Reviews written by Lamisha Serf

Former Buddhist monk Timber Hawkeye shares simple Buddhist teachings in
Buddhist Boot Camp—a compilation of short inspiring insights, quotes, and teachings that offers readers gentle guidance to a more peaceful life.

Each of the seven chapters focuses on a specific quality to cultivate, such as Mindfulness, Success, and Understanding. The title may seem like a bit of a misnomer, but it conveys the idea of retraining the mind by implementing the wise advice within each chapter. And while many of the principles presented are not new, they do remind us to be more compassionate, understanding, and loving on a daily basis, and to live in gratitude as much as possible.

Buddhist Boot Camp is a quick read, written in accessibe language that offers timeless advice for living a more peaceful life. It is ideally suited for readers wanting a simple introduction to Buddhist teachings, or a concise reminder of them.

“Every meal-any meal, no matter how humble- can offer the opportunity for deeper connection…”

In Feeding the Hungry Ghost food writer and author Ellen Kanner invites readers to experience the wonderful world of food in a more mindful and Earth sustaining way through a variety of vegan recipes that promise to delight the palate. She shares personal stories of connection, community, and traditions from all around the globe, while introducing delectable recipes that will entice even the most carnivorous readers.

Divided into four chapters, The Seed, The Flowering, The Harvest, and The Compost, Ellen takes readers on a journey through the seasons in celebration of the rhythm of our planet. She includes recipes such as “Hopping John” and “Haitian Soupe Joumou” that will bring comfort and warmth in the winter, along with many others that coincide with the other seasons. And while she encourages a vegan lifestyle for the wonderful life force it provides our bodies, she does so with “gentle nudges” spread throughout the book providing simple steps that will make a huge difference in the way you cook, eat, and ultimately live.

Feeding the Hungry Ghost is not just a compilation of recipes. Instead, it is a witty and soulful guide to mindful cooking, eating, and relating to one another that reminds us that food fuels not only the body, but also the soul.

Life is busy, but life with kids can feel like an overwhelming cyclone of activity that never seems to end, often leaving parents feeling drained, disconnected, and just plain unhappy. Life balance coach and author Renée Peterson Trudeau has written a guidebook for parents that will help tame the chaos and create a family life full of balance, harmony, and joy.

In her book, Nurturing the Soul of Your Family, Trudeau offers a new way of living through 10 intentional principles that include parental self-care and healing, reconnecting in nature, spiritual renewal, and many more that if implemented, promise to foster more connection, peace, and flow in family life. She also includes insightful questions, journal exercises, and personal experiences that help readers identify what is working in their lives and what changes are needed to create a more nourished life. In a world that stresses gadgets and packed schedules as a precursor to happiness, Trudeau suggests unscheduled and “unplugged” time as a way to bond and reconnect with one another.

Nurturing the Soul of Your Family is not just a book about how to create balance in your life. It also serves as a reminder that when we slow down and become mindful of the moment while loosening our grip on the technology, responsibilities, and other “stuff” that clutters our lives, only then are we able to truly enjoy and embrace time together as a family.

This is a beautifully written and inspiring book that reminds us to set a good example for our children by slowing down and enjoying the wonderful journey of parenting.

Desda Zuckerman has taken her 40+ years of experience in studying the human energy structure and created an in-depth guide to the energy systems of the human body and soul in her book Your Sacred Anatomy: An Owner’s Guide to the Human Energy Structure.

This book goes far beyond the discussion of chakras and auras, and instead outlines the many parts that make up the Human Energy Structure (HES) such as, the template, the bones of light, and the harmonizing network guiding readers in sensing and understanding their own sacred anatomy. The book is divided into two parts; “Your Owner’s Guide” which provides a brief overview of the HES, and “Your Technical Manual” which is a comprehensive discussion of each of the seven soul layer structures and how they work together. Throughout both sections there are exercises that will guide readers in sensing their own HES as well as specific case studies that illustrate the importance of the HES in the overall health of the human body. Also included are the 7 anatomical systems of the HES, discussion of the 13 chakras, guidance to sever entanglements, magnificent illustrations, and so much more.

There is no doubt this book is very detailed in the explanation of the HES and while it may be best understood and used by healers and energy workers, it is also very informative for those with an interest in the intricate workings of the subtle energy body.

There are many programs that guide readers in creating an abundant and beautiful life, but those that I have studied pale in comparison to what is offered in The Lotus and The Lily. Author Janet Conner (Writing Down Your Soul) is truly a spiritual teacher, and she has designed a profound 30-day soul program that will not only get to the heart of what your soul’s longing for in this life, but will also gently guide you along your unique path to manifestation by tapping into the true power within. According to Conner, it is not from outside sources that we experience the true essence of our soul's desire, it is through examining our internal landscape that we find and harness our true power of manifesting the life our soul wants us to live.

The Lotus and The Lily takes readers on a journey of discovery through 30 days of insightful commentary, reflection, and deep soul writing exercises that create the fertile ground from which dreams and desires grow. Exercises such as writing a personal prayer, practicing gratitude, offering forgiveness, naming your life movie, and so many more, set the stage for the ultimate "soul day" where a personal spiritual practice and mandala are born. According to the author, this unique spiritual practice, if used daily, will help cultivate the circumstances needed to attract an abundant and beautiful life.

This book goes far beyond the concept of the Law of Attraction as it is a process that methodically helps to remove roadblocks that keep us from our soul's desires, and Janet Conner does a magnificent job of gently guiding readers through this process. Through her wise words and beautiful writing, she inspires, informs, and motivates us to not only believe in ourselves, but also to listen to the divine voice within that is guiding us each day. This program is meant to be enjoyed and savored for all of the delicious epiphanies it produces even before the spiritual practice is complete. This is one book I will treasure for years to come and will return to many times to tweak my own spiritual practice for manifesting my soul's desires.

The body is an amazing, self-healing entity that is constantly working to re-balance itself to a natural state of being while repairing the dis-ease it experiences on both the physical and energetic levels and Dr. Ann Marie Chiasson demystifies this process in her book Energy Healing. This book goes beyond simply describing the subtle energy body and instead provides deep insight into various energy practices utilizing the chakras, meridians, and dan tiens from TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

After a basic overview of the various energy centers in the body and our connection to the unified energy and shamanic fields, Dr. Chiasson takes readers through a process of learning to sense, move, and balance energy through various exercises. Exercises such as toe-tapping, sacred touch, soft sight, and many others provide opportunities to practice clearing energy blocks in order to maintain a balanced and more grounded energy body. Dr. Chiasson also provides a chapter on specific energy techniques that can be used for certain symptoms and diagnoses and is a great reference for common ailments such as pain, fatigue, depression etc.

Energy work has always been a concept that I thought was far too complicated to understand and utilize without studying for a long time, but Dr. Chiasson has done a magnificent job of sharing her knowledge in a way that is not only easy to understand, but also easy to practice. While I have not tried all of the exercises included, those I have tried are surprisingly simple to do and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in whole body healing and energy work as a compliment to other self-care practices.

Life is full of moments that offer wisdom, lessons, and opportunities for introspection. In Insights from the Ordinary, author and therapist Mitch Rosenzweig shares seemingly ordinary moments that have opened his eyes to more extraordinary awareness. Drawing from his own life he effortlessly weaves his challenges and experiences into metaphors for everyday living. Through this compilation of essays, he encourages readers to view even the most mundane parts of life from a different perspective, one that will inspire them to see challenges in a new light.

Throughout this book Mitch shares his witty personality and insights on love, work, balance, change, and a multitude of other topics in a way that may move readers to experience their own “aha” moments. And while his professional background is in psychotherapy, his writing is very down-to-earth and easy to read. Whether you choose to read it all in one sitting or break it up with a few essays per day, one thing is for sure you will have plenty of food-for-thought and you may even find yourself gaining extraordinary wisdom from ordinary life.

It has long been said that we utilize a very small portion of our infinite human potential, and in the DVD series Discover & Deepen Your Potential, Dr. Jean Houston offers a path to uncovering and utilizing the vast power that lies within.

While many human development programs focus on individual potential and the attainment of personal goals, Dr. Jean Houston focuses on discovering and utilizing individual potential in conjunction with the collective. Using a live audience of ordinary people, she illustrates her process of discovery as she walks participants through various exercises to explain and uncover new ways of solving problems or as she describes it “…human development in light of social change.”

The series is divided into 4 parts, Engage, Expand, Become, and Connect and touches on topics such as kinesthetic body visualization, subjective time, personas, our life calling, and the hero’s journey, and utilizes various participant personal experiences to exemplify how to apply the information in a practical way. With a question/answer opportunity at the end of each disc, Dr. Jean Houston shares her timeless wisdom of integrating science, mysticism, and human development into a language participants and those who watch this series can apply to their own lives.

To say this series is a must-have is an understatement. We are transitioning into the greatest and most difficult time of our lives and there is no better time to grow, evolve, and become the very best we can both individually and collectively and visionary Dr. Jean Houston has given us the opportunity to learn how in Discover & Deepen Your Potential.

The great shift in consciousness is upon us, transforming our world and our children before our very eyes, and as many of us struggle to make sense of what is to come, author P.M.H. Atwater uses her extensive research to paint a picture of our journey ahead in her book Children of the Fifth World.

This book goes far beyond detailing the vast energies coming into the world by way of the “new children” (previously labeled as Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow) and explains the widespread upheaval in business, government, education, and climate, as they help us transition into the Fifth World. Atwater provides insight backed by research and case studies, as well as advice for parents, educators, and society in how to respond to, and support, the vast talent and wisdom that is innate in these remarkable children. In addition to her own research, Atwater pulls from ancient teachings, myths, and predictions by various clairvoyants to paint a vivid picture of where we are headed and she even creates a timeline of events and themes that are likely to come into play reaching out as far as the year 2948.

Children of the Fifth World is a dense book, full of information, insight, and research and P. M. H. Atwater does a magnificent job of presenting it in a clear and concise way, and though she doesn’t sugar coat the facts regarding the volatile issues plaguing our world, she offers hope in our ability to make changes in line with the new world before us. This book is essential for parents, educators, and spiritual leaders in order to bring awareness to and prepare for, the coming changes so we may create a world to empower our children and ourselves as we continue to evolve into a consciousness of oneness.

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.

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.

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.

Money can be a very sensitive subject for many people, but particularly so within intimate relationships. With so many varying financial backgrounds and ways to handle money both individually and in personal relationships, it is no wonder there is more confusion than clarity surrounding how to effectively create financial intimacy.

Author and money coach, Deborah L. Price has provided a step-by-step guide to recognizing, understanding, and managing various money archetypes that she suggests is the key to creating true financial intimacy. In her book The Heart of Money, she walks readers through the process of identifying their money story, recognizing money patterns, and provides guidance on how to talk about financial challenges and make lasting change to allow for a more harmonious relationship no matter how much money is in the bank. Deborah shares inspiring stories, various exercises, and practical techniques to assist readers in co-creating a financially sound relationship, and while this book is aimed primarily at couples the information can be used alone to create a better financial future on an individual level.

I found The Heart of Money to be a refreshing shift from books about money that are more materialistic in nature. Instead of working from a basis of materialism, Deborah’s work is about creating a better relationship with money as she emphasizes that wealth is not just about the amount of money you have, but also about a life lived with purpose and love.

Are we living a life that has been predetermined for us by a Higher Power, or are we solely responsible for the events, choices, and decisions we make every day? Author Marie D. Jones does a magnificent job of digging deeply into the scientific, religious, philosophical, and spiritual evidence that supports one, or both, sides of this argument in her latest book Destiny vs Choice. While maintaining a balanced, objective approach in her analysis, she presents these seemingly arduous theories in a practical way, even including personal stories of destiny and free will that clearly demonstrate both sides of the destiny/free will coin. Touching on topics such as quantum physics, evolution, ghosts, and after-life experiences, Marie wittingly weaves a vast amount of information and research into this easy to read book.

As a firm believer in destiny and synchronicities, I was really excited to read Destiny vs Choice and the evidence supporting the idea of free will. I was surprised to find such a balance of information on both sides of the argument as I have succumbed to the idea that this is no “either/or” issue as much as it is a combination of the two. This book is a compelling introduction to the extensive evidence supporting both destiny and choice at work in our lives. Of course, after reading it, you may still believe in either fate or free will, and that’s your choice. Or is it?

Author Shaeri Richards has created the perfect combination of spirituality, psychology, and mystic truth to explain the process of self-love from the inside out. She takes readers on a quest of self-discovery that delves deep into the soul and encourages us to practice dancing with our dragon in acceptance, awareness, and unconditional love. Through the various practices she outlines throughout the book, such as connecting with angels, utilizing our magic mirror, and cutting the cords that bind, Shaeri offers many ways for us to not only reconnect with our inner being, but to reconnect with the Divine and transform our lives from self-loathing to self-loving.

Dancing With Your Dragon is a powerful book of transformation and profound wisdom, along with practical exercises to change not only how you view yourself, but how you view others as well. It reminds us that we are all part of the Divine, and when we learn to embrace the dragon inside we can transform our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies and return to a life of love and happiness.

If ever you have questioned the idea of a jealous and punishing God as depicted in many religious texts, then you may find comfort in the channeled book, The Measure of Christ’s Love. In his own words with the help of Catherine Julian Dove (oracle) and Vera Lauren (editor, compiler, and contributor), Jesus brings forth the truth behind his teachings that have been manipulated and misinterpreted since his time on the earthly plain. He outlines the truth about his life, the crucifixion, and other misconceptions found in the Bible while reminding readers that his message has always been one of hope, compassion, and love, though many have used it as a means of control by inducing fear in those that were deemed “sinners”. While it was never his intention to become a figure of worship, he reminds us that we each have the potential to hold the same love and light he holds and we must continue to bring more light to our planet if we wish to evolve and ascend to the higher dimensions of reality.

While much of this book is about Jesus’ teachings of love and compassion, there are also many concepts presented and explained that may be new to some readers such as; the Divine Blueprint and the Oversoul, I AM Presence, the process of initiation, and the karmic board, as well as a frequently asked questions section that help readers further understand God and the ascension process.

The Measure of Christ’s Love is full of enlightening wisdom that may take some time to completely understand, but it is definitely worth the read. Jesus’ words are comforting to those of us that have been taught to fear the God depicted in traditional religions and remind us that we hold the power to change the world. Through our increasing love and compassion for each other and ourselves we can choose to shift our consciousness in a way that aligns us with our higher selves and God and with the help of Jesus and other ascended masters, create a world that is Heaven on Earth.

The Green Thoreau is an inspiring collection of quotations from various essays and books by Henry David Thoreau that illustrate his passion for nature and his brilliance with words. Carol Spenard LaRusso presents profound passages from some of Theoreau’s lesser-known pieces on nature, possessions, time, and aspiration that are quite relevant for our time. His words are timeless and encouraging as he discusses the importance of appreciating and respecting nature and living a simplified life, messages that we need now more than ever.

Reading Thoreau’s words of wisdom in this seemingly small book remind me to appreciate the moments in between the chaos that has become our world and inspires me to read more of his wonderful work. His words convey an amazing passion during a time that was much less industrial and I can’t help but wonder what Mr. Thoreau would have to say about our neglect for Mother Earth and the increased power of technology today.

Kudos to Carol Spenard LaRusso for not only bringing our attention back to one of the greatest writers of the 19th century, but for reminding us that even in the age of advanced technology we must savor and protect our natural world.

Many people are searching for techniques to manifest their deepest desires, and there are hundreds of methods, books, and workshops promising faster, more effective manifestation, but none compare to those included in the book Creating On Purpose. Authors Anodea Judith and Lion Goodman have gone beyond the typical suggestions of positive thinking, affirmations, or visualization included in many manifestation books, and instead created a guide to manifestation through the chakras. This method does not promise instant manifestation, but is a step-by-step process that progresses from the crown chakra down to the root focusing on the specific areas that each chakra governs in the manifestation process. For example, the crown chakra is associated with thoughts and ideas, and the third eye is associated with vision and seeing what you want to create. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific chakra and includes exercises to help readers overcome obstacles they may encounter along the way, such as limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, and distractions, In addition to the plentiful manifestation tips disbursed throughout the book.

Creating on Purpose emphasizes specific action steps that are important in order to make your dreams come true, steps that other methods sometimes miss. I love that this step-by-step process is similar to other goal-setting techniques, and that the manifestation exercises are designed to create tangible results. This book combines spiritual manifestation methods and more traditional goal-setting techniques, making it a well-balanced guidebook and for anyone interested in making their dreams a reality.

“Treat this as if you had chosen it to be.”
Imagine hearing those profound words while seeking Divine guidance as you question your strength in the midst of tragedy, not knowing what to do or how to move forward. That is exactly what cardiologist Dr. Terry A. Gordon heard June 30th 2009, moments after he was informed of his son Tyler’s tragic car accident that resulted in his paralysis from the neck down. It was the beginning of a journey that led Terry and his family from despair to spiritual inspiration and enlightenment, as they made the choice to see this seemingly terrible tragedy as a gift from the Divine.

In No Storm Lasts Forever, Terry shares his journal of thoughts and insights he experienced while supporting his son through the healing process. He found there is a choice within every proverbial storm that allows us to either complain about what is lost, or celebrate what remains. For Terry what remained was hope, love, compassion, and gratitude for this great gift of transformation. We are reminded of this gift through these beautiful words of a father providing unconditional love and understanding to his son during his greatest time of need, and are invited to see our own adversities as opportunities for growth.

No Storm Lasts Forever is an uplifting book that has blessed me with a new view of life, and allows me to see opportunities for growth in every adverse situation. I invite readers to pass this book along to others so they too may be inspired to treat their challenges as if they had chosen them, and to choose the gift of transformation over suffering.

“All people hunger for love, whether they are Christian or Muslim, Hindu or atheist.” –Mother Theresa of Calcutta

An Unquenchable Thirst is a heartfelt, courageous, and beautiful memoir that shares the life of Mary Johnson (previously Sister Donata) and her work as a Missionary of Charity under Mother Theresa. At age nineteen Mary found her calling to help the poor and began her twenty-year journey as a nun, not knowing her path would lead her to confusion, heartache, and leave her questioning her sacred vows of chastity, obedience, and service. With rules that prohibit any relationship other than a personal relationship with God, Sister Donata found herself grappling with loneliness, the need for love, and guilt, as she consistently fell short of becoming the Saint that Mother Theresa embodied and expected from the Sisters. Instead of experiencing inner peace and the joy of giving, Sister Donata felt disempowered, disheartened, and stripped of her authentic self in the traditional and often political community of the convent, feelings that ultimately led to her exit in 1997.

Mary Johnson’s eloquent words coupled with her raw emotions create an exceptional autobiography that reads like fiction and offers readers a personal view of Mother Theresa. Through her stories, struggles, and triumphs Mary shares the search for her personal truth in one of the most heartfelt books I have ever read, and one I will never forget. An Unquenchable Thirst is a poignant reminder to listen to our hearts and embrace our personal truths, and as we give to others in service and love, to never forget the importance of connection and self-love.

The Book of Love and Creation by Paul Selig is the second book of channeled messages from this author’s spirit guides, and a continuation of the spiritual teachings. (See his first book, I Am the Word, 2010). This book is a direct transcript of messages Paul received over the course of 30 days and provides readers with the information and practices needed to move forward into the paradigm shift from fear to love that is taking place today and in the coming years. Paul’s guides outline the constructs of fear, control, and separation that we have created in our world through our collective consciousness and explains how they can be changed by shifting and raising our individual and collective frequencies.

The central message is to move beyond the social rules and constructs that have been socially and culturally established as a means of separation, and into a world of oneness by embracing the Divine Light (or Christ Consciousness) that lies within each of us and in turn to manifest reality from a higher frequency. The guides offer exercises, mantras, and meditations to raise our frequency and invite readers to understand and experience the love that we can create in the absence of fear. They even suggest that by reading The Book of Love and Creation each reader’s frequency will inherently be raised but it is through the practice and study of these teachings that we will evolve as individuals and add to the collective shift in consciousness around the world.

The Book of Love and Creation is a powerful read and I believe that those who feel moved to read it will find a personal connection to the material. While the information is not entirely unique, the presentation is easily understood and reinforces the breaking down of the old paradigm into a more evolved consciousness of love that can readily be described as heaven on Earth. If nothing else, this book invites readers to become aware of the frequency from which they create and to embrace the divinity that lies within, because it is that power which connects us all.

There is no better way to reconnect to the child within us than to listen to a well written and beautifully told children’s story by Dr. Steven D. Farmer. His latest creation, Children’s Spirit Animal Stories Volume 1, is a wonderful collection of 5 magical stories that take listeners on a journey to rediscover our connection with nature, animals and Spirit. With characters such as curious coyotes, a friendly hummingbird, a beautiful swan, and magical stuffed animals, listeners of all ages can enjoy these whimsical tales of kindness, trust, intuition and so much more.

Dr. Steven D. Farmer does a magnificent job of weaving meaningful messages with magical storylines to create fairy-tales that can be enjoyed by all. With peaceful background music and entertaining narratives, this CD is perfect for parents, grandparents or teachers that wish to share in the joy of a lovely story before bed-time. This is one CD that I will definitely share with my children more than once.

With rapid advancements in technology, businesses and consumers are not only changing what they purchase, but also how they make purchases, often times eliminating the salesperson altogether. Author Sharon Parker argues that because of this change, now is the time for salespeople to change their focus from hard, fast sales, to connecting with the needs of their customers in order to create a valuable relationship. In her book Selling With Soul the author reviews basic sales information and touches on principles such as respecting the customer’s time, listening with empathy, and creating value in the entire transaction, as techniques for finding and maintaining new business.

This is a good book for salespeople looking to review sales basics and alternate ways of relating to their customers in our changing economy. While it was not the most engaging book I have read, it was very informative with regard to increasing sales through integrity. I did find the principles to be more about good business sense than being “soulful” as the title suggests, but I believe Selling With Soul is to contrast this book’s focus with traditional attitudes and beliefs that suggest salespeople care more about their sales numbers and less about their customers.

Love Letter to the Milky Way is an eclectic collection of powerful and eloquent poetry by Drew Dellinger that moves the soul. His poems are deep and profound and may lead readers to read them two or three times in order to absorb the full power behind his words. With references to global injustice, spiritual awakening, Rumi, past lifetimes, and so much more, Drew weaves his words in perfect rhythm to create poems that are nothing less than masterpieces. He is without a doubt a courageous and artistic poet.

While I don’t typically read poetry, I have fallen in love with Drew Dellinger’s poetry and I look forward to reading more of his beautiful work. love letter to the milky way is great for anyone interested in inspiring and thought provoking poetry.

When it comes to romantic relationships many people struggle to reconcile the idealized belief that they should live “happily ever after” with real life experience. In 101 Relationship Myths, author Tim Ray explains how this is one of many enduring relationship myths that are the root cause of unhappy, and at times stressful, relationships. He helps readers identify and debunk the common fairytale myths that we hold so dear, such as: “If you love me you will do what I want”, “It’s better to be in a relationship than to be single”, and “My happiness is dependent on my partner,” and reminds us that happiness is our responsibility and can only arise from the love we find within.

The author encourages readers to analyze their expectations of their partner and when faced with a potential relationship myth to ask the simple question, “Is this true?” This allows us to identify the beliefs we have regarding our relationships and determine how they affect our happiness. Instead of hoping for something different, we are better off learning how to accept the reality of our relationships, Ray reminds us. This is not to imply people should stay in unfulfilling or abusive relationships, but instead make choices regarding the fate of the relationship based on reality instead of what we wish it to be.

I really enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek humor and laid-back tone of Tim Ray’s writing. I certainly identified with many of the outlined myths and began to evaluate my expectations and perceptions in my own relationship. While some of his concepts were a bit farfetched for my taste (i.e. having a part-time partner), this book will stimulate readers to discover more happiness within themselves with or without a partner.

Many people know of the Law of Attraction, but applying it in everyday life to manifest your desires can sometimes seem difficult. Author Jackie Lapin takes the guess-work out of how to implement this universal law in her latest book, Practical Conscious Creation. This book is full of conscious creation tips, practical daily rituals, and insightful techniques to raise your vibration so that you can manifest with ease. With tips on creating in love, relationships, wealth, business and so much more, this book has something for everyone. Practical Conscious Creation helps readers move from a conceptual understanding of the Law of Attraction to applying it in their everyday lives, simultaneously being empowered to create the life they have always wanted.

I have read a lot of books on manifestation, but none had so many wonderful and easy ways to create the life of your dreams. I highly recommend this book to readers who are not only interested in creating a life of abundance now, but those that are interested in living a life of conscious creation for their future.

Sometimes the concept of spirituality brings to mind a structured practice of meditation, yoga, study, and prayer. Imperfect Spirituality is a book that reminds us you don’t have to be a Buddhist monk to be spiritual. You can, in fact, be who you are with all of your imperfections and incorporate spirituality into your everyday life. This book is a practical guide to spiritual practice for ordinary people. Author Polly Campbell takes readers on a journey of self-discovery to identify ways they can practice self compassion, release resistance, and embrace their imperfections in order to live a more enlightened, happy life. Through useful exercises such as; meditation, journaling, expressing gratitude and mindfulness, as well as her own personal stories, she invites readers to make small changes in order to increase their connection with Spirit. Polly emphasizes that even in the midst of chaos, life presents us with ample opportunities to practice with compassion, understanding and joy; and if we don’t get it right the first time, we can always begin again.

I really enjoyed this book, and my favorite part was the concept of embracing our imperfections and still leading a joyful, compassionate and spiritual life. Many times we get so caught up in the need to be “perfect” that we fail to realize our imperfections make us who we are; amazingly unique spiritual beings experiencing the journey of life. Thank you Polly for reminding us that our imperfections are what enhances our connection with Spirit.

Living Nonviolent Communication is more than a guide to good communication. It is a guide to a new way of living that can heal and transform relationships of all types. Author and clinical psychologist, Marshall Rosenberg, has created a process of communication that brings practitioners out of the reactions of their past and into the present moment so they may respond to the current situation in a peaceful way. Nonviolent communication is a method that suggests deciphering the needs behind any reaction or emotion and responding empathically, so ideally all parties involved in any type of dispute may find peace. This book not only outlines the process of nonviolent communication, but also provides readers with role playing examples in areas such as healing and reconciliation, loving relationships, and working with anger, so they may further understand how it can be used in a real conversation.

While reading this book I had several “aha” moments where everything seemed to click and I could see how I can apply this in my everyday life. I did struggle with the some of the language in the role-playing as it felt somewhat scripted and unnatural, but I can certainly see the benefits of practicing this type of communication. In a world where war is considered a solution to conflict and violence seems to be a way of life for some, nonviolent communication is greatly needed. I invite readers to explore an alternative to our traditional conflict resolution methods in Living Nonviolent Communication.

The present is often experienced through a veil of the past, recreating seemingly identical struggles that, if not fully realized, could continue to color our future. Author Bryan Hubbard has defined a theory and 21-day program to allow readers to live their full potential in the present, without reliving past struggles, in his book Time-Light. While many self-help books explain how we as human beings carry our past like invisible baggage, the Time-Light model is one that deals with the energetic nature of our being. It suggests that we have three time bodies from which we receive and experience life: our past, present, and potential (future) time-bodies. As we grow older we become heavy in our experiences as the weight of the past hinders our opportunity to experience all that is in the present moment.

Through his theory, Bryan Hubbard thoroughly explains how the three time bodies relate to one another, and more importantly, what we can do to change our thoughts in order to fall in love with life once again. His 21-day program is an empowering and realistic approach that helps readers bring their focus back to the present moment through exercises such as thought-watching, forgiveness, and gratitude, with each practice building on the last. Bryan Hubbard has done a great job creating a unique tool to help release readers from the binds of our past so we may experience life from a place of pure love.

If you have ever experienced miraculous healing, mysteriously appearing /disappearing items, or other seemingly magical occurrences, it is likely you have experienced what author Cynthia Sue Larson calls a reality shift. Reality Shifts is truly an amazing book that takes the reader on a magical ride to enchant and revitalize the way we see life, reminding us that anything is possible. Cynthia Sue Larson has combined the concepts of quantum physics, law of attraction, and the power of intention to reveal a truly majestic way to view and experience life. Through her personal experience of reality shifts and specific exercises to assist the reader in being open to reality shifts, the author has created an outstanding book that invites readers to open their eyes and hearts to the boundless possibilities that surround us every day. Reality Shifts provides readers with an opportunity to not only shift the way they experience life, but also to change self-limiting beliefs so that they are empowered to create the life they want.

Cynthia Sue Larson shares her vibrancy for life through her words and has created an incredible book of wonder. This is one of those books that I will definitely read again and again to fully absorb all that it has to offer. Thank you Cynthia for reminding readers that anything is possible and that life is truly magical.