Note from Marilyn Ferguson, former editor Brain-Mind Bulletin, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy
"Clinton Callahan is an original thinker!"
Note from John Welwood, author of "Journey of the Heart" and "Perfect Love, Imperfect Relationships"
This is a great book. It's honest, illuminating, provocative, fresh, practical, inspiring, humorous, and ruthlessly compassionate. It's one of those rare books that will definitely wake you up. I consider it must reading for anyone seriously interested in the path of conscious relationship.
Note from Malidoma Patrice Somé, PhD, author of "Of Water and the Spirit - Ritual, Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman"
For modern seekers, responding to the call for initiation into relationship, here is an open invitation. As with all true rites of passage, the final destination can not be found on a roadmap, there is no promise of safety along the way, and, the potential for transformation is boundless.
Note from Cordelia Busam, Germany
What an incredible three weeks! What a hurricane! No eye remained dry, no stone stayed on top of another. Not even escape into the eye of the hurricane was possible for me. Of course my environment reacted, and they didn't lack comments: "Put the book aside. Throw it away! This is nothing for you at your age. Just put your previous life in a box without looking at it and stow it way back in a cupboard." I burst out laughing when I read the legend of the man who leaned against heaven's gate even while sleeping, then God's surprise when He opened the gates of heaven and the man fell in and woke up! Surrendering to the laughing fit I saw with my inner eye how two white boxes fell from my shoulders – endless relief which amplified the laughter, the joy, the elation.
Note from Martina E., Germany
I can't believe how incredibly touching, shattering ... and finally, how appropriate this work is. In my opinion Radiant Joy Brilliant Love should be a handbook for all people who want true love in their relationship. I will do my very best for that.
Note from Daniela Meuer, Germany
It is totally exciting to read Radiant Joy Brilliant Love. If I fail to read in the book even one day I miss something. The book works with me. I hope Clinton will write more books.
Note from Renata Wirtz:
Dear Clinton Callahan. After the breathtaking immersion into Radiant Joy Brilliant Love - which I passed on to friends - I thank you for your important information. We are highly electrified by your work. Thank you for your quantum leaps....just wonderful!
Note from Marion Callahan
Translating Radiant Joy Brilliant Love into German took me one and a half years. During that time the book permeated all angles of my life with its relentless practical examples. It felt as if the book itself was a living being, as if it was bigger than me. Maybe you know the feeling of deeply knowing that something is true, even if you can’t explain it with words?
When I have an insight I tend to automatically make it into my own personal dogma. I then decide something like, “Aha! I’ve got the answer!” But as soon as I had my dogma the book would shatter it with further or deeper insights. My built-up opinions were destroyed in the next minute. The book prohibits dogma because it has a bigger purpose: to build in me a more authentic ability to love and to be in relationship. I was brought to a deeper level of understanding which had nothing to do with opinions or beliefs.
Each day while translating my feelings got stirred up. I felt sad about the pain that I had caused for people, mostly those I love dearest. I felt afraid about how shocked other people might be when they read these words. I felt also joy – ecstasy actually – about other people having the chance to get these maps and ideas. And I felt anger that we did not have this information already. I thought that if enough people knew these things we might not have war anymore because the warfare in each individual would cease.
Tears of happiness often dripped down my cheeks while translating because throughout the process it was not just words that I was writing. I did and still do experience these things in reality, first hand by living with the author. I confirm that all that is written in this book is possible and true.
Note from Regina Sara Ryan, the editor of the American edition
I have been happily married for 33 years. Many of my friends and acquaintances have not. They are divorced, some several times. They are unhappy and unsatisfied in their current relationships. They have resigned themselves to an “OK” relationship, but the passion and energy for joining together with their partner in a deeper and vibrant life has died long ago. When I began the work of editing Radiant Joy Brilliant Love, I thought that the book was for them, the unhappy people, not for me. I already had a good relationship. My partnership was full of life.
But, this book is explosive! It has given me so many new ideas for looking at my life and my relationship in vital ways that I never imagined before. I am so grateful for the serious time I’ve devoted to this book.
One small example: The book is full of “distinctions” — meaning, more specific and refined definitions of terms that people regularly use but generally take for granted. When understood more specifically, they have the power to change us. One powerful distinction he makes is between “Heart Food” and “Soul Food.” These are things we expect from one another in relationship. In fact, many relationships die of starvation because these intangible “foods” are not present, even though everyone more or less understands that they are needed! The author says that because we don’t make a “distinction” between heart food and soul food, we lump them together, and this is a source of many breakdowns and misunderstanding in relationships. Reading this book I was able to see the difference between heart food and soul food.
Let me explain, from what I’ve learned. Heart Food is received from caring attention. It is affections. It is family togetherness. It is warmth and rest and safety together. Both partners must offer this food to one another. Yet, Soul Food is also necessary, for both men and women. Soul food is the food you get by pursuing your visions, your dreams, your life purpose, your destiny, your job insofar as it builds your vision and goal in life.
Many men don’t realize that their partners and children need lots (and lots) of heart food, from them! Men often don’t realize that it is not enough to tell their wives, “I’m working for you, that’s how I show that I love you.” A man also needs to encourage his partner or wife to pursue her own soul food, and support ways for her to do this.
On the other hand, many women feel that their partners are not “loving” them, simply because the man spends a lot of his life in pursuing his vision, his destiny. Also, many women do not feed themselves with soul food because they have put heart food and soul food together and think that getting affection and safety and togetherness is going to fully satisfy them. It won’t! It doesn’t!
Since reading and working on this book I have suggested to many friends that they have a conversation with their partner about this distinction, and work together to go deeper into it. This is what this book is about — a mutual exploration of ways to make a difference in our lives and in our relationships. The author guides readers in how to do this.