Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on September 28, 2012 at 5:11pm

I think children are much more tuned into spirituality than adults who have learned to shut this part of themselves down. 

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on October 1, 2012 at 1:23pm

Jan, I agree....I'd like to see adults cultivating that aspect. ....Would adults buy the books to read to their children? or are they too far divorced from their own spiritual nature for such books to be successful?....I need the adults to buy them and read them to their little ones.

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on October 1, 2012 at 1:41pm

Someone once told me that my book - Infertility's Anguish - showed my Christian beliefs even though religion of any sort was not mentioned. 

It is my opinion that subtle references can be used, but the basic story is what drives the purchase. A children's book, written so adults will buy it for their children and grandchildren would be good. But such a book would need to have a strong story, with spirituality as part of it, or a subtle part of it. 

A marketing friend of mine said that during this recession the people spending money are the 18-25 year olds and women over 60 years (on purchases for their children and grandchildren).

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on October 1, 2012 at 2:13pm

You're probably right.....I was hoping to go for more direct ...Like the Spiritual Alphabet A-Z   A is for Aura, Atma and Angel......etc.

Maybe I'm too far ahead of myself...Just feel like with the world the way it is now, we are running out of time in capturing the hearts and souls of our children(and grandchildren)....By the way, I am an infertility survivor also....Both my kids are adopted...spent YEARS in the grueling process. I haven't read your book, but probably could have co-authored with you if I knew you then LOL!

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on October 1, 2012 at 2:52pm

Maybe speaking out of school here - Fundamentalist religions have sort of created a "Don't proselytize" button for the rest of us. 

Anything which sounds preachy will not fly. As a writer, I am trying to improve my craft and thus attend writer's conferences. At a Christian Writer's Conference we were told it is alright to mention God in your books, but don't say Christ or Holy Spirit. This was said by Christian Publishers.

Does that say what the current climate it???

Blessings upon your Spiritual Endeavors!!! Or maybe I should say - Life Endeavors - because all life is Spiritual!!!

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on October 1, 2012 at 4:15pm

Kids tend to be more connected to the spiritual because their feelings are relatively unfiltered by ego, intellect, social mind control, neurosis, etc. They don't feel the need to question, dismiss or organize what the see and feel. It's difficult for adults to return themselves to that kind of purity, though we hunger for it. Turning to dogmas/religion is a mixed bag, especially if it shuns acceptance of the "unknowable" and is controlling and judgmental. A lot of people use certain kinds of drugs to temporarily separate their minds from what's man-made, thereby weakening the borders. But it's very risky and easily abused. 

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on October 2, 2012 at 1:32pm

Agree! Not only is it difficult to return to that state of Truly feeling things and interpreting them with our soul rather than our mind. But also, we adults tend to play a very active, influential role in shutting kids down to this. "Get a grip....this is the REAL world....things don't happen that way...."  

The Master's say it is the REAL world we came from and this "Earth School" is the dream...I guess that is why I am so interested in hooking kids on the TRUTH about where they came from (spiritually) and how to stay in touch with THAT World....

So which books do I write first....the spiritual books for the Chickens? (parents)

             Or the spiritual books for the Chicks(children)? 

A new version of the chicken and egg argument  ;-)

Permalink Reply by Linda Rose on October 18, 2012 at 1:03pm

I taught in the youth center of a spiritual center , Science of Mind, ages 5 to 11 year olds, and in the friendship circle we did a short meditation and passed around a gratitude basket. Some of the children really got into it but I'll never forget when one young boy passed the basket saying, I'm not that kinda guy. I ride dirt bikes!" He certainly stuck to his own values and ideals of who he was and like all of us may change with time. 

Permalink Reply by Tracy Lynn Simpson on March 3, 2013 at 1:20am

Hi Jill,

I think that children always have been interested in spirituality and very in tune. It seems as though by the time they complete kindergarten, instead of nurturing their spiritual communications, society (the establishment) convinces them that the communications they are having are not real. Some souls are able to hold on to that spirituality and that sense of wonder. Most people, though, as they "grow up" leave it behind for fear of rejection or being ridiculed. My earliest memories were at the age of three. I had some very interesting conversations with people and spirits that others could not see. The fact that I have shared these stories with people over the course of several decades is proof (to me and those that I have shared these memories with) that these things are real.

So, I decided to write a children's book that I illustrated titled "Luminaries." I seeded it (carefuly) with spirituality, so as not to overwhelm the children who have forgotten.

Anyway, I read that you are looking for an illustrator. You can go to the webpage for the Society of Children's Book Illustrators and conect with an illustrator in that way.

I am going to send you a friend request. I also looked at your website. In the future, hopefully soon, I would like to connect with you in that regard.

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on April 1, 2013 at 1:54pm

Tracy....I've been on medical leave from the mundane world.....Please contact me sometime through my website info@healingimprints.com    I am still under the weather and not on WAENET frequently...Thanks Jill

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on March 3, 2013 at 6:46pm

Young kids should be interested in anything that touches their emotions or excites them, and then you have to hold that. Sendak was a master. The nefarious world of complex monsters is safe turf, for instance; then you make it spiritual.