Book Recommendation: Muddy Tracks: Exploring an Unsuspected Reality

Title: Muddy Tracks: Exploring an Unsuspected Reality Author: DeMarco Year: 2003 Description: Editorial Reviews: From Publishers Weekly: New Age author and publisher DeMarco (who wrote the novel Messenger as a sequel to James Hilton's Lost Horizon) presents an earnest and systematic account of his many years' journey to discover his higher self, so that his readers may do the same. DeMarco's search began in 1970 with two discrete, life-changing experiences. The first was reading Colin Wilson's (who wrote this book's introduction) SF novel The Mind Parasites, which introduced him to the idea that all humans had "unsuspected [i.e., paranormal or psychic] abilities." The second was ingesting mescaline, which convinced him that there is no such thing as coincidence. In other words, the author maintains, he acquired firsthand knowledge that we humans are eternal souls temporarily trapped in physical bodies but ultimately connected to each other and to a larger being whom conventional religions call God and New Age devotees call the Universe. Dismissing what he once thought was his destiny to become a master statesman like JFK, DeMarco devoured all the relevant literature he could get his hands on and explored such alternative practices as remote viewing and past-life regression. His epiphany came in 1992 when he attended the institute founded by his new hero, the late Bob Monroe (Ultimate Journey), a former businessman who, in his late 50s, began having spontaneous out-of-body experiences. Skeptics may as well stay away from this; DeMarco has written for New Age readers and

others in search of a reality greater than the one they already know. (Feb.) From Library Journal: In this book of personal paranormal experiences, which is based upon his work with Robert Monroe (Ultimate Journey), metaphysicist and Hampton Roads Publishing founder DeMarco artfully shares psychic "knowledge" of truth rather than interpretations or beliefs. The author probes the preternatural gamut from dream analysis, channeling, and automatic writing to out-of-body experiences, hemispheric synchronization, distance healing, and reincarnation as well as more traditional fare like prayer and meditation. Although the content is a bit gaping, DeMarco shows readers by example how to cultivate deeper connections with a greater, wiser being. Frank discussion of concepts such as "psychic's disease" and the "no-guru zone" balances this tale with the author's contention that extrasensory possibilities exist for all. DeMarco conclusively argues that if people can carefully integrate their past and present multilayered memories to create more conscious, less isolated lives, their "muddy footprints" will bring about a world where fewer social problems exist.