OK, I know I promised more of a personal note in the last post so I will do a quick update before sharing some solid resources.

My big news is that, after years and years of wanting to, I’m FINALLY teaching some of the techniques that have been so life transforming for me. I’ve started with the basics of grounding, but plan to teach more and more as the students gain proficiency. I’m even teaching some kids and teen classes later in the summer which I’m excited about because that’s been my dream for more than a decade. What can I say, I’m a slow mover…

I’ve also started something called, OneGreenSmoothie, but I’ll write more on that later as it’s still in its infancy and needs to be flushed out more. I’m not sure how it will go, but long time readers of this blog know my personal mantra is Fail Fast, Fail Often so we’re going for it! Feel free to follow along on our journey at @OneGreenSmoothie on Instagram and OneGreenSmoothieChallenge on Facebook and evolve along with us. Feedback is always welcome!

But now, I want to share with you some resources that have me fired up to take things to the next level and I hope they will for you as well.

First, the book that has prompted this post gets first billing out of respect. I’ve read several books since I last posted, but the whole time I was reading this one, I kept thinking, I’ve got to share this with my SoulfulSharing peeps!

I’m often asked how take a meditation practice to the next level. The Surrender Experiment: My Journey Into Life’s Perfection, by Michael Singer isn’t so much a tutorial on how to do that, but it will certainly inspire you to deepen your commitment level and try some new techniques along the way. I only ask my husband and/or kids to read a few of my books, but you can bet this will be one of them! Loved it!

Another book I recently enjoyed was The Light Between Us: Stories from Heaven. Lessons for the Living, by Laura Lynne Jackson. I’ve read and reviewed a number of books on the topic of mediums communicating with the deceased so feel free to browse my other posts to find more recommendations. While this one was easy to read and interesting, I’m mainly sharing it with you because the author/medium goes through several rigorous, scientifically evaluated tests that are indisputable. If you have a skeptic in your life, this would be a good book to share with them.

If you are into health and nutrition, there is an extensively researched and powerful new book called, How Not to Die, by Michael Greger. This book is a game changer and I cannot recommend it enough. Dr. Greger is the man behind the highly respected and widely sourced NutritionFacts.org. If you are into podcasts, he’s been interviewed a few times on the Rich Roll Podcast and each of them have been excellent.

Monday begins the new Oprah/Chopra meditation challenge (they say experiment, but our family calls is a “challenge”). The theme this time is Getting Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life!  Click the hyper link to register, it’s free. Remember, these are family friendly so get the kids and/or your spouse involved!

Ok, while I have loads more to share, life beckons, so take a moment and share what you’ve been discovering of late!

I hope you’ve been well since the eons-ago we connected. This will be a “dry” post; just some easy resources to share with you, but hopefully a more personal one will come on it’s heels.

First off, since it’s timely, wanted to share that Deepak Chopra and Oprah are hosting another 21 Meditation Challenge starting on Monday, March 21st. As you know, these are usually family friendly so gather around and do them together with your loved ones if you can. I typically try to listen privately in addition to the family time because there’s usually distractions with the dog, kids, etc. Here’s the link to register (it’s free) https://chopracentermeditation.com/

I’ve read so many great books of late, but shame on me for not getting a post about them while still fresh and the titles/authors remembered. Below are some that come to mind, however:

Seeking Serenity by Amanda Enayati is an easy to read essay on stress, what it does to us and how to mitigate it. Yes, we’ve heard a lot about each of these parts, but she gives some historical context that is interesting and her storytelling is compelling. In fact, I’m going to order it again just thinking about it here and now.

fail fail again fail better by Pema Chodron is a one-sitting read that is as enjoyable as informative. Seth Godin wrote the forward which I thought interesting since he’s a business/marketing guru. I read it on a car trip and told the kids I just wanted to read one chapter, but then I kept wanting to read more and more. Finally, they caught on and shut me down, but if you have kids who still enjoy being read to out load, go for it. Of course it’s also good for silent reading, too:).

Dr. Judith Orloff’s Guide to Intuitive Healing: 5 Steps to Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Wellness and Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength also by Judith Orloff. I read these simultaneously not realizing they were different books. Weird I know, but I have books all over the place, in this case one was in the car and one on my nightstand so I’d just pick up whichever one I was near. They were both good so recommending them here, but you can probably get away with one if that’s more doable. Just pick the one that calls to you more from the title.

As many of you know, I’m a podcast junkie and will probably be sharing many more good ones with you. If you are new to the podcast world and would like help getting set up, please email me and I will walk you through the process. When I share a podcast with links to the specific episodes, I am hoping you will download them to your phone so you can listen in the car, cleaning the house, taking the dog for a walk, etc. I certainly do not want anyone tied to their computer because some of these are long, especially the Rich Roll gems.

With that in mind, I wanted to share this particular episode of the Rob Bell podcast simply called the Robcast.  Episode 41 | The Forgiving Flow – Part 4 – Sending it Away is the 4th of a 5 part series on forgiveness. I found this one so intriguing because he gives the most fascinating and unique perspective on the Lord’s Prayer I’ve ever heard. OK, I know that may be a turn off for some people, but trust me on this one. It’s good and relevant to this audience.

As always, feel free to share what’s inspiring and/or educating you, too! Remember to register for the meditation challenge, it starts on Monday!

“There is almost a sensual longing for communion with others who have a large vision. The immense fulfillment of the friendship between those engaged in furthering the evolution of consciousness has a quality impossible to describe.” ― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

This post has been languishing in my drafts folder since early last summer so you may already be aware of some of these resources, but just in case, wanted to pass along:

What all of the below have in common is awareness. The Universe seems to be tapping me on the shoulder and saying, “consciousness is the basis for all healing.”

My friend, Justine, texted me about a book she thought I’d like: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, by Marie Kondo. I always appreciate a good book recommendation so made a note to order it. However, when I looked through my library basket that afternoon, I noticed that this very same book was already in there just waiting for me to read. Of course, it went straight to the top of the priority list with that little “sign” and I’m so glad. It’s a great book that goes to a much deeper level than just how to create a clutter-free life. It’s about tuning into the energy of our belongings and surroundings. It’s about tuning into our true desires before acquiring more things. I listened to the audio version which was great!

Personally, I like both Marie Forleo and Dr. Shefali so wanted to share this clip of their interview together. At the end, Dr. Shefali gets real about her own parenting which I found a relief, quite frankly. I’ve learned a lot from her books The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children and Out of Control: Why Disciplining Your Child Doesn’t Work and What Will. Both are about getting inside your own head and emotions before dealing with the kids. Easier said than done, trust me. The meta point that I’ve taken from her books are that we mistakenly believe we are supposed to teach our children when in reality, it is they who are teaching us and providing the impetus for our own growth.

The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere, by Pico Iyer is a tiny TED book that you can read in one sitting. This is especially good for those of us prone to wanderlust and/or if you suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out).

This one is really old news for anyone who knows me, but I’d also highly recommend the documentary, Cowspiracy, which is now streaming 24/7 on Netflix thanks to Leonardo di Caprio who personally made that happen. It feels like I had a significant “awakening”upon seeing this film. I learned so much more than I  anticipated and it has had a profoundly positive impact on me and my family. Even if you don’t change your eating habits after seeing the film, at least you will have increased your awareness and that consciousness will permeate other areas of your life which will be rewarding. Chasing Ice is another good documentary about our larger body, Earth.

Finally, I heard my favorite podcaster, Rich Roll, talk about a book by Bea Johnson, Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste and it piqued my curiosity. I compost, recycle, or donate so much that we usually only create one bag of trash a week and a lot of that is the result of our crazy dog destroying something or other, but still that’s more than Bea did in an entire year so I wanted to know how. I can’t say that I learned a huge amount of new information (this is a library rental vs. a purchase), but there were definitely some gems in there. For example, I didn’t know you aren’t allowed to recycle any ziplock bag. What has really surprised me, however, is how, and don’t scream when you see this word again, “aware”, I am now about trash. I thought I was pretty conscious before, but now, every scrap or tissue that I put in the trash is making me stop and think.

Being present, aware, and conscious is what each of these is all about so, of course, I wanted to share them with you! This is going to sound weird, but my happiness seems directly correlated with how conscious I am. I wonder if you’ve experienced the same? Let me know!

My 6th graders watched this short and sweet video at school this week and it’s so good, I wanted to share it with you. The timing is perfect as we head into the “Holiday of Gratitude.” If you decide to do the experiment yourself, please do share with us how it went, how you felt, etc.

It made me remember Tony Robbins’ emotional flood technique which I’ve shared with you before. Just in case it’s been awhile since you’ve done this powerful exercise, thought I’d include it here as well.

Enjoy and Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and your loved ones!

It’s been months and months and months since I’ve written. It’s not for lack of material or interest, that’s for sure. I think of and feel like I could write you daily; I should!  Nevertheless, I haven’t.

However, since there is a new Oprah/Chopra meditation challenge kicking off today, I thought I’d at least send you the link for that https://chopracentermeditation.com/. These are a great way to start a meditation practice for the beginner, an easy win for meditating with kids, and a nice change up for those with an established practice. Sometimes I’m just too tired to meditate and I’ll just pull up an old guided meditation of theirs (from a CD I purchased) and just sit. It refreshes me every time!

Remember, these free meditations are only up for 5 days before they are taken down so commit to doing it for the next 21 days and see how it goes. I’m pretty sure you’ll be enjoy them as much as I do (and my kids, too!!).

I found this draft today and although it’s several months old, it’s still relevant, so I’ll go ahead and post…

As you probably know, I absolutely LOVE all things metaphysical, health, and environmental related, and immerse myself in every media form on these topics leaving little room for other subjects and non-fiction.

I did, however, change it up a bit this past fall to read, The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt. It’s a monster 771 page book and I’m delighted to have made it to the end. I did notice, however, that I was slightly more irritable and used more foul language during that time. I didn’t start doing drugs like the characters and I learned a lot about that world, so again, glad to have had the experience, but still, it affected me on some level. As soon as I went back to my metaphysics, I felt an uptick in my mood and energy. I know there’s a lot of good nonfiction out there, including this book, so wonder if anyone else has had an awareness of how they have been affected by external media besides the obvious depression-driving nightly news which I avoid at all costs.

Speaking of being affected by things, I also listened to the Serial podcast by NPR and I know a bunch of you have as well. I found myself thinking about it a lot even when I wasn’t listening to it. Finally, in order to get my equilibrium back, I made separations with the series.

If you’ve ever had a reading with me, you probably know I’m a big advocate for making energetic separations with other people to keep our own energy super clean, but did you know that you can also make separations with practically anything? I made separations with the podcast and to my great relief, stopped over analyzing who did what to whom and when. Give this technique a try the next time you can’t stop thinking about something or someone and you’ll be delighted by the results.

Keep up the good work!

Despite my new addiction to the Rich Roll podcast, I have read some books you might also be interested in:

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown If you’ve ever suffered from FOMA (Fear of Missing Out) and/or you are a chronic overachiever, then this is a great book for you. I read a lot of inspiring books, but it’s a rare gem that will actually propel me to take and sustain actionable steps and even change my belief system. Highly recommend.

The Priest and the Medium: The Amazing True Story of Psychic Medium B. Anne Gehman and Her Husband, Former Jesuit Priest, Wayne Knoll, Ph.D. by Suzanne R. Giesemann This book chronicles the lives of two people as they grow up and eventually meet and marry. As a Catholic and psychic, I found it fascinating, particularly the Q&A session at the very end of the book. For any Catholics out there questioning the metaphysical, this could be a helpful read. It’s so genuine and sweet and honest and I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. This is definitely a library rental as opposed to a run-out-and-buy-right-now book.

E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality, by Pam Grout This book floored me! So much so, I asked my husband to read it and even he remarked, “this is a good book”, which, for a quiet Swede, is a strong recommendation. If you were interested in “The Secret” when it came out, you’ll appreciate this hands on, practical, easy to read, guide to conscious creation. Highly recommend.

Eat Naked, by Margaret Floyd  I happen to love nutrition so this might be one of those books where you need a strong interest to enjoy, but since I learned some fascinating new information that I hadn’t realized before, wanted to at least mention here. Yes, it would be difficult to try to implement everything she suggests all at once, but at least if you have the knowledge, you’re making conscious, informed decisions and not just routine ones out of mindless habit. All of these things help us live a more “awake” life. Meditation is great when you’re on the mountain, but we need to find ways to implement that mindfulness in everyday life and I found this book to be a great impetus for doing just that.

Eat Raw, Not Cooked, by Stacy Stowers I’ve read a bunch of vegetarian and raw cook books lately because my daughter is passionate about all living creatures, to the point of deep sobs when even a little ant or fly is compromised, much less cows, pigs, chicken and fish. I told her it was fine to be a vegetarian, but that vegetarians actually eat vegetables! To this she responded, then I’m not a vegetarian, I just don’t eat animals. Oh my…

In any case, in an effort to support her beliefs, while also helping her body grow, I’ve taken on this new endeavor. There are some fantastic resources out there and I’d be happy to share some, but this book in particular, is brilliant for anyone with kids/spouses who love their ranch dressing, mac ‘n cheese, and many other popular processed items. On the top of each page is a picture of a popular product along with it’s ingredients and why it’s a problem. On the bottom half, she gives a recipe for a real-food version. I learned so much from this book and actually made some of the recipes which, if you know me, is almost miraculous. But the best benefit, was that my daughter and I made the bright and beautiful spring rolls together and, drum roll please…she loved them!

As always, I hope you are learning and growing and being present to all of life! Enjoy!