For centuries, we have turned to stories as sources of wisdom and spiritual inspiration. Some speak to specific sections of the populace, people with certain beliefs or preferences; others are universal enough to cross divides of both faith and geography. The Life Codes by author Patty Harpenau is such tale.

A teaching novel based on Harpenau’s own ground-breaking spiritual journey to Jerusalem, The Life Codes follows Michal, a young Dutch woman, as she searches for answers and fulfillment in the Holy City. Michal befriends a prominent Rabbi and his family, and through that bond, she breaks down as ages-old gender barrier to unlock information (or Codes) that had long been kept in secret texts and whispered in private ritual to men only. These Codes embody the mystical essences of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and enable Michael — and the reader — to fulfill her purpose and potential.

The Life Codes is also moving tale of love; of relationships that transcend time and death; and of a determined woman finding her way in life.

For more information you can visit http://www.thelifecodes.nl/

I’m here to confess – I am a voyeur. I prefer to call myself “an observer of human behavior”. It sounds far better than voyeur by a long shot. But then, I’m not alone. If statistics concerning the viewership of reality television are to be trusted, the vast majority of the American population could be considered consummate voyeurs. It’s human nature. We slow down when passing the scene of an auto accident because we’re curious about the extent of the damage. Was anyone injured? How many cars were totaled? We drive away thankful that it wasn’t us.

Therein lies the power of reality television. Reality TV enthralls us and, arguably, changes lives. Take the popular truTV show Hoarders as an example. You find yourself wrapped up in the emotions of those who hoard. They are trapped, often in an unhealthy environment. Their family members are ashamed and, more often than not, have no idea how to help their loved one stop filling their house with trash and useless items. Although I’m far from a hoarder, I am always overwhelmed with an intense desire to clean and organize my own house after watching.

Becoming a more organized person is just one example of the many “lessons” I have learned through the lens of reality TV. Watching reality television has fundamentally changed the way I perceive my fellow human beings. Hoarders and shows like it make us appreciate how fundamentally flawed we all are. While it is highly unlikely I will ever end up living in a house full of trash and knick-knacks, I have my own flaws to work through. I have a renewed appreciation for how easily a minor behavior flaw/quirk can turn into a major emotional handicap under the right circumstances.

Most importantly, we observers of our fellow men and women are more likely to become attuned to the needs of others. It saddens me how unsupportive some family members can be when faced with their loved one’s legitimate emotional need. As an outside observer, I can see the desperation involved with hoarding behavior. Judgment from family members only serves to exacerbate the problem.

In the end, I’m proud to be a voyeur/observer of human behavior and a consumer of reality television. If there’s a reason why we enjoy watching the misadventures and triumphs of our counterparts, it’s because we learn best by example. Although we should not rely on television to define our worldview, it doesn’t hurt to occasionally indulge in the random drive-by viewing.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at onlinedegrees.org and performs research surrounding online colleges and education. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Consider for a moment that life is not a random event or an accident of circumstance and that the essence of who we are continues, even beyond death. In Seeking Soul Mates, Spirit Guides, Past Lives, we can discover new meaning to our lives and garner valuable insights into experiences.

My good friend, Cynthia Litman, recommended this book because it demonstrates how we can recognize and embrace the spiritual relationships that determine our life’s path. Taking us on a journey, illustrated by his professional and personal experiences, author Richard Scheinberg offers us a fresh and intimate glimpse of the fascinating world of eternal love and the enduring soul. Reading his heartfelt advice inspires us to embark on a soul searching expedition of our own.

Seeking Soul Mates, Spirit Guides and Past Lives is available on Amazon.com if you Click Here

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The 2006 murder of friend and fellow media-activist Brad Will in protest-torn Oaxaca, Mexico inspired Velcrow Ripper to make Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, a documentary that seeks to fuse spirituality and activism. Ripper’s journey takes him around the world to Montgomery, Alabama; Rodden Island, South Africa; Andrah, Indian; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and South Central Los Angeles, where a months-long protest against the razing of a vital community garden provides a highly dramatic spine for the wide-ranging film.

Along the way, Ripper meets with a number of icons including actor turned activist Daryl Hannah, Nobel prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author Alice Walker, Buddhist peace activist Thich Nhat Hahn, famed tree sitter Julia Butterfly Hill and Congressman John Lewis. Ripper discovers thousands of individuals and organizations connected by a shared commitment to compassionate, positive action. For more information you can watch the trailer above or purchase Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action on Amazon by Clicking Here

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To whom it may concern:

I have tried to use this space to talk about movies, books, TV programs, music and media that leave people feeling inspired, uplifted and more connected to their most authentic Self — and avoid blatant self-promotion–….

However, I have entered a contest to find ‘The Next Top Spiritual Author’ with a novel I wrote, The Bottom Line; and I am trying to rally as much support as possible. The Bottom Line is about a guy in college trying to overcome his ego’s fears and desires. You can hear me read an excerpt from it that humorously demonstrates how the main character’s ego has a tendency to get him into trouble at my web site for the competition at

http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=652…

If the book resonates with you, please consider voting for me. Your vote would mean the WORLD to me and possibly determine whether or not I make it to the next round of the competition!

You can vote by visiting my site

http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=652, registering to vote and then voting….

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

PS…I’ve also teamed up with some other authors…So, if you vote for one of us, you will have access to some fantastic free gifts, including an interview I did on how to find and follow your calling…You can get your free gifts at http://www.thankyouforvotingforus.com/

“The most important voice that is speaking to us is usually the one asking us to do something that takes courage, something that takes us out of our comfort zone. That’s why we so often ignore that voice and listen only to the endless chatter of our minds.”

These are the words in the introduction of Beyond Success: Redefining the Meaning of Prosperity written by Jeffrey Gitterman. My good friend Cynthia Litman recommended Beyond Success because the book examines the idea that people do not find happiness in money and material possessions, but through engaging in the journey of goals that challenge us and allow us to make a contribution to the world through our own unique expression.

Gitterman divides his book into four pillars that show us how to find meaning and joy throughout this quest. First, we can connect to a Source of infinite energy within us, rather than something ‘out there.’ Then, Gitterman shows us how we can find our unique expression and offer that to the world. After we learn how to own our unique expression, then Gitterman suggests that we redirect our attention on ‘the road that is your life story’ , not just the destination of our specific goal. The book concludes with a section on expanding our awareness by giving both financially and spiritually to others.

Beyond Success will not only show you how to achieve success, but it will also help you find great joy, inspiration and creativity while you pursue your goals.

Jeffrey Gitterman is a corporate leader who successfully brings a spiritual message to the traditionally materialistic business community. He is one of ING Financial’s top advisors, whose GoBeyond seminars have been the highest-rated training program at the company for years. For more information you can visit www.beyondsuccessconsulting.com.

You can purchase Beyond Success on Amazon if you
Click Here.

This guest post is brought to you by Thea Westra – and she needs your help! Please vote for her in the Next Top Spiritual Author competition by visiting http://www.budurl.com/NextTopAuthor – you’ll even be sent several special free gifts after you vote!

Dream Beyond The Common Order Of Things
by Thea Westra – www.selfimprovementplus.com

I heard that line – dream beyond the common order of things – in an advertisement for tea, of all places. Yet the words jumped out at me like a vivid memory. I know that I have had many times in my life when I have created things bigger than I thought I knew how to achieve, and personally produced results that even left me in a state of bewilderment about what was possible for my life.

Have you ever experienced those moments? They are well worth revisiting and building on. They are your key to producing such results again, if you still have some more big dreams to accomplish. If you have achieved something in your past, it means that you can achieve it (or something similar), again in the future. You now have the tools you need, and cellular memory of what it takes to create anything outside of yourself.

This article lists a few of the thoughts that came up for me as I recalled a few monumental achievements in my own life, and I write them here with the intention of making a difference to the life of somebody else, who may read these words.

These pointers, about living out your dreams, are not in any particular priority order. They are simply a collection of random thoughts that I know to be true, about accomplishing large goals.

If you have a massive goal and you are continually procrastinating, perhaps this is indicative of a misalignment somewhere in your life. Is there something that is not in integrity with who you believe yourself to be, or is there something for which you haven’t forgiven yourself. Those are the areas that must first be cleared up, to enable forward movement.

At some stage, when you notice that the goal you have created is not for you, then at very least do it for others. Create a purpose outside of yourself, if your own is not yet strong enough. You will build the muscles you need as you step forward. Collect all the crutches you can until you have generated some personal momentum. Soon the goal will again be yours and will no longer feel foreign to you.

Build in structures and systems that keep the dream alive over extended periods of time. Add props like quotes, images and posters in your daily surrounds. Have pop up messages on your computer, use the screensaver area on your screens, and add material to inspire you. Include supportive friends who know about your intentions, so they will ask you about it each time you speak. Ask for lots and lots of help with all the things about which you do not yet have enough knowledge. Hear the voices of experience around you.

Dreams need wheels, foundations, and time lines. Begin incorporating daily actions and habits to move you forward. Set up files, folders, calendars and other structures for being able to immediately collect material and information that you need for your projects. Set short and long-term timelines for specific phases, and for specific completion points. Then live your days toward those dates of completion, and targets that are easily measured.

Have big reasons for wanting to achieve the results you declare. Make these reasons large enough and truly heartfelt, so that they ignite passion and strong emotion behind your dreams. You need to always be able to instantly get in touch with wonderfully powerful feelings about your dream goals. Those emotions will inspire consistent action and will inspire others around you. You will need those inspired friends on the days you feel a bit too flat for taking action.

Reach for those stars, there is no mud up there. Keep your eyes focused on the end prize, in fact, a little way beyond where you say you want to be by a particular time. If you shoot a bit beyond the desired end result, then you are sure to arrive at your intended destination.

Decisions must be made. A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action. If there is no action, then you really have not decided. Check in with yourself. Have you honestly made a decision regarding your dream? If not, then make one. Either completely drop the goal or get on ahead full-steam with it.

Never use time as your excuse. Wedge dream projects into your current lifestyle, and commitments. Even if you crawl forward at ten minutes each day, do something every day toward that end goal. When you go to sleep each day, rest yourself in the knowledge that you have done something that day, to move you closer to your dream. At some time during every day, put one foot in front of the other toward that dream. Slow is better than never.

Build on positive results, and create some wins for yourself. Each time you win a little victory over yourself, you create impetus for moving forward even more. It helps you to grow, and become the person you must become for having that dream live for you. There will be changes, this is inevitable when working toward a big dream and when growing into the person who is to fit such a large dream. Allow, accept and actively encourage that level of personal growth.

All the points listed above are by no means a comprehensive collection, or a complete formula for success. They are purely a few things to consider and check in with, if you are up to some big things in your life. Throughout them all is the common thread of managing yourself. Watch the language you use, and how you speak with yourself. Live with awareness and recognize the many faces of fear. Continue to build harmony in your every day living. Never lose touch with the miracle and dream life that you already live. Inhale gratitude with every breath. You have today as a gift, now go spend it!

This guest post is brought to you by Thea Westra – and she needs your help! Please vote for her in the Next Top Spiritual Author competition by visiting http://www.budurl.com/NextTopAuthor – you’ll even be sent several special free gifts after you vote!

In Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World, Mary Pipher reveals how she struggled with depression, worked toward a new and stronger identity, and found self-acceptance as well as a renewed capacity for joy. The questions she asks of herself on every page are the eternal, universal ones: Who am I? What made me this way? Am I loved? Am I good? Do I matter?

In her most personal book to date, Pipher explores our shared journey across the life cycle – how we use the personal freedom we are granted; and how our response to failure and despair can make us wiser and kinder human beings. Writing with a special concern for those who feel overwhelmed by the ever-increasing demands of a tumultuous world, are wrestling with depression, or are struggling to rebuild their lives, Pipher tells a hopeful and universal story about resilience, what we do with what we are given, and breaking through despair to discover serenity and joy.

Seeking Peace is available on Amazon if you Click Here.

Quote-review is a place where you can review and find quotes that you like and need for any purpose. Quotes are divided into categories such as love quotes, famous quotes, funny quotes, inspirational quotes and spiritual quotes….This site can come in handy for anyone who likes to add quotes to their Facebook pages, Twitter feeds or emails. For more information, you can visit http://www.quote-review.com

Upon learning that the previous owner of her home was a victim of suicidal depression, author Barbara Richardson made a silent promise: to turn that farmhouse into a house of joy. In her new book, Guest House, she fulfills that promise.

Guest House is a fictional novel that weaves together the burdens and joys of one outwardly accomplished go-getter, Melba Burns and one shy, imaginative and neglected kid, Matt Garry. After witnessing a terrible accident, Melba has retreated from the world; she’s abandoned her high-achieving life, she’s stopped driving her car, and she avoids human contact. Her sheltered world starts to crumble when Matt, a courageous and ingenious boy with troubled parents finds his way into her heart.

I recently had a chance to interview Barbara about Guest House. She also talked about how it took her 18 years to get her first book published and gave some great advice for aspiring writers.

You can read a few highlights from our interview below and listen to our entire 20 minute conversation by clicking the play button.

Matt: Your characters deal with many challenges ranging from growing up with alcoholic and troubled parents, spousal abuse, being raised in a very strict and religious household, how to comfort those grieving, loneliness, and finding love. Do you have a personal connection to the issues raised in your book?

Barbara: I do. Yes I was raised in a really strict religion and had parents who sort of ignored me…And, I think the beautiful thing about living a spiritual life is that it’s not the circumstances, but what you do with them. To me it was so important to show the humanity of all these people, even the terrible actions of parents and friends. And, in all the confusion truly there is this beautiful thread running through it that you can be free when you learn how to surrender to those who love you and to the moment which provides all the care you could possibly need.

Matt: How do you find beauty in those moments of darkness when you have such terrible circumstances?

Barbara: . . . I saw a documentary on the Holocaust a couple nights ago. And, no there wasn’t joy in the camps there. But, these people managed to locate the joy in their heart in these most difficult circumstances because they were true to themselves. If you’re true to your self, not your outer circumstances…joy is available to you every moment.

For more information on Barbara, you can visit her web site at www.BarbaraKRichardson.com or purchase Guest House on Amazon by Clicking Here.