By Krysta Gibson

Into the Wind
by Joe Bongiorno
Musical CD

If you enjoy solo piano music, you will love this album. In the style of David Lanz and Michael Jones, Seattle musician Joe Bongiorno has created an album of music that carries you away to places of quietness, energy, joy, and pensiveness. Each piece is unique in its flavor and each provides a different tone of feeling.

We've enjoyed playing this album over and over in the office and it has given a supportive environment where it's easy to stay centered, clear, and joyful. What a great way to begin 2012! Treat yourself to a supportive and loving sound environment, you deserve it! www.solopianomusic.com.

TranscenDance
By Michael Bernard Beckwith
Agape Media International
Music CD

This is not a meditation CD. In fact, I dare you to listen to this and sit still. Won't happen.

Created by spiritual teacher and leader Michael Bernard Beckwith who is the founder of Agape International Spiritual Center, this CD blends electronic dance music with uplifting, spiritual words that, taken together, will help you feel joyous and positive. If you have young people in your life who tend to listen to lower energy music, give them a copy of this CD. It will give them a more positive listening environment.

The liner notes that come with the CD have all the words printed so you know exactly what you're listening to; this comes in handy in case you want to say them out loud while walking, working out, driving, or otherwise enjoying this impactful program.

The Seeker, The Search, The Sacred
By Guy Finley
Weiser Books

A highly-respected spiritual teacher for over 35 years, Guy Finley has collected the sayings of other wise ones and in this book he "offers the reader a collection of universal spiritual quotations, personal favorites...." They are divided into three categories that are reflected in the book title, the seeker, the search, and the sacred.

The passages come from all major religions and philosophies and number in the hundreds. The book is one of those nifty ones that you can keep beside you and open at random expecting that whatever issue you might be facing will be addressed.

Here's what I found when I opened the book to share something with you: "I who cannot be fit into universes upon universes, fit into the heart of the sincere believer." Muhammad (ca.570-632, Mecca, Saudi Arabia). The passages all address the deeper spiritual dimensions of life and will provide guidance and clarity to those seeking to live a life of self-realization.

Guy Finley is the founder and director of the nonprofit Life of Learning Foundation and is the author of several other books, including The Essential Laws of Fearless Living. www.guyfinley.com.

Your True Home
The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh
Shambhala

If being more mindful, aware, and present in your life is one of your goals for 2012, this book of 365 sayings of Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh will fill an important role in your life this year. The chosen passages, which are taken from his best-selling books, address issues of joy, insight, fear and other negative emotions, relationships and peace.

What I most appreciate in this little book is how each passage cuts directly through to the heart of the matter. There are no excess words, no attempt to make the information complicated; the selections are simple, profound, and meaningfully applicable to everyday life in today's world.

SoulSpace: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life
By Xorin Balbes
New World Library

If one of your goals for 2012 is to have your home be in better order, more comfortable, and truly a space you can enjoy, you will need a copy of SoulSpace. This book goes way, way beyond decluttering, feng shui, or interior design. It is an eight-stage process of creating your own perfect living space.

The eight stages are: assess, release, cleanse, dream, discover, create, elevate, and celebrate. Xorin, who is an award-winning interior designer, walks you through each process and shares many stories of work he has done with clients. This is very helpful to understanding each step and applying it to your particular situation.

Perhaps this is the year to make your home truly reflect the deeper person you are, let go of what isn't working, and move into a newly aligned living space.

A Happy Pocket Full of Money: Infinite Wealth and Abundance in the Here and Now
By David Cameron Gikandi
Hampton Roads

Even though the word "money" is in the title of this book, this book is about so much more than money but is also about financial wealth. For years, this book was available only on the Internet as an e-book and I am glad to see it get published as a physical book so it will find a larger audience.

The author is a real estate investor and a popular seminar and motivational speaker who lives in Kenya. This book grew out of his studies of many inspirational classics of the last century. After giving a great explanation of quantum physics and the basis for all matter, he teaches an internal mantra to use to change consciousness; teaches how to become more deliberate in setting intentions and thinking; set and work with goals you truly believe in; and how to put more gratitude, faith, and giving into your life so you can experience the abundance you seek.

Full of practical and spiritual information, this is one of those books that will be a classic in the field of self-help material.

Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential
By Michael Bernard Beckwith
Sounds True

Yes, this is the same person who created the CD I reviewed earlier in this column. Michael Beckwith created a process of inquiry and spiritual practice that enables people to live from the level of soul. This book gives the entire process along with insights and meditations.

He gives four stages of consciousness and how we move through them; teaches about the concept of co-creation; how to use the power of intention; how to use intuition to live our visions; and he relates the processes to many different areas of our lives. What I really like about Life Visioning is that we are taken to some very deep spiritual levels instead of staying at the surface level like so many books about manifesting tend to do.

If you think you're ready to tackle life at a deeper level so you can move forward living as soul rather than only personality, you'll want to get a copy of this book and work the program.

The Money and Spirit Workshop: A Step-byStep Plan for Achieving Greater Prosperity and Peace of Mind
By Brent Kessel, CFP and Spencer Sherman, CFP, MBA
Sounds True

This is an amazing program that consists of eight CDs, a 157-page workbook, and 24 reference cards. The leaders of the program are not only certified financial experts, they are also spiritual practitioners who realize that healing money issues has to begin within.

The program leads you through understanding your money story; working with your bills and budgeting; learning about the eight financial archetypes; saving, earning, giving, debt, investing; and financial intimacy.

As a complete package, this takes a commitment to walk the entire process and it is recommended that people do only one chapter weekly. There is not only a lot of information here, there is support and clarity and hope. If you have money issues, and many spiritual people do, take a look at this program and see if it holds the keys you have been seeking. I suspect it does.