Book Review: Assertiveness for Earth Angels by Doreen Virtue

I absolutely love Doreen Virtue and I've never met a Hayhouse book I haven't liked. As a recovering people pleaser, Assertiveness for Earth Angels: How to be Loving Instead of "Too Nice" by Doreen Virtue was the perfect choice as my latest read. This one actually screamed out to me. 

Doreen describes Earth Angels as highly sensitive people with an innocence regarding love and life, believing in God's loving power, gentle, caring, seeing the best in others, trusting, optimistic and more. She digs deep into the many pitfalls of being such a sensitive being, and how to learn to be assertive without being aggressive.

For as far back as I can remember, I have found myself giving too much, and yet still feeling like it was not enough. I always had high expectations for what I needed to do for others, but never held anyone to that impossible standard. I even helped people who were quite capable of helping themselves. After reading Doreen's book, I learned that my jumping in to try and "save" them didn't really do them any favors. They have their own path, and their own lessons to learn. I also learned that giving for the wrong reasons can cause resentment, fatigue, money issues, health issues and more. Pure giving, she teaches, is not out of guilt, feeling sorry or obligation. 

She discusses how to set healthy boundaries, how to handle professional victims, gossipers, martyrs, guilt trippers, toxic relationships, narcissists and sociopaths (who tend to take advantage of kind, giving people). 

I was an extremely sensitive and quiet child. Although I was often bullied, it was always easier to stand up for others. I could feel their pain and I didn't want them to suffer. I remember my college years and so enjoying going out with my friends. But I also remember not liking large crowds. Trust me, we had lots of fun together, but I also remember feeling drained (not from my dear friends, just the crowd around us) and needing time by myself too. I honestly felt weird for that. Now at 48, I am more sensitive than ever. I absorb everyone's energy, whether positive or negative. It wears on me. I didn't realize that is what was happening to me, until I read Doreen's book. I thought that I wasn't a strong enough person to have my own thoughts and feelings. I felt weak. That's not what it is. I'm empathic. Picking up on the feelings of my classmates when I was a child, was because I truly could feel what they were feeling. Needing quiet time through my college years (and now too), was because the energy I was picking up was exhausting me. I feel very grateful to Doreen that I can now feel compassion towards myself for who I am, instead of criticism. There are so many ways to look at a situation, and more and more I am taking the positive view. That is what is so wonderful about reading books like this, you can find who you really are, and let go of that negative voice.

Doreen shows how how to enjoy life instead of people pleasing. She talks about following your passion and shows how we can use delay tactics instead of working on our life purpose by overeating, compulsive shopping, addictive internet surfing, substance abuse and more.

She shows us how to shield ourselves from harsh energies with crystals, angel lights, clearing, grounding and trees (yes, go hug a tree, it heals!). Also, you will learn how to have more time and energy by exercising, stretching and releasing, and eating healthfully. 

There is so much wonderful information packed into this book, and what I love about Doreen, is that she is honest and caring. She guides us to be truthful with ourselves about our real intentions, and provides so many tools to live an authentic, positive, peaceful and purposeful life.

As you can probably tell by now, I highly recommend this book.

In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Energy Healing by Abby Wynne

I first learned of Abby Wynne through Instagram (@abbynrghealing). I love her uplifting and positive posts. She is a Shamanic Psychotherapist, Energy Healer, Spiritual Teacher and Author from Dublin, Ireland. When I realized she had a book coming out through Hay House on Energy Healing, I could not wait to get my hands on it!

Energy Healing: Unlock Your Potential as a Healer and Bring Healing into Your Everyday Life by Abby Wynne is a beautiful guide to learn how to use energy healing on yourself and others. I read the book in its entirety for the purpose of this review, but I am now back to the beginning to work each exercise step by step. This is not the type of book that you read and put back on the shelf. It is a guide to a healthy, healing way of life.

Abby explains what energy healing is in easy to understand language, and her book is so full of wonderful information. She explains the different types of healing modalities and practitioners. She also shares her journey into healing. I always appreciate when authors are willing to share their personal story. It makes her writing even more genuine, because she is not only teaching us, she is living it.

She guides us in creating a "space of love." I just love that term! She teaches us how to center and ground ourselves. One of my biggest issues is feeling others' emotions so deeply that I take them on. I appreciate being empathic, but it can be draining to pick up negative energies so easily. Abby teaches us how to visualize a protective bubble around ourselves to shield the energies we don't want to let in. And it works!

Abby teaches us how to "pull down" Universal Life Force Energy into us for the purpose of healing. We also learn clearing, expanding, mindfulness, and how to bring healing to ourselves, family, the office and more. And as if all of this isn't enough (and believe me, I haven't nearly covered it all!), she also provides resources at the end for even more information.

I highly recommend Energy Healing. Thank you Abby for this wonderful book. I am now incorporating Energy Healing as part of my spiritual practice. I am grateful for your wisdom and for your generosity in sharing it all with us!

In Gratitude,

Kerri Mulhern
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Love Never Dies by Dr. Jamie Turndorf

Love Never Dies: How To Reconnect And Make Peace With The Deceased  is really two books in one. The first part of the book reveals the love story of Dr Jamie Turndorf and her husband Emile Jean Pan, and the devastating loss of his physical body. Soon she is able to reconnect with her husband while he is in the spirit realm, and together they teach how to connect with those no longer with us in body. 

The reason I chose to read this book was from listening to Dr. Turndorf's (aka Dr. Love) weekly radio show on HayHouseRadio.com. Her stories of communications with her beloved Jean through dialoguing, open vessels (Jean's spirit working through animals or people), and more are beautiful and inspiring. The book goes into even more detail, highlighting Jean's manifestations and miracles. 

Dr. Turndorf reveals techniques that she uses to dialogue with loves ones that are in spirit form. She provides connection, relief and closure. She believes that we don't need to ever say goodbye to our loves ones, because they are always with us, and want to communicate with us. There is incredible peace in this way of thinking.  There can also be people in our life that have brought harm to us. I feel grateful that someone has finally talked about this. There are some people who have died, that maybe we don't feel so good about, or that we may feel afraid of. She discusses how to dialogue with these spirits as well to bring serenity to our lives.

As I was reading this book one evening about how spirit comes to us through animals, electronics and even butterflies, my mind started to wander.  I thought about this beautiful large, black butterfly that visits our backyard. My husband and I always talk about it and joke that it is the same butterfly year after year. We get tons of monarchs and snout-nosed butterflies every year, but this one particular lone butterfly always gets our attention. It's just beautiful.

So I was thinking as I was sitting with this book, was it really a spirit? Could it be my grandmother or my husband's mother, or someone else showing us a sign of their presence? I have been going through a challenging time, which I will discuss in a later blog. In the evening I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror and asked "Is this happening because I'm not living in faith, that I'm not connected and believing as I should be? If this is why, then I will let go and trust and know that all is well. All is well."

An hour later, it was bedtime and my son came in the room and laid down on my bed. It was dark and I had my laptop on the floor. It was casting a glow on the ceiling. He was staring up at the ornate metal frame that criss-crosses the top of the bed posts and said: " Have you ever noticed that before? It's looks like a butterfly. A beautiful butterfly." Woah! The words didn't even completely sound like him, even though he is a loving, sensitive young man. I felt assured that I had the answer to the questions I asked in the mirror. 

I highly recommend this book. It provides love, comfort, new ways of thinking, and the possibility of opening a door that you may have thought closed. There is joy and comfort in knowing that we aren't alone. For me, to feel open enough to receive the butterfly message, was reason enough to read this book. I can't wait for what happens next!

*I am blessed to receive this book free from Hayhouse for participating in the Hayhouse Book Nook program.

In Gratitude,

Kerri
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: Walking Home by Sonia Choquette

When I heard Sonia Choquette wrote a new book about her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago, I absolutely could not wait to get this book in my hands. I had to wait several weeks because it was out of stock, but I knew I needed to read this. I knew it would be phenomenal, and it was even better than I anticipated.

Sonia Choquette is a best-selling author and six-sensory spiritual teacher. Walking Home takes the reader on a journey along with her through a 500-mile pilgrimage over the Pyranees and through Spain called the Camino de Santiago. Yes, she walked 500 miles! This trek has been walked for centuries and leads to the shrine of St. James. In the Middle Ages over a million Catholics made the journey as a way to be forgiven for their sins and begin again. It became known as The Way of Forgiveness.

Sonia decided to make the journey to work through the sudden deaths of her brother and father, as well as the dissolution of her marriage. What I love about this book, is that I felt like I walked with her. She held nothing back in this book, every emotion came forth and I related to so much of it. I loved getting to live every day of her journey through her thoughtful description of the scenery, the food, the people. Everything was portrayed with such clarity, that even my feet were sore after her daily hikes. I also loved the pictures she shared in the book too, that was such a treat.

It was amazing to feel someone's transformation. To see them go from broken to reborn. There were so many times I saw myself in her trials and felt so much better that I was not the only one who felt so many ways that she did. I felt like I was growing and changing along with her. There was anger, yelling, singing, praying, heartache, joy, laughter, and it was all wonderful!

I am humbled by her raw honesty, and truly grateful for Sonia's willingness to share so much of herself. It reminds me of a Rumi quote: "Tear off the mask, your face is glorious." How hard is it to truly allow who you really are to be seen? I mean all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. What a triumph to be vulnerable and let go of what other people might think! This book is such a gift, a permission to let it all out, and then let it all go.

There was magic in Sonia's journey. So many miracles that she shared, and they became more powerful as the journey came closer to Santiago. This book was pure indulgence to me, and I absolutely luxuriated in it every night. I couldn't wait to walk another day of the journey with her. And as the book was getting closer to the end, I was feeling sad because I didn't want it to end! It has been such a long time since a book made me feel that way. This is one of the few books I know I will be reading again and again, because I know I will receive new insight each time.

This is clearly a movie waiting to happen. I highly recommend Walking Home. It is for those who are going through a struggle, those who need to forgive or be forgiven, those who need to let go of the past, those who need to appreciate the beauty in themselves and others, this book is for everyone. Let the magic begin!

In Gratitude,

Kerri
www.suitablegifts.com

Book Review: The BIG Book of Angel Tarot by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine

The BIG Book of Angel Tarot: The Essential Guide to Symbols, Spreads, and Accurate Readings by Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine

I have been interested in tarot cards for quite some time but didn't know where to get started. I attended a Hayhouse I Can Do It! event and had the pleasure to listen and learn as Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine used the Angel Tarot cards. I was hooked. 

Upon receiving my copy of The BIG Book of Angel Tarot, I went out and bought my first set of tarot cards; Angel Tarot of course. They are just beautiful. The artwork is done by artist Steve A. Roberts. They are large, silver edged cards with beautiful illustrations that you just want to touch! I wanted to read the book and work with the cards at the same time.

The book is fantastic. There is so much useful information. Doreen and Radleigh have clearly poured their hearts into this. It is so beautiful to see people selflessly contribute their knowledge to others to spread more kindness, compassion, and love. I also appreciate their in-depth reflection on the history of tarot. They have taken something that was often shrouded in mystery and sometimes darkness, and brought it to light with an approach of loving, uplifting, positive cards and meanings, while still remaining true to its roots.

The book takes you through the history of tarot, the "language" including definitions of Arcana, Court Cards, Jumping Cards and more. It discusses the first 22 cards of the deck called the Major Arcana, the second part of the deck called the Minor Arcana, symbolism, archangels, angel numbers and astrology. Yes, this book is packed with valuable information!

Radleigh and Doreen show how to do a reading, and walk you through different spreads (1 card reading, 3 card, etc). The rest of the book is information, insights and explanations on the meanings of each individual card. For each card, they provide an insight to the possible meanings, the symbolism in the beautiful illustration, the angel number (each card has a number that is related to a message from the angels), and the astrological aspect of the card (Air element, Libra, Venus in Aquarius, etc) and what that means. 

The book is perfect for someone new to tarot as well as someone who wants to gain so much more insight into the specific meanings of these cards. As always, Doreen and Radleigh explain everything with ease and brilliance. It was an honor to read this book and learn from these beautiful souls.

*I am blessed to receive this book free from Hayhouse for participating in the Hayhouse Book Nook program.

In Gratitude,

Kerri
www.suitablegifts.com