KaleidoSoul



KaleidoSoul Resources

for

SoulCollagers

Top Ten Lists * 2015

Books: Non-Fiction

Susan Seddon Boulet: The Goddess Paintings, by Michael Babcock, Susan Seddon Boulet. Psyche, Athena, Gaia and 42 other goddesses from diverse cultural traditions come to vibrant life through the luminous brush of Susan Seddon Boulet. Insightful text by writer Michael Babcock offers cultural and historical context for the work.

Soul Shifts, by Barbara De Angelis. Transformative Wisdom for Creating a Life of Authentic Awakening, Emotional Freedom & Practical Spirituality. I have just finished reading Barbara's newest book and I know that I am going to read it a few more times to allow the unique wisdom here to settle deeply into my body, mind and spirit. I have already experienced a couple of my own "soul shifts" while reading this, and hopefully you will too.

Change Me Prayers, by Tosha Silver. This is a thoughtful collection of prayers and stories to help you actively invite the Divine into your life. What I love about it is that after reading just a few of her own “Change Me Prayers,” I immediately was able to create (write and pray) my own!

Reform Your Inner Mean Girl, by Amy Ahlers, Christine Arylo. 7 Steps to Stop Bullying Yourself and Start Loving Yourself. This is a powerful book about dealing with our Inner Critic. I love how the authors offer us different terminology for this shadowed part of ourselves, and also that they offer ways to bring the "inner mean girl" into balance.

Soul Vows, by Janet Conner. Gathering the Presence of the Divine In You, Through You, and As You. Several years ago, I participated in Janet's online class on Soul Vows and it wowed me, I mean it really wowed me. A lot in my life transformed because of that class and now she presents it to us in book form.

Imagination in Action, by Shaun McNiff. Secrets for Unleashing Creative Expression. This is Shaun's newest book and it is a gem! It contains practical methods for breaking through creative obstacles, trusting your own truth, and sharing it with the world. Particularly interesting for me was the section on "Creating with the Shadow." Other sections cover topics such as witnessing instead of judging, and letting go of resistance.

In the Sanctuary of Women, by Jan Richardson. A Companion for Reflection and Prayer. The author, also a poet and artist, believes it is essential for women to listen to one another and to bring the fullness of their lives, with all their wonders and messiness, into their life of prayer. Drawing from the often hidden wellsprings of women’s wisdom in Jewish and Christian traditions, this book gathers together six women from scripture and history whose lives invite us to move more deeply into our own: Eve, St. Brigid of Kildare, the Desert Mothers, Hildegard of Bingen, Harriet Powers, and the woman of the Song of Songs. Each chapter becomes its own sanctuary, gracing and engaging the reader with the reflections, stories, poetry, prayers, and blessings that Richardson offers.

Doorways and Openings: A Collection of Photographic Images to Cut Out and Use in Personal Art, by Catherine Anderson. Need some gorgeous copyright free art for your SoulCollage® cards? Look no further. This book is full of full color photos of doorways and other inspiring openings taken by Facilitator Catherine Anderson in North Carolina.

fail, fail again, fail better, by Pema Chodron. Wise Advice for Leaning into the Unknown. When her granddaughter was accepted to Naropa University, Pema promised that she'd speak at the commencement ceremony. This book contains the wisdom shared on that day. She offers us heartfelt advice on how to face the unknown- in ourselves and in the world- and how our missteps can open our eyes to see new possibilities and purpose. Highly recommend.

Small Victories, by Anne Lamott. Spotting Improbably Moments of Grace. In her newest book, Anne offers a message of hope that celebrates the triumph of light over the darkness in our lives. Our victories over hardship and pain may seem small, she writes, but they change us - our perceptions, our perspectives, and our lives. Lamott writes of forgiveness, restoration, and transformation, how we can turn toward love even in the most hopeless situations, how we find the joy in getting lost and our amazement in finally being found.

Books: Fiction

Second Star to the Right, by Mary Alice Monroe. This book rekindles the imagination and the belief in fairy tales that we all had as children but lost or forgot about when we became adults. Every character in this story, though broken from life's experiences, has their life changed all because of an elderly woman named Wendy who never lost her belief in the fairy tale world of Peter Pan. The characters include two children, their mother, a lonely scientist, and an adult child (Wendy's daughter.) If you love the Peter Pan story, you'll really really love this book!

Leaving Time, by Jodi Picoult. Once again, one of my favorite novelists has graced us with a mesmerizing story about mother-daughter love and the powerful cognitive and emotional intelligence of elephants, both wild and domestic. The story revolves around 13 year old Jenna who is desperately trying to find her mother who disappeared ten years ago. Helping her are a lovable pink-haired psychic named Serenity and an ornery PI named Virgil. Told in alternating narratives by Jenna, Serenity, Virgil and Jenna's mother Alice, this novel is one that will captivate your mind, move your heart and thrill your spirit. If Elephant is one of your Animal Companions, you will be even more delighted!

The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion. This novel is an intelligent, witty and sometimes downright funny love story. The main character is Don Tillman, a brilliant but socially inept genetics professor whose narrative voice is very similar to Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. He creates a sixteen-page scientifically valid survey in order to find a suitable candidate for a wife. As he's searching he meets Rosie, a spontaneous whirlwind who meets pretty much NONE of his criteria for a perfect match. What he learns about love is very enlightening!

The Firelight Girls, by Kaya McLaren. This is one of the best women's novels I've read in a long time. The characters (some in their 60's, some in their 30's) all come together at a girls' summer camp that transformed their lives in some way. One is grieving a lifelong partner, another has just lost her job. A third is wondering what happened to her marriage and a fourth has traveled a long way to seek forgiveness from the first for something that happened over 40 years ago. As they work together to save the camp from being sold to developers, they deepen their friendships with one another and they learn so much about themselves. In the midst of this comes a fifth main character, a homeless teenager who is in need of physical and emotional nurture. The author weaves into the story many threads about the power of nature and the mystical ways of animals and the messages they bring to our lives.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce. I was immeasurably touched by this beautiful novel. As Harold Fry journeyed, so did I. Every step he took, I took with him. The characters here are beautifully drawn and absolutely believable. There is wisdom etched in every nuance.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, by Rachel Joyce. This is the much beloved sequel to my highly highly recommended The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. You don’t need to read the first book in order to be graced with the powerful story of Queenie Hennessy. I actually liked this one even better than the first and I wouldn’t have thought it possible! There is much here about our personal journeys, and love, and grace, and forgiveness, particularly self-forgiveness. I often laughed out loud as well. It is rare to find a book that touches the mind and the soul so deeply and equally.

The Gracekeepers, by Kirsty Logan. The author of this mesmerizing novel drew me completely in immediately. I found myself alternating between the lonely, sad story of the Gracekeeper, young Callanish, and the magical journey of North, the circus bear-girl. How their lives entwine from childhood through adulthood is indeed amazing.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, by Matthew Dicks. I just sat with this amazing novel when I was done reading it and held it to my heart. It captivated me from the very first page and I gave up a few of my favorite TV shows tonight in order to finish it. The story is told in the first person from the point of view of Budo, who is 8 year old Max's imaginary friend. The adventures that they have are amazing and true.

The Light Between Oceans, by M. L. Stedman. I couldn't put this heart-wrenching novel down and thoroughly enjoyed every character and the moral dilemmas that they each faced. A lighthouse keeper and his wife, off the coast of Australia, decide to keep a baby who washes up on their shore in a rowboat (instead of reporting it to authorities). All sorts of things happen as a result of this one decision. Soon to be a movie!

Dinner with Buddha, by Roland Merullo. Third in his Buddha trilogy, this novel is just as good as the first two. Follow Otto Ringling and his brother-in-law, Volya Rinpoche, a wise man with Russian roots, a Tibetan heritage, and an international reputation as a spiritual teacher. The two men first got to know each other on a similar road trip years before, during which they explored both the real and spiritual aspects of the world around them. Now Otto needs his brother-in-law’s wisdom once more, and this time it turns out that Rinpoche himself is also looking for guidance.

Music/Guided Imagery

Songs for the Coming Home, by Martyn Joseph. A friend of mine shared this with me recently and I fell in love with this artist’s voice. All of his songs have depth and meaning. My favorite is "Let Yourself." Recommended by Kindred Spirit Rita in Ontario, Canada.

Liquid Mind VII: Reflection by Liquid Mind. I love all of the Liquid Mind music because it slows me waaaaaay down. One reviewer called their music “a cocoon from this fast world.”

Songs for the Inner Child, by Shaina Noll. There's a song I play at the beginning of all my Introduction to SoulCollage® Workshops. It's called Return Again, and it's on this wonderful CD that is full of many songs that will appeal to your inner child, as well as your inner mother, and many more of your inner committee members.

Journey to the Center of the Heart, by Alan Cohen. I just discovered this set of four beautiful guided meditations recently. It's from one of my favorite teachers. This link is to Amazon, but you can also get it the recordings on iTunes.

Spirit of Africa, by Terry Oldfield. Deep resonant chanting and soulful rhythms create a perfect background for Terry Oldfield's soaring flute and pan pipes. This wonderful music captures the essence of this ancient land and its people and carries us on an unforgettable journey into the very heart of Africa.

Ocean, by Mirabai Ceiba. I recently heard this group during a yoga class at Kripalu. The crystal clear, gentle voices were filling the room when I walked into the class, and I just had to find out who and what this was! Some of the chants are in English, some in Sanskrit. Some are soothing and a few are uplifting.

My Friend Hafiz, by The Levins. If you love the Sufi Mystic Hafiz, you’ll love this beautiful CD of songs totally inspired by him.

Prism: Human Family Songbook, by Beth Neilson Chapman. I am partial to all of Beth's music, but this album in particular strikes a soul-full chord with me. This two-CD set celebrates faiths from all over the world. Recorded over a 10-year span, the album was largely inspired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu's concept of a common humanity. Beth sings and chants in an astonishing nine languages, including Farsi, Welsh, and Hebrew. Whether tackling a Negro spiritual, a Navajo chant, or Buddhist, Muslim, or Sufi works, Chapman presents herself as a moving unifier in the great chain of human connection.

Wholetones - 2.5 hours of beautiful music with healing frequencies that can help restore sleep, reduce stress and relieve anxiety.

33 Spirit Journeys, by Denise Linn. Meditations to Live More Fully, Deeply and Peacefully. I've read lots of Denise Linn's books and loved every one. Here is a CD of 33 guided imagery journeys. They're only 10-11 minutes long and I'm finding them absolutely perfect for different parts of my day and life.

Movies

St. Vincent, featuring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts and a genius 11 year old actor named Jaeden Lieberher. This touching story made me laugh, cry and feel a slate of emotions in between. The friendship between the crotchety old man and the trusting young boy is poignant, magical, and oh-so-real. There is a lesson here to be learned about our own humanity, about community, about seeing something old with new eyes. In American theatres now. And nominated for Golden Globes for Best Picture and Best Actor.

Unfinished Song, featuring Vanessa Redgrave, Terrence Stamp, Gemma Arterton. With his wife Marion terminally ill, 72-year-old Arthur sees a future that's nothing but grim. But when he takes Marion's place in their senior center's unconventional choir, he beings to find joy in life again. An emotionally tender and deeply resonant film.

Into the Woods, featuring Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Emily Blunt, Christine Baranski. This is my very favorite Broadway musical ever… and they've made it into a magical, mystical movie, directed by Rob Marshall. Even if you're not a fan of musicals, I urge you to see this one because the story is so imaginative, so creative, and so deeply relevant to the human spirit. It's about several famous fairy tale characters and their stories are all interwoven. Into the Woods is about journeys, love, loss, wishing, and family. In American theatres now.

Maleficent, featuring Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley. If you've seen the musical Wicked, you know that there is another side to the "wicked witch." In a similar fashion, this powerful film gives us the gift of the other side of the "13th fairy" in the Sleeping Beauty story. There is something rich and insightful about how these dark characters have their own sympathetic stories to tell. As you watch, you might be thinking of some of your own inner "dark characters."

Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, featuring Richard Gere, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel. This is a beautiful sequel to the first "Marigold Hotel" film. I loved how deeply felt the characters are portrayed. It's hard to find a good film that portrays older people as vital, alive, and sexy, starting new jobs and relationships.

Paradise, featuring Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Holly Hunter. This tender film focuses on a sheltered young woman who has lost her faith due to a disfiguring plane crash. She sets out for Las Vegas to experience her wild side, and what she finds is people who care... and her true self.

Rails and Ties, featuring Kevin Bacon, Marcia Gay Harden, Miles Heizer (Parenthood), Marin Hinkle. A deadly collision between a train and car lead to an unlikely bond between the train engineer and a young boy who escapes the accident. Emotionally spirited and powerful performances. This was directed by Clint Eastwood's daughter!

Admissions, featuring James Cromwell who plays an enlightened clerk working in the Admissions Room for the afterlife. This 21 minute imaginative short film has only 6 actors and a very sparse set but its power is in the dialogue. An Israeli couple and a Palestinian man are going through Admissions together because they have suffered similar tragic endings. There is much here to absorb about forgiveness and the fact that we are all connected.

The Good Lie, featuring Reese Witherspoon. In this fact-based drama, 4 young Sudanese war refugees win a lottery that allows them to start life anew in the United States. But adapting to their new home presents challenges- both for the "lost boys" and "lost girl," as well as for the American woman who is helping them.

Any Day Now, featuring Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt. 2013. When a teenage boy with Down syndrome is abandoned by his mother, a gay couple takes him in and become the loving family he never had. When their living arrangement is discovered, the men are forced to fight a biased legal system to save the life of the child they have come to love as their own. Based on a true story.

Websites

Mystic Chakra Portals - There is one glorious page for each of the 7 chakras here with a lovely large image, important information and a short sound recording, all of which are designed specifically to get the energy flowing in that particular chakra. Created by Denise Linn, a bestselling spiritual and personal growth author.

Divine Download - Lovely and in-depth SoulCollage® blog from Raven in Colorado. Scroll down to see lots more entries.

Queen of Your Own Life - This extraordinary website is chock full of “Queenisms” which are powerful cartooned statements about our female power and beauty. Declare yourself queen of your own life! Whenever I go to this site, I have a hard time choosing a favorite! Click on each year (under Blog Archive) in the left sidebar to see more.

Mystic Healing Portals - This page is part of Denise Linn's beautiful website. There is a beautiful image depicting a healing sanctuary where you can receive and send energy and love simply by gazing at it. There's also a short set of directions and a lovely sound recording to assist you in accessing the portal.

Restoration Hardware Catalogs - This is a GREAT source for beautiful background images. There are several catalogs on this page to choose from and if you choose them all, they will send them all for fr*ee.

Audrey Remnev Art - This artist's renderings of women are startlingly lifelike, bringing the past into the present with a touch of the future as well! I found myself lingering on this page for a loooong time, I love her work so much.

Remindfulness - Helping you remember to be mindful. I found the Remindfulness app a few months ago and it's doing an amazing job of bringing me back to the present moment every hour. Not only does it chime softly, a little mindfulness reminder also pops up on the screen. For example, a reminder to be grateful for your feet… or an invitation to breathe love in and out for one minute. There's also a recovery edition of the app for those in 12 Step programs. Even if you don't' use apps, this site is worth a visit for the inspiring mindfulness articles in their blog.

Magical Fairy Tale Art - You won’t believe these even after you see them! Magical, mysterious and oh so creative! Margarita Kareva is a Russia-based photographer who specializes in fantasy art photography. Her photographs beautifully portray women that have been transformed into fairytale princesses and witches. She adds surreal elements to her shots that make the photographs really stand out.

Inquiry Cards Deck - What if the only thing between you and the answers you're looking for... is the right question? Oh my goodness, you're in for a treat! This is a hexagonal deck of 48 cards and each card poses a question. Use them on their own or in perfect harmony with your SoulCollage® work! The booklet included has lots of ideas for ways to do readings with these and I'm so excited to share these with you. I've already used mine several times and I've only had them a few weeks! Oh, and it comes with a lovely little wooden stand with a slot in it so you can prop up whatever question/card you're working with. Thanks to Kindred Spirit Nancy Norbeck for sharing these with me! P.S. Their subtitle is Because all the answers are inside you.

Stokpic - Here's a wonderful site for finding copyright-free images for your cards.

Want More Resources?

We’ve Got ‘em by the Hundreds!

You’re a Kindred Spirit, so you

Save 50% with Coupon Code EBKKS50

Click on each image below to read more!

(You might need to hold the Control Key down

before you click!)

[pic] [pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download