Making Sense

“Making Sense of Mindfulness: Five Principles to Integrate Mindfulness Practice Into Your Daily Life”

Book: “Making Sense of Mindfulness: Five Principles to Integrate Mindfulness Practice Into Your Daily Life.” Keith Macpherson, Morgan James Publishing, 2018.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book Available Now.

I knew I was meant to read this book when I received it in the mail and lo and behold there was the postage reading in an angelic number. It was meant for this book to fall into my hands. It was destiny at its best. I definitely noticed the significance at once and appreciated it.

I have known Keith Macpherson on the periphery as an interested person. I had him as a yoga instructor although we had not been formally introduced. I had seen him perform with his group, Keith and Renée. Further to that, I had, as many Canadians, seen him perform on Canadian Idol but as a spectator watching TV from my living room. As well, Keith and I are both teachers with a Bachelor of Education degree.

What I find interesting about Keith is how he is able to meld his singing career, yoga and spiritual quest search altogether. He highlights that Wayne Dyer was a mentor with whom he had studied with many times in Hawaii. For me, I had been introduced to Wayne Dyer’s first book “Your Erroneous Zones” which I read in the 1970s as an avid and interested teenager. At that time Wayne was more into the psychological aspects of life and not onto the spiritual aspects quite yet. This self-help book was on the New York Bestsellers List for 64 weeks and sold over 35 million copies. If Louise Hay and Shakti Gawain are the grandmothers of spirituality, then Wayne Dyer is the grandfather of spirituality. His influence is and has been immense.

To have been in the presence of this incredibly, influential man such as Keith Macpherson has had the opportunity to learn, would have been so profound and there is evidence of this affect and effect in his book.

Keith’s book, “Making Sense of Mindfulness” bridges the information between many thought leaders that are promoted and published by Hay House. As a person, who has reviewed many spiritual and self-help books, many of which are from Hay House authors, I find Keith has found a good way to combine and glean out for you, a combined knowledge of what are the essential kernels of truth from many of these same authors. In effect, you are getting the most important aspects of spirituality found in this book.

I think one of the most important pieces of this book is the section that deals with those of us, which is most of us, who do not deal with our emotions. It is kind of a culturally learned behaviour and expectation that we do not expose and relate positively to our feelings and stuff them down into a cellular level in our bodies which causes us, as Louise Hay would say, dis-ease. It is important to acknowledge and release that which we refuse to look at in order to move on.

Keith shows you a number of mindfulness techniques. I have previously reviewed mindfulness books in the past and have also taken mindfulness classes through a variety of places having worked in Social Services and Education. He is able to highlight and delve into what is important to know and practice in your daily and moment to moment life.

I would have loved to have met and known Wayne Dyer, but with Keith Macpherson, you get the next best thing. Further, I have also taken Keith’s Mindfulness course online. He reviews 5 principles of mindfulness with online videos, meditations and exercises. You can find out about it and other valuable material at his website:https://www.keithmacpherson.ca

I would like to start to wrap up by saying that I think there is a beauty in the way Keith writes that I believe he gets from his musical background in that some quotes and passages were lyrical and musical in presentation. I felt as if he said certain things in a very meaningful and poetic way that comes from a person who has the ability to capture life by writing lyrics into songs along with melodies. The passages are melodic.

Finally, I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 and I believe that if you are stressed in any way and are not sure how to deal with it, this book is for you. Keith combines all his experience as a yoga instructor, student of Wayne Dyer and also a life coach with knowledge and actual practice with valuable insights. He offers courses, personal coaching, leadership coaching, online yoga and now offers an online community called “Mindful Tribe.”

For more book reviews, check out my wordpress website under Mary Mikawoz:https://mikawoz.wordpress.com/category/book-review/

Tags: Keith Macpherson, Mary Mikawoz, Mindfulness, Making Sense, Practice, Skill, Ability, destiny, significance, angel, numbers, mail, Canadian Idol, Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Shakti Gawain, Hay House, Publishing, spiritual, self-help, authors, mentor, singer, yoga, instructor, life coach, personal coach, leadership training, Mindful Tribe, songs, disease, illness, lyrics, poetic, meaningful, writing, Author, student, Mentor, coaching, online, community, stress, teacher, education, melody, melodies,

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Everyday Empath

Book: “The Everyday Empath: Achieve Energetic Balance in Your Life” by Raven Digitalis, Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd., 2019.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

The book is available March 8, 2019

Raven Digitalis has been an empath all his life. He has focussed on Wiccan and pagan pursuits and is also a farmer. He now explores empathy for those who are newly grounded in it or for those would like to understand highly attuned empaths in their lives. Empathy is an emotional internalization. It is a word that is less than a 100 years old and comes from the German word to “feeling into” where you feel somebody else’s emotion as your own. “Empathy is considerate, compassionate and engaging.”

Unlike sympathy which is a feeling “for” somebody, empathy is a feeling “as” somebody. The empath is “absorbing” the emotional frequency. Everyone is empathic to one degree or another. It all depends on how much you have developed it. Many spiritual people indicate that the emotional response of empathy affects our karma.

Our empathic techniques include the following points: we don’t need to have all the answers, it’s good to be honest, disapproval is ok sometimes, you are not a victim, put yourself first, and cultivate gratitude.

Psychics have an enhanced ability to perceive energies and are more focussed as empaths. For those with highly-developed empathy, we have the benefit of transforming or transmuting the energies by increasing the vibrations. Emotional absorption can take place while on the phone, watching TV, and reading the newspaper, in that these are examples of everyday life energy and it is everywhere. If you feel something negative, transmute its energy field to something positive. If you feel something positive, amplify that to the energy grid.

Although the empath is more compassionate, he/she may be scared and see something they don’t want. Some sensitives turn to alcohol, drug abuse, addictions, video gaming and other methods of emotional disconnection. It is really a good thing to be an empath as we are helping to bring in a new aeon of ages into being. If we isolate ourselves for long periods of time, we are bringing in external negative energy without the ability to project our positive energy.

Some methods for dealing with empathy are to: look at the third eye instead of the eyes, covering up your crown chakra with a a hat or shawl, “fake it till you make it,” carry a rock or gemstone, watch your breathing, and surround yourself with like-minded empaths.

Having said all this, it is important for the empath to have boundaries and reinforce this with visualizing a shield of protection. The Mother Earth and Father Sky shield is a good grounding one. You can try a crystalline shield, an egg shield, a mirror shield, shield of iron, a cloak of invisibility, coat of arms, patterned shield, an empath’s heart shield, shield of prayer, or elemental shield.

Empaths are prone to anxiety, depression and emotional imbalances. There are ways to deal with these problems or issues. An empaths purpose is to inspire unity, growth and healing. Empaths are natural healers and that is what we are supposed to do. That is one reason we should be continuing in our community doing the work of transmuting empathic energy and vibrations.

There are a number of exercises in the book. The first one is to observe people and figure out what is going on. It there a dominant personality and a submissive one? Is it a mother and child trying to work out a conflict? What is the feeling between the couple or the group? A second exercise involves you meeting and talking to your Shadow Self. A third exercise is regarding absorptive and projective empathy. A fourth exercise is self-limitation cord cutting. A fifth exercise is morning and evening rituals for empaths. A sixth exercise is a bathing cleansing. A seventh exercise is an empathic journey into art. An eighth exercise is to think globally and act locally. A ninth and final exercise is for action for animals.

Remember “We are not mere emotional sponges. We are emotional alchemists!”

As a fellow empath, I found the book a good review with some very good insights and also some good suggestions for exercises. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels they are developing feelings of empathy towards others or are into metaphysical subjects. I found the book valuable for myself and found it a good read.

The book is available March 8, 2019 when it will be released to the public.

Tags:Spirit, spirituality, empathy, wiccan, pagan, reading others, shields, protection, Mother Earth Shield, Father Sky shield crystalline shield, egg shield, mirror shield, shield of iron, a cloak of invisibility, coat of arms, patterned shield, heart shield, shield of prayer, elemental shield, cutting cords, alchemists, anxiety, depression, emotional imbalances, Shadow Self, community, animals, transmutation, transformation, energy, vibrations.

Healing and Transformation

 

 

Book: “Healing and Transformation: Moving from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary” by Eric Alsterberg, Ph. D.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

This book is a combination psychological book and spiritual book. It discusses case examples and references many books. The overall encompassing message is that we, as a people, are having a spiritual experience while in human form. This message is emphasized throughout the book.

I like the case examples including the ones from the author’s life. He brings insight into the spiritual life and of that entering into the New Golden Age. The author covers many life subject areas from masculinity and femininity roles, intimate relationships to parenting.

Eric Alsterberg says there are no coincidences – that everything is as it should be. However, depending upon how we think positively or negatively determines what kind of world we will have. Depending upon our actions to be Christ-like or opposite also determines the kind of Earth we will live in.

He speaks of listening to the inner voice, the higher self or God presence in our intuition or while we meditate. We can hear from angels, ascended masters or our guides. We will be only give so much information as we can handle. We make decisions based on what we know and sometimes information is withheld for our own benefit.

Dr Alsterberg says there are many traditional methods for healing which include psychotherapy, self-help groups, twelve step tradition groups, self-help books and technologies, seminars and workshops, massage therapy, Reiki, meditation and prayer.

He uses hypnotherapy in his practice and sometimes deals with past-life regression. He believes that many issues that we currently deal with may have their karmic beginnings in past lives. This is something we need to deal with.

Dr. Alsterberg mentions some of his client’s problem with abuse. In one situation, a woman kept attracting abusive partners. He concludes that “Guilt is often an attack on us for not being able to forgive ourselves.” Further forgiveness is important because God is Pure Love and has already forgiven us. Yet people struggle to forgive themselves. We need to release the negative and fear-based emotions within ourselves. Dr. Alsterberg makes his clients visualize positive and love-based emotions leaving and then coming back down a beam of light from higher dimensions and going back into the person.

This book tries to cover many aspects of life. It is am ambitious project. It is an interesting book. Some points, I do not agree with because they have not been proved but they are minor problems with the book. You will know them when you see them. I recommend this book to those who like psychological and spiritual books.

Tags: psychological, spiritual, New Golden Age, coincidences, angels, ascended masters, guides, psychotherapy, self-help groups, twelve-step traditional groups, self-help books and technologies, seminars, workshops, massage therapy, reiki, meditation, prayer, abusive partners, higher dimensions, beam of light

Vibrations

How do you raise your vibrations?

Book: “’Raise Your Vibration: 111 Practices to Increase Your Spiritual Connection” by Kyle Gray

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

I have always wondered how to increase my vibration and here I found a book exactly to deal with this subject-matter. It recommends that you do the 111 practices – one per day, however, as I was reviewing this book, it necessitated me doing the practices in a relatively short period of time.

Kyle Gray is the young author at only 28 years of age. He has been intuitive for a long period of time. When he was 4 years old, he was visited by his grandmother’s soul. He continued to be intuitive into his teens when he developed an interest in spirituality and angels.

He covers many of the main topics such as everything is energy and that God is love. He writes that what he discussed in this book is not contrary to any religious doctrine and that it can be acceptable to all people. The information is basic to becoming a lightworker who does good in society and is trying to make a positive difference in the world.

Kyle Gray goes through presenting the practices or vibes according to the main seven chakras plus three others. One is the Earth Star Chakra which is found 6 to 12 inches below the feet. The second is the Soul Star Chakra which is found 6 to 12 inches above the crown or head chakra. Finally, there is the Stellar Gateway Chakra which is found 12 inches above the head chakra and with its connection to the cosmos.

When we accept the spiritual gift and mission that lightworker is on, we “awaken and empower ourselves from the inside out.”

One of my favourite vibes is vibe number 73 which is affectionately known as Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize. It speaks of the importance of cutting or shearing off the negative chords that are connected to us and then to recognize divine light as our inner being and finally to protect ourself with a shield in a colour of our choosing. By surrounding your aura, you can protect yourself against negative influences.

The first 90 practices or lessons make up the main part of the book. They are to be done one at a time on a daily basis as if you were doing A Course in Miracles. Then the next 21 vibes are affirmations that you can reflect upon also on a daily basis.

Finally, the book ends off with the Declaration of a Lightworker where you sign your name to it.

I recommend this book for people who are into New Age Spirituality and specifically as a good training book for Lightworkers. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. It was released on March 29, 2016 by Hay House.

Tags: vibrations, chakras, energy, love, Jesus, Ascended Masters, Angels, Archangels, Lightworker, spiritual, vibes, practices, lessons, A Course in Miracles, Affirmations, Intuition

The Aha! Factor

Book: “The Aha! Factor: The Intuitive Guide to Getting What You Desire and Deserve” by Mariana M. Cooper

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

I feel as if the author Mariana M. Cooper or Mari has been a long lost friend of mine. We have so much in common. Her journey into the spiritual realm started back in the 1980s as did mine. She has many insights that I agree with. Some I already knew but others are written out in such a way that they make more sense. As well, many of her spiritual habits are ones that I have been doing.

In the beginning of the book, Mari explains the Bull’s-eye of Energy which consists of three rings. The first is your aura which extends from your body for 50 feet or 15 meters. The second ring is the soul which extends 500 feet or 150 meters from your body in all directions. It is vast and impacts much more than you realize. Finally, the last ring is the spirit which extends indefinitely and is part of the entire universe. It is the interconnectedness of everything physical and non-physical and has no limits. Through focussed thought you are engaging the Bull’s-eye of Energy. Until you use it, is remains neutral and not in use.

From there there is the energy grid or Energetic Communication System (ECS) which is a massive web of light just like a cosmic spider web which interconnects all things. This reminds me of the ever-present Internet and its capacity to be worldwide. The ECS is where we manifest, magnetize, actualize and attract our desires and intentions. It works in conjunction with your five senses of touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight. The ECS consists of your intention, your intuition, your telepathic ability, your channeling ability and your capacity to receive and perceive both physical and energetic information.

The Aha! Factor is the ability to take information and make it understandable in a context from many sources. The Aha! Factor uses intuition a great deal and to understand its modern context, one only has to look towards Oprah when she gets the insight of having a conversation with someone or something finally makes sense in a new way. Your Aha! Factor uses the four clairs – clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizance and clairaudience. Your intuition uses signs, symbols and synchronicity. Your Infinite Self interprets all information because it uses our entire being from the energetic part of ourselves to our physical part of our life.

There is so much information and good understanding in this book that it is impossible to go over each aspect in this review. It is best to get a copy of the book and read it for yourself. I highly recommend this book for people who are aware of being spiritual or are into a new age/way of thinking of enlightenment.

Tags: friend, concepts, understanding, bull’s-eye, energy, aura, spirit, soul, Energetic Communication System, web, light, magnetize, manifest, actualize, attract, desires, intentions, five senses, touch, smell, hearing, sight, smell, intuition, telepathic, channeling, Ah Ha! Facotr, clairaudience, clairvoyance, clairsentience, claircognizance, signs, symbols, synchronicity, spiritual, new-age, enlightenment.

Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul

Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul

Book: “Hot Chocolate for the Mystical Soul: 101 True Stories of Angels, Miracles and Healings” by Arielle Ford

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

You could read this book non-stop from front cover to the end but I don’t recommend it. The stories are fascinating and almost unbelievable but they are better read one story at a time. From Mystical Places to Romances of the Soul to Help from Above to The Other Side, the stories are inspiring. They tell of the mystical beings of humanity.

One of the first stories that struck a chord for me is the story of “The Day the Gods were Thirsty.” A marble-stone statue of the elephant god, Ganesha was drinking milk. All over India, in fact, the statues were drinking up milk that was offered by the people. It was broadcast all over the world by CNN and the BBC. It is amazing that something like this could ever happen but apparently it did.

This story is one of the amazing stories of the 101 stories presented.

I would recommend this book as a nice gift to anyone who requires inspiration and hope.

Angel Detox

Book Review

Book: “Angel Detox” by Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves N.D.

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

To begin with the front cover illustration of the angel is beautiful. However, I had a different perspective when I started to read this book. I was not exactly sure what I would find in this book called “Angel Detox.” Some of the advice is good but I have read similar information in other books like the books by Kevin Trudeau. There is a detox for 7 days for items such as detoxing from sugar, soda drinks, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, smoking and so forth.

There is quite an extensive discussion about chemicals in many of the products we use regarding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). You are given advice as to what to buy and what not to buy because of the changes made to the products such antibiotics, pesticides and other contaminants which are for the benefit of the big company but not the health of the population.

I enjoyed reading about Emotional Detox. I liked what was said in terms in dealing with negativity. I also found it interesting that the authors depend upon a lot from prayer and particularly in God, the Archangels and the Angels. To me, I question whether one is hearing from Archangels or just from your Higher Self with advice on how to live a better life. I suppose it could be a matter of perspective and philosophy on this issue.

The book also discusses flower therapy, essential oils, and crystals in many of the chapters. I wonder how this information came out that a certain Archangel is attached with a certain type of flower. Who knows this information? How is it validated? There is quite a bit of information on flower therapy, essential oils and crystals as it relates to detoxing.

This books tries to address many subject matters. Some of the main information is repeated a number of times but I guess the authors are trying to make sure we get the point.

I would recommend this book for people who do want to detox their lives.

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received the book from Hay House for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.