This is the story of a magical, musical monk of a man named Pio, and a wild woman-child named Lilly who was raised by birds and animals and is twice as free as them all. It takes place in Provence, France, sometime before the industrial revolution, when humans still lived in harmony with the sun and moon. It is a lyrical story, fully celebrating the mystery of life in a multi-dimensional Universe full of astonishing beauty and wonders. Though Lilly is free of fear regarding all creatures of the sky, earth and sea, she is deathly afraid of mankind. Pio, on the other hand, is full of compassionate love for humanity, and as he grows in amazement at the beauty of Lilly's innocence and magical relationship with all of nature, he is gifted with the ability to heal the sick who come to him for help. Pio's obvious call to serve people, and Lilly's hatred of them finally drive them apart until the day Lilly meets the very heart of darkness and the true reason for the deepest fears of her life. "Pio and Lilly is a tale about a great Love, and a power that can transform not only them but us, and how we see life, for I believe that everything in this story is truly possible. I know in my heart of hearts that the potential of life is wondrous beyond our highest dreams, and that a very great Love is at work, right now, in this world, to wake us up from a very old spell of a sense of separation and transform our relationship to God, ourselves, each other, animals, birds... everything." Blake Steele COMMENTS ON THE WRITING OF BLAKE STEELE "The words of Blake Steele shine with energy and insight." Naomi Shihab Nye, Nationally honored Poet and Author Blake is a good seer. He carries the sky with him." Richard Rohr OFM: Author & Intenational Speaker "Blake is truly a poet-at-large in his ability to penetrate the mundane, allowing the reader to experience the essential meaning of life." Richard Groves Founder Sacred Art of Living "Blake holds the colorful ball of life in his hands." Laurel Lee Author of Walking Through the Fire This is so beautiful, I cannot stop reading it-at first gulping it down like a favorite common drink. Then, reading again, one phrase behind another...a sip of rare tea, burning the tongue and sliding past teeth to the place where satisfaction dwells. Vincent Australia Blake, this had me in tears...deeply heartfelt...STUNNING write and artistry! Thank you for being such a beautiful soul! Lisameryl USA You don't know me but your words have helped me more than you will ever know. So just wanted to say a big thank you and be forever blessed by limitless love. You helped me move out of religion and into belief and wonder. Thank you. Donna Lindsay UK This is a stunning piece Blake, quite simply beautiful. A re-reader for sure - I know I need to think upon these wise words. It has pulled me in to think well over a few reads and made tears fall, for you capture so much that relates. A very poignant piece. Just brilliant. Jakki I have heard it said the task of The Poet is to describe the indescribable so that the less lyrically gifted get to feel God; well you Sir, are like the one that threads the eye of the smallest needle and puts people in touch with whole new aspects of themselves...a modern day Sage no less! Pete Wilson Sweden Your words can make a person fly with joy, dance with the wind and cry from the deepest part of the soul. My thanks is to you for sharing all that you have in your fantastic mind and heart. Annie Banzali Medford, Oregon Just finished The Wild Christ and I have to say it is among the top books I have read in this lifetime. Adam Paulman USA I do not know anybody who masters the English language in such a beautiful poetic and spiritual manner as you do. Majbritte Ulrkkeholm Denmark
About the Author: Blake Steele (1945 -) was raised in La Jolla, California. At the age of 20 he traveled extensively in Europe and had a series of powerful spiritual awakenings that changed the course of his life. After being part of a powerful Christian spiritual revival in the 1960s in which he saw a child raised from the dead, he eventually followed the inspiration of creativity outside of religious traditions to find the pulse of Divinity within the all embracing mystery of Creation, the human body, and Existence itself. He has led a profusely creative life, having written 3,000 poems, 4 novels, many children's stories, lyrics for choral pieces, a 4 book spiritual vision series, and is an accomplished photographer and painter. He is also a recording artist with 20 CDs, has produced audio tracks for books by an European publisher, and has 9 web sites of his creative work. He currently lives in Sweden near Angsbacka, a permacultural community and spiritual festival center where he gives workshops and does his creative work. "I love the divine qualities... for how else do we really know God beyond all ideas of God? These qualities of Love, joy, peace, beauty, wonder, innocence, freedom, creativity, wildness, humor... and many more, unite all humans, and inspire me constantly. I love to see people open up, drop their masks, and become fully real and alive! To rediscover what sets people free is a constant focus of my creative work: and to express these things simply, clearly, giving fresh expressions to Divine Love in stories, poems and images is wildly fulfilling. My mind loves to explore, turn things upside down, put things together in new relationships, discover the hidden beauty in it all. One day I'll grow up to be a bird and cracking this egg will fly away. Until then, no matter what the world is up to, my life is getting more and more interesting all the time." Blake Steele