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Love and Above: A journey into shamanism, coma and joy
What happens when you are in a coma for a month? Where does the soul travel? How do you come back? And what are the other-worldly secrets you may carry?
International author Sarah Bullen and her filmmaker husband were a golden couple, with thriving careers and two young children. Then Llewellyn realised that what he'd thought were entranced moments were in fact symptoms of a brain tumour. He pursues a shamanic path of traditional African medicine to fight the cancer, and the couple are catapulted into a magical world of ritual and ceremony.
Alongside hospitals, surgery and treatments comes another wilder journey of spiritual searching. Then the impossible happens, Sarah too falls ill. While in a month long coma, Sarah travels through near-death and into other realms and worlds.
She comes back with an urgent message from beyond, and a spark to follow which becomes a roadmap to allow her to write a new life story. From African rituals to a Greek island of tantra, sex and celebration, Love and Above is filled with wild rapture and infinite possibility.
International author Sarah Bullen and her filmmaker husband were a golden couple, with thriving careers and two young children. Then Llewellyn realised that what he'd thought were entranced moments were in fact symptoms of a brain tumour. He pursues a shamanic path of traditional African medicine to fight the cancer, and the couple are catapulted into a magical world of ritual and ceremony.
Alongside hospitals, surgery and treatments comes another wilder journey of spiritual searching. Then the impossible happens, Sarah too falls ill. While in a month long coma, Sarah travels through near-death and into other realms and worlds.
She comes back with an urgent message from beyond, and a spark to follow which becomes a roadmap to allow her to write a new life story. From African rituals to a Greek island of tantra, sex and celebration, Love and Above is filled with wild rapture and infinite possibility.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2022
13 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Bullen
18 books9 followersAuthor. Speaker. Literary Agent. NDE Experiencer. Cancer Survivor.
Sarah Bullen is a multi-published author, writing coach, and literary agent, leading international writing mentorships. She is the author of Write your Book in 100 Days and works with authors as a book coach and agent. Over the last two decades, she has had over 180 books published by writers she has mentored. She has held editorial roles across books, magazines, and literary agencies. Her expertise in writing and publishing provides invaluable guidance to aspiring authors, helping them develop their craft, structure their stories, and navigate the publishing world.
Sarah had a life-altering near-death experience in her 30s where she was in a coma for three weeks. Her story has become a book Love & Above: A journey into shamanism, coma and joy.
Her latest book The Other Side: Journeys into Mysticism, Magic and Near Deathfollows on from that and gathers riveting and radical stories of people from Africa, who have crossed to the ‘other side’ or those who can contact it.
Sarah Bullen is a multi-published author, writing coach, and literary agent, leading international writing mentorships. She is the author of Write your Book in 100 Days and works with authors as a book coach and agent. Over the last two decades, she has had over 180 books published by writers she has mentored. She has held editorial roles across books, magazines, and literary agencies. Her expertise in writing and publishing provides invaluable guidance to aspiring authors, helping them develop their craft, structure their stories, and navigate the publishing world.
Sarah had a life-altering near-death experience in her 30s where she was in a coma for three weeks. Her story has become a book Love & Above: A journey into shamanism, coma and joy.
Her latest book The Other Side: Journeys into Mysticism, Magic and Near Deathfollows on from that and gathers riveting and radical stories of people from Africa, who have crossed to the ‘other side’ or those who can contact it.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 19, 2022
Written to Sarah: My life stopped for a few hours while I started and then finished your book. My story is obviously very different but I listened on so many levels, related to so much, felt my heart opening in love, in laughter, in tears. Your list of words on Page 200 threw me back to my dad's suicide. My list was very similar, Grace, Love, Greatness, Knowing, Aliveness,, Full and Open Hearted. Insight. Not what one would expect, but I knew with all my heart, that he'd done what he had to do and what was right for him. Months later I 'recalled' the suicide pact that he and I have had for
lifetimes and I said to him. 'No more, I'm not doing that again".
I remembered being with Llewellyn when he committed to relationship. What I don't remember clearly is whether he made the commitment and then found you or the other way round.
What I'm taking away with me above everything else that you wrote about is that I will not be afraid. I've been allowing little things that don't deserve a life to get me.
So much love to you. Thanks for your passion and your inspiration.
lifetimes and I said to him. 'No more, I'm not doing that again".
I remembered being with Llewellyn when he committed to relationship. What I don't remember clearly is whether he made the commitment and then found you or the other way round.
What I'm taking away with me above everything else that you wrote about is that I will not be afraid. I've been allowing little things that don't deserve a life to get me.
So much love to you. Thanks for your passion and your inspiration.
November 15, 2022
Surprising! Finished it in 2 days! It is full of essential knowledge and above all, of love.
Read
February 20, 2022This is a cracker of a story.
It’s so authentically honest, on the very deepest level possible. The themes that run concurrent between her shattering reality, her inner voice of fear, the constant companionship of Soul and the pull on the other side of the wall from Spirit, weaves a tale that enables the reader to witness within the lightest and darkest corners of her journey… to see themselves within the scope of her narrative and search for joy—in the divine form of GIFT.
You come away from Sarah’s story, realising that witnessing her journey—‘living it’ as you read it, is a lesson. It's her gift to the reader. Her succinct ability to describe her reactions, feelings, fears and hopes with such blunt rawness - such brutally frankness… such efficient, lean prose… gives us the chance to examine our own journeys… to unpack our own critical shortcomings and 'fear of fear’ - to find our own stairways to joy and fulfilment.
Her heartbreakingly frank assessment of her necessary distancing from her husband Llewellyn as he embarked on his own personal, private journey towards death, gave me such hope and validation that Spirit, ever present (and with whatever God you choose) is something I really resonate with.
I’ve been here before.
Not quite with the rollercoaster that she have ridden - but pretty damn fucking close.
You see, we are all flawed. Broken to some extent and running the gauntlet and monotony of our own flaws and inadequacies… the pedantic wheel of Ground Hog Day.
We all seek a station stop on our journey.
We all need our day in the sun.
On the beach.
Drinking ouzo and clicking with lovers.
We’re all searching.
Constantly.
But what Sarah does… is show us the way—in a language we identify with… beside a boiling pot brimming with our own fear of fear… our own private Idaho.
She shares her frailties with us.
Her laughter.
Her pain.
Her brokenness.
Her dogged determination.
Her warrior valour and resilience.
And at the end… all we want for her… our sister whom we follow without caution… is for her to find that joy… that: Have. More. Fun!
Not just because we want it too. We are desperate for it!
But simply because… deep down… we KNOW… that everything is exactly as it should be.
It’s so authentically honest, on the very deepest level possible. The themes that run concurrent between her shattering reality, her inner voice of fear, the constant companionship of Soul and the pull on the other side of the wall from Spirit, weaves a tale that enables the reader to witness within the lightest and darkest corners of her journey… to see themselves within the scope of her narrative and search for joy—in the divine form of GIFT.
You come away from Sarah’s story, realising that witnessing her journey—‘living it’ as you read it, is a lesson. It's her gift to the reader. Her succinct ability to describe her reactions, feelings, fears and hopes with such blunt rawness - such brutally frankness… such efficient, lean prose… gives us the chance to examine our own journeys… to unpack our own critical shortcomings and 'fear of fear’ - to find our own stairways to joy and fulfilment.
Her heartbreakingly frank assessment of her necessary distancing from her husband Llewellyn as he embarked on his own personal, private journey towards death, gave me such hope and validation that Spirit, ever present (and with whatever God you choose) is something I really resonate with.
I’ve been here before.
Not quite with the rollercoaster that she have ridden - but pretty damn fucking close.
You see, we are all flawed. Broken to some extent and running the gauntlet and monotony of our own flaws and inadequacies… the pedantic wheel of Ground Hog Day.
We all seek a station stop on our journey.
We all need our day in the sun.
On the beach.
Drinking ouzo and clicking with lovers.
We’re all searching.
Constantly.
But what Sarah does… is show us the way—in a language we identify with… beside a boiling pot brimming with our own fear of fear… our own private Idaho.
She shares her frailties with us.
Her laughter.
Her pain.
Her brokenness.
Her dogged determination.
Her warrior valour and resilience.
And at the end… all we want for her… our sister whom we follow without caution… is for her to find that joy… that: Have. More. Fun!
Not just because we want it too. We are desperate for it!
But simply because… deep down… we KNOW… that everything is exactly as it should be.
July 3, 2022
To Sarah: thank you thank you for sharing your story; it’s stayed with me for over a month since I read it. I was given a hard copy and had to download it on Kindle too so I could keep reading in the dark while my husband slept. Best book I’ve read in years. And what your experienced in your coma: I believe you xx
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February 28, 2022A page-turner with depth, and all the elements that make a gripping story: love, sex, inner turmoil, death, near-death, bravery, spirit and soul. Incredibly, this hero's journey for our times is all real. I read it in a single sitting and was left profoundly moved, eternally hopeful!
March 7, 2022
This book is outstanding! It should however come with a warning! It is unputdownable! Gripping! Honest! Like no other. It will make you hold your breath, fill your heart with love and feel a huge sense of warmth. I loved this book and have told everyone I know to get a copy.
April 4, 2023
Love and Above is a personal and very raw account of how the author, Sarah Bullen, was able to find spiritual meaning and purpose during mutiple traumatic events that emcompassed her family and friends. I was able to empathise with Sarah well as she felt very real to me due to how she was speaking, thinking, and acting - her steps all seemed logical and I felt like I was with her along her journey.
Although I enjoyed the overall premise of the book and was rooting for Sarah the whole way through, I felt that I would have enjoyed it more if it was excecuted a little differently. I found the short sentences really difficult to keep myself engaged and would find that I wasn't able to keep a rhythm or find a flow in the text. It almost felt like the sentences were rushed and blunt; which could be what Sarah was going for by connecting her sentence structure to the idea that our lives are short in the physical plain but we still matter and have purpose; however I found this structure distracting and really struggled to finish the book. I would have liked to have finished this book sooner than I was able to.
I was able to take a lot away from her account and know I will be thinking about her story for a while longer as I am currently on my own spiritual journey.
Although I enjoyed the overall premise of the book and was rooting for Sarah the whole way through, I felt that I would have enjoyed it more if it was excecuted a little differently. I found the short sentences really difficult to keep myself engaged and would find that I wasn't able to keep a rhythm or find a flow in the text. It almost felt like the sentences were rushed and blunt; which could be what Sarah was going for by connecting her sentence structure to the idea that our lives are short in the physical plain but we still matter and have purpose; however I found this structure distracting and really struggled to finish the book. I would have liked to have finished this book sooner than I was able to.
I was able to take a lot away from her account and know I will be thinking about her story for a while longer as I am currently on my own spiritual journey.
October 20, 2023
With a fierce, fabulous and courageous narrator, Love and Above took me on a thrilling ride through life, death, coma and rising up on the other side. Sarah Bullen deftly takes the reader on her journey, which is exquisitely heartbreaking, funny and very brave. The book journeys through her own near death experience where signs from the other side keep her going and influence the trajectory of her life afterwards. Her perspective on grief and dying is a glass of tall water in a desert of pain. I highly recommend it to anyone who is experiencing grief, is needing to come to terms with a near death experience, who is looking for meaning in life.
February 28, 2022
I could not put this down. This is a book about joy and having fun and living life to the fullest - and I closed it wanting to go out and dance! Ironically Sarah writes about a terrible time in her life when her husband is dying of a brain tumor and she ends up in a coma. However this book is not doom and gloom. It's uplifting and a fascinating account of exploring all possible ways of dealing with such issues ranging from shamanism to straight medicine. It's a book about grief and joy and fun and life. I need to read it again to really absorb it all.
March 3, 2022
I read Love & Above cover to cover on Sunday afternoon and didn’t put it down once! I was captivated, gripped and wanting to read more from the very first chapter. Thank you Sarah for sharing your story and your incredible journey in such an honest and direct way. It was all so personal, real and raw that it was if I was having a coffee with the author and having her tell me the story to my face of everything she went through. The “seven gates” has been on my mind ever since I put the book down.
March 21, 2023
A beautifully written and thought-provoking book that takes readers on a wild journey through the realms of spirituality and beyond. Sarah Bullen's personal experiences with shamanic practices and near-death encounters offer a unique perspective on the human soul's journey. Her writing is vivid, and her storytelling skills are impressive, making this a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the mysteries of life and death. This book is not only enlightening but also uplifting and inspiring, urging readers to embrace their spiritual paths and live their lives to the fullest.
February 17, 2022
Sarah’s story is simply too extraordinary to be fiction- and written with such searing and often self deprecating honesty that you cannot be helped but be drawn into the experience
From an opening page that lands one right in the centre of the story, the book draws you in, and is hard to put down.
Despite circumstances that few of us could imagine, the story is full of relatable moments and lessons in resilience. A truly rewarding read!
From an opening page that lands one right in the centre of the story, the book draws you in, and is hard to put down.
Despite circumstances that few of us could imagine, the story is full of relatable moments and lessons in resilience. A truly rewarding read!
May 22, 2022
I am generally a slow reader, but I could not put this book down and literally inhaled it in one day. It is raw, real, heart- breaking and uplifting. It also touched me with a lesson for life; I was feeling a bit anxious about a decision and then reminded myself rather go for Love and Above. Not only did the content make me feel like I didn’t want it to end, but I came away with a tool. Now that’s a good read.
March 22, 2023
A story that will leave a lasting impression on its readers. Sarah Bullen's personal account of her spiritual journey is fascinating, and her message is powerful. This book will not only take you on an incredible adventure through the world of shamanism and beyond, but it will also challenge you to question your own beliefs about life, death, and the human soul. Sarah's writing is engaging, and her unique sense of humor and heart shine through every page
February 6, 2023
I read this book in one day, purely because I couldn't put it down. Beautifully written and so much to relate to. I would recommend this to everyone that experienced loss, reinvented their path forward and been brave enough to investigate some of the unknown and mystical parts if life on earth and beyond.
February 17, 2022
This book combines all the biggies for me- a true story, a woman navigating uncertainty alone, mystery, myth, spirituality and love! Love that reaches to the stars itself. I find it thrilling, interesting and a must read.
February 15, 2022
An inspiring journey that left me both crying and filled with joy
February 16, 2022
The most incredible read! A powerful, deeply personal story told with humor and love. It was impossible to put it down!
February 16, 2022
A wildly compelling story
Sarah’s story from near death to a life of joy is a must-read. I cried. I smiled. I cried some more. Could not put this book down!
Sarah’s story from near death to a life of joy is a must-read. I cried. I smiled. I cried some more. Could not put this book down!
February 18, 2022
This fast-paced heart-wrenching story is told with delicious dollops of raw honesty and humour. It challenged me, entertained me, and left me wanting more.
March 2, 2022
A story of such honesty and vulnerability. It was quite a story journey to experience.
March 28, 2022
A crazy personal and personable journey. I enjoyed every step of it.
April 29, 2022
Funny, fierce, real, faithful, determined, uplifting… part Shirley Valentine… but with sangomas, crises, South African, Greek… a boere-baklava, roaring, soaring life-changing book - GET IT NOW!!!!
June 23, 2022
Sarah’s Love and Above took me on a journey through my heart - exploring the chambers of real life and how it feels. Her choice of words and flow were perfect! My best read in years! Thank you 🙏🏼
October 19, 2022
Really enjoyed this!
February 29, 2024
Fascinating story. Narration was clumsy and the accents poor.
April 13, 2022
I could not put this book down from the minute I started reading it. I was done in less than a week, and read at any opportunity I had.
I love the fast pace that Sarah Bullen begins with and keeps up through out the story, she keeps up the rhythm, and you just want to know what next.
Her story is really amazing, and the journey her husband embarks on to fight his cancer is so beautifully detailed, you are taken into the most personal and intimate spaces of their lives. She is generous in her sharing of the experience and trauma she and her entire family undergo.
At the end, in spite of all the pain, trauma of her husband's death, her own turmoil of ill health, you are left with such a sense of hope in the human spirit and the ability and agility to bounce back and live again.
I also love that Sarah finds her groove, and is able to rebuild her new life together with her children. A must read.
I love the fast pace that Sarah Bullen begins with and keeps up through out the story, she keeps up the rhythm, and you just want to know what next.
Her story is really amazing, and the journey her husband embarks on to fight his cancer is so beautifully detailed, you are taken into the most personal and intimate spaces of their lives. She is generous in her sharing of the experience and trauma she and her entire family undergo.
At the end, in spite of all the pain, trauma of her husband's death, her own turmoil of ill health, you are left with such a sense of hope in the human spirit and the ability and agility to bounce back and live again.
I also love that Sarah finds her groove, and is able to rebuild her new life together with her children. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews