"Much of what I have written about derives from my own personal experience with meditation and other activities associated with spiritual states. A hallmark of understanding the workings of meditation is the experiential aspect. One cannot truly understand it just through the intellect. One must experience it directly to comprehend fully. The authors of the recently published book Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, all seasoned psychologists, wrote about this issue. In attempting to incorporate Jon Kabat-Zinn's time-tested Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program into their own cognitive approaches in treating depression, they realized that hearing and thinking about the methods were not enough. They needed to be deeply engaged in the Mindfulness practices themselves before they had a true comprehension. They also realized in order to effectively treat depressed people with this technique, during teaching, they needed to remain in a mindful state themselves for the students to gain maximal understanding. When one has a direct experience, it can have powerful effects on belief. Such was my own as it pertains to spirituality and might explain why, as a scientist, I felt the need to search for clearer understanding of it."

Imagine finding a perfectly shaped heart rock on the beach: a gift from the sea symbolizing the universal image of love, while also crystallizing the simple joys of walking by the water's edge. Inspired by these wonders of nature, photographer Amy M Dykens presents here 136 beautiful images of heart rocks in their native environment along with her words of calm introspection and an appreciation of generosity and love. Some of these treasures are heart shaped, some have a heart image through or on them, but all are precious creations.

Many professions have robust exams. But taking the Bar Exam seems to be one of the most stressful times in a person's life, occasionally causing physical ailment or emotional breakdown. Our relationship with God can carry us through hectic, nerve-wracking circumstances. We merely have to ask, believe, and receive. This book is a daily motivational devotion for Bar Exam study. Begin your Bar study marathon with day one of your study session, and end on day two or three of your Bar Exam as you finish your final lap. I trust this book will provide three to five minutes of quiet time with God per day, to calm and refresh your heart and mind with the strength to endure your Bar study marathon.

A Creative Toolkit of Meditations has twenty meditations that assist you in mastering the two styles of meditation: inquiry and mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation subdues our monkey-mind thoughts. Inquiry meditation asks Inner Silence for an answer to painful relationship and work issues.

A Creative Toolkit of Meditations provides a deep understanding of our underlying cultural conditioning and introduces an innovative approach to using meditation to reduce emotional stress and achieve self-realization.

Bill Blake's A Creative Toolkit of Meditations is a superb read. His distant family member, the poet and artist William Blake, wrote a phrase that describes Bill's book: "Energy is eternal delight."

Dr. Stephen Kierulff, clinical psychologist and author of (with Stanley Krippner) of Becoming Psychic

In his classes using his book, Bill's extraordinary method of making meditation highly accessible is truly miraculous. I can honestly say it did change my life I now can call myself a meditator, when all other attempts made over decades had fallen short.

Amy Lacombe, artist and designer of arts and crafts

Bill's book and classes have offered me a toolbox of rewarding ways to relax my monkey mind. These meditations have helped me get through some stressful times. I now have a rich daily practice.

Diane Monteith, retired educator

This book provides you with tools to achieve the following objectives:

Increase conscious awareness of your surroundings

Recognize and experience yourself as consciousness/energy

Effectively communicate with others

Connect mind and body

Identify healthy and unhealthy emotions

Probe and manage your deep-seated, childhood-based beliefs

Experience and then release anger

improve relationships