SCARS TO STARS (ePub)

How did a devout Catholic girl from a LA mill town become a Mystical Humanist Unitarian Universalist, and what does that mean anyway, at least to her?

“Dr. Dolly” shares her emotional journey—torn from Catholicism by a young love crisis, jumping from daily news editor to innovative Existential journalism teacher, world traveling writer-photographer, professor, communication consultant, later medical and caretaking challenges, and loss. Life spurred endless questions plus visions of possible ongoing evolution.

What matters, she says, isn't theories, religion, or even God. Not beliefs but behaviors. Whether it's practiced or not, the Golden Rule is preached across every religion and is at the solid core of Humanism. Never has there been a greater need for Interdependence and commitment to Our Common Good. The Covid 19 pandemic, racial and political turmoil, climate upheaval—all have shown we must cooperate to flourish or we may perish.

Speaking from both head and heart, the author rejects the dualism that too often separates interlocking reality. While embracing the logic of humanism and principles of Unitarian Universalism, she also shares key stories and poems revealing mystical experiences and the potency of dreams.

Though most of this short memoir is prose, the last third also includes a variety of stunning, sometimes witty, original poems written from the author's mid to later life. These offer mind-expanding cosmic visions of potential afterlife, celebrate astounding natural beauty, and call upon humans of all beliefs to behave for the common good, especially in shared crises such as pandemics.

This brief ethical and spiritual memoir is compelling, edifying, and inspiring, with a touch of wit. It celebrates beauty and art (such as that in her cover photograph), honesty, authentic relationships, intellect and intuition, critical and creative thinking, freedom and responsibility, unity within diversity, and the open-mindedness that lets in sunbeams and fresh air.