A Journey of Self Discovery
My Ten Favorite Books:
1. My most favorite book, the book that gave me best understanding of chakras, energy and healing was
Anatomy of the Spirit by Carolyn Myss. This book is a step-by-step guide (an interesting guide) to understanding energy in the body. Myss helps you understand how to have healthy energy. The book has meditation suggestions and practical ways to live a life that is vibrant and spiritual. Myss has another book that was just as enlightening: Why People Don't Heal - and How They Can
2. My second favorite book has to be Awareness by Anthony DeMello. DeMello was a Catholic priest from India. He had a different view of religion and spirit. When I read my favorite quote in this book, I was hooked, "I'm and ass, your an ass." DeMello was direct and forthright throughout. He says forget what others think, be you. He used wonderful stories as teachings which helped drive home the theme of the book which is be yourself. If you feel like having your illusions of religion shattered, read this book.
3. My third favorite is by Leo Buscaglia, PhD. Dr. Buscaglia wrote the first book with the simple title, Love. I so admired the lifestyle of Buscaglia! He used to invite himself into the presence of anyone sitting alone in airports, restaurants and parks. He was just interested in people and loved to hug. His books are filled with stories of love and family and friendship. Buscaglia loved leaves and would bring them into his livingroom when the neighbors complained that he needed to clean up his garden. Busscaglia loved family and togetherness. He was a model of love during his life and made everyone in his presence feel universal love and joy. Any book by Leo Buscaglia will bring your heart healing and love.
4. Fit for Life and the companion cookbook The American Vegetarian Cookbook - from the Fit for Life Kitchen are awesome! They are old, but the information is the same. Eat a plant-based diet and you will learn how to eat, stay healthy and enjoy life to the fullest. Harvey and Marilyn Diamond are the authors. Thanks to these books, I learned about Natural Hygiene and got to meet my health guru: Mamiko Matusda, PhD. Dr. Matsuda is featured in one of my earlier blogs.
5. On the same lines, Tissue Cleansing through Bowel Managment by the late Bernard Jensen, D. C. and Nutritionist, teaches how to care for the bowel, the origin of disease and ill-health. This is a classic text which taught me what I needed to know to have a body that works wonderfully. Below: a photo that makes fun of my obsession with the colon that followed after reading this book.
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| Hotel Colon, Barcelona, Spain
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7. Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. McDougall takes a trip to Mexico and studies the Tarahumara Indians, the barefoot runners of the world. He discovers through his own back and foot issues that wearing more and more padding on one's feet will not stop the issues caused by running. By his study of the Tarahumara, McDougall writes a national bestseller that sparks a debate on running barefoot. Since I began yoga in 1987, I have been fascinated by the feet and I was so happy learn new insights on how to preserve my feet. McDougall taught me that my feet were sensitive for a reason and wearing shoes that are heavily padded blocks the body's ability to sense how to orient the body during movement. Excellent videos are online to show ways to run correctly. I thank my brother, The Blaggard for introducing me to this book. Just as a side note, I went hiking with the Tarahumara in 1992. I was able to see first hand that these amazing people go barefoot in the snow. One of my Tarahumara guides was only 11. She had to keep slowing down for me.
8. The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. What a beautiful book this was! I am a right-brained sort; therefore, this book appealed to me body and soul. 'Artist Dates', journal writing, and confronting the negative voices that one hears when taking radical action toward a dream, are but a few of the teachings presented in this wonderful book. I have written a journal since age 15 and only after reading this book, did I start to pay attention to the insights and messages that writing and creative activities inspire.
9. The Alchemist, by Paolo Coelho. I never knew a beautiful book like this could ever exist. No book has ever touched me to the core like this book. Coelho was indeed Divinely inspired when writing this book. When reading it, I had this feeling of "I knew it!". I had this same feeling when I saw the movie, What the Bleep Do We Know? Both this book, and The Artist's Way, were given to me my friend Paula (wherever you are now - Thanks, Paula!).
10. The last book could be The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell or Journey of a Solitude by May Sarton or The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach or the wonderful story of the Delaney Sisters or The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman; but I am choosing Louise L. Hay: How to Love Yourself. All the books on this list have helped me learn about who I am. The life journey is so exciting and full of so many twists and turns, but Louise Hay helped me to get to the bottom of it and just accept Self. What a powerful exercise it is to look in the mirror and say, "I love you, I really love you", without squirming, looking away or hearing the saboteur's laughter. With practice, I am learning to discover who I am and why I am here. I do realize that books are only guides, they cannot do the work for me. It's my journey to take the action needed to make manifest the Soul's calling. Blessings to all who have the courage to speak their truth, live their dreams and follow their hearts, regardless of what others think.
