Wakela Runen's World

  Description An accessible, objective understanding of what the major ‘beliefs’ are about. The major beliefs include: Polytheism, Judaism, Daoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, Nationalism, Communism and Environmentalism. All have over 100 million followers and the full structure of faith-determined behavioral guidance. On every page of Beliefs , there is a quotable fact. Did you know that Socrates couldn’t read or write, or that Confucius did not believe in God or Gods? That the term ‘Capitalism’ was invented by Communists, and that according to the original Bible Hebrew, many Gods made the world? There is a rich tapestry of informative and entertaining information, from naming the first person to envisage God as we do now, to the fact that writing began as a legal and accounting tool, 2,000 years before it was used to tell stories. Whether you want to know more about just one belief or about all of them, Beliefs presents ideologies and relig...

  Description Chart the intersection of faith and science through cult favorite Doctor Who. Pastor and author Matt Rawle is on a mission. He sees Christ all around him—in books, movies, TV shows, rock music—and he wants to share what he sees. As Matt says, "God offers the raw ingredients, and 'culture' is whatever we cook up." In The Salvation of Doctor Who, pastor and author Matt Rawle draws on the long-running TV show and cult favorite Doctor Who to chart the intersection of faith and science. Chapters include “Bigger on the Inside,” “God and Time and God’s Time,” “The Oldest Question in the Universe,” and “The Sonic Screwdriver Is Mightier Than the Sword.” The Salvation of Doctor Who is part of The Pop in Culture Series of bible studies in which Matt Rawle stirs up a tasty gumbo of insight, humor, and inspiration based on some of your favorite pop culture classics. A DVD featuring four sessions with the author, a full Leader Guide, and a Worship ...

  Description Can our spirituality be explained through the use of technology? In his first book, Spirituality 101, Dr. Ivan Figueroa-Otero presents a guide to self-understanding while closing the apparent gap between the religious and scientific vision with an eclectic and original delivery. This version (1.2) is a deliciously funny, tongue-in-cheek update, where every concept, idea, image and advice is carefully defined with technological elements like virtual domains, bits, and RAM. Here, the questions, Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? the human race has been studying for centuries are explained in a way accessible to anyone with a smartphone or a computer. “Imagine our Universe as a big computer, where the quality of its computation is directly proportional to the quality of the input data. And where every programming error is reversible and re-programmable, with a little bit of patience!”   Review I was not impressed with this book a...

Description Explore the powerful magic of the twenty-five trees in the ogham tradition. Enrich your spiritual practice with authentic Celtic wisdom and practical techniques. Written by a Druid witch and Celtic shaman, Celtic Tree Magic shows you how to practice Celtic divination, charms, and spells; make salves, tinctures, ointments, and green crafts; work with each tree’s magical correspondences and healing attributes; find tree-spirit allies in nature and the otherworld; grow and tend trees with spirit guardians; and fashion wands and other magical tools with relevant woods. With practical exercises, hands-on tips, and an accessible exploration of folklore and myth, this lovely and lyrical handbook provides practical skills and deeper understandings for beginners and intermediate practitioners. Trees hold great power. They are our green kin, with much to teach us, if we will but listen. Review Being of Irish and Scottish descent, I have always been extremely interested in Celti...

Description Do you consider yourself more spiritual than religious? Many have turned away from traditional, organized religions to explore their own relationship with the Divine. The author is one of these seekers and this book chronicles his remarkable journey to many of the world's sacred places. It is the inspiring story of a lifetime’s quest for the ancient wisdom while experiencing miraculous intercessions of the Great Ones along the way. This accounting differs from other stories detailing near death experiences. The author (a professional pilot, a builder, a teacher and a family man) had multiple near death encounters over the years. In one instance Archangel Michael appeared in a sphere of Light, commanding him to prepare with a specific prayer / mantra just moments before the fatal car accident. Immediately after this accident, going up the tunnel of light to the other side, two Masters assisted with a specific action that allowed for the continuation of this lifetime....

Everyone Prays: Celebrating Faith Around the World by Alexis York Lumbard My rating: 3 of 5 stars Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. Description Religions from across the globe all share one important practice everyone prays! In this bright and simple concept book, young readers are transported around the world to discover just how important the act of prayer is to all of the major religions. With an appendix to help answer questions children might have, Everyone Prays offers young hearts and minds a chance to learn that, although people from other places and cultures may seem different, we all share the diverse world of faith and prayer. Review This was an illustrated book that depicts people from various cultures and religions praying. The sentence structure in the book makes it seem like this book is for very early stage readers. However, they used some words that early readers would...

Description Hypatia was the most famous female spiritual teacher of ancient Alexandria. The mix of classical philosophies she taught to Pagans, Jews, and Christians in the fourth century forms the very foundation of Western magic and mysticism as we know it today. The Wisdom of Hypatia offers a progressive, nine-month program based on the teachings of this inspiring Pagan Neoplatonic philosopher. Discover how to bring purpose, tranquility, and spiritual depth to your life through exercises and techniques divided into three stages of wisdom: Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Neoplatonism. This virtual course in philosophy, well-being, and divine union is an essential and practical introduction to the ancient wisdom of the West. Review As a pagan, I have always been interested in ancient times.  Hearing that this book was not only based on classical philosophy, but also a woman philosopher I became very much intrigued. This book takes you on a 9 month journey into yourself through the ...

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. As both a Unitarian Universalist and a Celtic Pagan, I have always been interested in learning about the various other pagan pantheons.  I had already known the basics of Norse mythology.  However, this book discusses the various spiritual practices that someone who is Asatru would utilize.  I loved that there were simple invocations and prayers that you could use in your every day life.  I know for me, my Celtic Paganism isn’t something that I put on and off like a coat for special occasions.  It is part of my very fabric.  And I am sure that Asatru is the same for those who practice it as well.  So if you are like me and wish to learn more about this religion, then I definitely suggest this book as a first start.  It will give you all the basics and guidelines.  It will not go too in-depth as it is just an i...

  Description Discovering your natural abilities to communicate with the other side is as simple as taking a unique quiz to determine your medium type. Once you know how your subtle abilities work, you can develop your skills with the simple exercises and techniques presented in You Are a Medium. Everyone has the innate ability to communicate with those who have passed on. As you become more confident with your medium abilities, be prepared to make a breathtaking discovery: Not only do our deceased loved ones help us from the other side—we also help them! Sharing inspiring case studies from her work with clients and students, Sherrie Dillard shows that when we succeed in learning our soul lessons, we become beacons of light to those in the beyond. Review I have always known about the various ways in which spirit can communicate with us.  However, I never realized that some people are more prone to communication in one way over another.  I had always assumed that if yo...

Disclaimer: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any form of compensation. Having been a pagan for a little over 20 years, I am always reaching for the latest books on paganism.  Even if they are beginners guides, I feel that I can always learn something new.  Plus, I am always on the look out for new books to suggest to people interested in the pagan path. This book was well thought out and well formulated.  One of the things that I found interesting was that it was based off of the author’s Saxon path.  I hadn’t known to much about the Saxon ways.  This helped me to learn a bit more of that tradition.  It is always nice to be able to compare and contrast the various traditions in paganism.  I personally follow a more celtic path.  However, I do combine rites and rituals from other traditions as well.  I feel that if the rite or ritual calls to my soul, then it was meant for me to f...

Description Six Women of Salem is the first work to use the lives of a select number of representative women as a microcosm to illuminate the larger crisis of the Salem witch trials. By the end of the trials, beyond the twenty who were executed and the five who perished in prison, 207 individuals had been accused, 74 had been “afflicted,” 32 had officially accused their fellow neighbors, and 255 ordinary people had been inexorably drawn into that ruinous and murderous vortex, and this doesn’t include the religious, judicial, and governmental leaders. All this adds up to what the Rev. Cotton Mather called “a desolation of names.” The individuals involved are too often reduced to stock characters and stereotypes when accuracy is sacrificed to indignation. And although the flood of names and detail in the history of an extraordinary event like the Salem witch trials can swamp the individual lives involved, individuals still deserve to be remembered and, in remembering specific lives, ...

  Book Description   As Hannah Ryan waits for her family to return home from a camping trip, she realizes she has everything going for her—a husband other women admire, two charming teenage daughters, and a loving Christian home. As the sunny afternoon turns into twilight, her uneasiness grows along with the shadows. Then a car pulls into Hannah’s driveway, bringing two police officers...and devastating news that shatters her life forever. In the days that follow, Hannah struggles with unspeakable feelings of sorrow and rage—feelings that fuse into one chilling purpose for living: revenge against Brian Wesley, the drunk driver who has caused all her pain. In her fury, Hannah shuts the Lord out of her life. She’s determined not to forgive Wesley or the God who allowed this tragedy to happen. Can two caring people help Hannah rediscover her faith...before bitterness destroys her? Book Review   This was a quaint little story.  It was a quick read....

Book Description   This book is a timely expose on the Religious Right that gives insight into the network's blueprint for America. From Christian Reconstructionists, Dominionists, Quiverfull, Seven Mountains Mandate, the attacks on public schools, to birth control becoming a hot button issue, find out the leaders of the movement and their tactics. This book explains, and documents, a stealthy hijacking of the government, courts, schools, even our history, and popular culture. This work includes interviews, research, and a bibliography. The presentation is organized and systematic, while in plain English. It shares how to get involved and make a difference in your community to protect your rights and preserve democracy. The book is written by an insider who left the Religious Right, and now shares why they believe they are mandated to have dominion over every aspect of life in the United States. The author details how their vision for America is not a democracy at all. A must...

  Book Description   In this beautiful and lucid translation of the popular Hebrew edition, Yoducha Rayonai, Rabbi David Bigman, rosh yeshivah of Yeshivat Ma'ale Gilboa, gives us a glimpse of his personal encounters with Tanach. These essays on the weekly Torah portions are based on Rabbi Bigman's Shabbat shiurim and were transcribed and adapted by a talented group of his students. Rabbi Bigman offers powerful, original insights into the parshiyot, inviting readers to participate with him in his creative involvement and interaction with the Torah. He inspires us to join him on a journey of discovering and uncovering the truths concealed in the revelations of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings and in so doing, to uncover the truths hidden in ourselves. Book Review   Growing up, one of the things that my parents instilled in me is the respect of ALL religions.  They felt that unless you spend time studying them, you will never truly understand them.  ...

Website Review   Carol Tuttle has amassed a wonderful array of knowledge on her website.  There are articles, meditations, and various other things to help balance the chakras. However, the meat & potatoes of the website is truly her Chakra7 System.  This system helps the user work through each Chakra independently in order to release blockages.  As an experienced Spiritual Healer, I have to say that the information presented was excellent.  Each Chakra section has a workbook, a transcript of the videos so you can read along, several videos to watch, and even a script for you to read to help clear the blockages.  In the videos, Carol discusses what each chakra affects, how it can become blocked and what you can do to unblock it.  There are so many modalities to chose from when watching the videos.  She shows how you can use breathing, yoga, crystals, EFT, RET, colors, and many others in order to help yourself.  One tiny compla...

Book Description   Author Ilchi Lee’s fascinating personal stories and profound awakenings in Sedona are beautifully interwoven in this book.  His experiences and messages in carious known and unknown vortexes in Sedona are especially inspiring, and they will encourage you to start your own journey of the heart. If you haven’t been to Sedona yet, this book will urge you to come to this blessed land.  If you have been to Sedona or even live there now, this book will only deepen love you hold for the wonders of the land.  Here you will find profound insights about making a true connection with your heart and nature, as well as much practical guidance for experiencing the spirit of Sedona. Book Review   This is a truly remarkable, thought provoking and enlightening book.  Not only does Ilchi Lee take you on a journey through the beautiful wilds of Sedona, but on a journey to your innermost self.  Many times we don’t stop to appreciate natu...

Book Description   Life has always been filled with trials, including illness, job loss, grief, addictions, and much more. God never promised that our earthly lives would be without difficulties, but He assured us that He will always be with us to share our burdens. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times is filled with stories that show God's presence during a time of trouble. Readers will find encouragement, solace, and strength in these personal stories and prayers. Book Review   Once again the Chicken Soup for the Soul team has put out another splendid book!  In this addition, each story is paired with a Biblical quote and a short prayer.  This one is for when times get tough and you just don’t think you can make it through it.  You can feel the love and devotion pouring off of each page! Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times: 101 Daily Devotions to Inspire and Support You in Times of Need (Chick...

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book! You never know when I might play a wild card on you! Today's Wild Card author is: Denise Hunter and the book: A Cowboy's Touch Thomas Nelson (March 29, 2011) ***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.*** ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while...

Product Description   Our Mission is to help Christians in Bethlehem Issa is a Christian living on the outskirts of Bethlehem and has been carving crosses and religious items his whole life to support his wife and three children. Twenty years ago my mother met Issa on a visit to Bethlehem and began importing his olive wood handicrafts. With the decline in Bethlehem tourism, Issa and other Christian Artisans are struggling. Our aim is to support them by providing a market for olive wood crosses direct to Christians in America. The Olivewood Cross Comfort Crosses are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. The Comfort Cross is designed to fit comfo...

Book Description   Scotty and Charley are headed for Marshall, Texas, with Biker Guy once more close on their trail. As Scotty tries to come to terms with the reality of her parents’ deaths, she grows friendly with the locals. That makes staying hidden challenging. But there’s got to be more to life than fear, and through new friendships, Scotty learns that this prayer thing might work after all. Will prayer be enough when the situation is life and death? What happens when Biker Guy finally catches up to her?   Book Review   This is the second book in the Hollywood Nobody series.  I already did a review on the first book, Hollywood Nobody . Once again, I read this entire book in one sitting.  I just could not put it down.  In the last book we are left off with Scotty and Charley being chased down by Biker Guy.  We are unsure of who he is, but we have an idea of why he is chasing after them.  This book you will have that one ...