Summer Reading: Books support Body, Mind & Soul

817

7 Secrets of Time Travel: Mystic Voyages of the Energy Body, by Von Braschler (Destiny Books), 176 pages, $14.95 — Time remains the most misunderstood and mystical dimension of our experience of life. We never seem to have enough time, yet often it seems to drag by too slowly. Enthralled with the possibility of time travel and time machines, we long for the future or regret our past and wish for a way to break out of the linear progression of time. Behind all of this time fascination and obsession is the human urge to manage our destiny and feel in control of our world. Yet the secret to escaping temporal bondage is inside each of us, a soul-given power to visit the past or future and travel through the present at the speed of light. Exploring 7 secrets of time, Von Braschler reveals how to break free from the physical world and travel through time and space via the energy body. He examines time, timelessness, and time travel from the viewpoint of mystics, shamanic dreamwalkers, and scientists, including Helena Blavatsky, C. W. Leadbeater, Albert Einstein, and Julian Barbour, as well as Hindu spiritual science. Explaining how transcending the physical body offers new hope for the treatment of illness, emotional problems, and addictions, he offers step-by-step instructions and active, out-of-body exercises to develop your time travel abilities and explore the world of energy and spirit. Emphasizing the spiritual wholeness that comes from energy body work, he shows that by visiting the past and the future we can more fully live in the now.

A Beautiful Medicine: A Radical Look at the Essence of Health and Healing, by David Mercier (Still Pond Press), 318 pages, $21.95, davidgmercier.comA Beautiful Medicine is a fresh and often startling look at the core of health, healing, and spirituality. It goes beyond the basics of nutrition and exercise into the psychological and spiritual aspects of our lives. If most health books are about which cars are the best to drive, A Beautiful Medicine offers driving lessons. More than one noted author has said that after reading this book, you will never look at your health and well-being in the same way again. “Kerouac with On the Road and Pirsig with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance each inspired a generation and guided a movement. David Mercier’s marvelous book will do the same. After reading this engaging integration of stories, philosophy, and medicine, you will never think of healing in the same way again!” — Richard Boyatzis, Ph.D.

Birth 2012 and Beyond: Humanity’s Great Shift Towards the Age of Conscious Evolution, by Barbara Marx Hubbard (Shift Books), 272 pages, $15.95, eBook $9.95 — Explaining how the planet’s myriad crises are actually the birth pangs of a new Earth, this inspired exploration is Barbara Marx Hubbard’s prophetic call for a planetary shift. It explores the aftermath of the coming planetary renaissance that she has heralded for decades, and introduces an established popular global movement to co-create a massive transition around a symbolic “Planetary Birthday” event on December 22, 2012. This volume features 12 evolutionary pioneers’ commentary on the author’s key themes of collective birth and conscious evolution, aiming to foster the emergence of a sustainable planetary civilization. Featured contributors include Ervin Laszlo, Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Jean Houston, and Neale Donald Walsch. Buckminster Fuller called Barbara Marx Hubbard “the best informed human now alive regarding futurism and the foresights it has produced.” Widely regarded as his philosophical heir, Barbara is a social innovator, speaker, author, educator, and leader in the new worldview of conscious evolution.

The Bliss Experiment: 28 Days to Personal Transformation, by Sean Meshorer (Atria Books), 336 pages, $24 — A cross between The Power of Now and The Happiness Project, The Bliss Experiment reveals how to tap into the innate state of inner joy that resides in all of us: the state of bliss. We all have the capacity for bliss — no matter our age, background, ethnicity, gender or religion. External circumstances, whether positive or negative, happy or sad, do not affect it. Bliss is constant, undisturbed by outward gain or loss. In The Bliss Experiment, Sean Meshorer shows readers how we can all be happy, have meaningful lives and reach eternal truth. After reading this book, readers will view life through a new lens. In fact, Sean is living proof of the effectiveness of his techniques. A sufferer of severe and chronic pain, he is able to live his life to the fullest through the practices he shares in The Bliss Experiment. Based on Meshorer’s years of successful teaching, The Bliss Experiment teaches readers how to improve their happiness and spiritual awareness in just 28 days — a chapter a day. Each chapter includes a true story that relates to the day’s topic, a quick tour through the science behind it, and then a deeper philosophical, religious, and spiritual investigation into it. Finally, since bliss comes primarily through activity and practice, each chapter concludes with an exercise and an online video of Meshorer demonstrating it.

The Book of Transformation: Open Yourself to Psychic Evolution, the Rebirth of the World, and the Empowering Shift Pioneered by the Indigos, by Lisa Barretta (New Page Books), 224 pages, $15.99 — By a popular psychic, astrologer and bestselling author, The Book of Transformation comes at a time when people are taking refuge in authenticity and higher consciousness to counterbalance the difficulties and stresses of the worsening economy. In fascinating, extraordinarily detailed chapters, author Lisa Barretta teaches that, as earth passes upwards from below to above the central plane of the Milky Way galaxy sometime in 2012, a new portal into spiritual development is opening. Humanity is undergoing a transformation from lower mundane values to higher spiritual ones. The Book of Transformation is designed to help us prepare for, grow and thrive during the powerful vibrational occurrence that is changing everything we know. Through a dynamic DNA activation, humans are evolving into lighter, more sentient psychic beings–as homosentients–in a new state of evolution for which we were originally designed. She leads us to discover and use our natural abilities to transcend the limits of the time-space paradigm, as she guides us through the phases of a profound awakening.

Clutter Busting Your Life: Clearing Physical and Emotional Clutter to Reconnect with Yourself and Others, by Brooks Palmer (New World Library) 224 pages, $14.95 — Over the course of his career helping people let go of things they no longer need, Brooks Palmer has been struck by the many ways that clutter affects relationships. In these pages, he shows how we use clutter to protect ourselves, control others, and cling to the past, and how it keeps us from experiencing the joy of connection. With insight-prompting questions, exercises, client examples, and even whimsical line drawings, Palmer will take you from overwhelmed to empowered. His gentle guidance will help you to not only clear clutter from your home but also enjoy deeper, more authentic, and clutter-free relationships of all kinds. In his ten years of Clutter Busting in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City, Brooks Palmer realized the intense emotional connection most people have with material possessions, and that internal clutter must be addressed before external clutter can be discarded. He created his Clutter Busting method to help people let go of those things they no longer need and to open the doors for new possibilities.

The Cure: The Power of Mind to Cure Cancer and All Other Diseases, by Richard Dupuis ( Synclectic Media), 192 pages, $19.95 — Do you believe that modern medicine holds the key to curing cancer and other life-threatening diseases? That is exactly what they want you to believe. Ninety percent of all prescription drugs treat symptoms only. Over 200,000 people die every year in the United States, from properly prescribed prescription drugs. More than 500,000 people die of cancer annually in the U.S. and all of them are receiving medical treatment. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The third leading cause of death in the U.S. is the medical community in its entirety: hospitals, doctors, drugs, and all medical procedures. Contemporary biological research says that disease is the result of thought and the subconscious mind. In other words, the mind creates disease. It stands to reason that if the mind creates disease, it can cure disease. In the U.S. alone, more than 1.3 trillion dollars are spent on medical treatments every year. Could that be the reason modern medicine ignores the mind’s role in disease? Once you have read this book, you will understand how disease is created and how to cure it. The book is dedicated to showing you how to use the power of mind to cure cancer and all other diseases. Simple and easy-to-use techniques are presented that can be learned in a few minutes. A new healing paradigm is being created and it will work for you.

The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide to Creating Success on Your Own Terms (Crown Archetype), 368 pages, $24The Fire Starter Sessions is an apathy-kicking, integrity-infusing guide to defining success on your own terms. As the creator of DanielleLaPorte.com — deemed “the best place online for kick-ass spirituality” — Danielle LaPorte’s straight-talk life-and-livelihood sermons have been read by over one million people. Bold but empathetic, she reframes popular self-help and success concepts:

  • Life balance is a myth, and the pursuit of it is causing us more stress then the craving for balance itself.
  • Being well-rounded is over-rated. When you focus on developing your true strengths, you enter your mastery zone.
  • Screw your principles (they might be holding you back).
  • We have ambition backwards. Getting clear on how you want to feel in your life + work is more important than setting goals. It’s the most potent form of clarity that you can have, and it’s what leads to true fulfillment.

God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by Mirabai Starr (Monkfish Book Publishing), 228 pages, $15.95God of Love is Mirabai Starr’s passionate and personal exploration of the interconnected wisdom of the three Abrahamic faiths. She shares an overview of essential teachings, stories of saints and spiritual masters, prophetic calls for peace and justice, and for the first time in print, deeply engaging narratives from her own spiritual experiences. She guides readers to recognize the teachings and practices that unify rather then divide the three religions, and sheds light on the interspiritual perspective, which celebrates the Divine in all paths. It is Mirabai’s hope that this book will serve as a reminder that a dedication to lovingkindness is the highest expression of faith for all three religions. Starr is best known to readers for her acclaimed translations of Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross, and The Interior Castle and The Book of My Life by Teresa of Avila.

The Heart Attack Sutra: A New Commentary on the Heart Sutra, by Karl Brunnhölzl (Snow Lion), 160 pages, $16.95 — The radical message of the Heart Sutra, one of Buddhism’s most famous texts, is a sweeping attack on everything we hold most dear; our troubles, the world as we know it, even the teachings of the Buddha himself. Several of the Buddha’s followers are said to have suffered heart attacks and died when they first heard its assertion of the basic groundlessness of our existence–hence the title of this book. Overcoming fear, the Buddha teaches, is not to be accomplished by shutting down or building walls around oneself, but instead by opening up to understand the illusory nature of everything we fear–including ourselves. In this book of teachings, Karl Brunnhölzl guides practitioners through this “crazy” sutra to the wisdom and compassion that lie at its core. Brunnhölzl is a brilliant teacher whose devotion and energy have resulted in this rich, wide-ranging study of the Heart Sutra, the page-and-a-half-long text that contains the entire essence of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. In 160 pages of fast-moving explication, he quotes sources as varied as Janis Joplin and Ludwig Wittgenstein, probes the text, explains its terminology, and answers students’ questions.

Leaning Into Sharp Points: Practical Guidance and Nurturing Support for Caregivers, by Stan Goldberg, Ph.D. (New World Library), 272 pages, $14.95 — Whether you’re coping with a loved one who has received a terminal diagnosis, has a long-term illness or disability, or suffers with dementia, caregiving is challenging and crucial. Those who face this responsibility, whether occasionally or 24/7, are brushing up against life’s sharpest point. In this book, Stan Goldberg offers an honest, caring, and comprehensive guide to those on this journey. Everyone wants to “do the right thing,” and this book provides the often-elusive how-to — from bedside etiquette to advice on initiating difficult conversations, caring for oneself while caring for another, navigating rapid changes in your loved one’s condition, and even offering “permission” for them to die. Goldberg’s stories demonstrate how to address the most difficult topics and will facilitate more open and useful communication and caregiving.

The Lost Secrets of Maya Technology, by James A. O’Kon, P.E. (New Page Books), 320 pages, $21.99 — The discovery by James O’Kon of the unknown suspension bridge at the ancient city of Yaxchilan in Mexico came as a shock to archeologists who had studied the site for decades. In his new book, The Lost Secrets of Maya Technology, O’Kon recounts the thrilling realization of what he discovered and how he used modern methods to examine and prove the existence of the spectacular bridge, and other exciting revelations about previously unknown Mayan constructions. With 40 years as an award-winning structure engineer and as the explorer of more than 50 remote Mayan sites, O’Kon makes for a fascinating interviewee.

Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience: Radical New Techniques, by Graham Nicholls (Llewellyn) $15.95 — Experience the insights and joys of astral projection with Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience — a personalized, accessible, science-based guide from a top authority in the field. Drawing on more than twenty years of study and countless OBEs that he has brought about in himself and others, Graham Nicholls shares proven techniques for leaving the body. Gain greater insight into your psychological makeup and strengths with a unique approach to self discovery. Learn to use your greater awareness to build a customized approach to projecting into the astral plane. Integrating his deep knowledge of self-hypnosis, breath work, virtual reality, quantum science, nutrition, and healing, Nicholls teaches you how to move past limiting beliefs and deepen your level of self-understanding so you can achieve your astral goals.

A New Way to Be Human: 7 Spiritual Pathways to Becoming Fully Alive, by Robert V. Taylor (New Page Books), 224 pages, $15.99 — A nationally known spiritual leader who has worked for decades with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and legions more activists in the fields of religious and political freedom, homelessness, poverty and discrimination, Robert V. Taylor has distilled his lifetime of achievement and profound spiritual experience into his long-awaited new book, A New Way to Be Human: 7 Spiritual Pathways to Becoming Fully Alive. By identifying seven pivotal, universally recognizable life occurrences as spiritual pathways, A New Way to Be Human connects each reader to actionable personal spiritual practices, free from the dogmatism of religious constraints. And, winding alongside each of the pathways is the author’s life experience and spiritual journey, from his miraculous physical healing as a teenager in Cape Town, to fighting apartheid alongside Desmond Tutu, to his appointment as one of America’s highest ranking, openly gay Episcopal priests, and his decades of work to end homelessness and poverty in New York and Seattle. Taylor’s life continues today to be an unprecedented demonstration of how to integrate spirituality with compassionate purpose.

Stress Pandemic: The Lifestyle Solution — 9 Natural Steps to Survive, Master Stress and Live Well, by Paul Huljich (Mwella Publishing), 288 pages, $16.95 — The modern world is a breeding ground for stress; it comes in many forms and has a variety of causes, but any kind of stress can greatly inhibit life and take a serious toll on both body and mind. Written for the growing number of people wishing to free themselves of mild, moderate, or severe stress, Stress Pandemic draws upon organic food pioneer Paul Huljich’s experience with stress-related illness, outlining a practical and effective approach to beating stress and achieving complete wellness. Huljich’s strategies address the underlying habits and tendencies that cause stress, and he offers a comprehensive lifestyle solution designed to promote both physiological and psychological strength and balance. By learning and following Huljich’s uniquely powerful and integrated approach to wellness, readers can live stress-free in a natural and holistic way.

The Unfoldment: The Organic Path to Clarity, Power, and Transformation, by Neil Kramer (New Page Books), 256 pages, $15.99 — Drawing on a lifetime of spiritual encounters and study, the renowned philosopher, speaker and teacher, Neil Kramer, has created a synthesis of metaphysics, mysticism, and esoteric knowledge in his new book, The Unfoldment: The Organic Path to Clarity, Power, and Transformation. For the first time, the teachings and insights that Kramer presents in his popular workshops and seminars have come together in one inspirational work, with hands-on tools for life-long transformation and enlightenment. The Unfoldment presents an elegant system of spiritual practice that puts real power and magic into the hands of those who seek a new awakening. A renowned figure in the consciousness and alternative communities, the author has, at long last, distilled his insights and lessons into a guided path to spiritual enlightenment.

The Way, by Kristen Wolf (Random House), 368 pages, $25 — Anna is a fiery tomboy living in ancient Palestine whose androgynous appearance provokes ridicule from the people around her and doubt within her own heart. When tragedy strikes her family, and Anna’s father–disguising her as a boy–sells her to a band of shepherds, she is captured by a mystical and secret society of women hiding in the desert. At first Anna is tempted to escape, but she soon finds that the sisterhood’s teachings and healing abilities, wrapped in an ancient philosophy they call “The Way,” have unleashed an unexpected power within her. When danger befalls the caves in which the sisters have made their home, Anna embarks on a hazardous mission to preserve the wisdom of her mentors by proclaiming it among ordinary people. Her daring quest and newfound destiny reveal, at last, the full truth of her identity–a shocking revelation that will spark as much controversy as it does celebration. Anna’s story is one of transformation, betrayal, love, loss, deception, and above all, redemption. Readers will cheer for this unforgettable protagonist — and for debut novelist Kristen Wolf, whose beautifully written book both provokes and inspires. A compelling mix of history, myth, and fantasy, The Way is a fascinating exploration of the foundations and possibilities of human spirituality.

NEW DVDs

Project Happiness, directed by John Sorensen, created and produced by Randy Tarran, 62 minutes, unrated, www.ProjectHappiness.com — Happiness — I want more! From the alleys of Nigeria and the beaches of California to the mountains of India, ordinary young people lead us on an extraordinary journey to explore the nature of lasting happiness. Project Happiness focuses on four teens from Santa Cruz, CA. Each faces personal obstacles to happiness: loss, alienation and the everyday challenges of being a teenager passing into adulthood. Project Happiness introduces them to their peers in Nigeria and India and quickly they leave lectures and books behind. In addition to connecting with each other, the teens engage in conversations with cultural icons George Lucas, Richard Gere and groundbreaking neuroscientist Richard Davidson. At the end of their year together, the three groups converge in Dharamsala, India, for a rare private interview with the Dalai Lama — an event that rocks their expectations, brings more questions than answers and marks a new chapter in their lives.


Send books, DVDs and audio products that support Body, Mind & Soul to The Edge to preview at: The Edge, P.O. Box 7324, Madison, WI 53707. 

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