129 – Isabella Castaspella

“Your story is as powerful as your antagonist”

Today and in preparation for Halloween, The Mexican Celebration of “The Day of the Dead”, and the Celtic New Year of Samhain. we have a UNIQUE podcast episode, as we have Shiva Baum & Radha Baum, a mother and son talking about:

  • The Presence of the Muse
  • The spiritual background that supported the muse to exist
  • An almost fatal car accident
  • The Power of a worthy opponent
  • The co-authoring of the book ISABELLA CASTASPELLA, given by spirit that came through Radha Baum and written brilliantly by her friend for over 50 years, Parvati Markus.

Parvati Markus has been midwifing spiritually-oriented books ever since she helped edit Ram Dass’ classic “Be Here Now.”. She is the author of “Whisper in the Heart: The Ongoing Presence of Neem Karoli Baba” (Mandala Publishing, 2022) and “Love Everyone: The Transcendent Wisdom of Neem Karoli Baba Told Through the Stories of the Westerners Whose Lives He Transformed” (HarperOne, 2015). And now she is the co-author, with Radha Baum, of “Isabella Castaspella: The Happy Little Witch and Her Friends.” Books she has edited have been published by Hay House, Inner Traditions, Simon & Schuster, Contemporary/McGraw Hill, Lotus Press, and others. She has helped with spiritual organizations (as past President of the Board of the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram and Hanuman Temple in Taos, NM) and events (as a development consultant for the Global Peace Initiative of Women). She is on the Board of Advisors for the Love Serve Remember Foundation. Parvati has an M.A. in Creative Writing from The McGregor School of Antioch University. Her three granddaughters all delight in Isabella Castaspella!

 

Radha Baum: RADHA BAUM has a degree in Early Childhood Education from NYU and worked as a nursery school teacher. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and a Registered Nurse (RN), as well as a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of various complementary healing techniques. She is D.A.N.-certified (Defeat Autism Now) and has worked with autistic children at the Exceptional Health and Wellness Center/Central Speech, in Hartsdale, NY, in family education, nutritional guidance, and ABA training for children. She has lectured on Childhood Disorders, and Allergies and Nutrition for Children at Exceptional Health and Wellness Center as well as at the Schachter Center for Complementary Medicine in Suffern, NY, where she also lectured on Woman’s Health Issues and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Like Parvati, she has studied “story” with Robert McKee. Radha broke her neck (C-2 vertebrae, the one that paralyzed Christopher Reeves) in a severe car accident in early March. She also suffered a broken wrist, deep bruising, and PTSD from the trauma. She is still in constant pain.

Both Parvati & Radha knew they had to birth this book into the world to serve all the children ( of all ages) in humanity.

ISABELLA CASTASPELLA is a unique book of ten chapters, all in verse. It tells the story of Izzy’s struggles with Lavinia LaMeanie, a nasty witch who is always trying to make life miserable for Izzy and her friends.

Each of Izzy’s friends expresses a particular aspect or behavior of childhood. Messy Tessy has trouble finding her crystal ball because she doesn’t pick up after herself; MoonTune doubts his abilities as a musician; Daizy Dew is an artist who tends to be “scatter-brained”; Angel Cruz, the soccer champ, has trouble reading. Then there are the animals: Myron, a super-smart frog, becomes Izzy’s pet; Maxine is a very particular cat; and Messy Tessy’s pet Bruno, the lovable, ever-hungry bulldog, runs into trouble with mean old Lavinia LaMeanie. And let’s not forget Witchie the Wise; even magical little witches need a mentor.

Many children face problems like Daizy Dew’s ADHD or Angel Cruz’s dyslexia, but here they are never labeled as such. Their different ethnicities are also never mentioned. Each is accepted as is and treated with kindness.

The friends find their strengths and coalesce into a team that wards off Lavinia’s efforts, utilizing more heart than magic. The only one using her magical powers in a mean way is Lavinia LaMeanie, the bully seeking revenge, who in the end is defeated by the power of love.

Visit https://ivonnedelaflor.com/faith to receive the “21 Days of Faith in Action Course” as our gift to you.

Podcast sponsored by Delaflor Teachings International and produced by Asynd Media.

Ivonne Delaflor
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