It is often said that when the pupil is ready the teacher appears. I believe that said teacher can also be in the form of a book by an inspiring author. So in addition to whatever novel, picture books, etc. I am reading at any given time, I am also reading a book of a metaphysical/inspirational nature. I find checking in with this book on a quasi-daily basis helps me keep my balance in a terribly hectic schedule, and where I am always trying to find time for my writing and illustrating.
The most recent teacher to appear is Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., a scientist, psychologist and mystic whose “guiding vision is to bridge medicine, psychology and the great spiritual traditions of the ages.” A Pocketful of Miracles was sitting on the front sale table at my local library when I most recently returned some books. It wasn’t there 2 weeks ago, and I remember Borysenko’s name as being in the bibliography of Sarah Ban Breathnacht’s Simple Abundance, another favorite of mine. Could I not pick it up?
Pocketful of Miracles is a perpetual calendar kind of book, divided into seasons in the tradition of much spiritual thought. Each day offers a seed thought and a prayer or practice. What has enticed me most is the weaving of the world’s great spiritual traditions, with the goal of bringing peace first in our own souls, and then peace and compassion to all on earth. I’m enjoying randomly letting the book fall open and finding my wisdom for the day, or turning to today’s date’s page.
The beauty of keeping going a book of this sort, is that it is always there, always ready to share the wisdom of its author, and should another teacher come along, it will always be waiting when the time is right once again for me to open its pages. I’ve temporarily put aside Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life by Wayne Dyer, a study of the Tao, as that will always be waiting as well.
A small amount of time spent each day journaling and soaking in some of the wisdom that feeds a soul helps me keep my balance in an often overly-demanding life. And I’m looking forward to A Pocketful of Miracles being my new teacher for now.
Work is love made visible.
This movie, released in 2003, is one of the most spectacular I have seen. There is almost no narration, there are occasional notes on the bottom of the screen indicating the type of bird and the location and distance it flies during migration, and the most incredible music created just for the film. Not to mention breathtaking landscapes from one end of the world to the other. What is even more extraordinary, is how the birds were filmed – the view is most often from the bird’s perspective. For bird/wild bird lovers or just nature lovers, this is one to see. Available on Netflix.
I recently found I was chosen for an award by a fellow blogger, 
Still A Dreamer 