The Cathar Dialogues is not your ordinary book. What commenced as an unremarkable beginning of journal entries, became a series of mind-opening talks that filters clear the muddy waters of some current clichéd perceptions of Medieval Catharism, which is expressed with an enlightened lightness of style coupled to ironic wit. The somewhat unusual situation, in that one contributor is alive while the other dead, only adds to it's incongruity. However, this book is destined for the opened minded few with an inquiring bent, rather than that of the blinkered multitudinous herd. Between the years of 2000 and 2007, these quite unusual dialogues took place between Guillaume de Mirepoix and Henri de Nebours. They cover a range of insightful discussions about varied topics between a person and their spirit guide, though they centre around Cathar philosophy. Such experiences are not entirely uncommon. For instance, that series of books written by Dr Arthur Guirdham, which described various experiences within a group reincarnation of Mediaeval Cathars in Somerset England. In some ways, this book, though in an entirely different vein, is a continuance of that episode, in as much, that the spirit guide, Braida de Montserver, also played her part in ushering The Cathar Dialogues to fruition. If you appreciated reading any of Dr. Guirdham's books, you should also enjoy this book, even though it is more intellectually frank. But as Henri mentioned, "Reality, is blunt." What unfolds in The Cathar Dialogues, is the chance to encounter the mind, heart and soul, of an educated Mediaeval Cathar Perfecti, who discusses with humour and uncommon insight, a range of issues that vary from the mundane and ordinary, to the deep and the philosophical. Henri de Nebours is an intellectual delight as he lucidly defines what was actually believed by the Gnostic Cathars. With Henri's attitude and earthy wisdom, it is easy to see how Catharism became such a threat to the totalitarian power of the Church. Mediaeval Catharism, most probably, was the only religion, or philosophy, that completely revolved around and about, love, tolerance and compassion for all. 'All', meaning, not just people but also animals and the environment. Nothing, but nothing, was left out, spurned, or turned away from their all-encompassing love. Love however, is a poor opponent for the brutal combination of power, fire and sword. Even so, it took more than a zealous Crusade, it also needed 200 years of the hard-at-work Inquisition, to painfully exterminate every last one of them. Annihilate the body and mind of many thousands of Cathars, but you cannot destroy an idea or an ideal that has arrived. This book, The Cathar Dialogues, is but one more cog on the moving wheel of a resurgent Gnostic Catharism - but for a different Age.
About the Author: I have always loved books. The smell, the touch, the very sight of them. I have books that I have read many times over; those that I intend to read, as well as those I simply love to explore for purely their beauty and design. As an avid bookworm I have books spilling over and about, everywhere. Somewhat obsessional, should I be reading a good book or into some art project, I often forget to eat which is another form of dieting, I suppose. It was once suggested, that I had gone from being a 'dog of war' to being a 'spiritual warrior'. A reasonable summing up of my life in one sentence. But like everyone, my life has proved to be somewhat more complex. Art though, as much as war, has been an essential part of my life, as has a love of history. Also, if according to Tacitus, 'Philosophy is the love of wisdom', then add philosophy to the list. Though not religious, yet I have sincerely sought out the sacred and the spiritual; meaning, I am the one to decide and take responsibility for those beliefs acquired over my life's journey. So I am more than happy to listen but ultimately I will do the deciding. All in all, life has left me with a variety of experiences from the normal to the para-normal; from the bland to the miraculous. But as for my writing, at least from some of the feed-back I have received already, it does appear that there are those who enjoy reading what I have enjoyed writing.