Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Embracing midlife

Yesterday I received in the mail a package from OneSpirit. Another book I forgot to tell them not to send me! But when this happens, I always take into consideration that it might be something I need to read. This has been true many, many times over the years with various book clubs. I truly believe that when you are ready, the teacher will come. And teachers come in many forms, including books.

I actually thought it was going to be the Dr. Weil Healthy Heart Kit, which I got from Amazon. But I was surprised and pleased to see it was actually The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife by Marianne Williamson! Along with a meditation CD!! I love her work, and she has touched me deeply in the past.

I just saw this book mentioned somewhere - I don't even recall where - and thought of getting it. And here it is, delivered straight to my door. And I happen to be entering (or in) midlife. So.... I guess it is for me! Although it would make a GREAT gift too. But I have a feeling I'll be keeping it.

Anyway, here's the blurb about the book:

"The need for change as we get older—an emotional pressure for one phase of our lives to transition into another—is a human phenomenon, neither male nor female. There simply comes a time in our lives—not fundamentally different from the way puberty separates childhood from adulthood—when it’s time for one part of ourselves to die and for something new to be born.

The purpose of this book by best-selling author and lecturer Marianne Williamson is to psychologically and spiritually reframe this transition so that it leads to a wonderful sense of joy and awakening.

In our ability to rethink our lives lies our greatest power to change them. What we have called “middle age” need not be seen as a turning point toward death. It can be viewed as a magical turning point toward life as we’ve never known it, if we allow ourselves the power of an independent imagination—thought-forms that don’t flow in a perfunctory manner from ancient assumptions merely handed down to us, but rather flower into new archetypal images of a humanity just getting started at 45 or 50.

What we’ve learned by that time, from both our failures as well as our successes, tends to have humbled us into purity. When we were young, we had energy but we were clueless about what to do with it. Today, we have less energy, perhaps, but we have far more understanding of what each breath of life is for. And now at last, we have a destiny to fulfill—not a destiny of a life that’s simply over, but rather a destiny of a life that is finally truly lived.

Midlife is not a crisis; it’s a time of rebirth. It’s not a time to accept your death; it’s a time to accept your life—and to finally, truly live it, as you and you alone know deep in your heart it was meant to be lived."


The meditation CD (2-CD set) is Meditations for a Miraculous Life:

"Jump-start your spiritual progress and experience an abiding sense of peace by listening to this 2-CD program by best-selling author and lecturer Marianne Williamson. Honor your need to cultivate quiet and become grounded in deeper serenity by practicing these customized meditations for different aspects of your daily life: work, finances, health, relationships, and more. When you start and end your day with positive energy and spiritual reflection, you’ll find that your life will truly change for the better.

Marianne guides and inspires you to bring your healing spirit to bear as you release stress, anger, and pain; find fulfillment through your work and forgiveness in your relationships; and feel the deep, enduring love that is your birthright. The more you practice these empowering meditations, the more you’ll become attuned to your inner self. From there, the possibilities for self-growth and a uniquely miraculous life are infinite."


Awesomeness!!

1 comment:

  1. I too am entering midlife and have felt the need for change. The book that came into my life as my "teacher" was Positive Energy. I really helped me to see my life changes in a different light.

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