Anastasia (The Ringing Cedars, Book 1)
by Vladimir Megre
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Book Reviews of Anastasia (The Ringing Cedars, Book 1)
Book Review: It rings hollow
Summary: 3 Stars
This book was highly recommended to me and I went ahead and bought the first five books. So far I have struggled to finish the first which did not live up to my expectations. It is a plus that it deals about matters environmental and self awareness, but truly, others have done a much better job. If you are a christian and you read the Bible, then you'll find advice on how to lead a pure life magnifecently told. If you are a Moslem or Budhist, then there are equally wonderfully written texts. We do not lack literature, but its correcct interpretation and implementation.
Anastasia is part woman, part fairy who lives in the forests of Siberia and is blessed with inordinate powers. I can't seriously believe whether we are meant to take her existence literally or figuratively. I hope the latter as I cannot continue reading a book which expects me to believe in fairies. Anastasia is impervious to cold and runs about naked despite living in one of theworld's most hostile environments. She has infinite knowledge and wisdom although she has never had any formal education. In fact, she is able to speak all the languages in the world as it is a process which occurs automatically by mind and lip reading. To top all these mind blowing talents, she is up to date with all that is happening in the world, be it politically, scientifically etc. though she does not posses a radio or tv. No, Anastasia does not require any media means of communication as she gets all her information directly from the source which is God? I was confounded and found it extremely difficult to continue reading this book. Although it is a brief, simple book with short chapters which I would normally finish in a day or two, it took me two months to read. I couldn't persevere for long it as I considered it underestimated my intelligence.
The book gives plenty of advice on all things. We find out that five hundred year old ceder trees have miraculous healing properties and can cure even fatal diseases. Has this been proven or is it a ploy to sell those ceder pieces, a coupon on how to get them attached at the end of the book? I hope it will not mean recklessly chopping down ceder trees in an attempt to have harmony and ambience inside our homes.
There is also advice on healthy eating and on how to plant seeds so as to get fruit which will be able to cure your ailments once it is consumed! Anastasia herself feeds on the nuts the squirrels bring her, or while she is talking she absently plucks at the weeds and eats those. This extraordinary woman does not require to eat like the rest of us mortals. She remains extremely beautiful, full of energy and life despite her meagre diet which would cause death by starvation to any normal people.
There is so much more. Anastasia even advises people about sex which seems to be a devine experience only when it is motivated by a desire for procreation. I think I should spare any comments on that. Sex is a very personal matter and so long as no one is hurt and is done by mutual consent, then it is a wonderful thing. Like everything else in life it is important to show consideration and lack of selfishness. If love is involved in all our deeds, so much the better.
We are also told to be wary of Evil, as if evil were a force lurking without. I find this idea of evil misleading. Plato said that there are no evil people, just evil actions. I am still struggling to grasp this theory. In fact, I am of the opinion that these evil acts at least should be spelt out instead of being vaguely alluded to and the people behind them exposed. I am sick of being told about some immaterial, threatening force I must fear or fight. The economy is going through a crisis not because of some vague, evil power. People were behind it, and some no doubt, profited. Who? Not I, and I don't like having to share the guilt of a world steeped in this plight.
The only reason I gave this book 3 stars was because I read it has helped many people improve their lives. If a book has helped even one person then in my opinion it has succeeded. As for me, I think I learned a lot more by reading Tolkien's 'Lord of the Rings' which basically deals with the wisdom and force of nature, man's struggle between good and evil and the hapiness attained by living a wholesome, simple life. It is also masterfully told and recognizes the fact that very few are destined to holiness. The rest of us have to struggle with the limits of our human nature and can only take a step at a time at becoming better and worthier beings. I found the fairies in that book vastly more believable.
Book Review: Russian answer to "Mister God this is Anna"
Summary: 5 Stars
Going by the title of this book, it might appear that I am suggesting that "Anastasia" is modeled after the bestselling "Mister God..." series and not an original experience. This is not my intention at all. It is just that I find the similarities between the experiences mentioned in these books, quite intriguing. It seems that the same message comes out again and again, in a form best suited to the society it addresses.
In "Mister God, the author describes his interaction with a five year old girl called Anna, who had a strong and vital relation with the Creator. In "Anastasia", the author of "Mister God...", Fynn is replaced by Vladimir Megre, Anna, by Anastasia and the platonic relationship between Anna and Fynn, replaced by one that is more chastely sexual in its Nature. The difference between the two is that the relationship between Anna and Fynn played itself out over the timespan of a few years, while the relationship between Vladimir and Anastasia, plays out over a timespan of three days. Three days of tumultuous and intensive learning. Three days thaat changed the course of many lives, not just the author's and Anastasia's, but also countless others who read the book and felt inspired to express themselves in poetry and music, and change what they needed to change in order to give expression to their own spark of creativity. "Anastasia" has made a greater global impact than the "Mister God.." series, for it arrives at a time in human history, when the world is looking for real and convincing answers to its existential questions, as the walls of dogmatic and hierarchial systems of organization are being torn down to facilitate the rejuvenation of our collective consciousness. The Anna books were popular in the mid eighties, but they did not generate a movement, at least not to my knowledge.
To me, at least, it is not what people say that matters so much in a book. It is HOW they say it. The stamp of authenticity lies in the particular way, a truth is presented while describing a living person's beliefs and actions. In this work, Vladimir Megre does a marvelous job of depicting the essence of the person that is Anastasia and the wisdom that she exudes in her discourses with him. He shows clearly the kind of integrity Anastasia has achieved,as whatever she thinks come to fruition. He is, however, way too harsh on himself, exaggerating his materialistic, worldly mindset, perhaps, in order to higlight Anastasia's other worldly consciousness, as a contrast.
A good deal has been said about the book called "Anastasia" as the first book in the Ringing Cedars Series, so I will not lengthen this already long review, any more than I already have. Personally, however, reading this book gave me a sense of the dawning resurgence of Russian spirituality, arising from the ashes of the erstwhile socialist Soviet Union. Slowly, gradually, the Russian bear is emerging from hibernation, as people start working on their own dachas in order to grow their own food, and gather around the dolmens in order to pay homage to their ancestors at these sacred sites of which greater numbers are being rediscovered by the day.
Read this book if you can.It is fast paced and easily read,exuding hordes of "feel good" energy. You will not regret the time investment and will be a better person for having done so. This is a book to be shared with friends, the joy of reading it will be multiplied.
Warmly recommended.
Book Review: Awesome Beauty and Guidance for Living in a Sacred Manner
Summary: 5 Stars
If you don't have time to read the entire series, now 8 books with the last book in two parts, read the 4th book, Co-Creation which is considered the heart of the series and offers Anastasia's creation stories and designs for the ecovillage "kin's domain" sites that are her vision for a restored happiness and joy as well as healing on Earth.
This series is just extraordinary and her bright visions are contagious. She's not coming from a place of not recognizing that Earth and humans are in dire straits, thanks to our abuse of our Creator-given free choice and free will, or perhaps just our mistakes over the ages . . . there can be global catastrophe indeed . . . we are doing it to ourselves with our loss of connection to our natural heritage of magnificence, love and sharing the Creator's dream.
I DO recommend the entire series and I am making my way through it now for the second time. I am taking notes so I can employ her methods in gardening and beekeeping.
Her vision took hold in Russia in a big way, as the book first emerged there in 1999 and they've had more time than we have. Our translations began appearing fairly recently and I first heard about her in a yoga class from a teacher who was enchanted with her ideas on planting seeds.
The enchantment only gets better. Rather than dwelling on global catastrophe or armageddon-like thinking, she teaches us how to live, how to remember, how to protect love from the stresses of our disconnect from all that is natural and pure.
She teaches the need and value for purity in thinking, for sincerity in expressing, and for dreaming the most beautiful dream possible for ourselves and all we love and want to protect.
I cannot recommend this series too highly. To my beloveds who are too busy, I say just read the 4th book . . .
But to all who want to bathe in delight and joy and hope for a bright new dawn for humanity, I recommend all the books.
Vladimir has said he cannot write the 9th book yet. We will write it together with the changes that we make. There won't be a 9th book until enough hearts join to bring it forth.
Choosing love and healing our lost connections to everything magnificent and generous.
Book Review: Anastasia + 8 books will change your life in incredible ways
Summary: 5 Stars
This first book will resonate or it won't. Though I can't imagine how it's possible to earnestly read this book and not "feel" something shift inside. I read a review that stated confidently that other books on life, the universe and God seem like a waste of paper after reading this book. I would have to agree.
The author is not a writer. He's a ship's captain who may well have read a few books but unlikely to have spent time studying physics, history, politics, archeology, religion, nature, math & science, childbirth, supernatural phenomena, or the cosmos. If he made this whole story up, he is brilliant. It seems unlikely to me that he had such broad knowledge.
Anastasia has a powerful story to tell. Once you hear the story you will not look at the blade of grass reaching up through the cement side walk in the same way. The blue sky will radiate with new meaning. The animals who call earth their home will no longer seem like artifacts of the background noise. In fact, the background noise will suddenly narrow to all the superficial gadgets, social artifice, political posturing, historical manipulation, economic fallacy, physical disfiguration, and the ever increasing "data cloud" of distraction that we call our lives...
Since reading the first book, and even more since reading all 9 books, I am obsessed with getting back to the land. I am designing our family's "space of love" or domain in my head until I am able to find the physical place. I am planning our future gardens. In the meantime, I am buying only organic, biodynamic foods that are not poisoned by chemicals and genetic monkey business so that my family can have a chance at healing. The incredible relevance of these simple acts becomes crystal clear upon reading these books. Farming has never had the revolutionary potential it has today.
Buy this book. Read this book. Read them all. Share this with everyone you love. With everyone you know. They will thank you. My friends have already thanked me.
PS: There are over 100 eco-villages setting up in Russia as a result of these books. There are a handful in the United States and Canada already forming. [...]
Book Review: just an extended teaser
Summary: 1 Stars
Apparently all it takes is positive thinking to create the wonders demonstrated in this fantasy. If that were true, all those very happy people and positive thinkers in the world - and there are many - would surely have created something much more special than we seem to be living with nowadays.
In the end this immoral fairytale - where neither party exhibits any concern about the adultery at the centre of the tale, a story with no real point to it anyway - amounted to an extended teaser. No quality information is offered, no practical steps to take, no serious thoughts on creating improvements - but perhaps most of those raving about this silly book prefer such a state of affairs.
It is hard to think of this series as anything more than a hard-sell, given the unabashedly glowing self-reviews at the publisher's website and here at Amazon and the unending sales emails and sales letters I received trying to sell me more of the "special oil" I was lured into buying by the book's extravagant claims (I saw no noticeable benefits and my "gut feel" about it led me to throw most of it away in the end).
Why are people wallowing in this BS instead of really trying to understand why the world is awash with wars, conflict on all levels, poverty, exploitation, stress, anxiety, injustice and suffering? Just who is creating all this pain, suffering, mayhem and chaos - do they get off on it? Please people, stop all the denials, give up the fairytales like these books, and really look at the increasingly controlled, suffocating world we are living in. Only then can we - all together - start to change it.
Those who really want their eyes opened, who want the truth about why this world is in such a mess, can listen to Michael Tsarion on youtube for free, although his books are rather expensive. A revisionist historian and a deep thinker who sees straight through the veil pulled over most eyes, his work is complex but stunning. On a very different note, read "Freedom" by Veronica Chapman - a real eye-opener.