My astrologer read my chart on Thursday and told
me I was entering a period of enlightenment.  What she didn’t know is that I had  recently begun reading Divining Truth,
Straight Talk from the Source. While I am a novice to the whole arena of vibrational energy, traveling  through dimensions and 3D constrictions, I am somewhat versed in the universal  laws.  Therefore, I found this book to be extremely compelling as I move forward in my journey: both in growing  knowledge I already possess and introducing me to new, exciting and wonderful  concepts as well. The format of Divining  Truth is broken down into many chapters, each addressing a specific   question asked by the author’s readers.  As I understand it, the answers are given from the Source or the Cosmic  Mind more or less channeled through the author. After the definitive answers to each  question, the author breaks it down into a fictional account of what’s actually  happening in the chapter.  This  story time is very helpful as I try to understand some of the more advanced concepts.

Be advised that this was not a book I could sit  down and read in one sitting.  I  was only able to take in a few chapters at a time and found myself going back to  the beginning to try to wrap my mind around the concept of the Source.  It is one that is unfamiliar to me;  however, thanks to the message throughout Divining Truth, it is one that I want
to learn more and more about.  But because the book is so uniquely formatted, I can easily refer  back to a chapter in which I might have a question or perhaps help me to  understand a current situation better.  
 
Because there are no coincidences, this book came to me for a
reason.  And I am grateful to have  the opportunity to learn and grow and travel a bit farther on my path to enlightenment with the help of Toni Elizabeth Sar’h Petrinovch and Divining
Truth: Straight Talk from the  Source.

Anne Lamott - Grace (Eventually)

Anne Lamott is so honest and compelling the way she writes about life situations and her struggles to find her own faith as she goes through real-world situations.  Truly Lamott must be someone who believes that which will not kill me, can only make me stronger because when she is faced with having to endure a nightmare taxi ride through San Diego (and chose to ignore that little voice inside that told her she wasn't safe) or when she was blatantly ripped off by a carpet guy when she was purchasing a rug for a preschool...a church preschool nonetheless.  But she takes these lessons and she learns from them and helps the reader understand that when faced with adversity recognize it for what it is but know that in the end it will turn out the way it is supposed to.  One of my favorites ever! 

Naked Being - J.M. Harrison

This book is broken down into bits of wisdom that you can read, study, meditate upon and carry with you throughout the day.  It’s one of those lasting books that you can open to any section and find just what you need to help you through your journey.  But the book also provides the reader with specifics to assist in their journey - insights such as becoming mindful of both weaknesses and successes (when generally don’t we do one or the other?). Naked Being is what is found as a result of removing layers and layers of conditioning that the author discusses in the book. This can be done by reading and meditating on one section of the book during your meditation session.  

Learn how to unravel the layers of the mind that keeps us from our true selves.  The author realizes that this may be a tough task as some of us have so much baggage.  The real peace we long for, J.M. Harrison writes, is deep within us.  In this book, the author realizes that we are creating our own futures in our minds; therefore, we must replace fears and worries that inhabit our minds currently.

Harrison knows the true value of peace and internal happiness and that those cannot be received by other people or material gains.  For example (and I love this part) he writes that if a person’s thoughts do not add to the quality of life, then they are detrimental and should be let go.  And he helps us learn how- and this will be so helpful, readers.  Intuitively, we may know we need to rid ourselves of negative or destructive thoughts but we often fight them which makes them grow - the author tells us how to rid ourselves of this destruction once and for all.

We have all we need to have, we are all we need to be - Harrison helps us to see this and shows us the way to attain it!

Positivity - Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D

In this book, Dr. Fredrickson writes about the positivity ratio and how being positive in real-life situations can enhance mental and physical health.  She gives scientific data in language one can easily understand and also uses real life scenarios of people whose lives were profoundly changed by becoming more positive.

There are specific examples of ways to not only increase positivity but decrease negativity.  The book also provides an abundance of tools to use to change thinking patterns and there are plenty of resources at the back of the book in case you want more information.  Fredrickson also has a website where you can take a positivity self-test and see where you currently stand.  Check it out at http://www.positivityratio.com.

The Irresistible Revolution - Shane Claiborne

Shane Claiborne didn't like what the world was coming to.  He was tired of religious rules and  American greed.  He saw people living in an abandoned church because they had no home.  He saw the authorities come and tell them they had to go - with no solution in sight.  But unlike many, Claiborne didn't sit back and whine.  He did something.  First he helped those people stay in the church and he did so by starting a revolution.  Not one of anger and hatred, but one where he followed in the footsteps of Jesus himself and became determined to get back to the very basics of Christ's teachings.  And he does.  In this wonderful, honest and geniune book, Shane Claiborne takes his revolution on the road - all the way to Iraq and India to teach and lead by example.  Claiborne is also founder of The Simple Way commune in Philadelphia.

A Blessing in Disguise (39 Life Lessons from Today's Greatest Teachers) - Andrea Joy Cohen, M.D.

Dr. Cohen gives us an insightful look at some of the greatest 'luminaries' of our time complete with an introduction by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.  Stories by notable writers like Martha Beck, Joan Borysenko and Dean Ornish, give us a deep look into the challenges they faced in their lives and the resulting healing that occurred.  The book also offers poetry between sections and a large resource section at the end.

Peace Is Every Step - Thich Nhat Hanh

Learn how simple breathing and meditation techniques can help you to acheive peace.  Read more about Master Hanh's suggestions of how to be mindful to achieve serenity in daily life at my blog.

Elements of the Soul

Elements of the Soul - an anthology by a variety of talented writers who I am fortunate to be associated with on Accentuate Writers Forum.  Do yourself a favor and read the anthology...some of these folks are being published for the first time. Very exciting.