SERAPHIM INN, Author of THE MOST HATED GIRL IN THE WORLD

Today we are interviewing SERAPHIM INN about her non-fiction book, titled “THE MOST HATED GIRL IN THE WORLD.”

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am honest, truthful, passionate and conscious. I love to write, listen to music and converse.

Describe your book, “THE MOST HATED GIRL IN THE WORLD,” In a few sentences.
My book is based on some of the everyday struggles that have helped me grow. It is a perfect representation of what many people have to deal with and how they survive. In the book, I document many highly stressful situations that would have me appear to be the most hated girl in the world due to the nature of the aggression coming from the other parties involved.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
I believe this book is ideal for anyone that feels like an outcast or the “black sheep of a family.” These groups would definitely be able to relate to the mistreatment that I have received in many ways.

What inspired you to write down your story?
Frustration. I wanted to release some anxiety and I also wanted to vent. Considering that I am what you would consider a “loner,” there is really no one else for me to talk to so writing became my therapist, my friend, and my outlet.

Did writing the book take you to unexpected places or reveal things you hadn’t thought about before? Absolutely. While writing this book, I was forced to face some real emotions and even some inner demons that I myself have never truly admitted to having. I also had to realize that it was time to also mature and see the struggles of others in order to be at peace with my own.

Do you have any advice for people who feel isolated and depressed?
If I could say anything, I would tell them to find the source. There is a source to all of the confusion and pain. Something is hiding within and it is time to dig into yourself and reveal it. Do not let this hidden piece of you take over your life and prevent you from being happy, while it sits back and hides. Claim your life and start off by discovering the good, the bad and the ugly about yourself and then accept it while understanding it and working with it in order to alter it to work for you.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
Revealing parts of my private life. I am a very private person and I gave away some of my privacy while writing this book. I put my heart on my sleeve to a certain extent.

Author SERAPHIM INN.

What do you hope readers will gain from reading your book?
I hope readers will see that there are so many different people in the world and we all want to be loved and accepted. We are all different and there is a certain beauty in those differences and we all deserve an opportunity to just be ourselves and accepted as who we are without having to pretend to be something that we are not.

How have readers responded to your book so far?
I have been told that my book is unhappy and to stay out of happy circles! So this kind of proves that I am “THE MOST HATED GIRL IN THE WORLD.” LOL.

Are they any authors who have influenced your writing style?
Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, Nancy Willard, Oscar Wilde, Renina Newton, and so so many more.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am currently finishing a children's book.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
If you are feeling depressed, stressed, isolated or even confused about this life, my book would be a book that can show you that this struggle is one that we all face and that together we can tackle some of these issues in order to work on a better and brighter future for tomorrow. 

More Information
Buy the book on Amazon.
Visit the author’s website.

Neal Bogosian, Author of The Age of Healing

Today we are interviewing Neal Bogosian, author of THE AGE OF HEALING: Profiles from an Energy Healer.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a certified public educator, and former public school teacher. I am also the author of the young adult and sports novel, THE ADVENTURES OF CHIP DOOLIN. I hold a double Master’s Degree in Education, a BS Degree in Communications, and a degree from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I presently work as a holistic healer, writer and author. I have had my own holistic healing practice since 2010, and I am certified in Quantum Touch Levels I & II, the latter of which incorporates heart energy. As a result of my interest and passion for the study of energy, energy healing, and its countless applications, I extended my understanding through personal research and countless hours of live trials, and practicum. I was also previously on the staff of the Integrated Care Program, at Women & Infants Hospital, for the oncology ward.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
The purpose of the book is to remind people who we really are; I believe we have forgotten our true potential, and gotten lost in the sea of society that is often marked by regimen and controls. In the process, I think we have lost part of ourselves. I think that most people in mainstream society are not aware of how much power they really do have – I’m talking about human potential and personal empowerment. We have been taught in school and in life that there are limits; to depend on others and institutions, and even government for our well-being, but in doing so we give so much away. If we think in limits and boundaries we are putting limits on ourselves. The assessment of human capacity is incomplete, and I wanted to let people know that there are other ways of relieving symptoms and feeling better, and we really do have the power, in many instances, to heal each other. We are truly powerful beings, and holistic energy healing is a real alternative.

Author/holistic healer Neal Bogosian

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone who is seeking other ways to feel better and achieve well-being, or who frequent self-help, and health and fitness books; those who are spiritual and/or have a passion for natural living, alternative medicine, alternative healing, wellness, holistic living, and independence, who wish to read about a set of sessions that actually demonstrate human energy potential. Also, naturopaths, reiki healers, and massage therapists. Lastly, anyone interested in further exploring the untapped capacities of humanity, energy, and quantum physics; those seekers of life who have not yet grasped that there really is more to us than what physically appears in the mirror.

What inspired you to write a book about energy healing sessions?
I saw a need for it. I wanted to take people inside actual sessions to give them an insight into what occurs through the eyes of the healer, and the meeting of energies between client and healer. I think there needs to be more revelation and enlightenment on the subject of natural healing. My intent was also to further familiarize people in the mainstream with energy healing, and hopefully make them feel less apprehensive about seeking it out as an alternative therapy – but it’s not so alternative. It has been in existence for thousands of years. Society has become so programmed to Western medicine as the ‘end all–be all’. As I write in my book, I have an old copy of Fate Magazine from 1958. Do you know what is advertised in there? Yoga! This means it took almost 50 years for Yoga to assimilate into Western culture. This should shed some light on how narrow the scope has been toward other health modalities beyond Western medicine. In fact, the magazine was considered in the classification of the occult. I don’t think many people would classify Yoga as being of the occult today.

One of the themes of the book is that we’ve reached an age of empowerment. What allowed us to reach this point?
Energy and truth. We are seeing both of these play out in our national and global society. I believe we are in the midst of an awakening. The veil of deception, in both personal and global perspectives, is falling off and gradually revealing some raw truths. Simultaneous to this are major earth shifts. Look at all of the volcanoes throughout the world that are suddenly awakening at the same time. This is no coincidence. However, these are also energy shifters. The frequencies are shifting and evolving on our planet, awakening not only dormant volcanoes, but also deeply embedded cellular patterns in humanity, down to our DNA. Subtle changes are occurring in how people view the world and their own reality; that which may have been of supreme importance ten or fifteen years ago, and for most of the 20th century, is suddenly not so important – this also is not coincidental. It is where resonant frequencies come into play, which elicits the topic of oneness. We are absolutely all one…and we share the same fate of temporary incarnation, which should bring us together, not divide us. The more people come together irrespective of controlling bodies and institutions, for a good, peaceful, socially responsible and loving cause, empowering energy surfaces and spreads. So…this is a literal thing that is occurring. It’s not just an idea, in my opinion. We are going through some very volatile times, but I believe something wonderful awaits on the other side of this cycle – the phoenix that rises up, ushering in a new era. It is one of the reasons we are seeing so much upheaval and wrestle for control on the planet. Therefore, it’s also about surrender of the self and a release of ego, the latter of which has harmed and damaged progress throughout the concourse of human history. This is why I named the book, THE AGE OF HEALING.

What kinds of ailments are healed in the book?
Well, the word “healed” is a term of conclusive finality, as if to say the client came to me and their ailment(s) were instantly cured. As readers will discover, this is not like miracle work. It is working with the body’s natural energies and frequencies. Therefore there are different degrees of healing that occur on multiple levels. In the book I discuss a range, from those that were complete, to those that resulted in short or long-term relief of the client’s symptoms. If you are suffering from an ailment that is stress-related, and you leave my healing room feeling better and relieved of your ailment, but you go right back the next day to your stressful lifestyle, over time, your conditions could return. It’s much like that quote widely attributed to Einstein, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result.” However, I do discuss actual healings of chronic allergies; kidney stone; headaches and various bodily pains. Energy healing is also effective in alleviating the side-effects of chemotherapy. I had a late-stage cancer client who gained seven pounds and their vitality while undergoing chemo – they even wanted to go back to the gym! I also discuss the alleviation and release of pain that a client was experiencing, associated with the personal loss of a loved one, which resulted in a very lucid dream of that loved one later that night; and another client with diastasis, who lost 4 inches off her waistline, after just two sessions, and never had to do another thing for it. I’ve worked with a client to realign pelvic bones that alleviated hip pain, and I tell the successful healing story of another client who was told he was going blind – his vision actually sharpened and the symptoms began to reverse. All of this is discussed in the book, as well as episodes that were more spiritual in nature, such as clients who had out-of-body experiences, and another client who had the wherewithal to take pictures during her healing, and she captured white healing orbs in the area surrounding her leg, where I was sending energy, and where her injury was – her pain and injury was gone by the end of the session. I have the orb photos on my website at: QuantumEnergyTreatment.com. I’ve also experienced energy masses or blockages actually rise up through my client’s leg and my hand – we both felt it and it was amazing.

Can you describe for us a typical energy healing session?
Sure. For a physical in-person healing session – I conduct distant healing sessions as well – I am usually first given an overview of the issue that the client would like addressed. When the client arrives, they fill out an in-take form. Unlike a massage, the client remains fully clothed and gets on my table, lying comfortably on their back. I then begin the session, with specified intentions based on their given issues or ailments. It is a very relaxing experience, and clients usually report a variety of sensations and results, ranging from heat and tingling sensations, shifting energies within their bodies and muscle groups, a sense of weightlessness, and many will also fall into a deep sleep or healing trance, waking up refreshed. It is important to drink water following each session because water not only acts as a conductor of energy, but it also will flush through the system. The energy from a session will continue to work and flow for up 48 or 72 hours.

What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions about energy healing?
People often believe that we must be able to physically see, touch and hold that which can help, heal or benefit us. The truth is that what we cannot see in unseen space, is far, far more powerful than that which we can see, in the physical domain. Quantum physicists like Niels Bohr, and geniuses like Nikola Tesla were very much aware of this concept, and not only considered it in their work, but incorporated it. We live in a mental universe, largely determined by mind and manifestation. Another misconception is that some people who are not familiar with energy healing expect it to work like a miracle. We are, each of us complex, in the sense that we have different ailments, but also vastly different life histories. For much of Western culture, society has gotten used to taking a pill or pharmaceutical that masks the symptoms, and is often addictive; it may alleviate a symptom for a few or several hours, but the next day another pill(s) need to be taken. This cycle perpetuates. I am not suggesting an end to pharmaceuticals, but rather a better understanding of what many of them do. Just because a doctor may offer them, doesn’t mean they are good for you; the doctor is simply doing his job in seeking to alleviate or diminish a set of symptoms that are present. Energy healing is not a miracle, but miracle-like results can occur; it does not mask the symptoms, but rather begins to go straight to the source, to address the root cause. Energy is intelligent…it knows where to go, and we are energetic beings. Energy healing also works at a cellular, molecular level. It can reverse a variety of issues.  

The book includes a list of activities that the reader can do to amplify his/her well-being. Can you tell us a bit more about these activities?
I wanted to provide the reader with a short list of things to do, to combat some of the issues they may be facing. I used to work in corporate America, so I know what can occur, and I also worked as a full-time special education teacher in a public high school, where stress levels can spike at a moment’s notice. Similarly, I’m aware of the effects of negativity and constant cynicism inside of a home. I have encountered negative environments in some households I’ve visited to conduct healing sessions, and it gave me an immediate indication of what kind of home environment persists. It has been proven that chronic stress can actually alter brain chemistry, and I believe that chronic, constant negativity can also fester and cause issues. However, positive energy is hundreds of times more powerful than negative, and I know that I can clear the immediate space that encompasses my client and me. Therefore, I wanted to give some activities and exercises that people could do – quick ‘charge-ups’, clearings and refreshers – to cleanse their energy fields and their minds of any inhibiting energies. Some of them can be done either in the workplace or at home. I think it’s important for people to know that our energy fields can extend several feet outward, and so…other people’s energetic junk can get stuck in those fields. I believe it is why some people may go to work in the morning feeling perfectly refreshed, only to return home at six or seven o’clock completely drained. It’s almost like a psychic drain. This also lends credence to what I said earlier about people’s life histories…there is much that can contribute to a particular health issue. Anyway, I provided the reader with some additional healing tools of their own that begin to exercise and activate their imaginations, minds, and energy. There’s also a loving energy exercise to do with a partner or loved one.

What was the most interesting thing you uncovered while doing research for the book?
The most interesting thing is that there has been so much written on the subject of energy, human potential, and the latent powers of the mind, but very little finds its way into the mainstream news channels – it rarely enters people’s conscious peripheries. Instead, we are bombarded by pharmaceutical advertisements, negative or agenda-filled news segments…and the latest gossip. These do absolutely nothing to empower us. Much of the content, such as pharmaceutical ads, have subliminal and subtextual effects on our minds. People need to start to ask themselves, is it right that I’m constantly being bombarded with ways that I can be sick, and pills that can help me if I am sick? Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for me, to focus on sound health rather than sickness? Many of the commercials, I believe, act like suggestions to the mind, and as I say in my book, they want to make sure that you know what ailment you could get, and if you do…what pill you need to take for it. We need to shift our focus in our society. A perfect example is cancer. Words carry energy, and the word alone elicits fear within the body and mind, and yet, ribbons and signs and fundraisers are everywhere. Instead of run for cancer, bike for cancer, walk for cancer, and cancer ribbons, how about we replace that with Run for Health, Bike for Health, Walk for Health, and Health ribbons. Which one sounds more empowering? Our thoughts have energetic frequencies; they circulate. Everything is energy. So, what I uncovered in my research is that the principles of mind and energy that support what I’ve just said, have been written about for years, but…staying healthy doesn’t make drug companies and the medical industry money. However conspiratorial that may sound, it’s true. I tell people to shut off their volume or television when pharmaceuticals are advertised on television. Leave it to your doctor to tell you what you need. It’s easy to get stuck in all of the downtrodden messages, but many people don’t realize it’s happening to them. Our minds are very powerful – but also easily impressionable, and our bodies are loyal servants to the mind.

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
Hmm…for those not familiar with energy healing of any form, I hope it broadens their acceptance and view of other available ways to make them feel better. I think people who read it will ponder more about their minds and their imaginations, and the powers we have within that are vastly under-utilized. I think the book might compel many people to become seekers of more. To this end, I think there may be some revelation and wonder, which would be an honor. I care about people and the world very much. It is why I pursued energy healing…it really all stems from love, which is the most powerful of emotions, not in a romantic sense, but in a frequency sense. Walk into a room where there is love and positive energy and most people want to stay.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am working on a few things right now. I’ve written another novel, which is actually a book of peace and entails many holistic elements, about two enemy soldiers during wartime, which I hope to release in the next year or so. The working subtitle is INTO THE NEXT WORLD, and it is every bit about that, since I believe we are living in some of the most unique times every recorded in human history, and will eventually lead to a proverbial new world – and with all of the geologic activity going on right now, perhaps even a new earth. There are already new land formations rising out of the ocean, and so, the novel immerses into these emerging times, and dips into the myriad possibilities of love and peace; a world without conflict – which I think will define our next age, despite all of the shifts, upheaval, and sinister acts we are presently witnessing unfold on our globe. Oftentimes, extremes are needed so we can appreciate the good in life, and upheaval can be on the path to healing. I’ve also written a double-episode television pilot on the life of Nikola Tesla that continues to evolve in my mind, and I hope to soon start work on a futuristic novel with a writing partner that actually incorporates some energy principles, and subtextually espouses the importance of maintaining and preserving the sanctity of life and freedom. I would then like to assess the feedback from THE AGE OF HEALING and determine what type of follow-up book might be best; what the readers and audience feel might have been missing in the book, or what more they would like to know about energy, energy healing and human potential.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
I am available for questions, discussion or clarification. Readers can reach me through my website. If they’d like to schedule a session – local or distant healing – they can call me directly. There is a place in the book that explains how they can get a discounted session. The contact number is also on my website. The book should be a beginning and continuance of the dialogue on energy healing, not an ending. For readers, I hope it becomes a bridge for much more; I hope it spurs their curiosity and enacts their imagination – because that is where it all starts…the mind. It is really all quite beautiful.

More Information
https://www.quantumenergytreatment.com/ 
Buy THE AGE OF HEALING on Amazon
Visit THE AGE OF HEALING Facebook

Marian Miller, Author of Light on Water

Today we are interviewing Marian Miller, author of the young adult romance novel Light on Water | A Visionary Novel for Young Adults.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Marian Miller has a doctorate in psychology, and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She has more than 25 years experience in the mental health field, many of those years spent working with children and adolescents. Vulnerable children in particular, have always held a special place in her heart. She has found her healing work with young people inspiring – particularly their resilience, courage, and hope for the future, captured in Light on Water.

Describe the plot of your new book in a few sentences. 

Sequestered since birth, Evie is a black girl whose ability to heal others has been carefully concealed. When her gifts are unintentionally discovered, her life spirals out of control.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?

Young people 14-24, the spiritually minded; those interested in metaphysics, single mothers, multicultural families.

What inspired you to write a story that features a girl who can heal people with her touch?

To find a way to convey hope and healing, to encourage young people to embrace all aspects themselves and to express and cultivate their talents.

Tell us a bit about the protagonist, Evie.

Evalyn is compassionate and sensitive—particularly to others in pain. She is creative,  imaginative, and mischievous, and friendly.  She loves ketchup, ballet, and her mother—not necessarily in that order.

Who was your favorite character to write?

Ben—the extremely wealthy, but lonely boy with mental illness, later healed by Evie. 

As a young adult novel, many of your readers will be adolescents. What issues does your book touch on that adolescents can relate to?

School, teachers, food, clothes, laughter and jokes, sports, video games, music. Tumultuous and chaotic emotions, teen romantic relationships filled with jealously, confusion,  angst and passion.

Are there any authors who have influenced your writing style?

A combination of James Redfield, Stephanie Myers, Octavia Butler.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?

To be able to write everyday, full time! To inspire others, to sell a successful book series. 

What do you have in mind for your next project?

Book 2 – Wind in Fire.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?

This novel takes the reader on a thrilling, exciting adventure with characters you’ll enjoy getting to know. The story will leave you breathless, yet filled with hope.

An excerpt from Light on Water:

PROLOGUE

The moonless night is filled with sinuously moving shadows. The agonized panting of the couple running through the wooded undergrowth reverberates through the stillness. In the distance, the agitated sound of barking hounds. Exhausted, she slows. He knows she is near the limit of her endurance.

“Please,” she gasps, struggling for breath. “Go on without me. I’m only slowing you down."

Ignoring her pleas, he half drags, half carries her, hoping he has enough strength left for both of them. They can’t stop now—to do so would mean capture and, if not physical death, it would mean death of life as they know it. They are so very close to freedom.

He drops the pack from his shoulders, rifles through it for money and passports, which he stuffs into his jacket pockets. He reaches deep into the bottom of the pack searching for the key. The cool metal slips through his fingers into the thick undergrowth. Swearing, he drops to his knees, frantically searching. Unhampered by darkness, she spots it easily, hands it to him.

The barking of the hounds is much louder now. The trackers are closer. Despite the darkness, through the periphery of the trees she can see the lake clearly. “We’re almost there,” she murmurs.

Soon they hear the low, rhythmic sound of lapping water. In the darkness, the endless black ink of the lake spreads out towards an unseen shore. The barking fades, as do the other night sounds. He steps to the edge of the water, feels it flow over his feet, beckoning, calming, welcoming. He knew this moment would come.

Everything he has learned, believed and hoped for is riding on this inevitable moment. She turns toward him, hesitantly, an unspoken question on her lips. Although he can’t see the expression in her eyes, he knows they are filled with fear. She can’t swim.       He lifts her into his arms, feels her relax. He presses his lips to her forehead. If his life should end with hers, so be it. After all, the best things in his life began with her. 

Inhaling deeply, he feels the familiar energy surge through him. Carefully edging forward, he steps up and onto the surface of the water.

More Information

www.MarianMillerBooks.com

Tracy J Thomas, Author of Zen in the Garden

Today we are interviewing Tracy J Thomas, author of the nonfiction/motivational book "Zen in the Garden: Finding Peace and Healing Through Nature."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am an award-winning photographer, artist, author, and educator living in Northern California. I received my M.F.A. in Photography from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco and my work has appeared in mainstream publications, galleries, and personal collections around the globe. I am a contributing author to the 2012 Seal Press anthology "Dancing at the Shame Prom: Sharing the Stories That Kept Us Small and served on faculty at the San Miguel Writer's Conference and on the "Women Write Their Lives" speaker's panel in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
"Zen in the Garden" came about in the midst of my treatment for skin cancer. It is my way of sharing the healing power of nature through the Zen philosophy of mindfulness. My goal when writing this motivational book was to encourage spiritual awareness through helpful anecdotes and inspirational nature photography. My hope is my readers will slow down and experience the transformational beauty that exists in the small details that surround them on a daily basis.

Who do you think would most appreciate "Zen in the Garden"?
Anyone who is experiencing the stress of a fast-paced, noise-filled life and would like to take some constructive steps towards attaining peace and healing.

What inspired you to write a book about promoting peace, healing, and happiness through the Zen philosophy?
The past few years have been difficult for me. For the first time in my life I experienced health issues that resulted in a lot of stress and fear of the unknown. I found myself consumed with thoughts of "what if" and struggled to find peace of mind. One day in the midst of this stress I grabbed my camera and decided to take macro photos in our garden. I became so mesmerized with the minute details and beauty unfolding before me that I literally forgot about my fears and felt my body let out a deep sigh of relief as I relaxed into the moment. This became my daily routine during my treatment. When I became housebound I would meditate on my nature photographs and soon realized I felt the most peace and happiness when I thought about beautiful moments in my life. I began to write down my thoughts and felt moved to share these things with others who might also feel stressed. Thus the book was born.

What is it about the Zen philosophy that helps people find peace amid a chaotic life?
The practice of mindfulness, living in the moment, is a beautiful and simple concept. This is the aspect of Zen philosophy that has always resonated the most with me personally. Our busy, chaotic, and noisy lives cause us undue stress and anxiety which can lead to illness. Our minds tend to work overtime and are often overwhelmed with shame and regret for things in our past and fear of things we think might happen in the future. When we become overwhelmed with these thoughts, there is little room to enjoy the moment and we miss out on an enormous amount of beauty. The Zen philosophy of mindfulness allows us to clear our minds of all the unnecessary muck, thus releasing stress, and helps to bring about a spiritual awakening to the moment at hand.

How did you make the Zen philosophy approachable for people who have never practiced Buddhism?
I myself am not a practicing Buddhist in the traditional sense although I have studied books by Buddhist authors and do utilize meditation as a daily practice. For me the concept of mindfulness was transformational. For years I suffered from a mind that just wouldn't quit. I was always stressed about the past or worried about the future. When I spent time in nature, whether climbing a mountain peak or planting my garden, it always helped to alleviate that stress and quiet my mind. When I would leave those places the overwhelming stress would return. It wasn't until I began to practice mindfulness in all circumstances of life that the stress became manageable and I began to experience more peace and happiness. The book is written in a practical way that provides anecdotes to ponder, inspirational photographs to meditate on plus gardening tips and nature challenges to encourage readers to take action and begin to experience the small, beautiful things in life. Mindfulness is one of the basic tenets of Zen philosophy that doesn't require years of study and this book presents the concept in everyday terms.

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
My hope is readers of "Zen in the Garden" will begin to recognize the small beauties in each moment and realize the importance of living our lives right now. None of us truly know how much time we have so why waste it away on stress and negative energy?

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I am currently working on several books. The next in line for publication is another motivational book on the concept of compassion that will challenge readers to perform one compassionate act daily for thirty days. The working title is "30 Days of Grace: Changing the World Through the Act of Compassion."

More Information
Buy the book on Amazon
Visit the author's Amazon author page

Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof, Author of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality

Today we are interviewing Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof., author of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
 Carolyn Reinhart MA, DProf, LPRS
Doctor of Professional Studies (developing a spirituality praxis within a multidisciplinary organization.)

I graduated as an RN in 1962 and worked in that field until I moved to the UK in 1974. I completed an MA in Christian Spirituality from Heythrop College, University of London  in 1999 and then a Doctorate in Professional Studies with The National Centre for Work Based Learning, Middlesex University, UK. "Developing a Spirituality Praxis in a Multidisciplinary Organization."
After living in the UK for 33 years, helping to found and develop two Charities, I returned to Canada in 2005 and am enjoying the Arts and Environmental aspects of  Muskoka.
 

Author Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof.

Describe your book in a few sentences.
The book was published in Dec 2013 by John Hunt Publishing, Circle Books, UK.
A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality, is the fruit of years of formal study in the field of spirituality and is combined with 70 years of life experience

Are you ready for an adventure? Whether you are a new seeker or well on your spiritual path, pick up my book as a guide for your spiritual development. A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality explores the emerging spirituality of our time. Both the theoretical and the practical are covered, and there are lots of diagrams to help you to understand the content.

I look forward to your feedback on your reading. Join the conversation on my blog and email me if you have any questions. http://www.carolynreinhart.com/#sthash.mDSWRyWS.dpuf

An Authentic Spirituality for today Within the pages of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality Dr Reinhart shares a Model for Understanding and Developing Spirituality Praxis (theory and practice combined) while enveloping the personal and social aspects. There is also a basic Model of Inclusivity referring to the Dominant paradigm of oppression and the need for a paradigm shift and new world view. It is not about Religion or Theology but about the Spirit, which no faith has ownership of, and includes perspectives on relationships, context for practice, language, religion/theology, transformation and quantum physics.

When did you first become interested in spirituality?
I have been “interested” in it all of my life. But as a separate and new academic subject, not until 1997 when I began my MA at Heythrop College, University of London. It was a new subject and field, although still under the Theology Department. Since that time the field and understanding of spirituality has grown in leaps and bounds, in every way, and almost every field laying claim to its own understanding of what “spirituality” is and means within their field eg psychology and spirituality, environment and spirituality. It is a greatly misunderstood word and like a slippery eel but also very elastic and inclusive of all.

One of the things you write about in your book is that spirituality is both personal and social. Can you elaborate on this a bit?
Some people seek and understand “spirituality” as a very private and personal aspect of their lives and they are trying to find an understanding and practice which enables them to find answers to life, death, suffering and meaning etc which will then bring them the peace which they seek. However, we don’t live in a vacuum, but are social beings, living in an inter-connected way, within our global home and universe. We are connected to all that is and so interface, interact and affect each other. Spirituality is therefore understood also as “social” – in that it is seen through the lens of where and how we live our lives within our contexts. If we “walk the talk”, practice what we preach, with all aspects of our lives integrated since they are part of a whole: body, mind and spirit within our relationships, families, groups, work places, countries, churches and our entire larger global context, then our spirituality is indeed social. We are not isolated from each other, there are no either/or’s, but both/and’s – without dualisms. We are one.

You write about on the link between science and spirituality. When did you first begin to research this link?
During the MA we read books by Danah Zohar on Quantum Physics – “The Quantum Self”. “Anyone not shocked by QuantumTheory has not understood it” (Neils Bohr) “The day will come when after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire" - Teilhard de Chardin.

These are the two quotes which I have on the very first page of the book. For me they are essential to embrace as part of our understanding of life.

She asks questions at the outset, such as:

•    Who am I?
•    Why am I here?
•    What is my place in the scheme of things?
•    Why is the world like it is?
•    What does it mean that one day I must die?

These are some of the key questions of urgency that many of us have, often with no real answers. Quantum science shows us that we cannot separate ourselves from our environment, helping us to understand our everyday life and our relationship to ourselves, others and the world at large. In this century we have particularly experienced a particular form of alienation so that we feel like strangers in this universe. Now as we get in touch with our consciousness we are less alienated from Nature and experience being more a meaningful part of the scheme of things.

What do you hope readers get from reading your book?
My intention was to make a book available which presents a well-researched, authentic theory of what “spirituality” means today, which is the fruit of Doctoral studies. By including the visual concepts, way markers and guidelines, as well as website reference pages as well as current news blogs, I intend it to offer a wide range of resources, which readers can use for further study.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I don’t intend to “write” a book as such, but do continue to research on a daily basis, blogging frequently with current relevant global events and oversights.

Anything else you'd like to tell potential readers?
“Spirituality” as a field continues to be somewhat vague, wide ranging, misunderstood and confusing, since it is still linked in many peoples’ minds with church, religion, dogma, theology, rules and regulations with hierarchical oversight and control. There is also an attendant need for an authentic, sound and healthy understanding of the theory of spirituality. The difficulty is that so many people and professions assume an understanding and “market” that as valid and bone fide, like self-styled gurus. However, thankfully, we can often tell by the “fruits” of their lives and their practice if there is the necessary integration. Many people are seeking answers outside the “churches” and don’t find it easy to find appropriate and safe contexts to continue their searching.

More Information
www.carolynreinhart.com
https://www.facebook.com/AFruitBearingSpirituality
https://twitter.com/DrCReinhart
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/carolynreinhart
http://pinterest.com/carolynreinhart/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114064131094844485321/posts

Where to Buy A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality
Buy the book on Amazon
Buy the Book on Barnes and Noble
Buy the book on Indigo

Darcy Bellows Mascorro, Author of Finding Vern

Today we are interviewing Darcy Bellows Mascorro, author of the inspirational/spiritual non-fiction book Finding Vern.

Describe the purpose of your book in a few sentences.
Darcy Bellows Mascorro’s tells her true miraculous story for the purpose of providing hope to others. Her journey begins with the tragic loss of her beloved and leads to an amazing discovery.  Not only is her beloved still by her side even after death, but her view of reality has permanently changed to understand the untapped human potential.

Finding Vern is many things – an epic love story, a philosophical and spiritual journey that invites the reader to begin their own sojourn, and a revelation that life after death truly does exist in a way that few can imagine. Part memoir, part romance, and part ghost story, at its heart, Finding Vern is a call to a new way of thinking and a new way of living.

Who (age, gender, etc) do you think would most appreciate this book?
Anyone dealing with loss or extreme change. Anyone interested in the mystical. People searching for meaning and have already learned the pitfalls of a solely material focus on life.

You began exploring the paranormal after the loss of Vern. What was did you think of the paranormal prior to your exploration?
I was never impressed by what I saw on TV. I would ridicule what they were presenting as false evidence. I came from a very skeptical point of view.

And how did these views change as you did more investigation?
I was presented physical evidence far exceeding what I was shown in the typical ghost or Medium TV show.  For instance, we had a very clear EVP recorded in actual voice of Vern.  We also have a recording of a ghost box session where the investigator asks how many people are currently in the room - the spirit answered 8, which was true. We then asked how many women are in the room and the box answered 5, which was also true. We received verification every time we did an investigation. It was insane!! Anyone witnessing walked out a believer in things we cannot see.

Was there a single moment at which you saw the value of the paranormal, or were your views formed gradually?
In the book I share my very first reading with a Psychic Medium it blew me away from the first few sentences she identified that I was about to be married and she saw the flowers from my wedding that would not be and then she apologized the lady/medium had a not a clue who I was looking for. Every experience for 3 years straight was completely mind blowing. I describe a a small portion of the phenomena I witnessed in the book and it is all shocking and revealing to me.

What was the most interesting thing you uncovered while doing research for the book?
I know without a doubt our conscious survives after death. This was presented to me in so many ways, not just through Mediums or synchronistic signs, but through physical manifestation and more! I am awed and humbled by what we are seemingly a part of. I realize the human potential is far greater than I ever realized or considered.

Have your friends and family been supportive of your writing?
Yes, at first they were worried that their grieving daughter, sister, cousin, friend, etc, was being taken advantage of by charlatans, but then they read the book and changed their outlook.  They were able to put all of the evidence together that I had shared in small snippets along the way. I stopped sharing after a bit because they made me feel like I was a silly doe being take advantage of.  The fact that I had a high IQ and the ability to take care of myself and others, didn’t seem to be to my credit, so I stopped sharing, but I forged ahead and I was as they say “in the flow."

How do you think reading your book will impact people?
I hope people will be rally curious and seek answers for themselves. Seeking meaning gives their lives purpose and I hope my loss will act as a reminder to focus on what matters in life - which is LOVE.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
The book has a cliff hanger I am living through that now. I am finding a way to connect in a visceral way to the other side. Book two is called the Alternate String - Tapping the unlimited potential of reality.

Tell us a bit about your involvement with The Lightworker’s Foundation.
The group is a spiritual exploration group. I am the cofounder with Psychic Medium Michelle Tedrow. We have a list services our members offer and have donated readings and donated time on crime cases.  We have taught classes at very affordable prices on topics like Developing your own intuition and Mediumship 101. We have also provided access to readings at very low prices. Someday we want to expand the vision, I’d like to see a chapter in every city, as well a healing and research center for all to come to, it will be a place for the exploration of the mystical, self meaning and healing of those in grief and need.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
The book is simply a real person searching for answers in a sometimes tumultuous and tragic world. It is me exposing myself and my lover. I hope most can relate to our story, and I hope it can provide hope.  Maybe it can give inspiration to seek more from life and maybe clarity to things that truly matter.  Though it is our story and it is a universal story of love and truth.

More Information
Book website: www.findingvern.com
Buy the book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Vern-strong-death-could-ebook/dp/B00HPIPMK8