Waking the Global Heart: Humanity's Rite of Passage from the Love of Power to the Power of Love

by Anodea Judith

Will we survive into the next age? If so, what will it look like and what will it take for us to get there? For the first time since the planet cooled 5 billion years ago, humanity is capable of influencing--for better or worse--the trajectory of evolution. This requires a tremendous responsibility and maturity of the heart. Only through a rite of passage will humanity shift from the love of power to the power of love. No mere sentimentality, this initiation is an urgent and wrenching shift that will uproot and transform every aspect of human civilization. This paradigm saves energy, reduces disease, is ecologically sustainable, and spiritually uplifting. It focuses on networks rather than markets, favors cooperation over competition, sustainability over exploitation, co-creation of our future over procreation.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction

399 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2006

About the author

Anodea Judith, Ph.D. is the founder and director of Sacred Centers, and a groundbreaking thinker, writer, therapist, and spiritual teacher. Her passion for the realization of human potential matches her concern for humanity’s impending crises — her fervent wish is that we “wake up in time.” She holds Masters and Doctoral degrees in Psychology and Human Health, is a 500 hour registered yoga teacher (E-RYT), with lifelong studies of psychology, mythology, sociology, history, systems theory, and mystic spirituality. She is considered one of the country’s foremost experts on the combination of chakras and therapeutic issues and on the interpretation of the Chakra System for the Western lifestyle. She teaches across the U.S., as well as in Canada, Europe, Asia, and South and Central America.

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Judith paints a grand arch or human evolution, from Neanderthal to present day, to facilitate her agenda of "the power of love". Leveraging the chakra system as well as classifications such as static feminine and dynamic masculine, Judith urges us to reconsider our role in society.

Although I relate with and ultimately support Judith's conclusions, it was very difficult to follow her logic and, at times, self-indulgent literary flair. In addition, when the conversation veered on the verge of practical, the directives were too vague and effusive to be useful at a society or individual level (with the exception of more meditation for everyone).

This book would have been more enjoyable if there was less of a pretense of a practical call-to-arms, or possibly less focus on the grand arch of humanity and more focus on practical methods to implement the espoused philosophies.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to know how to review this book, or how to categorize it. I enjoyed it for the most part, mainly because it felt like the author was outlining my own personal journey of awakening and development. I guess I felt validated, and also because this journey is universal, I felt like part of a greater community. There were so many things I highlighted and resonated with, but this book is essentially about opening one's heart, which is something I have been working on lately, so it was very helpful. This is essentially where I am: "Part of the adult work of healing the heart chakra is to shed these layers of false personae and discover the authentic self that dwells within. Only by intimacy with our own interior can we develop true compassion for the interior experience of another--a key task of the mature heart chakra."

[Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suppose if the title of this book seems novel to you then there might be something of interest in here for you. I personally found it to be pretty lightweight and over-long. Might have made a good magazine essay.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read other books by this author and thought this one would be powerful, but it ended up just being so-so. For me, the biggest problem was the author's need to constrain the progress of human history (in the West) to match the chakra system. I know Judith is best known for her prolific writing about the chakra system, but there is a point at which any system breaks down, and this is it. Also, if you are going to fit thousands of years of human history (again, only Western) into seven chapters of a book, it is by nature going to be reductive and cherry-picked. Case in point: The whole book is based on the idea that human history has moved from a feminine worldview to a masculine worldview and now needs to move to a more balanced union of feminine and masculine. However, on page 203, the author writes, "Before written history, we can only guess at the stories our ancestors told around the firelight. Projecting onto pregnant-bellied statues scattered across the land, we make an educated guess that their makers worshipped a goddess, a Great Mother, who was synonymous with nature." So here, 203 pages into the book, we seem to find an admission that the whole premise of the book is based on some fairly shaky suppositions of pre-history. At this point I almost stopped reading, but figured that having purchased the book, I should probably finish it. Now, at the end, I can say that the author has some thoughtful ideas scattered throughout the book. She has some concrete (although also confusing at times) ideas of how to create a world ruled by "the power of love." Overall, though, I didn't find it nearly as powerful or as well-supported as I would have expected from an author of this standing and would not recommend it highly. I made a few notes, but had to force myself to finish it and will likely not keep in my collection to read again.

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though there are definitely some gaps in this book - how could there not be given it aims to cover the history of our world? - it does a truly admirable job at what it's trying to accomplish. Anodea Judith adds an important voice to understand these challenging and changing times by viewing it through the lens of developmental psychology, combined with the chakra framework (one of her specialities) and looking at the balance and relationship between the masculine and feminine, both static and dynamic.

By looking at the evolution of our culture over the millennia she charts out a pathway on what to focus on next for our continued growth, healing and development. While there are obvious limitations in how far you can go with this in 300 or so pages, this book adds an important perspective that can guide us towards a brighter world.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and complex read from an author who specialises in writing about the Chakras. This book loosely uses charkras as a kind of poetic metaphor for the evolution of humanity during their time in planet earth. My sense is that the author is very earnest and has done a lot of research in writing this book. It’s not just new age “woo” but a serious attempt to model human consciousness and evolution. I enjoyed it.

[Anneke Rondonuwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is one of the books that i found hard to digest. it really takes a long time for my mind to absorb the messages. but once you do, it feels like a slap on your face. i rather believe, though, that the understanding in reading the message that this book carries will come in the right moment when you need it the most.

hands up to Anodea Judith

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent overview of the development of human civilization from the point of view of the chakra system. Judith describes human history from this point of view, explaining how each era contributed to the awakening and development of each chakra in turn. She makes an excellent thesis outlining our need to awaken and live from the fourth chakra - the heart - and to finally resolve within ourselves and our culture the third chakra aspect of power (greed, domination, consumption). The heart is the center, of above and below, heaven and earth, left and right, east and west, male and female. The synthesis of these polarities can happen in the heart chakra, and she outlines the steps we need to take to move into an abundant culture of love. By living as if we are separate from nature, we have become dissociated from a fundamental aspect of our identities as human beings sharing this planet; and the answer to our problem lies in embracing nature (and each other) once again, healing the damage we have caused our planet and each other, and moving forward into a new paradigm of ecology-mindedness. It is time we grew up from an immature species - consuming everything we can get our hands on, multiplying wildly, and trashing our planetary home - into a more mature species that cooperates, conserves resources, and maintains the beauty of our home while living in a sustainable way.

[Aymi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, thought provoking. There were times I agreed and times I disagreed; in the end and overall I'm glad that I read it. I liked the references to chakras for the times, and the visual graphs scattered in, it was interesting. The chapters were well named for the most part and it was easy to locate the individual topics. Although it can be hard to read at times, esp. if you are an emotional person like me; it got easier (for me), to read as I got farther into the chapters. And she did have good points. Another good thing is that all throughout the author's love, I'm sure she put into it, was felt through the words on the pages. Some of it was warm, some of it was tough. One thing to take from this book is the importance of balance and to not be afraid to use your heart as a guide.
---------------------------------------

I won this book here on goodreads and was more than happy to review it. I could say what I agree and don't agree with, but I don't want to spoil for those who haven't read the book. ^_^

[Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to review this book on amazon.com, so i'll just copy and paste:
I suppose I have grown used to relying on misrepresented accounts of collective History. The acknowledgment of my own deeply held but never questioned beliefs occurred to me while reading Waking the Global Heart. I now know how enlightening historical fact can be, and I have a stronger understanding of where Civilization is at and how we came to be here. Waking the Global Heart is an excellent book on gaining perspective. It's thorough and detailed, realistic and hopeful. The human race doesn't have to sacrifice all of it's achievements. The human race just needs to temper those achievements with reverence for the Earth that allows for these achievements, that allows for our existence. The future is going to be rough, and we have long believed that Love will not light the way when, in fact, it very well must and will.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking! There were some editorial bloopers here and there (or, am I becoming more detail-oriented and this is quite normal?). A therapists perspective on the global community...historical patterns of culture...a message to guide the present population on turning the tide of humanity to a culture based on understanding and compassion.

[Travis Callender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, ambitious book that connects individual development as understood through the expansion of energy through the chakras, with the development of our human species. Starts with a brief overview of the historical development of mankind from 200 000 years ago through the present. Suggests changes mankind must now choose, if we are to mature as a species from adolescence to adulthood.

[Juliet Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not an easy read, but it is a mind opening one. I took my time finishing it and have gone back and re-read a few parts. It is full of historical facts giving credence to its message. A reminder that the time is now and we need to act in order to save our mother the earth.

[Gail Testa · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read it. Amazing. Insightful. Prophetic.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read it yet, I hope you do!

[T Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using the chakra paradigm Anodea sketches a compelling argument for human evolution and some suggested next-steps. A little light on detail, but absorbing in its vision.