5 comments about Everyday Sacred: A Woman's Journey Home.

1. It's a great description of the Spritual Cure.... but we never analyze what was wrong in the first place... it's a type of Narcissism which in her case comes into conflict with her religious values and forced her to develop her spritual walk as a cure.
   
   And it's a good cure, often overlooked because we neglect to name the Beast thats at the core.So the spiritual cure goes untried.



2. After witnessing the recent horror (school massacre) inflicted upon the Amish community, "Everyday Sacred" is a timely reminder that they and the human spirit will endure.
   
   It reminds us to ask not what we lack, but to appreciate, daily, what we already have. My favorite quote from the book is: "Don't try for perfection. Trying to be good enough will be plenty."
   
   I am giving it my highest recommendation because it is more than good enough - it is a spell-binding read!
   
   Reginald V. Johnson, Author, "How To Be Happy, Successful And Rich"



3. "Everyday Sacred; A Woman's Journey Home" by Sue Bender is a book about the author's spiritual journey while living amidst the Amish. Bender highlights that each day, and the 'everyday' within each day is sacred. There are many opportunities to experience sacred encounters in one's life, by focusing on appreciation of simplicity and the little things in life such as enjoying a warm cup of tea or noticing the beauty of flowers in your garden. All in all 'Everyday Sacred' offers clarity, optimism and hope amidst our modern world that is all too often hectic and stressful. What I enjoyed most about 'Everyday Sacred' is that reading the book really did take me on an experiental journey into the sacred; most remarkable! Congratulations Sue Bender on writing such an inspiring and successful book.
   
   If you like 'Everyday Sacred' then you'll love NEXUS by Deborah Morrison and Arvind Singh, a successful, new age debut novel, an absorbing guide to the dazzling universe of spirituality in terms of life's joys and sorrows. NEXUS enriches our understanding of heart-centered, soulful living, enlightenment and compassion. All over the planet people of all faiths and backgrounds are suddenly experiencing an intense attraction for the wisdom and knowledge of NEXUS, a book that has already achieved top 100 status on several bestsellers lists! Nexus: A Neo Novel



4. I was given a copy of this book many years ago..it sat on a shelf for a number of years before one day I picked it up and started to read it. It is one book both men and women should read. I have given it as gifts at least 60 times and just recently purchased 3 more for gifts. It truly hits the soul...if you want to do something for "yourself"...read it!! You won't be sorry.



5. I read this book years ago and forgot about it. At a recent book club meeting, I noticed a similar picture on the book of a friend. I went in search to find it. It's second only to her first book, Plain & Simple, which I've enjoyed immensely and purchased several copies as books. A good book for our times.

5 comments about Guided Meditations for Stress Reduction.

1. A good starting point for those interested in meditation as a means of reducing stress. I found the CD a little short - two half hour sessions. But both sessions are helpful and calming. I use these meditations before going to bed on nights when I fear I will have difficulty sleeping.



2. I initially purchased this for stress reduction and found his accent and voice so soothing it helps me with stress reduction AND sleep - it is wonderful. The last track on Acceptance is great to listen to after a stressful day and you're sleep cycle is off. Recommend this for anyone with a medical condition that is exacerbated by stress or loss of sleep (Fibromyalgia, Joint/Back pain, Elhers Danlos)



3. This guy's voice really relaxes me. There is no music on the CD. It is only his calming voice that helps you relieve stress and relax. I highly recommend this!



4. The voice on the CD is not at all soothing. I expected a soothing far eastern accent and got a harsh, Scottish accent. I recommend buying the CDs narrated by Shakti Gawain herself.



5. Meditation is a new experience for me. This CD was a perfect enterance to a very plesant relief from all of the daily stresses. I use it everyday.

5 comments about How to Ruin Your Life by Forty.

1. It is a good book and a really easy read. You have to love the way that Steve writes. I would not say that I agree with every single point in the book, but there are definitely many good points that can be taken from of the book.



2. I bought this book for my 21 year old son, and read it before giving it to him. This is a wonderful book and I recommend it for all to read who want to have a successful life and marriage.



3. We live in a world and a culture that exhorts and encourages at every turn for each person to build a temple to self in our hearts that will require us to bow down and worship the self beyond all else. you may look no further than the behavior of those around you, news, TV programming, billboards, advertisements, politicians, etc to find massive evidence that the idolatry of the temple to the self is firmly entreached and embrased. Jesus calls us to die to self and place all sins, cares, and concerns at the foot of the cross so that we may be loving and effective servants to each other, and hence to Jesus. for it is in serving each other in love that we serve Christ. If you have teenagers or young adults this is a must read for them and all mothers and fathers. do not hesitate. we are not guranteed our next breath. start tearing down the temple of self by reading this book that provides pratical wisdom. 3-hours to read.



4. This book is perfect for small groups, especially High School and College Age. The kids in my group are actually reading this one. (A first in over 20 books we've gone through) It is well written like all of Dr. Farrar's books. IF you have or work with teenagers this book and Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University will help prepare them to avoid the major pitfalls of adult life.



5. This is a MUST read for anyone who wants to either prepare for a good future or make some changes during the middle of the journey. The book is packed full of life grounding wisdom sure to give every person a solid foundation to build on. A great gift for someone graduating from highschool or college. A great read for anyone who wants to grow to their fullest potential! I will re-read this book throughout life.

5 comments about Recreating Your Self.

1. A good and practical mini version of what God is saying in these books but edited by Neale. Good for those who need directions that just can't get into a thousand page bible.



2. I really enjoyed the two books I purchased from Amazon, they are just what I was seeking also, the books arrived in a timely matter and I would continously make purchases from Amazon. The author is Neale Donald Walsch,I would recommend everyone to read ALL his books, especially Conversations With God: Uncommon Dialouge Bringers of the LightRecreating Your Self



3. I am a HUGE fan of Neale Donald Walsch. Every since the "Conversations with God books" which changed my life, my thinking and my beliefs, I have been a respecter of his books. I have every one of them. Even the book and video of "The Secret", in which he participates, if Neale did not participate in it, I would not have bought it. It is not Neale, but the spirit of God that speaks to me through him.



4. Seems like a great book but it is only half the book.
   There is a complementary book. I wish I would have realized this before I bought it



5. Neal Donald Walsh gifts us with essential life lessons to connect us to our Divinity and our Inner potentail to create a conscious life. This little book touches the heart and essence of my Whole Being. Thank you with great love & gratitude.

5 comments about The Eden Project: In Search of the Magical Other (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysis, 79).

1. I have read this book a number of times and glean new wisdom every time. It explained every mystery of human relationship that has baffled me for 50 years. The insight I gained helps me understand other people as well as myself in both personal and professional relationships. Hollis can synthesize Jung better than any author or teacher working today, and uses literature and poetry which greatly enriches his writing. All of James Hollis books are exemplarary and I recommend them all. I have been fortunate enough to hear Hollis speak and he is even better in real life. Extremely wise and empathetic. I have also given this book as a gift to many of my friends and colleagues.

   I find the previous review very interesting and reveals more to me about the author of the review than this book!!




2. How many of us have been convinced that if we could only find The Right One, The Magical Other, our lives would be complete, and we'd have guaranteed happiness for the rest of our lives? Stated so baldly, that sounds sadly impossible ... but we've all bought into it, especially in the first half of life. And we've all suffered the pain of finding out it doesn't quite work that way.
   
   As in all his fine books, James Hollis examines the roots of our needs & desires, and opens our eyes to the buried reasons we so desperately want to believe in The Magical Other. He isn't dismissing or disparaging love, but he is asking us to look more closely at what it really is, and what it really isn't. This is absolutely necessary once we pass through the first glorious rush of lust & infatuation, and everyday life sets in. True love, a lasting & mutually nourishing relationship, requires far more than the beautiful but ephemeral illusions mass-marketed by our culture & fed to us from an early age. It requires both work & a willingness to look at ourselves honestly, something that's much harder than we might think. But the effort is certainly worth it!
   
   Most highly recommended!



3. I ever read.
   It explains the Jungian premise by which we project ourselves onto others on a subconscious level, never knowing how little of what seems real is truly real, applied to the realm of romantic love, the search for the Magical Other who will complete us.
   Paraphrased in a poem by Persian poet Rumi is the main learning of the book:
   "The moment I heard my first love story,
   I started looking for you..
   ..not knowing how blind I was.
   Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
   They're in each other all along."
   This book can help you understand YOU, it can help you learn and grow. Cause "what we do not know can and does hurt us, and others too".
   Cause you have to be ONE WHOLE before you can have a true relationship with another.
   An eye-opener.



4. Thank you, James Hollis, for a book filled with deep insight, humor and compassion. This book is the antidote for the Dr. Phils of the world. It does not offer a single glib panacea for the troubles we all face with our relationships- especially the relationship we have with our own psyches.
   
   The Eden Project deals primarily with romantic relationships; how they begin, the power they hold over us, the work that must be done to create and maintain a balance between self and other. It is deep without being pedantic or opaque. Hollis' writing is concise and very readable. His model is the work of Carl Jung; the outlook and style is contemporary and practical. Where Jung can be difficult to decipher Hollis' meaning is always clear.
   
   The best compliment I can offer is that, after reading and studying The Eden Project, I went out and purchased multiple copies for friends and family. That is not something I've ever done before.



5. My first clinical supervisor recommended James Hollis, a Jungian psychologist, to me and the windows of my soul I look out through have always gleamed brighter since being turned onto this book. But don't stop with this one. Read all of his books. My other favorites are The Middle Passage, Why Good People do Bad Things, and Swamplands of the Soul. Enjoy!

No comments about Mary Engelbreit's Mary Days: 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar.

5 comments about Love and Awakening: Discovering the Sacred Path of Intimate Relationship.

1. Welwood has crafted a masterful book. Although he expands on the material he presented in his previous book Journey of the Heart, this book can be read by itself. Journey of the Heart was like a roadmap of the terrain of intimate relationships. Love and Awakening provides dialogue from some of Welwood's clients rediscovering their personal authenticity in relationship. There are also brief sections throughout the book narrating a quality or observation about relationship that are truly stunning in its poetic clarity. It perfectly echos the truths we all know deep in our hearts. His section on the "Broken-Hearted Warrior" is the most poignant, eloquent and beautiful passage about the path of intimate relationship I have ever read. The real power and magic of this book is that it does not prescribe cures like a doctor towards a patient. It gently guides us to our own center, our own being and provides tools for awakening greater awareness.



2. This is probably one of the best, if not the best book I have read about that huge topic of LOVE. Among all the books dealing with this topic, this one stands out because of the depth of its explanation and the poetry of its wording.
   
   Welwood suggests that love is not simply a pure physical attraction. It could lift lovers to another level: the discovery of oneself. Love, according to the author is a journey, a path toward understanding oneself and one's partner. From there, if could lift lovers to a state of communion: they become warriors who travel on the same road toward spiritual enrichment. Viewed from this angle, love seems to be divine. It has the power of transforming people like any other thing in the world.
   
   This is part of the eastern philosophy that has suggested back in the 6th century AC that:
   "Love enjoyed by the ignorant
   Becomes bondage.
   That very same love
   Tested by one with understanding
   Brings liberation."
   
   Using a combination of poetry, eastern philosophy (one ground two paths, alliance of warriors, suchness...) and western psychology, Welwood has been able to weave a tale inner fight and self-discovery that could lead lovers to enlightenment. Enlightenment, not in its religious sense, is defined as a constant state of happiness without suffering. And that is what we are searching for in our human condition.
   
   This book should be read by anyone falling in love for the first or the hundredth time.



3. I think this book is absolutely amazing in describing feelings, situations and the bond between relationships. Not only does this book help open eyes to resolve outter issues with your significant other but as well as inner issues that may cause problems in a relationship. If anyone is confused, overwhelmed or just plain stumbling through a relationship I recommend this read.



4. Book wasn't quite in as good a condition as I was led to believe, else would have been 5 stars.



5. I found this book to be just as insightful as Journey of the Heart, which is by the same author. Welwood offers thoughtful advice and reflective analysis of relationships, while including just enough examples to illustrate what he's discussing. I found what he wrote helpful for navigating my relationships with my wife and also friends. It helped me really recognize my own reactions so I could step back and then approach situations from a different perspective.
   
   Whether your relationships need work, or you just want to understand love better, this book is an excellent guide for helping you find your way.

5 comments about Your Body Speaks Your Mind: Decoding the Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Messages That Underlie Illness.

1. "All your thoughts and feelings get translated into chemicals that fire off throughout your body, altering the chemical composition and behavior of your cells." ~ Deb Shapiro
   
   If you have ever wondered how emotions affect the body, then "Your Body Speaks Your Mind" is an excellent place to start. Not only will you be able to understand your symptoms, you will also know how to eradicate them. This book contains many answers, especially to the following questions:
   
   How do neuropeptides carry information from the mind to the body?
   Do all diseases have their origin in the mind?
   How do unresolved emotions affect your health?
   Why are certain feelings linked to specific body parts?
   What are the specific steps you can take to heal the body with your mind?
   
   Deb Shapiro makes an interesting connection between love and health. She also shows how creative visualization and writing in a journal can help to take away symptoms of illness. By giving up negative emotions you can literally heal the body from the inside out. This book then becomes most useful as you make the connections and start the healing process.
   
   "70 percent of patient visits to the doctor are for stress-related illnesses." ~ pg. 5
   
   Some of the topics in this book include: Insomnia, Addiction, Nervous Breakdowns, Depression, Anxiety, Skin Conditions, Infertility, Menopause, The Digestive System, Eating Disorders and Heart Issues.
   
   A CD is included with this book and contains visualization practices. I can recommend this book very highly and think it would make a perfect addition to any health library.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. I really enjoy this book on a continuous basis when another symptom comes up I refer to the book. very valuable indeed!



3. I expected more from this book, and was disappointed (which is why I'm returning the item to the store).
   
   The author begins by giving an overview of the chakra system. An overview that is completely inaccurate according to ancient and existing information. The first chakra, for example, has never been related to "finance" in any way, yet the author managed to make that connection. In fact, all of the information in this book seems to have been grossly altered to give it a "new" feel.
   
   The connections between mental/emotional issues and physical problems are the same old 1960's brochure material. If you grind your teeth, the author asks what you're angry about. If you're constipated, the author wants to know what you're holding onto.
   
   I don't know if the author was trying to re-write old bodymind material, or address the energy system. She seems to be attempting to do both in this book, but she doesn't do it well.
   
   The biggest disappointment comes when you discover there are no "answers" in this book. No suggestions about how to deal with psychosomatic illness. The dozens of other bodymind books I've read have given thoughts about how to address physical problems, but all Deb Shapiro seems to do is ask questions.
   
   If you want information about the mind/body connection, there are many books superior to this one.



4. With this book, Deb Shapiro, will assist you with taking charge of your health and healing by listening and paying attention to what your body is trying to tell you from head to toe, inside and out. The premise is that all thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, aches, pains and illnesses, are hidden messages available for you to decipher.
   
   Your Body Speaks Your Mind: Decoding the Emotional, Psychological, and Spiritual Messages That Underline Illness, sets out practical advice in an easy to read format. I read the whole book from beginning to end the first time round, however, using it regularly, I often return to this book by dipping into just the section which matches my current ailment (be it a cold, sore throat or aching muscles, for example). Putting symptoms into words has never been easier! I also love the idea that healing comes through appreciation and gratitude rather than through resistance.
   
   In addition, there is a CD with includes an Introduction, Talking With Yourself, and The Body Mind Appreciation meditations, which encourage positive thinking and affirmations to teach self love, no matter what you have (or may think you have) wrong with your body in terms of both your physical and psychological being. Used with the BodyMind Review (Pg 77) and BodyMind Writing (Pg 78) the whole package ensures a deep awareness and gratitude for every part of your body, even those parts that may be hurting you. This book is already a best seller here in England, along side many of Deb Shapiro's other books, which promote healing yourself and others. She is a popular inspirational author, and I have to say I am already a fan of her healing methods. Comes highly recommended with Sassy's Seal of Approval!
   
   Sassy Brit
   Alternative-[...]
   June 2007



5. Excellent book. It gives you a very good idea of what is not working in your life. This might be the updated version of the former Body-Mind by the same author.

5 comments about When Perfect Isn't Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism.

1. I've struggled my whole life with a number of issues: perfectionism, low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviour.
   
   This despite the fact that I'm intelligent. Intelligence isn't always enough. Some of us need practical help to see where our thinking patterns and actions are flawed or self-defeating. Without external help it's difficult to be objective about this.
   
   "When Perfect isn't Good Enough" is a practical self-help book to assist you in identifying and changing perfectionistic thinking patterns. I only bought the book recently, but I've already been bowled over by the number of insights I've gained from its pages. I plan to study and fully integrate the info over time. I can only imagine how doing so will contribute to my productivity!
   
   Other exceptional self-help books that I would like to recommend are:
   * The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
   * The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
   * Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
   
   None of these books are quick-fixes. Integrating their contents takes a lot of work and courage, but the results are of inestimable value!



2. This book contains exactly what I was looking for the past 10 years. I've learned much about myself. I would probably not read the last section b/c it's just a repeat of what's in the book, but being a perfectionist, I had to. If you can stand it, only read what applies to you in the last section and save your time for something else.



3. After reading Leman's "The Birth Order Book" and seeing that my wife and myself have been struggling with the predicted first-born power struggles and head butting for the last 10 years, both of us as "discouraged perfectionists" were looking for a book to offer pragmatic solutions for change.
   
   In looking at the overwhelmingly positive reviews for this book, I purchased it. The book has some major draw-backs:
   
   1. The text addresses perfectionism according to Hewitt & Flett, and Frost; however, the typical treatment of perfectionism is one usually of an aggressive perfectionist, such as a "nag" or a critical boss; this is not reflective of the "discouraged perfectionist" and often leaves one thinking "ok... this would be a good strategy if I was a freak-out, but it doesn't really apply to me"
   
   2. The authors have an ideological bias that is evident throughout the text which I would describe as "open-minded liberalism" combined with "anti-religious," which is really quite disturbing. Examples that stick out in my mind include:
   p46 - a comparison of "the right way" to wash dishes is compared with "wrong" ways leads to reader to accept that "washing" may entail soaking dishes in water without soap is somehow equally acceptable (as if sanitation is invalid as a basis for a "right way")
   p50 - Attending church services are an outlet of attempting to confirm perfectionistic beliefs rather than seeking out experiences that "challenge" those beliefs
   p180 - where a therapist convinces a patient that the daughter comes home from college with a lip-piercing isn't as big of a deal as it feels
   
   3. The demeanor the authors use is almost as if they are not addressing a condition that affects people in very personal ways which causes internal conflict and real heart-ache. They might as well be addressing bicycle repair, how to implement work-arounds in Chebyshev filter design software, or dog-training. These are exactly the kinds of individuals I strongly suspect of total hypocrisy, and I wonder how screwed up their own marriages and children are
   
   In conclusion, this book may be very good for a certain cross-section of people (which is why I gave it two stars instead of one), i.e. perfectionists who are obsessive, angry, controlling neat-freaks. But for the rest of those who might be considered relatively "normal" or who are just looking to relate better with others, this book will probably be inadequate.



4. It was a blow for me when I learned that I am a perfectionist. I started reading about it, and this was my first book. It was hard from time to time to face the truth that this book was presenting me.



5. Hardly user friendly, though it attempts to be a book for a lay audience, it fails miserably succeeding only in writing a watered down academic article. If you are a fan of superficial platitudes masquerading as strategy, then this is book for you. Might as well save your 10 or 13 dollars, google perfectionism, and read the ehow version--you're getting the same thing minus the money and the time wasted sifting through bad writing and even worse style.

5 comments about In the Presence of a Great Mystery (New World Lobrary Audio).

1. Eckhart Tolle cannot seem to fail when it comes to imparting to us exactly what we need to hear to make our lives better. Thank you! to my favorite spiritual teacher, for yet another gem in my consciousness. Is it, according to another reviewer, "re-packaged" material? Hey, what isn't? But it's the packaging and the soul of the packager that makes me want to listen, to hear, to stay right in the NOW instead of wandering away with my objectifying "pals" (those voices, voices, voices that add up to nothing in the long run). I love his "halting" phrases, phrases that make you lean forward to "hear" more...and to "hear" the stillness. Love, love, love - this man knows how to love the world. And he knows how to help us love more, too. I'll be playing this CD over and over, and passing it on to other friends who have discovered the joy - and the resulting love - of "inner space."



2. I followed Eckhart's every word for two years, and he taught me a lot, some directly and some indirectly. He's simply one of the most effective spiritual teachers on the planet, with the absolute best, most peaceful voice out there. If you're a seeker, seek here. If you're in pain, take these CDs and get some rest. If you're scared, use these to keep the Light on. Peace.



3. A contiuous flow of Toole's help in releasing your mind from its hold on time.



4. I listened to these CD's after reading his book, "A New Earth". I have listened to these CD's three times now and thoughly enjoyed them. I found this talk very profound and enlighting. Eckhart speaks with authority, as a man of high integrity, sharing what he knows, not what he thinks.



5. I really love all of Echart Tolle's Cd's, books etc....they are all well worth the time and money spent....