In this fictional narrative, protagonist Asina illustrates the seven stages a soul goes through in its physical existence on Earth in order to learn, grow, and impart lessons to others.
Before Asina arrives on Earth for her birth, a being of light tells her to find a black purse in a kitchen alcove once she’s in human form and to keep it with her; she also meets the being who will become her husband and protector on Earth, Sentel. Asina is then born in post-WWII rural Australia and lives with her sister Ralia and mother Ezara.
Asina experiences the pain of separation from Ralia, the death of Ezara (whose black purse becomes Asina’s touchstone), the joy of life with Sentel and their children, the personal fulfillment of education and a career, a second tragedy when daughter Nettie dies young, and the struggle to raise Nettie’s children. Unresolved grief takes a physical toll until Asina finally acknowledges her sorrow and finds her soul’s purpose in caring for needy children. “Creating harmony with her soul through acceptance of her choice of this lifetime has become her blessing. She is her soul.”
Throughout, the author explores, through a Catholic lens, the fundamental New Age idea of a soul’s Earthly travels through silence, hope, suffering, loss, survival, belief, and onto heaven. The Introduction explains how the steps are illustrated by Jesus’ birth, life, teaching, death, and resurrection. Asina attends Mass often, prays the rosary, and has vivid visions and communication with Jesus’ mother Mary.
Nonetheless, her life story is relatable to those of any, or no, religion. It’s a fresh way to narrate the core spiritual concept that we are spiritual beings having an Earthly existence, not the other way around.
The narrative is sometimes bumpy, jumping in time from sentence to sentence. But it’s also colorful, filled with incident, and touching, suitable for fans of inspirational fables like Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist and James Redfield’s The Celestine Prophecy.
Also available in hardcover and ebook.
