Latest Reviews

Of the countless books on meditation and awakening the peace within, visionary Marlise Karlin has written about one of the most profound, yet simple practices in her book The Power of Peace in You. The practice she describes as the Simplicity of Stillness invites readers to ignite the Energy of peace within to heal old wounds, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and to live in a space of awareness, creating an experiential life divinely guided to a our life purpose.

It is through Stillness Sessions (recorded meditations that accompany the book), The Three Breath Awareness (instant access to peace), and the Simplicity of Stillness practices (practical opportunities to incorporate peace in everyday life) that Marlise suggests pave the way to peace not only on an individual level, but also for humanity as a whole. Throughout the book she shares personal stories from people all over the world whose lives that have been changed by this simple practice to illustrate the magnificent transformation that occurs with this method.

The Power of Peace in You is more than a how-to book for peace and awareness; it is a beautifully written guide to experiencing the true essence of love, truth, and happiness that we all deserve. I invite you to read this magnificent book and experience the journey to peace yourself.

Howard Jones exemplifies someone who lives an “examined life:” he is clearly a thinking man, whose passion, ultimately, is for society to find a cohesive spirituality.

His recent book, The World as Spirit, is a cogently written treatise on the gulf between science and spirit. Beginning with the historical development of science in Part I, Jones provides a rare depth of examination of the dualistic worldviews (people and social attitudes) that have shaped our current scientific worldview. Science, initially, was saturated with themes of Christian theology, but the clash between science and religion came to a head when the discoveries of geology and biology in the 19th century implied that “a role for God had now become superfluous,” he tells us. An intriguing perspective for understanding the pursuit of Western science, which acts as a preview for subsequent chapters in the book, asks why modern science never developed outside of Europe. He cites university professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr for a possible explanation: “The main reason why modern science never arose in China or Islam is precisely because of the presence of metaphysical doctrine and a traditional religious structure which refused to make a profane thing of nature.” [my emphasis]

Part II moves into monistic worldviews with a short course in quantum physics, which sets the stage for reconciling the idea of free will and spiritual focus. This “new science,” he explains, demonstrates the principle of indeterminancy: “Science gives us a set of ideas and models that describe the way the world works; but they are ideas that are constantly being reformed and developed—much to the consternation and confusion of the general public.” Quantum physics highlights the impermanence of material things, bridging visions of spiritual domain as expressed by notable post-Renaissance philosophers and ancient Eastern philosophies, which he also explores in depth.

In the third and final section of the book, the notion of the world as spirit becomes an affirmative statement that “the world IS spirit:” Jones turns his focused attention to the cosmic spiritual field. Interlacing multiple disciplines he demonstrates the virtues of cosmic spirit in philosophy, science, medicine, psi, dogmatic religion, nature, mind and soul. Still seeking to bridge science and religion he says, “Science is about theories and models of empirical phenomena in the natural world; God is a man-made concept, indefinable and unobservable.” There is no reason however, Jones reiterates, why cosmic spirituality should not equally fulfill the roles that the good aspects of dogmatic religion provided—a “basis for morality, inspiration for artistic creativity, and the ubiquitous psychological need for a figurehead of the sacred.”

This book is richly layered with background information, and while dense reading due to the sheer volume of information, it is highly accessible. I had the image, while reading, of being privy to a series of engaging university-level lectures that circled time and space—each turn, eventually, bringing me back to the center: a perennial philosophy that is both a privilege and a responsibility of caring for our fellow humans and Earth.

This interesting collaboration offers an eclectic mix of prayers and scriptural readings beautifully read by Michael York and set to music by Michael Hoppe. The scriptural excerpts are fairly banal and less musically compelling, but were apparently requested by the publishers as replacements for more universally themed selections. The other tracks include some very moving prayers like: Lord behold our family (Robert Louis Stevenson); Prop Me Up (John Streetman); Incline Us O God! (Jane Austen); A Prayer for the Nation (Thomas Jefferson.) Hoppe's music for these passages is lyrical and uplifting.

Life is a journey to understanding and remembering who we really are at a soul level, and in turn knowing what we are meant to do in this life. In Robert Atkinson’s latest book, Mystic Journey, he invites readers to explore their life from the perspective of the soul: by understanding our life stories, universal motifs, archetypes, and our connection with others through the transformative patterns that exist in everyday life.

This book includes a multi-faith approach to soul-making divided into three parts, remembering who we are, re-visioning our lives within a timeless pattern, and reclaiming our common spiritual heritage, which together outline the steps of the soul-making journey. Within each chapter are exercises that assist readers on their own soul journey as well as quotes from various poets, theologians, and philosophers that illustrate the author’s discussion throughout the book.

While reading Mystic Journey I had several profound moments of deep insight that left me with a deeper knowing of my own journey. The discussion of spiritual transformation and the various patterns and timeless cycles that we all go through has changed the way I view life as a whole, and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in exploring their soul journey.

"If you've ever gone to a seminar to learn to start a business that promises millions, bought a success book or program or hired a coach to help you make more money, this book is for you. It will be the sobering whack on the side of the head that you need to bring your priorities back in line." ~Business Insider

"While success is an admirable goal, a variety of factors have led too many people on a virtual wild goose chase for success. In this excellent book, Debbie delves into the reasons why so many people have gotten so sidetracked, ending up bankrupt and unhappy instead of financially free and blissful." ~ Michael Angier, Founder, SuccessNet

"This book tells an engaging story sure to crack fissures through anyone's perspective." ~ MJ DeMarco, Author of The Millionaire Fastlane

"Finally someone has the guts to come out of the closet with the truth about happiness, money and the 'self help' industry!" ~ Kimberly Englot, Author of The Now of Happiness

"In this quest for more, far too many people get caught in the web of exaggerated marketing messages and guru promises. Debbie LaChusa exposes why so many people have gotten caught in this web and offers suggestions for breaking free and recapturing our lives." ~Connie Joy, Author of Tragedy in Sedona

About the Author
Despite becoming a vice president in her thirties, building three successful businesses in her forties, becoming a millionaire, speaking internationally, and sharing the stage with celebrity teachers from "The Secret", Debbie LaChusa never felt satisfied. After spending seven years and $200,000 constantly trying to achieve more, she realized she had become spellbound. She looked around and saw she wasn’t alone, prompting her to embark on a yearlong investigative journey to understand why, so she could heal herself and help others. "Breaking The Spell" is the result of that journey.

If a reader had suddenly entered the frightening and lonely world of Environmental Illness that the author, Jennie Sherwin, entered suddenly in early 1999--this author's description of her eight-year healing path would be a priceless gift. Ms. Sherwin was a public health writer and editor, married to a physician and epidemiologist when her journey through the trials and tribulations of environmental illness began. This very personal narrative sheds a great deal of light on a type of illness growing more and more prevalent in North American society all the time.

Ms. Sherwin had shown signs of being sensitive to other chronic illnesses throughout her life, but all of them were well-controlled through medications, diet, and exercise. But a move to New Orleans in 1999, and her townhouse being sprayed with a "safe" pesticide, pyrethroid, began a nightmarish path of medical symptoms that puzzled most of the Western medical specialists that initially treated her. Her symptoms mushroomed throughout the first year and included: esophageal spasms, chest pain, asthma-like symptoms, tremors, migraines, advanced muscle pain, burning, hives, constant yeast infections, memory loss, and, even, electromagnetic field sensitivity, which made it impossible for her to use her computer, talk on a cell phone, or use the microwave. The author ended up having to live in a "safe" house i.e. a house where all of the components were metal, glass, or porcelain. She could wear only organic cotton, and she could not be anywhere where others wore any kind of perfumes or scents. For awhile her life was one of depression, isolation, fear, and chronic pain and sickness.

However, the book doesn't just focus on her illness. It focuses on the the detailed and sometimes synchonistic pathway that led to very complete healing from all of her symptoms. Ms. Sherwin's illness was a doorway that allowed for the "intentional healing" of childhood sexual abuse, other emotional pain from a failed marriage, and the build-up of fears that mounted with her frightening journey through the world of Environmental Illness.

Along the way, Ms. Sherwin describes the well-intentioned but ineffective medical care she received in New Orleans. Finally, she is referred to a world famous medical specialist in New York, who finally diagnoses what is happening to her. She has acquired her illness through chronic exposure to toxins, and the incident with the pesticide in New Orleans was the overload that her body could no longer tolerate. This doctor, who has seen thousands of patients like Ms. Sherwin, ends up referring her to Environmental Health Center in Dallas--an amazing program that was going to take her through sauna detoxification, organic rotational diet, allergy testing, energy healing, psychological counseling, and meditation. Ms. Sherwin branches out and also adds Reiki, and, finally, even work with a Navajo healer as she charts a course back to wellness.

Her book covers nine years of her life, and she leaves little out--except towards the end when her discussion of the Navajo healing ceremonies are limited due to traditional restrictions about sharing them with others. But, the book is inspiring, as Ms. Sherwin chronicles her complete recovery from the symptoms that plagued her due to her environmental illness, and she also recovered from the various other illnesses she had been prone to since childhood.

If you are suffering or you know someone who is suffering from an illness akin to Ms. Sherwin's, I highly recommend this book. It will give them a doorway of hope to walk through as they face a little-known and frightening modern illness.

Love this film; perhaps my favorite of the "Tales of Everyday Magic" series -- although all are stellar. Enjoy all of them and do pass them on to your loved ones -- and your antagonists. Especially the antagonists. Even the most dyed-in-the-wool linear, rational thinkers will be touched by these films, and transformed in some way as a result.

The Lone Ranger was once a revered as a cultural heroic symbol, a man of the highest scruples and intent who dedicated his life to helping others and fighting injustice in the Wild West. And while this fictional character’s popularity has been superseded by more contemporary heroes and heroines, the archetypal pattern he represents doesn’t fade from the collective human psyche, it just reinvents itself. Archetypes are unconscious patterns of influence that reside in the collective unconscious, or the “emerging Inner-net” as author Caroline Myss likes to call it. And although archetypes are entirely impersonal, they are powerful energies that are expressed in every aspect of our daily life, including our personal and spiritual power. Recognizing and understanding your personal archetypal patterns is one of the most fundamental tools of consciousness for navigating these times, says Myss, renowned teacher and author on energy medicine and human consciousness. Part of the power relevant to these times is that archetypes can only be intuited, perceived through symbols and myths, bringing our intuitive intelligence to the forefront of our personal and collective power.

Think of your childhood power images, and notice the recurring themes and patterns in your life, and you begin to recognize your personal archetypes. Myss has identified ten emerging archetypal patterns reflecting the collective mythic challenges of our times and the corresponding personal and spiritual power issues defining women today: the advocate, artist/creative, athlete, caregiver, fashionista, intellectual, Queen/executive, rebel, spiritual seeker, and visionary. Each pattern has key aspects of influence on daily life, which she examines in depth, such as behavior characteristics, personal journey, unique challenge, universal lesson, inner shadow, and the male counterpart. Through examples and guidance, Myss lays out a path of self-discovery that empowers readers to utilize their strengths, better understand others, and be more conscious about their choices and decisions in life.

You can go to archetypeme.com and take a quiz to learn about your personal archetypes.

Channeled dialogues with Source are appearing with increasing frequency, and for me they need to pass the gut instinct test – does it feel plausible. Unless you have your own dialogue with God going on, you can only rely on a subjective assessment of what feels authentic, and what contributes to a fuller picture of how the universe works and why we are here.
I was impressed with “A Time of Change” on both counts. I found the information original yet consistent with other well-regarded sources. The answers were not superficial or standard feel-good fare. They provided illuminating perspectives on a wide range of questions we all have probably asked ourselves, like “What is heaven?” “What happens to the spirit of a suicide?” “Can anyone develop telepathy or read the Akashic Records?” “How can we increase prosperity for ourselves and the earth?”

Because the book is a transcription of Q&A from Aingeal's live channelings, there's not a flow or systematic narrative thread to follow, although she did group similar answers into chapters like Health, Indigo, Crystal and Rainbow Children, Prosperity, Technology, Our Future Selves, and more. I found a lot of wisdom, common sense and food for thought here, and it makes for very intriguing reading.

This concise book taps the historical and culturally reinforced ways we typically think and react. Dennis counsels that we can break the cultural spell by living consciously: bringing new and creative perception, thought patterns, and behavior into focus and practice. An excellent, clear and compelling digest portraying the evolutionary imperative active within each of us that is calling for transformation of how and what we think, and why.

This is a very positive and uplifting view of our future as humans and the part that we can share in our own growth as a species. Yes it may be information that has not yet been caught up with by science but every day the two come closer. Even now the search for the 'God particle' goes on at the CERN facility in Switzerland. Lee Carroll and Kryon make it clear that the 'God particle' exists in our own DNA and our own ability to 'code' the part of our DNA that is pure potential, a potential we can change and shape within ourselves. Quantum physics and spirituality are the same story, told from two perspectives but the story IS the same. The Kryon information that Lee Carroll brings forward can help us all remember our innate power and ability to manifest a future that includes health and higher dimensional heart-based living. It is clear, easy to understand and a beautiful message of hope.

E. Anderson, Amazon Reviewer

Happiness is often thought of as a result of some extraordinary event or circumstance, but author George Myerson reminds us that happiness can be found in even the most ordinary moments in his book A Private History of Happiness. He shares a collection of ninety-nine personal moments of bliss from all over the world in various diaries, letters, and essays followed by a brief explanation and reflection on the history of the author and their experience. These seemingly simple moments of happiness contain themes of love, nature, well-being, and many more, and invite readers to view life with a new outlook so they may experience more happiness in their day-to-day lives.

While each personal experience of joy is beautiful in its own right, I found the historical background of each person even more intriguing. Individuals that were experiencing war, governmental control, or meager living found immense happiness if only for a moment, and I am reminded that no matter what our personal circumstances entail, there is always something to be happy about.

"Wide Awake In Dreamland" by Michael Harrington, author of Touched by the Dragon's Breath, is a marvelous new book. Beginning as a collection of true stories involving the author’s friendship with a beloved teacher, referred to affectionately as “The Chief”, we are taken on an amazing journey. The reader is treated to a wealth of intelligent considerations including a holographic reality, the possibility of time travel, alternate universes, the deep truth hinted at with quantum physics, theories revolving around Mayan end dates, and the seemingly miraculous healing power of practices like Ho'oponopano. There is a well-informed look at signs and synchronicity along with current social and world order possibilities.

The depth of wisdom and relevant observations about our global condition is nothing less than brilliant and inspiring. The insights are profound and cover a vast range of psychological and spiritual traditions from Jungian archetypes to the knowledge embedded within indigenous cultures.

The entire book reflects a summary of contemporary ideas about life, relationships, and our place in the cosmos, packaged in down-to-earth anecdotes that bring the message home in a very real and honest way.

This is a truly wonderful book that deserves national attention, so I hope it will gain the kind of word-of-mouth reputation that can compete with huge marketing budgets, because this is a real gem among oceans of less relevant information.

Highly recommended.

One of the most important books of the past decade, The Heart-Mind Matrix offers what could become the basis for a new social order, educational system, parenting style, and, ultimately, a world that really works. . . . This masterpiece of mind and heart, science and spirit, could well awaken a movement into new ways of being, nurturing ourselves into lives in which we steward the Earth, companion to the Soul.

A weighty tome - 1,200 pages! - but a fine and comprehensive reference book to the field of holistic medicine. It covers nutrition, lifestyle, supplements, causes and symptoms of disease, treatment, prevention -- in short everything a person caring about their health would want to know.