Why I Loved The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson {Giveaway}
Last week I stumbled on an interview with Marianne Williamson and Marie Forleo and was once again, struck by how well-spoken and thoughtful Williamson is. Of the many spiritual authors out there Williamson is one of the very few who mash up Spirituality and Humanitarianism. Personally I believe the two go hand in hand, so I am always eager to hear her perspective and learn from her.
If this were three years ago, I may not have been as open to her work – she uses the Christian terminology that is rooted in the metaphysical text A Course in Miracles; namely, Miracles, Prayer and God, (not to mention the word Divine is in the title). This would have scared me off at one point, but I urge readers out there who are not used to using/hearing Christian terminology not to dismiss it because it has truly valuable lessons.
If there is one word I could use to describe this book, it would be this one: succinct.
Williamson utilizes every sentence to its maximum potential, and I love her for it. It’s right to the point, but at the same time it makes an impact.
This book is an important one that I wish was mandatory for all. I don’t know one person who doesn’t have some sort of money-related issue. Whether it is judgments of those who have money, fear of not having enough money, or uncertainty about how to make money, this book covers it all in perfectly built layers intertwined by prayer.
Williamson uses lesson from ACIM and real life situations as examples of how we hold ourselves back from abundance and how fear ultimately derails us from this path. As I listened to the audiobook (a short 3.5 hours), I found myself pausing frequently to take in her words. It’s been a long time since I’ve had this experience and it was exactly what I needed. In fact, I purchased a hard copy so I can highlight away and study further.
The Law of Divine Compensation is a gem, and we’d all be doing ourselves a favor if we picked up a copy, regardless of what our money situation or belief system is. And I love it so much I’ve decided to give away a copy.
You can order the book through Amazon here, and can learn more about Marianne Williamson here on her website.
Giveaway is now closed! Congrats to the winner Chris!
(Disclosure: All my thoughts & opinions, and giveaway provided by TCP)
How I Ended Up Here ~ Part 2
I left off Part 1 explaining how torn I was about my religion of choice due to the Jesus discrepancy (read here to catch up!). Why did I care so much, I would ask myself. There were so many aspects about Reform Judaism that I did like. So many views that I could see myself teaching my children.
But – I knew that the reason was that I didn’t want to have any doubts. My children, I feared, would see right through me. Not to mention, it’s not exactly easy to become an official member of a religion. There is a process involved. And could I stand there and lie through my teeth that I was sure of everything, when I wasn’t?
I envied those who were brought up in a home with faith – or at the very least, religion. Because the two, I knew, were not necessarily synonymous.
And so the years past, and nothing progressed. I would sometimes become angry that my children (there were now two of them), were not gaining the trust and faith during their formative years. As I mentioned in the first post, it was because of my own personal struggles, that I sought out religion in the first place, and I was simply watching the same situation unfold with my own children – or so I thought.
To top things off, I wasn’t better. I was still struggling, but all of a sudden, things changed in my life. I started noticing coincidences, and I was led to people, books, teachers that had a different way of thinking. It was no coincidence, I knew.
(A quick search of this site will lead you to some of my favorites).
Over time, I must have subconsciously let go of the idea that I needed a religion because I began to see the beauty in all religions. I began to “believe in” Buddha, Jesus, Moses, and Mohammed. And I truly believe that their messages, each one of them, are all the same at their core.
Most recently, while reading Deepak Chopra‘s Life After Death, I was presented with an interesting idea. Chopra talks a bit about near-death-experiences, which have been well documented over time, and through this research, shares that an individual providing details of their NDE will describe imagery that pertains to their culture or religion.
An individual in North America will describe pearly gates, shining white lights, and a Father figure waiting for them, while an individual from India will describe something completely different. Fascinating, and to me, just adds to my own idea that there are many paths to spirit, whatever that may look like for you.
I recently heard a quote that beautifully described how I feel – “There are as many paths to God as there are human breaths — Prophet Muhammad”.
I have not yet entered my third decade of life, but I am relieved and happy to say that I have found peace with my own belief system, wide and intangible as it may seem to others. It is based on respect, love, and an understanding that we’re all connected, regardless of which book we learn our morals and values from.
And this is how I ended up here, at The Conscious Perspective.
Conscious Reads ~ My Favorite Books of 2012 (Thus Far…)
I just cracked open a new (old) book called The Wisdom of Forgiveness
I often have many books in progress at one time – 3 or 4 hardcopy and a couple of audio as well. My reading style is quite comparable to my television habits; sometimes I want a light read, like a thirty minute sitcom, and sometimes I want something more meaningful, like a thought-provoking documentary. There is something for every mood and time constraint.
I realize that I have a list of my favorite books over on the far right of the screen, but today I thought I would share some of the more recent books in the Spiritual/Personal Growth genre I have read and loved (some are old, some are new), they cover a wide scope of subject matter.
Caroline Myss - Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Beyond Religion: Ethics for a Whole World
James Redfield – The Twelfth Insight: The Hour of Decision (Celestine Series)
Deepak Chopra & Leonard Mlodinow – War of the Worldviews: Science Vs. Spirituality
Marie Manuchehri – Intuitive Self-Healing: Achieve Balance and Wellness Through the Body’s Energy Centers
Kevin J. Todeschi - Edgar Cayce on the Akashic Records: The Book of Life
Again, these are books that I enjoyed – so if you are seeking something new, I’d suggest reading the descriptions (click on book image) and giving one of them a try.
What are some of your favorite books that you’ve read recently? I’d love to hear!
World Literacy & A Place To Connect
Many of us learn to read at a very young age, sometimes as young as three or four. Reading becomes second nature to us and we cannot remember life without having this skill. Many of my earliest school memories took place in the school library, where I spent recesses and lunch hours. It was the best part of school for me and a place I could go to be surrounded by a world of imagination and inspiration for the future.
Reading is a gift. It can be used to help you learn about an endless array of topics, or simply as a way to clear your head. It can ignite inspiration, and can often be an important tool when it comes to personal growth and spirituality. Look at the success of the internet, it is mostly compromised of words, and it brings the whole world together every day.
Book-lover Oprah famously said of her experience with reading and how it impacted her life,
Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.
With the exposure that we have on a regular basis to the state of the world, it would likely be no surprise to hear that there are approximately 1 billion adults who cannot read. Women make up two thirds of this figure. A high number that can hopefully be reduced in the future with the aid of the many education-focused organizations out there such as Global Literacy, and Pro Literacy.
On a small scale, what we can do is be appreciative of the fact that we have access to the world that reading opens up, and take advantage of all of the amazing information that we have before us.
In gratitude, The Conscious Perspective is happy to announce that we will beginning a monthly Virtual Book Club! We will feature a different book in the genre of personal growth and/or inspiration. The choices will switch back & forth between fiction & non-fiction; authors will include thought leaders such as Wayne Dyer, Ph. D., Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, and James Redfield.
Some of the great features of our Book Club will be:
- Monthly giveaway for upcoming Book of the Month selections
- Worksheets based on some of the concepts of the selected book
- Forum to discuss/share/connect with others who are reading along
If you feel that you may not have time to read up, it’s time to discover the beauty of audiobooks. They are perfect for those who are on-the-go. More information on this to come.
Stay tuned for further details on our Book Club, which will start this fall. Email Heidi if you have a book suggestion or any questions and register for our forum in the meantime.
Source: Photo
* Special thanks to Maggie Savage!
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