Awake in Angelscape lends itself well to a group experience, such as through store
sponsored or private book clubs. The exercises in the book are described in a flow
of sequences that makes it very easy for a designated leader to walk participants
through the activities.
Benefits of a Book Group Dynamic
- Supports less experienced meditators/visualizers to benefit from those who are
more adept. It's a common phenomenon that beginners often have much
deeper and more vivid experiences while in supportive meditation groups.
These gains are often a permanent. While it's not known the exact mechanism
of this phenomena, it is likely due to the brain waves/states of others helping to
entrain those nearby. Once the "foot is in the door" it is far easier for the
beginner to get to that state again, even if they work alone.
- Having "buddies" keeps you motivated to work through the activities in the
book with persistence and enthusiasm. It adds a layer of accountability in the
same way as it is to have physical exercise/diet buddies.
- Many of the activities require you to process and integrate powerful inner
experiences and healing shifts. If you have a book club, you already have a
dedicated group with whom you can share your thoughts, listen, and create an
atmosphere of nurturing and support.
- Metaphysical or spiritual book stores make excellent hosts for a book group
meeting and often have healers or resident clairvoyants on site that would enjoy
being the narrator for the exercises.
- Many of the healing themes in the book will create curiosity to explore other
healing modalities or topics that address the same theme. Metaphysical book
stores already have significant complimentary resources available for
immediate discovery, such as other books, healing practitioners, and products.
- People with lesser visualization ability can benefit from the use of physical
props during the activity in order to strengthen the impact that guided imagery
has on the brain. (Please see my article on "Effective Imagery Techniques for
the Imaginally Challenged" to learn more.) Metaphysical stores have all sorts of
supportive products that can be sampled by the book club members so that
they can see which ones are most helpful.
- The activities in the book create a framework for functioning in a spiritually
supported "landscape". Once the participants are finished with the designated
healing journey, they will have acquired significant skills that lend well to
ongoing global healing meditation groups. The book group can evolve into
more advanced weekly or monthly meditation groups.
Recommended Format for a Store Sponsored Book Club
- Have a store employee volunteer to be the group leader, using the step by step
guided imagery instructions to lead the group. The leader can be someone who
has experience as a hypnotist, with guided meditation/visualization, or one who
is sensitive and can give good feedback, if desired.
- Use a quiet meeting space in the store where the group will not be disturbed.
- Have a table with helpful products and props prior to beginning the activity and
encourage the book club members to sample them as they wish. Please see the
Props by Activity Section page for prop and product suggestions.
- I recommend for the group to do the Direct Route activity together only. The
two supporting Scenic Route activities per section can be done as homework
before the next meeting. There are 10 Direct Route activities, so the book club
would last for at least 10 weeks.
- Allow for a half hour at the beginning of the meeting for the group members to
discuss and share their experiences with the Scenic Route activities that were
done at home.
- Have guest speakers/healers address the group and offer demonstrations
during relevant activity themes, such as Reiki practitioners, massage therapists,
past-life therapists, etc.
- Getting to the end of the work in the book should be a celebration. Throw a pot-
luck party at the last meeting.
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