Spiritual inspirational booksThere have been times in my life where I have read a book and it has been a signpost for me, opening up possibilities that I hadn't seen before. This is one of the reasons I love reading what are often referred to as spiritual inspirational books, as reading them has inspired me in ways that I couldn't have imagined possible. Beyond a purely inspirational book, a spiritual inspirational book allows me to awaken my soul and come home to the truth of who I am.The more I understand, the more I realise that the reason I am ‘allowing' each book to come to me at a given point in time is that I am ready to receive the gifts that it contains. At the core of our beings we all want to experience love. Often we seek it from external sources, only to eventually realise that it can only be cultivated from within. Making the effort to tap into and develop your own wellspring of love makes it easier to give and receive love freely, rather than conditionally. As a result, an attitude of love, gratitude and acceptance of others becomes one's default setting. Being with people around the raw times of birth and death has helped me to let go, trust and open my heart. The ensuing experience is a sense of magic and peace beyond all understanding. We draw to ourselves experiences that give us an opportunity to love and heal aspects of ourselves. The catalysts for these experiences can come in many forms - people, books, opportunities, objects. When I am touched by an inspirational story, time seems to stand still, and for a moment, my heart opens and I get to experience a deeper part of myself being reflected back to me through the book. It is often stories about ordinary people that are the most touching. Spiritual stories - where the protagonist expresses deep dimensions of their soul - can be an excellent source of spiritual inspiration, reaching deep within the reader's own heart so that they too get to experience deeper dimensions of their own soul. This inspiration can often be so profound as to be a defining moment in their life, where a portal opens and a new perspective emerges. Stories have been used since the beginning of time, passed on orally and in pictorial or written form. Reading an inspirational story is one of the many joys of my life. I have long been fascinated by the extraordinary experience of the ordinary. By ‘tuning in' to the sacred in everything, I have come to realise that everyday living is my spiritual practice. In undertaking to fully experience each moment, what could be dismissed as ordinary occasions - a greeting, warm smile, or thoughtful gesture - are transformed into extraordinary moments. In the same way, a quick handful of blueberries before I head out the door is transformed into a sensory feast - the deep blue, the soft fragrance, the feel of taut berries on my tongue and then the sound and burst as my jaw closes on the berries. A taste sensation, that is there for me to experience in the moment. This is the peace and joy of living from inspiration, and seeing and experiencing spiritual inspiration in each moment. © Carol Goddard 2008 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carol Goddard is an Australian author and presenter, a reminder of who we are. Carol's offering is her Open Heart and the Deepening Remembrance of her own Essence, Carol offers programs both locally and globally. Please visit www.CarolGoddard.net NOTE: You're welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the "about the author" info at the end). |