Neptune's Gift: Discovering Your Inner Ocean

by C.J. Scarlet

When Dylan, an average wave of middling ability, realizes he is about to crash on the shore, he is terrified and miserable. But when he encounters a magnificent wave named Serena, Dylan learns that he is not separate and alone, but One with every wave and every creature in the ocean. In fact, Dylan learns that he is the ocean itself. In the process, he discovers that courage is found in the eye of the storm, that the limitless abundance of the universe is always within our grasp, that it is through focusing on the happiness of others that one's own happiness is achieved, that we truly do possess the power to make our dreams come true, and that although we appear to be separate from one another, we are collective drops that together form the same vast ocean. The book is sprinkled with colorful sea creature characters that help illuminate and reinforce the lessons Dylan learns on his voyage of the spirit. Abounding with thoughtful ideas for readers to consider and apply directly to their lives, this profound and fun allegorical tale will leave readers touched and inspired, as they travel with Dylan on the greatest journey of his life.

148 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2008

About the author

CJ Scarlet is a danger expert, victim advocate, and crime survivor herself. She’s also the doting grandma of three precocious kids.

Scarlet has helped thousands of crime victims, but when confronted with the simple innocence of her grandchildren, she felt utterly helpless. How to protect them? More importantly, how to teach them to protect themselves?

Badass Parenting: An Irreverent Guide to Raising Safe, Savvy, Confident Kids and Heroic Parenting (the PG-rated version of the same book) are Scarlet’s way of doing just that and, in the process, helping parents of kids 0 to 9 protect their loved ones too.

CJ 's next book, Raising Badass Kids: The Savvy Parents' Guide to Predator-Proofing Tweens & Teens, will be published on Nov. 15, 2023.

An expert in victims’ rights and advocacy, CJ has given speeches and workshops at national and international events; and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, including MSNBC and NPR.

The former roller-skating carhop, forest firefighter, and US Marine photojournalist holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis on human violence from Old Dominion University.

Named one of the “Happy 100” people on the planet, CJ’s story of triumph over adversity is featured in two bestselling books, including Happy for No Reason and Be Invincible.

Reviews

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neptune’s Gift: Discovering Your Inner Ocean is a short story about Dylan, a wave who is afraid of crashing the shore. His anxiety and fear overtake his ability to realize that he is the ocean and it is only by meeting a much larger wave does he come to such an understanding.

I believe using allegories in order to convey a message is a brilliant and compelling move. In this case, the author uses such a tale to teach readers how to deal with their own storms and waves, in their lives. It induces purpose and gratitude for what you have and demonstrates the ability to identify the core strength within, which we hold.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I found it to be very inspirational. It was thought-provoking and at the same calming to follow the story like tale and to learn something at the same time. The author has a soothing literary skill that demonstrates care and love in her writing. I particularly relished the part where the laws of nature were combined and compared with humanity.

I highly recommend this book and believe that this author has great potential in creating remarkable work.

[Janet Ashmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing allegory! I love the questions at the end of the chapters as well. 5 stars!