The evolution of this book has been, in and of itself, a wonderful learning experience for me. And as I read the preceding sentence, I realize that nothing is "in and of itself", that ALL is part of the ongoing process of Life, of the evolution and growth and experience of Love, the I AM.

This phase of my learning, however, began with a lecture by Deepak Chopra in June, 1994, which led me to read his Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. Shortly thereafter a dear friend suggested I read The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.

As I read, I began to realize that the Manuscript described the process of my life, my learning, and clarified the experiences I was having. And I began to understand more.

From that inspiration, I began to pay more attention to my intuitions, to focus more clearly on my "insights", and to record them over the next few months.

In December of 1994, I was pondering Christmas gifts for those closest to me, and a quote from A Course In Miracles came to mind - "the only gift worthy of the equal Sons of God is full appreciation". What better way to show my full appreciation than to share my highest and best, most loving thoughts. And so I put together a little booklet, just a few pages, of those insights, called it IS, and presented each with a personal letter conveying my appreciation. That, "in and of itself" was another "realization", that "giving and receiving are one", for I knew their appreciation for me as I conveyed mine to them.

I was encouraged to write more, to expand the booklet, and to expand its distribution to a wider circle of friends. A few months later I had two hundred copies printed, which were given away within a few weeks. The response was overwhelming, with more Love, more appreciation (on both sides) than I could imagine. And more encouragement to do MORE.

And so a second expansion occurred, and the printing of a few hundred more, given to an even wider circle of friends, or "strangers" who became friends through the giving of IS. And more Love, and more encouragement, and more growth, more "insights". And many people telling me that IS should be published, that these thoughts have value to many, and should be distributed as widely as possible.

To which my limited consciousness says "maybe", but as it is learning to be less limited by listening to a higher consciousness, awaits guidance as to how it should be done. In thinking about traditional publishing, in which a book is printed and sold, I feel a resistance, as that should not be the way with IS. And then I questioned that limitation, "Is that my fear? Am I afraid it would not sell? Am I afraid that it will sell too well, thereby generating so much money and fame that I will become caught up in the material world? Will my spiritual growth suffer?" And then the questions of logistics if the decision is made to publish IS, "Who should the publisher be? How do I go about it? What about distribution? Should I get an agent, etc.?"

I have learned, as have many, to distinguish the fearful ideas of the limited self, ego, from the gentle guidance of the higher Self, which always provides the right answer. The ego ideas are always in a hurry, and full of questions. The higher Self is never in a hurry, and Its ideas are effortless. It is gentle, but persistent. And so I have learned to listen, over time, and not rush to any quick ego decision.

For the past few weeks this gentle suggestion has been quite persistent, and unchanged. IS should be given away, not sold. It should be given in the manner that it was written, out of pure Love and a desire to extend that Love, without any thought of getting something in return. When the ego asks "How can you do that? How do you pay for the printing? How do you handle the distribution?", the answer appears, effortlessly, "Trust. All things will unfold in time, and it will be easy".

The Manuscript in The Celestine Prophecy talks about a new, emerging way of life, in which we will be paid for our insights and our value as a human being. As we appreciate our spiritual growth, we will be inspired to share our knowledge, knowing that we all are One, and thus we are helping ourselves to grow. And we will be inspired to give to those who give knowledge to us, who help us in that growth. And so, IS has been published and distributed in a new way, by Self, free of charge, with Love, and trust. And now it IS in your hands, and I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have enjoyed its genesis and evolution thus far (I'm sure there is more to come, for there always IS).

Dennis Krum
is@is1.org