December 2011

Ngā mihi o te wā me te Tau Hou
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

We hope that your Christmas build-up is all going to plan.  With all the hype and challenges involved with Christmas, what is it that gets us so caught up in looking forward to yet another deadline!?

Perhaps it's because we give ourselves permission to open our hearts to express our true selves a little more–with a sense of child-like fun and unity.     We see it in the smile of the busy shop assistant, the Santa hats and reindeer antlers worn by check out staff at a busy supermarket, the ‘let loose’ fancy-dress business Christmas parties, families playing cricket on their front lawn, the patient driver who waves us through in a busy line of traffic and the stranger who picks up the packages dropped from our over-laden arms on Christmas Eve – all delivered with a cheery ‘Merry Christmas!’ 

For us it can be a most wonderful time of appreciation for the gifts in our lives, for hope and for expectation.  Expectation of loved ones returning to the family, children’s expectation of Santa’s visit and time spent on holiday with relaxed parents, and an expectation of the warmth of love shared with those closest to our hearts.  

Also, it can be a wonderful opportunity to stop and feel gratitude for our many ‘gifts’ often disguised as irritations:  The job that means we have a sense of purpose, our partners long work hours because they want to give us 'the best', the opportunity to prepare meals as a loving gift for our family and friends, dirty dishes in the sink that mean we have enough to eat and share, (the dishwasher that means there are no dishes in the sink!), toothpaste flicked on the bathroom mirror meaning we are blessed to share our home, sand in the carpet from sun-filled days at the beach and overflowing laundry baskets from busy and happy children.

We wish you the joyous experience of treasuring your 'gifts' this Christmas. In GiGi Sosnoski's December forecast entitled 'Savour The Moment' she reminds us to let go of the grand goals, be aware of the merry moments and savour the simplicities.

The fabulous 2012 Gratitude Diary also makes a great journal for expressing gratitude for our daily gifts.  
 Believing gratitude can completely turn a life around, author and songwriter Morthern Spears, has published a diary she describes as a tool for transformation and growth.  Peppered with thought provoking quotes from wise and well known luminaries, the lovingly and beautifully illustrated Gratitude Diary and Daily Planner combines the functionality of a desk diary with inspirational guidance usually relegated to self-help books.
Unlike traditional desk diaries that focus on the act of ‘doing’, the 2012 edition invites readers to create a direct connection with their thoughts and actions. Each day starts with the words “Today I am grateful for…” to help people “stop and smell the roses and take stock of what is truly important in an increasingly hectic life”.

 

Traditionally Christmas is acknowledged as a time of giving and receiving.  The  book Five Love Languages of Children (applicable to children of all ages!) describes gift giving as being one of the five expressions of love  and explains how to identify and communicate effectively in the recipient's preferred  'love language'.  So, if you’re still looking for gifts for family or friends (or yourself!) take a look at these suggestions:

 For Fans of The Four Agreements there is the newly released Four Agreements four colour illustrated edition. With over 7 years on The New York Times bestseller list and over 5 million copies in print, The Four Agreements continues to top the bestseller lists. In The Four Agreements Don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of self-limiting beliefs that rob us of joy and create needless suffering. Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, the Four Agreements offer a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives to a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. 

 

Throughout the year we have mentioned Dr Alex Loyd and The Healing Code.  Here's the book published this year which claims to be your healing kit for life - to heal the issues you know about, and the ones you don't. In 2001, while trying to cure his wife of her long term depression, Dr. Alex Loyd discovered how to activate a physical function built into the body that consistently and predictably removes the source of 95% of all illness and disease, so that the neuro-immune system takes over its job of healing whatever is wrong with the body. He also discovered that there is a Universal Healing Code that will heal most issues for most people - physical, emotional and relational, as well as enabling breakthroughs in success and well being. 

 

 

Just released!  Deep Truth. A new world is emerging before our eyes, while the unsustainable world of the past struggles to continue. Both worlds reflect our beliefs. Both exist - but only for now. Which world do you choose? Bestselling author and visionary scientist Gregg Braden suggests that the hottest topics that divide us as families, cultures and nations - seemingly disparate issues such as war, terror, abortion, genocide, poverty, economic collapse and nuclear war - are actually related. They all stem from the false assumptions of an incomplete science. These obsolete beliefs have brought us to the brink of disaster and the loss of all that we cherish as a civilisation. Deep Truth reveals compelling scientific evidence...

 
 

 Everybody has a Guardian Angel. Beautifully written and illustrated by Glenda McHale. Foreword by Kelvin Cruikshank.
Thomas has a problem and his Mum introduces him to the concept of personal angels, teaching him how to ask his personal angel for help. When Thomas asks his angel for help, he learns some important lessons about how angels help, and how important their help can be. An exciting story with an uplifting message of lasting value

 

Tiger Tiger Is It True?  is a story about a little tiger who thinks that his whole world is falling apart: his parents don't love him, his friends have abandoned him, and life is unfair. But a wise turtle asks him four questions, and everything changes. He realizes that all his problems are not caused by things, but by his thoughts about things; and that when he questions his thoughts, life becomes wonderful again. This is a heart-warming story with a powerful message that can transform the lives of even very young children. Byron Katie's wisdom-filled words and Hans Wilhelm's vivid, magical illustrations combine to make a book that will become one of the classics of children's literature.
(Hardback) 32 pages

Sara Book 1 ( of a 3 part series -  and audio books available too)  Author: Esther & Jerry Hicks.
This book offers you, the reader, a thoughtful and inspired formula for generating appreciation, happiness, and good feelings - deftly blended into the uplifting story of a plucky, inquisitive girl named Sara; and her teacher, an ethereal owl named Solomon.
There's something in Sara for any child, adult, or teen pursuing joy and meaning... and searching for answers about life, death,and the desires of the heart. It's filled with techniques and processes for making one's dreams come true... especially yours!   Sara and Solomon will delight and enchant you! 

 

DVD: Raw Food Made Easy.  A great companion to the bestselling book Raw Food Made Easy. Jennifer Cornbleet shows how to set up your kitchen with basic equipment and staple ingredients so you can prepare delicious meals using fresh, raw foods. Learn creative ways to incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

 

 

Raw Food Life Force Energy - for when you've had your fill of Christmas pudd and all the trimmings!  If you're feeling weighed down or disillusioned by mainstream foods and diets and need a trusted guide to completely refresh your body and mindset, "The Raw Food Energy Diet" is for you. According to Natalia Rose, everyone is entitled to a beautiful, lean body, youthful, radiant skin, clarity of mind and purpose, and a tremendous inner joy. The secret is tapping into our Life Force Energy. Rose reminds us of an age-old principle that is tragically overlooked in the modern world that we are dynamic, energetic, vibrational beings. If we can properly harness and increase our Life Force Energy through dietary and environmental principles, and therefore cleanse and bring our bodies back to their natural, harmonious frequency, we can experience radically improved levels of health, beauty, and happiness. Low-energy foods, stress, emotional pain, anger, and environmental toxins block us off from our natural state of health and vitality.  

 

You'll find many other titles available through our website - there's sure to be something suitable for everyone on your shopping list.

 

So , as you busily go about your last minute preparations we wish you many ‘gifts’ to treasure this Christmas season , and we wish you a very happy and healthy 2012 being 'inspired to question, empowered to choose'

With love and blessings

Maree & Shona