Category Book Reviews

Dana shares books she likes

Sep 3 2011

Go on a Rampage of Appreciation

Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires A couple of weeks ago I was in the doldrums, caught in the grips of “stinkin’ thinkin’, as Zig Ziglar used to say. Getting nowhere fast and seeing my glass half-empty. I recalled the words of another guru, Wayne Dyer–“Change your thinking, change your life.” So, I trolled the Kindle spiritual books page and happened upon  Ask and It Shall Be Given: Learning to Manifest by Esther & Jerry Hicks. Originally published in 2004, I’d heard the CD version, but never read the book.

It is channeled material via a group of souls called Abraham, which elicits a scary boogey-man reaction from many people. Or as my husband calls it, “a lot of bu**%t.” However, living a Supernal Life makes such things no big deal whatsoever. It’s the information that is important. Is it worth considering?

Ask and It Shall Be Given has influenced the thinking and lexicon of the past decade. The Law of Attraction has become an industry in itself. Rhonda Byrne turned soundbites into The Secret, which is still a New Age top seller. Phrases like The Art of Allowing, Vibrational Set-Point,   and Overwhelment created a whole Abrahamic vocabulary to illustrate the Law of Attraction. Simplified it means, the thoughts you project out bring in the events of your life. Or, we all create our own reality.

Yeah, yeah, yeah you say. But, if you take the time to read the book, you’ll see yourself reflected. At least, I did. It has given me some tools to transform my stinkin’ thinkin’ into a Rampage of Appreciation. And, guess what? Better things have been coming my way. I received two calls “out of the blue” this week to improve  situations  that seemed dismal. Positive reviews have popped up about my books. Coincidence? I think not.

Globally, it seems to me there is epidemic “stinkin’ thinkin.” The stock market plunges on fear. The more everyone fears, the more it plunges. Companies don’t hire because they are afraid of the future. People are paralyzed in their fear. If you want to break out of that pack you might consider turning off your TV and turning the pages of Ask and It Shall Be Given. 

The subtitle of  is Learning to Manifest Your Desires. My Supernal friend, Sue, had an interesting realization about the subject. Listen in her own words on the latest pod cast at Supernal Friends on the Hello from Heaven Radio page. We named the episode “Sue’s Manifesting Epiphany.” She also talks about her increasing talent of clairaudience. Pretting interesting stuff!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend–

Dana

Aug 20 2011

Discover an Indie Gem–FREE Nov 14- 15th

The Road to GrafenwöhrThings are achangin’ across the globe in almost every sector and nowhere is that more evident than the publishing industry. The rise of digital publishing has given birth to the Indie Author. No more query letters and slush piles hoping to be plucked from obscurity by a Big Publisher. Nowadays anyone with a PC and the Internet can upload a book into cyberspace and instantly become a Published Author. Of course, not all Indie Authors are created equal. Too many lack the skill of good storytelling—or even good punctuation! However, there are a few writers that are finally getting the opportunity to tell their stories in unique ways with truly exceptional talent.  One of those authors is Edward C. Patterson.

I came across him at the Kindle Boards in the nascent days of Indie publishing. He was one of the trailblazers, forging ahead where no one had gone. He was helpful to the newbies and a leader of the pack. It took me a year to actually read one of his stories. Why? It was the gay thing. I mistakenly thought he was writing about gays for gays. I’m not in that demographic, so I kept passing him by. Then, one December day I was tired of the same old, same old and decided to give Mr. Patterson a looksee. And, wow, I was so wrong. Patterson is a gifted writer whose stories transcend demographic groups or petty prejudice. Yes, there are some gay characters and themes, but an understanding and unveiling of the human condition is at the core of his writing. His descriptions, turns of phrase and characterizations inspire my admiration. Reading Patterson reminded me of the time I read Stephen King’s classic The Dead Zone  and understood why he had become the King of fiction. Talent, pure talent.

Patterson is still largely a secret to the general reading public, although last I heard he had sold over 12,000 books since blazing the Indie trail.  Another great thing about digital publishing is the books are going to be available Forever, or until the Internet collapses. Hopefully, terrific writers like Mr. Patterson will find a growing audience who appreciate excellent storytelling. Below is my review for the book I recently read, The Road to Grafenwohr.

When I’m in the mood for fine writing, interesting characters, unexpected turns, I scan the long list of books by Edward C. Patterson. My third outing with Mr. Patterson was “The Road to Grafenwohr” and once again I was deeply impressed by the storytelling talent of this man. “Road” is a fascinating mix of reality and fantasy woven together with writing that can turn lyrical or gritty with the twist of a phrase. Quincy Summerson is a green recruit ordered to the German/Czech border during the height of the Cold War. An obvious facial birthmark always set him apart in his Brooklyn beginnings; in Germany it marks him as a mythic hero. Patterson paints his manuscript first with dabs of mystic moments, mixed with solid realities of military life. By the end of the piece, the mystical has overtaken the mundane to a classic conflict of good vs. evil. All the while the reader grows more involved with the cadre of characters surrounding Summerson. At the core of every Patterson book are characters to care about. He is one of the best authors to emerge from the Indie Author movement. Discover his gems and enjoy the work of a very gifted writer.

 

Aug 19 2011

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex SlaveOne of my increasing joys of being an Indie Author is connecting with other Indies around the world. This year I’ve met the charming and ebullient Sibel Hodge, who generally writes chick-lit romances and mysteries. Sibel has a dual British/Turkish Cypriot nationality, which makes her very interesting, indeed. She departed from her usual fare to raise awareness of the terrible sex-slave industry. She sent me a copy Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex-Slave and this is my official review:

Sibel Hodge paints a vivid picture of a woman caught up in a global travesty of our time: Sex-Slave Trafficking. Using the Diary format to tell Elena’s story of betrayal, helplessness, and degradation, Hodge sheds light on an industry that preys on thousands of young women every day. Using a novelist’s skill, we come to care for Elena quickly. Women readers can easily relate to Elena and how she feels caught in the trap of prostitution. The piece is gritty, but not gruesome. I read it in one sitting. It left me feeling like I wanted to DO SOMETHING, which I imagine was the reason Sibel diverted from her usual chick-lit fare to tackle a serious subject. Hopefully, the pen truly is mightier than the sword, and “Diary” will help raise awareness and action against one of the most shameful cruelties of modern times. Change begins with resolve. I admire Sibel Hodge for devoting her time and talent to keep this issue in the spotlight.

Change begins with awareness and then the decision that enough is enough. Hopefully, communities and countries will begin to decide that treating their girls as sexual commodities is not acceptable.

Aug 2 2011

Surprised by Healing: The Delores Winder Story

Dana by Dana Taylor

Sometimes heaven puts someone in your path just when you desperately need them. Twenty six years ago, Delores Winder was that person for me and my family.  The summer of that year my husband, David, suffered a major heart attack at the age of 36 while we were on vacation in Colorado. Approximately a third of his heart died. In the months following the event, he experienced erratic heart beats and said he sometimes felt like he was about to leave his body. Needless to say, we were very concerned. Our daughters were only six and three. We wanted their Daddy to help them grow up.

It was also around that time that I was getting involved in healing ministry. Our minister invited Delores Winder to visit our church, tell her story, and offer her healing gifts.  She was in her fifties, a petite woman with an incredible story. She had been desperately ill for years and had deteriorated almost to the point of death. Her bones had lost all their substance. A body brace held her upright. Coming from a conservative Christian background, she believed in Christ, but not in spiritual healing. She would have welcomed death, if it hadn’t been for her thirteen year old son, Christopher. A friend convinced her to attend a Kathryn Kuhlman service. Delores only hoped for a sense of encouragement for Chris; instead, she received a miracle healing. And the Gift of Healing.

Surprised by Healing tells Delores’ story. I first bought the book a quarter of a century ago. Now, with the advent of the digital age, it is available to everyone through the Kindle store. You’d think it would be a “happily ever after” story, but some of the most interesting parts of the book detail the difficulties Delores and her friends and family had dealing with something they didn’t believe possible. Her faith and sanity were challenged. It took a while to come to terms with her new life and even longer to accept her mission to pay the miracle forward.

I’m so grateful she rose to the occasion. My husband and I took Delores and her husband, Bill, out to lunch the Sunday she visited our church. I’ll never forget how she offered her hand to me across the table. She told me to squeeze her pinkie finger. It was spongy, rubbery—boneless. The finger was the only part of her body not restored to complete health at the Kuhlman service.

She said, “The Lord told me, ‘You can’t lift your little finger without me.”

After lunch as we were saying goodbye, Delores stopped and looked at my husband and said, “I can’t let you go without praying for you. I see a spirit of death on you.” She proceeded to offer a commanding prayer to release him from a negative entity and then prayed for his heart and longevity. From that time on, my husband’s heart settled down and his energy returned.

David is now 62 years old.* His heart still looks damaged to the doctors and they are always amazed at his outward appearance of health and vitality. We live a pro-actively healthy lifestyle, but I’m convinced Delores delivered a supernal healing energy that resonates in my husband even today. I am so grateful he was able to see the girls go to their proms, graduate from high school, get married and meet our first grandchild. How much our family would have missed without the healing touch of Delores Winder.

 I encourage you to read Surprised by Healing and enjoy the Delores Winder story for yourself.

——-

*Update–My husband, David Taylor died in a one car accident February 11, 2013. His heart never mal-functioned, despite doctors’ dire prediction. For more information see: https://supernalliving.com/category/musings/

Ever3  Bring a lift to your spirits with one of my books —

Visit the Dana Taylor Books and Bio Page

Jul 17 2011

Poems from the Heart of Katherine T Owen

I spent some time this morning with poet Katherine T. Owen. No, we didn’t have breakfast together. Katherine lives in England and I’m in Los Angeles. I happened upon her small collection of poems via my Kindle. I have an Internet relationship with Katherine, of sorts. We met through a writing contest for spiritual authors and felt a kinship, though we’ve never exchange a word. With little fanfare Katherine has published Be Loved, Beloved—14 Spiritual Poems. I spent my morning quiet time seeped in Katherine’s words.

 Her poems were forged in the midst of deep personal struggle. As a young woman Katherine was incapacitated through a disease known as M.E.—Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. In her words “I…spent fourteen years bedbound with little movement and little speech…My life took on two sides: the difficult circumstances in which I was living—fighting to survive, and the rich, although initially also grueling, spiritual journey.”

 While the doctors may have called Katherine’s disease M.E, her poems reveal a major blockage of divine love as her true dis-ease. For whatever reason, Katherine deemed herself unloveable. From her sparse words emerges the picture of a woman who had the wall between God and herself removed, one revelation at a time. One poem at a time.

 One thing that struck me was the stripping of ego in the work. Most of us have a comfy ego façade, but weakness and disease tore Katherine’s away. Her poems come from the heart.

 It’s a short piece, easily read in half an hour, but the beauty of poetry is its ability to be fresh with each reading, like listening to a favorite song over and over. Be Loved, Beloved is a precious little tome to be revisited time and again.

Jun 18 2011

Book Review: New Age Classic “The Parables of Kryon”

 

“The Parables of Kryon” by Lee Carroll was first published in 1996. At that time I was living in Oklahoma, the buckle of the Bible Belt, basically a galaxy away from Del Mar, CA where Mr. Carroll was at the forefront of the New Age movement. The Kryon material is channeled information, which in many circles still has the connotation of being straight from the Devil’s Lair. I’ve found channeled material to run the gamut from the ridiculous (“greetings, Earthlings”) to life changing (“A Course in Miracles”).

Since acquiring a Kindle, I enjoy exploring all the spiritual book lists seeking the rare gem, the classic I missed along the way. I’d vaguely heard of Lee Carroll and Kryon, even in the insulated heartland, and decided to risk perdition by downloading “The Parables of Kryon.” What I discovered was a delightful collection of twenty deceptively “simple” stories rich with profound life lessons.  Just as Jesus taught the villagers of his day through tales like The Prodigal Son, The Sower of Seeds, and The Good Samaritan, Kryon shares his philosophy via the storytelling tool.

The book begins with the brief “Parable of the Tar Pit” where everyone thinks being covered in tar is normal until one person is suddenly washed clean. Carroll serves as interpreter of the Kryon tales he receives, spelling out the spiritual lesson in case you missed it. Disciples can be a little dense, as Jesus learned when he had to explain the Sower of the Seeds analogy to his followers. Likewise, Carroll makes clear the philosophical lessons behind “The Big, Fuzzy Caterpillar” (a wormy creature who misses the chance to become a butterfly), “The Two Groups of Warriors” (reminiscent of putting on the whole armor of God in Ephesians), “David the Indian” (who breaks through foggy boundaries) and the rest with summaries at the end of each story.

I found myself reading one parable a morning, like a daily devotional, ruminating on the spiritual lessons, sometimes agreeing, sometimes not, but each story was always food for thought. The piece stands as a sort of spiritual movement historical marker, using phrases like “New Age” and “life contract” that were once new and have now taken on a lot of baggage.  The order of the stories starts with universal life lessons that would not rock many boats to increasingly New Age concepts of reincarnation and karmic principles that would definitely send mainstream Christians back behind their fences.

Still, for those spiritual explorers who enjoyed hearing Bible stories in Sunday school, “The Parables of Kryon” delivers some interesting concepts in a variety of entertaining tales.

Visit the Lee Carroll/Kryon website at Kryon.com