Mutant Message from Forever : A Novel of Aboriginal Wisdom

by Marlo Morgan

Susret s australskom domorodačkom civilizacijom duboko se dojmio autorice, koja je čitateljima već poznata po svojoj prvoj knjizi s istom tematikom "Tihi zov Australije". Premda ona nije prva kojoj su Aborigini nadahnuće, njezino se djelo razlikuje po tome što njihovu mudrost interpretira u duhu new age-a. Tako ona prati priču o domorodačkim blizancima rastavljenima odmah nakon rođenja, samostalnom učenju, o njihovoj potrazi za korijenima koja ih ponovno sjedinjuje iako se nalaze na suprotnim stranama svijeta. Izvodi pouke o snazi čistoće, prihvaćanja i otvorenosti, usprkos nepravdi i poniženju, upućujući ljude da žive u skladu s bezvremenim vrijednostima i jednostavnom mudrošću.

Genres: Fiction, Spirituality, Roman, Australia, Travel, Historical Fiction, Novels

323 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Marlo Morgan is a controversial American novelist best known for her book Mutant Message Down Under concerning Aboriginal Australians, a book which was originally promoted as nonfiction but has since been republished as fiction.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Marlo Morgan is a LIAR! This piece of drivel is not indicative of the way Australian Aboriginals live, nor is it an accurate representation of the traditional and cultural beliefs of the area. As an Australian Aboriginal I am deeply offended by the lies in this book and even more so by her inclusion of an 'approval' given by a member of the Wurundjeri tribe.



The thing that most people may not be aware of (as Morgan never bothered to mention it) is that there are literally hundreds of Aboriginal tribes in Australia each having their own language, their own initiation ceremonies (or Bora), their own religion, their own creation stories, their own dreaming, their own lands and laws. I guess in modern terms it equates to completely different countries. Therefore it is completely preposterous that she included any kind of endorsement from a tribe who existed thousands of kilometers away in Southern Victoria when her 'experience' happened in a completely different area.



Morgan's claims are a fabricated fantasy, her deceit is reflected on her conceptualisation of totemic religious belief and the dreaming is abysmal. If she has done what she claims to have done without initiatic right, it is punishable by death under Aboriginal Law.



Morgan has not acknowledged the traditional owners of the area she 'traveled' through, the Noongah people. Instead she created a fictitious group the 'Real People', this is extremely disrespectful! Our people suffered the forced colonisation of our Country 230 years ago by the British. Many of our people were killed by organised and authorised massacres. Many deaths were the result of introduced diseases. Water holes were poisoned as the ruthless obsession for land by the Colonists continued. As a result of the Native Welfare Act and its enforcement on Aboriginal People during the 1800's and 1900's, many families were subject to enforced separation, sacred sites were desecrated and people were dispossessed from the land and were prevented from practicing Tribal Customs. Many Aboriginal people suffered the humiliation of having to apply for citizenship rights to their own Country! In many regions of the country, these tragedies and others had a dire effect and resulted in the breakdown of language and lore. This resulted in spiritual chaos rupturing the soul of our culture and people. The strength of Aboriginal people to survive reflects the continuation of spiritual practice and cultural activity throughout the country today. After having been through so much it is beyond reprehensible that Morgan could not even acknowledge the traditional owners and the REAL tribal groups who actually existed within the boundaries of where her story is set.



Morgan has used the fiction label to avoid examination on the authenticity of her claims. However, many non-Australian readers of the book have accepted her depiction of Australia and Aboriginal culture as a true one. Indeed, for many readers, Morgan’s depiction of Aboriginal culture is the only one they have. That is why Aboriginal groups are so concerned.

I am angry at the content of this book. The journey, such as Morgan describes it, could not have occurred; the appropriation of Aboriginal culture and meshing it with American Indian culture for the New Age market is WRONG and deeply hurtful; the reporting of men’s and women’s business without respect or regard is a punishable offense under Aboriginal Law; the audacity of an American white woman speaking for Australian Aboriginals and the blatant falsehoods contained within the book are indeed the main causes of anger.



I am deeply concerned at the long term implications of 'Mutant Message Down Under', and books like it, on Aboriginal culture. To date, over a million people have bought and read either the self-publication or Harper Collins version of 'Mutant Message Down Under'. Many in the United States and Europe have believed it. Many people have listened to Morgan lecture on the book and have believed her. The already difficult process for young Aboriginals to regain and own their culture, will be made all the more difficult by the misappropriation and distortion of their culture by Morgan and others like her.



Morgan denigrates all Aboriginal people apart from the pure, albeit fictitious, 'Real People'.

During Morgan’s 'visit' into the 'sacred site' she speaks of the Real People hoarding evidence of western society in this country such as: magazines, computer apparatus, empty Coca-Cola tins, and other items representing the western world. This denigrates all sacred sites. In no Aboriginal tribal areas would a sacred site be used to collect western rubbish. Morgan claims that this sacred site in which the 'Real People' granted her permission to enter is the ONLY sacred site left undestroyed in Australia.This claim is utterly absurd as it indicates that no other Aboriginal tribe across this country has access to or involvement in ceremonial activity of any kind which is completely offensive and untrue. In addition she uses the derogatory statement of labeling urban Aboriginal people as 'half caste'; states that no urban Aboriginal people have ever worked in their lives neither have the generations before them; all Aboriginal people, other that the ‘Real People’, have sold out to Government policies; the Aboriginal people that she had met in the urban or city areas had stated to her that they would rather have their blood bred out of them to become white. These disgustingly racist lies and generalisations ought to be severely punished. How dare such a person make those implications and spread those lies!



I am disgusted that HarperCollins have helped her perpetuate and spread her lies. I am requesting that her Author Interview be removed because in it she is claiming her story to be true: " .. What was your principal aim in writing Mutant Message Down Under?

My aim in writing this story was down for my grandson who at the time was too young to understand where Grandma had been and what Grandma had experienced.."





Morgan also implies that she plans to write more about Aboriginal Australians ("What is your next project?

I received information from the tribal elders, Burnum Burnum and Alice Kelly before they died that I believe was told to me so I could pass it on. My next project will be doing that.") and I sincerely hope that this is NOT the case and that HarperCollins will not be having anything to do with it.



Yet again Aboriginal people and Aboriginal culture have been exploited.



MARLO MORGAN YOU ARE DISGUSTING AND YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!

[Kimber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a unique, valuable book on Aborginal wisdom....however, the writing style is below mediocre. I highlighted the sections I loved but would not want to re-read this word for word. It is a novel based in the Australian Outback where the Mutants (those who live in so-called civilized society) are compared to Real People (the Aborgines) who have not lost their connection to divine, to who they really are. To our natural god-given spirtiual connections to life, and to each other and how impaired are those of us (us Mutants) are in experiencing our full potential.

These are the commandments in contrast to the Mutant Ten Commandments--


Express Your Individual Creativity
Realize That You Are Accountable
Before Birth You Agreed to Help Others
Mature Emotionally
Entertain
Be a Steward of Your Energy
Indulge in Music
Strive to Achieve Wisdom
Learn Self-Discipline
Observe Without Judging

I love how she expanded on these concepts. Probably the best part of the book.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Mutant Message Down Under so much that I was excited to read this one. I was not disappointed.
I am fascinated by the Aborigine people. I secretly think it would be great to go on a "walkabout" with some someday.
I was also frustrated with our history. We as a people, are so mean to others that we view as different.

[Debby Stephan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so sad and so real. I need to re-read this one in a year or so, along with Mutant Message from Down Under. Both were books that I would describe as life-altering. I realize that these books are fiction and that Ms. Morgan has been confronted by the Aboriginals for what she has written, but the message is still amazing.

When I read about the fictional relationship of the Aborigines with the earth and nature, I know that this is how life should be. However, their ability to be non-judgemental is also amazing. My favorite is, "If someone tells you something, smell it! If it smells all right, then try just a little for the taste, but always chew it. Chew for a long time before you swallow. Even words should be chewed for a long time before swallowing because it is much easier to spit something out than it is to get rid of it once you have already taken it in. If you accept words within yourself and the idea is not right for you, it will cause problems. It will cause lumps and bumps and headaches and chest pains and stomachaches and rotting sores until you get it out."

So much in this book needs to be digested slowly, and repeatedly. I needed to read this book at this time in my life and will need to read it again. This is a book to purchase, not borrow from the library.

[Chantal · Rating 3 out of 5]

What started out as a 5 star book, changed 2/3 in. The magic was lost because it became a whole monologue about how aboriginals are. I don't know if it was made up by the writer. Also, the coincidence at the end made it predictable.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, as with MUTANT MESSAGE FROM DOWN UNDER, I was swept away with the tenets of this book. I believed. Morgan has aboriginal gudies again in this book and she brings us supposed ancient wisdom. AGain, I wanted to believe! And, what harm could reading this book do? From the back cover of this book, the ten messages of aborignial wisdom that are laid out in this book: 1. Express Your Individual Creativity; 2. Realize That You Are Accountable; 3. Before Birth You Agreed to Help Other; 4. Mature Emotionally; 5. Entertain/Inner-tain; 6. Be a Steward of Your Energy; 7. Indulge in Music; 8. Strive to Achieve Wisdom; 9. Learn Self-Discipline; 10. Observe without Judging. If I had actually practiced what I learned in this book, fiction or not, I would be and would have been a better person.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 Messages of Aboriginal Wisdom You Will Explore In Message From Forever

Express Your Individual Creativity
Realize That You Are Accountable
Before Birth You Agreed to Help Others
Mature Emotionally
Entertain
Be a Steward of Your Energy
Indulge in Music
Strive to Achieve Wisdom
Learn Self-Discipline
Observe Without Judging

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! It's very difficult to read about the treatment Aboriginals have suffered in their own land, but staying with the book will lead you to such wonderful spirituality. I have many markers on the book, particularly toward the last third where so much wisdom can be found. I highly recommend this as "soul food."

[Dagmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een mooi en leerzaam boek die mij echt aan het denken heeft gezet. In het begin was ik teleurgesteld over hoe neerbuigend er naar de hoofdpersonages (die zelf aboriginals waren) werd gekeken. Alsof de schrijfster net zo naar hen keek als de westerlingen die Australië binnen kwamen zetten. Maar halverwege het boek werd de aboriginal-cultuur echt gewaardeerd. Ik heb zelf te weinig kennis over de aboriginals om over de kwaliteit van de informatie te oordelen, maar ik vond het in ieder geval echt inspirerend. Het is triest om te bedenken dat sommige volken hun cultuur zo opdringen aan andere terwijl ze allemaal mooi zijn op hun eigen manier.

[Rianne Collaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t really like the writing style in this book. That’s why I found it hard to finish this book. However, I did like the parts in which the main character is with a group of Aboriginals in the north of Australia, because their ideas and the learning process of the main character were very interesting.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described as "a novel of Aboriginal wisdom," this book traces the story of a pair of twins, Jeff and Bea, who are born in the bush, taken from their mother at a mission station on the first day of their life. Bea is raised in a mission school, Jeff is given to an American family, who move him to the U.S., where his upbringing leads him eventually to a prison death row. Bea, in the meantime, in her 30s walks into the bush and meets with native Aborigines, who teach her the way of her people. This is an interesting combination of story and philosophy and gives a glimpse into the lives of a people many of us will never encounter. It also helps to understand the plight of the Aboriginal people in Australia--and how their situation came to be. Many parallels to what was done to Native Americans in this country.

[Labijoux Poupette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure about the aboriginal life cause I never met any of them or something like that but this book made me wanna meet them and explore more about their culture and the way they live. I just know that the descriptions were very graphic and thrue the whole book I could feel the love and the respect from the writer towards them and back. I think it is a very warm book, kind of shocking in a way cause it introduces this other way of living far away from computers, washing machines or anything like that. I have read both books and they are both amazing...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another mixed stars review. I didn't like the first half of the book very well, it was totally different from the first book. I thought the stage could have been set more quickly.

HOWEVER, the 2nd part taught me as much as the first Mutant Message book. Read these books! I'm a better person for what I'm learning from them.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first couple of chapters caused me deep emotional pain as I could feel the suffering.
A wondrous epic of struggle and triumph of soul.
A must read for anyone on a path of personal growth. Mutant Message from Forever: A Novel of Aboriginal Wisdom is the second of 2 books that I consider blessings upon the world.
I will reread this as soon as my hundred books are completed.

[Robin Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an incredibly inspiring book. I have gifted it to several people but don't know if they had the same response as I did. No matter what I was going through, I could open the book and follow the journey of the main character-and realize that nothing in my life could compare to what she was going through.

[Boktyckaren Carita · Rating 4 out of 5]

200519
📖
Beatrice föds på aboriginvis ute i det fria, men skiljs strax efter födseln från sin mor och sin tvillingbror. Hon växer upp på ett barnhem utan någon kunskap om sitt ursprung. Hon längtar efter att lära sig om sitt folk och när hon vuxit upp lämnar hon stadens liv och får kontakt med en liten grupp av "det äkta folket". Medan hon vandrar med dem får hon lära sig allt det hon har saknat.
📖
Efter många år ute i bushen är det dags att återvända till civilisationen. Hon har ett uppdrag att utföra.
📖
Författarens första bok "Budskap från andra sidan" gjorde stort intryck på mig. Denna uppföljare går djupare in i den livsfilosofi aboriginerna lever, eller rättare sagt levde efter, innan den vite mannen kom och la beslag på dem och deras territorium.
📖
Ett citat som fastnade var: "Livet är förändring. Några förändringar är stora och andra är små, men utan förändring kan det inte finnas utveckling. Och förändring och utveckling innebär varken smärta eller offer."
📖
Författaren säger sig ha vandrat med det äkta folket och berättar utifrån egna erfarenheter och folkets berättelser. Hon ska ha tagit sig namnet Vandrande Tungan och genom sina böcker och föreläsningar för hon budskapet om hur vi, "de muterade" ska komma på rätt väg i livet igen. Hon har blivit hårt kritiserad för sina böcker, inte minst från flera aboriginska organisationer.
Oavsett är det en fin berättelse, dock med mycket sorg och orättvisor, men även mycket klokheter som vi alla skulle må bra av att följa!
Är du nyfiken på boken - börja med den första!
📕📗📘📙av 5📚
#budskapfrånevigheten #marlomorgan #strömbergsförlag @bokborsen #caritasläsning2020 #30 #hemmamedenbok

[MaryJane Rings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as historical fiction. I have read enough of the history of the English invasion of Australia to believe that much of this is probably true. I also know the nuns in the orphanages weren't always as religious the church would like us to believe. I believe that missionaries and well-meaning people did adopt some of the aboriginal children as trophies for their own status. Whether they were good parental figures is a story for another time. I'm sure some had the welfare of the children at heart but didn't understand that they should preserve these children's history and help them research their roots. I think it was selfish of these adoptees to expect children of a different culture to be less intelligent. I feel most had no idea how intelligent these children were. Whether all of the stories are true isn't really the point, just like the treatment of the native Americans in the US, the same type of indoctrination of the Aborigines with no regard for their heritage makes the book sad. We need to read more of these stories and take them seriously. Native people's culture is the history of the land, just like the American Indian, these people preserved the land and didn't leave a footprint, unlike their conquerors.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simplified and watered down historical fiction of the horrors the Australian Aborigine were subjected to in an attempt to convert and “ civilize “ them told in the story of twins, a boy and a girl, taken from their mother as infants in a misguided legalized justification of helping the indigenous better themselves.

Instances of abuse in orphanages, adoptions, sterilization programs and down right brain washing along with the social ills that necessarily follow suit, were woven into the storyline.... but what grabbed my interest most was the eventual soul searching and reconnection of the twins to “ The Oneness” and “ The Dreaming”.
What most of the whites of the time viewed as primitive beliefs are much in line with “ new age” spiritualism, with mine beliefs and in fact in line with theories of quantum physics.

I look forward to reading more on this area of “ The Dreaming ”

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Buch hat sich für mich beim Lesen inspirierend angefühlt. Es war eine zeitweise traurige, bewegende, aber insgesamt sehr aufheiternde Geschichte. Sie macht auf ein Thema aufmerksam, mit dem viele Menschen ansonsten wahrscheinlich eben so wenig in Berührung gekommen wären, wie ich und zwar der Unterdrückung der Aboriginies in Australien durch die weißen Einwanderer. Und dieses Thema wurde, wie ich finde, von der Autorin sehr optimistisch und verständlich, aber auch empathisch behandelt.
Auf der anderen Seite findet sich auch Kritik, die Marlo Morgan als schamlose Lügnerin darstellt. Da ich mich abgesehen von diesem Buch (das jedoch Interesse an mehr Information geweckt hat), möchte ich nicht beurteilen wie Realitätsnah zB. die Traditionen der Aboriginies dargestellt wurden. Daraus ergibt sich meine gespaltene Meinung über 'Traumreisende': Zum Lesen eine sehr schöne Geschichte, aber möglicherweise nicht so echt, wie sie zu scheinen versucht.

[Özge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bir savunuculuk amacıyla yazıldığını düşündüğüm Sonsuzluğun Mesajı kitabı, her ne kadar Aborjinlerin günlük hayatı, yaşadıkları zorluklar ve yolculuk felsefesini aktarıyor olsa da; maalesef yazarın her cümlesinde didaktiklik kokan yapısı; kitabın akışının fazlasıyla yüzeysel kalmasına neden olmuş. Aslında bir ayrılış, yurdundan kültüründen koparılma hikayesi, bu kadar derinleşmeden uzak kelimelerle ifade edildiğinde anlamını da yitiriyor gibi. Niyet ve yazarın amacını çok net görebildiğiniz zamanlarda, kurgunun büyüsü de kayboluyor... Aslında başka türlü anlatılsaydı çok daha akıcı olabilirdi diye düşünmekten kendimi alamadım. Zaten en sonunda da tahmin ettiğim gibi, gerekli mesaj sanattan ve şiirsellikten uzak bir şekilde verilmiş.

[Ronnie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoops...I read this as a novel and did enjoy following the paths that the separated-at-birth siblings found as their life patterns. I've since read that the Aboriginal cultures are very unhappy at the incorrect way an Aborigine lifestyle (practices, religion, etc.) has been portrayed. While I do have to confess that I feel it is not right for a non-native person to wrongly represent a group of people I will still say that the story was compelling and it did stir up feelings of sympathy for the characters.
I intend to someday read more serious and "fact based" books on the original inhabitants of Australia
so maybe I can be forgiven for taking this book at face value .

[Nicholas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very poorly written. Has an interesting theme -- following two aboriginal twins taken from their mother and separated at birth, and follow the trajectories, one at an orphanage and one adopted and sent to America. But the characters are two dimensional, and half way through the author forgets the adage, "show don't tell" and get very preachy in extolling the virtues of the noble beliefs of the aboriginals. They all end up sounding like well educated California New-Agers. I've also heard that it is not at all an accurate representation of aboriginal life, beliefs or customs.

[Lara Royo · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro narra una historia inspiradora sobre dos hermanos aborígenes separados y criados como esclavos por el hombre blanco. Es la versión extendida y más políticamente correcta de Voces del desierto, puesto que en esta versión el mensaje aborigen le es presentado a una mujer aborigen, y no a una americana blanca.
Sin embargo, resulta bastante repetitivo si te has leído el anterior. A mí sinceramente, creo que me gustaría más éste porque es más completo y la historia de los hermanos es sobrecogedora, pero al leerlo en segundo lugar, pierde la gracia porque se vuelve redundante.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part was basically a list of all the wrongs done to Aboriginals through two unfortunate children. The second part was much more engaging and entertaining about actual learning about the dreaming and how to live in the desert (I really liked this part). Then the last part was the actual doctrine (sort of) which was a bit boring, but I think the whole book was written leading up to this, so we'll let it slide. Sets out the injustices rather well, but not an enjoyable read.
Not a keeper.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting then boring then interesting again at the end. :) However, the list of 10 messages to all people is very interesting, and completely in line with what we all believe. Express your individual creativity; realize that you are accountable; before birth, you agreed to help others; mature emotionally; partake only in positive entertainment; be a steward of your energy; indulge in music and other arts; strive to achieve wisdom; learn self-discipline; observe without judging.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing and story of this book were fine, but I am very dubious of the author's choice to write in the first-person narrative. As neither an Aborigine nor scholar of, the telling of Aboriginal stories, culture, and history seems biased and highly interpretive. I could not get over the feeling of having an unreliable narrator.

[☃️ Quirk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool book to learn more about aboriginal values but storyline was not my favorite and didn’t really enjoy the writing style.
1. Aboriginal sites have become national parks which are open for mining (even uranium)
2. Aboriginal communities were and are diverse and have totally different customs and languages
3. This book is fiction and actually a lot of it is made up 🤐 gotta be careful out there

[Bat713 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and thought provoking. This is a story of twin Aboriginals separated at birth. One ends up walking with the Aboriginals and learning their secrets and wisdom. The other ends up in America falling victim to the weakness of his people. Simple truths and spiritual lessons to ponder.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A continuation in novel form of what the author learned on a very unexpected trip into Aboriginal lands. It's heartbreaking what was done to the native people of Australia by missionaries trying to buy their way into God's graces with fake acts of "charity".

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this right at the beginning of a very personal Journey that I was struggling to recognize that I needed to do alone in my own way. This book was really helpful and I am taking away some really beautifully put ideas and inspiration that I know I'll use throughout my life.