If You Could See What I See: The Tenets of Novus Spiritus

"If You Could See What I See: The Tenets of Novus Spiritus" is one of Sylvia Browne's more recent books. The purpose of this volume is to impart the tenets of Sylvia's church, The Society of Novus Spiritus. These principles have come from years of research of ancient Gnostic texts by Sylvia, her church, and her Spirit Guide. Many of the tenets had been a part of Sylvia's life even 30+ years before the Church's creation.

Sylvia (a world-renown psychic medium, born into a family of generations of psychics) introduces the book by printing a letter she wrote to God in her Bible in May of 1954. She explains that in her life she has many of the same problems and worries as everyone else and how the tenets have helped her. The author tells how she tolerates (even encourages) skeptics of her ability, but has very little tolerance for those who are hateful of her.

Sylvia also tells how the Society of Novus Spiritus began as a non-profit society for paranormal research and is now recognized as a church in the state of California. The church practices Gnosticism-an ancient form of searching for truth in God and the spiritual. She explains the history of Gnosticism (visit http://www.gnosis.com for more info). Sylvia lets everyone know that others religions have nothing to fear from Gnosticism and though they are mainly Christians, they research and respect all religions.

Sylvia's book reads a bit like an autobiography and gives many examples from her life and her clients' and family members' lives. She also passes on her own wisdom and that of her Grandmother.

All total, there are 21 tenets. Here are those tenets through the eyes of your average reader:

1. Getting over your own self and problems in order to love others will make life easier.

2. Seek and give love no matter how you've been treated in life.

3. Don't ascribe human attributes and emotions to God and don't blindly subscribe to dogma.

4. Everyone creates their own hell or heaven on earth.

5. Turn your attention and power outward, instead of falling into yourself.

6. While going through a "desert period" in your life keep your faith, learn from it, and steadily wait it out until life picks you up again.

7. You choose the circumstances for your life before you are born. Sometimes certain steps in the journey will be difficult, but the whole picture is what matters.

8. Do not judge others and do not judge yourself-for you will be judging God. Don't let others' judgments affect you.

9. Be a light to others in the world-for you never know who could be helped by it (including yourself).

10. Don't let fear rule your life. Remember God lives in you and you are a part of Him/Her. Knowledge, especially of past lives, is usually the cure for fear.

11. Do not allow the belief of demons and hell to destroy your closeness with God.

12. Your body houses a soul of God. You don't have to live like a monk, but treat your body accordingly.

13. Hardships don't come from God-you choose them before you are born in order to learn.

14. Karma is not a punishment. It exists to help us perfect our souls.

15. We also live several lives in order to perfect our souls.

16. Whatever you do in life, do it in service to God or your life will feel as if it has no meaning.

17. Truly defending yourself is acceptable-war is not.

18. Death should be a dignified return "Home". Refuse prolonged life-support.

19. There is a Mother God who is a Co-Creator with Father God.

20. Christ was crucified, but did not die on the cross. He lived out his life in France with His mother and Mary.

21. The Gnostics have helped keep the truth of Jesus' lineage and it can be researched.

As the reviewer, I'm not saying I believe every single tenet or specific, but most of Sylvia's tenets and wisdom make a great deal of sense to me (a person who also has done plenty of theological and spiritual research).

In Sylvia's conclusion she explains what services Novus Spiritus provides; including prayer groups, a crisis line, and letter-writing campaigns. Sylvia also gives a final word about religion and dogma. I find this book to be an enlightening reading experience (as most of Sylvia Browne's books) and recommend it to anyone trying to further their spiritual view.

"If You Could See What I See: The Tenets of Novus Spiritus" by Sylvia Browne (Hardback, ISBN: 1-4019-0648-6) is 223 pages long, plus blank pages for notes. The book is published by Hay House (released 2006). It is listed at $24.95 and can be purchased any where books are sold.