See James Redfield Formal Biography
I grew up a searcher. From an early age, I can remember desiring a more complete answer to life’s more puzzling questions.
Sure everyone knows we have to grow up, find a way to make a living, take care of our kids, and seek a better world. But there were larger questions and no one was talking about them: Why are we here in this life in the first place? And why is life, at times, so hard?
Is there a secret to being lucky, confident, and successful in the pursuit of our dreams that humanity had not worked out yet?
As I realized later, my home environment was Synchronistic to my search for an answer to these questions. We didn’t have much money, but we had something better- enough land to have a sort of homestead, with gardens and food stock, lots of trees, pastures, and overlook mountains.
I can tell you with certainly, growing up in the South during the Civil Rights era awakened my advocacy for positive social action. My father, being from California put me on the correct side of that issue. Dad was an art teacher who struggled with some PTSD after World War II, and he valued the arts, especially writing. Not that I knew anything about Synchronicity back then or had any dreams of writing. Those ideas came to me when I was older.
As an older adolescent, I just kept asking questions about how to pursue life. I was beginning to find some answers given by religion and academic philosophy, but they seemed too intellectually abstract and incomplete. I knew, the truth I was searching for, might not be simple, but it had to be clear…and concrete enough to put into action personally.
Early on, some part of me believed this knowledge existed, yet rebelliousness hampered my adolescent life. Confusion sent me through phases of challenging the rules, and took me very close to dire consequences. I often pacified myself with various distractions and a defended aloofness (characteristic of the 5 in Enneagram terminology). I often went through alternating periods of frustrated self-isolation and deep research.
I’m sure I drove everyone crazy during this time. And no doubt my family was pleased when I departed for college. There, I was finally in my element. I was able to pursue my education in comparative religion, modern physics, and the academic movement of the day: the “Human Potential Movement.”
This idea taught us that humans are not reaching their true potential and fulfillment, and gave a name to my inner sense: there was more to life than we have fully discovered. It was an exciting time for me. I studied all the traditional expressions of human potential: Eastern and Western Mysticism, Humanistic Psychology, and Meditation, just to name a few.
As I continued my education searching for the truth, I found each area of research much too theoretical and abstract. Though lacking my clear direction, I went on to graduate the University with an advanced degree and years of profound experiences. My college education, though enlightening, left me wanting a straight explanation and this further engaged my need to develop a study designed from authentic experience. It was this break-through that led me to realize a higher calling. I began a career as a therapist, hoping for continued growth through experimental studies.
After years of professional work, I realized that our human potential was being viewed too academically. I found the truth and wisdom so many of us were looking for to be in fact: Spiritual. However, it seemed religion had not yet defined this experience in practice. They were much too familiar with the alignment of individual doctrines.
As a result, I began to observe and then document the experiences of ordinary people who sought to live a spiritual life in the early 1990’s. I thought this study would hand over profound evidence in view of how humans were evolving in consciousness. I also incorporated my experiences, observing a higher Divine presence in my relationships and career. As this study continued, I noticed we are coming to a higher spiritual consciousness by way of steps or insights. In turn, I found we were beginning to sense a heightened practical intuition and precognition in forms of Synchronicity, purpose, or destiny.
Now I was ready to put my findings into writing. And rather than write one more academic book, I decided to use the structure of the novel. I decided it more powerful to show the occurrence of real spiritual shifts in consciousness with an engaging character’s journey. I hoped people might relate to him by realizing the similarity of these events to what they were experiencing at the same time in their lives. The result was THE CELESTINE PROPHECY. The book that began the discussion of nine spiritual experiences or Insights, each of us seemed to be discovering in mass.
It was during this time, Synchronistically I was introduced to Salle. Immediately, she brought new and exciting ideas to my life including how she believed the book could be released to the world. We found a deep spiritual connection and soon married in her mother’s home, happy to start a life together. Through a series of incredible Synchronicities, we decided to self-published The Celestine Prophecy. All packed up in my Honda Accord with hundred’s of books; we set out on an adventure traveling the US, giving away to bookstores as we were passing through. Over time, we watched in amazement as our process fueled a pass-a-long effect that exploded all over the country.
Why did this happen? I believe it happened because The Celestine Prophecy worked as clarification, in that the story represented a rise in the spiritual consciousness many of us were pursuing at the very same time. Later, we handed the book over to a larger publisher. In seventh heaven we watched as it went on to be the bestselling American book in the world for two years, published in over 35 countries.
As time proceeded, I observed further developments in human spiritual awareness. In a subsequent book, THE TENTH INSIGHT, I sought to demonstrate how we were entering the tenth step-up in consciousness. This time we were pushing beyond the restrictions associated with death, and opening up to the reality of the Afterlife. I attempted to explain why the experience of visitation from a recently departed loved one is still the most often reported spiritual experience in the world.
Near Death Experience (NDE) research was showing us that death was a natural transition to the heavenly realm, and life would continue on to new adventures. Suddenly, we could better grasp our spiritual consciousness in daily life because death was no longer frightening.
In the book that followed by THE SECRET OF SHAMBHALA, I argued, yet another breakthrough was taking us into an even higher level of recognition: an Eleventh Insight. Written at beginning of a new decade( 2000s), this Insight added another expansion of the Mind.
Now I was finding certainty in the power of the mind and how this helps us to create a positive world. By exploring this inner power, widely known as prayer or intention, I discovered our creativity to be born of the soul, not the ego. The Universe is designed to respond to faithful affirmations and gratitude best of all.
In 2011, the last book in the Celestine Series was published, THE TWELFTH INSIGHT. This book described another level of Consciousness we were reaching toward: The full realization of the self-evident Karmic design of the Universe, which revolves around giving. Giving is the great activator of a fortunate, productive, purposeful life – including reaching a secure, financial well-being in uncertain times.
Furthermore, by getting into alignment with this design you set the stage for the complete integration of all these steps into a sustained higher consciousness that works automatically.
This last Insight, I have to say, brings this story to the present and leaves me so excited as I hope for our future. Think about where we are… In this new era, we are developing the capability to download the highest form of our spiritual intelligence. We are learning to operate every day guided by the Divine part of ourselves. Trusting our Intuitions and following Synchronicity will in turn lead us to find who we are and where we want to go. Further, as we develop these abilities, we will find our personal mission as it reaches towards impacting a better world.
Each one of us now has to integrate this full experience into our daily lives, and hold this vision in our RELATIONSHIPS, SPIRITUALITY, FINANCIAL ENDEAVORS, AND HEALTH CHOICES.
We’ve tried our best to set up CELESTINEVISION.COM to give you specific additional information that will enhance your spiritual life.
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