Awaken: To Expanded Consciousness

By Emily A. Smith

It is time for us to wake up! People celebrate God all over the world and we are too wrapped up trying to get people to see God the way we see him/her that we are missing the big picture! It is time to go on your own quest to establish your own true relationship with your creator. This book offers collections and insights of various beliefs and encourages you to find your own path to the Divine.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 13, 2009
• ISBN: 9781468526929

Emily A. Smith

Emily A. Smith, PhD has a BS in Exercise Science and Wellness. She also has a Masters and PhD in Philosophy specializing in Comparative Religion. She is trained in various healing modalities and spends most of her time helping people find a greater way to feel more comfortable in their skin. Emily approaches healing with respect to the whole person: the emotional, physical and spiritual sides of a person. Emily is the author of: Anxiety Sucks! Stretch Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Stretching Stretch Therapy II: A Comprehensive Guide to Basic Assisted Stretching To learn more about Emily please visit her website at www.spiritwavehealing.com

Book preview

© 2009 Emily A. Smith, PhD. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 4/27/2009

ISBN: 978-1-4389-7526-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4389-7527-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-2692-9 (ebk)

Disclaimer: The author of this publication makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the contents or use of this publication, or any part thereof, and specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties or usefulness for any particular purpose of this publication. The author reserves the right to change or revise this publication, at any time.

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

This book is fondly dedicated to my grandmother, Margaret Cecilia Hardgrove Oliva, who is the walking embodiment of a true woman of faith, and to my mother, Margaret Ann Smith, who allowed me the freedom to find my own path to God. Thank you both.

Contents

FOREWARD 

INTRODUCTION 

1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE 

2. GETTING TO KNOW THE GOD

OF MANY NAMES 

3. LOVE IS RELEASING FEAR 

4. GODS GREAT MESSENGERS 

5. THE REINCARNATION DEBATE 

6. HANDS THAT HEAL 

7. THE EMOTIONAL/ENERGETIC BODY  

8. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION:

BLISS SEEKERS 

9. THE BREATH OF LIFE 

10. LIFE IS TEMPORARY 

11. FINDING LOVE 

12. MINDFUL MENTALITY 

13. INSPIRING BY EXAMPLE 

END NOTES 

APPENDIX 

RECOMMENDED READING 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

ABOUT EMILY A. SMITH 

FOREWARD 

It remains the great challenge to seek out truth beyond one’s personal perspective and thus venture outwardly beyond comfort zones. I myself find it a difficult and yet necessary risk asking the questions that delve past the easy answers. Perhaps it is our sense of self-preservation or maybe just our ego that fights tooth and nail for circumstances to remain as they are. Unfortunately in a universe that is ever changing and always in motion nothing but change remains constant.

In reading this manuscript I was reminded of the old cliché taken from Confucianism, A Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. When I delved past the easy understanding of those words, I came to realize that a journey of a thousand miles does not begin with the first step at all. It begins with the correct question that motivates the seeker to take that first step. Without the question, or at the very least a curiosity, no thousand-mile journey is likely to begin.  Here in lies the value of questioning preconceived texts — not for conversion to someone else’s belief, but only for a deeper understanding of a world of people who in the end are all one. It is not only my desire to look beyond differences, but I feel it is my duty to seek out common ground in an ever merging community now termed as global.

Being older, I had the good fortune to have met Emily Smith at an early stage of her spiritual journey. She was a powerhouse of energy with a heart of pure gold when I met her. Now a decade and a half later she is still a powerhouse with a heart of pure gold and inspired by a mission. This mission reads on every page and is designed to share her love for the spiritual journey that is indeed infectious. I have watched Emily take her passion for yoga, tai chi, karate etc. and develop these tools in an ever-expanding quest for knowledge of alternative points of view. I consider it an honor and a worthwhile pleasure to have been asked to write this foreword. 

This manuscript offers an excellent opportunity for the readers to open themselves up to other systems of thought and possibly expand to finding the common ground that could allow all brothers and sisters the tolerance needed to live with civility. The challenge here is to ask your question and take that first step of a thousand mile journey. Your journey is a single expedition of undiscovered exploration. Everyone’s journey is different because we are all unique, however everyone is the same, because we are all one. Now what does this mean exactly?  Perhaps when my journey of a thousand miles is finished, I will have the answer for you. Until then, venture forward; maybe our paths will cross along the way.  

Peace be with you,

Michael Colley

Artist/Author

Code of the Third Millennium Warrior

INTRODUCTION 

The purpose of this book is to get you to question your understanding of and beliefs about God and spirituality. I am encouraging you to create your own relationship with God outside of what you have been told to believe. So many people around the world have changed their beliefs entirely based on setting out to disprove a certain theory. It is through new and expanded knowledge that they come into an understanding that they at one point never believed that they would see as such.

I am encouraging you to study other religions and other ways of thinking when it comes to beliefs about God. If you have only read the Bible, maybe it’s time that you took a class on the Qur’an. Do you realize that children all over the world are being programmed by the beliefs of their parents, teachers and ministers? Do you realize that this just might be you that I am talking about? What I am sure of is that if you have decided to pick up this book, then you are looking for the Divine in a way that you haven’t encountered the Divine before. For this, I am so grateful. I am in no way discouraging your faith. I am encouraging the expansion of your faith. This can be done through questioning, searching and finding out for yourself what it is that you truly believe.

There are many people that were born into families that were so strict with their religion that they turn away from their faith altogether. The truth is, they have no faith. The beliefs they had were instilled by punishment and fear. This is no way to emulate any teachings of any leader in religion! Gandhi said, If the Christians actually followed the true teachings of Christ, all of India would be Christian!

Children are raised to believe that the schools that their parents attended are the best colleges around. They have absolutely no proof of this other than what their parents have told them to believe. This happens with music, movies, and more!

At some point, the stronger of us stop to question what it is that we really believe. This takes great strength, great curiosity and great faith to enter a path that just might take them to a direction that they never imagined would be their own. This book is quite basic but does offer something for everyone who is seeking. Whatever you find here, go and take it deeper on your own.

I am so thankful to have found my own walk with God and all of God’s divine helpers. I am blessed. So are you.

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear,

And Grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear,

The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come.

T’was Grace that brought me safe thus far.

And Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

a life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been here ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun.

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,

Than when we first begun.1

1. YOU ARE NOT ALONE 

I wish that I could really make you understand that you are not alone. The truth is you are NEVER alone. God is with you always. There is a light inside you - inside each