Mar 29 2012

The Divine Arsonist, a tale of Awakening

My guest reviewer is author, shaman, and energy healer, Carol Woodliff. She is one several wonderful people I met through the Next Top Spiritual Author competition held a couple of years back. Jacob Norby is another of the authors who has become a friend. Here Carol offers her review of Jacob’s just released novel, The Divine Arsonist, a Tale of Awakening.

The Divine Arsonist by Jacob Norby is the story of a businessman who worked hard to climb the ladder of success only to have something whisper to him that perhaps there was something more to discover. This is his journey of discovery told in a blend of the personal story and fiction. It immediately spoke to me of the question: When do we start dreaming a new dream for ourselves and our world? The old ways are burning us out. That’s where Jacob is at the beginning of his journey. There are so many elements of a shamanic journey, vision quest or hero’s journey from old mythology: meeting spiritual guides, being challenged to endure rites of passage, time in the wilderness, facing the shadow and opening to all the levels of reality beyond our day-to-day “get it done” consciousness. The writing is luscious, descriptive and an easy read. I could have easily read it in one sitting but I forced myself to turn off the light at night and savor it over the course of several bedtime reading sessions. There are beautiful teachings that you want to grab the highlighter to remember.

Jacob’s journey toward finding his light is an invitation or challenge to go on your own journey, to claim your own light. It is a tale that reminds us that life is short and that we are choosing the world we live in right now with each thought and each action we take. It is a story that reminds us that sometimes we have to let go of everything that we think we know to become the person we came to earth to be. Even though I’ve had my own awakening moments, Jacob’s writing made me want to commit to living them on an even deeper level. Isn’t that what we want a spiritual book to do?

I highly recommend Jacob’s book. I hope you give it a read. You can buy The Divine Arsonist on Amazon either in book form or Kindle.

Jacob Nordby is an author, speaker and personal transformation mentor. He is published with Jack Canfield in “Pearls of Wisdom: 30 Inspirational Ideas to Live Your Best Life Now“, with Dr. Bernie M. Siegel in “The Thought That Changed My Life” and is currently writing, “The Cosmic Compass: An Adventure of Inner Guidance”. Mr. Nordby is the founder and publisher of the popular e-magazine site, YourAwakenedSelf.com.

Find our more about Carol Woodliff at www.carolwoodliff.com

Mar 17 2012

Intriguing “Runaway Choices”

Runaway Choices: A Christian Speculative Novel by Eisley Jacobs is a wonderful example of Indie author creativity. Mixing a Twilight Zone technique with a subtle spiritual message, Jacobs plunges her heroine, Beck, into a fascinating adventure.

Plot Description: Everyone runs from their past; Beck has it mastered. She’s been running for so long, stopping is a foreign concept. With her conning skills and wits at the ready, she’s on a plane to London, free of charge.

Beck believes everything is going as planned, but when reality twists on its axis, she soon wonders whose plan? Teaming up with the gorgeous bellhop, Colin, is a no brainer, especially when they discover their connections are anything but accidental.

In their quest for answers, both are confronted with the demons of their pasts. Beck panics and does what comes naturally — runs. However, she’s not only running from herself, but from the superhuman who has made it his life’s goal to track her down and either remove her from the equation or convince her to join him.

I enjoyed the tale on many levels. First, it is different; not the same story I’ve read a million times. Second, the writing is smooth without the hiccups often seen in Indie authors. Third, Jacobs manages to tell a story with a spiritual message without beating us over the head with message. Using mystical elements and a McGuffin magical necklace, she keeps a plot spinning as Beck learns life lessons. All in all, an interesting excursion into a Rod Serling-like spiritual adventure.

Jan 22 2012

“Shaman, Healer, Sage”–Learning from ancient traditions

I resisted reading Shaman, Healer, Sage: How to Heal Yourself and Other With Energy Medicine of the Americas by Alberto Villoldo, Ph.d. It was that “shaman” word, which conjured up images of voodoo witch doctors to my Bible-Belt sensibilities. However, I’ve met a few women via the web over the last couple of years who are embracing shamanism and they appear to be lovely healers. So with mild trepidation, I downloaded a sample and soon found myself hitting the “buy” button.

Shaman, Healer, Sage is a fascinating exploration of an ancient healing system written by a Western doctor and explorer. For myself, the greatest value of the book came from the detailed explantion of the energy fields and chakras. My personal experience sensing and working with the “Ever-Flowing Streams,” as I dubbed them in my spiritual memoir, has made them a great mystery. Villoldo’s book contains the most enlightening information I’ve read about what he calls the Luminous Energy Field.

Giving up his mainstream Western medical research, Villoldo traveled to Inka and Amazon shamans to learn an entirely different world view and method of medicine. Shamans see and work with the energy fields that Western culture is only beginning to recognize. Villoldo keeps references to an earth-based religion to a minimum and mostly makes sense of the various properties of the human energy fields and how practitioners might help their patients.

Personally, I had a huge “ah-ha” moment about three-quarters into the book when he talked about entities attaching themselves to people. If you’ve read Ever-Flowing Streams of Healing Energy, you’ll know that was ultimately the best explanation I had for a range of life-long difficulties. Until Shaman, Healer, Sage, I’d never come across a book that seemed to pin-point my situation. In Villoldo’s world, it’s very common!

The last section of the book deals with the passage into death that every soul makes. People need to be helped out of the world as much as they need to be helped into the world. Once the spirit leaves the body, it goes through transitions into the spirit realm. Western culture has largely disconnected with the sacred, especially death rituals. Villoldo paints a compelling picture of what may be part of the journey and why it’s important to assist loved-ones, even after the body has ceased breathing.

While I don’t feel the call to leap into shamanism, there is much to be learned from ancient traditions. Villoldo has written a range of books from his South American experiences. Perhaps we’re living in age when the imbalances of Western thinking will move toward more harmonious blend of other cultures and save the earth from destruction in the process.

Jan 5 2012

The Healing Light–Still the One

Books become classics for a reason–they stand the test of time. The words of an author long gone from the planet still resonate with new generations. Such a book is The Healing Light by Agnes Sanford. I first read the book in 1983–the year Agnes passed. It began a life-long exploration for me of healing prayer and learning principles of health.

The book sat on my keeper shelf for decades, making one house move after another with my family. But I hadn’t read in its entirety in years. I’d moved onto the modern gurus, few of which reside on the keeper shelf. Last month I felt the urge to read it again. Interestingly, in a prayer session with Helen (see Supernal Friends) she said, “There’s a book you haven’t read in a long time. You’re supposed to read it again.” I knew she was talking about The Healing Light.

Published originally in 1947, the book touches on concepts touted by Hay House bestsellers. But before there was Dyer, Deepak or Abraham/Hicks–there was Agnes Sanford. Agnes brings elements of faith to her understanding of energy healing that is often missing in today’s literature. Agnes knew beyond a doubt from whence her power came.

Raised in China by missionary parents and then married for decades to a Protestant minister, Agnes Sanford was a pioneer in the healing ministry of the twentieth century. She taught that prayer is an act of co-creation between God and man. Her references to light, vibration, and scientific discoveries of her day show a mind that captured the whole picture of mind, body, and spirit.

Beneath all her teaching is a connection with the Christ Spirit. Agnes Sanford became the conduit of a healing source far beyond her human capabilities. She taught that anyone can also become such a conduit, given the practice and motivation.

Being an intercessor can be overwhelming. Increasingly, the Supernal Friends get calls to send healing energy to many people dealing with critical situations. One principle in the book that has helped me stay in the healing game is the idea of “bundles.” Nobody can pray for everybody. But, each of us can have certain prayer assignments in our “bundles.” If everyone prays for the people and situations in their individual bundles, the needs will be met.

In my meditation time, I ask for the bundle assignments to be made clear and I send healing energy to the best of my ability. Admittedly, my bundle feels fairly meager compared to the ocean of need in the world. But, I do my part and don’t allow guilt to drag me down for everything I don’t pray about.

The Bundle Concept is a good survival tool to the active healer/mediator.

One of the gals in my bundle who is struggling with cancer told me she has read The Healing Light three times this year. It has been source of spiritual and emotional strength. She’s even dreamed that Agnes Sanford has ministered to her as she sleeps.

When a book offers hope and enlightenment for over sixty years, it’s a classic.

Oct 12 2011

Chiming in on Rob Bell’s LOVE WINS

Once in a while a book comes along that gets people all riled up, bringing forth either enthusiastic praise or vehement wrath. Such a book is LOVE WINS: A BOOK ABOUT HEAVEN, HELL, AND THE FATE OF EVERY PERSON WHO EVER LIVED by Rob Bell. Check out the 563 customer reviews at Amazon to get a flavor of the furor.

Bell is the founding pastor of the Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He bears a respectable educational pedigree from Wheaton College and Fuller Theological Seminary. So what has he done to cause such a stir? The buzz claimed “Rob Bell says there is no hell.”

To many outside the church such a belief solicits a “So what, who cares?” response. But to the thousands of believers who define their faith on the tenet of eternal damnation unless one makes a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ, them is fightin’ words.

I decided I needed to read the book and judge for myself. This was my first exposure to Bell, who is surely an engaging speaker. The style of the book reads like an interesting sermon series. It begs to be read aloud. The placement of words on the page is often poetical.

For emphasis.

Rather than a pedantic expression of his opinions, Bell asks a lot of questions about the basic beliefs of scores of Protestant churches. He is logical—and disturbing. If God is an “all loving Father,” then how can he cast his children into everlasting fire? Hmmm.

For Bell, the question isn’t so much about what happens “over there,” but what is happening “here.” Is there a hell? Open the newspaper, read about the wars, famine, mass executions in Mexico, the domestic violence, sexual slavery. Hell? Why sure. It is here and now.

The real question is how to bring forth “Your Will on Earth as it is in Heaven” as envisioned in the Lord’s Prayer. Bell’s answer is coming into relationship with the living Christ. The expansive, can’t-be-contained or-totally-understood Messenger of the Good News.

Bell speaks to the disenfranchised, the people turned off by the fire and brimstone message. He breaks down the dogmatic walls. For those comfortably dwelling within those walls, he is a heretic. For those outside the walls, he offers hope.

Sep 14 2011

Hope for the Holidays

Raise your spirits with these stories of hope, family, and a touch of the angelic.

E-Book available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords

SHINY GREEN SHOES

1935 was a hard year on old Route 66. The unlikely friendship between a young, black girl and an aging white actress brings hope to a town down on its luck.

REFINER’S FIRE

Nestled in her beautiful home in the San Diego hills, Dina Stein is determined to celebrate Hanukkah even without her ungrateful daughter. Getting caught in a natural disaster isn’t on her agenda.

PATTY’S ANGELS

1960, Los Angeles. Downtown LA and the suburbs are only minutes, yet worlds, apart. A little girl brings people together, with the help of her celestial best friends.

Supernal Living with Dana Taylor

Supernal Living with Dana Taylor– Ad-free Meditations! Plus, exploring spirituality, healing energy, visionary writing, and wonder

Category Book Reviews