I know how difficult it is for busy people, employed and with family responsibilities, to find time to read. If and when most folks find a few minutes to relax, the book they choose to read may likely be something light, a novel or a mystery. The books we tend to discuss here in the Book Talk column tend to be non-fiction and rather often require focus and concentration to absorb their message adequately. When I was working full time, I usually could only manage about ten to fifteen minutes of reading “for me” at bedtime. It took me months to get through “serious” books.

For this reason, I decided to discuss some alternatives to books this month. In recent years publishers have put forth great varieties of magazines (journals, periodicals, et. al.). Whatever interests you will likely turn up in some magazine. Surprisingly, the themes of phenomeNEWS – body, mind, spirit – turn up even in the most mundane of publications. The media world today is rapidly becoming more holistic.

I’ll begin with my current, favorite magazine, Ode. I find myself constantly recommending this publication to everyone. It is highly eclectic in its articles which suits my preferences perfectly. Originating in the Netherlands, it is now also published in a U.S. version. Ode is mind-opening and extremely informative with articles about countries and people around the world. Themes range from economics to environment, spirituality to diet, and more. Besides a wide range of well-written articles, the magazine has a purpose, a mission to accomplish, that impresses me greatly.

Here is its mission statement which speaks for itself. I quote it in full because I think it is so important. “Our Mission. We are an independent international journal, without strings to the world of commerce and power. We believe in progress, ongoing opportunities and the creativity of humankind. We contribute to progress by publishing stories about the people and ideas that are making a difference. We address society’s problems too, because they represent opportunities for positive change. We publish the stories that bridge the gap between thinking and doing, between rage and hope, and the painful gap between the rich and the poor. By doing so we build peace and sustainability. This is the news we promise to deliver. We offer our readers the chance to link up with an international network of inspiration and cooperation, strengthening the forces devoted to respect, justice and equality. In doing so we hope to invite them to make their own contributions to a more just and sustainable world.”

No other publication is like Ode. I originally found Ode recommended on the daily email letter put out by Dr. Andrew Weil, MD. It is the only magazine in which I read every single article on every page. My usual pattern for all other publications, however, is to read only those pages or articles that particularly capture my interest.

This is a beautifully constructed publication with nearly all pages in color, a limited number of high quality and appropriate advertisements, and artistic photography and layouts. I would recommend that readers check local libraries to take a look at Ode, or look in large book stores that stock a wide assortment of publications. For each journal that I discuss in this Book Talk I will provide current price information and websites. (Ode, an international news magazine, is published 10 times a year; newsstand price is $3.95; subscription is $29.95 per year. See www.odemagazine.com).

Sometimes, in order to get a high quality publication one needs to buy “membership” into a particular group. Two favorite magazines I receive fall into that category. The first is Shift: at the Frontiers of Consciousness, the quarterly journal of The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). IONS is the organization founded by ex-astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell. Its stated purpose is to “explore the frontiers of consciousness to advance individual, social, and global transformation.” IONS’ focus “includes emerging paradigms, extended human capacities, and integral health and healing.” The journal Shift chronicles “news, data, and opinions from the interdisciplinary field of consciousness research, and includes spiritual, mind-body, ecological, and global perspectives.”

This is the perfect periodical for fans of quantum physics, consciousness studies and the movie What the Bleep Do We Know. (Basic IONS membership is $55 per year and includes Shift. They do offer some lower priced memberships for special needs. See www.noetic.org).

Another “membership” publication is the bimonthly journal Venture Inward, a high quality magazine from the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.). “The A.R.E. facilitates personal transformation and ultimately global transformation, toward God through study, application, and dissemination of information from the Edgar Cayce readings.” Venture Inward “seeks to inspire, challenge, and expand human awareness in spiritual development, mystical experience, philosophy, parapsychology, and holistic health.”

Although the focus of Venture Inward is primarily on topics related to Edgar Cayce, many well-known spiritual teachers and health specialists lecture at A.R.E. conferences and they often write articles for the journal as well. Articles in the past year include a discussion of Spirit in Cinema by Stephen Simon (a phenomeNEWS columnist), the Magdalene Diaries, Healing Cancer, Angels, and Bioenergy Healing. (A current special membership is $44 and includes the bimonthly magazine plus a bimonthly newsletter on one‘s choice of “Personal Spirituality,” “True Health,” or “Ancient Mysteries.” See www.edgarcayce.org. E-mail: are@edgarcayce.org).

Next we have what I call the “esoteric” journals. Whereas each of these tends to deal with more philosophic, abstract ideas, each one is unique. Also each one tends to have a specific focus, unlike journals of a more eclectic nature. The first two are specifically centered on a particular philosophic basis.

The Quest is the official journal of the Theosophical Society in America. It focuses on philosophy, science, religion, and the arts, largely from the Theosophical perspective. The Theosophical Society lists three objectives:

“To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste, or color.

To encourage the comparative study of religion, philosophy, and science.

To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in humanity.”

(Members of the Theosophical Society receive the bimonthly Quest for their annual dues of $45. Non-members may purchase a subscription for $20.94. Newsstand copies are $5.75. For subscriptions, see The Quest, P.O. Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270).

Another small, specifically focused journal is The Beacon, published in the U.S. and U.K. for over 60 years by Lucis Trust. Based on the prolific writings of Alice Bailey (see phenomeNEWS, Book Talk April 2006), and Djwhal Khul (the “Tibetan”), The Beacon identifies itself as “A magazine of esoteric philosophy presenting the principles of the Ageless Wisdom as a contemporary way of life.”

A serious little journal, The Beacon includes current articles by teachers in the Lucis Trust, guest writers and students of the Arcane School. It includes book reviews. Unlike all other periodicals discussed in this column, it includes no advertisements. (Subscription rates for this bimonthly journal are $22 per year, $42 for 2 years. See Lucis Publishing Co., 120 Wall Street, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005).

What is Enlightenment published quarterly, is probably the most intellectual of the newer, spiritual and rather esoteric periodicals. The invention of its Editor-in-Chief Andrew Cohen, it presents a rather wordy mission statement. Basically it “is dedicated to a revolution in human consciousness and human culture” and is “searching for a new framework for this transformation.” It aims to ask “the hard questions of the new science and the ancient traditions, of art and culture, of business and politics.”

Each quarterly issue presents a central topic for discussion by various writers. Recent issues have examined “Death, Rebirth and Everything in Between,” “Spirituality vs. Religion,” and “Do you want to Live Forever?” which grappled “with the science and ethics of immortality.” Each issue also includes an in-depth dialogue between editor Andrew Cohen, a spiritual teacher in the field of evolutionary spirituality, and notable American philosopher and scholar, Ken Wilbur, author of A Brief History of Everything.

This attractive and artistic periodical appeals to deep thinkers. Its entire presentation, from art direction to the range of its writers, offers readers opportunities to explore multiple layers of various topics in considerable depth. (Standard subscription price is $24 per year for 4 issues, with occasional introductory specials for $19.95. Newsstand copies are $7.50. See www.wie.org. for further information.)

We will conclude our discussion with three magazines intended for the general public. The first is Spirituality & Health, calling itself “the soul / body connection.” Their mission statement identifies this periodical as one “for people who wish to explore the spiritual journey – the journey to self-knowledge, authenticity, and integration.” It “draws from the wisdom of many traditions and cultures” and “looks to science to help provide a context for the spiritual quest.”

Readers will find articles, such as “Care of the Soul” by Thomas Moore, as well as articles about healthy eating, alternative medicine, and various spiritual approaches, such as the Kabbalah. This bimonthly publication, over a year’s time, will present something for nearly everyone interested in body-mind-spirit topics. It is an easily-read, fun to explore magazine. (Introductory subscriptions are $24.95; $5.95 per issue on newsstands. See www.SpiritualityHealth.com).

Body + Soul has metamorphosed over the years from a New Age style journal into a magazine more focused on health. Now a division of Martha Stewart enterprises, its subtitle is “whole living.” Attractive, with lots of fine photographs of good foods, the approach does include holistic and integrative medical pages, including topics like homeopathy, natural remedies, color therapy, massage, and therapeutic teas.

It has all the usual advertisements of most magazines today, with a focus on natural products typical of health food stores. (Published 8 times a year, Body + Soul is $14.95 by subscription; $4.99 on the newsstand. See www.bodyandsoulmag.com).

Natural Health is very similar in style and content to Body + Soul, combining a primary focus on health with occasional articles on spiritual practices that relate to health, such as meditation or yoga. Neither of these last two periodicals include a mission statement, but Natural Health uses the sub-title: “feel good / look good / do good.” It too takes a holistic approach to good health and presents discussions on topics with input from a variety of “experts.” It also nearly always includes beautifully illustrated exercises, ranging from yoga to simple, therapeutic stretches and postures. (Natural Health publishes 10 issues a year for a $14.97 subscription rate. See www.naturalhealthmaginfo.com).

All of these publications are worthy journals that relate to the body-mind-spirit theme of phenomeNEWS. Nevertheless, I know that magazine choices, like book choices, are highly individual and related to each reader’s particular interests and preferences. Therefore, while I hope that our discussion this month has offered readers some new options, I also must recommend that you check out these selections at your local library or large book store. You are likely to discover even more periodicals in these categories than those we have mentioned here.

Happy reading!

Gayl Woityra, a retired high school English and Humanities teacher, now resides in Arizona where she continues to pursue her eclectic metaphysical studies in consciousness, the Ageless Wisdom, astrology, flower essences, music, color and alternative medicine.