March 24, 2008

Continuing Education

Sometimes we all have to go back to school to get remedial (or refresher) training in a given subject. I found that out for myself recently in an area I’d like to think I know a few things about – conscious creation, the metaphysical practice that provides the philosophical foundation for Get the Picture.

Last week, I completed a long and often frustrating search to find a new apartment. I believed (key word there) going in that it would be difficult, and, of course, that’s exactly how it turned out, since beliefs form the basis of this practice. My conscious creation collaborator, All That Is, faithfully complied with the underlying intent of my request, wrong-headed though it may have been to incorporate difficulty as an inherent part of the process. I guess I bought into that notion partly because it reflected my beliefs associated with difficult past experiences. I also likely embraced it because I had a lengthy list of requirements and preferences for what I wanted out of a new place. What’s more, many naysayers told me that, given what’s in the market, I’d never find what I was looking for. In my own defense, however, I resisted their negativity and limited outlooks, genuinely believing in the true spirit of a confirmed conscious creator that eventually I would find what I wanted.

Nevertheless, once I began my search, I repeatedly came up dry. The places I looked at lacked one or more of the required elements and sometimes barely met those that they did fulfill. And the longer this went on, the less confident I became that my wish list would be realized. My faith in one of my cherished beliefs appeared to be caving in, despite the fact that internally I knew better. I pondered what to do and ended up reminding myself of something that Jane Roberts and Seth wrote about in The Nature of Personal Reality, that the primary factors that undercut conscious creation’s manifestation are fear, doubt, and contradiction. In my case, I clearly was allowing doubt to hold sway over me, which was keeping the desired results at bay. It was time for an attitude adjustment. The apartment I wanted was out there; all I needed to do was cast aside my doubt and reaffirm my faith in the belief that conscious creation would bring me what I was looking for.

The day after I underwent that shift, the apartment I wanted materialized. It was precisely what I sought. I went for it and quickly was approved for a lease.

This experience once again proved to me that anything is possible in conscious creation. I guess I just needed a reminder of its validity. Perhaps this was due to the magnitude of what I was seeking to manifest, since it arguably was more elaborate than anything I had ever attempted. To illustrate what I mean by that, the apartment is larger and has more amenities than my current home, it’s located in a better building in a better neighborhood, and it costs less than what I’m paying now. How’s that for hitting the jackpot? But then, if I’m as committed to conscious creation as I profess to be, should I really be surprised at the result?

By all rights, according to the prevailing wisdom, such a place shouldn’t exist. Yet it does. So how is that? Dumb luck? Remarkable coincidence? Good timing? If this were a case of only one or two of the desired elements being fulfilled, these more conventional arguments might hold water. But since this was an instance of a tailor-made laundry list of requirements and preferences being materialized, one that many would say goes beyond what’s “realistically” achievable, I have to believe that this is more than just sheer chance or happenstance. To me it speaks to one thing and one thing alone – the veracity of conscious creation as a means for effective manifestation.

In the end, this experience clearly reminded me of Get the Picture’s central message. It pointedly recalled the lessons of a number of the movies profiled in the book. For example, just as in “Lost Horizon” (Chapter 7), my recent experience shows how a seemingly unreachable goal indeed can be realized if we only allow it. Similarly, as in “Groundhog Day” (Chapter 5), it points out what can be attained through the continual refinement of probabilities, ultimately resulting in the desired outcome. And, as in the profoundly inspiring film “What Dreams May Come” (Chapter 9), it makes clear that thoughts really do become things when we put our mind to it, no matter how outlandish or improbable the sought-after manifestation might appear on the surface.

As readily as I make use of conscious creation as an approach to living, I still sometimes need to be reminded of the capabilities and of the beauty of this process. The search for my new residence was a prime example of this, an exercise in my own personal continuing conscious creation education. While this experience may have had its share of frustrations (ones that I admittedly built into the process), the rewards have been more than worth it. If nothing else, the renewed awareness of what can come out of the practice makes my enthusiasm for it more impassioned than ever.

P.S. Got a conscious creation story that reflects the lessons of the movies in Get the Picture? If so, I’d love to hear it and share it with readers of this page. Write me at brentmarchant@momentpoint.com. Thanks!

February 22, 2008

Get the Picture in New York

On a recent trip to New York, I had the great pleasure to visit lower Manhattan’s East West Living bookstore and café. I had the opportunity to sign copies of Get the Picture and meet with book buyer Cami Aronowitz (pictured with me here). Be sure to check out the store’s Web site to learn more about its product line and its schedule of upcoming events.

And, speaking of New York, to quote the city’s colorful former mayor, Ed Koch, “How’m I doin’?” I’d really like to know! Drop me a line at brentmarchant@momentpoint.com to give me your feedback about this bulletin board, as well as your comments about Get the Picture. Thanks!

Photo © 2008 by Lavelle Porter

February 12, 2008

Conscious Creation on the Small Screen

Movies are undoubtedly my greatest entertainment passion, but every so often something on the small screen catches my attention that’s well worth a look. That’s especially true when the material illustrates conscious creation principles at work. Such is the case with the quirky new comedy-drama-fantasy offering, Eli Stone (Thursdays, ABC, 10 p.m. Eastern).

The series follows the life of the show’s title character, a high-powered San Francisco lawyer (Jonny Lee Miller) who begins experiencing unexplained visions, often at inopportune times, such as during meetings with his boss (Victor Garber) and intimate moments with his fiancée (Natasha Henstridge). Many of these spectacles at first seem irrelevant and annoying, but they quickly turn bizarre, even unnerving. The apparitional appearance of pop star George Michael singing his hit song "Faith" in Eli’s living room, for instance, stretches the suddenly befuddled protagonist’s limits of believability, causing him to question his own sanity.

However, as events unfold, Eli realizes the visions aren’t just random occurrences; he sees that they have meaning. Viewers thus get to watch our hero coming awake, even if he does so somewhat reluctantly. Still, over time, Eli becomes attuned to the synchronicities occurring around him and begins drawing upon the magical approach to conscious creation, using his intellect and intuition to grasp the nature of the reality he’s manifesting. By doing all this, Eli gradually gets a better handle on the new world that’s forming around him. He also gains a better understanding of who he is and what his life purpose is. This is the flowering of his personal value fulfillment.

The seemingly obtuse but fittingly synchronistic materializations occurring in Eli’s life help to clarify his value fulfillment by steering him in a new direction—that of taking on the worthy causes (and cases) that no one else will handle. That’s how, for example, he comes to represent the mother of an autistic child whose condition was believed to be caused by a faulty vaccine preservative. Or how he takes on the case of immigrant agricultural workers whose infertility is suspected to have been the result of pesticide exposure. This is a far cry from the life he led before as a successful but self-absorbed corporate shill. Thankfully, both for him and his new clients, he’s able to hear the ring of his own internal metaphysical alarm clock.

The series features snappy writing and a host of colorful supporting characters, such as Eli’s wisecracking though devoted assistant (Loretta Divine) and a sage but streetwise acupuncturist/spiritual advisor (James Saito). The plot lines are solid, presenting genuinely uplifting stories, but telling them without the overwrought sentimentality of many of this genre’s predecessors (think of the scripts as having been more inspired by Mad magazine than Kodak moments). Some of the visionary sequences are a bit over the top (and feature a little too much George Michael music for my taste), but the show’s real strengths shine through in its quieter moments, when it aptly illustrates conscious creation principles at work.

It remains to be seen if Eli Stone can find an audience, especially in the wake of the recent Hollywood writers’ strike and all the attendant fallout on production and broadcast schedules. The show is fortunate to have the enormously popular Lost as a lead-in to its time slot, but its success ultimately will depend on how well it stands on its own. In the meantime, perhaps the best thing that fans of this series can do is to draw from the wisdom of Eli’s unlikely muse, who simply said “you gotta have faith.”

January 15, 2008

A Gem of a Film Comes to DVD

One of the movies I had the great pleasure to profile in Get the Picture was “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse” (1991). This superb documentary provided an in-depth look at the gut-wrenching ordeal that went into the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Oscar-winning Vietnam War film, “Apocalypse Now.” It showed, in unflinching detail, how the director toiled to produce a picture that effectively captured the madness of this insane conflict, an undertaking that pushed him to the limit and nearly cost him everything. It’s also an excellent cinematic exploration into an artist’s struggle to overcome creation by default by using the magical approach to conscious creation.

At the time I wrote Get the Picture, “Hearts of Darkness” was available only in VHS format. Many fans of this documentary, as well as of the movie that inspired it, lamented that it had not been made available on DVD. It was even perplexingly excluded from the special edition DVD release “Apocalypse Now—The Complete Dossier” (2006), a two-disc boxed set that included the film’s original theatrical version (1979) and its later-released director’s cut (2001) (so much for being complete!). Fans of the “Apocalypse Now” saga believed (and rightly so) that the absence of this back story documentary from the special edition, as well as its unavailability as a DVD unto itself, left a gaping hole in the lore of this monumental motion picture.

Fortunately, that oversight has been corrected. A DVD version of “Hearts of Darkness” was released late last year, shortly after Get the Picture hit bookstores. Finally, the wait is over; viewers can now enjoy this Emmy Award–winning documentary in a contemporary video format.

For future reference, I’ll include further information updates on the films profiled in Get the Picture on this Web page as they become available. In the meantime, dear readers, if you hear any interesting developments about these movies that you would like to share with me, please write me at brentmarchant@momentpoint.com. Thank you!

GET THE PICTURE at Transitions Bookplace in Chicago

Readers and movie fans anxious to hear how conscious creation principles are portrayed through film turned out in force for an in-person author event featuring yours truly on January 11 at Transitions Bookplace in Chicago. The event, which was held in the bookstore’s spacious and comfortable café, opened with a brief presentation on the subject, followed by discussion, questions, and book signing. Many thanks to those who attended, and a special thanks to Transitions for hosting.



Photos © 2008 by Dion Tillmon

December 17, 2007

Author Event, Transitions Bookplace, Chicago

Hi Everyone,

I’ll be doing a talk and book signing on January 11, 2008 at 7 pm at Transitions Bookplace, 1000 W. North Ave., in Chicago (www.transitionsbookplace.com). If you live in metro Chicago (or will be visiting the area at that time), stop by. I’d love to meet you!

In the meantime, happy holidays!

Brent


In Grand Style

I’ve always believed in celebrating milestones, no matter how simple or accomplished. Such recognition is significant for taking stock of an achievement, to give oneself a well-earned pat on the back (something most of us probably do far too seldom) and, especially, to say thank you to those who supplied support and encouragement along the way. Besides, it’s a helluva lot of fun, too.
Celebrating in grand style was the theme of the evening on Saturday November 3 for the official launch of Get the Picture, hosted by yours truly. The event was held at the Goose Island Brewpub in Chicago in a private party room with a library motif. (How fitting is that for a book release party? Talk about one’s manifestations mirroring one’s beliefs!) Thirty guests attended the reception, which featured ample food and libations, special presentations, and book signings. The event even captured the attention of Publishers Weekly magazine, which featured it in its “Picture of the Day,” November 20 online edition.

While marking this milestone certainly was personally enjoyable for me, it was even more important for me to recognize the many people who so generously supported me in this project. In particular, the event was an opportunity to honor those to whom the book is dedicated, my longtime friends Linnaea Burkett and Karen Sanders, both of whom were present to receive signed copies of Get the Picture. (Mike Dunghe, to whom the book is also dedicated, was unable to attend due to family obligations.) The party also allowed me to say thanks for the pivotal contributions of my longtime friends Mary Dillman, who “unwittingly” provided the catalyst that launched this undertaking, and Cathy Aldrich, who introduced me to the writings of Jane Roberts and thus sparked my study of conscious creation. There simply wouldn’t be a Get the Picture without the involvement of any of them.

Of course, there wouldn’t have been an event without the valuable assistance of those who aided in its planning and execution. To that end, I’d like to extend a hearty thank you to the staff of Goose Island, especially to Sandra Duncan, director of catering sales and special events, for putting on a great show. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to those who put their special talents to use and to those who made significant contributions, most notably to Jill Brazel of Jill Norton Photography, for her gorgeous pictures; to Cyndi Safstrom, for her inventive video presentation footage; and to Moment Point publisher Sue Ray and my longtime college friends Mark Sullivan and Kevin Haynes, for their beautiful floral arrangements. Great job, everybody!

Consciously creating Get the Picture was a tremendous thrill for me, and celebrating its arrival in physical reality made it all worthwhile. And what a bash it was! It was truly a night to remember, one of great fun – and grand style.

Thanks everybody and happy holidays!

Brent


Linnaea Burkett (center) and Karen Sanders (right) receive signed copies during a special dedication presentation.






Thanks to Mary Dillman for helping to get the ball rolling with Get the Picture (little did she know what she was doing – well, consciously, at least).





My gratitude goes out to Cathy Aldrich, who introduced me to the writings of Jane Roberts, sparking my interest in conscious creation.




We had cake, too, courtesy of Chicago bakery, Bake For Me!



(All photos copyright © 2007, by Jill Norton Photography)


November 12, 2007

For More of My Thoughts About Film . . .


Be sure to check out my posts at www.AndNowForTheGoodNews.com, the companion Web site to the new book And Now for the Good News, by Moment Point publisher Sue Ray. From new releases to old standbys, I’ll bring you write-ups about movies that, like the book’s subtitle, deliver “a mega-dose of positive news to inform, inspire, and fill you with optimism.”

My posts will appear regularly on The Headlines page on the site.

November 1, 2007

Talk to Me

Imagine you’re a child early on Christmas morning. The anticipation of the big day ahead makes it difficult to curtail your enthusiasm for the festivities that lie in store. Mustering every last bit of composure to keep your excitement in check is, to say the least, taxing, if not downright confounding.

Now, imagine what it might be like to feel that way every day for several months. That’s the kind of anticipation I’ve been attempting to corral ever since I completed the manuscript of Get the Picture earlier this year. Naturally such eagerness is fueled in part by wanting to see the finished product in physical form. But it’s also due in part to see what you, the readers, think of it. I’m understandably curious about what you make of the book’s writing style and its contents, but I’m even more interested in learning what you plan to do with the information contained within its pages once you’ve finished your initial read.

To me, the publication of Get the Picture marks a significant milestone in the odyssey of this project. The baby is at last born. But what happens to it next is equally important. I’m looking forward to what becomes of the child as it makes its way in the world, to see its impact on those who read it.

That’s what this companion Web page is all about, and that’s where you come in, dear readers. I need for you to talk to me, to tell me what you think about Get the Picture – how you feel about its contents, how you’re using it in your individual and collective lives, what you like and dislike about it, what should have been included and excluded, and what you’d like to see out of any siblings that may be born into its family. This applies equally to the book’s metaphysical subject matter, as well as to its film selections. It’s all part of the evolutionary process that’s playing out here that of the book’s constant state of becoming.

I believe books and other forms of artistic expression are (or at least should be) interactive creations between those who produce them and those who become involved with them, and that’s no different in this case. In writing Get the Picture, I’ve done my part, and now I hope you’ll do yours by giving me your valued feedback. I’d like to hope that this Web page will lead to a meaningful, ongoing dialogue between us about what’s covered in the book and how it can be put to use in daily life. I’ll even throw in a few new ideas of my own along the way to keep the conversation going. Get the Picture has provided the spark of that discussion; now it’s up to you and me to stoke the flames that it ignites.

Write me. I’d love to hear from you.

Brent Marchant
brentmarchant@momentpoint.com

Get the Picture
will be available in stores and online November 1, 2007.