A very Merry Christmas to you and yours! And may 2013 bring you all that you hope for!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do my (more…)
Archive for December, 2012
Merry Christmas from Encinitas!
December 25, 2012Start the New Year Off Right with the “Inner Reflections” Calendar
December 21, 2012
After relying on a Franklin Planner for fifteen years, I’m transitioning to the Inner Reflections engagement calendar. It’s far less expensive and gives me enough space to write all the notes I need. Plus, it’s gorgeous! Every two-page spread has the coming week laid out on one side and a beautiful nature photo on the facing page accompanied by an inspirational quote by Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Works for me! If you’d like to order a copy for yourself, click here.
If you’re interested, here is more info about the Inner Reflections calendar, courtesy of the publisher, Self-Realization Fellowship:
A one-of-a-kind collection of striking visuals and inspirational quotations, the 2013 edition of Self-Realization Fellowship’s award-winning INNER REFLECTIONS engagement calendar is now available. Featuring stunning scenery from the natural world paired with soul-soothing insights and words of encouragement, this spiritual calendar is a long-time favorite among consumers and retailers internationally—and it is a continually sought-after holiday gift item.
The calendar’s enduring quotes by Paramahansa Yogananda are suitably matched with breathtaking images from the world’s top nature photographers. Striking scenery—from the serene waters of the Caribbean to magnificent waterfalls of Iceland to a vast stretch of the Milky Way—is accessible with the turn of a page. For example:
• A palm tree stretches out horizontally atop white sands, its fronds seemingly aimed toward the sea’s turquoise waters in Virgin Islands National Park, St. John: “In the solitude of my inner silence I have found the paradise of unending Joy.”
• A polar bear lies back in (more…)
The Landfill Harmonic
December 20, 2012What do you get when you mix poor children in Paraguay with garbage, ingenuity and a dream?
Beautiful (more…)
Instant Christmas Carols—Just Add People
December 19, 2012Want to get in the Christmas spirit? Hang out at a mall. You never know when a choir might show up. Members of Journey of Faith, a church in Manhattan Beach, California, performed Christmas carols, flash mob-style, at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach on December 18, 2010.
Flash mobs can be fun and inspiring, but it should be noted that this (more…)
Collect Call from the Twilight Zone
December 8, 2012
I still cannot believe this just happened. Two days ago, my friend Laurie Baum e-mailed me about an article she just read in a 1987 issue of Self-Realization magazine. I had loaned her a stack of pre-2000 issues that I have not yet read myself and she’s been making her way through them.
Here’s what Laurie wrote:
I read a really interesting article in the Fall 1987 magazine that you gave me, written by Bryon Roberts, a local devotee, our age, who is a truck driver so is on the road most of the time. He wrote about how a speeding (more…)
Astrological Predictions for 2013 for Each Zodiac Sign
December 7, 2012
Laurie Baum
These astrological predictions for each zodiac sign for 2013 were written by my good friend Laurie Baum, MSW, a psychological astrologer and psychotherapist in practice in Encinitas, California. As you can see from her article, Laurie integrates the wisdom of natural patterns in the heavens with spirituality and psychological insights.
Click here for Laurie’s comprehensive astrological forecast for 2013.
You, too, can benefit from Laurie’s wisdom. She writes a free astrological newsletter about how planetary alignments affect our lives on earth. Click here to e-mail Laurie to subscribe at no cost, or visit Laurie’s website and click on “Free Email Newsletter.”
Laurie is a former newspaper and news magazine reporter who is profiled in the books Psychic New York and The 100 Top Psychics in America. She is the author of five books:
A to Z Acrophonology: Discover the Power of the Letters in Your Name
Everything You Need to Know About Your Astrology Sign
Astrological Secrets for the New Millennium
Laurie also offers counseling appointments by phone. She will answer your questions about major life decisions and talk with you about the reasons you have incarnated, the lessons you are here to learn, where you are on the wheel of karma, and the psychological developmental cycles you have been through and are going through. She will look at current influences on your health, finances, relationships, career, and any relocation plans that may be necessary. She also will look ahead with you at the next seven years of your life. A reading with Laurie can help you take the next step in your life. Sessions, which are available via landline phone or Skype (audio or video), are digitally recorded.
To make an appointment with Laurie, click here to e-mail Laurie or call her at (760) 753-7676. Click here to visit Laurie’s website for more information.
YOUR PERSONAL ASTROLOGICAL PREDICTIONS
Illustrations by Kagaya, a Japanese digital fine artist.
Click here to visit Kagaya’s website.
ARIES (March 21 – April 19)
You enjoy variety and change, and 2013 will not disappoint you as change-oriented Uranus moves through Aries throughout the year. You will be pleasantly surprised by the destinations you reach through serendipity. And you will become progressively accustomed to the accelerated pace of your life. Late April-May and October hold the greatest potential for transformational change due to a series of eclipses. Think about new directions you might like to go—the energy for change will be abundantly available. Consider (more…)
The Night Before X-Mess!
December 6, 2012
Click on the audio player below to listen to my sister Cyn’s introduction.
Click on the audio player below to listen to an excerpt from my rendition of The Night Before X-Mess.
A CHERISHED FAMILY TRADITION
My sister Cyn and me with our beloved Grampo
Back on August 9, 1941, my grandfather, Herb Bolsta, copyrighted two original parodies: The Night Before X-Mess and Casey at the Battiest. For many years, he performed these humorous pieces at public functions and gatherings in Ortonville, the small Minnesota town where he lived. He then passed the torch to my dad, Kent Bolsta, a natural ham, who never missed an opportunity to perform one of these parodies at one of the countless public events he emceed or participated in. My dad had updated the parodies, and my sister, Cyn Bolsta, and I recently tweaked them a bit more. What’s very cool is that, while editing and recording The Night Before X-Mess, Cyn and I felt like we were collaborating with our dad and Grampo (as we called our grandfather). Cyn and I are proud to carry on the family tradition and present The Night Before X-Mess. We hope you like it!
My dad pulled out all the stops whenever he performed The Night Before X-Mess!
Click on the audio player below to hear my dad recite his father’s entire masterpiece!
https://bolstablog.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/the-night-before-xmess.mp3
And here is my dad performing Casey at the Battiest!
https://bolstablog.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/casey-at-the-bat.mp3
Our wonderful and talented dad, Kent Bolsta
Click here to learn how my dad performed The Night Before X-Mess at his own funeral!
Click here to see all my humorous posts.
Click here to see all my posts featuring my parents and grandparents.
ABOUT PHIL BOLSTA
If you feel more stressed than blessed . . . if you have more confusion than clarity about how to live your beliefs . . . if you long to live a richer, happier, more meaningful life . . . you will find a wealth of insight and guidance in Through God’s Eyes: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Troubled World.
Through God’s Eyes is a road map for living a more peaceful, beautiful life. It’s the only book that explains how dozens of spiritual principles interact, how to weave them together into a cohesive worldview, and how to practically apply this spiritual wisdom to daily life.
Readers everywhere are discovering that when you challenge yourself to look through God’s eyes, the world around you changes, and so do you.
Who will benefit from reading Through God’s Eyes?
Anyone who is on a spiritual path, or wants to be.
Anyone who loves life, or wants to learn how to.
Anyone who is happy, or wants to be happier.
Click here to order your copy of Through God’s Eyes from GodsEyesAmazon.com.
For an inscribed copy, click here to e-mail Phil for information.
Click here to visit the Through God’s Eyes website.
Click on the link below to download a FREE 28-page chapter!
SEE EVERY MOMENT AS A GIFT
Click here to read endorsements from authors and thought leaders.
Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers.
Click here to ask Phil to add you to his e-mail list for updates on his blog and books.
Here is a two-minute video introduction to Through God’s Eyes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usKgh4oLnKw
Like to learn more about Through God’s Eyes? Here is a free 44-page PDF sampler from the book that includes:
• an overview of the book
• the complete table of contents
• the Foreword by Caroline Myss
• my Introduction
• chapter excerpts
• a sample end-of-chapter story
• endorsements from authors and thought leaders
Just click on the link below to download your free PDF sampler!
THROUGH GOD’S EYES PDF SAMPLER
Schedule a Mastery Mentoring phone session with Phil to learn how to apply principles of spiritual living more effortlessly and effectively. Priced affordably! Click here to e-mail Phil for details.
Phil’s eBook, The Logic of Living a Spiritual Life: Supporting a Life of Faith Through Logic and Reason, is now available for 99 cents.
Order it at GodIsLogical.com.
In this eBook, you’ll find answers to questions like:
• What is the cornerstone of a spiritual life, and why?
• What is the secret to liberating yourself from other people’s judgments and expectations?
• How do you reconcile the “free will vs. Divine Will” conundrum?
• Why is there an exception to “Everything happens for a reason”?
Those who worship logic instead of God are only half right. Not only is it logical to believe in God and to live a faith-based life, the existence of a loving, benevolent God that governs all creation is perhaps the only systematic worldview that explains every aspect of life.
Phil is also the author of Sixty Seconds: One Moment Changes Everything, a collection of 45 inspiring, life-changing stories from prominent authors and thought leaders he interviewed. The roster of storytellers includes Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Caroline Myss, Larry Dossey, Rachel Naomi Remen, Bernie Siegel, Dean Ornish, and Christiane Northrup. Sixty Seconds has been translated into four languages: Italian, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. Reading this book is like spending a few minutes face to face with each of the contributors and listening to their personal stories.
Click here to order Sixty Seconds.
Learn more by visiting the official Sixty Seconds website.
Click here to read unsolicited testimonials from readers.
Here is a three-minute video introduction to Sixty Seconds.
Laurie Baum’s Astrological Forecast for 2013
December 5, 2012
Laurie Baum
This comprehensive astrological forecast for 2013 was written by my good friend Laurie Baum, MSW, a psychological astrologer and psychotherapist in practice in Encinitas, California. As you can see from her article, Laurie integrates the wisdom of natural patterns in the heavens with spirituality and psychological insights.
Click here to read Laurie’s 2013 predictions for each individual zodiac sign.
Personally, I never had much of an appreciation for astrology and just didn’t care enough about the subject to investigate it further. Then two things happened.
First, I happened to read a chapter in a life-changing book that burned off the fog of ignorance and answered every question I had about astrology. It was written with clarity, precision, wit and wisdom, and I felt the subject come brilliantly alive for me as I read it. Click here to read that excerpt on astrology.
Second, I had an hour-long astrological reading with Laurie Baum. We discussed every area I could think of: health, relationships, finances, lessons in need of learning, major life changes to come. Not only did she nail everything—and I mean everything—about me, but she provided very helpful insights that will help me navigate the years ahead with more confidence and authority. It was uncanny: everything she told me aligned perfectly with what my intuition had long been telling me; but she also went far beyond that point and gave me much to think about. This reading with Laurie gave me a much deeper appreciation of the value of astrology and a more profound respect for its power. Thank you, Laurie!
NOTE: After this post appeared, Alan, a very spiritually minded friend of mine, e-mailed me: “Given your glowing recommendations I just sent Laurie an email requesting a reading.” Three days later, Alan sent me this note: “I had a wonderful astrology reading experience with Laurie. She was able to deliver insightful information in a comprehensive and compassionate manner. I found it timely and useful on many levels so I thank you for introducing me to her.”
You, too, can benefit from Laurie’s wisdom. She writes a free astrological newsletter about how planetary alignments affect our lives on earth. Click here to e-mail Laurie to subscribe at no cost, or visit Laurie’s website and click on “Free Email Newsletter.”
Laurie is a former newspaper and news magazine reporter who is profiled in the books Psychic New York and The 100 Top Psychics in America. She is the author of five books:
A to Z Acrophonology: Discover the Power of the Letters in Your Name
Everything You Need to Know About Your Astrology Sign
Astrological Secrets for the New Millennium
Laurie also offers counseling appointments by phone. She will answer your questions about major life decisions and talk with you about the reasons you have incarnated, the lessons you are here to learn, where you are on the wheel of karma, and the psychological developmental cycles you have been through and are going through. She will look at current influences on your health, finances, relationships, career, and any relocation plans that may be necessary. She also will look ahead with you at the next seven years of your life. A reading with Laurie can help you take the next step in your life. Sessions, which are available via landline phone or Skype (audio or video), are digitally recorded.
To make an appointment with Laurie, click here to e-mail Laurie or call her at (760) 753-7676. Click here to visit Laurie’s website for more information.
2013 ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST
by LAURIE BAUM
I considered waiting until after December 21, 2012 (Winter Solstice), to write the 2013 astrological forecast— to make sure time hadn’t “ended” as foretold by the Mayan calendar. But in the spirit of optimism, I would like to share my usual new year forecast with you prior to the potential “end of time,” given that astrological indicators point toward a new year of positive growth in consciousness and an end of time as we have known it only. The Mayans actually predicted that a wave of spiritual energy would enter the magnetic field of the Earth on December 21, 2012. This wave of higher consciousness will benefit those who are ready to receive, even though it potentially will be resisted by those who are not ready to receive.
SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT—SUMMER 2013—GRAND TRINE IN WATER SIGNS OF CANCER, SCORPIO AND PISCES
Indeed, a spiritual awakening is strongly indicated by astrological alignments in 2013, including a mid-summer celestial line-up of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune in the flowing water signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Water signs revolve around feelings, which often serve as a bridge between our material aspirations and our spiritual yearnings—the sign of Cancer arouses spiritual feelings through home and family, Scorpio stirs spiritual connection through deep psychological exploration, and Pisces awakens our desire to transcend and be reunited with the Divine. Jupiter, which is oriented toward philosophy and spiritual teachings, brings us luck and expansion. Saturn, which is geared toward hard work, discipline, and the working out of karma, teaches important spiritual lessons. And Neptune mediates the energy of (more…)
Triumph of the Spirit 