This season, a Vanderhoof author proposes a self-empowering strategy based on the principles of quantum mechanics — the study of tiny particles — for scientists and non-scientists alike.
Along with fellow author Vicky Ford, who introduced her new children’s book series at the event, Jeremy Blattner launched on Feb. 17 evening his first book Out of the Quantum Closet to over 50 friends and family at Vanderhoof Public Library.
“I believe we’re made of feelings…all of us are blobs of feelings in this reality,” Blattner said. “Each of us is free to choose how we feel.”
With audience volunteers whose emotional tags — including stress, love, and expectation — are exchanged with those of other volunteers as they encounter each other, Blattner demonstrated the idea that people are made of energy, in constant motion. In a room filled with people, for example, different vibes and feelings are transferred among people like mingling atoms and molecules, he explained.
“We are autonomous and connected at the same time,” Blattner said. “Feelings are made of energy, and our actions are motivated by how we feel.”
In another exercise, volunteers were given flashlights to either shine on their own or in one location.
“The flashlight represents your own light within,” he said. “Where you shine your energy reflects your beliefs.”
Lights shone together can be likened to shared perspectives.
“When we focus our lights, we show cultural beliefs,” Blattner said. “The brighter the object, the stronger the evidence for your reality.
“There’s a lot of us looking at the reflection, but forgetting our inner light, if we shine autonomously.”
With stories to explain various concepts of empowerment, the book is a 25-year quest written for three reasons, he explained.
“To feel better, to satisfy my curiosity, and to share with others awesome stuff about how to reduce and manage stress,” Blattner said. “All of this time and searching has led me to understand that it is a matter of believing that we each are more — more amazing then we may give ourselves credit.”
The proposed strategy is a way for people to handle daily stress by tapping into their own inner wisdom, he explained.
“To get to that inner wisdom and to begin to minimize that personal stress load, can be simply a matter of learning how to take actions that balance our best sense of who we are and who we want to become — our best sense of self gained out of a lifestyle balance,” Blattner said.
Ford: six children’s books to come
Also at the evening book launch was Vicky Ford, Vanderhoof’s resident contributing author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us.
Introducing her latest project of children’s books including Does a Lizard Have a Gizzard and Today I Am a Monkey, the inspiration of which came from her grandson Max, Ford told the audience that she looks to launch six books at once in May this year.
Ford’s past work also includes a series of two books titled From Bitchy To Bitchin’: 13 Tips to be Happy Now, as well as adult colouring books and colouring journals for self-reflection.
Having moved to Vanderhoof when she was seven years old, Ford have always loved reading since she was little, she explained.
“My mother told me, “Books off the table,’” Ford said. “I was the one who propped up a math textbook to hide a trashy novel.”