The Celestine Prophecy may be a best seller and incredibly popular but I really think it is one of the worse books of its kind that I have ever read – and believe me I have read quite a lot.
The Celestine Prophecy is fiction – and very poor fiction at that. Had it been written by the hand of a reasonably accomplished writer who had bothered to do the slightest bit of research the book might have been worth reading. Unfortunately, however, Redfield does not possess any literary skill whatsoever and one wonders indeed if he has any skill at all apart from the ability to fleece the gullible American public.
The Celestine Prophecy is fiction but it is apparently widely treated as non-fiction, this is where it appears in Ciao – rather strangely under lifestyle/health and beauty. If it had been classed as fiction I might have been reluctant to divulge the whole story but, as it is not and the plot is so weak anyway, it will do no harm to do so.
After an almost promising opening when the nameless hero, who is having a mid life crisis, meets an old friend who tells him about a manuscript in Peru which the authorities are trying to suppress the story rapidly goes downhill. The nameless hero immediately goes to Peru to search for the manuscript. He meets lots of people in Peru and the same question is asked repeatedly, ‘Have you heard of the Manuscript?” The answer is always yes and each person offers a bit more information on the elusive Manuscript. Each chapter details the finding of each one of the nine Insights contained in the Manuscript. Occasionally the baddies, the government or Church people, chase other people and one person gets shot. But the goodies all escape at the end. There are many characters in the book and all are completely forgettable as not one character is developed.
The climax of the book takes place at some ruins of a Mayan/Inca temple. The disappearance of these very special Peruvian Mayans took place at the same time as the (Aramaic!) Manuscript was written at around 600BC. The ninth Insight of the book explains that the Mayans all crossed from the physical to the spiritual together (as did Christ apparently but alone) and this event is a precursor of the ‘general rapture’ which will occur in the third millennium when humanity, or the chosen few of humanity, gets its act together. The heroes all get a go at this when they miraculously disappear to escape from the baddies.
Having established that the book is badly written with a weak plot and unsubstantial characters its purpose is clearly not to entertain. So the next question is whether the author wanted to impart some great insights or perhaps had another motive. The answer to this must surely be found in the lack of care or concern with which the author presents his ‘prophecy’. One might compare it with opinions on dooyoo – some shine with the author’s passion for their subjects while others are just mere words about a subject. This book is in the same class as the latter. This book appears to be crafted to pander to people’s dreams of a utopia which is partially obtainable now. Its ‘prophecy’ and nine insights are culled from various sources and are surely intended to appeal to those with certain ‘new age’ beliefs.
My own view of the insights is that they are given using similar techniques used in ‘cold reading’ and astrology. There vague statements are used which seem specific but which could in fact be applied to anyone. These are given knowing that the interested person will relate to them and find them true – basically a case of wishful thinking. The first insight is the most important for the plot:
1. In the first insight the fact that coincidences occur is developed into the fact that this means that they are purposeful. 2. The second takes a look at history and suggests that the first part of the millennium was controlled by the Church and the latter by science, technology and materialism. Both obscured the spiritual element. It is no accident that in this book that the baddies are the Church and ‘traditional’ scientists. 3. The third Insight is about seeing the ‘energy’ auras which are around plants and people and the ability to read them 4. Tells us that all human conflicts are caused by people stealing other’s energy. 5. Explains that the ‘mystical experience’, which is the ultimate source of energy is available to all. 6. Is about your true self. This insight explains ‘control dramas’ (either aloof, interrogator or ‘poor me’) in which a person seeks to manipulate others. Your personal control drama is related to how you were treated by your parents so you have to examine your early life and parents attitude. 7. Regards interacting with others and how to interpret events and dreams. 8. About uplifting others and avoiding addictive relationships, which as far as I could make out are basic sexual attraction type relationships and ‘love at first sight’. 9. The final Insight speaks of the utopian ecologically sustainable society toward which we are evolving and its benefits.
In my opinion the book is playing on one of humanity’s ever present myths or beliefs that in a far distant past people had a oneness with nature and spiritual security (the paradise myth) which has been lost but now can once more be regained. ) It is only thinly disguised by the idea of evolution for it is clear that if the Mayans were able to zap themselves off then they had already evolved to perfection.) This, of course, forms the bulk of many myths and religions, and the plot of many SF and fantasy books. Had the author kept to the fantasy genre this book might have been acceptable but he didn’t.
The Ninth insight describes a utopian society in which people will work less but still have lots of money because, “The Manuscript says our incomes will remain stable because of the people who are giving us money for the insights we provide.” It continues to explain the importance of giving: “our gifts should go to the persons who have given us spiritual truth. When people come into our lives at just the right time to give us the answers we need, we should give them money.”(p.259)
The follow up book is not fiction but is ‘An Experiential Guide’, there is also a newsletter one can subscribe to, tapes and other things and another book about the Tenth Insight which was mentioned briefly at the end of the Celestial prophecy.
Do you still wonder about the motive for writing?
I am sorry to sound so cynical about this book for I am in sympathy with at least some of the ideas contained within it and it is obvious that it has in some way helped some people. But it is equally possible that it may upset or confuse others because it implies that seeing auras and having mystical experiences are essential requirements and in my opinion these experiences are not so easily attainable by most people. Also the emphasis on ‘control dramas’ and parents might be a problem – he seems quite adamant that it is parents who are the main influences. If you do decide to read this book please read it with care – and remember that it is fiction.
At one point in the book someone somewhere makes the statement “The truth shall set you free”. To anyone who is not familiar with them these are quite famous words of Jesus, in John 8.32. Later in the same Gospel Pilate enigmatically asks, “What is Truth? No answer is given to that question.
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