Book: “Affirmations for Empaths: A Year of Guided Journaling,” Judith Orloff, Sounds True, 2022
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
I actually read this book in a very short period of time but that is because it is a journal that you need to work at. The author, Dr. Judith Orloff, is a medical doctor who is a board-certified psychiatrist. Her passion in life is to help empaths deal with issues, problems and concerns as they go through life being highly-sensitive and aware.
The affirmations are ways of being energy shifters from negative to positive or to reinforce positive ones you have started or already have in your foundational being.
I like what she writes about and it is evident that she has direct experience and understanding with and of dealing with empaths. The book was quick to read because I did not do any of the writing parts. It is meant to be done over a 52 week period during the entire year.
The questions are insightful and self-provocative in a good way. I reviewed only the digital book but apparently the actual book is 248 pages so it should have enough room to write answers to the questions but I can not guarantee this as I do not have a physical copy of the book. For this reason, I would recommend buying the actual physical book and writing in it on a regular basis to help reinforce good belief systems of self-caring and self-acceptance.
There are eight sections which you progress through from treasuring yourself to honouring intuitions. With each affirmation written out that you are to reinforce, there are a series of questions that you ask yourself about it and journal on that topic.
One of the most important points Dr. Judith Orloff makes in the book that stood out for me was, “I do what’s possible to make a goal happen, then surrender the results to Spirit to work its magic in my life.”
I found the journal to be a very good self-awareness and transformational process that you can do at your own pace. I give the book a 4.5 out of 5.0.
Dr. Judith Orloff also has her website under her name with much more information. She is also the author of several books written in the same vein.
This is a photograph I took of the tower of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I think of Joel Osteen who speaks of having a “Crown of Favour” if you believe in God. We are all children of God and as we follow the Holy Spirit, Allah, Jehovah, Buddha, Lord, Yahweh, Brahman, Universal Life Force or whatever God Force you may believe in with good intentions, many good things will happen to and for us.
May you have a blessed New Year of 2022 today.
With my art, I am often in a zen-type of mood and with my photography, I feel as if I am inspired by God or the Universe to capture these moments in time.
Thanks in advance for liking commenting, sharing and purchasing. Check out my other images and collections. Thanks for all positive feedback.
Book: “The Self-Love Superpower: The Magical Art of Approving of Yourself (No Matter What),” Tess Whitehurst, Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd., 2021.
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
Book Available September 8, 2021
I was quite interested in recognizing how self-love could be a superpower simply by approving of myself/yourself. Overall, I found the author to be quite knowledgeable about many spiritual and psychological matters. I found she has incorporated many works from previous authors that I have read and whose books I have previously reviewed. It was nice to see these concepts being congealed in such a well-developed way.
I believe the author to be quite young as her references indicate someone of a younger age. This is not a problem other than many of the cultural and societal references she discussed were not in my sphere of knowledge or influence. So, for that reason, I would recommend this book for younger or middle-aged people.
One of the best insights or lines she has is, “I am choosing to need nothing, expect nothing, and even be nothing. And so I am open to everything.” She goes on to say how liberating it is to have this kind of thought. This is in line with Buddhist philosophy of non-attachment.
Overall, she does come up with some very good ideas but again, they are ones I have read in many other books but it is nice to see it collated here as an inclusive manner.
Tess also goes over chakras which for me was just a review. It seems most books I pick up nowadays include something about the chakra system. If you are new to this, then definitely read this.
Overall, I would give this book a 4 out of 5 based on the attempt to have a cohesive nature of spiritual philosophies and ideas in one book.
I took this photograph of this beautiful flower both at its bud stage up top and in full bloom below. It is like living on this Earth, end of life is happening for some while birth and new life is happening for some. Others in various stages of the in-between life. I like the contrast in stages. There is spiritual meaning in this photograph.
Thanks for liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing.
If you are interested in a print, contact Mary directly at Mikawoz@gmail.com
The world is a mosaic. It is a combination of all sorts of people but we are all one. We come in various shapes, colours and combinations but essentially we are souls having a human experience.
Thank you for looking, liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing. Thanks for all your wonderful support!
There is a red and green snake amongst red and green leaves of a plant. I like the looping nature of the snake and how it is on top of each other.
According to Wikipedia, “Healing and snakes were associated in ancient Greek myth with Aesculapius, whose snake-familiars would crawl across the bodies of sick people asleep at night in his shrines and lick them back to health.”
I think of the Coronavirus and think of the symbol for medicine featuring snakes.
Thank you for viewing, liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing. Thanks for all support.
This is my interpretation of life and death. While there is life, there is frivolity and fun. There is growth and lessons learned. In death, there is the shucking of the physical body and the soul returns to the ethers.
Signed original available from Mary Mikawoz
Thank you for viewing, liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing. Thanks for all your support – much appreciated.
This an abstract drawing where there is both Yin and Yang in everything – feminine and masculine energies. From this seedling comes much energy and growth.
Signed original available from Mary Mikawoz.
Thank you for viewing, liking, commenting, sharing and purchasing. Thanks for positivity and your support.
Book: “The Soul Purpose Method: Discover Your Unique Calling, Reawaken to Your True Self, and Co-create the Inspired Life You Were Meant to Live,” Licia Rester and Kir Souder, Kynosura Publishing and Paper Raven Books, 2019
Book Review by Mary Mikawoz
Book available: August 20, 2019
This book starts off with three major sections: Intention, Liberation and and Co-Creation. Within these sections, are more chapters with lots of good information.
Rester and Souder outline that you should be doing that which makes you come alive and to do that with your life – not some pre-fabricated need of society or the world although that might be what you end up doing. They believe that once you combine intention, liberation and co-creation, you get your soul’s purpose. That is the formula.
Further to that, they believe that the summit is inside of you to be discovered and not in someplace outside of yourself. You already have all the equipment needed to get there. As Steve Jobs says, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what your truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Licia and Kir refer to your soul’s purpose as a “Northern Intention.”
Licia and Kir go through 7 myths regarding soul purpose.
They are:
I don’t have a purpose.
I have to find or figure out my purpose.
I don’t have enough money, time and/or opportunities to pursue my purpose.
I’m not sure the purpose I’ve identified is my real purpose.
I’m not “good” enough (confident, patient, focused, disciplined, skilled, smart, motivated, or energetic enough) to pursue my purpose.
I have too many other responsibilities, obligations and priorities.
I can’t let down or alienate people in my life.
Further on when dealing with issues surrounding fear, the authors use a quote from Albert Einstein. It reads, “The intuitive mind is a scared gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Their own quote is valid, “What we intend, what we believe, what we choose, and what we act on will create the story of our lives.” That is, indeed, a profound statement.
Finally, the authors ask you to co-create with the Universe or Higher Power or God or Spirit. Paraphrased, they ask you to continue towards service in learning and growing in awareness of who you truly are and in manifesting your goals and dreams in alignment with the highest good of everyone involved.
Rester and Souder indicate that “Wisdom, inspiration and guidance can come at any time, in any form.”
After you have developed your “Northern Intention,” you develop your “Soul Purpose Vision” and then finally you create “Your Soul Purpose Action Plan.” They outline 5 steps in creating effective actions steps.
The biggest take-away from this book is something I know from many of my spiritual practices from books, videos and practices and that is when you are asking for guidance from the divine, you ask, “This or something better for the highest good of all concerned.”
The acorn has the information and drive to become the majestic oak tree and the caterpillar has what it takes to become a butterfly. It is already in them.
I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 so basically a 5 out of 5 and find that it is both a motivational and inspirational book with many insights.
Tags:Licia Rester, Kir Souder, Kynosura Publishing, Paper Raven Books, Purpose, Calling, Northern Intention, Vision, Spirit, Soul, True Self, Life, Purpose, Vision, Divine, Universe, God, Intention, Liberation, Co-creation, Spiritual, Spirituality, Inspirational, Motivational, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review
Mary Mikawoz Creative Pursuits Blog 