Stepping off the Edge

REVIEWS FOR STEPPING OFF THE EDGE:

"In one of my favorite books, Jesus is purported to have advised his followers that there are two ways to lead––by standing at the crossroads and pointing the direction (which a sign can do), or by heading down the path, saying "follow me." In Stepping Off the Edge, Sandy Nathan demonstrates her spiritual and personal consciousness and aliveness by heading down the path, inviting people to enter spiritual practice through her own example. Whether addicted to online shopping, traveling cross-country for the first time on her own at age 58, exploring her family's roots or saying good-bye to a beloved horse, Sandy Nathan shares how opportunities for spiritual growth and development are everywhere in life. She gives specific exercises and ways to take advantage of these opportunities, too. Thank you, Sandy, for appearing on Full Power Living, and for writing Stepping Off the Edge, doing your part to tell the world to "wake up"!

Ilene L. Dillon, M.S.W.
Host of Full Power Living (www.worldtalkradio.com )
Co-author of Happiness is a Decision of the Heart

A quick search on “spiritual” at amazon.com turned up 216,168 books. That doesn’t include music and movies; it’s just books. There must be a lot of people looking for answers. So, how do you know which book is right for you? I can’t answer that question, but you’re reading this review, so perhaps Sandy Nathan’s Stepping Off the Edge is for you.

Sandy Nathan put herself into every page of her book. Only a truly confident and trusting person would make themselves so vulnerable to readers. It’s easy to trust her. After reading the book, I feel as if I know her. There are parts of her that I recognize in myself. I suspect, so will most readers.

The author takes us on a journey of self-discovery. Figuratively speaking, Sandy packed her RV, bought a guidebook, and left. She went where spirit led and by journey’s end (although, the journey never really ends) was exactly where she was supposed to be. Chances are, if you’re reading this review, you’ve already packed your bags.

You won’t find a clearly cut path from where you are to where you’re going to end up via this book. The author rambles about the psyche too much for that. In doing so, she exposes something for everyone. There are chapters devoted to psychology, spirit, grief, fear… she touches them all.

What the author doesn’t do is tell you how to walk your spiritual path. Nobody can do that. Nor, is the author an armchair Indian—if you want a Native American shaman, look elsewhere. There’s no how-to list in this book that will miraculously change your life. Nor are you going to suddenly contact a spirit guide or start divining the future (well, not as a direct result of this book). The book has Native American undertones, but they’re part of Sandy’s journey. The author works very hard to leave the tools you take on your journey up to you, and that’s exactly as it should be.

What she does is help you find your spiritual path, help you stay on it, and help you recognize where you are while traveling it, and do so without fear. She accomplishes this by challenging you to examine your life. Are you happy where you are? If the answer is yes, just enjoy the book. Something might inspire you. Just because you’re happy, doesn’t mean you can’t discover something new. If the answer is no, be prepared to discover why and what you can do to change your life. Ms. Nathan’s book is about “doing”—it’s about recognizing your own journey, repairing your problem areas to free your spirit, and then living the result.

Go ahead, step off the edge. You know you want to…

The above review was contributed by: Susan Sales Harkins: Software consultant and the author of several articles and books on database technologies. She and her husband, William, collaborate on children's non-fiction. Click Here to read more of Susan’s Reviews

"Sandy's book has got to be one of the most fun to read books about spirituality ever written. She takes the reader along on her adventures with a down to earth approach and style that keeps the reader in touch--with both reality and spirituality. Informative, entertaining, and enlightening."

Natural Horse Magazine
Volume 8 Issue 5

"I invite you to read Sandy's book. Short stories are my favorite kind of reading, and this book is like that: a series of short pieces strung together. I like images and montages of images: I am very visual. Sandy presents things in little scenes that have different emotions. Reading it was like walking through a concert. Different instruments are played during each song; different kinds of sound rise and fall around me, producing feelings and images. That was pretty cool. She showed me glimpses of things, circles of things. That's the way I write my songs. The book wasn't like some scientific thing that takes the soul from the real meaning of healing and all the feelings going on. That's what I like about it.

"Sandy has a way of teaching that uses normal words so people can read and understand what she means. Some of the books you get at conferences use such professional language that unless you're a doctor, you can't understand what the person's saying. She doesn't do that, and I liked that. It made me want to know more about her."

Bill Miller
Mohican-German Musician, Speaker, and Artist.
Winner of the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album
and other awards, including multiple NAMMY Awards, Spiritual Leader of the Gathering

"This is a dynamic book. It's alive with Ms. Nathan's passion, and her presence is in every line, teaching and learning with you, helping you when you stumble, because she's stumbled, too. It's rich with energy and meaning."

Gerald Di Pego
Novelist-Screenwriter
Author of the screenplays for 'The Forgotten, 'Phenomenon'
'Instinct,' 'Angel Eyes,' 'Message in a Bottle,' and other films.

"A provocative and inspiring journey of discovery. It reads like a good novel."

Leonard Tourney
Novelist Author of Time's Fool: A Mystery of Shakespeare and
The Matthew and Joan Stock Mysteries