Dancing in My Dreams: A Spiritual Biography of Tina Turner

Buddhism specialist Craig utilizes his knowledge of comparative theology and Buddhism in this study of Tina Turner’s lifelong religious journey. He maintains Turner’s spirituality is the center of her story, one that began with her motherless childhood. Raised under the influence of two grandmothers—one believed in mysticism and supernaturalism, and one was a devout Baptist—Turner eventually came to consider herself a Buddhist Baptist, and she developed a love for cultural universalism. She began chanting to survive and escape from her abusive first husband, Ike Turner. This book, which has a scholarly tone, shows that Turner responded to social issues through her understanding of karma. After her retirement from performing live, Turner began her conscious transformation into a religious authority and teacher, using her life experiences to illustrate Buddhist concepts. Craig draws from her three autobiographies, including Happiness Becomes You, her guide to changing one’s life for the better, to illustrate her profound faith and determination to change society’s failings.