The Source: The Untold Story Of Father Yod, YaHoWa13 & The Source Family
by Isis Aquarian With Electricity Aquarian

The history of a 60s guru

A “service to humanity”, Father Yod (born James Edward Baker) and his 100-strong Source Family were an influential spiritual community living in the Hollywood Hills during the 60s. As owner of the Sunset Strip’s phenomenally successful Source Restaurant, Father Yod and co earned enough money to spend their days meditating, teaching and prancing about. They also made some unique music as YaHoWa13.

Written by one of Yod’s wives, this is a meticulously pieced together expanded edition of her original text, which was published in limited numbers last year. Through contemporary accounts, photographs and family members’ recollections, a story emerges of a genuinely driven and talented group forging new ways of living in an increasingly consumer-driven society. It would be easy to dismiss their achievements as New Age drivel, were it not for the fact that so much (organic food, natural birth, meditation) has become universally accepted. Equally, YaHoWa13’s music is no quasi-psych babble, but some of the best, most collectable improvised music of the time. The accompanying CD gives a taste of it, along with some enjoyable ramblings from Yod himself and a 1973 live performance. A vivid and insightful portrait of a time when people genuinely, if naïvely, believed they could change the world.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

ISBN 9780976082293

Reviewed by Jan Zarebski
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