatest possessions.
A people that did not see themselves as greater or lesser than the earthor its plants and animals.
Languages whose richness of structure and vocabulary open new worldsof perception and comprehension.
Illustrated with more than 100 extraordinary photographs, bark paintings,line drawings and engravings from the early 20th century, never beforepublished.andnbsp;
Review
andlt;iandgt;andquot;Voices of the First Dayandlt;/iandgt; is a comprehensive and fascinating account of the aboriginal culture-its mysticism, its spirituality and initiation, and its family/community orientated lifestyle.andquot;
Review
Voices of the First Day is a comprehensive and fascinating account of the aboriginal culture--its mysticism, its spirituality and initiation, and its family/community orientated lifestyle. The Planet
Review
andquot;A remarkably comprehensive and fascinating account . . . truly worthwhile.andquot;
Review
Provides enough solid evidence and provocative insights to be of interest to both advocates and skeptics of unconventional medicine. (Utne Reader)
Review
Dr. Richard Gerber has provided a valuable step in thinking about the higher reaches of human beings. (Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words)
Review
"Lawlor's consideration of Australian Aboriginal culture's logic, spirituality and benefits is essential for understanding their society: it provides not the usual history of Aboriginal heritage; but a review of their beliefs, psyche and society."
Review
"andlt;Iandgt;Voices of the First Dayandlt;/Iandgt; is a giant step toward retrieval of what the author calls "archaic" wisdom which has been kept alive in the pristine Aboriginal traditions."
Review
andquot;This is a compelling work. Lawlor writes clearly, his research is impeccable, and his dedication to the Australian peoples is made clear by the donation of the book's profits to aboriginal organizations.andquot;
Review
"The best of what the Aboriginals have let outsiders know about their ecological and shamanic practices, origin myths and kinship rituals, social and spiritual practices. The illustrations are spectacular, more than 150 color and duotone illustrations include some of the earliest photographs of Aboriginal people, shown here for the first time."
Review
"Customs and beliefs of the Australian Aborigines have long fascinated social scientists. Placing little value on material possessions or the concept of linear time, the Aborigines possess a complex social, religious, and ceremonial system focused on preserving and maintaining their ancestral lands. In the tradition of armchair anthropologists, Lawlor attempts to enter the Aboriginal mind, taking as sources early ethnological accounts, conversations with Aborigines reviving ancestral beliefs, and insights from his study of ancient religions. He believes the Aborigines possess an archaic consciousness vital to the survival of the planet, a view of human life held by ancient hunter-gatherer societies but lost with the emergence of advanced technology. Avoiding anthropological jargon, Lawlor presents a survey of Aboriginal belief and way of life, enhanced by illustrations of Aboriginal art and early photographs of Aboriginal ceremonies. Bibliographic sources, though not seen, appear to be extensive. Recommended for large collections."
Review
"A remarkably comprehensive and fascinating account . . . truly worthwhile." < i=""> Kirkus Reviews <>
Review
"This is a compelling work. Lawlor writes clearly, his research is impeccable, and his dedication to the Australian peoples is made clear by the donation of the book's profits to aboriginal organizations." < b=""> Pat Monaghan, <> < i=""> Booklist <>
Review
"The best of what the Aboriginals have let outsiders know about their ecological and shamanic practices, origin myths and kinship rituals, social and spiritual practices. The illustrations are spectacular, more than 150 color and duotone illustrations include some of the earliest photographs of Aboriginal people, shown here for the first time." < i=""> Whole Earth Review <>
Review
"Voices of the First Day is a comprehensive and fascinating account of the aboriginal culture-its mysticism, its spirituality and initiation, and its family/community orientated lifestyle." < i=""> The Planet <>
Review
"Lawlor's consideration of Australian Aboriginal culture's logic, spirituality and benefits is essential for understanding their society: it provides not the usual history of Aboriginal heritage; but a review of their beliefs, psyche and society." < i=""> The Bookwatch <>
Review
"Voices of the First Day is a giant step toward retrieval of what the author calls "archaic" wisdom which has been kept alive in the pristine Aboriginal traditions." < i=""> Shared Transformation <>
Review
"Customs and beliefs of the Australian Aborigines have long fascinated social scientists. Placing little value on material possessions or the concept of linear time, the Aborigines possess a complex social, religious, and ceremonial system focused on preserving and maintaining their ancestral lands. In the tradition of armchair anthropologists, Lawlor attempts to enter the Aboriginal mind, taking as sources early ethnological accounts, conversations with Aborigines reviving ancestral beliefs, and insights from his study of ancient religions. He believes the Aborigines possess an archaic consciousness vital to the survival of the planet, a view of human life held by ancient hunter-gatherer societies but lost with the emergence of advanced technology. Avoiding anthropological jargon, Lawlor presents a survey of Aboriginal belief and way of life, enhanced by illustrations of Aboriginal art and early photographs of Aboriginal ceremonies. Bibliographic sources, though not seen, appear to be extensive. Recommended for large collections." < i=""> Library Journal <> (Wednesday, January 01, 1992) Lucille Boone, San Jose P.L., Cal.
Synopsis
The original comprehensive guide to energetic healing with a new preface by the author and updated resources. x More than 125,000 copies sold. x Explores the actual science of etheric energies, replacing the Newtonian worldview with a new model based on Einstein's physics of energy. x Summarizes key points at the end of each chapter to help the serious student absorb and retain the wealth of information presented. This combination of ancient wisdom and new science is the definitive introduction to health care for modern times. The standard reference book on energetic healing, Vibrational Medicine has gained widespread acceptance by individuals, schools, and health-care institutions nationwide as the textbook of choice for the study of alternative medicine. Trained in a variety of alternative therapies as well as conventional Western medicine, Dr. Gerber provides an encyclopedic treatment of energetic healing, covering subtle-energy fields, acupuncture, Bach flower remedies, homeopathy, radionics, crystal healing, electrotherapy, radiology, chakras, meditation, and psychic healing. He explains current theories about how various energy therapies work and offers readers new insights into the physical and spiritual perspectives of health and disease.
About the Author
Robert Lawlor is a writer and film producer living in Australia who has studied aboriginal culture firsthand. His published works include andlt;Iandgt;Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice andlt;/Iandgt;(Thames andamp; Hudson, 1982), andlt;Iandgt;Earth Honoring: The New Male Sexuality andlt;/Iandgt;(Inner Traditions 1991), and the translation of the works of Schwaller de Lubicz and Alain Daniandeacute;lou.
Table of Contents
In this widely praised work, you enter the nearly vanished world of the Australian Aborigines and discover a remarkable people who offer us a new perspective on our own lives and the future of our planet.
Robert Lawlor is a writer and film producer living inAustralia whohas studied aboriginal culture firsthand. His published works includeSacredGeometry: Its Philosophy and Practice (Thames andamp; Hudson, 1982),Earth Honoring: The New Male Sexuality (Inner Traditions 1991),and the translation of the works of Schwaller de Lubicz and Alain Daniandeacute;lou.andnbsp;
Voices of the First Day
Awakening in the Aboriginal Dreamtime
Preface
Introduction
Earth Dreaming
Part One - In The Beginning Was The Dreaming
Chapter 1. Images of Our Origins
Chapter 2. Time and Space in the Dreaming
Chapter 3. Dreaming and Creation
Chapter 4. Colonization and the Destruction of the Dreaming
Chapter 5. Revelation, Paradise, and Fall: The Myth of the Golden Age
Chapter 6. Earth Dying, Earth Reborn
Chapter 7. In The Womb of the Rainbow Serpent
Chapter 8. Seed Dreaming
Part Two - Living The Dreaming
Chapter 9. Coming Into Being
Chapter 10. The Cycles of Initiation
Chapter 11. Aboriginal Sexuality
Chapter 12. Dreamtime and the Sense of Being
Chapter 13. The Aboriginal Kinship System
Chapter 14. Dream, Earth, and Identity
Part Three - Totemism and Animism
Chapter 15. Totem and Society
Chapter 16. Totem and Image
Chapter 17. Hunter-Gatherers and Totemism
Chapter 18. Totem and Mind
Chapter 19. Totem and Animism
Part Four - Death and the Initiations of High Degree
Introduction
Chapter 20. Death - Expanding into the Dreaming
Chapter 21. Death - The Prepared Journey
Chapter 22. Wise Women and Men of High Degree
Chapter 23. Preserving the Seed
Endnotes
Bibliography
Indexandnbsp;
andquot;A remarkably comprehensive and fascinating account . . . truly worthwhile.andquot;
<>p > <>i > Kirkus Reviews <>/i > <>/p > andquot;This is a compelling work. Lawlor writes clearly, his research is impeccable, and his dedication to the Australian peoples is made clear by the donation of the book's profits to aboriginal organizations. andquot;
<>strong > Pat Monaghan <>/strong > <>br / > <>i > Booklist <>/i > andquot;The best of what the Aboriginals have let outsiders know about their ecological and shamanic practices, origin myths and kinship rituals, social and spiritual practices. The illustrations are spectacular, more than 150 color and duotone illustrations include some of the earliest photographs of Aboriginal people, shown here for the first time.andquot;
<>em > Whole Earth Review <>/em >
andquot;Voices of the First Dayis a comprehensive and fascinating account of the aboriginal culture-its mysticism, its spirituality and initiation, and its family/community orientated lifestyle.andquot;
<>em > The Planet <>/em >
andquot;Lawlor's consideration of Australian Aboriginal culture's logic, spirituality and benefits is essential for understanding their society:" it provides not the usual history of Aboriginal heritage; but a review of their beliefs, psyche and society.andquot;
<>em > The Bookwatch <>/em >
andquot;Voices of the First Dayis a giant step toward retrieval of what the author calls andquot;archaicandquot; wisdom which has been kept alive in the pristine Aboriginal traditions.andquot;
<>em > Shared Transformation <>/em >