Sokaren - 2006 No 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Sökaren
Issue: Nr 1, 2006 (Volume 43)
Publisher: Sökaren
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Price: 50:- incl. VAT
Cover Headline: Nya Tidsålderns Center Deva celebrated its 25th anniversary with a large festival. Among the participants was singer Marie Bergman. Reportage by Agneta Milde. Photo by Anton Svedberg.

This issue of Sökaren, a magazine for life questions, focuses heavily on the 25th anniversary of the Nya Tidsålderns Center Deva. The cover features singer Marie Bergman performing at the event.

Main Articles and Features

A Grand Celebration When Deva's 25 Years Were Celebrated

This report by Agneta Milde, with photos by Anton Svedberg, details the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Deva Center. Tomas Frankell, the center's founder, initiated the event, which included dinner, dancing, and a full-day program. The goal was to support the Deva farm project. Frankell is presented as a living example of how new spirituality has progressed over 25 years, breaking through stagnant thinking and gaining wider acceptance. The article highlights the increasing acceptance of phenomena like yoga, chi gong, telepathy, and clairvoyance, and the shift from a mechanical worldview to a more holistic one. The event featured many familiar faces, with a predominantly female audience over 50, who were present when Café Vega opened as a center for New Age spirituality in 1980. Tomas Frankell's decision to sell his apartment to renovate a dilapidated Chinese restaurant for the center was initially seen as reckless by some.

The celebration included a theatrical group reenacting past events with humor. Participants were treated to high-quality music, laughter, networking, and physical activities. Marie Bergman performed, encouraging the audience to 'howl,' and Monica Sperens led exercises from the 'Alla Kan Institutet.'

Daring to Succeed

Speakers Lena Kristina and Toomas Tulse from Wäxthuset shared their philosophy on success. Lena Kristina emphasized that success is built on 80% psychology and 20% knowledge and skills, urging individuals to take responsibility for their own becoming. She suggested a daily 'power hour' for body and soul and listening to one's inner guidance. The importance of intention and openness to life's unfolding was stressed. Key principles for success included clearly defining goals, perseverance, adapting strategies when things don't work, and being flexible.

Best Friends Summarize Their Wisdom

Dream therapist Louise Minerva, numerologist Annika Gauri Langlé, and astrologer Thomas Jönsson participated in a panel discussion. Louise Minerva explained that dream interpretation aims for healing and awakening from unconsciousness, emphasizing trauma healing at a cellular level and the idea that our daily experiences can reflect our inner state. Annika Gauri Langlé highlighted the chakra system, particularly the third eye, as crucial for perception and self-command. Thomas Jönsson discussed the concept of the 'good life' and the search for meaning, suggesting that the body's stress-release mechanisms (crying, laughing, sweating, etc.) are vital.

The Driving Force, Inspirer Tomas Frankell

Tomas Frankell is portrayed as the driving force behind the Deva Center's initiatives.

Dream Therapist Louise Minerva Li

Louise Minerva is presented as a dream therapist.

Visionary Annika Dopping

Annika Dopping is recognized as a visionary.

The Power of the Goddess: Her Rebirth in Our Time

This book review by Eva Jagrell discusses Marko Pogacnik's book "Gudinnans återkomst" (The Goddess's Return). The reviewer notes the current trend of 'goddess books' and Pogacnik's unique perspective as a conceptual and landscape artist. The book is described as challenging, requiring an 'inner' understanding beyond logic. It explores the concept of the divine feminine and the cyclical, three-phased language associated with it, which predates the dominance of male deities.

Letter to Emilia

Eva Jagrell also reviews Anna Bornstein's "Brevet till Emilia" (Letter to Emilia), a book in the form of a letter from a grandmother to her granddaughter. It recounts a life journey, highlighting deceased relatives and significant people. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding one's lineage and the collective consciousness of a family. It touches upon love, sorrow, passion, and alienation, suggesting that true fulfillment comes from within.

Shamanistic Manual: Runes and Shamanism 2.0

This review by Gunnar Martin Aronsson discusses Jörgen I. Eriksson and Atrid Grimsson's "Runmagi och shamanism 2.0" (Runes and Shamanism 2.0). The book is presented as a manual for the shamanic world, drawing on Eriksson's extensive studies with Sami and Navajo peoples. It explores the connection between runic magic and shamanic trance methods, and the author's experiences with ancestral spirits and other realms. The review notes the book's detailed sections on runic history and practice, comparing it favorably to other works on the subject.

The Jesus Who Never Existed

This section reviews Roger Viklund's book "Den Jesus som aldrig funnits" (The Jesus Who Never Existed), which critically examines the biblical Jesus and the origins of Christianity. Viklund argues that there is no historical evidence for Jesus and that the Gospel accounts are fictional. He suggests that Paul was the true founder of Christianity and that many stories about Jesus are borrowed from earlier myths. The review highlights Viklund's meticulous research and his conclusion that the biblical Jesus is a literary fiction. The reviewer acknowledges the book's thoroughness but notes the need for specialized knowledge to fully evaluate its claims.

Wisdom Quotes

A collection of wisdom quotes from various figures, including Verner von Heidenstam, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Marcus Aurelius, Aaron Sussman, Ruth Goode, Lena Andersson, Ulf Karlströmer, David Stuart Sobel, Torsten Tegnér, Per Nittve, and others, are presented.

Science and Religion: Two Paths to the Mystery's Gate

Karl-Erik Edris writes about the relationship between science and religion. He argues that science, despite its claims of objectivity, is not entirely free from assumptions and 'faith.' He critiques the idea that scientific theories, like Darwin's theory of evolution, are proven facts rather than frameworks for understanding. Edris suggests that the distinction between science and religion is not as clear-cut as often portrayed, and both involve a form of 'faith' or belief in a particular worldview.

Avoid Sugar

This article, excerpted from the book "Happy Yoga" by Steve Ross and Olivia Rosewood, discusses the negative effects of sugar consumption. It highlights a study showing reduced arguments in couples who cut out sugar, and links sugar to mood swings, fatigue, irritability, and addiction. The article explains how high glycemic index foods can lead to insulin resistance, potentially causing obesity, depression, and diabetes. It contrasts the health of French people, who consume less sugar, with Americans.

Indian Thinking: On the Ultimate Reality

This section presents a dialogue from the Chandogya Upanishad, where a father explains the concept of Atman (the self or soul) as the inner essence of all things, present in every living being and the universe. It also includes a quote from the Bhagavad Gita about the indestructible nature of the soul.

The Human and Evolution

This personal reflection by an unnamed author recounts a childhood experience with a clairvoyant, which sparked questions about unexplained abilities. The author contrasts the scientific worldview, which dismisses such phenomena, with personal experiences that challenge a purely materialistic explanation of reality. The article critiques the scientific reliance on evolution as an unproven axiom and questions the ability of science to fully explain consciousness and the human mind.

Reader's Forum: A Life-Altering Experience

Gun Hansson from Lund shares a profound spiritual experience from 1975, where she felt a deep sense of unity with everything. This experience led to a significant shift in her life values and priorities.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of spirituality, New Age philosophy, holistic health, and personal growth. There is a critical perspective on mainstream science, particularly regarding evolution and materialism, often juxtaposing it with spiritual or alternative explanations. The editorial stance appears to favor open inquiry into life's deeper questions, encouraging readers to explore different paths to understanding and well-being. The issue emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of inner experience and self-awareness.

This issue of "Sökaren" (The Seeker), dated 1/2006, explores profound questions about reality, consciousness, and the nature of existence. The cover headline, "Genom mystiska upplevelser kanske insikter kan vinnas om verklighetens djupaste natur" (Through mystical experiences, perhaps insights can be gained into the deepest nature of reality), sets the tone for a multifaceted examination of human experience, contrasting scientific and spiritual perspectives.

The Nature of Reality: Science vs. Religion

Karl-Erik Edris, in his article "Det är ingen strid mellan religionens tro och vetenskapens vetande, utan i stället en strid mellan olika tros-system" (There is no conflict between religious faith and scientific knowledge, but rather a conflict between different belief systems), argues that both science and religion are systems of knowledge that attempt to understand different dimensions of reality. Science focuses on the objective, external world, while religion primarily addresses the subjective, internal world of consciousness, meaning, and purpose. Edris criticizes the reductionist materialism of some scientific circles for denying the subjective experience and the concept of free will, suggesting that a balanced approach integrating both scientific and spiritual insights is necessary to grasp the full mystery of existence.

Mystical Experiences and Inner Knowledge

The magazine highlights the significance of mystical experiences as a path to inner knowledge. These experiences are described as moments where consciousness connects with something beyond time and space, a dimension common to all of reality. The article suggests that these experiences, often accompanied by a sense of profound power, can shake the foundations of one's being. It posits that religion, in its 'wise' form, offers an empirical dimension for verifying knowledge about the ultimate nature of existence, a path that is both individual and collective, leading to insights that can be described as revelations.

The Historical Jesus: A Mythical Figure?

Roger Viklund's extensive article, "Bibelns Jesus en sagogestalt" (The Bible's Jesus as a Mythical Figure), challenges the traditional view of Jesus as a historical person. Viklund argues that there is a striking lack of contemporary non-Christian historical evidence for Jesus' existence. He scrutinizes the accounts of Roman historians like Pliny, Suetonius, and Tacitus, suggesting they relied on Christian beliefs rather than independent sources. The article focuses heavily on the writings of Josephus Flavius, particularly the controversial "Testimonium Flavianum," which Viklund contends is likely a later Christian interpolation. He also examines the Pauline epistles, arguing that Paul's writings reveal little about a historical Jesus, focusing instead on a Christ experienced through revelation. Viklund suggests that the Gospels themselves are not direct historical accounts but rather compilations of myths and midrashic interpretations of the Old Testament, written decades after Jesus' supposed death and likely not in Palestine.

Near-Death Experiences: The Being of Light

Another significant section of the magazine delves into near-death experiences (NDEs), drawing on the work of researchers like Raymond Moody. Accounts from individuals who have had NDEs describe a journey beyond the physical body, encountering a profound 'Being of Light.' This entity is characterized by unconditional love, understanding, and clarity, communicating through direct thought transference. The experiences often involve a sense of peace, a review of one's life, and a feeling of connection to a universal consciousness. The article includes personal testimonies that emphasize the overwhelming warmth and acceptance experienced during these encounters.

The Meaning of Death

In the article "Den viktigaste frågan: Vad är döden?" (The most important question: What is death?), the magazine touches upon the concept of death, referencing the experiences of Carl Gustav Jung, who described a peaceful transition and a vision of 'Wholeness and Unity.' The piece suggests that death, particularly natural death from old age, can be a transition to an 'spiritual existence.' It also includes a prayer for peace for all living beings, attributed to Albert Schweitzer.

Ethical Principles Across Cultures

The "Notiser" (Notices) section includes a compilation of the "golden rule" as expressed in various religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, and Christianity. This section highlights a universal ethical principle emphasizing empathy, non-violence, and reciprocal treatment, suggesting a common moral ground across diverse belief systems.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently promotes a worldview that values both scientific inquiry and spiritual or mystical exploration. It challenges rigid materialistic viewpoints and encourages an open-minded approach to understanding the complexities of human consciousness and the universe. The editorial stance appears to favor a synthesis of knowledge, suggesting that a complete understanding of reality requires integrating insights from both the objective (scientific) and subjective (spiritual/mystical) realms. There is a critical examination of established religious narratives, particularly concerning the historical Jesus, advocating for a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to faith and belief.