I Never Met an Asteroid I Didn't Like

"I Never Met an Asteroid I Didn’t Like"

An Interview with Kim Falconer

Kim Falconer is an astrologer and a writer who was born in Santa Cruz, CA and now lives on the far east coast of Australia. Kim was introduced to astrology at an early age and has three decades of astrological experience . Kim has studied the works of such eminent teachers as Joanne Wickenburg, Dennis Elwell, Isabel Hickey, Howard Sasportas, Liz Greene and Richard Idemon.  Kim is the author of Asteroid 433 Eros: The Astrology of Love and Astrology & Aptitude: How to Become What You Were Meant to Be and of Vital Signs: The Astrology of Well Being. Kim writes for a number of astrology magazines including Dell Horoscope and The Mountain Astrologer.

AstrologyPowerZone:  In your biography, you state that your father inspired your interest in
the occult. You go on to say that he used horoscopes in conjunction with financial adventures. You, on the other hand, choose a totally different astrological path, one that incorporates ancient wisdom and mythology with psychological theories, art and poetry. Where did this influence come from and how were you able to blend it with what you learned from your father?

Kim:  Where did it come from? Art history class, for a start. I was enamored with my high school art teacher, and inspired by the rich and vivid myths that went with classical paintings, sculptures and crockery. I was seventeen at the time, the same year my father signed me up for my first formal astrology course. It was taught by a mystical woman, Lois Goff, and although she was strictly traditional, she transmitted a lot of magic and sense of the inner world.

Also, my mother is a poetess. Over the years she has exposed me to the world of prose and poetry in delightful ways. She’d never admit it, but Mom links symbolic meaning to everything quite naturally, especially word meanings. From her example, I made it a habit early on to link words and phrases with astrological symbols. For instance, take Keats: "Virgin choir to make delicious moan/upon the midnight hours." Right away, I think of a culminating Moon in Virgo! Or, Voltaire, "Once people begin to reason, all is lost." What else but Mercury/Neptune? Or my mother's, "The persevering sea harbors all things/Cast adrift in her wardrobe of shadows;" Sounds like Saturn in the 12th house to me! Attention to WORDS would definitely be my mother's influence!

I clearly recall the event that brought me to incorporate depth psychology into my astrological approach. After I spent 7 years in diligent traditional astrological study, my father gave me a set of
tapes from the 1980 Saturn/Jupiter conjunction conference in California. I listened in awe to Liz Greene speak about Neptune and the therapeutic process. Something went "click" in my mind and I never looked back. That’s when I started reading everything of hers, and others like Idemon
and Sasportas and Jim Lewis.

My father and I would debate the nature of outer planet transits, progression, nodes etc for hours. That really helped me, even if we didn’t come to an agreement (which was often). Defending a position requires you to be very clear and articulate, at least if you want to present a successful defense!

AstrologyPowerZone: Much of the material on your website and in your articles focuses on
Asteroid 433 Eros. What is it that attracts you to this asteroid? Why have you choosen to research it so deeply?

Kim: Why Eros? I have to chuckle at this now. It all started out as a mistake! (if there are such things).

I was looking for a copy of the myth of Psyche and Eros, flipping around in search engines on the internet. I knew, vaguely, that there were asteroids out there and did use (minimally) Ceres, Juno, Vesta and Pallas, but they were not my focus. I just wanted to read a good translation of the Myth.

But, by some weird “accident” I printed out not a copy of the myth but a NASA site I didn’t even know the browser was open to. It was all about sending a NEAR satellite to 433 Eros. What? I was stunned. Knowing the synchronistic nature between the discovery or focus on a planet and the
awakening in the collective of what that planet represents, I dove in! That was eight years ago, and my interest in all minor planets has increased rapidly ever since.

AstrologyPowerZone: In your biography you mention that you are currently investigating
asteroids, and other special points in the horoscope, following their relevance to health and relationships. Can you elaborate on this a bit?

Kim: I see the asteroids as the “fine tuning” dial on a TV. The major planets  give you the “big picture” and the minor ones sharpen it, honing in on subtleties that might otherwise be missed. In relationships of all kinds, business, friendship, family, lovers, the synastry contacts might include asteroids, connecting two (or more) people in ways the major planets may not describe. The same goes for composite charts.

As far as health is concerned, I associate vitality with being able to express authentically. The finer the detailed understanding of that authentic SELF, the stronger, fitter and more vibrant we become. In this context, the repression or degrading of energy (represented in the chart as unexpressed planets and points in the various signs) finds its only outlet through the body as dis-ease.

A simplistic example would be someone with natal asteroid Psyche on the Ascendant in Aries who was, for what ever reason, unable to push out adventurously into the world, be immediate in action and assertive in nature, especially when it came to connecting with others on a deeper level, might experience migraine head aches. Again, the energy has to go somewhere and if can’t find a creative rout, there is always the body. (Aries rules the head)

AstrologyPowerZone: Have you found anything that interests you as much as Asteroid 433 Eros
does?

Kim: I never met an asteroid I didn’t like, although 433 Eros is my “first love” when it comes to the minor planets. I find others fascinating and insightful, particularly the planet crossers (those orbiting between Venus and Mars), the Centaurs, (those orbiting between Jupiter and Neptune)and of course the “main” asteroids in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. The discovery of the Kuiper Belt, beyond the orbit of Pluto is going to bring a new twist to Astrology, especially with the discovery
of Quaoar.

I must say I am exceptionally interested at the moment in asteroid 3753 Cruithne (pronounced 'croo-een-ya'). It has a “companion” like orbit to earth which actually moves in a horseshoe pattern. Although it orbits the Sun in almost exactly the same time period as the earth, because of the eccentricities, it can go many years without transiting certain signs!

AstrologyPowerZone: You have a background in health and have worked as a medical assistant,
animal health technician and board certified lactation consultant for twenty years. You also hold diplomas in herbal medicine, nutrition, zoology and literature. With such a background, I assume you have some interest in medical astrology? If so, can you talk a little bit about how mythological symbolism can be used in regard to health?

Kim: Myths are metaphors for life. They tell a story that somehow evokes a deeper feeling or movement of the psyche, resonating with our unconscious like a painting, poem, musical piece or dance.

In regards to health, I think they can help us understand what might be “wrong” (undervalued, repressed, unnourished) with us on an inner level.

Each myth portrays an aspect of soul nature, searching, striving, struggling or being forced to express. If we can understand more of what is waking up in our unconscious, we can honor and support it. The more we “do” who we are striving to becoming, the healthier we feel, simple
as that!

____________________________________________________________________________

The above is an interview with Kim Falconer which appeared on one of my many websites in the past (Astrology Power Zone).  The site is history but I still find my interview with Kim interesting so I decided to post it here.  Kim has evolved.  She is still practicing astrology but is now a successful novelist as well. 

The Novels:  Quantum Enchantment,  Path of the Stray, Road to the Soul and Journey by Night

Astrology Book List
Lessons in Relatedness: Mother Teresa Part I
Lessons in Relatedness: Mother Teresa Part II
Relationships From the Karmic Perspective

Dying to Have Known

I am watching a documentary called "Dying to Have Known - The Cancer Cure" while cleaning the house.  The film is about The Gerson Therapy which some claim can prevent and/or cure cancer.  This takes me back several years.  There was a time when I studied cancer from the perspective of Holistic Nutrition.  The Gerson Therapy was one of the therapies I studied.

"Max Gerson (October 18, 1881 – March 8, 1959) was a German physician who developed the Gerson Therapy, an alternative dietary therapy, which he claimed could cure cancer and most chronic, degenerative diseases. Gerson described his approach in the book A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases. However, when Gerson's claims were examined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), they found that his records lacked the basic information necessary to systematically evaluate his claims. The NCI concluded that his data showed no benefit from his treatment.  The therapy is scientifically unsupported and potentially hazardous." - Wikipedia

Judging by this introductory paragraph from Wikipedia not much has changed since I studied The Gerson Therapy.  The film proves this as well.  As pointed out in the film, the cancer industry employees more people than have cancer so it is safe to say that they are very reluctant to properly research and test The Gerson Therapy. 

Most of what I learned about The Gerson Therapy came from reading Charlotte Gerson's book The Gerson Therapy.  It is an excellent book and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in fighting cancer with nutrition. Conventional medicine shuns such treatments and is fond of calling practitioners who utilize such treatments "Quacks." It seems that the Japanese are more open minded.  Towards the end of the film we hear from a Japanese doctor who is treating patients with the Gerson Therapy and saving lives.

Another interesting documentary is The Beautiful Truth.  This is a documentary by a 15 year old who sets out to learn about the Gerson Therapy.

"After the tragic death of his mother, Garrett s father decided to home-school his son and assigned a book written by Dr. Max Gerson that proposes a direct link between diet and a cure for cancer.

Fascinated, Garrett embarks on a cross-country road trip to investigate The Gerson Therapy. He meets with scientists, doctors and cancer survivors who reveal how it is in the best interest of the multi-billion dollar medical industry to dismiss the notion of alternative and natural cures. (topdocumentaryfilms.com)

The Evolutionary Journey of a Soul - Anne Boleyn

Threads - The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn by Nell Gavin is a fantasy which combines elements of historical fiction, metaphysics and eastern religion into one very interesting tale.  Threads "opens with Anne's execution. Her fury at her husband's betrayal has enough momentum to survive centuries, but in Threads she learns that she has been assigned a hard task: she must review their history together through a number of past lives, and find it within herself to forgive him." (Amazon book description).  At the time I came across this book I was studying Evolutionary Astrology which delves into reincarnation and describes how one's past life experiences influence one's current life.  Threads struck me as an Evolutionary Astrology book minus the astrology.  It was a perfect example of the theory behind what evolutionary astrologers are taught - what happens after death, how past lives are the cause of the current life and how the soul determines what it needs to experience in future lives. In other words, this book was about the evolutionary journey of a soul.

Threads is written in the first person.  It is Anne Bolelyn telling her own story.  "Death is not as I had expected from hours, months, and years of religious instruction, nor is it the dark and frightening place of lore. There are neither harps nor terrifying images. I sprout neither wings nor horns. It is not as I had imagined, nor is it as I had feared. Yet it is what I had known it to be, deep within me, like words I had once memorized long ago, but forgot until now when I am from a lifetime of unconsciousness."  (Gavin, Nell (2011-07-29). Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn (p. 11). Book and Quill Press. Kindle Edition).

After reading the book I contacted the author, Nell Gavin, and asked her if I could do her astrology chart from an Evolutionary Astrology perspective.  I was curious, was Nell the reincarnation of Anne Boleyn?  It almost seemed so based on the story she told in Threads.  After finishing her chart and sharing what I found with her, Nell and I discussed both her chart and her book via a series of emails.

Nell wrote, " It pretty much nailed me on the head. To give you a brief overview, I was born "knowing" I had to write a book. I just never knew what that book was supposed to be about, and I didn't WANT to write a book, so I never wrote anything, except five creative writing papers in English 101, and years and years of business correspondence. I also kept a journal, which is why I write in first person. When I tried to write (because I was "supposed to") it was awful, so I never got far with it."

Nell continued,  "The day we got our first computer was the day I was "inspired" to begin to write. I just sat down and did it. Like I said earlier, I hooked into the "portal" and drew the story down. Sometimes it came with entire pre-written paragraphs I only had to type - that was very odd. I had the sense that I was being taught to write, and as I got further into it I got less and less support. I rewrote everything that came through, except for The Voice - I left her every word just as I received it. "

We can only speculate in regard to whether or not Nell is a reincarnation of Anne Boleyn or a writer who was chosen to channel Anne's story, or whatever.  In any case, Nell did a fantastic job of telling Anne's story in a way that makes one look at Anne Boleyn in an entirely new light.  Most history books and works of historical fiction portray Ann Bolelyn as a less than likeable character.  Threads gives Anne's story a new spin, one that portrays her as a a normal person simply living her life and caught up in an experience that was meant to help her evolve as a soul.

"The first memories that come to me are of my life, the life just past. From birth to death they pass in a rush, but are unblurred as if time is compressed. I see the entire span of my life without recriminations, but also without rationalizations. There is no escape from the things I had done, no opportunity to right wrongs or explain things away, or even to look in another direction to avoid seeing. My thoughts and actions lay before me harsh and real. I then go back again and watch myself from infancy, more slowly and lingeringly. I examine the relationships within my family. I follow the course of my music. I watch my educational and spiritual development and my emotional decline. Like separate threads all crazily woven into the whole, I see my friends and then my enemies, and myself in tangled interaction with them all."  (Gavin, Nell (2011-07-29). Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn (p. 12). Book and Quill Press. Kindle Edition).

Homeostasis

Homeostasis

by Catharine J. Anderson

    Homeostasis is the body's ability to remain in balance and adapt to the stress we impose on it. Homeostasis is often referred to as host resistance, susceptibility, coping, or tissue tolerance. According to Dr. Emanuel Cheraskin, in his book Human Health & Homeostasis, “The cells singly and collectively as a total organism survive when host resistance can cope successfully with the innumerable and diverse environmental threats.”
   Our bodies are subjected to stress everyday of our life. Stress, such as the chemical toxins in our air, water, food & drink and from the toxins released from our thoughts and unexpressed emotions, all require our body to make adjustments. If our body is not able to adjust to the stress imposed upon it, host susceptibility replaces host resistance . If homeostatic balance is not restored, disease and eventually death will follow.
   Our modern lifestyle is taking a toll on our health and our immune systems. Daily exposure to chemical and electromagnetic toxins, mineral deficient soils producing nutrient deficient food and chronic emotional stress from our hectic lifestyles are all part of modern day life. It is therefore very important for us as individuals to make a conscious effort to “stay in balance” and maintain a homeostatic state.
    Although each of us lives in what has become somewhat of a “hostile environment,” in regard to pollution, over-population, demanding work schedules, and other environmental stress agents that appear to be beyond our personal control, there are things we can do help our bodies maintain a steady state and ward off disease as our body's are designed to survive.
   In my opinion, the best way to go about this is through education and awareness. It is very important to make people aware of the fact that our foods no longer supply the vitamins, minerals and oxygen stores we need for the enzyme processes of metabolism and detoxification. The soil in which most of our food is grown has been depleted of minerals. Processed and refined foods have replaced raw and whole foods in most people’s diets. As a society, we consume way too much sugar, which robs us of many of the nutrients we do manage to consume. All of this presents a challenge our body, placing a heavy load on our immune system, colon and liver. This can make us more susceptible to viral, fungal and bacterial infections and other diseases.
    The human body is designed to maintain health and to cleanse itself of toxins that may cause disease. The build up and accumulation of toxins in our body depletes our energy as the body has to expend an enormous amount of energy in an attempt to detoxify itself. On top of this, our food is not providing us with the energy we need or may be of the type that uses more energy to metabolize itself than it is providing. If the immunological defenses of the body are overburdened for too long a time, the body loses its ability to maintain a state of health, provide us energy and vitality, and resist disease. Over time, this process begins to effect our health and leads to degenerative diseases.
   On his death bed, the famous French scientist, Louis Pasteur, is said to have said "…The microbe is nothing. The terrain is everything.” Pasteur was referring to the biological terrain. The biological terrain is the fluid inside and around every cell and organ within the body. The biological terrain can be compared to a garden. When the soil or "terrain" is rich with nutrients, then the plants thrive. If on the other hand the "terrain" is devoid of nutrients, then the plants dwindle and die. Our biological terrain is similar to the soil in the garden in the sense that, when our biological terrain is properly nourished, it remains healthy and thrives. If it is not well nourished , we become diseased and may eventually die prematurely.
    All physical, emotional, mental and spiritual experiences directly affect the biological terrain. The condition of the biological terrain is influenced by everything in our environment which can affect us at a cellular level. This includes the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, exposure to pathogens (viruses, bacteria); exposure to allergens; physical and emotional stresses, dietary abuse (too much sugar, caffeine, alcohol, etc.) as well as our emotional and psychological sense of well-being The biological terrain is the "soil" from which our health comes forth. It is constantly changing and adjusting to the demands placed upon it. Just as in the garden when unhealthy soil leads to unhealthy plants, an unhealthy biological terrain can lead to ill health. True healing comes only when the biological terrain is in balance.
    Measuring the biological terrain is a method of monitoring your health. Although our inner state, or biological terrain is in a constant state of flux, depending on what we have been eating, drinking, thinking and feeling, it is possible to get an idea as to one’s overall state at any given time through various types of measurements. Homeostasis, or the biological terrain, can be checked through analysis of temperature, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, respiration, fluid balance and hormones, to name a few. According to Dr. Cheraskin, in his book Human Health & Homeostasis, pulse rate can be used as a simple and inexpensive measure of homeostasis. in a healthy state, the pulse remains in relatively narrow limits. under disease conditions, the pulse increases.
    If our terrain is out of balance due to an unhealthy lifestyle or due to environmental toxins, we are prone to disease. Bacteria and viruses usually can’t thrive in a healthy body. As Dr. Cheraskin points out in his book, “The invasion by a respiratory germ may in one instance result in pneumonia. In a second case, there may be only the sniffles; while in a third instance the patient may remain unscathed.” Research has shown the difference is in the terrain.
   Maintaining a state of homeostasis is a complex process. Not only do we have to make sure to eat and drink nutritious foods that will provide us with a wide range of vitamins and minerals in the quantities we need for optimal health, but we also have to avoid accumulating toxins in our system. According to Hippocrates, "Diseases are crises of purification, of toxic elimination.” Research shows that he was right.
    We live in a polluted world in which both the air and water is often of poor quality. The average American eats a diet that consists mostly of processed foods that are full of additives. An increasing amount of people are taking prescription drugs that have serious side effects and are not good for the overall health of the body. The liver tries to dispose of these toxic substances. It is the liver’s job to eliminate toxins, chemicals and unwanted hormones from the system. Over time, we tend to accumulate more toxins and other harmful substances than the liver is designed to process. As a result, the liver becomes overburdened. Once the liver falls behind, we end up with an unacceptable level of toxins in our bloodstream.
     Accumulated toxins stress our entire system and create a state of imbalance within the body. Although homeostatic mechanisms are in place and serve to return the body to a state of balance, their job becomes more difficult and we become more susceptible to disease when these mechanisms are taxed and overburdened. It is therefore important to make a conscious effort to eliminate all unnecessary stress on the body.
    In his book, Human Health & Homeostasis, Dr. Cheraskin points out that there is a need “for greater emphasis on ecological principles.” According to Dr. Cheraskin, we need to recognize that the external world is a hostile world with its many physical, chemical, microbial, thermal, and psychological challenges. Our ability to survive is dependent on our ability to cope with this environment. Our inborn homeostatic mechanisms are what allow us to cope with the stress we are subjected to in the course of everyday living.
    Lifestyle modifications are our best defense against stress. In order to successfully eliminate unnecessary stress on our bodies, we must first educate ourselves about our environment and its impact on our bodies. Only then can we make the proper lifestyle changes which will promote good health and help us maintain a state of homeostatic balance.
In order to eliminate unnecessary stress on the body, we must first learn to identify the cause of such stress. Stress can be defined as a state of disharmony or imbalance which disrupts homeostasis. The major types of stress we are subject to include physical stress, physiological stress, dietary stress, disease stress, and environmental stress.
   We are all subjected to physical stress. Although some physical stress is unavoidable, we do have a certain amount of control over this type of stress. Physical stress includes injury to the body, any major trauma to the body resulting from major surgery, exercise, physical activity, climate, and just about anything that impacts the body on a physical level. Although it may be impossible to avoid some types of physical injury, we can strive to maintain a healthy body weight and stay physically fit through exercise and physical activity. While it is important to exercise and stay active, we must also learn to balance this out with rest, relaxation, and a sufficient amount of sleep.
    Physiological stress includes work related stress, family issues, health, trauma, worry, and fear, among others. In order to keep this kind of stress to a minimum, we need to learn to balance our work and family life. A negative aspect of the modern world is devoting too much time to work and spending less time with ones friends and family. It is also very important to allow oneself some alone time. We often get caught up in our jobs and tend to rush around getting things done. If we do not take time out to “play,” to enjoy nature, to socialize and to meditate, we are prone to suffer from burnout. When we do not allow ourselves enough time to enjoy life and its pleasures, we often tend toward negative thinking and anxiety. One thing often leads to another. Much of this can be prevented by learning to balance one’s time in a manner that allows us free time to simple enjoy things.
    Dietary stress can be caused by starvation, consumption of junk food, lack of essential nutrients, and poor food choices. It is important to learn what is and isn’t good to eat. We should all learn to read labels on food products and avoid anything that is over-processed, full of chemical and additives and lacking nutrients. It is also advisable to take vitamin and mineral supplements as much of our food is grown in soil that has been depleted of minerals and other nutrients that plants thrive on. Foods also lose nutrients during the time it takes to ship and store them before they are purchased. Cooking causes further nutrient loss. It is important to learn to eat simple whole foods and avoid processed foods, excessive amounts of sugar, caffeine and the like.
    Environmental stress results from pollution, toxic chemical exposure, free radicals from pollution, and sun exposure. It is advisable to avoid using pesticides and harmful household chemicals. There are many ways we can cut down on our exposure to these chemicals. We need to learn how to read labels and become more aware of what is actually in the products we are using. We need to replace products that are toxic and with non toxic products that do the same job. Although sunshine is good for us, and provides us with vitamin D, too much time in the sun is dangerous and should be avoided.
Disease stress can result from chronic illness, environmental toxins, pesticides, chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. Again, if our biological terrain is healthy, we can avoid becoming prone to disease. But if we become run down, malnourished, burned out, whatever, we become susceptible to disease which causes further stress on our bodies. The best defense against disease stress is avoiding the other types of stress mentioned. Eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep and enjoy life.
    Although much can be done to prevent some types of stress and reduce others, stress is a fact of life and cannot be avoided. Even if we eat a healthy diet, exercise, get plenty of sleep, rest, relax and maintain a positive attitude, our bodies are still going to become stressed from one thing or another. Environmental toxins are a good example. We can avoid using harmful pesticides and household cleaning agents, but as individuals, we cannot control the level of pollutants in the air we breathe.
We live in a toxic world and it is very difficult to avoid toxins altogether. Over time these toxins can accumulate in our bodies and impair our health. On top of eating right, exercising, and all of the other things mentioned earlier, we can help our bodies rid themselves of toxins through detoxification. There are many ways in which you can detoxify the body. Some involve using herbs, some involve going on various types of fasts. All have the potential of aiding the body as it tries to detoxify harmful substances from the system. The process can be further enhanced by avoiding toxins, as much as possible, in the first place.
    The human body is a miraculous creation. It is designed to rejuvenate itself. We live in a world in which the body has to overcome many odds. Homeostatic balance ensures that the body is capable of overcoming the forces that work against it. It is therefore critical that we learn to the things we need to do in order to keep this balance. We have a choice: optimum health or degenerative disease.

Book Reviews Wanted

The publishing industry is surely changing.  Prior to the digital age, an author had to submit his or her manuscript to a publisher and hope that someone would even read it, let alone publish it.  These days anyone can publish their own book.  All you have to do is take the time to write it and format it.  The more saavy authors pay a professional editor to go through it and make improvements.

Self published books range from "not so good" to "very good."  I have read quite a few really good self published books, books that I would not have ever guessed were self-published.  The only reason I would even suspect a book might be self-published is if I start reading it and it becomes apparent that it was not properly edited.  Other than that, I can't distinguish self-published from a book released by a publishing house unless I look at the price.  The price often, but not always, is the dead give away.  With that said, it is obvious to me at least, that if done properly, it does not matter who publishes a book.  The important thing is the content and the editing.

That brings me to book reviews.  Just about any good on-line book dealer or book site allows readers to rate and review the books they read.  This is one of the best services they provide as a few good bad reviews can save you from spending money on a dud.  Earlier I did a Google search on "book reviews wanted" as I am trying to help a friend get her book "out there."  I was surprised to see how many sites are soliciting book reviews!  In the pre-digital day it was hard to get a book reviewed.  The author would have to send copies out to newspapers and magazines and hope and pray that anyone would read and then review his or her work.  There just weren't enough reviewers to read and write about all of the books that were submitted.  Another thing, the people who did read and write about books were usually paid.  Not anymore!  It seems that just about anyone can sign up to be a book reviewer.  He or she can simply send book reviews in or in some cases read and write about books that are sent out to him or her.  In the second case. getting to keep the book is part of the compensation.  The other part is "seeing your name in print" - online or off.

There are still outlets like the NY Times Book Review which employ professional book reviewers.  It is still an honor to get mentioned in publications such as these.  Is this good for the industry  or does it hurt the industry?  I don't think it matters.  The old way still works and the new way simply brings more books into public awareness.