In Review: Handbook for the Heart

I decided that, today, I wanted to share a review of an essay from what I consider to me my first spiritual text. I was in my early twenties when I picked up a copy of Handbook for the Heart.

Though there have been many layers to my spiritual coming of age, I can mark reading this book as one of the first. Simply stated, the essays in the book tell how love alone is a religion or spirituality. Many of the essays in the book share the same sentiment, the simple realization that we are all one. This is the foundation for my spirituality, and thus, after reading this book, I began the long journey toward understanding myself as a spirit.

In Heart Sounds by Deepak Chopra tells us "Love is God. It is the experience of the sacred." Indeed. No matter what label you put on your religion or spirituality, far beyond the reaches of that name that we give to our deity, love remains as the sole purpose. If realized, this can connect us all.

Chopra goes on to explain "You see, the universe operates through dynamic exchange; giving and receiving are merely different aspects of the energy flow in the universe." It is true. We all give off energy. If we give off loving energy, we are only putting more love into the universe, which then reverberates back to us in the end. If you put out hate, you are filling our cosmos with that instead, and it will be shot back at you.

The simple ways in which you can give love is touched upon in this essay too. Simply giving a smile can make someone's day better. Using the power of touch with loved ones, and just mentally sending out love into the universe are concrete ways that we can change our own world.

"If you start bringing love into your life, consciously and deliberately filling your life with love,you begin to see miracles all around you. Your life becomes and expression of love, and you see things you never thought possible happening in both your inner and outer life. If you strive to give love, all else begins to come to you."

How simple. Some of the greats have professed the simplicity of love. These folks are people I look up to. Bob Marley. John Lennon. Maya Angelou. Elizabeth Gilbert. These are just a few. May we honor them with our loving ways.

I hope that you check out this book. Each essay inside does a beautiful job in reminding us what is at the core of our spirits.

~ Peace and Love, Tracey

© Tracey Love, 2015. All rights reserved.