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Celestine Sneak Preview:
AIHT Interviews James Redfield

by Mary Grace McCord

In the early 1990s, a young psychotherapist named James Redfield boldly left the institutional labyrinth of government social work to find his own path. Establishing a spiritually based counseling practice at Unity of Birmingham, he crafted what would someday become the world’s best-selling metaphysical adventure novel.

Tall, contemplative, resembling a good shepherd with his soft blond hair and sandals, during the next decade James patiently fed and cared for a fast growing flock of seekers. It all began when a little green self-published novel, The Celestine Prophecy, spawned a world popular fictional trilogy, along with books-on-tape, motivational study guides, non-fiction book titles and meditation CDs.

Fast-forward: in 2004 the book that ranks as The New York Times’ all-time best selling novel in religion, spirituality and philosophy was reinvented for the silver screen; rewritten as a screenplay. James himself co-wrote the script; he and his wife Salle are among the film’s five independent producers.

Filmed in 2005 as a feature-length movie, The Celestine Prophecy’s springtime, 2006 film debut is both mainstream and grassroots—with mass-media commercial theater screenings alongside glitzy gala events, church meetings and study groups.

With deepest appreciation for granting our school an advance “Celestine Sneak” preview, Vibrations is pleased to bring our students and graduates this exclusive interview with best-selling author and filmmaker James Redfield.

	James Redfield with Matthew Settle on the set of The Celestine Prophecy movie.

Vibrations: Our shared educational mission is to “shine the high beams” on metaphysical philosophies and New Thought experiential teachings. In celebrating the divine timing through which AIHT and The Celestine Prophecy both came to life, let’s start by exploring how it all works together, this business of bringing spirituality into the public spotlight.

James Redfield: One of our film colleagues, Barnet Bain (co-writer and co-producer), says that once the soul has chosen to lead a life of spiritual causality, then such a complex creative effort (such as film-making) is simply destined to evolve into something all the more spontaneous and synchronistic. It’s a poetic way of saying that this interactive collaboration, the intentional harmonizing of such diverse talent, brings a clarity of purpose that is, itself, an unusual blessing.

Vibrations: And that means with or without the cameras rolling! I read that during the set building, costuming and production, there were times when a staff of 150 brought their collective energies to work each day. Tell us about the “divination tools” that made the production set such a unique place to be.

James Redfield: You mean the way we feng-shuied all the portable offices, and we also cast astrology charts for all the key players. You know, a central theme (in The Celestine Prophecy) involves the way that human energies interact, and the way that the energies of rocks, plants and all living creatures can each bring into play an awe-some dimension of goodwill, strength, unity and beauty.

We can actually perceive these energies, visually see the brightness of auras, once we consciously attune ourselves with the perfection of nature that’s always right there, all around us.

We (the director and producers) asked for extremely high levels of awareness from each character—in each interaction, and amidst innumerable decisions, distractions, revisions and deadlines each day—and within primitive, unfamiliar settings.

Our casting these astrological charts gave each actor and crew member a glimpse of higher-level insight, of ourselves and themselves. It helped us all to better understand each other, which sometimes helped us re-establish clarity if things got a little murky.

Vibrations: Your adventure story begins with a wild string of synchronistic meetings and coincidences, first between old friends but also among strangers—even something as anonymous as a bulk mailing that arrives at just the right time, and with just the right message.

James Redfield: That’s how my life has been, ever since I first made a huge commitment of time and belief, based on a Higher guidance that I was supposed to re-invent myself. I studied to be a therapist, not a writer! But the Celestine messages that came to me in dreams and meditations, from strangers and from every direction, were so clear that I couldn’t doubt it.

Vibrations: And it does seem like every time you said yes with all your heart, the Universe would “kick it up a notch,” even the timing of how you met Salle!

James Redfield: Like a cosmic nod! (Laughs)

	John Woodson (Matthew Settle) and Will (Thomas Kretschmann) arrive at the crest of an exquisite panorama, hauntingly similar to what John saw in his dream. It is the Celestine Ruins, the location where the first eight scrolls were discovered.

Vibrations: And that was John’s experience, as protagonist. But he had to learn how to control his energy and strong willfulness, and stop encroaching on others’ energies.

James Redfield: And beyond that, another lesson about energy is that we can send good energy ahead of us, into any situation at any time. If we’re worried about a relationship, we envision that it can change for the better—which, we do know this to be true. When we choose to believe the best about people, this is also the exact same thing we want from others, for ourself. We want others to meet us in a friendly space, with respect and goodwill.

Vibrations: This is the literal meaning of “Namaste,” ‘I see God-spirit in you.’

James Redfield: Yes. Without expectation, without manipulation.

Vibrations: You know I haven’t seen the script but I’m envisioning that, with the super-high energy resonance the characters develop, they can finally transcend their dangerous fear-based adversaries and preserve the Nine Insights whose wisdom is capable of changing the world.

At the end of the book, I love the part about the individual’s ability to evolve into their “right work,” their Highest calling. Which is what you did!

James Redfield: We see this phenomenon as a reality with seekers in general, with students of metaphysics and practitioners. In giving our unique truth, freely, we are richly rewarded by evolving into our ‘right work.’ We share with others the freeing mindset of abundance and order. We already have all that we need, as long as we remain good stewards who preserve and protect, who take only what we need. And, like tithing, when you give back to the source(s) of your sustenance we know it makes The Flow stronger.

Vibrations: These life-changing lessons of Earth School, in your movie and at AIHT, weave together a brilliant tapestry. I hope lots of people check out the new threads in this “technicolor dream coat” because word-of-mouth is such an effective alternative to high-gloss advertising. It’s a message for people to think and talk together about. Just imagine!

And just what are these Nine Insights?

As in print, the movie’s protagonist often collides with high-ranking officials’ self-limiting attempts to control people and things. It takes courage and the development of wisdom for John’s character to address these same human failings within himself.

Opening his eyes to the breath-taking energies that surround us in nature and within ourselves, this mystical adventure offers cultural glimpses that span centuries. In the context of ancient scrolls whose insights can change the world, Redfield says he envisioned many of these messages in dreams. The Celestine Prophecy’s nine lessons implore us to:

• Notice, accept and celebrate the daily coincidences and synchronicities—to perceive a safer, higher intelligence and go beyond any appearance of chaos.
• Listen and believe that the universe is energetic and sacred—tune in and pay attention to its amazing gifts of spirit.
• Embrace the intense beauty of nature and the mental clarity it offers—we perceive only a hint of its wonder until we open up and evolve.
• Sidestep the daily drama of power struggles and domination, which lead to conflict and limitation.
• Decide to reconnect and transform by hovering in prayer—intentionally “learn new lines” to voice appreciation of life’s mystery.
• Surrender the illusion of ego, which isolates people, by consciously deciding to share energies and evolve together.
• Trust that our intuitive internal guidance, once followed whole-heartedly, is what propels our highest contribution and delivers us to our true destiny.
• Approach everyone and all situations with the intention of seeing their highest good in the same bright light as our highest good, without wanting to change them.
• Engage in the momentous intention that together we can touch heaven on earth, which has always existed—a high-resonating vibration that renders us impervious, as if invisible, to anything that could cause harm.
• Surrender the illusion of ego, which isolates people, by consciously deciding to share energies and evolve together.

Editor’s note: Many AIHT graduates, faculty and staff have studied The Celestine Prophecy as required reading within the Spiritual Healing coursework for our M.S. in Metaphysics and M.S. in Holistic Ministries programs. The Spiritual Healing course is also available as an elective within all other AIHT Master of Science programs.

No coincidence, this Celestine chat

Nobody knew he was in town. Not his golf buddy and hometown minister at Unity of Birmingham, not even the in-laws who expected his call within the hour. “I’m early,” he thought. “Sweet!” Deciding to make the most of a few extra minutes, Jim Redfield zipped over to a bookstore near AIHT and slipped into its fragrant tearoom.

And although at that same instant I was neither thirsty nor wishing to kill time, a strong, sudden impulse moved me right off of the errands at hand. I needed to mail a package but instead, suddenly was now heading the other way. Amazingly, I could consciously sense a reward on the other end of this hunch—when there, to our mutual bemusement, James and I practically bumped into each other.

Acquainted through our church, earlier that day another co-congregant led me to www.TheCelestineProphecyMovie.com. Watching the movie trailer, we marveled at how well the look and tone aligned with his book. From one writer to another, I thought, maybe he’ll grant me an interview.

Manifestation: within about two hours, we were together!

Astonished, elated to see Jim, my words ran together. “I saw that you and Salle co-produced the movie in the rainforests and now you’re finished, right? When and where is the world premiere? I want to interview you.”

“Well sure,” he said graciously, as if with nowhere to go and nobody to see. In a city with more than a million people, the coincidence of securing this interview face-to-face came as a wondrous favor whose significance wasn’t lost on me.

“That’s the message (in Celestine Prophecy),” he affirmed, “to set an intention, knowing the Universe is listening. Intuition gives us a hand-up, which we take without question and without hesitation. That’s how the coincidences get bigger, the synchronicities more frequent and significant, as we evolve to a higher resonance. The awareness is how we transcend. Still,” he added with a grin, “better not to over-analyze benevolence.”

In the next months James and Salle Redfield led two full-house events at Unity of Birmingham. Their Celestine insights resonated with a number of our colleagues: faculty advisor George Donnelly, admissions advisor Joyce Lemley, adjunct faculty member and minister Gerald Bartholow, AIHT president Michael Parker, and me.

Their first lecture, “Cultivating Your Intuitive Flow,” becomes available with the upcoming DVD release of The Celestine Prophecy movie. Its message is a metaphor of their life.

In partnership, he says, couples can either deepen or splinter their collective intuitive abilities. “Each person has a different affinity for just about any situation. One or the other has more understanding of the subject at hand, a unique position of strength. It’s not ‘I always lead and you follow.’ Big victories come by assessing, quickly, which partner has a stronger grasp, through which we create unity—and send it out.”

Their next class took us behind the scenes of The Celestine Prophecy movie, with video interviews of cast members and a far-reaching discussion of how they assembled their dream team—from the stars to the costumers, the special effects wizards, musical composers, accountants, publicists, and set designers.

James seemed to welcome the inevitable question from the audience, comparing human timing with Divine timing.

With the patience of a shepherd corralling a goat, James reflected on the book-to-film process of trusting the universe implicitly: believing his intuition with the self-published first novel and then continuing to believe just how brightly a homespun independent film could sparkle, outshining the glaring hype of Hollywood.

“We waited to find the right blending of personalities, with actors who could interact as a strong ensemble from the personal integrity of being on their own spiritual paths. Trust me, there’s not a metaphysical talent agency that comes in and hands the right ones over.”