Mastering Transformation - The Four Agreements



Using the Four Agreements to master the dream of your life

 
The Four Agreements
by Don Miguel Ruiz


This author has dedicated his life to sharing the wisdom of the ancient Toltec.  See at this link  Toltec Spirit

You've heard some of this before in your life, but this book pulls a philosophy together with advice on how to successfully implement it.

The Four Agreements:
Be impeccable with your word
Don't take anything personally
Don't make assumptions
Always do your best

One cornerstone is to truly be yourself, not a reflection of the domestication you've learned from society, and people closest to you.  This is also referred to as "the Book of Law" that is absorbed into your conscious.  But you don't have to agree to live by other people's imposed values.  You can replace those agreements with your own agreements as you rediscover yourself, and are true to yourself.  In this companion book you learn how.

There is true wisdom here, and practical plans for applying this peaceful philosophy to your life.  Awareness is the first step, followed by self-acceptance.

"I intend to master the Four Agreements."
"I will pay attention to my thoughts, feelings, and actions each day."
"I will take the following actions every day to ensure that I keep my new agreements."
"I will repeat these actions for at least four weeks."

Every action has a reaction.  This author advises that when you change the action the reaction chain will then be changed.  Live in the present, without regrets or guilt from the past - this author shows you how.

At the end of the book is a compelling interview with the author, with in-depth questions about the philosophy.

A Chilling Mystery for The Season

This mystery has as many unexpected twists as a car with bald tires driving into a New England nor’easter snow storm. Hang on to the edge of your seat and this author will take the wheel. In full disclosure, this mystery novel is one of an eight-book series. You can dive into the middle of the series with this book and completely enjoy the characters, the plot and the dynamic writing. If you want to start at the beginning of the series, you’re looking for “In the Bleak Midwinter.”
The mystery series takes place in the fictional New England small town of Millers Kill in uptown New York. The main characters were an interesting surprise . . . . .  My Recommendation All Mortal Flesh

This Town - A book not for the faint of heart

This Town
Two Parties and a Funeral
by Mark Leibovich

This book is not for the faint of heart. At times it is like driving by a car accident and feeling compelled to look. This is the true story of perennial Washington insiders who are members of “The Club” in “This Town”. Insiders affectionately refer to “political” Washington as This Town. The Club’s members are the spinning cabal of people in politics and media, and the supporting sectors, that never get voted out or term-limited. The Club rewards, more than anything, self-perpetuation.

The author is a member of The Club. . . . . 

Read the rest of my recommendation  at -
Recommendation for This Town

Picture This Mystery of an Infamous Art Theft

Enjoy the layers of mystery
and intrigue surrounding
Degas' After the Bath

The Art Forger, by B. A. Shapiro

Isabella Stewart Gardner, art collector and philanthropist, founded a museum of international art in Boston. On March 18, 1990 a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered this Museum and stole 13 works of art. This true story is the catalyst for the plot in this art crime novel “The Art Forger.”

The novel’s heroine Claire Roth is a talented artist, with a question punctuating her past. Now she makes a living working as a reproduction artist for an online company. She aspires to artistic greatness in her own right, with her own paintings. . . .

Read the rest of my recommendation at - http://myedmondsnews.com/category/columns/recommended-reads/

Love at First Sight

"In this world there are only two tragedies; one is not getting what one wants, the other is getting it." to quote Oscar Wilde

Sight Reading by Daphne Kalotay is a wonderful book about characters finding their way through life, and the surprises that life throws their way.  Thought provoking, you'll enjoy reading this novel and you'll continue thinking about it long after you're done.

To “sight read” is to read and perform a piece of written music that the performer is seeing for the first time. . . . link to my review of Sight Reading

Chihuly on Paper

Dale Chihuly, world renowned artist, just published a new 3 book collection Chihuly on Paper.  You can see the titles: Graphite, Charcoal, and Acrylic.  I'm so excited to have been invited to the reception honoring the artist and his new books, at the Chihuly Glass Museum next to the Space Needle in Seattle.  Notice the artist's signature painted onto the front of this special collection edition.

Here's an inside page of Charcoal.  Pages and pages of the artist's sketches, including his notes.  This is such a treasured collection of the spark that starts the amazing glass artistry.

I was so honored to meet Dale Chihuly and personally congratulate him on his new books, and thank him for the joy and inspiration he has brought in sharing his talent over the years.

Here's a page from a previous book Chihuly A Decade of Glass.  Published in 1984, you can see the vivid photos of his works.  This one is Macchia, one of my favorites.  Chihuly writes "In the beginning I was using mostly opaque colors with the inside contrasting with the outside.  Some of the combinations I thought would be ugly turned out to be the very best.  Originally thought of only as singles, I now also work them in pairs and groups."

I brought this book with me to the reception and Dale Chihuly generously signed it for me on the Dedication page.  This book was dedicated to "Chihuly's friends, from the cooks to the gaffers, who have helped make this glasswork possible."

 

 

Buzz Aldrin's Vision for Space Exploration

What an interesting book! At times it can be very technical and so if you are curious about the intricacies of space travel and exploration, this is an excellent read for you.  But yet it is written in a straight forward conversation that captures your imagination, and inspires the everyday reader.

You probably know that Buzz Aldrin is the astronaut, with Neil Armstrong, who first walked on the moon.  He has remained actively engaged in the interests of the space program.  He has so many ideas.  And he has an overall vision - mission to Mars.  His creative and technical ideas include many specific plans for achieving that vision.  It is not his intention that we visit Mars and return home.  This proposal is to colonize.

I thought that I had kept up with current space exploration efforts, but this book has definitely educated me.  So much more is being done than I was aware.  Beyond the text, the pictures included in this book are fun.  The pictures and illustrations are also helpful for understanding some of the concepts.

Buzz Aldrin addresses his plan for a unified effort among countries on earth, in exploring space together.  "We come in peace for all mankind."  He also addresses the private enterprise interest and beginnings in space, and how this could be the beginnings of an excellent partnership.

July 2019 will be the 50th anniversary of the first humans to land on the moon.  Buzz Aldrin asks - America, do you still dream great dreams?  On the 50th anniversary can you commit, within two decades, to commencing American permanence on the planet Mars?