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May/June 2009 Conscious Media
Reader's Choice 5-09

Soul Seeds: Revelations and Drawings, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Cross-Cultural Communications, 2008, $11.95

I've been an avid admirer of Carolyn Mary Kleefeld's writing and artwork ever since I found Lovers in Evolution in a bookstore 25 years ago. I was amazed to discover such penetrating spiritual revelations so exquisitely expressed in poetic verse. Like a modern-day Blake, Kleefeld is able to convey profound psychological and universal truths with remarkable poetic elegance. Soul Seeds: Revelations & Drawings, a collection of philosophical aphorisms, typically one to three sentences in length, delves deeply into the human condition and the nature of reality. The book also contains 13 wonderfully whimsical drawings by Kleefeld that add a visual dimension to her sayings. Sometimes when I open the book at random with a question, my eyes first land on one of these enigmatic drawings, which carry as much potential for inspiration as her carefully sculpted words. The intent of this book is to provide an evolutionary shift in perspective that awakens and frees the spirit when the mind is stuck in culturally-conditioned ways of thinking. Soul Seeds is more than just a portal into higher dimensions - it is also a wise friend who assists us in cultivating a sense of integration as we explore our inner worlds.

- David Jay Brown

Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees, Roger Deakin, Free Press, 2009, $26.95

Known as a modern-day Thoreau, Roger Deakin (who died in August 2006), understands the important role trees play in our fragile world ecology. Throughout his tour of forests on three continents and numerous countries, Deakin shares the stories of both trees and woodlanders, demonstrating a deep empathy for the complicated yet rewarding relationship between humans and woods. At once a natural history, autobiography and delightfully observant piece of travel writing, Wildwood distills the world's ecological and cultural diversity into universal human experience. Like the sound of rain dripping off of maples, Deakin vividly draws the reader into the outside world.

- Vicky Thompson

Choosing ME Before WE, Christine Arylo, New World Library, 2009, $14.95

Choosing ME Before WE empowers women from all walks of life to work on the most important relationship there is - the relationship with themselves. Women have been taught to take care of everyone else - the kids, the husband, the boss - and to put ourselves last. We have been taught that taking time for ourselves is selfish. Well, it's time to throw those old thoughts out. Arylo has provided an inspirational guide full of tips and tools to help any woman find her true soul mate: herself. This book is full of real life experiences by the author and her friends. It tells the story of how after a 15-year relationship fell apart just before the engagement party, Arylo went on a self exploration. It was full of dark corners and truths she did not want to confront, but ultimately she found the courage to honestly face who she was and how she had gotten there. And the reward: she developed a loving, trusting, honest relationship with herself. Along her journey she found Noah, her husband, and together they work on continuing to have a committed, fulfilling partnership.

- Tiffany LaRue

The Essential Marcus Aurelius, Jacob Needleman and John P. Piazza, Tarcher, 2008, $10

Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is among the most popular works to survive from antiquity. In the introductory 30 pages of The Essential Marcus Aurelius, Jacob Needleman and John Piazza provide the historical setting and background information so that the reader can gain a better understanding of the 12 books (chapters) of Aurelius' meditations. The passages chosen are intended to convey the universal significance of Aurelius' writings for people in all walks of life. The meditations will make the reader pause and think, as they are an inner exploration about problems and questions of life. We find that humans are basically the same, even almost 2,000 years later, for he wrote about situations that many of us ponder. Even an emperor of the huge Roman Empire had to grapple with problems and had questions about life.

- Alice R. Berntson

Great Shift, Martine Vallee (editor), Weiser Books, 2009, $18.95

In this wonderful book, Martine Vallee shares important channeled messages from three well-known and respected individuals regarding the state of our planet, universe and the evolution of consciousness leading up to the year 2012. This inspiring and thought-provoking book allows the reader to hear messages of change, peace and love from Kryon, channeled through Lee Carroll. Kryon states that all we have to do is show up with spiritual intent and the DNA quantum field is activated in our bodies. We then hear from the Hathors and Mary Magdalene through Tom Kenyon, who gives us the message that balancing of the feminine and masculine powers will help heal this planet. Women are to speak out and become strong in order to bring about the equality. Finally Patricia Cori, who channels messages from the High Council of Sirius, presents their message of hope that the future is never predetermined and the past is just an illusion. This is a must read for all lightworkers of our planet, as we are all in this journey together as one big family.

- Jelina Vance

The Gabriel Method, Jon Gabriel, Beyond Words Publishing, 2008, $15

"Your body wants to be fat anytime it decides that being fat is the best way to keep you safe. Once your body understands that being thin is the best way to keep you safe, your body then wants to be thin and the weight falls off."Not only does this book address weight loss, it also touches on the subjects of mental and emotional obesity, visualization techniques, positive stresses and guidelines for living a healthy life. One of the many benefits to buying this wonderful book is access to a free MP3 download of Jon Gabriel's Evening Visualization CD.

Gabriel's background in biochemistry, organic chemistry, biology and research contributions to biochemist Dr. Jose Rabinowitz has helped Gabriel come up with his new diet-free way to lose weight. Gabriel lost more than 220 pounds without any dieting or surgery, plus his body showed no signs of ever having been obese.

- Tiffany LaRue

The Miracles of Archangel Michael, Doreen Virtue, Hay House, 2008, $19.95

Doreen Virtue shares accounts of experiences everyday people have encountered when calling upon Archangel Michael. They are amazing stories of miraculous events. By learning how to call on Archangel Michael, we can reduce the stress in our lives and have the peace that Archangel Michael wishes for all of us. We can call on Archangel Michael anytime, even when we're driving or walking, and he's here to help us with anything, including health concerns, times of uncertainty and even electronic difficulties. This being does not judge us and he is here to help us, but we must ask. In reading Virtue's book, you too will be moved by the help that is available to us on a daily basis from Archangel Michael if we only ask.

- Vicki Burr

Ask Your Animal, Marta Williams, New World Library, 2008, $14.95

Marta Williams illustrates the importance of communicating intuitively with your animal, by retelling many true life stories, and providing exercises and step-by-step instructions to help make the process much easier for any animal lover. Learn how to communicate with or without words in order to: help your sick or injured animal feel better, find the root cause of over barking, control bad habits like excessive digging, calm an animal with separation anxiety, trailer a shy or reluctant horse, and in general know how to "speak" to your animal to learn more and develop a deeper, more loving personal relationship. Williams provides many inspiring stories about cats, dogs, horses and their owners learning from each other, sharing communication, and finding the peace that they both want and desire.

Williams also goes on to say that you can communicate with all of nature intuitively. What could you learn from a tree, a weed, a rodent, an ant or even a leaf? Open yourself to the possibility of "speaking" to all beings and you may find that your world is truly a place of wonder and amazement.

- Jelina Vance

A Traveler's Guide to Mars (CD), Ian Tescee, 2007, $12.99

William Hartmann, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, was asked to produce a show based on his book for Pittsburgh's historic Buhl Planetarium. He had crossed paths with Ian Tescee some years earlier, so Tescee came to mind when it came time to do the musical score for the planetary show.

The concept for the audio component of the planetary show initiated with an electronic arrangement of Bartók's The Wooden Prince. Aptly conveying the majesty of the cosmos, Tescee's other compositions do a superb job of evoking the alien, exciting and far away Mars landscape in his musical portrayal of A Traveler's Guide to Mars. We don't have to go to Mars to enjoy the music - we don't even have to go to Pittsburgh!

- Alice R. Berntson

Astral Traveler ( DVD), Danyel Seagan, 2007, $19.99

Producer Danyel Seagan is a multimedia artist, metaphysical theorist and book author. In all the emphasis nowadays on the one-world concept, he truly is a global human. He has lived in nine countries on four continents at various times in his life. He speaks five languages, so he does have an intimate understanding of the connectedness of humanity throughout the world. His project Astral Traveler is a 31-minute DVD that combines a variety of music and visuals ideal for relaxation or meditation. It was created on a laptop computer as an experiment of imagination.

In addition to the DVD, Seagan's evocative website, www.astraltraveler.com, contains very cool visual images and a wealth of information on many levels. The website was created to explore aspects of cosmic consciousness. His Astral Traveler DVD is a manifestation of those explorations, inviting us to take a voyage through star fields, mystical realms, gas clouds and beyond.

- Alice R. Berntson

Spirit Heals: Core Teachings and Practices (CD set), Meredith L. Young-Sowers, New World Library, 2008, $24.95

This four CD set is based on Meredith L. Young-Sowers' book Spirit Heals. These spoken word CDs are written and read by Young-Sowers, who is the cofounder and executive director of the Stillpoint Foundation, a global spiritual community and school located in her hometown of Walpole, New Hampshire. She is also the creator of the Stillpoint Model of Integrative Life Healing, which is based on the wisdom gained from her 27 years of spiritual practice and work with clients. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and author who shares her teachings and practices that guide and nourish readers as they explore healing in everyday life. She teaches us to release self blame and inner criticism in order to nourish ourselves enough that we can then give to others. These four CDs are mainly focused on women's physical and emotional issues. Young-Sowers addresses physical imbalances such as heart disease and reproductive cancers combining universal healing principles with her own practical and personal insights and suggestions. Her soothing voice and positive principles make this a great read and listen for anyone on their healing journey.

- Jelina Vance

Changing the World: A Vision of a Circle Way Village, Medicine Story, Story Stone Publishing, 2005, $11

"Together there is nothing we cannot do!" Native American elder and intentional community founder Medicine Story gives us some deeply inspiring medicine for these perilous times, yet his vision is also highly practical. In answer to the challenges our world cannot much longer endure, his goal is nothing less than co-creating a healthy clan-village-tribe-based society, and Changing the World is the blueprint.

Similar to Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach, Changing the World is a fictional visit by an outsider to a much healthier society - in this case, a "Circle Way village" in 2012. During the visit, the visitor learns about the Circle Way society's background, culture and how people live there.

Circle Way society has several core principles that have had much experience and are rooted in ancestral tribal ways:

•  Spiritual rootedness, including reconnecting with nature.
• Social cohesion, including belonging to an egalitarian clan and regular society-wide gatherings.
• Economic sustainability, including land trusts and self-sufficiency.
• Political sustainability, including consensus decision making based on self-governing circles.

Available by mail order only at www.circleway.org/order.html.

- William Hofford

The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas (DVD), Michael Wiese, Michael Wiese Productions, 2007, $24.95

We join internationally-known author Glenn Mullin and monk Khenpo Tashi as they lead a group of people through Tibet on an exploratory pilgrimage toward the Oracle Lake. The journey explores the caves where the early Buddhist masters meditated to reach enlightenment and the monasteries where the Dalai Lamas taught. The trek ends at Oracle Lake (also known as the vision lake) located in Lhamo Latso, and where the sitting Dalai Lamas were obligated to come at least once in their lifetimes to experience prophetic visions. Every year many thousands of people visit this lake at an altitude of over 17,000 feet, leaving hundreds of prayer flags and blessings for good, clear weather so that they can hike into this remote location. This DVD was the official selection at the following film festivals: the Atlanta Film Festival, the Dallas Video Festival and the International Buddhist Film Festival. It was also selected for the Dalai Lamas's birthday celebration. I found this DVD very interesting, informative and the scenery was beautiful.

- Jelina Vance