by June Rouse
Associate Editor, The Monthly Aspectarian
A special bulletin to fans of Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God series, and a provocative idea for anyone who treasures connection with meditative disciplines: Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 2 - A Personal Journal. Each dated page is headed by a quotation from Book 2, followed by lines for writing down what comes to you as you respond to the excerpts. Examples: July 4 - "Whether it's loveless sex or loveless spaghetti and meatballs, if you've prepared the feast and are consuming it without love, you're missing the most extraordinary part of the experience." September 6 - "Remember first that everything you think, say, and do is a reflection of what you've decided about yourself; a statement about Who You Are; an act of creation in your deciding who you want to be." A beautifully designed book in the tradition of its predecessors (Conversations with God, Books 1 and 2, Conversations with God, Book 1 Guidebook). (Hampton Roads, 365+ pages, $10.95.)
If you're watching for a sign from God, sit up and notice synchronicities, puzzle out your dreams or simply want to become more aware of your personal relationship to a world "in which everything is alive and brimming with consciousness and helpful guidance," then Listening to the Oracle: The Ancient Art of Finding Guidance in the Signs and Symbols All Around Us could be the book for you -- and then some! Replete with wonderful stories drawn from the history of oracles, this marvel-filled book by Dianne Skafte, Ph.D., a specialist in depth psychology and mythological studies, will warm the cockles of your heart. (HarperSanFrancisco, 255 pages, $23.)
Yet another fine entry on today's metaphysical bookshelf is Solstice Shift: Magical Blend's Synergistic Guide to the Coming Age, edited by John Nelson, one of the granddaddies of modern visionary fiction. Solstice Shift presents essays by twenty-three of Magical Blend magazine's most tuned-in writers, many of whom have been featured in offerings of The Monthly Aspectarian. Writing by such luminaries as Ken Carey, Merilyn Tunneshende, Jean Houston, Lynn Andrews, Neale Donald Walsch, David Spangler and more are illustrated with riveting photographs. "The incredible, synergistic effect of these original essays...will move the reader to understand the possibilities of human evolution in the near future." (Hampton Roads, 256 pages, $16.95.)
Among the standout desk calendars this year is a true winner -- witness a gold medal in an international competition for best scenic photography, silver medals in national and international competitions for Best Graphic Design, Best Color Separations and Best Printing, bronze medals for Best Theme in both competitions, and a bronze medal in the national competition for Best Nonprofit Desk Calendar. If all these accolades don't move you, then find the Inner Reflections engagement calendar at your favorite bookstore and be prepared to be rooted to the floor for a while. The 6-1/2" x 9-1/2" 1998 engagement calendar published by Self-Realization Fellowship offers a blend of 54 full-color spectacular photographs and poetic, thought-provoking quotations from the works of Paramahansa Yogananda -- that echo the theme of the image they accompany. At the end of the year, the calendar grid pages can be removed easily from the white spiral binding, leaving you and your giftee with a treasure-trove of photos and quotes. For all this, a mere $11.95 at the bookstore -- or order directly from Self-Realization Fellowship, 3880 San Rafael Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065-3298; telephone (213) 225-2471; fax (213) 225-5088.
Do you have a special book from childhood that pointed you in the direction of your present beliefs? Are you looking for a story that could give the youngsters in your life just such a rung? For those who are ready for the wisdom in this unusual offering -- the kids as well as your own inner child as you go about reinventing your own self -- Shelter in the Forest: Discovering the Power of Intuition, by Karen Rose Schultz is a delightful and meaningful book. Perhaps to illustrate the feminine principle, the protagonist is a girl -- but she's Everychild, nonetheless. The well-paced story, illustrated with flair, models the building of a spiritual foundation, receiving divine guidance and developing compassion -- and the author, a licensed clinical social worker and motivational speaker, knows how to put an idea across with great empathy. In a departure from the usual, workbook pages follow the tale to help the adult in you contemplate this well thought-out opportunity to take in "the value of one's own light and intuition." By itself, the story will serve as a guide for the younger generation, exploring the concept of higher self which, "coupled with a belief in our higher power, gives us a sense of peace and purpose." In both story and workbook pages, you'll find a vocabulary that promotes self-esteem and provides the scope to help the thinker cope with challenges. A cassette for adults -- in a delectable pink case -- accompanies the 8-1/2" x 11" paperback for $14.95 plus $3.00 shipping from Inner Space Publishing, 900 Jorie Blvd., Suite 234, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523; telephone (708) 352-6587.
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