Nov 9 2012

Throw Your Unforgiveness into Stinky Creek

Welcome to R. Ann Rousseau, owner of the popular Explore Beyond the Usual blogsite and author of the metaphysical novel, PORTSMOUTH, A LOVE STORY. She understands the need to forgive…

R. Ann Rousseau

In my novel, Portsmouth A Love Story, I wrote a scene where the main character, Severine Champagne asks God why she isn’t with the husband she longed for all her life. It’s a question many women and men have asked themselves if they’ve reached their 40’s and the right partner is not a part of their life yet. As she walks on the beach, she hears the words Forgive the Past. She thought she had forgiven and released the past. The reality was she wasn’t with a loving partner, something she truly wanted, which meant her desire was blocked. But why? Fears or old wounds still lingered in her soul. I think that’s true of many things in our life that seem blocked. A Course in Miracles says that any time there is dis-ease there is an unforgiveness. Pain about not being with a partner or the right partner is evidence that there is dis-ease and a need to uncover an unforgiveness.

I have mentioned many times in my blog posts that I love to walk on Wallis Sands Beach in Rye, New Hampshire. I’m blessed to live near the seacoast. I try to walk every day. At the end of Wallis Sands, there’s a flowing body of water called Stinky Creek which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know this for a fact but I was told it got its Stinky name, because there’s an old ship wreck under the creek which doesn’t allow for proper drainage and circulation of the water flowing down from the mountains of New Hampshire. Many days, the water pools and there’s a very noticeable odor emanating from Creek.

As I approach Stinky Creek during my daily walk, I pick up a rock or two on the beach. I say to myself, I forgive and release…(whomever is rubbing me the wrong way that day) to God, and throw the rock into the creek. A Course in Miracles says that all it takes is a Little Willingness to forgive. By taking something I possess–a rock containing the negative energy of my unforgiveness, with intention, I toss my stinky unforgiveness into Stinky Creek…and it’s released. As many spiritual teachers will tell you, releasing an unforgiveness is more for the person doing the forgiving than it is for the person forgiven. Some days, you have to forgive yourself, and that’s Ok. If you don’t have an ocean nearby, you go to a park and throw a penny into a fountain and release your unforgiveness.Whatever works for you.

Enjoy this Excerpt from PORTSMOUTH, A LOVE STORY

She hadn’t spoken to her mother for many years. As a young woman, she had made several attempts to draw a line in the sand as to the level of negative energy she would take from her before she would finally leave the relationship. After many attempts, she had to admit that the woman was completely unconscious. To stay and continue interacting with her would be submitting herself to an emotionally dangerous environment. Her mother knew her weak points and most of all, how to extract guilt.

What she had learned after studying about spirituality was that manipulation and control is not love. There was no obligation to stay in a family that was harmful to her spirit.

Severine thought she had successfully let go of her toxic past but now it was coming back to haunt her. She was told there was still a lingering unforgiveness blocking her path.

I have no interest in opening that old can of worms again. I can’t see how that would do any good. I can’t change her. I just need to INTEND to forgive her. Not that I believe my mother was right about anything. That’s for sure. I’m doing it for ME…and my future.

At sunset, to mark the occasion, she returned to Wallis Sands and headed over to the point where Stinky Creek emptied into the Atlantic. She took a rock from the beach and said out loud, I forgive and release my mother to God.

In a split second, she decided to pick up another rock. She threw the rock into the water and watched it sink to the bottom and said, I forgive and release Peter Nicholas to God.

With sincere intention to surrender all past anger and any lurking unforgiveness, the rooms of her Spirit were swept clean. She was now ready to embrace a new family, whoever that might be.

R. Ann Rousseau writes about metaphysical, spiritual and astrology topics on her blog Explore Beyond the Usual. She is author of the new novel Portsmouth, A Love Story.

Follow R. Ann Rousseau on Twitter @RAnnRousseau

Facebook. www.facebook.com/PortsmouthALoveStory

Sep 5 2012

Messages from The Ancient Ones by Stacey Stephens

If you’re a fan of the Abraham/Esther Hicks channeled books, you might enjoy Messages from the Ancient Ones by Stacey Stephens. Well organized by topics such as Compassion, Empowerment, Relationships, Integrity, etc., the ideas presented are upbeat and almost uptopian. If everyone took the advice to live by the ideals in this book, it would be a better place indeed.

I used the chapters as a daily devotional in the mornings. There are pictures to set the tone for each chapter, which is a creative way to utilize the new freedoms of digital publishing. The messages are reminiscent of A Course in Miracles talking about ego-based thinking and urging readers to breakthrough to an era of Divinity.

This book is part of the New Thought movement of spirituality. For those of us well-versed in this type of philosophy, it doesn’t break new ground. However, it is a good presentation of the ideas and presents a hopeful image of what the human experience can be.

Dana Taylor

Aug 20 2012

Visionary Fiction Leader, Jacob Nordby

One of the more interesting, creative genres emerging in the writing world is being labeled “Visionary Fiction.” Jacob Nordby is part of the vanguard of authors presenting New Thought philosophy in the fictional fashion. The Divine Arsonist : A Tale of Awakening is a sort of modern Pilgram’s Progress, featuring an American business man, Jacob, and his spiritual journey.

Jacob is a hard-driving type-A personality, reaching for the American Dream. He has it all–the growing business, the pretty wife, two great kids, a few extra pounds, and a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Enter Lucius, a mysterious messenger, challenging Jacob to meet him next week at his Idaho cabin. His life will be irrevocably changed. The choice is his.

Driven by inner guidance and a need to find Who You Really Are, Jacob takes the challenge. What unfolds is a mystical journey that strips him bare, literally and figuratively. His metaphysical experiences are the stuff dreams are made of. The guides he meets all have lessons to teach. He emerges from the harrowing, sometimes blissful, experience transformed.

Jacob Nordby is a gifted writer. He tackles difficult scenes–dream sequences, pedantic conversations, revelations–with a deft touch. He is especially adroit at description. He uses fresh analogies. The hills of Idaho come alive. Astral projection, doomsday visions, and other-worldly adventures are easily imagined. Even though much of the journey is supernatural, his main character remains very human.

The reader senses the real story is about to unfold as the new Jacob re-enters society with a greater awareness of what is really important in life. What sort of impact will the enlightened Jacob have on the people and planet? Perhaps, in a few years another installment of Jacob’s life will make for fascinating reading.

As value systems change and global awareness increases in the area of spirituality without religion, books like The Divine Arsonist will influence the world, one reader at a time. If there is hope for the world, it is in young people with vision, like Jacob Nordby.

Read more about Jacob Nordby at Your Awakened Self.

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1st Place Winner E-Festival of Words

Religion & Spiritualitiy

Aug 8 2012

“Miracles: 32 Stories”

You know you’re about to embark on a unique book when the cover page reads: “This book may be copied and freely distributed. Its contents belong to God; its work are His glory.”

Miracles: 32 True Stories compiled by Joanie Hileman centers on thirty-two people living in Maine who all were touched by God’s grace. Hileman does an excellent job of capturing everyone’s “voice” and writing their stories as if they are sitting in your living room sharing their lives.

The book is decidedly Christian in philosophy and features many people who were struggling through life and found their way to a better path by becoming followers of Christ. The people portrayed are generally middle class folks living in a small town setting. Some stories are anecdotal incidents such as “The Appointment” where a woman reluctantly keeps a hair appointment during the busy Christmas season. She winds up saving a choking child’s life and the appointment becomes divine intervention.

Other stories are much longer tales of despair and redemption. A sad commentary on our society is how many of the people in this book have struggled with drugs and addictions. They are the lucky ones to have found a way out.

“Losing Matthew”—Barbara’s story covers a thirteen year span about a mother who seriously messes up and loses her son to the foster care system, then to the biological father. I found her story of slow redemption especially moving. There were no instant miracles, but God never gave up on her, either. Barbara found God’s grace many times along the way, even after she stumbled time and again.

There are two suicides in the book. In both cases, family members receive supernatural encouragement to get through a devastating situation.

There’s an authenticity to this book that will undoubtedly resonant with many who will identify with the people who share their stories. Miracles demonstrates that life is not easy, but it can be filled with grace and joy, even in the most difficult of times. When people open themselves to Divinity—in these examples through the Christ Spirit—miracles do happen!

Jul 28 2012

“From Scared to Sacred” by Carol Woodliff

From Scared to Sacred: Lessons in Learning to Dance with Life.

Therapist Carol Woodliff demonstrates what can happen when “still small voice” whispers turn into full-blown lessons for abundant living. Using an interesting mix of channelled information and memoir, Woodliff provides an uplifting and entertaining guide to positive living.

Carol Woodliff is a shaman, healer, and hypnotherapist who has crossed my path in writing circles. Over the past couple of years I’ve come to “know” her through the social media. If I had to use one word to describe both her book and Carol Woodliff, the person, I would choose “authentic.” She has an authentic desire to help people heal and grow; she has an authentic hunger for personal spiritual growth. She doesn’t use hype or sell CD’s on how to become a guru in twelve easy steps. No, Carol, has experienced life-changing communications and used them to change her life. Her book offers spititual wisdom and encouragement.

From www.CarolWoodliff.com:

“In From Scared to Scared, I share the beautiful poetic lessons from that Voice and honest personal essays reflecting on living that wisdom. It is a journey that is funny, touching, mystical and grounded in the question, “How do we live those spirit teachings and be compassionate with our human self at the same time?”

Have you ever felt the whispers of your heart and then felt they just weren’t practical?
Have you ever thought, “The spiritual teachings by many New Age writers sound really good but how do I actually live them?”
Have you ever longed for a real discussion about how we love being human and be our highest spiritual self at the same time?

I did and this is what I share with you in From Scared to Sacred. It is just a small transposition that changes the word scared to sacred. It is similar small shifts in our consciousness that allow us to move from living ruled by our fears, to living in sacred connection to our highest and most authentic spirit. I invite you to join me in this exploration and listen to the whispers within your own heart.”

“Life isn’t a test. It is an opportunity for our spirits to experience our humanness in this wonderful dance we call life!”

This is a great book to use as a daily devotional, taking a chapter a day to get off to a good start.

Learn more at www.CarolWoodliff.com. You’ll be glad you did!

Dana Taylor

Jul 16 2012

“Lessons from the Source” Inspire

LESSONS FROM THE SOURCE by Jack Armstrong is a book of inspired channeled messages that resonate with authenticity. I’ve been following Jack for a few years now and have been impressed with his humble, but wise manner. He offers his material without a heavy dose of ego bolstering. Jack is the Real Deal.

From the book description:

Thirty years ago, Jack Armstrong began receiving a series of simple and practical life lessons from an unknown inner source. While he did not understand where they were coming from or why they were being presented to him, it was clear the teachings were unlike any he had encountered during his own spiritual quest. He continued recording the lessons but kept them a secret from family and friends, fearing they might question his sanity. Years passed before he gathered the courage to share these writings, but when he did, the response was overwhelming. Lessons from the Source is a collection of those writings that offers a new perspective on spiritual issues most of us grapple with regularly. This spiritual guidebook discusses the nature of life’s journey, the challenges we confront, ways to overcome the challenges, and opportunities to make the journey more enjoyable. Like the Conversations with God books and A Course in Miracles, the insights found in Lessons from the Source reflect a source of wisdom that explains the deeper truths of our lives. It offers down-to-earth, yet profound and powerful, lessons about life and spirituality, posing a refreshing perspective about our life on earth.

This is very clean, channelled material that I used as a spiritual pick-me-up in the mornings. Jack avoids interjecting his perspectives and ego and lets the material speak for itself. There is a lot of similarity to the Abraham-Hicks information, without coining catchy phrases. The most enduring theme is “Claiming and Accepting Your Good.” Taken as a daily devotional, the ideas raise us out of our worries and mind chatter. The Source seeks to take us from an attitude of Duality (me here, God there) to Non-Duality (Divinity & Me united).

Chapter One kicks off with this passage:

You are one with the entire universe–its substance, its intelligence, its activity….You are an expression of my divinity, where all is in order.

Did the material rock my world? No, but it might rock someone else’s who isn’t so familiar with this kind of thinking. “Lessons” offers a daily dose of uplifting thoughts and a paradigm shift toward living plugged into Spirit. The ideas can be sipped and steeped as you move through your day.

At the end Armstrong offers a short, candid accounting of his life journey, which has had very human struggles. He doesn’t come close to taking on a guru persona and is still trying to incorporate the ideas he received so long ago. It takes courage to reveal messages that seem to come from another mind and it took him decades to go public with the information. As more and more people reveal their encounters with Divinity, it will become our “new normal.”

As the catch-phrase goes– “Change your life, change your thinking“— LESSONS FROM THE SOURCE is a good place to start.

UPDATE: August 2015– New release from Jack Armstrong-

Affirmations of the Soul, Volume One

“In Jack Armstrong’s newest book, he shares powerful and positive affirmations that remind us of spiritual truths we already know, help us release our attachment to negative thoughts or emotions, and clear the pathway to a more joyous, fulfilling and abundant life.

The affirmations included in Affirmations of the Soul, which will be the first volume of a continuing series, address issues as varied as spiritual guidance, the manifestation of desires, letting go of despair, living in the moment and financial abundance.”

I look forward to downloading this latest offering from Jack. I’m sure it will be a good way to begin my days.

Supernal Living with Dana Taylor

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

Category Spirituality