SARAH AND SETH, Solomon’s Fine Featherless Friends
by Esther & Jerry Hicks, Abraham-Hicks Publications, 1999, $15.00, ISBN 0-9621219-7-5, 281 pgs

Have you ever experienced deja vu? How about being very comfortable with someone you’ve only just met? They are just two of the things that Sara and her new friend Seth experience together in this newest addition to the Sara series from the pens, mind and computer of Esther and Jerry Hicks. Although at first glance, this may look like a children’s book, it can (and should be) on the required reading list for children of all ages from 1 to 101.

In their first Book, Sara and the foreverness of friends of a feather, we met Sara, a bright young girl who learns about life through the teachings of Solomon, a wise owl. Sara now comes across a new boy in the neighborhood, Seth and through a series of adventures, learns about trust and friendship and the powerful Law of Attraction.

Sara and Seth is a very easy, fast-reading book filled with many examples of how the Law of Attraction works. This is a book that would benefit anyone wanting to understand how they can change their lives, because, as Abraham says, the message is “wedged between the cracks” of this seemingly simple storyline. And the message is strong and clear. You are living what you are vibrating or as Solomon says in the early part of the book, “Law of Attraction is really behind everything that comes to you, or happens to you. And so, if you are a vibrational match to good things, then only good things can come to you ... if you carefully observe the way you are feeling, and then you notice that what comes to you matches that feeling, you then begin to understand how ‘Law of Attraction’ works. Then you understand that by changing the way you feel – you can change how things turn out.”

No wiser, or truer words were ever spoken. This is a book that keeps on giving because we can see parts of our innocent selves in Sara and Seth. And they speak to us, beckoning us to join their world, come play with them and swing from the tree. Come be a part of this world in which what we think and feel can lead us to everything we desire in life.

Come drink in Solomon’s wisdom and feel the resonance inside as this wise bird rings your bells of self-discovery. The door to a joyous life experience awaits you. Open the pages, and come on in!

reviewed by Cindy
(and, again, I helped! Gerri) 

THE CORPORATE MYSTIC
by Gay Hendricks and Kate Ludeman, Bantam Books, 1996, 212 pages, $13.95

If you always wanted to know how the work environment can be fun, profitable and spiritually uplifting, this book is for you. Although it has been around for a few years, its message is extremely relevant during these times of accelerated change.

The Corporate Mystic is truly a guidebook for visionaries with their feet on the ground. Hendricks and Ludeman have worked with 800 executives over the past 25 years and make the prediction that successful corporate leaders of the 21st century will be spiritual leaders. I believe they are right.

Corporate mystics are described as those who operate from a base of integrity, pursue their visions with passion and compassion and evoke the full potential of those with whom they come in contact. Hendricks and Ludeman point out that integrity, vision and intuition are the three qualities which are present in these business leaders. The authors explain how these qualities lead to both personal and corporate success.

Integrity is defined as being authentic with yourself, with others and doing what you said you would do. The authors further explain that it takes a great deal of energy to be out of integrity because we are then living in a state of separation from the wholeness of life. Examples are given on how to handle integrity problems and create win/win situations. Sigmund Freud is quoted as saying, “Secrets make you sick.” The authors contend that secrets and lies can make companies sick, too.

The book next explains the importance of clear vision and how without it, leaders have no proactive direction in which to organize the resources at their command. Central to having a clear vision is intention, which actually comes from Latin and means “to stretch forward.” One of the best comments made about intention is a quote by Nikos Kozantzakis which states: “By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The non-existent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.”

Intuition is the last topic discussed, with many examples given on how we can easily access this natural gift. We are told this is important because intuition is a clear sign that we are connecting to our inner spiritual guidance system. It is a direct signal from our deepest self that we are navigating from our true center.

The Corporate Mystic is filled with some of the best wisdom of the ages and ideas that anyone can use immediately to experience more joy, happiness and success at work. It’s an excellent how-to manual for making work a truly spiritual experience.

Reviewed by Darlene Sowa

PERFECT EYESIGHT: THE ART OF IMPROVING VISION NATURALLY
by Robert A. Zuraw and Robert T. Lewanski, Taoist Publishers, Troy, MI, 1998, 124 pages, $19.95

The book’s cover states that this is a complete course, and certainly local authors Robert Zuraw and Robert Lewanski have encompassed a broad variety of healing techniques in one compact volume. Their eyesight healing techniques use elements drawn from Chinese medicine, chi kung, Ayurveda, meditation and concentration skills, herbal and nutritional supplementation and macrobiotics. The dozens of exercises in this book are not limited to strictly improving eyesight, but are a holistic approach to improving the energy and health of one’s entire being.

Robert Zuraw was once legally blind without glasses. After duty with the Army in Vietnam, he suffered from Agent Orange poisoning, diabetes and other ailments. He used the techniques in this book to improve his own health and attain 20/20 vision. The techniques offered in this book were developed in more than 30 years of research, practice and testing.

What also shines clearly through the pages of this book is the authors’ view of their work as a mission to assist others in obtaining perfect eyesight and health. They are passionate about their work, and in sharing it with others.

“You are about to embark on a sacred journey,” says Lewanski in his introduction. “It is a journey you have to take all by yourself ... Discovering and applying this information can make the difference between sub-par eyesight and health, and unlimited zestful and youthful vitality ... We challenge you to prove and test these teachings for yourself.”

Reviewed by Sally Kimbel

THE GOSPEL TRUTH
Church of Today, Unity of Warren, 1999, $15, available at Church of Today bookstore, www.churchoftoday.com

When is the last time you heard music that filled you with such joy that it made you want to jump to your feet and boogie down? If you are lucky enough to live in southeast Michigan, you can hear this choir perform live every Sunday at the Church of Today. Now, anyone that attends the Church is familiar with these favorite anthems, among them the very powerful “We Are Marching” theme song that is sung at every service. And the other tunes ... well, what can I say? If you can’t feel the Spirit move through you after one listen, then you must be a rock! (Although I think the soul that comes through the voices and harmonies will touch even the mineral kingdom!) This is more than voices raised in joyful praise. It resonates and touches those places deeply within us that yearn for spiritual connection. Listening is truly a transformative journey. Give your soul a treat. You won’t regret it.

Reviewed by Cindy Saul

RECOVERING IN THE TAO: The Way to Healing and Harmony
by Eric D. Greene, Tao Bear Books, Wayne, Michigan, 2003, ISBN 0-9719361-0-2, 117 pages.

Michigan author, Eric D Greene, has combined the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism with the philosophy espoused in 12-Step Programs to create a book sure to be useful for those in recovery programs, but also insightful for those who are not. There is much simple wisdom in this small volume that we can all relate to in our lives. The connection of the wisdom of Tao to healing and recovery makes sense.

Greene has “studied and practiced Taoism for more than 25 years.” Tao, a Chinese philosophy founded by LaoTzu in the 6th century BC, guides its followers to a “state of harmony, serenity and wholeness.” Tao is often translated as “the Way” or “the Path,” suggesting that it is more a state of being than an intellectual idea. Its most famous symbol is the “ying/yang” which in itself demonstrates balance, harmony and wholeness.

When Greene began attending 12-Step meetings in 1992, he saw connections between the way of Tao and the Recovery movement, which similarly aids participants to balance their lives. For example, the Serenity Prayer is a key component in those programs. Thus Greene began to weave the two philosophies together, first for himself and then in this book so that it might serve others.

What I noticed immediately about this book is that nearly every reader will relate to its content in some way. One does not need to be in recovery to appreciate its insights. We all experience various degrees and levels of disharmony and dysfunction during our lives. It is always helpful to discover how we might bring greater balance and serenity to our everyday paths.

Greene organizes his book into five sections. In part One, “The Origin of Disharmony,” he explains the various ways that dysfunctional behaviors, psychological wounds and issues are passed down from generation to generation. Each point is covered in two to three paragraphs on a single page, always concluding with positive encouragement and some small gem of Taoist wisdom. One big insight relates to how low self esteem can lead to all sorts of bad personal choices and even addictions. Greene’s concise organization makes his book easy to read and understand.

Part Two, “Trying to Fill the Void” deals with a broad spectrum of addictions. We learn of many more kinds of addictions than those we are all most aware of and we also learn that addictions involve control issues in various ways. We are reminded that we live in an addictive society. And we begin to see that many human behaviors, largely harmless in moderation, approach addiction when we become obsessive or compulsive about them. Greene gets us to look at all kinds of addictions, from alcoholism and drug addiction, to fantasy, eating, thinking, religion, gangs, power, wealth, computer-games playing, television watching, workout addiction, anorexia and more. He truly gets his readers to self-examine, but again with each page, he brings us back to “the Way,” with an appropriate statement of Tao wisdom.

Part Three deals with “Harmonizing Our Relationships.” Greene notes how we enter adulthood often stuck in our childhood roles and dysfunctional adolescent experiences. He encourages us to “let go of our old, familiar roles.” He discusses problems we have relating to workplace roles, using each other, addictive relationships, people pleasing and authority figures. As before, each brief discussion ends with positive encouragement and Tao wisdom.

Part Four is “Learning to Go with the Flow.” Here readers will find advice related to similar insights in many other current self-help works, such as to work on being aware of imbalances, to work through the pain of life, to find the “middle Way” to self-empowerment, to substitute healthy activities for old self-destructive habits and to “let go” of what isn’t healthy or self-sustaining. It is always worthwhile to be reminded of these things. Greene reminds readers that “growth is slow, but steady.”

In his concluding pages, Greene in Part Five discusses “Living the Tao.” The Tao, as we noted previously, is a “way,” a “being-ness.” Here the author notes all the benefits a person can gain by practicing the Tao, living the Tao. This final section is especially insightful and appropriate for all readers.

Author Eric Greene says that “writing this book has helped me to continue moving forward in my recovery” and he hopes that reading it does the same for his readers. I would note once more that nearly everyone, both those in recovery programs and those just dealing with everyday life, will find wisdom and insights in these pages.

Reviewed by Gayle Woityra

THE VOICE OF KNOWLEDGE
by don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills,
Amber-Allen Publishing;
ISBN 1878424548, 248 pages, $14

Don Miguel Ruiz, author of the best-selling book, The Four Agreements has done it again. The Voice of Knowledge, his fifth and latest book co-authored with Janet Mills, is the book we’ve all been waiting for. Certain to become another classic, The Voice of Knowledge hits the stands this month with new tools for transformation and a powerful message about attaining inner peace.

Ruiz wants the reader to realize that all of the drama humans suffer is the result of believing in lies, mainly about ourselves. He tells us that the real conflict in the human mind is between what is truth and what is not truth – between the truth and lies. Believing in the truth results in goodness, love and happiness, while believing in lies and defending those lies leads to injustice and drama. Believing in lies creates all of the violence and abuse, all of the suffering, not only in society, but also in the individual.

Ruiz tells us that “We are born in truth, but we grow up believing in lies.” Before we learn to speak, our true nature is to love and be happy, to explore and enjoy life. As little children, we are completely authentic. Our actions are guided by instinct and emotions and we listen to the silent “voice of our integrity.” Once we learn a language, the people around us hook our attention and program us with knowledge. Knowledge goes into our mind and reproduces a structure inside our head. That structure – our belief system – is everything that we know and that knowledge is contaminated with lies.

With our attention focused on all the knowledge in our head, we no longer perceive the world through the eyes of love; we only perceive what we have learned to believe. The loud “voice of knowledge” – what we call thinking – comes alive inside our head and what is that voice telling us? Mostly lies. That voice never stops talking, judging, gossiping and abusing us. It constantly sabotages our happiness and keeps us from enjoying a reality of truth and love.

Sharing his wisdom with anecdotal illustrations, Ruiz shows us how to recover the silent voice of our integrity and find inner peace. When the voice of knowledge no longer controls us, our life becomes an expression of our authentic self, just as it was before we learned to speak. Then we return to the truth, we return to love and we live in happiness again.

Ruiz is known for taking complex human issues and turning them into simple common sense. This talent has earned him millions of fans, international acclaim and a vote of approval from Oprah Winfrey. The Voice of Knowledge, written in an eloquent style, delivers profound wisdom in a well-organized, easily digested format. The Points to Ponder at the end of each chapter help us to remember the highlights and, unlike his other books, this one offers insight into the experiences that helped don Miguel become who he is today: a man who has obviously recovered his own personal freedom and devoted his life to helping others write their stories based on love.

The Voice of Knowledge is a magical book with the power to transform your life. It can bring you back to a state of integrity – a natural relationship with your authentic self that is based on love and truth instead of lies. But don’t believe me or anybody else. Read it for yourself.

Reviewed by Janet Mills

Everyday Positive Thinking
Louise L. Hay and Friends,
Hay House, 2004, $8.95,
448 pages

Louise Hay does it again! Louise has been providing inspiration to millions of people through the myriad of books she has published through Hay House for decades. Now, again, she brings us another tool for positive living. Everyday Positive Thinking brings together such leading edge thinkers/authors as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, John Gray, Abraham-Hicks (Jerry & Esther Hicks), Doreen Virtue, Iyanla Vanzant, Marianne Williamson and others as well as her own wonderful affirmations. This is just the thing to reach for when you need an instant shot of inspiration or encouragement.

I use it as a guide for my day. For instance, I randomly opened it up today and read this thought from Iyanla Vanzant… “How can you bring some excitement into your life? Are you willing to experience excitement today? Excitement is the result of doing the very thing you’ve convinced yourself you can’t do!” This is a great gift to give to yourself or for anyone that could use a little positive jolt in their day.

Reviewed by Cindy Saul

The Proposing Tree
by James Twyman,
Hampton Roads Publishing, 2003,
$16.95, 105 pages

The Peace Troubadour, aka James Twyman, pens his first novel with The Proposing Tree. Although small in page count, it is large in its message of timeless love. It takes us on the story of Frederick and Carolyn. They meet and discover an instant bond. Frederick falls in love immediately but Carolyn wants to keep it “just friends.” They establish a ritual of Frederick offering a proposal to Carolyn under a certain tree in Los Angeles. The fact that this tree really exists and that Twyman’s dedication makes reference to the storyline causes me to wonder just how much of this story is autobiographical in the author’s life. I won’t spoil it for you by revealing the end. This is one you will have to explore for yourself.

Twyman’s writing is so compelling that you won’t want to put it down until you get to the end and find out what is going to happen to our main players. Recommended reading for lovers of all kinds. A Course In Miracles tells us that “Whatever the question, love is the answer.” And to quote Frederick, “We all come for love, for it is the only thing worthy of our visions. In the end, it is the one thing that really matters in this world.”

Reviewed by Cindy Saul

The Dream Giver
by Bruce Wilkinson,
Multonomah Publishers, Inc, 2003,
$16.99, 157 pages

Bruce Wilkinson is the author of the bestseller The Prayer of Jabez and other spiritual books. In this little beauty, he again uses a parable to illustrate poignant life lessons. We are taken on a journey where we meet Ordinary, a Nobody, who leaves the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. Along the way there are many things he must deal with. They have names we may recognize like, Bullies, leaving the Comfort Zone, finding the Sanctuary and finally arriving in the Land of Promise. We recognize ourselves as Ordinary. But how many of us have the courage to step out and follow our Big Dream? This is the question that is posed to the reader and is put across in such as way that one will want to pause to reflect on it. Have you given up on your Big Dream? What is holding you back? What happens if you venture forth? This book should be recommended reading for anyone venturing out on their own, beginning a new business, a new relationship, a lifetime dream… whatever you hold in your heart that hasn’t yet become reality. Journey with Ordinary on his adventure toward fulfilling his Big Dream. After reading this, you just may decide to follow in his footsteps.

Reviewed by Cindy Saul

Best Friends: The True Story of the World's  Most Beloved Animal Sanctuary
by Samantha Glen, Kensington Books, 2001. 284 pages. $15.00

In May my husband and I took a driving trip to southern Utah where we visited a most amazing place, the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Located in a gorgeous red rock canyon, Angel Canyon (once the site for filming western movies), Best Friends is the largest No-Kill animal sanctuary in the United States. This book, by the same name, tells its story.

Founded by a group of caring Britishers and Americans in the early 1980s, the concept has grown from a private organization into a large, incorporated organization, linked to many members all over the world. Today there are no less than 600 animals regularly in residence in the beautiful canyon just north of Kanab, Utah. Having toured the site, I can attest to its outstanding facilities, caring workers and happy animals. The organization promotes and services low-cost spaying and neutering clinics, prepares animals for adoption when that is appropriate, rescues abused domestic pets and wild animals and provides lifetime care for old animals, feral cats, and animals with various illnesses and disabilities. This is a magnificent haven for all creatures.

The book tells the story of how Best Friends got started and how it grew to where it is today. The book is filled with heart-warming, happy-ending stories of animals who came to live at Best Friends. Often the stories amaze us when they reveal the intelligence and kind spirit of the animals themselves who often help heal and take care of each other.

It may seem strange to recommend a book about animals in a “Body, Mind, and Spirit” publication. For me it seems a perfect fit. People who love animals exhibit a raised consciousness, an attunement to nature and living creatures. That certainly reflects Spirit. The group, Best Friends, are trying in their own way to raise the public’s consciousness. They are seeing considerable success in various areas, especially in emphasizing “No-Kill Shelters” and their “No More Homeless Pets” movement.

The book terms this the “cycle of love.” The author, speaking for the folks at Best Friends, says, “There is no better application of the Golden Rule than to help a homeless pet.” Also, “in offering a helping hand to nature, we discover a connection to our own basic nature.” She notes that “doing something truly good for the animals would represent a whole new attitude to life. It might mean that we are not only at the start of a new technological era, but of a spiritual one, too.”

And so this is a perfect book, not only for all animal lovers and pet owners, but also for all phenomeNEWS readers. I would urge you to take a break from the ghastly news in the media, settle down in a comfy chair, fall in love with some of God’s very special creatures and feel good reading about loving human beings who devote their lives to all creatures, great and small.

Check out Best Friends’ website at www.bestfriends.org.

Reviewed by Gayl Woityra