Book Nook

“It is only through one’s consistent daily practice of connecting directly with Spirit and Source over soul that an incredible vibrational transformation is made possible. There is no shortcut or bypass.”

It was love at first listen.

I first *met* Sonia Choquette on the radio. I don’t know if it was her familiar Midwestern accent (takes one to know one) or the way she treats her callers with the love and care one would offer a best friend that got me hooked on “Trust Your Vibes” and Sonia Choquette. But as a Hay House Radio (and Hay House everything) groupie, Sonia became one of my regular commute companions.
And then I started reading her books.

And I fell in love all over again again.

Her latest, Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings Lighting Your Way is a one-a-day book. One mantra. One prayer. One Blessing. Breakfast for my soul. And so the routine goes: a granola bar, two (or more!) cups of coffee, my Doreen Virtue Angel Cards, Louise Hay’s Heart Thoughts and now my dose of Grace from Sonia (and spirit). And all of this time I thought it was Miami traffic making me late for work!

Most recently, I have been opening the book to a random page and trusting that therein lies the message I most need to hear. And it has worked beautifully. I took to heart Sonia’s advice to “Breathe deeply as you read and feel the message in your heart. Affirm the message with your own voice. Repeat the message with your daily mantra, knowing that the message is timely and important to receive. [This book] grows in meaning and power for you over time. Use it. Highlight what holds special meaning for you. Treasure it, and let it become your own bridge to heaven.”

And as an extra added bonus, the book includes a 20-minute meditation CD that Sonia advises listening to right before going to sleep. And, she promises, “You will feel lighter and happier of heart, and have easier, stress-free days; and miracles upon miracles will appear in your life.”

Sounds just about perfect to me.

Thank you to my dear friends at Hay House for sending me this book. I need no further evidence that miracles are, really, all around.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

Always up for inspiring words I looked forward to reading this book. I consider it to be a spiritual devotional book. Choquette was raised Catholic and her verbage reflects that heritage. Those who were raised in formal Christian tradition will feel at is with the prose used in this book. Her development beyond her formal church tradition still speaks in today's modern language but is found within longer sentence structures and message she interprets from the Divine.

The book is divided into three the three categories of Grace, Guidance, and Gifts. I did not find these separations necessary as a reader. I could open the book to any place and find something that fit . The introduction of this book encourages the book to be used in this way.

"Keep the book at your bedside, on your desk, ...anyplace where you will see it and reach for it every day. You may even want to carry it with you and refer to it throughout the day."

Each devotion is set up as follows:

Message from Spirit a brief paragraph that simply explains the objective and focus of the lesson. I personally enjoyed these, written in Sonia's straightforward manner (in my opinion).

Morning Prayer/Invocation/Affirmation a paragraph or more which goes deeper into the blocks that hold people back from receiving their blessings.

Today's Mantra is an affirmative statement reflecting the readings. These are great to write on index cards.

Your Personal Blessing is Sonia's interpretation of what the "Holy Mother-Father God" would be saying to you, the blessing over you and things for you to remember. I felt sometimes these got too wordy and repetitive. They almost could have been written in a list form. However, as I said in the beginning, the prose is much more wordy and superfluous in this section but some people may enjoy the beauty of the repetition of certain phrases. It does come across as very heart felt.

In the back of the book there was a CD. Now, I think most people have their favorite way to meditate. Some enjoy New Age Music, hymns, piano music, or silence. I could barely listen to this CD because it was not my personal preference. I did not find it relaxing. In fact, when her voice came on it scared my cat. :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed Sonia's Power of Your Spirit. This book carries forward many of those concepts, but they are a bit more "hidden" in all the unnecessary verbage. Nevertheless, it is worth the read. I read it with highlighter in hand because the content is worth discovering.

As a music teacher, I love this one,

"I call upon the gift of music to assist me in healing old wounds that I carry, erasing grudges and resentments that I feel, helping me move past vague and real doubts and fears of my not being loved, and expanding my heart and mind to feel my Spirit more. I can upon the angels of music to move me to dance in the flow of life."

Beautiful.

One of the best books I reviewed last year was Sonia Choquette’s “The Power Of Your Spirit”. That book, as I wrote at the time, was insightful in helping me distinguish between the unhealthy messages of the Ego and the empowering thoughts of the Spirit. Now in 2012 Choquette has produced a worthy followup in the same vein, “Grace, Guidance, and Gifts”.

Choquette’s latest work could just as easily be called “Love Letters From God.” I felt Spirit was speaking to me through these pages - a devotional format with two to three page entries designed to be read daily. The book is divided into three parts as the title implies – one third of the book addresses Grace, one third Guidance, and the last third Gifts.

The foundation of my spirituality is the unconditional love of God. I liked how this love was emphasized over and over again in the Grace part. One example of a Grace prayer that resonated with me: “Grace my Spirit with the humility to cease foolishly trying to exercise control over life and especially those around me, and to quietly allow my day to unfold in harmony and with respect for your own graceful divine plane, without interference, disruption, or disturbance from the ego.” In saying these prayers I was reminded again of my own loving connection to Spirit.

The Guidance part also spoke to me. Each entry is organized in four sections: “Message from Spirit”, “Morning Prayer”, “Today’s Mantra” and “Your Personal Blessing”. I found reading a new entry first thing in the morning gave me a calming spiritual focus before entering into the activity of the work day. The mantra “I trust my inner guidance even when it is difficult to understand” was one I thought of often on the day I read it.

I wish the book had a more detailed index. “Grace page 1; Guidance page 89; Gifts page 155? is it. In the Gifts part various spiritual capabilities are discussed, each in its own entry (healing, compassion, patience, listening, leadership, silence, courage, friendship, and teaching are a few). I found these entries compelling; ones I will want to refer to again in the future, but with no index to lead the way it won’t be easy. Maybe I’ll make my own index!

I feel reading an inspirational piece at the start of each day is a powerful spiritual practice. Choquette’s book is full of such passages, and now it will have a permanent place in my meditation room. As a bonus a free CD is included with three meditation sessions led by the author. “Grace, Guidance, and Gifts” is a guide I will refer to often.

I’ve enjoyed Sonia Choquette’s work for many years. After I discovered her show on Hay House Radio, her books seemed like the perfect companion pieces to the on-air commentaries. Her latest book is another thoughtful step in this journey.

“Grace, Guidance and Gifts” is broken by theme into three sections. Each chapter is anchored with a Message From Spirit, Morning Affirmation, Today’s Mantra and Your Personal Blessing. As I fast reader, I found myself quickly turning the pages. After just a few chapters, however, I began to slow down and take breaks. While the chapters are not lengthy, they are rich. I wanted to give myself time to revel in each concept, and you will, too.

My favorite section was Guidance. I loved how Sonia used each Message From Spirit to explain spiritual principles. Many people are interested in knowing more about intuition, or want to rely on it as part of their daily life. Sonia illustrates the nuances of each theme in a gentle, warm and inviting way. You’ll find yourself easily explaining what these ideas are, even to the skeptics in your life.

I was also touched how Sonia used her personal experiences to open the book. It was reassuring to hear from someone who has been on a spiritual path for years that using the techniques neutralized her struggles. Sonia describes, “Soul drama does not possess and control me as it once did. Instead, I am able to see and dismantle the dramas I face and create.”

As an alternate to reading the chapters sequentially, you may want to try isolating some of the elements. For example, I read and re-read many of the Your Personal Blessing segments. Blessing others is an art, and unfortunately kind of a lost one. If you’ve ever had someone pray a blessing over you, you know what a moving and humbling experience it can be. I was reminded of the holiness and intensity of this compassionate ritual.

If you do nothing else, read and practice Today’s Mantra. Each mantra is an easy way to take the Message From Spirit with you for the day.

I also appreciated the beautiful guided meditations on the bonus CD. Like most people, I spend my day in front of a computer screen, so using the CD will be a relaxing way to continue learning.

My only criticism is that the book does not contain a detailed index. Since I’m planning to work with it over time, an index would be helpful to focus on specific ideas.

I encourage you to add this positive, comforting book to your library. Until you do, I’ll leave you with one of Sonia’s mantras for your week: Grant me the grace to accept life as it unfolds today.

FTC disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hay House for review purposes.

My review of this book is also my first introduction to the talented author, Sonia Choquette. Up to now, I had not heard of Sonia nor was I familiar with her inspiring writing and teachings. I am delighted to report that has now changed.

To begin with, Grace, Guidance and Gifts is a beautiful prayer book. After reading it from cover to cover, and, listening to the included CD, I congratulated myself for having chosen this book as my introduction to the teachings and mission of Sonia Choquette. Her writing and philosophy carries some of the same teachings of Spirit and Source that my other favorite authors, Dr. Wayne Dyer and Gary Zukav have offered.

Sonia has divided her book into three sections which are revealed in the book title: namely, Grace, Guidance, and Gifts. She speaks of these as the three major blessings.

This book was crafted to serve both as a daily prayer and spiritual healing lesson book. While it’s format was something I had not encountered before, I found that I kept coming back to the book time and again with highlighter and sticky notes, embracing what resonated for me. I also loved the beautiful background sounds and music that accompanied the meditations on the CD.

Whether you are deeply involved as family caregivers such as my wife and I, feeling overwhelmed with a personal tragedy of some kind, or simply wish to connect with your inner Spirit and find your life’s purpose, I highly recommend reading Sonia Choquette’s, Grace, Guidance and Gifts.

Jeff Dodson - July 14th 2012
www.nvlwtrdodson.blogspot.com

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are unbiased and reflect my honest judgment of the product.

As I am writing this review, I am also listening to the CD that accompanies this book: such a wonderful tool! I am taken to a place of calm and relaxation. It follows the three sacred blessings of Spirit that Choquette mentions in her book: grace, guidance, and gifts. The CD is about 17 minutes long, and is perfect to play as going to sleep at night.

Even though I have never read any of Sonia Choquette’s books, I have studied some of her articles and exercises found on the internet and her website (http://www.soniachoquette.com). And I have found her information on psychic abilities and intuition to be very powerful and enlightening. So it is not a surprise to me that this book would be such a great asset to spiritual study.

Many of us today are self-taught Light workers. That is to say, there are many people who have not studied with a group of people under the tutelage of a spiritual teacher. And since there are so many books and resources such as this one, it is easy to have your own home study. I have encouraged many of my own psychic development students to have sacred time for themselves every day. This helps to raise the personal frequency of the energy field (aura). In doing so, it is easier to access your personal spirit teachers, guides, and angels. But more important, it helps you to access your own Higher Self.

Choquette’s Grace, Guidance, and Gifts is a superb way to create or supplement sacred time and spiritual self-study. By using the book every day, you continue to contact Source through the Higher Self to receive Blessings in your life. She has the book divided into three sections: Grace, Guidance, and Gifts. With each section, there are prayers, a morning blessing, mantra for the day, and a personal message to speak out loud. Each section has about three weeks’ worth of daily study, and you can open the book at random to access each day. Or follow through from one day to the next taking in the book, step by step. The book is not meant to be read straight through, but to be savored as you progress through your studies.

If you are considering starting your own sacred time and studies, wanting to have some spiritual discipline to your life, you would very much benefit from this book. However, her understanding here includes much of the Christian belief. So know ahead of time, if you are opposed to that particular teaching.

I have never read anything written by Sonia Choquette before, but her book “Grace, Guidance and Gifts” makes me want to read some more of what Sonia’s material.

The book is more of a daily guide, broken out into three sections- Grace, Guidance and Gifts. In each section there is a Message from Spirit, a morning prayer, a mantra message, and a personal blessing. What I have done for myself over the past month is taken a piece of paper, written down the page number of each new message/morning prayer/mantra and personal blessing and cut the page numbers up into tiny squares, put them in a baggie, and randomly draw one every morning. Since doing this, I have found that I am much more aware of circumstances around me and I find the messages very comforting.

I will enjoy using this book as a daily guide for many years to come. I recommend this book to anyone that needs daily uplifting.

FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from Hay House Publishing for this review. The opinion in this review is unbiased and reflects my honest judgment of the product.

I had the honor to review one of my favorite spiritual guru's most recent books. Thanks to HayHouse's New program Book Nook Blogger Community I read Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings to Light Your Way by Sonia Choquette. Which isn't like anything she has written before. She provides daily message, Morning Prayer, the Day's Mantra, and a Personal Blessing. Each will help you follow your bliss, fulfill your great purpose by limiting the patterns of your ego.

Reading this book, I have been able to embrace my personal gifts, embrace the spiritual guidance to follow my bliss and fulfill my purpose. I'm no where near done with the book because it allows you to appreciate the daily grace and all that you have. I learned that when you appreciate what you already have down to the smallest thing such as a pen to write and the spatula to make cake.

The book comes with a CD that offers the same thing that's in the book. It reminds me of an audio book, so if you are running late you can pop this in while you are getting ready. The CD is not recommend to be used while you are running heavy machinery since it is recommended to be still and be in a meditative state.

I also learned that establishing a daily spiritual routine will keep you aware of your ego and allow you to live with only the bliss of your spirit. This book helped me open my eyes to my calling which in turned shifted the blog from Frugal Mom of Multiple Kids to Inspiring Working Moms. Helping other women remove the limiting beliefs and blocks from their personal lives so they can pursue their own purpose and dreams is a meaningful feeling and that feeling right there is following my bliss.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking to find their purpose and follow their bliss so they can endure a beautiful journey of living their life to the fullest. I embrace all that appears in my path (experiences, material things, people) and this book has inspired me to go the extra mile to make sure that I am expressing myself honestly and being authentic truthful to myself spirit and others.

I begin my review of Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings to Light Your Way Grace, Guidance, and Gifts by Sonia Choquette: Inspiring Book Review by Sonia Choquette with a sincere thank you to Louise Hay, Reid Tracy and all of the support people at Hay House publishing who have created this wonderful program that welcomes reviews on Hay House books by dedicated readers like myself.

I also want to thank Sonia Choquette and Source energy for sharing such a gift as this book with the world. I have felt a connection with Sonia’s work from the first time I saw her present at the 2002 You Can Do It Conference in Las Vegas. I knew then that she was a kindred spirit, a gifted performance artist, and a powerful catalyst for transformation in the world. This book re-confirms those feelings for me.

The most powerful gift that this book offered me was the affirmation that in order to transform it is crucial to practice a “daily and unwavering routine that focuses on Spirit and its blessings.” For years I have personally followed such a daily routine of connection with Spirit which grew out of necessity through my daily work as a therapist with others. Having personally experienced the transformational effects of such work, I created daily journals and began inspiring others to establish similar routines. Like Sonia, I have found that it is through daily consistent effort of conscious and intentional connection with Spirit that a shift can happen toward living life “mostly filled with an unwavering light, internal joy, peace, and confidence”.

In Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings to Light Your Way Grace, Guidance, and Gifts by Sonia Choquette: Inspiring Book Review Sonia generously shares powerful messages from Spirit, invocations, mantras and personal blessings which can be worked with daily to assist in your daily routine of connection with Spirit. What I find most powerful in Sonia’s words are the pictures that some of her phrases create that resonate deeply within me and leave me contemplating them. Sometimes I even find myself sharing these images with clients and students.

The CD that accompanies this book is a real treasure. In typical Sonia fashion, she has worked with the sound of her voice in harmony with background sound and music to create for us the listeners, an experience of deep feeling. The phrases she uses land deep and stay rooted, echoing throughout my being. I enjoy the experience of listening to the CD and know that I will share it in my practice of serving others in distress. I also just received a Hayhouse Newsletter which announced Grace, Guidance and Gifts NEW 13-Lesson Online Video Course with Sonia Choquette Available exclusively from Hay House for a limited time! My guess is that will be a very powerful course.

I can easily work with this book to accompany my morning routine of connecting with Spirit. I also have it as part of my waiting room collection of books because it is a perfect book for clients and students to crack open and read before they come into session.

Grace, Guidance, and Gifts is a lovely prayer book which is certain to fulfill Sonia’s intention to “inspire readers to establish a positive and self-loving routine of daily connection with Spirit’. It gives us all a very easy way to connect and is therefore a powerful agent of transformation in the world lifting us to live at higher frequencies.

I received Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings to Light Your Way for free from Hay House Publishing for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Had I been browsing the stacks of any bookstore or digital new releases on the computer, my attention would have been immediately drawn to the latest from Sonia Choquette and for all good reason: Who doesn't need more sacred blessings in their lives or to be reminded of those precious gifts bestowed upon us?

The title invites readers to learn what is in store for them once they shift their focus from walking aimlessly along their journey to turning to one of Divine attentiveness. The cover, designed by Julie Davidson, illuminates that invitation in the form of a lighted candle drawing us toward something truly special which lies between the covers.

Ms. Choquette defines her mission, as well as the premise of this book, "to unite your soul and your spirit" through three Divine blessings: Grace, Guidance, and Gifts. Reading the introduction offers important instruction prior to beginning the meditations.

Formatted into three sections, each blessing contains a Message from Spirit, a Morning Affirmation or Invocation, a daily Mantra to repeat throughout the day, and a concluding a Blessing. The writing revives the soul and invokes the strength of Spirit.

Grace, Guidance, and Gifts cannot be defined as a passive read, although that's what I did initially. Opening the book to a random page can prove equally effective. This is an interactive work requiring the reader to begin a daily ritual or to enhance one’s established prayer practice. The author writes in an easy, understandable, non-denominational style applicable to all faith groups or traditions. Read individually or in a group setting.. Ms. Choquette provides a “True North” for the soul to look toward the Creator.

The author recommends the accompanying CD be played at bedtime. The disc contains three guided meditations ranging in length from 15 to 20 minutes focusing on the three blessings. They are designed to draw the listener into a relaxed, safe, state and open one up to that particular blessing.

As a new member of Hay House’s review program, selecting this book could not have come at a better time in my life. I believe Grace, Guidance, and Gifts: Sacred Blessings to Light Your Way has the potential to become an important tool to reveal what lies within, make the grey days brighter, and, ultimately, to unite with Spirit.