Become a Psychic Wanderer: Expand Your Mind and Soul by Kathryn Harwig & Jean Harwig
These two highly educated sisters from the Midwest explain how to open up to what most people miss in life, even fairies in the woods, and how travel can be a catalyst for expanding your consciousness. They share many stories from their own travels to illustrate their points.
They write as if they have realizations and vision that most people don't, and they spend their lives educating people so they can be more like them. A lot of the book comes off as self-congratulatory.
General consensus: Felt a bit flaky. It did have some parts that served as helpful reminders for me, though. Like judging situations as good or bad is not useful.
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spirituality. Show all posts
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Book Report #191 - The Surrender Experiment
The Surrender Experiment: My Journey Into Life's Perfection by Michael A. Singer
I'm a fan of Singer's The Untethered Soul, so I was delighted to find his memoir on my shelf. We started with Singer, aka Mickey, in grad school for economics when he had an experience that led him to need to know how to quiet the voice in his head--the one that chatters incessantly that we all have. He started meditating heavily and ended up buying a five acre parcel in the woods where he could devote the bulk of his time to meditation.
It was there that he began the surrender experiment, which meant he would no longer be run by that voice in his head. Instead, he would go with the flow of life, no matter what it brought. He would no longer be ruled by his likes and dislikes.
This led to a series of events that Mickey could not have predicted in his wildest dreams: people kept coming to his land and eventually established a temple there, he taught meditation to prisoners for decades, he started a successful construction company, and he was responsible for a computer programming company that eventually was worth over a billion dollars. Plus, the five acre parcel morphed into 175 acres over the years, and the money from the businesses paid for it all.
Mickey kept his thesis prominent that all this was possible because he surrendered and went with the flow of the universe.
He even maintained this when his computer business went to hell and all the executives were indicted for kickbacks and fraud. It was a seven year ordeal, and after paying a penalty, Mickey was allowed to walk free. He said that the experience was further practice in surrender.
This is all a nice story wrapped up with a bow, so that makes me wonder a bit. There were two parts that especially had me confused. One was when his friend, the "spiritual master" Amrit Desai, was allowed to hide out at Mickey's property for three years after his scandal broke out. Mickey glossed over it as a mistake in Amrit's past. When I looked it up, it was a major transgression that Amrit had been actively doing for years. That broke some of the trust I had with Mickey.
The other part that made me uncomfortable was when Mickey quickly explained that paying the penalty for his case was no big deal and he didn't mind parting with the money. When I looked it up, he'd paid $2.5 million. It struck me that that deserved more than a casual remark in his book.
The one other thing that leaves me befuddled is that early in the book he says he married and had a daughter. Yet, we never hear about the daughter again, nor much about his wife. Why? I guess because we thought we'd be more interested in the trajectory of his career but for such a spiritual person, I find it odd that career seemed to come before family. I hope that's not the case and it was simply a misunderstanding.
General consensus: The main themes are helpful but I'm somewhat skeptical of the details of his life.
I'm a fan of Singer's The Untethered Soul, so I was delighted to find his memoir on my shelf. We started with Singer, aka Mickey, in grad school for economics when he had an experience that led him to need to know how to quiet the voice in his head--the one that chatters incessantly that we all have. He started meditating heavily and ended up buying a five acre parcel in the woods where he could devote the bulk of his time to meditation.
It was there that he began the surrender experiment, which meant he would no longer be run by that voice in his head. Instead, he would go with the flow of life, no matter what it brought. He would no longer be ruled by his likes and dislikes.
This led to a series of events that Mickey could not have predicted in his wildest dreams: people kept coming to his land and eventually established a temple there, he taught meditation to prisoners for decades, he started a successful construction company, and he was responsible for a computer programming company that eventually was worth over a billion dollars. Plus, the five acre parcel morphed into 175 acres over the years, and the money from the businesses paid for it all.
Mickey kept his thesis prominent that all this was possible because he surrendered and went with the flow of the universe.
He even maintained this when his computer business went to hell and all the executives were indicted for kickbacks and fraud. It was a seven year ordeal, and after paying a penalty, Mickey was allowed to walk free. He said that the experience was further practice in surrender.
This is all a nice story wrapped up with a bow, so that makes me wonder a bit. There were two parts that especially had me confused. One was when his friend, the "spiritual master" Amrit Desai, was allowed to hide out at Mickey's property for three years after his scandal broke out. Mickey glossed over it as a mistake in Amrit's past. When I looked it up, it was a major transgression that Amrit had been actively doing for years. That broke some of the trust I had with Mickey.
The other part that made me uncomfortable was when Mickey quickly explained that paying the penalty for his case was no big deal and he didn't mind parting with the money. When I looked it up, he'd paid $2.5 million. It struck me that that deserved more than a casual remark in his book.
The one other thing that leaves me befuddled is that early in the book he says he married and had a daughter. Yet, we never hear about the daughter again, nor much about his wife. Why? I guess because we thought we'd be more interested in the trajectory of his career but for such a spiritual person, I find it odd that career seemed to come before family. I hope that's not the case and it was simply a misunderstanding.
General consensus: The main themes are helpful but I'm somewhat skeptical of the details of his life.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Book Report #175 Love Warrior
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
This is a memoir where Glennon writes about how she numbed her sensitivity to the world with bulimia, alcohol, drugs, and sex.
I wasn't really into for awhile because it felt like she unnecessarily was talking about herself a lot, and sharing things that were far too intimate about herself and her boyfriend. But then she got pregnant and decided to have the baby, and things shifted.
She knew she had to clean up her life and she did. It was like she hit a switch. She and her boyfriend got married, and raised a family together.
Her husband was like a golden boy, and she had him on a pedestal. Of course, he fell off it. He also suffered from addiction and Glennon eventually found out. Her world fell apart, and she had to decide what to do.
This period is the main point of the book. Glennon hit rock bottom, and had to face all kinds of things she'd rather avoid, like betrayal and pain. She didn't shy away from the discomfort and take refuge in her addictions of the past. She stayed with it, and was raw and exposed. She had to keep a brave front for her children but she was a mess.
Since she stayed open, she had profound spiritual experiences and grew in love. It's a beautiful journey to witness.
General consensus: Hits you right in the feels and stays with you.
This is a memoir where Glennon writes about how she numbed her sensitivity to the world with bulimia, alcohol, drugs, and sex.
I wasn't really into for awhile because it felt like she unnecessarily was talking about herself a lot, and sharing things that were far too intimate about herself and her boyfriend. But then she got pregnant and decided to have the baby, and things shifted.
She knew she had to clean up her life and she did. It was like she hit a switch. She and her boyfriend got married, and raised a family together.
Her husband was like a golden boy, and she had him on a pedestal. Of course, he fell off it. He also suffered from addiction and Glennon eventually found out. Her world fell apart, and she had to decide what to do.
This period is the main point of the book. Glennon hit rock bottom, and had to face all kinds of things she'd rather avoid, like betrayal and pain. She didn't shy away from the discomfort and take refuge in her addictions of the past. She stayed with it, and was raw and exposed. She had to keep a brave front for her children but she was a mess.
Since she stayed open, she had profound spiritual experiences and grew in love. It's a beautiful journey to witness.
General consensus: Hits you right in the feels and stays with you.
Monday, April 06, 2015
Book Review #150 - The Fifth Agreement
The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (Toltec Wisdom) by Don Miguel Ruiz, Don Jose Ruiz and Janet Mills
This is the follow-up to The Four Agreements. It includes a recap of those and then gets into the fifth agreement. Apparently we weren't ready for it until now.
I read this book last week in one sitting, and I can't even remember the fifth agreement. But I can tell you this: I benefited from reading this, and so did my mom. We think about it, and it makes us calmer people who experience joy more easily.
Right now all I'm thinking about is what I believe is the third agreement, which is to not assume. I'm really trying to work with this every day. And it does make a huge difference. I've stopped playing out scenarios in my mind and suffering needlessly. Or at least I'm catching myself when I do it.
I feel like this is one of those books that can seem like it's too simple and obvious to really do anything, but it gets into you. And you're forever changed, even if you make little effort. And then every time you read it, it changes you further. It's one of those books that's almost a living organism. It's magic!
General consensus: It's not going to be the most academic thing you've ever read, but it is powerful nonetheless. Recommend it!
This is the follow-up to The Four Agreements. It includes a recap of those and then gets into the fifth agreement. Apparently we weren't ready for it until now.
I read this book last week in one sitting, and I can't even remember the fifth agreement. But I can tell you this: I benefited from reading this, and so did my mom. We think about it, and it makes us calmer people who experience joy more easily.
Right now all I'm thinking about is what I believe is the third agreement, which is to not assume. I'm really trying to work with this every day. And it does make a huge difference. I've stopped playing out scenarios in my mind and suffering needlessly. Or at least I'm catching myself when I do it.
I feel like this is one of those books that can seem like it's too simple and obvious to really do anything, but it gets into you. And you're forever changed, even if you make little effort. And then every time you read it, it changes you further. It's one of those books that's almost a living organism. It's magic!
General consensus: It's not going to be the most academic thing you've ever read, but it is powerful nonetheless. Recommend it!
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Book Report #144 - The Manifestation Manifesto
The Manifestation Manifesto: Amazing Techniques and Strategies to Attract the Life You Want - No Visualization Required by Rob Morrison
This is a quick read and it's available on Kindle for $2.99. My reliable friend recommended it and I read it in one sitting. I feel great.
General consensus: Like The Secret, but without the extra noise. Just the parts you can use, and use immediately!
General consensus: Like The Secret, but without the extra noise. Just the parts you can use, and use immediately!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Book Report #120 - Zen and the Art of Intimacy
Zen and the Art of Intimacy: The Simple Path of Passion, Fidelity and Love
by Arthur Samuels, M.D.
This was a beautiful read. First we are taught how to love ourselves and given a simple yet highly effective meditation to get there. Then we are led through an intimate relationship from start to finish and shown how it is really possible to not get angry and instead celebrate your partner so that true intimacy can be shared. I have so much hope.
General consensus: Reading that felt like the best hug ever.
by Arthur Samuels, M.D.This was a beautiful read. First we are taught how to love ourselves and given a simple yet highly effective meditation to get there. Then we are led through an intimate relationship from start to finish and shown how it is really possible to not get angry and instead celebrate your partner so that true intimacy can be shared. I have so much hope.
General consensus: Reading that felt like the best hug ever.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Book Report #112 - Turning the Mind Into an Ally
Turning the Mind Into an Ally
by Sakyong Mipham
This book says everything you tend to forget you knew. What you should be doing. How you can get there. In the end you know that you can feel comfortable in your own skin.
It's a Buddhist approach involving meditation and compassion. It's work but if we keep referring to this book we'll get there!
General consensus: Elegantly powerful.
by Sakyong MiphamThis book says everything you tend to forget you knew. What you should be doing. How you can get there. In the end you know that you can feel comfortable in your own skin.
It's a Buddhist approach involving meditation and compassion. It's work but if we keep referring to this book we'll get there!
General consensus: Elegantly powerful.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Book Report #102 - The Art of Happiness
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
by the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
Did you know this written by a psychologist? It made for an interesting take on the Dalai Lama. It was kind of comical. He would hear the Dalai Lama say something and then furrow his brow as he tried to make it fit into what he knew about psychology.
The Dalai Lama had some fantastically helpful things to say about how to cope with suffering, how to have a sense of urgency in your life and how to approach romance. Basically when we are following our purpose it leads to happiness so that's how you can tell whether you're doing something good or bad. If it's bad it's going to lead to suffering and he says the whole point to life is happiness.
General consensus: Pretty great but you have to take it slow and really absorb it.
by the Dalai Lama & Howard C. CutlerDid you know this written by a psychologist? It made for an interesting take on the Dalai Lama. It was kind of comical. He would hear the Dalai Lama say something and then furrow his brow as he tried to make it fit into what he knew about psychology.
The Dalai Lama had some fantastically helpful things to say about how to cope with suffering, how to have a sense of urgency in your life and how to approach romance. Basically when we are following our purpose it leads to happiness so that's how you can tell whether you're doing something good or bad. If it's bad it's going to lead to suffering and he says the whole point to life is happiness.
General consensus: Pretty great but you have to take it slow and really absorb it.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Book Report #100 Mother Teresa: Living in Love
Mother Teresa: Living in Love
by Glenna Hammer Moulthrop
I read a book on the parallel sayings of Jesus and Lao Tzu this morning and this "compilation of Mother Teresa's teachings of love" this evening. They're all saying the same thing!
Quotations of Mother Teresa were interwoven with the writer's story. Glenna had suffered and been blessed through the love that Mother Teresa so generously gave.
It all comes from here: "We have all been created in the image of God to love and be loved."
"In order for us to be able to love, we need to have faith because faith is love in action, and love in action is service."
General consensus: Gorgeous. Makes life a lot less complicated.
by Glenna Hammer MoulthropI read a book on the parallel sayings of Jesus and Lao Tzu this morning and this "compilation of Mother Teresa's teachings of love" this evening. They're all saying the same thing!
Quotations of Mother Teresa were interwoven with the writer's story. Glenna had suffered and been blessed through the love that Mother Teresa so generously gave.
It all comes from here: "We have all been created in the image of God to love and be loved."
"In order for us to be able to love, we need to have faith because faith is love in action, and love in action is service."
General consensus: Gorgeous. Makes life a lot less complicated.
Book Report #99 Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings
Jesus and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings
Edited by Martin Aronson
This book cleared a lot up. I grew up thinking that The Bible had to have been poorly written because I understood next to nothing of it (and apparently as a child I had an ego the size of France). When I picked up the Tao Te Ching later in life it all made sense. Now I see they're saying the same thing! The Tao Te Ching lays it all out plainly while The Bible says the same thing in story format with characters and plot and enough to confuse you beyond recognition if that's not how your brain works.
Here were a couple of selections that hit me over the head:
And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of your life?
Luke 12:25
Love is victorious in attack
and invulnerable in defense.
Tao Te Ching 67
Ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty,
the beginning of confusion.
Tao Te Ching 38
General consensus: The light bulb finally went on!
Edited by Martin AronsonThis book cleared a lot up. I grew up thinking that The Bible had to have been poorly written because I understood next to nothing of it (and apparently as a child I had an ego the size of France). When I picked up the Tao Te Ching later in life it all made sense. Now I see they're saying the same thing! The Tao Te Ching lays it all out plainly while The Bible says the same thing in story format with characters and plot and enough to confuse you beyond recognition if that's not how your brain works.
Here were a couple of selections that hit me over the head:
And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of your life?
Luke 12:25
Love is victorious in attack
and invulnerable in defense.
Tao Te Ching 67
Ritual is the husk of faith and loyalty,
the beginning of confusion.
Tao Te Ching 38
General consensus: The light bulb finally went on!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Book Report #97 - Breakfast with Buddha
Breakfast with Buddha
by Roland Merullo
This is the story of a happily married father with two teenage children who mean the world to him. He has that upper-middle class life that is considered an American success story yet he can't shake an intermittent nagging feeling that there is something missing.
His parents, the dutiful Protestants from North Dakota, are killed in a car crash and now he and his sister not only must sort out the estate but their emotion. Sister is a free spirit who practices regression therapy and does not like to fly. He proposes a car trip from the East Coast to North Dakota. She accepts. Yet when he arrives, it's not her who comes on the journey. It's Volya Rinpoche, the spiritual master who his sister is giving her portion of the land to.
Brother's first reaction to this arrangement is anger but slowly he opens up to what Rinpoche has to say and show him.
General consensus: Absolutely beautiful. Moves like a river.
by Roland MerulloThis is the story of a happily married father with two teenage children who mean the world to him. He has that upper-middle class life that is considered an American success story yet he can't shake an intermittent nagging feeling that there is something missing.
His parents, the dutiful Protestants from North Dakota, are killed in a car crash and now he and his sister not only must sort out the estate but their emotion. Sister is a free spirit who practices regression therapy and does not like to fly. He proposes a car trip from the East Coast to North Dakota. She accepts. Yet when he arrives, it's not her who comes on the journey. It's Volya Rinpoche, the spiritual master who his sister is giving her portion of the land to.
Brother's first reaction to this arrangement is anger but slowly he opens up to what Rinpoche has to say and show him.
General consensus: Absolutely beautiful. Moves like a river.
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