Latest Reviews

By making a commitment to self investigation,Suzanne Scurlock-Durana claims a life is transformed. "Full Body Presence - Learning to Listen to Your Body's Wisdom" will take readers on an inner landscape tour through a series of principles and explorations. The main requirements for this adventure are willingness, curiosity and openness to the "now."

Beginning with trust as a sensation, Scurlock-Durana invites us to notice where we feel -or don't feel- this in our body. Using exercises such as meditation and journal questioning, we are brought into present moment to experience with all our senses and energies where we may be blocking wisdom within our bodies.

Continuing with four other principles (feel, integrate, expand and choose) and three explorations (awareness, grounding and releasing limitations) as tools "we can access our inner knowing, nourish ourselves with what we need, and create an intimate and strong relationship with ourselves on all levels."

The phrase live-in-the-moment, has long been a mantra for many of us, but one that takes on added importance and power in a time when we often feel beleaguered by the demands of life. Listening to our body's innate wisdom is no longer a part-time luxury. It is essential for transforming old fears and doubts and constructing a more solid connection to spirit's vital energy.

Cynthia Sue Larson's "Aura Advantage," covers a range of information about understanding our energy field. Beginning with simple and practical information about this "weathervane of the soul" Larson utilizes straightforward language, history and great exercises to heal and protect, via our aura.She cites medical articles, biological studies, and photographic tests that substantiate the presence of an energy we possess, equal if not more powerful, than DNA.

Being aware of colors in our auras can offer opportunity to witness a deeper part of self, cleanse negativity, attract the positive, and understand where we are at any given moment. We can energize dreams, find things we've lost, be more in touch with our purpose and maintain good health through the awareness and practice of auric connection.

"Aura Advantage --How the colors in your Aura can help you attain your desires and attract success" reminds us we are all connected. Through our subtle, light bodies we weave in and out of one another's lives more than we might realize. Larson's book is an essential read in teaching us the ways we can use this aspect of ourSelves in more fruitful and life-giving ways.

This book is a beautifully illustrated collection of diverse, environmentally conscious projects within eight areas of innovation: lighting, homeware, furniture, textiles and materials, products, transportation, interiors and architecture. High-tech and low-tech, serious and whimsical, reused materials or energy conserving, each offers a glimpse into the creative cauldron that is arising in response to the overload of human-induced degradation. The author also gives comprehensive insight into the artist, the materials or methods used, and often an overview or background to the relevant industry, which is rich and informative. I personally love books like this that showcase the best of human ingenuity and have only one criticism: the font size is so small (and I obviously need stronger glasses—but it IS small), that I had to really struggle to read it.

If reading other people’s success stories inspires you, this is the book for you. Best selling author, business and management consultant and inspirational keynote speaker, BJ Gallagher draws on a variety of experiences to show that it is possible to live the life you have always wanted, even if circumstances, fears, or other people's expectations have prevented you from doing so. "It’s Never Too Late…" has humor, is short, and is easy to read. However don’t be fooled by its apparent simplicity, as Gallagher delivers a strong motivational punch for you to discover, or rediscover, your passions and to live a happier life.

Gallagher does not suggest that your life until now has been meaningless or a mistake; all experiences, talents, and skills are embraced as stepping-stones. She explores different stages in life such as starting out on a career, changing life’s trajectory midstream, and retirement, as well as education, health, and relationships, but more emphasis is placed on career, wealth, and finances. Interwoven with the success narratives are guidelines and advice on how to make creative changes for a more meaningful life. There are a few bullet points but if you are looking for lists of concrete steps, you might not find this book that useful.

The stories are inspirational, but they can become a bit repetitive with most of the people having a financial cushion, college education, a broad range of talents, abilities and skills, and emotional support. At first glance it would seem there is little relevance in today's economic climate where downgraded work aspirations are more the norm. However, Gallagher does provide encouragement and offers suggestions on how to become more creative. For people facing unemployment, this might be the time to discover what could bring them more fulfillment in life and work, and this book may provide the confidence and tools to do something toward that.

Author Greg Craven is what he calls a green realist; he’s also a science teacher and a father of two. He sees the climate change debate stuck trying to answer the wrong questions.

Rather than asking “Is it going to happen?” or “Is it really caused by us?” we should be asking “What if we don’t do anything and it really does cause big problems?” Could you live with that? Can any of us?

The genesis of the book came as he thought about climate change, imagining a time when he would feel driven to protect his children’s drinking water at gunpoint. That’s a place he’d rather not be, so he began talking, writing, and teaching differently, pointing out that climate change is a security issue, not about saving the world, but about saving US!

In his book he teaches the use of tools that help improve thinking, one of which is called a Magical Grid Machine. He uses it to step his students and readers through a “what if” process that leads, in this case, to a clear decision to work as if global warming is a problem because it’s better than not acting and finding out too late that it is.

My favorite part of the book is the graphic that shows modern prosperity being held up by a structure built of modern medical care, abundant natural resources, our credit-based financial system, cheap energy, and high-yield agriculture. All of that is underpinned by a stable, predictable climate, like a house built on a cliff and held up by one big beam. This picture is worth more than a thousand words!

Go grab this book! The light tone and injection of fun belies the grim seriousness of the topic and his ultimate call to action. Thanks for the inspiring book, Greg.

This book is a much needed 21st century synthesis of shamanism and the transformative role it can play in our lives. Shamanism, the world’s first spiritual practice, guides us through the experience of direct revelation, to the wisdom within each of us. The practice of shamanism opens doorways into other realms of reality where helping spirits reside who share their guidance, wisdom, and healing for ourselves and the world we live in. Shamanism reveals to us, through this mystical experience, that we are an integral part of Nature and one with all life.

Ingerman, Wesselman and their collaborators, who together embody more than 100 person years of shamanic teaching, writing, and healing, weave together the ancient roots and past wisdom, and provide instruction for bringing shamanic practice into the Western world. They quote aboriginal shamans who say that it is time for us in the west to adopt this practice to help ourselves and others to restore a sense of meaning and mystery into our frenetic lives.

The authors describe the history of shamanism, how it shaped the world’s spiritual traditions, and why it is still relevant today. The art of the shamanic journey—the jewel of shamanism, which helps us to connect with the spiritual world—is explained and the CDs that accompany the book provide drumming and guidance to begin to journey. The major topics of shamanic practice are explored, from the art of the shamanic journey itself, working with ceremony and ritual, life transitions, including death, transforming communities, and working with children.

This book will play a seminal role in grounding shamanism in the 21st century. By brining several contributors together, the authors are able to explore several shamanic cultural traditions in one book. Thus, the reader learns something about the universal nature of the core of this spiritual and healing tradition. The authors transmit an appreciation of the cultural differences and individual approaches that are so central to its vitality and why it had endured so long.

I teach and practice shamanism myself, and have many books on shamanism on my shelf. This is the book that I now recommend to my students who want to understand the scope of this beautiful practice, and the important role it can have in their own personal transformation.

Two CDs accompany the book: one contains drumming for journeys and the other instructions for beginning to journey. There are suggested practices throughout the book and a list of references at the end.

Review by Analouise Williams

This is the second film of a three-part documentary series called “Humanity Ascending,” produced by the Foundation for Conscious Evolution’s founder and futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard. Featuring some fascinating guest speakers, it is a compelling sequel that explores how the evolution of human consciousness is not only inevitable, but is already in progress, and is leading us toward becoming a species of “universal humans.”

Hubbard’s core message is what many who are involved in spiritual and scientific endeavors already understand and intuit: that the escalating conditions of social, environmental and economic imbalance are creating a devolution tipping point, and nothing less than a radical transformation of our consciousness will lead humanity into a sustainable future. However, to deliver this message in the context of conscious evolution is one that few people attempt or even understand, and neither Barbara, nor the guest speakers, nor this film are taking a free ride on any wave of popularity—unlike so many of the current spiritual/ self-improvement books and films available. Barbara Marx Hubbard has been spreading this message in various iterations for forty years and is truly a futurist pioneer.

As with anything that attempts to describe the ineffable, this film and the concepts offered may not be the “ultimate truth,” since so much of what we think we “know” about reality is reasoned conjecture or subjective—and subject to revision as we continue to evolve and learn. But as far as I’m concerned, conscious evolution as a commonly shared vision and agenda is the best story humanity has right now, and the only one that can truly move us toward a positive future. “Visions” is not only a message for our times, but also an evolutionary strategy for applying the vision in all sectors of society.

If it were up to me, I would mandate that every adult on the planet watch this film. It is concise, inspiring, practical, and perhaps most of all it is an urgent reminder that now is the time to wake up to our potential and co-create our evolutionary destiny!

Do you remember Agent Mulder in the "X Files" television show?. There was a poster of above his desk that showed a photo of a flying saucer and the words "I Want to Believe."

As an alien abductee, author Jim Morony believes. So rather than try to convince us that UFOs are real, The Extraterrestrial Answer Book attempts to answer the questions that fellow believers want to know: why aliens are here, what they want, and most importantly, what should we do now?

For someone who contends he has spent time communicating with aliens, Morony seems to have come away with only tentative theories about their intentions. Now that he has a book, perhaps he should hand it to them on their next visit and asked if he guessed right.

Morphic Resonance is an intriguingly complex book that requires considerable pausing for research in order to completely understand his developing theories and discern their meaning. My knowledge of biogenetics is colored by an older paradigm, so I had a lot of cerebral dusting and reorganizing to do in order to fully comprehend this book. When you get past the first portion of the book, where he addresses arguments by his colleagues pertaining to his theories, it is easy to see how the concept of Morphic Fields and Formative Causation incorporates nicely into the principles of New Thought.
I took away two deeper understandings of the mystery of the universe from this book. First, the acknowledgement that we are more than just the mechanistic expression of our genes is seeping down from hierarchical traditional sciences into a emerging more inclusive theories. We are interacting and influencing each other and our world in ways that were previously unrecognized, even the scientific community. Secondly is the revelation that science is now skewing so heavily toward older conservative models that new ideas are disturbingly difficult to explore. I suspect that this slow plodding along of scientific advancement hindered by traditional standards has always been the case, but this book is the first one that I have read that forthrightly addresses this issue and offers some solutions.
I found this book to be well worth the effort

“One of the chief reasons we have so much anguish and difficulty facing death is that we ignore the truth of impermanence…” Sogyal Rinpoche

This is the most genuine, information-rich, readable, and hopeful treasury of reflections on living and dying I have had the pleasure of reading, written by a seasoned hospice counselor with the melodic name of Maria Dancing Heart, whom I suspect is actually two parts angel and one part spiritual counselor/hospice worker. Like the author’s moniker, the poetry, stories, prayers, meditations, resources, sample teachings, inspirational readings, and support for the “last adventure of life” in these pages dance with love and compassion—and always reframing the experience of death to one of transformation.

Although the author considers herself a Christian, her religion is a broad and inclusive spirituality. In the introduction she describes how she came to write this book saying, “I am learning that the spiritual journey is about opening up to love and to our inner guidance. Some religions and denominations seem to be better able to help people awaken to their spiritual nature. However, in the end, it is not our religion, but the full understanding and acceptance of our true essence that will save or heal us. It is through the way we live our lives every day—through our love and service, our joy and understanding—that we will heal ourselves and the world.”

If there were a master manual for living, this book would be first on the required reading list.

"Santa's God: A Children's Fable about the Biggest Question Ever" is a tender and touching story that explains the biggest question of all to the full satisfaction of seven-year-old Melinda," the girl who got to interview Santa and ask him any question she desired on Christmas eve. Sure to appeal to both children and parents from many diverse backgrounds, "Santa's God" helps young minds access the idea that there are different guises for greatness and holiness. Just as important to believe that all children are deserving and good at heart is the notion that all names and concepts of God are valid, and worthy of respect and worship. "Santa's God" tackles a huge question and answers it simply and tastefully, in a way a seven year old child can understand. The delicately tinted paintings illustrating all the different Pipka Santa figurines are especially moving and effective in conveying the story's message and impact. "Santa's God" will be appreciated by parents, teachers, and children everywhere.
--Midwest Book Review

This is a beautiful and moving collection of sacred poetry, each a bejeweled doorway into the divine spaces of the heart.

Margot Fraser and Lisa Lorimer have written a fascinating insider's view of what it's like to run a growing, socially responsible company. As the title suggests, they focus on their trials, tribulations, and failures while in charge and what they learned from those experiences.

Reading this book, it is clear to me that running a company is a daunting task that takes it toll. The pressures of meeting payroll and managing cash flow result in lost sleep, broken marriages and trampled values. Fortunately for today's business leaders, the authors provide some very helpful tips to deal with such adversities.

In this challenged economy, Dealing with the Tough Stuff is a very timely book for entrepreneurs looking to create a values-driven business. We all want to feel good about the place we work, but given a chance to read about how these values can collide with the pressures of real-world capitalism may give us pause.

We just received the book today. As I pored over the quotes and illustrations, I found myself touched, but also wondering whether an emotional response was warranted from a simple coffee table book. Generally oversized of heavy construction designed chiefly to inspire conversation or alleviate boredom, prose becomes of no great concern when picking it off the table— unless like me, you felt the passion infused in this notable work. Words in perfect order do not exist, but the effect this book had on me will be considered a dramatic assortment of speech and visual chocolate. Thanks!

I found this to be a deeply touching book. I expected only to read the poems, which were gift enough with their timelessness and richness. What I found to be most satisfying was the cultural interpretation of Sufi poems in general; detailing the meaning of certain common phrases. I think this would be enjoyed by those familiar with Sufi poems or someone just looking for a different style of writing and a peek into a different world view.