Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

The age-old question of whether we are alone in a vast universe is examined by Val Jon Farris in Interstellar Consciousness: Lifting the Veil of Separation. He elaborates on what constitutes consciousness, how we are influenced by learned belief systems, and how these can limit our spiritual growth. Our contemporary psychology has taken a different approach from that of ancient civilizations, and the veil of separation is the illusion that isolates us from nature and the spirit world. Set against the background of the ancient temples and sacred sites of Mesoamerica, readers are taken on a journey of exploration. The ancients believed that the universe was alive, intelligent, a sacred force, and a unified system with an underlying order. We can choose to participate in that consciousness to learn. The Maya had advanced knowledge of the stars and natural cycles, with a deeper understanding of sacred time, as opposed to our concept of linear time. Pyramids, temples, tombs, and other sites hold energies that can be sensed. The Six Temples of Consciousness are introduced, which explore the higher awareness aspects of Interconnection, Reflection, Emergence, Transformation, Cosmic order, and Transcendence. Each follows the other, embodying capacities that we can choose to cultivate, experience, and absorb. There are UFO encounters, thoughts on death and dying, wholeness as opposed to separation, as well as fragmentation and individuation.

Val Jon Farris is an author, expedition leader, and researcher whose childhood fascination with the stars led to a wider search for answers, both within and without. He traveled with Mayan elders to remote sites, learning new ways of perceiving reality. The ancient cities and those who populated them are described in detail. Consciousness remains a difficult topic to define. It begins with awareness of the self and surroundings, with the self forming part of the collective. Cosmic order and physical laws are also examined. The text takes the form of a dialogue between the author and the reader to discuss the concepts involved. In doing so, different points of view emerge and questions are answered in a conversational manner that is easy to read. Interstellar Consciousness does not claim to provide definitive answers, but is able to draw readers into a space where debate can occur and new ideas emerge. The writing explores many themes, offering new perspectives. A field journal for readers to record their personal journey is added as an appendix. Transformation is a process, and the Seventh Temple is your transformed life.