A fascinating and mind provoking lecture

Science fiction by setting and technology, yet presenting ever so actual themes for humankind (politics, fight for power, war, love, learning and adapting, etc.), this book fascinated me because of many reasons, yet one idea really stayed with me a long time, changing my perception on world: how would it be to live on a desert planet? I started to look differently at the wonderful gift of vegetation and water, at the trees, lakes and rivers, maybe even with more gratitude and being more careful even when stepping on a small leaf of grass.

I loved the motto-s in the beginning of the chapters – some very the profound -  and one of the things I will always remember is The litany against fear - an incantation used by the Bene Gesserit sisterhood to focus their minds and calm themselves when in danger:

„I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain”

Full of metaphors, the litany is speaking of courage (which is not the ability not to feel fear, but feeling the fear and going ahead anyway) and separates you from the fear and making it move, thus losing its power to paralyze you. When it goes through you, it will be behind you, and when you “turn the inner eye to see its path” you will notice that there is actually nothing left, that all is an illusion.

Maybe not an easy lecture for those accustomed with soap operas, as it requires a certain power of understanding and abstraction, but it’s a captivating and enriching book that I highly recommend.