"If all the beasts were gone, man would
die from a great loneliness of spirit."
-Chief Seattle

The Ride of Your Life In an incense filled shop in the Victorian seaport community of Port Townsend, Washington, somewhere between a book on shamanism and a title touting the true course to wealth, there lies a handful of copies of a modest book wholly assembled from construction paper and staples. It's easily missed by the casual browser whose attention is drawn to a display of beautiful crystals or the elaborate clothing hanging on the wall. A low humming sound begins in a distant corner, building, then fading away as quickly as it came. The clerk behind the counter wears a warm smile when you look at her as if to ask, "What the hell was that?" She can guess what you're thinking, and smiles broader. You return your attention to the titles. Upon discovering the book of staples and construction paper, at first you move to take it away, mistaking it for a discarded handbill - it looks that dull. Recognizing your error, a move is made to return it to the shelf, but it holds you. You get the sense it demands to be read, so resign yourself to a thorough inspection. Canoeing Through Life, the blue cover shouts. You don't care for watersports, but open the book anyway. The book has hooked you without your even knowing it. Familiarity - with the river, the canoe and especially yourself - is key to a successful canoe trip. Whichever way the current leads, go with it. As you read, the principles of living unfold before you. The book explains life as consisting of three physical properties: yourself, the river and your canoe. The illustrations by Nick Inman (The Findhorn Press, $4.95) are amusing line drawings that lend perfect accompaniment to the words, also by him. He presents life as a canoeing adventure in which self-knowledge is the key to success. Life is a river, upon which we are but navigators. When we work at navigating, invariably our canoes will wind up spinning in circles and risk capsizing. The simplest preventive: going with the flow. Some navigators make it look easy, while others appear to be getting nowhere. Inman reminds us eventually the river leads everyone to the same place; speed is not the important factor. Familiarity - with the river, the canoe and especially yourself - is key to a successful canoe trip. Whichever way the current leads, go with it. Therein lies the adventure of living. The clerk at the counter smiles upon your approach. She asks if you've found what you're looking for, and you tell her that indeed you have. "By the way," you add, dropping little blue books on the counter. "You need to order more of these. I've bought you out and I'm coming back next week." posted 04/28/01 TOP