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Sidewalk Oracles: Playing with Signs, Symbols, and Synchronicity in Everyday Life
Become a Kairomancer Synchronicity is when the universe gets personal. Through this book of games and enchanting stories, you’ll learn how to monitor the play of coincidence and the symbolic resonance of incidents in daily life in order to tap into the deeper logic of events, receive extraordinary counsel, and have wonderful fun.
You will be invited to become a someone who is poised to catch the messages in special moments when synchronicity is in play — and to take action to seize the opportunities those moments present. To be a kairomancer, you need to trust your feelings as you walk the roads of this world, to develop your personal science of shivers, and to recognize in your gut and your skin that you know far more than you hold on the surface of consciousness.
This is a way of real magic, which is the art of bringing gifts from a deeper world into this one. Follow it, and you will put a champagne fizz of enchantment into your everyday life.
You will be invited to become a someone who is poised to catch the messages in special moments when synchronicity is in play — and to take action to seize the opportunities those moments present. To be a kairomancer, you need to trust your feelings as you walk the roads of this world, to develop your personal science of shivers, and to recognize in your gut and your skin that you know far more than you hold on the surface of consciousness.
This is a way of real magic, which is the art of bringing gifts from a deeper world into this one. Follow it, and you will put a champagne fizz of enchantment into your everyday life.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
106 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 13, 2016
In the movie The NeverEnding Story, a boy accidentally ends up in a mysterious bookshop, where he borrows a book without the owner's knowledge. As he sits in an attic reading the book - which tells the story of a warrior on a quest in some fantastical land - he realises the book is aware of him, and speaking back to him.
My experience with this book was a little bit like that. My boyfriend gave it to me as a birthday gift because he knew I had an interest in synchronicity (or maybe the book "fell" on him in the bookstore? This is apparently a very popular "starting" point for synchronous events.) As I started reading it, a few topics discussed on its pages happened to be random topics I was already reading about elsewhere.
Robert Moss paints the world as a place filled with symbols that are waiting to speak back to us, if only we'll pay attention to them. Then, what we do with them, is a matter of how creative we want to get. Moss' style is conversational, very easy to read, and the book has plenty of exercises to activate synchronicity in your life.
I decided to play one of his games by asking my Spotify playlist a question and letting a randomly selected song give me the answer (or guide me, as Moss would say). The song that came up was Madonna's "Cherish", with lyrics which actually fit perfectly what I was asking. Just as I was listening to the song, going down Camden and paying attention to its lyrics, I walked past a young woman dressed like Madonna circa 1980s. From then onwards, other coincidences started to appear related to that song (mostly to do with the song's reference to Romeo and Juliet). I'm not really sure what it all means except, perhaps, that the universe has a sense of humor (or maybe it's just our own mind's comedic power when it focuses on something?)
My experience with this book was a little bit like that. My boyfriend gave it to me as a birthday gift because he knew I had an interest in synchronicity (or maybe the book "fell" on him in the bookstore? This is apparently a very popular "starting" point for synchronous events.) As I started reading it, a few topics discussed on its pages happened to be random topics I was already reading about elsewhere.
Robert Moss paints the world as a place filled with symbols that are waiting to speak back to us, if only we'll pay attention to them. Then, what we do with them, is a matter of how creative we want to get. Moss' style is conversational, very easy to read, and the book has plenty of exercises to activate synchronicity in your life.
I decided to play one of his games by asking my Spotify playlist a question and letting a randomly selected song give me the answer (or guide me, as Moss would say). The song that came up was Madonna's "Cherish", with lyrics which actually fit perfectly what I was asking. Just as I was listening to the song, going down Camden and paying attention to its lyrics, I walked past a young woman dressed like Madonna circa 1980s. From then onwards, other coincidences started to appear related to that song (mostly to do with the song's reference to Romeo and Juliet). I'm not really sure what it all means except, perhaps, that the universe has a sense of humor (or maybe it's just our own mind's comedic power when it focuses on something?)
September 1, 2016
I'm always a fan of Robert Moss. This book deals more with looking at waking life symbolically rather than his usual approach to taking dreams literally. Great stuff for living a magical life, just by being open to and noticing the signs and symbols all around you. Lots of exercises to try out and stories to inspire. You don't have to remember your dreams to make good use of this book.
Book Pairings:
Goes well with Tosha Silver's Outrageous Openness.
Book Pairings:
Goes well with Tosha Silver's Outrageous Openness.
November 26, 2017
The concept of synchronicity has interested me for a long time, but this isn't the exploration I wanted. It's a kind of New Agey "open your mind and see the message the universe is sending you" advice book, and it didn't give me any insights I felt usable. That may just be a reader/book mismatch (the merit any sort of advice book is a matter of personal taste), or maybe the book's just poor. I'm not sure.
December 17, 2020
This book is a collection of ideas & concepts, stories, and people, and various methods of connecting with signs, symbols and synchronicity. The author invites us to be "kairomancers," (a word he invented,) which he defines as ones who navigate by synchronicity & use signs and symbols for purposes of divination.
There are a wide variety of ideas here, but none explored in much depth. The author provides lots of references to books and authors & a thorough bibliography so readers can pursue further, whatever interests them.
Parts of the book I liked:
Chapter 2--A Walk Around Jung's Castle. 30 pages, including a quote from Borges about "numen." A quote from Heraclitus relating to manifestation, some discussion about synchronicity, 5 pages about the I Ching, a little about gratitude, and some thoughts about "Wyrd" (fate or destiny).
Rule
#1-Whatever You Think or Feel, The Universe Says Yes
#2- Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
#3- Your Own Will Come to You
#9- You Walk in Many Worlds
Games:
#1-Play Sidewalk Tarot
#4-Listen for Your Daily Kledon
#6- Play with Shelf Elves: A little about Jorge Luis Borges and the short story "The Other" included in his Book of Sand
#7- Chance an Encounter: "...Tell me a story." "What Kind of Story?" "Any story you like from any
part of your life."
#9-Check Your Inner Soundtrack
#10-Déjà Vu All Over Again
#11-Expect the Unexpected Guest
#12-Looking for the Spiral Question Mark
#13-Recognize Personal Omens
#16- Consult the Index Card Oracle (Solitaire Version)
#17-Write a Message without Sending It
Sidewalk Oracles might be a good book for anyone who is just beginning to learn about synchronicity. But they may become confused by the number of topics covered and the multitude of ideas. Maybe the book is best for the reader who is knowledgeable about synchronicity and has become jaded and needs some new ideas to apply to the knowledge they already possess. It can also serve as a catalyst for creating some games of their own.
A quote from the book: "The bottom of the mind is paved with crossroads."
~~Paul Valéry~~
Words of the author:"Real magic is the art of bringing gifts from another world into this world. We do this when we go dreaming & when we remember to bring something back."
"The doors to the Otherworld open from wherever you are, and the traffic moves both ways."
My own Synchronicity while working on this review:
I was reading the final chapters of Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de-Saint Exupéry. In chapter 9, a French monk named Laporte plays a role in the author's narrative. On the same day I read this chapter, I had scanned a list of reviews written by Lindsay, who I am following on Goodreads. She had reviewed 3 books written by Danielle LaPorte.
There are a wide variety of ideas here, but none explored in much depth. The author provides lots of references to books and authors & a thorough bibliography so readers can pursue further, whatever interests them.
Parts of the book I liked:
Chapter 2--A Walk Around Jung's Castle. 30 pages, including a quote from Borges about "numen." A quote from Heraclitus relating to manifestation, some discussion about synchronicity, 5 pages about the I Ching, a little about gratitude, and some thoughts about "Wyrd" (fate or destiny).
Rule
#1-Whatever You Think or Feel, The Universe Says Yes
#2- Chance Favors the Prepared Mind
#3- Your Own Will Come to You
#9- You Walk in Many Worlds
Games:
#1-Play Sidewalk Tarot
#4-Listen for Your Daily Kledon
#6- Play with Shelf Elves: A little about Jorge Luis Borges and the short story "The Other" included in his Book of Sand
#7- Chance an Encounter: "...Tell me a story." "What Kind of Story?" "Any story you like from any
part of your life."
#9-Check Your Inner Soundtrack
#10-Déjà Vu All Over Again
#11-Expect the Unexpected Guest
#12-Looking for the Spiral Question Mark
#13-Recognize Personal Omens
#16- Consult the Index Card Oracle (Solitaire Version)
#17-Write a Message without Sending It
Sidewalk Oracles might be a good book for anyone who is just beginning to learn about synchronicity. But they may become confused by the number of topics covered and the multitude of ideas. Maybe the book is best for the reader who is knowledgeable about synchronicity and has become jaded and needs some new ideas to apply to the knowledge they already possess. It can also serve as a catalyst for creating some games of their own.
A quote from the book: "The bottom of the mind is paved with crossroads."
~~Paul Valéry~~
Words of the author:"Real magic is the art of bringing gifts from another world into this world. We do this when we go dreaming & when we remember to bring something back."
"The doors to the Otherworld open from wherever you are, and the traffic moves both ways."
My own Synchronicity while working on this review:
I was reading the final chapters of Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de-Saint Exupéry. In chapter 9, a French monk named Laporte plays a role in the author's narrative. On the same day I read this chapter, I had scanned a list of reviews written by Lindsay, who I am following on Goodreads. She had reviewed 3 books written by Danielle LaPorte.
March 12, 2020
Hmmmm.
Surely this author’s full credentials should be considered.
This comment below, from Edward Herman and Gerry O’Sullivan’s 1989 The “Terrorism” Industry, makes it clear that Robert Moss may not be the shamanic dream master he is selling himself as. He has no real affiliations to the shamanic cultures he appropriates from, but a very real and long background in CIA covert propagandist activity. Funny how this long career of his is never mentioned on his blog, his webinars, or in his books. Do approach his writings with suspicion and do a little googling before accepting him in his new persona as a dream guru.
Surely this is not something to be overlooked when considering the source you are getting your spiritual information from. A little googling on the background of this man reveals an insidious and ugly past: a past that worked to do great harm to many peoples around the world through CIA propagandist activities in their efforts to further gain and domination. He was also a key figure in the propagandist work of the CIA to undermine journalists during the Vietnam war who were trying to reveal the real situation of that war to the public. Google him. All of this is there to see.
“Robert Moss has been a major figure in the organization of terrorism think tanks and in the dissemination of the right-wing version of the Western model of terrorism. In fact, as Fred Landis has pointed out, “For a price, Moss would go to Rhodesia, South Africa, Iran, and Nicaragua and tailor his standard KGB plot to local circumstances, thereby justifying repression of the political opposition and denial of human rights.”
Moss withdrew from the world of make-believe threat-conjuring in 1987 to write books and run workshops on the power of dreaming. But with his cutting edge expertise in seeding the collective unconscious with lies and fabrications for political and financial purposes, can it really be assumed that Robert Moss’s dream work is only about helping people to receive wisdom and gifts for your life?”
Surely this author’s full credentials should be considered.
This comment below, from Edward Herman and Gerry O’Sullivan’s 1989 The “Terrorism” Industry, makes it clear that Robert Moss may not be the shamanic dream master he is selling himself as. He has no real affiliations to the shamanic cultures he appropriates from, but a very real and long background in CIA covert propagandist activity. Funny how this long career of his is never mentioned on his blog, his webinars, or in his books. Do approach his writings with suspicion and do a little googling before accepting him in his new persona as a dream guru.
Surely this is not something to be overlooked when considering the source you are getting your spiritual information from. A little googling on the background of this man reveals an insidious and ugly past: a past that worked to do great harm to many peoples around the world through CIA propagandist activities in their efforts to further gain and domination. He was also a key figure in the propagandist work of the CIA to undermine journalists during the Vietnam war who were trying to reveal the real situation of that war to the public. Google him. All of this is there to see.
“Robert Moss has been a major figure in the organization of terrorism think tanks and in the dissemination of the right-wing version of the Western model of terrorism. In fact, as Fred Landis has pointed out, “For a price, Moss would go to Rhodesia, South Africa, Iran, and Nicaragua and tailor his standard KGB plot to local circumstances, thereby justifying repression of the political opposition and denial of human rights.”
Moss withdrew from the world of make-believe threat-conjuring in 1987 to write books and run workshops on the power of dreaming. But with his cutting edge expertise in seeding the collective unconscious with lies and fabrications for political and financial purposes, can it really be assumed that Robert Moss’s dream work is only about helping people to receive wisdom and gifts for your life?”
July 13, 2017
More inspirational than informational. Could have benefited from any sort of editing--some of the chapters seem poorly plotted out, and while I don't mind the 'examples from my own life' aspect of many books of this ilk, many of the anecdotes seem more designed to illustrate how 'smart' and 'cultured' the author is than the actual principles the book purports to outline.
There are gems in the self-help mystical field and I really wanted this to be one of them. While there is some sound advice, fun exercises and interesting ideas here, it's too bloated to be a classic. His basic message is 'pay attention', and 'you have to figure out for yourself what stuff means', which is of course useful advice, but not really worth the price of admission.
There are gems in the self-help mystical field and I really wanted this to be one of them. While there is some sound advice, fun exercises and interesting ideas here, it's too bloated to be a classic. His basic message is 'pay attention', and 'you have to figure out for yourself what stuff means', which is of course useful advice, but not really worth the price of admission.
November 10, 2017
If you aren't a fan of Robert Moss, if you believe there is no afterlife, no possible ways dreams are more than mind-movies that happen in the night, don't read any of his books. You won't like them and it will just take up your time.
Moss's writing style is easy to read and well-documented. He talks about the daily occurrences, sights, and events we witness, and how those small moments can create meaning for a more examined life.
He even shows how you can turn observations into a study of your life, your ambitions, and how you are choosing to handle your interconnections. Of course, you can also see them as just "games." Even games can teach us something.
I'm a fan of all his books, and this was no exception.
Moss's writing style is easy to read and well-documented. He talks about the daily occurrences, sights, and events we witness, and how those small moments can create meaning for a more examined life.
He even shows how you can turn observations into a study of your life, your ambitions, and how you are choosing to handle your interconnections. Of course, you can also see them as just "games." Even games can teach us something.
I'm a fan of all his books, and this was no exception.
July 14, 2016
So glad I ordered this in paperback because it's a keeper. Fun exercises and insight for discovering the magic in everyday life. I'm sure I'll refer back to it many times in the upcoming years.
March 1, 2018
I must admit that some of the content in this book, ie the mythology references went straight over my head. All in all I enjoyed the book and I hope to re-read it again some day (and hopefully understand more of the historic content). I got some great takeways from the “games” section, such as paying attention to my inner soundtrack (songs stuck in my head), also the book dipping was helpful (getting guidance from turning to a random page and sentence in a book), and most importantly, by reading the book I realized the meaning of a symbol I had been seeing for almost a year, yay! Funny how things can become so obvious in time, yet remain as a mystery or coincidence when you don’t pay full attention to them. This book also inspired me to pick up my dream journal and start recording my dreams again, I intend to read more of the authors books on the topic.
October 22, 2015
For the "left-brained" individual who thinks they just can't cross into "that" other more "right-brained" and higher-self operating world. The world where magic exists, synchronicity is an everyday occurrence and living the life you've always dreamt about is attainable. Robert Moss writes in such a way that you'll find this a springboard into deeper thoughts as well as tangential ideas you may have mused over. Keep your left brain, there's plenty to satisfy here. Explore new thoughts without giving up comfort. Look at the world with an updated vision. Mr. Moss, a world+ traveler is well read and educated and knows how to reach out to those of us yearning for more beyond the books of life.
June 9, 2018
I'm no stranger to synchronicities and was expecting something more "meaty" from this book. The author glosses over synchronicities that if he were to explore into it more, perhaps giving a reason for or providing a result, it would've made it a more meaningful connection. Instead, he really just made it sound like it was a mere coincidence and nothing more. There was no rhyme or reason for it, there was no meaningful outcome from it. Sometimes it didn't make any much sense. He also referenced way too many quotes and definitions that it took away from this book. And at times it felt like he was just name dropping.
August 26, 2016
A reminder that all life experience can be enriched by signs, symbols, and their stories.
If you are searching for a way to Life to become exciting and playful, this book will help you find your path to joy. Robert is an extraordinary teacher, but along with his teaching and stories, he invites you to live your larger life, shows you the way, and there is no greater gift!
If you are searching for a way to Life to become exciting and playful, this book will help you find your path to joy. Robert is an extraordinary teacher, but along with his teaching and stories, he invites you to live your larger life, shows you the way, and there is no greater gift!
December 18, 2018
I want to unplug from filling my awareness primarily with what is fed me through social media and TV. Wanting to recommit and reconnect to a more intuitive approach to life. Robert Moss's playful suggestions demand that I become more aware and present to the synchronicities of life. Looking forward to playing with these more!
June 7, 2019
Sounds more interesting that it is. If you're into interpreting your dreams and reading tea leaves or seeking signs in the alignment of the clouds or anything for that matter this is for you.
Silly woo-woo stuff and nonsense. There are better books out there on the Law of Attraction topic. I can't believe I paid for this book.
Silly woo-woo stuff and nonsense. There are better books out there on the Law of Attraction topic. I can't believe I paid for this book.
May 19, 2017
This is one of the best books on synchronicity I've ever read. See my full review here:
http://www.alternativeshr.com/index.p...
http://www.alternativeshr.com/index.p...
May 24, 2017
This book genuinely changed my daily spiritual life.
There were admittedly some parts that I felt would have benefitted from brevity and allowing the reader to draw their own parallels, but this is going to be a book that affects me positively for the rest of my life.
There were admittedly some parts that I felt would have benefitted from brevity and allowing the reader to draw their own parallels, but this is going to be a book that affects me positively for the rest of my life.
July 17, 2017
This was an easy but intriguing read of how if we pay attention the universe is always trying to show us something through signs, symbols and synchronicity. It is filled with example stories and even games to try. This one is a keeper for each game I will want to play with time and again.
August 20, 2018
Remarkable book to help you bring the magic into your everyday life. Rediscover the wonderment that you felt in childhood by reading and applying the games in this book. For a good laugh, read chapter five entitled On Other Planes!
September 11, 2018
I liked some of the exercises a lot. When he went full-on into what seemed like new age territory, with beings and messengers from other worlds or dimensions and whatnot, he lost me. That stuff just isn’t for me.
Want to read
June 19, 2016Have not read a page yet. So excited about starting this book today...I'll keep you updated. Yay!
March 1, 2017
This book was so fun. It is a method to playfully engage your reality. I have personally experienced much of what he talks about and found the stories to be enlightening and entertaining.
September 6, 2018
This is a wonderful book. I highly recommend it for people who want to (as the subtitle says) play with signs, symbols and synchronicity in everyday life.
March 29, 2019
This is a magical, heartening, insightful and inspiring book. I was sorry to finish it, but look forward to returning to it. Every page has treasure.
April 26, 2019
personally an ego trip of the author and all his adventures. He talks a good line but I really wonder if his workshops have any merit.
May 7, 2019
Endorsements:
“Sidewalk Oracles is CPR for the soul.”
— Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters
“After using Robert Moss’s eighteen games for playing with signs, symbols, and synchronicity, I can attest to the incredible value, as well as delight, in following his guidance.”
— Joyce Whiteley Hawkes, PhD, author of Cell-Level Healing: The Bridge from Soul to Cell
“Robert Moss is peerless in shifting us from seeing our life as boring and ordinary to seeing it as filled with meaningful messages and magic.”
— Stephen Dinan, CEO, The Shift Network
“Jung defined synchronicity as a ‘just-so’ moment that unexpectedly provokes a meaningful discovery or connection. Sidewalk Oracles gives us a delightful sampling from Robert Moss’s life of just-so stories and encounters. It may just trigger you into remembering a personal moment of secret happiness that you had forgotten. May it be so!”
— Ralph Metzner, author of Well of Remembrance: Rediscovering the Earth Wisdom Myths of Northern Europe
“Sidewalk Oracles is CPR for the soul.”
— Larry Dossey, MD, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters
“After using Robert Moss’s eighteen games for playing with signs, symbols, and synchronicity, I can attest to the incredible value, as well as delight, in following his guidance.”
— Joyce Whiteley Hawkes, PhD, author of Cell-Level Healing: The Bridge from Soul to Cell
“Robert Moss is peerless in shifting us from seeing our life as boring and ordinary to seeing it as filled with meaningful messages and magic.”
— Stephen Dinan, CEO, The Shift Network
“Jung defined synchronicity as a ‘just-so’ moment that unexpectedly provokes a meaningful discovery or connection. Sidewalk Oracles gives us a delightful sampling from Robert Moss’s life of just-so stories and encounters. It may just trigger you into remembering a personal moment of secret happiness that you had forgotten. May it be so!”
— Ralph Metzner, author of Well of Remembrance: Rediscovering the Earth Wisdom Myths of Northern Europe
October 25, 2019
I've never read anything quite like this book, and it was highly recommended to me by a poet whose work I really admire. To be frank, this gets into some pretty exciting territory: namely the relationship between the spiritual and physical world, and states of consciousness that are beyond what's acceptable in mainstream society. I had an NDE (near death experience) about 3 years ago and it has changed me, and I have been looking for resources that can help me understand what the heck has happened to my consciousness, because it's different. It's like there is an added layer, and involves being in the world in a different way. Moss's work really lives here, in this new layer I've discovered, where all living beings are connected. And if your life has led you to this territory, I think you would find it very interesting indeed. Moss writes in an anecdotal journey narrative style, finding many of the synchronicities, signs and symbols in his wanderings between engagements and discusses how to read them within the context of his own personal symbology. He finds he gets answers to dilemmas on his mind, decisions that need to be made, and information about the significance of encounters.
December 27, 2019
This book I needed to read in a few settings over months. I first picked it up while on vacation camping, then continued to read it while out of town and then finished it over the Christmas break. I think I will need to keep rereading it for awhile. There is wisdom in this book and it prompts you to look at the world slightly differently. I think I needed to read this while outside of my everyday life at first. I am hoping to carry this through to my everyday.
April 2, 2024
This one was a little "out there" for me, but I was intrigued by the concept of "the universe" speaking to me in subtle, everyday ways. I often thought about the author's ideas in context of my established belief system, and it still worked. One of the points of the book is that the signs you're seeing will be personal, so even though it was a little "woo-woo," there were ideas I could take and ponder for my own experiences. I might have rated this one higher, except in the middle I did not feel motivated to pick it back up. Once I got back to reading it, though, I did enjoy through rest of the book.
April 8, 2024
There are so many gems in here! I'm only taking one star off for the fact that it goes all over MANY different things. This isn't bad by any means but there were times I wasn't sure exactly what I was reading... That is not to say I didn't enjoy the heck out of it, I marked up so much with highlights and post it note tabs. I VERY much enjoyed this after having it on my TBR list for ages, and FINALLY grabbing a copy at my local book shop. It is worth it!
June 30, 2024
I’m a huge fan of Robert Moss and a student of his teacher training. This is another magical book that brings his work to the 24/7 stage: finding synchronicity in waking life and dancing with the messages from Spirit that arise in so many realms of life. The Universe is constantly communicating with us; we just need to be open to listening. Sidewalk Oracles is a delightful, fun read full of rules of the road and games.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews