Cracking The Coconut Code 7 Insights to Transform Your Life author: Mary Jo McCabe Princess Books (Distributed by Hay House) 2004 ISBN #1-932128-11-5 I took one look at the title Cracking The Coconut Code, and was certain that I was dealing with an editorial team gone rampant! (I really should have known that John Edward would not associate himself with something that was 90% gimmick!) I started breathing normally again once I started reading the book. McCabe is an intuitive interpreter of symbols and messages that she receives from an individual's "inner voice", from their soul. She works with a group of spiritual teachers who refer to themselves as "The Guides". Through them she helps people find purpose and direction in their lives. The image of the coconut came to McCabe when she was asked how she was able to hear her souls voice. Her explanation of that symbol to the woman who asked the question was that a coconut is loved for its tasty white "meat" and sweet milk, but that to get to these one must get through its thick, tough shell. (Having attempted opening coconuts myself, I can attest personally to that thick outer shell!) In answering the follow-up question of "How do you get to the milk?", McCabe received the following seven insights from her guides1: 1. Overcome the fear of knowing 2. Understand the history of emotional tangles 3. Identify property 4. Support 5. Embrace shortcomings 6. Focus 7. Diminish occupation McCabe has been on an over thirty year journey of helping people to find direction in their lives. Many times this has not been an easy journey, for McCabe or for her family. She comes from (and continues to practice) the Catholic faith. Her husband was a career military officer. They moved often, and had to "fit into" each new community in the best way possible. There are many things here that speak of convention, and the need to "fit in". Yet, with her husband's support, she chose to follow the path that so clearly came to her. Cracking The Coconut Code is as much her life story as it is words of wisdom. I think we can all, in some way, identify with her, and with her struggles. Through the stories she shares (some personal, some client based) we come to see how we can transform our own lives - live more freely and more fully. The backbone of this book is the connection between our physical and our spiritual selves. Our physical self is what the outside world sees, and represents the "husk" of the coconut. Our goal in life is to balance our physical and spiritual selves - and then to maintain that balance. There is a chapter devoted to each of the seven insights listed above. Through discussion, story and exercises, the energy of the insight is placed in the readers life. Each chapter also lists a Daily Message and a Life Message. This book is not meant to be read and put away - it is meant to be worked with on a daily basis. Define what is out of balance in your life at any time, define where your anxieties and fears are, turn to the appropriate chapter and you will find a way to bring in balance and understanding. I loved the first exercise under insight number one (overcome the fear of knowing). The reader is asked to close their eyes and imagine a rainbow. Then they are asked to pick their favorite color in the rainbow. Each color carries with it certain qualities (i.e. Red carries the advantages of being positive and upbeat, with the ability to avoid confrontation. Red also carries the disadvantages of failing to set boundaries for yourself, or not standing up for yourself.) A small exercise gifts the reader with immense insight! For insight number one, the Daily Message2 is: "All experiences, interactions and actions are lessons to help you discover who you really are. Give purpose to all that happens in your life. Identify the message." The Life Message for insight number one is: "Life begins from within. Everything and everyone in your life brings you messages from your soul to encourage and help you learn about yourself. As you "confront the fear of knowing yourself," you accept responsibility for everything in your life - the good, the bad, and even the ugly. You must live each day knowing that your soul is directing your life and that all that takes place in it is a message from your soul. Every time you go over a hurdle or overcome a difficulty, you're removing layers that have kept you away from your true self. This is the true purpose of living a physical life. Once you become aware of this truth, it changes your entire life by bringing both meaning and purpose into it." Each of the seven insights in this book contain profound wisdom - using the exercises allows the reader to place that wisdom in their life. Anyone, from any background, has the ability to work with this material. The truths here are universal. They are contained in the code that cracks the coconut3: Confront Overcome Claim Offer Nurture Use Trust Trust the process to find your milk. Use your goals to stay focused. Nurture your shortcomings to empower yourself. Offer your support to encourage yourself. Claim your tools to remove the layers. Overcome your emotional entangles to satisfy your thirst. Confront the fear of knowing yourself by going within. This is a small book with large wisdom. Gift yourself, a friend or family member. It will be well worth it! Footnotes: 1. Ibid page XII. 2. Ibid page 19. 3. Ibid pages 74, 75. © February 2005 Bonnie Cehovet Personal Lifestyle Reading - I offer a Personal Lifestyle Reading using Tarot that looks at past, present and future influences in your life, at the energies that are currently available to help you along your path, and at those energies that are appearing as challanges. My goal is to offer you insight into your decision making process, as well as tools that you can use to both better understand your path and make conscious, choice centered decisions. Home Personal Empowerment links Personal Empowerment articles View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook Graphics by Art for the web