Emmanuel's Book: A Manuel for Living Comfortably in the Cosmos Book

Emmanuel, the eternally optimistic spirit channeled by Pat Rodegast, who debuts in this now-classic metaphysical title, Emmanuel's Book, makes his purpose clear: To remind humanity of what they truly are. And while this book will undoubtedly appeal to lovers of the metaphysical with little effort, I dare say it's not without its charms for even the more skeptical among us.

The message of Emmanuel is akin to that of all the popular religious philosophies of the world: Human beings are here to love and anything that we do towards that effort is progress. However, Emmanuel takes it one step further: We're not only here to love. We are love incarnate.

Now, how does that fare against the popular concept of the eternal struggle of good vs. evil? Well, according to Emmanuel, the whole concept of benevolent and malevolent forces that act against each other are simply part of the human construct; an imaginary game much like the world itself that we have `created'. The strife, the drama, the fear, the danger that we perceive life to be is all an illusion, Emmanuel says. Even death itself, is an illusion.

"Does it hurt to die?" One of the questioners asks Emmanuel, who responds, "It is absolutely safe" and "like taking off a shoe that is too tight."

With sentiments like that, spoken in the eerie, light-hearted calm of Emmanuel, how could any reader, even while not believing the hype, not find his viewpoint at least fascinating?

While immersed in the world of Emmanuel, it is very easy to think, just for a moment, that even within this world of uncertainty, sickness and cruelty, that perhaps things are not as dismal as they seem. We might possibly imagine that, after all is said and done, we will emerge from this 'experience' completely intact.

But, close the book and the demands of life pull us right back in. Our annoyances and fears become real once more. Money becomes tight again. People get sick and die. But, let's face it, whether you subscribe to Emmanuel's infinitely optimistic point of view or not, for a moment at least, Emmanuel makes us feel like everything's gonna be alright.