Links

Links

Some of My Most Amazing "Finds," to Help You

I have spent most of my life, (as well plenty of time, energy, and money!) trying many things to enhance spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here are just a few of my current favorites. This list is ever growing and changing, so check back periodically.

I have tried to arrange them in areas of interest, but some cover two categories so may be listed more than once.

Please use your own intuition and judgment in choosing what is right for you.

Have fun surfing!

Books

There is no way I could even begin to list a fraction of the books that have helped and influenced me on my path. Here are just a very few that are currently on my mind.

Wider View column This is an article I wrote several years back of some books I love. (It's also under my Articles link). The titles I mentioned here are timeless, and I would still recommend them all!

Goddess to Goddess Radio Hour book links This web site has a lot of good recommendations with which I agree (there are many I have not read, but am familiar with other works by most of the authors).

Alternate Beauty by Andrea Rains Waggener WOW. What a fun and profound novel! Thank you to my beautiful and brilliant niece, Tami Agasi, for introducing me to this book. I wish that every person who doesn't realize how influenced they are by cultural norms about body image could read it. (I guess that means almost everyone in modern Western civilization!)

Music

This list could be endless! So I mention only a few, and encourage you to find other music you enjoy, to help promote timelessness and joy.

Kirtana Kirtana's music and lyrics are gorgeous and intensely awakening; she goes right to the core. She is the only musician I know of who has sang at events with such spiritual teachers as GangaJi, Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, and Brandon Bays, among others. Her music is remarkable.

Putumayo I have a secret addiction to this company's fantastic line of CD's. One can never own enough Putumayo CDs, in my humble opinion (and they keep releasing more). I don't know how they do it, but they cull the best of every genre of music available, worldwide. There is something for everyone's taste!

Kaila This man has a soulful, uplifting energy in his voice. He is vastly under-known, as far as I am concerned. His music reminds many of the wonderful Jack Johnson, with a bit of Hawaiian flavor.

Healing Products (for Physical Health)

iHerb.com This is one of my very favorite, most often used sites. They have over 40,000 products such as vitamins, herbs, green and protein powders. non-toxic beauty care, and even a few foods that you normally find at a health food store. But they are at wholesale or very discount prices! I believe in supporting local, independent stores whenever possible. However, for people trying to do their healing naturally (rather than using the chemical medicine the insurance companies pay for), costs can get prohibitive. Also, in some areas of the U.S. (and elsewhere I presume), there are megalithic, often overpriced health stores buying out the local independents. So I highly recommend this alternative. Additionally, you can get $5 off your first order! Just put the coupon code LIZ264 when you get to the check out page. I've found their site wonderfully user friendly, and orders arrive at my door quickly.

Sweet Herb Medicinals I saw some of these products in a store locally and they felt so good energetically, that I decided to look at the site. And the site also has a great feel to it. I trust their products even though I haven't yet used them myself.

Brain Child Nutritionals These pure products were created by a father, Michael Lang, for his ADD son, and became highly popular for many sensitive children AND adults. Michael was a lovely person of high integrity who really wanted to help sufferers of these conditions.

MarsVenuswellness.com Great free web seminars about health and healing every Tuesday (that remains accessible online for one week) by the author of the Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus series of books. These videos are highly informative, and I believe, have much of value not readily found elsewhere.

Nontoxic Body Care

iHerb.com See the first listing in the category above. You won't want to miss this site! You can get $5 off your first order by using the coupon code LIZ264 at the check out page.

Aubrey Organics Aubrey has the only line of totally pure body, hair, and skin care I have found in the U.S.A. Unfortunately they tend to be scented, sometimes strongly (with natural scents), So be aware if you are sensitive. But I unequivocally trust their line.

Logona Hair Colors from Germany. Even the "Health Food Store" hair colorants often have nasty chemicals in them, unless they are the pure henna ones. Logona makes a nice pre-made, already-in-a-tube type of henna coloring that saves a lot of mess and time. It is well-made with other natural ingredients to help your hair.

Sweet Herb Medicinals See the explanation at the top of the category right above this one, "Healing Products for Physical Health."

Nontoxic Home & Vehicle Products/Services

Green and Prosper This helpful web site has some great information. It is put out by Jean Bulger, a "Green Mortgage" broker of high integrity who can also help you with your mortgage in California or Oregon.

Debra Dodd's Green Pages Debra is the "Real Thing"! Having been doing this work for over 20 years, she didn't just jump on the recent green bandwagon. Her site has a cornucopia of all resources green. I have found some incredible help and products here.

EHANS More non-toxic household ideas, and resources galore, from an excellent site I discovered from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Healthy Car Site Sure you are thinking of buying a hybrid, try not to guzzle gas, or similarly have a sense of consciousness about your transportation. But did you ever think about the chemicals used or toxicity inside the car you are considering? This is a non-commercial site put out by an environmental group that lets you put the car you are considering into their data base. Thus you can immediately see its potential impact upon your health and the environment. (Mostly relevant to those in the U.S.A.)

Fun Stuff

Chocolate Deities Oh My!! Whether your "Main Squeeze"is Buddha, Jesus, Kuan Yin, Serpent, or one of several other choices, you can now imbibe it in chocolate! What could be better for your next ritual, gathering, or as a fantastic and unique gift?

Hug Nation I know little about this, but it could be good. A worldwide hug; can't hurt. Some good links too--such as South Park animators do an Alan Watts lecture!

Tim McSweeney Pure silliness/truth about relationships.

Right Livelihood/Economies

Kiva lets you easily make small loans to deserving entrepreneurs worldwide. You get to choose your project or loanee as you browse by projects, borrower journals, pictures, loan history, and so on. You might choose to finance a boutique in Kenya ($200), help an Ecuadorian shopkeeper diversify into toys ($600), or launch a firewood business in Uganda ($350). You can lend as much or as little of the total as you like, and Kiva takes care of tracking the loan and getting your money back. It'll amaze you just how far your money can go in underdeveloped countries.

Giving Circles A phenomenal way for the average-income person to make a difference.

Skoll Foundation This organization rocks!

Laurie Baker, Architect to the Poor One of those inspiring individuals who made a real difference, combining beauty, social compassion, and practical livelihood.

Coffee Kids I don't drink coffee but saw that my fine local credit union was using their coffee, and I loved their slogan, "Grounds for Hope." Making a difference in the lives of poor coffee growing families by promoting fair trade practices.

Media

New Dimensions Foundation This is the granddaddy of New Consciousness broadcasting. Justine and Michael Toms have been doing excellent radio interviews with everyone from the Dalai Lama to the "spiritual comedian" Swami Beyondananda for over 30 years.

Spiritual Teachers, Paths, and Consciousness Expansion

Some of these you may already be familiar with, whereas others are more obscure. Check them out!

Don Miguel Ruiz Site of the spiritual teacher and author of the very popular book The Four Agreements. The Toltec approach to a happy life makes so much sense.

Radical Forgiveness I am highly impressed by the thoroughness of this approach to freedom, yet also the simplicity. Forgiveness isn't about another person, necessarily, and ultimately it is always to free yourself. It can even be forgiving the world, God, or your body. This site has a great free tutorial that guides you through the process right then and there. The computer puts in your own answers so you can have instant clarity on how you allow yourself to suffer needlessly.

Byron Katie/The Work I have seen The Work of Byron Katie grow by leaps and bounds over the past decade, and I am so grateful this is happening. An amazing process, by an amazing woman whose profound yet simple process for awakening has been helpful to millions around the world. Many great resources and free explanations/worksheets here.

Carol Skolnick This certified teacher of The Work (above) is insightful, compassionate, and skilled, and can work with you anywhere in the world via telephone or Skype.

Guy Finley The good news is that this spiritual teacher has much to offer, and addresses the daily process of becoming more conscious in a way that I have seen no one else do. The bad news is that his web site is very gimmicky, and he goes way overboard on promoting his work. That part is a shame, as the appearance it that he is a shameless self-promoter. and I think this site would turn off many people. Yet my sense from meeting him once and hearing him speak, is that he is actually very humble, has been on a deep journey though suffering and out again, and just has such a longing and drive to share what he has learned with the world.

Eckhart Tolle Millions have found help through this spiritual teacher, and now millions more have from the web seminars that he and Oprah Winfrey offered for free. As of this writing, I believe they are still available to view by signing up for Oprah's book club (it's free, and they don't send junk mail).

Alice Gardner This unassuming woman, who was awakened in 2002 when she met spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle, has a great site with thoughtful writings and many interesting links.

The Divine Feminine

I am not the first to say it, but I have felt for decades that the emerging consciousness on our planet is one that is meant to rebalance the "yin and yang" of life, or the balance of what might also be thought of as the masculine and feminine energies. (This is not male and female; it refers to the duality/polarity aspects of most every living system). I am intrigued by this rebalancing process that is occurring in all of us and on our planet. Here are some interesting links that I feel are related to this.

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Dr. Jill Taylor Just weeks after I discovered her and linked her page here, I was amazed to see Jill's information explode~she was all over the internet, on NPR's Fresh Air, and even Oprah talked her up. This neurosurgeon--who understood the brain--had a stroke which basically disabled the left hemisphere of her brain for 6 weeks. In this process of living from the right side of her brain, she "woke up" into an experience of Wholeness. It is one of the most fascinating stories I have come across. I love knowing that our ability to be whole is based in human physiology; a natural tendency we all have, and (I believe) an "everyday consciousness" into which we are evolving. (I include it under the Divine Feminine because I believe that for most of us, being in the unbalanced state that we think of as normal, is actually being in our left brain, which a masculine-dominated world supports).

Sri Swamini Mayatitananda (Formerly Maya Tiwari) /This awakened spiritual teacher used to be a fashion designer, and now she is a monk! In her current state, she clearly carries a strong aspect of the Divine Feminine. She was cured of cancer during her awakening process.

Subcategory: Eating Disorders

I strongly feel that many women (and some men well) are expressing this unconscious need to balance their internal landscape, as well unconsciously try to find balance in a world that is more male oriented, by food addictions such as compulsive eating or other eating disorders.

Jane Latimer's Sacred Hunger As far as severe binge disorder goes, Jane has totally been there, and is dedicated to helping other women with her great telephone classes and other resources, available worldwide.

Alternate Beauty by Andrea Rains Waggener A must-read book! See the explanation under my first category above; Books.

The Diet Cure by Julia Ross. Anyone with an eating disorder should read this book, no questions asked, and stop self-blame.

Kat James article Check out her inspiring web site also, http://informedbeauty.com/

Marion Woodman Woodman was one of the first to speak and write eloquently as a therapist with many eating disordered clients, seeing the deeper meaning for many in relation to the Divine Feminine emerging. I don't believe she is active anymore, but just reading her soulful web site or listening to her audio recordings can be so validating.

Mariana den Hollande Healed herself of eating disorders, low self esteem and body image issues by Byron Katie's "The Work," and now helps others. (See above category, "Spiritual Teachers, Paths, and Consciousness Expansion" for more about The Work).

Overeaters Anonymous This is a spiritual (not religious) approach to solving food addiction, based upon the same book and principles as Alcoholics Anonymous, where members chose their own definition of a Higher Power. OA doesn't work for everyone, and sometimes members promote the same damaging patriarchal approaches that feed addiction. But it's a lifesaver for many drowning in a food addiction and blaming themselves. It's confidential, the cost is all by donations, and can be very supportive.

Local Resources

If you live in, or are visiting the Santa Cruz, California area, here are some recommendations in various categories.

Grassroots Acupuncture Great low-profit, highly affordable acupuncture with the nicest practitioners ever.

Isvara Organics This is the only organic beauty salon in Santa Cruz County. Some others say they use "herbal" products, or are "green" salons, but this is actually the only one that uses totally non-toxic, safe products--they even produce their own line. Dawn is my favorite stylist there~she's done magic with my hair.

Santa Cruz Bike Tours Eco tourism at its finest! A wide variety of tours for just about any level of fitness and budget, and you can choose tours that last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Riders I have talked to, even those who have lived locally for decades, have been "wowed" by the unusual and interesting places they have discovered on these tours.

Santa Cruz Cultural Council Check this site for interesting events happening when you are planning a visit. They sponsor some inspiring creative endeavors.