3.5
Blazing Eye Sees All
ByPublisher Description
In this "unflinching and wildly entertaining" investigation of the modern New Age movement in America, a journalist aims to understand how women like Amy Carlson (the leader of Love Has Won) and others become devoutly invested in their beliefs (Talia Lavin, author of Culture Warlords).
Today, tarot cards, astrology and crystals are everywhere — on Instagram and TikTok, and sold at upscale boutiques and pricey wellness retreats. Journalist Leah Sottile turns her investigative eye toward the recent surge of New Age influencing American Culture. She looks at self-professed gurus like Love Has Won's Mother God and the mysterious channeler Ramtha, who have built devout followings based on their teachings. For more than a century, this pastel-colored world of love, light and enlightenment has been built upon a foundation of conspiracies, antisemitism, nationalism and a rejection of science.
In Blazing Eye Sees All, Sottile seeks to understand the quest for New Age spirituality in an era of fear that has made us open to anything that claims to bring relief from war, the climate crisis, COVID 19, and the myriad of other issues we face. At the same time, she attempts to draw a line between truly helpful, healing ideas and snake oil—helping us sort through the crystals to find true clarity.
Today, tarot cards, astrology and crystals are everywhere — on Instagram and TikTok, and sold at upscale boutiques and pricey wellness retreats. Journalist Leah Sottile turns her investigative eye toward the recent surge of New Age influencing American Culture. She looks at self-professed gurus like Love Has Won's Mother God and the mysterious channeler Ramtha, who have built devout followings based on their teachings. For more than a century, this pastel-colored world of love, light and enlightenment has been built upon a foundation of conspiracies, antisemitism, nationalism and a rejection of science.
In Blazing Eye Sees All, Sottile seeks to understand the quest for New Age spirituality in an era of fear that has made us open to anything that claims to bring relief from war, the climate crisis, COVID 19, and the myriad of other issues we face. At the same time, she attempts to draw a line between truly helpful, healing ideas and snake oil—helping us sort through the crystals to find true clarity.
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3.5
baileyc
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Taryn
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kara
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Erika Livingston
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“Leah Sottile’s “Blazing Eye Sees All” tells the story of Amy Carlson, the self-proclaimed “Mother God” of Love Has Won. HBO has a documentary on the same subject, but the book provides a larger context that I really enjoyed. Sottile situates the cult’s formation within a wider history of New Age spirituality, conspiracy theories, Trump’s rise to power, and even mythologies like Lemuria (which I’d never even heard of so thanks for the rabbit hole) and Atlantis.
The strongest part of the book is the research. Sottile makes clear connections between Amy and other cult leaders and charismatic figures, providing context and reasoning for the draw of so many New Age cult figures (shoutout to Bhagwan Rajneesh, who is also mentioned briefly). The sections on Lemuria and Atlantis are sort of crazy but in a good way.
The only reason I didn’t give this a full 5 stars is that I wanted more emotional depth. Amy/Mother God left behind her children, siblings, and parents, but there isn’t too much emphasis on the effect Amy’s absence made in their lives until the very end. Additionally, Amy and who she was is sort of lost in here (which you know… might sort of be the point?).
Overall, this is a compelling and well-researched account of a modern cult leader and the beliefs that surrounded her. Highly recommended for anyone interested in cult dynamics, spirituality, or contemporary American religion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½”
Carley ⚡︎
Created about 2 months agoShare
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About Leah Sottile
Leah Sottile is the author of When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow Chad Daybell, and A Story of Murder, Wild Faith and End Times. Her investigations, features and essays have been published by The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Playboy, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic and High Country News. She is the host of the investigative podcasts Hush, Burn Wild, Two Minutes Past Nine and Bundyville. She lives in Oregon.
Other books by Leah Sottile
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