Finally, we earthly humans have been presented with a modern day alternative to the wonderful Love poems of Rumi and the ancient texts of Lao Tau. Pete Caswell has provided a challenging first edition of poems, entitled “Mind Cracker”, reminiscent of the mind riddles of the Tibetan buddhists. These poems challenge our modern interpretation of life, directing their primary thrust at toppling the all knowing mind from its throne it has maintained for so long. The poems are like militant insurgents seeking to undermine the totalitarian rule of the mind; to overthrow and topple the dictatorship and lead your soul towards freedom. They are the ammunition you need to shoot down your mind, crack its outer defenses and release your heart from its cage of bars of the mind's making.
The central theme of the book revolves around abstract concepts of the Everything and the Nothing, the Infinity and the opposites created by the mind to form the game of duality and illusion, in which we all live. Pete explores the concepts of Infinity and the Nothing with its opposite Everything, in his bold attempt to address the concept of the inner life of the heart and soul. His brief explanation of space and matter, in the light of recent discoveries in modern physics, help to bring theses abstract concepts into the realm of the mind, giving it something solid to grasp, in its endless search for meaning in life.
This book is a great tool for those people seeking to become more intuitive, more loving, a little less dry, dull and stiff. As the impact of the poems grow, so the mind, given an initial refuge, in a token of understanding, slips away into the poetic riddles thrown at it. It helps you to release, chill out, to let go and give your heart the ammunition it needs, to overthrow the bullying mind.
The meaning and beauty of the poems and paintings deepen over time helped by the colourful abstract paintings enlightening every page. Sections of Pete's popular paintings with many of his well known themes: Sunflowers, Poppies, the Ocean and India litter the pages. Many are in sections teasing the mind to put them back together or to discover the true subject behind.