An avid and voracious reader, I can attest to knowing how to read before I began school. Suffice it to say that I have long had a love affair with books; hence, my need to express the other side of the coin as a writer.
This segment features authors from I to L. If there are any authors and/or book titles that have served to inspire you, feel free to share here.
THE MESSENGERS: A TRUE STORY OF ANGELIC PRESENCE AND THE RETURN TO THE AGE OF MIRACLES (Julia Ingram and G. W. Hardin)
The extraordinary true story of Nick Bunick, a prominent Oregon real-estate developer who put his life on hold to reveal how he had been visited by angels, and how they compelled him to reveal the truth about his past life. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
THE LOST SISTERHOOD: THE RETURN OF MARY MAGDALENE, THE MOTHER MARY AND OTHER HOLY WOMEN (Julia Ingram)
Near the end of the millennium, Julia Ingram’s spirit guides prompted her to close her busy therapy practice, put all of her belongings in storage and hit the road; destination unknown. During a Spirit-led year of exploring the United States, Ingram met dozens of people who identified themselves as reincarnated Essenes from the time of Jeshua (Jesus). Most astonishing were meetings with women who, through past life regressions, discovered they had been Jesus’ relatives, friends, teachers and lovers. These remarkable encounters convinced the author that the perspective of women was missing from most accounts of Jesus/ mission, that Mary Magdalene’s considerable role as a priestess/apostle had been vastly underrated, and that Mother Mary was a teacher and healer who sought to overcome the fundamentalism of the male-dominated Hebrew religion. These fifteen visionaries announce that the Sisterhood is back today to restore the Divine Feminine to her rightful place and to bring desperately needed balance to our world. In the sequel to The Messengers, Ingram presents a revisioning of a religious past that will help shape our spiritual future. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
SECRETS OF THE MAGDALENE SCROLLS (Bettye Johnson)
A woman on a hike in the French Pyrenees falls into an underground cave and makes an astounding discovery, unbeknownst to her at the time. Hidden inside pottery jars are 23 scrolls that have been written by Mary Magdalene. Therein begins this fast paced adventure as the woman and her 3 friends work feverishly to translate them from their ancient Greek; their work further heightened by the fact that they have no choice but to protect the scrolls from those who are conspiring against them. In revealing the words of MM, they must grapple with the fact that this new knowledge will rock the very foundation of modern religion(s). Throughout the translating of the ancient scrolls, each character is also experiencing their own spiritual transformation, thereby leading to remarkable healing. The book, thusly, alternates between the stories that are written in the scrolls and the modern day story focusing on these four people. The combination of in-depth research, knowledge and imagination, in keeping with both history and alternative possibilities, makes this book a fascinating read. The fact that there are tidbits of historical information included throughout the story is what makes it more plausible. One will discover through the reading of the Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls that Jeshua (Jesus) and MM are married and have children. In addition, Jesus has been born into a family of brothers. Other biblical figures are discussed in the scrolls, making them appear human and fallible. The reading of the book incites one to wonder if there are, indeed, scrolls still hidden, out there, waiting to be discovered. The flip side equates to wondering how many have actually been discovered, yet kept silent by the Church. This book is a must for those who enjoy researching alternative histories of Christianity and should, therefore, ignite curiosity in its readers to question some of the commonly held assumptions of modern religious thought, delving head first into the realm of possibilities. I now leave you with words from Mary Magdalene, herself, as taken from pages 304 to 305.
As my status and presence have been suppressed, so has the true status of women been hidden away. I see a new dawn. When my writings are found, it will be a sign of change for women and they will be revered as the wombs of creation. Woman and man will walk side by side, each gifted with minds equal but reflecting the varied aspect of the One. What is my message? Foremost I say that Yeshua’s message was Love and Truth. The old ways must be done away with. Over and over he spoke the message: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, all your mind and life. Next is to love other beings as you would love yourself. My message, together with Yeshua’s, is Mind.
And what is Mind? Mind is the total of all thoughts, feelings and emotions. Yeshua and I were like two hands. One had was love and the other mind. When clasped together they became the One. The Truth is available to all. It is for those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. Life has been for the purpose to awaken the Divine that sleeps deep within each person from one lifetime to another.
My teachings have been consistent. By healing the thoughts, the body will be healed. Change is necessary and created by what one thinks and believes. All learned people can espouse great knowledge. Unless they turn it into experience, it is empty of meaning.
Ms. Johnson deserves to be commended for having written a truly awesome book that is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
MARY MAGDALENE: HER LEGACY (Bettye Johnson)
The long-awaited sequel to Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls has the two couples shocked out of their complacent lives when Ellen, while walking in a forest near Paris has a surprising encounter with a mysterious old-world type of man who disappears as fast as he appears leaving Ellen with a portmanteau filled with ancient documents that when translated will shock the world. This is a fast-paced thriller with surprising twists and turns that keeps the reader captivated until the very end. The new scrolls document the life of Sarah, the daughter of Mary Magdalene and Jesus as well as her lineage with surprising revelations. Ms. Johnson has written a story filled with intrigue, adventure that is fast-paced, exciting and a believable depiction of Sarah and her lineage. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
WHAT THE BLANK DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE BIBLE? (Bettye Johnson)
Few people understand the history of the Bible containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. Bettye Johnson became a researcher when she began writing her award-winning book Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls after a trip to southern France. Johnson became intrigued with what she learned and realized that with the primary languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that over the two thousand years plus; in each language there have been numerous translations. Johnson also realized that most Christian historians did not look beyond the obvious unobvious. She knew that few people truly understood the history of both the Old Testament and the New Testament and therefore in this book is sharing the information she learned. Welcome to the journey of discovery. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
PRAYERS OF THE COSMOS: MEDITATIONS ON THE ARAMAIC WORDS OF JESUS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
Reinterpreting the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes from the vantage of Middle Eastern mysticism, Douglas-Klotz offers a radical new translation of the words of Jesus Christ that reveals a mystical, feminist, cosmic Christ. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
DESERT WISDOM: SACRED MIDDLE EATERN WRITINGS FROM THE GODDESS THROUGH THE SUFIS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
The beautifully translated and excerpted writings of Middle Eastern mystics, prophets, poets, and artists present a coherent bio-regional spirituality little known in the West and offer a rich source of renewal and healing. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
THE HIDDEN GOSPEL: DECODING THE SPIRITUAL MESSAGE OF THE ARAMAIC JESUS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
THE HIDDEN GOSPEL is Dr. Douglas-Klotz’s presentation of what he considers to be the overlooked aspect of the Gospels, namely the Aramaic writings of the early Church. Aramaic was the spoken language of Jesus’s day. In presenting his translations of these Early Church writings, the author discusses a mystical aspect of the Gospels that seems to harken back to the Gnostic controversy. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
THE GENESIS MEDITATIONS: A SHARED PRACTICE OF PEACE FOR CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
This book teaches step-by-step how early practitioners may have meditated in all three religions springing from the Middle East. Based on translations from Jesus’ native language, Aramaic, Neil Douglas-Klotz links Jesus’ own way of meditating to that of early Jewish and Islamic mystics. What he finds is a shared focus on sacred “beginnings” rather than on apocalyptic “endings.” As he says: “This original meditation lies behind the Christians’ awe at the rebirth of the Christ Child each midwinter. It fuels the heartfelt hope of Jews in the New Year celebrations of Rosh Hashana. And it roots the devotion of Muslims each year during the fast of Ramadan. These are all celebrations of hope, not fear, and of love, not hatred. By experiencing the creation story as our own, we have the same opportunity to renew ourselves and to deepen our connection with the Divine every day.” We also experience the one meditative practice that might unite our Christian, Judaic, and Islamic communities in a troubled world. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
THE SUFI BOOK OF LIFE: 99 PATHWAYS OF THE HEART FOR THE MODERN DERVISH (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
Part meditation book, part oracle, and part collection of Sufi lore, poetry, and stories, The Sufi Book of Life offers a fresh interpretation of the fundamental spiritual practice found in all ancient and modern Sufi schools—the meditations on the 99 Qualities of Unity. Unlike most books on Sufism, which are primarily collections of translated Sufi texts, this accessible guide is a handbook that explains how to apply Sufi principles to modern life. With inspirational commentary that connects each quality with contemporary concerns such as love, work, and success, as well as timeless wisdom from Sufi masters, both ancient and modern, such as Rumi, Hafiz, Shabistari, Rabia, Inayat Khan, Indries Shah, Irina Tweedie, Bawa Muhaiyadden, and more. The Sufi Book of Life is a dervish guide to life and love for the twenty-first century. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
BLESSINGS OF THE COSMOS: BENEDICTIONS FROM THE ARAMAIC WORDS OF JESUS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
Aramaic, the language Jesus and his disciples spoke, has captured the imagination of Christians across the country. Since the publication of his bestseller Prayers of the Cosmos (over 100,000 copies sold; Harper & Row, 1990), Neil Douglas-Klotz has become a foremost expert at uncovering the rich layers of meaning and wisdom found in Jesus’ original words. Now, in Blessings of the Cosmos, this renowned scholar presents Jesus’ best-loved benedictions along with an 80-minute CD with many guided prayers in Aramaic. Whether for personal inspiration or use in communal worship and rites of passage, with Blessings of the Cosmos, readers now have a heart-opening prayerbook that will ever deepen their experience of the divine. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
I AM: THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF THE ARAMAIC JESUS (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
Perhaps the most essential teachings given to us by Jesus came in the final year of his life on earth. Known as the “I AM” statements and found in the Gospel of John and the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, these radical truths were offered to connect each one of us to the original source of Jesus’ deeper power. But to fully grasp and embody these profound insights, teaches Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz, we must hear them in Jesus’ native tongue. On I Am: The Secret Teachings of the Aramaic Jesus, we accompany Dr. Douglas-Klotz on a journey to the Holy Land of Jesus’ time. With him, we will learn 22 specific meditations that combine music, Aramaic chant, and breath awareness practices to attune us to Jesus’ words and help us “become fountains of healing and inspiration, as Jesus was.”
I Am the Bread of Life. I Am the Light of the World. I Am the Resurrection and the Life. Although one might assume that Jesus was referring to himself in some exclusive way, Dr. Douglas-Klotz illuminates the subtleties of these sayings to reveal their universality and urgency—for each of us, no matter what path we follow. For in these words, he explains, Jesus sought to convey an inner wisdom that we could rely on to find to our own source of guidance, through him, after he left this world. On I Am, we hear Jesus’ last stories, parables, and insights with Aramaic ears—and join him in the spiritual practices of his day—in order to touch directly our personal bond with Sacred Unity … to fulfill our own divine purpose … and to honor all of our experience as a living song to the cosmos. This audio CD is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
GOING DEEPER: HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF YOUR LIFE WHEN YOUR LIFE MAKES NO SENSE (Jean-Claude Koven)
The book that’s sending shockwaves through the metaphysical community. Written for Lightworkers, Wanderers and planetary servers to reconnect forgotten memories. Explores who you are, why you are here and what needs to be done to accomplish your mission. If you have ever felt Earth was not your real home … alienated from friends and family … that you have come here to do something important … this is a book about you. One of the most transformational books that I have had the pleasure of reading, it is available at both Amazon US and Amazon (CDA). You can also find it on the Prism House Press website.
AWAKENING THE BUDDHA WITHIN: TIBETAN WISDOM FOR THE WESTERN WORLD (Lama Surya Das)
Lama Surya Das, the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition, presents the definitive book on Western Buddhism for the modern-day spiritual seeker. The radical and compelling message of Buddhism tells us that each of us has the wisdom, awareness, love, and power of the Buddha within; yet most of us are too often like sleeping Buddhas. In Awakening the Buddha Within, Surya Das shows how we can awaken to who we really are in order to lead a more compassionate, enlightened, and balanced life. It illuminates the guidelines and key principles embodied in the noble Eight-Fold Path and the traditional Three Enlightenment Trainings common to all schools of Buddhism: [1] Wisdom Training: Developing clear vision, insight, and inner understanding — seeing reality and ourselves as we really are, [2] Ethics Training: Cultivating virtue, self-discipline, and compassion in what we say and do, and [3] Meditation Training: Practicing mindfulness, concentration, and awareness of the present moment. With lively stories, meditations, and spiritual practices, Awakening the Buddha Within is an invaluable text for the novice and experienced student of Buddhism alike. This book is available at both
Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
AWAKENING TO THE SACRED: CREATING A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL LIFE (Lama Surya Das)
Lama Surya Das is the most highly trained American lama in the Tibetan tradition. In this elegant, inspiring book, he integrates essential Buddhist practices with a variety of other spiritual philosophies and wisdom traditions, to show you how to create a personalized spiritual practice based on your own individual beliefs, aspirations, and needs. Through reflections on his own life quest, thoughtful essays, and entertaining stories, Surya Das examines the common themes at the heart of any spiritual path, including faith, doubt, love, compassion, creativity, self-inquiry, and transformation. He then explores prayer, yoga, chanting, guided meditations, breathing exercises, and myriad other rituals, providing practical examples of each that we can use day-to-day to nurture our inner spirit. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).
AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART: INTEGRATING LOVE, MEANING AND CONNECTION INTO EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE (Lama Surya Das)
Surya Das illustrates how to develop authentic presence, how to connect to our own life experience, build deeper relationships, embrace life’s lessons, as well as learn how to love what we don’t like. Everyone needs to feel connected, to love and feel loved, to reach out to others and communicate in order to overcome alienation, loneliness, and a feeling of being disconnected. In AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART Surya Das shows you how to reach inward and outward. By developing spiritual intelligence, a sense of compassion that helps us be more sensitive, more aware of our own feelings and the feelings of those around us, we become more intuitive; we relate better and love better. Cultivating spiritual intelligence and learning how to connect will improve our capacity for intimacy, making us better mates, friends, parents, and coworkers; it helps all of us to become more giving and brings us fulfillment, meaning, and love. With tremendous insight he explores specific ways in which we can more fruitfully relate to our own experiences as well as each other in today’s fast-paced, complicated, and often confusing world. This book is available at both Amazon (US) and Amazon (CDA).