A girlfriend of mine pleasantly surprised me with an unexpected visit last week. She was on her way to Mexico for a conference and during a layover found out it had been cancelled due to swine flu. She rerouted her trip to the next warmest place, LA.

Shes a psychologist, considers herself a hardcore scientist with “complete faith in mainstream science. If it hasnt been proven, it isnt true.” Need I mention shes also an atheist? Im none of those things. I enjoy an easy-to-digest book on quantum physics as much as the next layman, but Im as skeptical of science as she is of spirituality. And I believe in a power greater than myself-a source of love. I call that God.

Nevertheless, my gorgeous friend and I do share plenty of common ground. For one, weve both been vegetarians for twenty years. She told me that one day she knew in her twelve year-old little heart it wasnt right to eat animals and stopped. We also share a yen for hot weather, sunshine and swimming pools, so we hopped in the car and headed to Palm Springs. As the warm desert air breezed through the open windows and Kansas panted in the back seat, we got on the topic of spirituality, namely how “unspiritual” she is. I told her it didnt matter whether she was spiritual or not. It only mattered if she felt something was missing.

She confided that one of her favorite childhood past times was trying to communicate with animals-squirrels, cats, dogs, and birds-but they never communicated back. I suggested that she can never really know they werent communicating. We laughed at the idea that perhaps it was the animals that told her not to eat them. I said, “To me, the definition of spirituality is really simple. Its oneness.” She thought about it and replied, “Thats an interesting way of defining it.” I said, “And you exemplify that. I think youre much more “spiritual” than you think.” She said, “Well, I do view the world as one interconnected organism.” Spoken like a true scientist.

Truth is true. As I understand it, all minds are joined. As she sees it, the world is an interconnected organism. The only thing true is that we are one. Nowhere does my energy end and yours begins. Einstein said separation is an “optical delusion of consciousness.” Well, here, Ill just find his whole quote.

“A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest-a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.”

Everything is moving towards oneness though it may not always appear that way. This is true in our own lives as well as in the collective consciousness. There could be no Obama without Bush. Oneness doesnt require that we perceive it in order for it to be true. As Einstein said, its very difficult to be aware of it. But this doesnt mean it isnt happening or that its a free pass to sit around. On the contrary, we all have a unique and active role in the unfolding of that creation. Each of us has a special part to play in the “task” of healing. In fact thats kind of what I was trying to say in the previous post.

My friend arrived at the understanding of connectedness through science. I came to it through more spiritual means of study. Someone else may learn it through worldly travel and another through volunteer work. Or golf. It doesnt matter. We will all end up in the same place. My friend and I were brought together by the swine flu, and even that-swine flu-can be a means for shaking the sleep of separation from our eyes. Anything can be used to help us understand our oneness if we choose to see it that way.

We must change our worldview, as Einstein said, not only for the healing of the world but also for our “inner security.” The cruelty inflicted on a pig in a cage kills us as well. The child neglected by his or her parents and let down by a broken foster care system hurts us too. The question then isnt how you reach that conclusion. The more important question is how you begin to experience everyone and everything as yourself. For quantum physics attests they are literally a part of you, only your “optical delusion” blocks that awareness. The answer lies in widening your circle of compassion. Within that is the liberation we all seek and the knowingness that there really is only one of us here.

Widening the Circle by Cynthia Morgan

An accredited and sought-after Los Angeles-based board certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele. Not only has Morgan improved the lives of her clients, but her unique philosophy that “we dont need to do anything to heal-rather we need to undo the thoughts that stand in the way of healing” applies to issues with weight, addictions, illness, pain, phobias, depression, and whatever else one deems as a “problem”. Her philosophy and techniques have proven to be highly successful, establishing her as true leader in her field.

Find out more about Cynthia here: www.cynthiamorgan.us
Read Cynthias blog here: www.theoverwoman.com

1. Do not be guided by fear.

There is nothing more detrimental than making decisions out of fear.

2. Seek not to be loved, but to be loving.

My clients are generally single men and women in their thirties and forties. And most of them are unhappy. The rest of my clients are in relationships, and guess what? Theyre unhappy too. So whos happy? Well, I know a few and their happiness has nothing to do with a partner or lack thereof. We have been programmed to believe that if we just find the right partner our problems will be solved. But Im sorry to say it is an illusion. Sure, you can be fulfilled with a partner but you can also be fulfilled without one. What you seek is within. Everyday my prayer is the same, “Help me become more loving.” Let go of the need to be loved and seek instead to be loving. Only then will you find true fulfillment.

3. Pick a spiritual path.

And stick to it. All of our problems would disappear if we committed to daily spiritual practice. Truth is simple. You can read about this in an earlier post.

4. Read great writers.

Studying people who are smarter than us is crucial because there is nothing more important than realizing we may not be right. Here are some books I like.

5. Listen to music.

Crank up one good song a day. Start with this video of Unity by Trevor Hall featuring Matisyahu. I just saw his show the other night. He glows. He said he was headlining a tour in February so be sure to catch him when he comes through your town. You won’t regret it. Buy his music here.

6. See a hypnotherapist.

Release your past. Clean yourself up. And don’t spend a ton of time and money trying to do it. Hypnotherapists can help you do that. The best way to find one is through referral. E-mail me if you cant locate a good hypnotherapist and I will be happy to help you. Check out these interesting statistics on my website.

7. Surround yourself with people who can teach you.

This is easy and the pay-off is huge. Wise people push you. They hold you accountable. They dont necessarily coddle you, they elevate you. Theres a reason a lot of enlightened people have gurus. Every smart person had a teacher.

8. Give away what you don’t need.

Good feng shui and good karma. Your house is a reflection of your mind.

9. Maintain integrity.

Your self-respect is all youve got. Treasure it.

10. Become vegan.

Becoming vegan is like volunteering. Thats how I see it. There seems to be a sacrifice involved but its really a gift that comes back to you a hundred-fold. I have not experienced a single choice that has had such beautiful and far-reaching effects, not only into the world but in my own life as well. Start small.

11. Don’t procrastinate.

The world awaits your gifts. We need your vision, your talent, your perspective, your ideas. I guarantee you, depression is inevitable if you don’t apply yourself. Reread number 1.

12. Be of service.

Adopt a pet, or a child. Volunteer. If there is no love or joy in your life it can only be because you are not giving love or joy.

All of these keys have one thing in common: they are challenging. In this world of complacency and complicity, we have gotten lazy. And it shows. I understand the huge pull towards indolence, I fight it on a daily basis, but it is a battle that must be fought. It is only through challenging ourselves that we heal, that the world become a better place, and that we achieve greater things. If not you, who? You are the who we are waiting for.

I’d love to hear your keys to life.

12 Keys to Life by Cynthia Morgan.

I recently heard that for the first time three vegan books are in the top 100 books on Amazon. It made me want to share some of my favorite books with you.

Im often asked for book recommendations, and its one of my favorite things to do-match a book to a client or friend in need. Youll notice there’s no fiction on this list of beloved books, because I dont read fiction. Also, most of these books are over twenty years old because I dont read anything contemporary, except those books on veganism. More than not, the authors I read are dead.

Its unusual for me to be reading more than one book at a time (I couldn’t multi-task to save my life) but right now these six are on my nightstand, though I wouldn’t call some of them my favorites.

Eat to Live. Dr. Joel Furhman. Ive only just started to read books on veganism, though Ive been a vegan for three years and a strict vegetarian (no eggs, no milk, no ice cream) for over twenty. The problem is that because I post about veganism, people sort of expect me to know what Im talking about nutritionally, and truth be told, Im not that well-read on the subject.

I just know in my entire being thats in not right to eat animals, and therefore it cannot be healthy. Thats always been good enough for me. I don’t need to be proven that it is so. Lately, however, Ive been more interested in the nutritional benefits, which has always been secondary for me.

Eat to Live is a weight loss book but its really just the most sensible way to eat and be healthy. Dr. Mehmet Oz writes the forward. Check out Dr. Oz on this video that I recently posted.

Becoming Vegan. Brenda Davis. I found this book at my favorite used bookstore Jackson Street Booksellers in Omaha, NE. Very good info for vegan neophytes.

The Red Book. C.G. Jung. (Jung’s never never before published writings.) This is a behemoth. Its daunting. I read one page a week. Seriously. Thats all I can take.

The Shadow of Sirius. W. S. Merwin. Ahhhh, poetry. Recently won the Pulitzer Prize.

Existentialists and Mystics: Writings on Philosophy and Literature. Iris Murdoch. This has been sitting on my shelf for years (again, from Jackson St.) and Ive only just decided to tackle it. Did you see that film about her called Iris? I’m a sucker for fascinating, whip-smart women.

Hypnosis Questions and Answers. (Jackson St. again) Unless youre a hypnotherapist, you would find this dry and boring. Actually, I do. And I’m a hypnotherapist.

And Im always and forever reading A Course in Miracles, which is my spiritual path.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

(I’ve linked them all to Amazon, though you can be sure I get no kickback.)

VEGANISM (See those above as well.)

Eating Animals. Jonathan Safron Foer. Everyone seems to be reading this right now.

Diet for a New America. John Robbins. Classic. Of the Baskin-Robbins fame.

Skinny Bitch. Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. The language can be a bit vulgar sometimes. (Hence, the title.) But I don’t mind. They’re right on.

Quantum Wellness. Kathy Freston. She puts it nicer.

The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World. John Robbins and Dr. Dean Ornish. Enough said in the subtitle.

The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight-Loss and Long-term Health. T. Colin Campbell. For the dedicated reader.

PHILOSOPHY

The World as Will and Representation. Arthur Schopenhauer. My favorite philosopher. I read this book about fifteen years ago and FELL IN LOVE. i adore this man and wish I knew him. Too bad he died in 1860.

The Story of Philosophy: The Lives and Opinions of the World’s Greatest Philosophers. Will Durant. Such an enjoyable read.

The Portable Nietzsche. Friedrich Nietzsche and Walter Kaufman. Nietzsche inspires me like no other.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Friedrich Nietzsche. I can’t believe someone wrote this. No wonder he lost his mind.

PSYCHOLOGY

Freud: The Man and the Cause. Ronald W. Clark. There are about five Freud fans left in the world and I am one of them. I will go down fighting that he was one of the most important persons to grace this world.

The Portable Jung. C.G. Jung and Joseph Campbell. Worthwhile.

Toxic Psychiatry. Peter Breggin. An education. Anyone on anti-depressants should read this book.

EASTERN THOUGHT

Autobiography of a Yogi. Paramahansa Yogananda. Classic spiritual literature. Completely transformational.

I am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Wow. Mind-expanding.

Gandhi An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Gandhi. Made me want to be a better human being.

Think on These Things. J. Krishnamurti. Absorbing and helpful.

SCIENCE

Holographic Universe. Michael Talbot. Very interesting stuff here. The whole is in the smallest part. I see things differently now.

Taking the Quantum Leap. Fred Alan Wolf. Physics for the non-physicist.

Tao of Physics. Fritjof Capra. Ditto.

METAPHYSICS/SPIRITUALITY/OTHER

Seth Speaks. (Any and all Seth books.) Jane Roberts. My first spiritual teacher. Nothing would ever be the same when I read this at fifteen years old.

Emmanuels Book: A Guide for Living Comfortably in the Cosmos. (And II, III) Pat Rodegast. Immensely enjoyable and comforting books. I come back to these again and again.

Living with Joy. (All of the “Earth-life Mastery Series” books. There are five others.) Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. The book I most recommend to clients. It’s probably the most self-helpish book on the list, but not. Easy reading and helpful exercises.

Many Lives, Many Masters. Brian L. Weiss. Second most recommended book to clients. Deals with hypnosis and reincarnation.

The Essential Edgar Cayce. Mark Thurston. How does one begin to describe Edgar Cayce? Except to say that he should be required reading.

The Story of Edgar Cayce: There is a River. Thomas Sugrue. An engaging life. He ushered in the idea of holistic medicine and what we consider “New Age.” There, I just described him.

Love, Medicine, and Miracles. Dr. Bernie Siegel. I recommend this to clients who are dealing with disease.

You Can Heal Your Life. Louise L. Hay. Just good commonsense to me.

The New Astrology. Suzanne White. My favorite astrology book.

Last Words: The Final Journals of William S. Burroughs. William S. Burroughs. Mystic, philosopher, revolutionary. I know he’s a little off-topic, but my list would be incomplete without him.

There you have it. I’m sure I will continually update this list.

Please let me know your favorite books. And if you read any of these, or have read them, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Reading is not only one of the most important things in life, it is also one of life’s great pleasures.

Happy Reading!

Book recommendations by Cynthia Morgan

By Cynthia Morgan

When I see the word religion I see “realign.” The utmost task of any religion and spiritual thought system is to realign us to Truth or God. Somewhere along the way we took a wrong turn, veered off course, and ended up lost. Now we need help. It only makes sense that in order to get back Home, we turn to those who have found the way.

Who are they? Thankfully, theyre generous, charitable folks who left us some directions. They are Truth cartographers, seekers who once wandered this earth dazed and confused like us. Yet replete with diligence and faith, they hit the road, blazing a path, arriving at a destination and leaving a marked trail of the smoothest road for the rest of us to travel. Their maps-their guidance and instruction-are the foundation of our most truthful religions and spiritual thought systems.

These people have become our great mystical thinkers. They are the brilliant, the enlightened, the yogis, the sages and the seers. They have touched God. And they are too few and far between. Despite their perspicacity, however, not one of these beings can accurately depict what we will discover once we get to our destination. Why? Because the experience doesnt translate well into words. How does one begin to describe an experience that is not of the world? How does one put into words a feeling beyond words? Words will always come up short.

If someone, who has never been in love before, asked you to describe it, what could you say that would equal the experience? That person wont get it until he actually falls in love. He needs an experience to know. Likewise, mystical cartographers cant tell us what God is like, they can only chronicle what they did to find God, “I turned left there, made a sharp right here, walked straight that way, and ran into Him.”

Truth is inexplicable, but getting to Truth can be explained. Thus every spirituality, religion, philosophy, and science is built on a map. Perhaps, a better word would be “story.” Every map tells a cartographers tale of what he went through, what he encountered, what was essential to the journey, what he discarded, and so forth.

These stories do more than show us the way, they help make abstract theoretical concepts such as the nature of existence or God more understandable. Christianity has the Genesis story (well, two stories actually), Buddhists, Hindus and Muslems have their stories, philosophers have as many stories as there are philosophers, and A Course In Miracles has its unique metaphysical story.

Students choose their particular story, or spiritual belief system, based on factors such as their past, their parents, their intellect and sensibilities, their strengths and weaknesses, where they grew up, and what they need to learn. Which is why many diverse paths are necessary-each story attracts its followers through a form that speaks to them. Each form allows someone to hear what he might have missed, or dismissed, had there only been one story.

Again, these stories are not Truth, because Truth is an experience. Rather, they are concepts, words, theories and symbols of Truth, crunched down to fit into nice neat frames of reference. These stories glimpse the infinite through a finite lens. Thus loopholes and doubt will reign throughout the myriad attempts at explaining the inexplicable. Words are fallible because they are, as A Course in Miracles says, “twice removed from reality.” Words are symbols of symbols. And somewhere in the crunching down, somethings going to get crunched out.

Through times of antiquity philosophers have warned us of the pitfalls of words and language. As American novelist William S. Burroughs put it: “Words become images when written down, but images of words repeated in the mind and not the image of the thing itself….Truth is here when all the words are rubbed out.”

We cannot minimize the importance of the words, or the story. No one in their right mind would confuse a road map with the destination, but without the road map wed be lost. We wouldnt arrive at our destination, or at least not as quickly or as easily. So it is with spiritual narratives, they lead us to abandon words. They guide us to a wordless place-to “the image of the thing itself”-which is where we all, deep down, wish to be. We will never be satisfied with an intellectual understanding of unconditional love, we want to experience love pouring out of our pores.
Alas, this blog is just a bunch of words. But I’m sending you love through it anyway.

An accredited and sought-after Los Angeles-based board certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan is known as a spiritual teacher by her extensive clientele. Not only has Morgan improved the lives of her clients, but her unique philosophy that “we dont need to do anything to heal-rather we need to undo the thoughts that stand in the way of healing” applies to issues with weight, addictions, illness, pain, phobias, depression, and whatever else one deems as a “problem”. Her philosophy and techniques have proven to be highly successful, establishing her as true leader in her field.

Find out more about Cynthia here: www.cynthiamorgan.us
Read Cynthias blog here: www.cynthiamorganblog.blogspot.com

Why it’s great: Through Jane Roberts, spiritual teacher Seth explained to the world how humans create their own reality. Life-changing content that will change the way you look at yourself, others and the world you live in.

Who’s reading it: Some of the world’s most known authors, including spiritual teacher Deepak Chopra, You Can Heal Your Life author Louise Hay and anyone who is actively discovering their own path to a new consciousness.

What you’ll learn: The answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Want to know more? Head to www.seth-speaks.com

Why it’s great: Spiritual author and teacher Deepak Chopra clearly and simply shows how success really comes from living in harmony with natural laws-seven to be exact, which will set you straight on the path of understanding how smoothly life can really run. A rule book for life!

Who’s reading it: Anyone and everyone who’s interested in stripping away the confusion and understanding the way life is truly intended to be.

What you’ll learn: The secrets of living in harmony with the natural laws of the universe, which, once mastered, will open the way for a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life as well as material abundance.

Want to know more? See www.chopra.com

Why it’s great: It’s an awakening for those who are dealing, or already dealt, with change, loss, fear, grief and anger. Spiritual leader Lama Surya Das shows how change of any scale provides the most important lessons that teach and allow us to become closer to our more authentic self, through life-changing lessons and meditations.

Who’s reading it: This is for anyone who has ever wondered why things just keep going wrong or for those who want to deepen their knowledge of the inner workings of the mind, body and spirit.

What you’ll learn: How to face your everyday problems realistically, rather than shutting yourself off from them. It also helps you understand how such trials and tribulations actually present themselves to help you grow.

Want to know more? Head to www.surya.org