'Joy in a Box' by Sally Hanan, Inspirational Flash Fiction

Texas author Sally Hanan is originally from Dublin. Perhaps that's why the soul-searching slices of life in her flash fiction collection Joy in a Box (2009, Smashwords, also available for Kindle) might remind you of a miniaturized Dubliners.

The stories range from bitter to sweet. A few are based on Bible stories or true events. Most are canny observations of how Christians do, should or shouldn't act. Yes, this Christian author pokes gentle fun at misplaced zeal. She turns the same lovingly, teasingly critical eye on us authors in "Writers Forum: Translation 101." Deep down, we all think we're William Shakespeare, don't we?

What Hanan does exceedingly well is focus on relationships. Some of my favorites include "Roses Are Red," in which a widower must find a way to express his true feelings for the second love of his life. In "In the Orange-Sherbet Light," a middle-aged woman expresses gratitude to the aunt who adopted her many years before. Perhaps the best is "I Can Smell Him," a story of love and loyalty in which a married woman is tempted by an office romance.

There's also a touch of humor, as in "That Stalker Thing." Anyone who's ever had a celebrity crush should be able to relate to the hapless cocktail waitress's experience. Any author/edit whose other website is devoted to the fashion uses of duct tape [sorry, it's defunct now] must have a sense of humor.

Because it can be read in small chunks, this book is perfect for inspirational book clubs composed of busy members. If you loved Oliver Frances' book Heart and Souls, you'll also love this book.

Shaman Elder Maggie: Give Yourself Everything You Need to Be Absolutely Joyous

Shaman Elder Maggie Wahls stopped by Pagan Spirits to share some excerpts from her book The Shaman Speaks: How to Use the Power of Shamanism to Heal Your Life Now.

Excerpt #1, From the Introduction: This book is not about Shamanism but about how you can live in your own power, as taught by a traditional Shaman. Over the years, thousands of people have asked Shaman Elder Maggie the hard questions of life. In an effort to bring you the truth as Shamans all over the world recognize it, she presents here some of the questions that her students have asked her over the years and her poignant, loving words of shamanic truth for them and for you.

These questions are from your neighbors, your friends; questions that we all ask at one time or another during the course of this adventure called life. It is an extremely rare privilege to be able to sit in the presence of a traditional Shaman and find answers for those issues that most concern you. Usually, one would have to travel thousands of miles and trek into remote areas to find just such an indigenous Shaman.

We are truly blessed to have Shaman Elder Maggie in our presence today as she has been given the mission to bring the knowledge of the traditional Shaman into the modern day world. This book is her gift to you. This book is will enable you to sit at the feet of a traditional indigenous Shaman, one who is a master, a mystic and a visionary, to ask your pressing questions and receive those answers which are unlikely to be found in any other way.

These questions were chosen from thousands of others as they most represent the knowledge and skills that anyone can use to bring happiness, love and prosperity into their lives. The exercises and visualizations are taken from her course called Shaman Apprenticeship 101. More information about her courses can be found on her website at www.shamanelder.com

It is with love and concern as a healer that this book has been written. Its motive is to give you knowledge and truth as the Shaman knows the truth. Shamanism is not some mystical, magical power given only to a few. It is in knowing the truths and living them that anyone can claim their power and become free. To the extent that you do this, the power of Shamanism can be yours. It is what you do that defines you.

Excerpt #2: “What does personal power have to do with Shamanism?” Everything. Who do you give your power to? You give it to a doctor when you go for treatment. You give it to your spouse when you do something for him or her that you would not necessarily do otherwise. You give it to your children when you do things for them that you might not normally do. You give it away when you give in to someone else's wishes, desires or demands; when you allow someone else to control you in any way. When you say, “Feed me, heal me, and support me” in any way emotionally, mentally or physically, you are giving your power away.

Some people find it easier to give their power away than to own their power. It may feel easier to say, “Feed me, heal me, and support me!” than to do it yourself. And so we have codependency and unhappy relationships. The truth is, no one can feed you, heal you or support you in the manner that you can for yourself. Why? Because no one loves you as much as you love yourself. And that is the way it should be. Jesus says that all the commandments boil down to this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”- Matthew 22:34-40.

You are actually supposed to love yourself at least as much as you love others. But we don't love ourselves very much, do we?! In fact, we love everybody else far more than we love ourselves. And because we don't love ourselves very much, we let other people take over where we should be in control. We feed the needs and desires of other people and put our own on the back burner. And after a while we start to resent those people we are feeding because we are starving and we think that it is their fault. But it is not their fault.

Everyone is out there trying to get the best for themselves. Your kids are looking out for themselves. Your husband/wife is trying to get what he/she needs. Your parents are trying to get what they need. And instead of you trying to get what you need, you are out there giving everybody else what they need, what they ask for, and what they desire. Guess what? They will get what they need whether you are the giver or not. The point here is… who is getting you what you want?

Now, if I am completely washed up here and you are one of those people using others to get what you desire, well the same thing applies. Only you can give you what you need. If you need healing, you will find the very best and easiest way to get healing right inside you. If you need love, the greatest and freest love is right inside you. If you need support, you can support yourself. If you need food, you know how to work for it. When you understand that loving yourself and caring for yourself is the only responsibility demanded of you, your life suddenly, becomes a joy to live! You are not responsible for Mom, Dad, Grown up Children, Hubby or Wife. You are only responsible for you! It’s so much easier! And then you can start to really love yourself, to be kind to yourself, and to care for your needs, your desires, and your wishes. Believe me, no one else can really do it for you. They can try and you can ask but no one can do it like you can.

And don't worry about Hubby/Wife and Grown Up Junior. They will continue to take care of themselves. They may beg or plead with you because you turned off your “easy-access faucet”. And they will respond by either turning on their own ever-present Source for themselves, or they will find someone else they can drain, deplete or “leech off”. They don't need to “leech off” you. It is not good for them anyway. They need to learn to love themselves, too.

You know, this life is short. I would hate to see you leave without learning that you can love yourself and give yourself everything you need to be happy and absolutely joyous. Wouldn't you like to try it once before you go? Isn't that perhaps the lesson you are here to learn, the thing that you came here to experience? Isn’t the lesson to love yourself unconditionally, completely and absolutely, knowing that you are fully capable of caring for yourself in every way with abundance, prosperity and joy? You can start today. Stop fulfilling everyone else's demands and make a list of what you need. Start fulfilling that list. No one else will really do it for you. But you know yourself better than anyone else on this planet. You know what you need and how to give it to yourself. Start today. Are
you willing to do this?

And once you have your own happiness, security, and abundance under control, then you can love others as you love yourself.

Two Quick Notes From Shaman Maggie: Have you booked your visit to see Shaman Maggie in 2011 yet? Just the blessings alone are going to change your life! Here are some retreats she offers. Don't miss this opportunity! http://www.shamanelder.com/liveapprenticeship.html

The latest book by Shaman Elder Maggie. 20% off cover price, FREE shipping at http://shamanspeaks.com. Get yours today !

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

'The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven' is a dual memoir penned by Kevin Malarkey and his son Alex. In 2004, when Alex was only six, Kevin and Alex were in a terrible car accident. While Kevin escaped with only relatively minor, non-lingering injuries, Alex's condition was serious. Alex suffered an internal decapitation - his skull became detached from his spinal cord. In medical terms, this is not compatible with life. Alex should have died, yet thanks to the persistent prayers of the paramedics, bystanders and Alex's family, Alex lived.

He was in a coma and never expected to come out. Even if he did awaken from his coma, doctors told Kevin and Alex's mother, Beth, that Alex would have severe brain damage and never again be the same boy they knew. They were told he would never be able to speak or even to swallow food on his own. Remarkably, none of this was true. Alex emerged from a coma with his personality fully intact. He relearned how to speak and to eat. Alex and his family never lost hope and have faith that one day Alex will even walk again.

If this wasn't remarkable enough, though, there is more to Alex's amazing story. As soon as he regained speech, Alex began telling his mother and father about what really happened when his body was so badly injured in the accident: Jesus took Alex's spirit to heaven. Ever wondered what heaven is really like? Alex knows. He's talked to Jesus and God the father, though he wasn't able to see God's face. Seeing angels became routine for Alex, even when his spirit and body were reunited. The struggle of Alex and his family to adapt to his painful new circumstances, Kevin came to realize, was a new battle in the age-old war between good and evil in the unseen spirit world.

Was Alex telling the truth, or did he simply have a very active imagination? Kevin Malarkey gives the various reasons why he doesn't think so. The Malarkeys are evangelical Christians, but they had never been the type of charismatic Christians who expected to have this personal type of supernatural experience. Even though Alex was only six when he had this experience, his description of heaven is completely consistent with the Bible.

Alex Malarkey is a humble survivor. Though he's shown incredible strength and resilience, he takes none of the credit. He gives God all the glory. He is truly a child readers will never forget.

For National Day of Prayer 2010

The Breast-Plate of St. Patrick, Paganized and feminized:

"I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea, Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

"I arise today
Through Brighid's strength to pilot me:
Brighid's might to uphold me,
Brighid's wisdom to guide me,
Brighid's eye to look before me,
Brighid's ear to hear me,
Brighid's word to speak for me,
Brighid's hand to guard me,
Brighid's way to lie before me,
Brighid's shield to protect me,
Brighid's host to save me
From snares of evil spirits,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude."

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:

"Lady, Mother, my maker, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Mistress, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved, as to love,
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are reborn to eternal life."

Both of these are traditional prayers from my Catholic upbringing. slightly tweaked to reflect the divine feminine. Both reflect universal concerns to people of faith. For more diverse, multicultural and woman-centered prayers, I recommend 2 books by Mary Ford-Grabowsky: WomanPrayers and Sacred Voices.