Be Amazing

Book: “Be Amazing: Discover Your Purpose, Conquer Your Fears, and Fulfill Your Potential,” Paul S. Boynton, Skyhorse Publishing, 2020

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

Book available: January 7, 2020

“Be Amazing” was an inspirational concept and experience that Paul S. Boynton received after visiting and receiving outstanding service at a restaurant. From there, he goes on to explain that giving your all is necessary in your endeavours. He writes, “It starts with a desire to be the best we can be in a specific area, followed by a decision to actually make it happen.” That is the essence of the book as Paul outlines a number of other people and situations that were outstanding in his opinion.

He outlines six points for Amazing Qualities. One of the quotes that he writes that I like is when you are doing that one special thing, you don’t have to be the best and as a Zen saying goes, “Flowers don’t compare themselves to other flowers, they just bloom.” That is a very encouraging thought and causes some self-reflection.

Mr. Boynton goes on to say that people know when people are being authentic and when they are with the “real deal.” People can recognize a disingenuous smile and reaction.

He gives out some steps on being amazing. They are as follows:

1. Find your “Spirit Blueprint”
2. Making a decision
3. Discover what amazing will look like
4. Making it happen

He writes his book from a question and answer process. This is how he engages the reader. I understand why Paul does this although I am not sure I like this process. I would prefer he just wrote the book in a straight-forward manner with the assumption that the reader has had those questions and he would answer them without indicating each time what the question was or is.

I like how the end finishes with a quote such as: “Remember, every book began with a single sentence. And every garden started with just a few seeds.”

This book was rather short. I would have preferred a longer version with more stories and examples of excellence.

For an inspirational short read, I give this book a 3.75 out of 5.

Tags: Paul S. Boynton, Skyhorse Publishing, Amazing, Purpose, Fears, Potential, Self-development, Self-help, Spirit, Spiritual, Power of Yes, Begin with Yes, Spirit Blueprint, Decisions, Action, Motivation, Inspiration, Mary Mikawoz, Mikawoz, Book Review

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Akashic Records

Book: “Discover Your Soul’s Path Through the Akashic’s Records: Taking Your Life from Ordinary to Extraordinary” by Linda Howe

Book Review by Mary Mikawoz

I find it difficult to review this book for a number of reasons. I found myself highlighting a lot of sections based on what I considered good insight by the author, Linda Howe. However, I found the

specific concepts on the Akashic Records systems very new to me and so difficult to appreciate. For example there are five pillars of light consisting of Incarnation, Authority, Discipline, Responsibility and Commitment. Without a graphic, I found it hard to visualize where this in my body and how long they are and exactly where they are positioned. There was a written description, and I understand the concepts but the actual simulation of light around the body in a star formation is difficult for me to conceptualize without a drawing of the body. I would have preferred if the book came with a diagram or sketch.

Further to that, there is the triangle of heart, mind and will. It is located somewhere in the body. The closest I got to its location is that the heart is found in the heart chakra and the mind is found in the top head chakra. The will is then found at the throat chakra. All of this makes sense, but in my mind, I do not see how it creates a triangle that is supposed to be equilateral and balanced. Again, a diagram would have been nice to visualize the concept better.

I understand that the central pillar of light is grace composed of compassion and related components. I understand visually that it is the central pillar of light running through our bodies. I understand it is divine and comes from the source. I can see this one.

I understand that the following is a pattern that we should be using to deal with our problems in our lives: acknowledge, appreciate, acceptance and appropriate action. This makes sense as the stepping stones to dealing with present day problems based on the Akashic Records.

I understand that the Akashic Records is a system that keeps record of every thought, action or energy we have displayed in previous lifetimes, in the current manifestation or in future lifetimes. I understand that there is an energy grid. I don’t understand how someone like Edgar Cayce (The Sleeping Prophet) could only access the Akashic Records while under a deep state of relaxation and that we can somehow access it ourselves without transcending into a deep altered state of mind as well.

I found the questions helpful especially for the group questions. I would recommend that as you read this book, you highlight the Opening Prayer and Closing Prayer. I was using an e-book so it was difficult to go back and forth. (Plus, the Adobe Digital Edition software was not co-operating and would keep messing up which in and of itself was frustrating.) I would recommend typing the opening and closing prayers onto a paper or into a word document. If you have a physical hard copy of the book, you can highlight or dog-ear the page and reference it as needed.

I also found the Appendix helpful. There is a better explanation of what state you should be in for the opening prayer in it on pages 165 to 167. I think it would have been helpful to have read Ms. Howe’s earlier books to get a better idea of the Akashic Records. I think she would have covered some more detail that may have been overlooked or assumed to have been known in this book. Overall, I am a visual person and I would have liked the five pillars of light or consciousness graphed out along with the triangle. Without these concepts down, I feel lost in reading and following the book.

The final recommendation I will make regarding this book is that you should audio record the reflections onto your computer or digital device and then play it back to yourself while you are in the process of doing a reflection. This will give you more time to think of being in a higher spiritual realm of thinking and give you time to make the connections with the Masters, Teachers, Loved Ones and the Lords of the Akashic Records.

Despite my difficulties with the book and some of my personal frustrations, I would still recommend the book to those who are interested in their spiritual development.

Tags: Spiritual Development, Concepts, Five Pillars of Light, Consciousness, triangle, heart, mind, will, grace, heart chakra, head chakra, throat chakra, Akashic Records, Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet, Masters, Teachers, Loved Ones, Lords of the Akashic Records, Energy, Thought, Action.

Morphology – Abstract Painting by Mary Mikawoz

Morphology

This is an Abstract Acrylic painting of mine that represents “Morphing.” If I look at it from a Buddhist point of view, it represents the idea of suffering with The Four Noble Truths and how it may be dealt with, in terms of the Eightfold Noble Paths. If I look at it from a point of view of Hinduism it reminds me of Maya and how it may represent destruction as a necessary component of creation and an ever continuing change or re-creation. From a Christian point of view, it reminds me of the Seven Deadly Sins: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. From a Nature and Earth perspective, it reminds me of the forces of nature everything from a raging forest fire, to a tornado, to a hurricane, to a tsunami, to flood waters to a blizzard forming in a winter’s storm and all powerful forces in between. From an Imaginary or Fantasy point of view, it can be visualized as a Sea Monster streaming through mighty white waters or an evil Dragon flying through the aethers. I hope you enjoy the painting and find positive meaning in it. To me, the filaments of green represent the beginnings of “forgiveness” and potential change in all respects and meanings.

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Thank you for checking out my Artistic Impressions and Interpretations.