I blogged on Huffington post this week about sexuality, the media, feminism and all that kinda stuff. Whilst my main concern is soulfulness and spirituality, I got a few feminist bones that assert themselves every so often and put me on my high horse. So I posted an excerpt from The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living. And I'm glad I did, because people seem to like it, even some of the guys. And as ever in my heart I see spiritual such and such to be the answer. I just think if we all got cosmic with ourselves, recognised our true lovely innards and noted the connection between us and all others, we'd be shining bright as a species. I'll continue to post in this vein every so often, hoping that it will touch a few hearts. To read the article, go here... Sex, Boobs and Spirituality... A Rant

It's been a while since I picked up and looked at my most recent book, The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living. I'm the kinda girl who gets something done, and moves on to the next thing, no looking back. But then sometimes I am inclined, like we all are, to revisit the past a little. So as my little Ivy slept I went and picked up my book and had a trawl through. As ever I am amazed by where all that spiritual information came from, not to mention where the inclination came from to commit it to paper! I do think that when writing THHGTSL I was having information poured into my head from some awesome higher self, some universal magicky type source. I managed to match this info up to my own life events and boom, we have a recipe for a spiritual life. Though my recipe is only as powerful as the events in your own life. Because I passionately believe it is our life events that conjure up the circumstances we need, as individuals, to get a little bit soulful. So my life, is nowt but an example for you to kick off from.
 
 Anyway... I thought I'd share with you the very beginning of the book, the 'Note From The Author', because reading it touched me. It reminded me why I started this crazy spiritual lark in the first place, it reminded me a little bit who I am... and as I've been lost in a world of baby Ivy, it can be easy to forget I'm anything other than a milk maid! I hope you enjoy this excerpt and that it gives you a good idea of the tone and purpose of THHGTSL...

A Note from the Author…

Yesterday my husband, James and I were clearing out the house looking for a lost passport. Somewhere in the mêlée of drawers, boxes and paperwork he came across my diary from nine years ago. The diary began just a few weeks before I met him. It documented my arrival in the town of Leicester, our meeting and my general life around that time.

It was like being confronted with a total stranger. Even James remarked that I am now a totally different woman from the lost, self conscious, slightly conceited girl that I had been then.

It made for hard reading. I was horrified by some of my small-minded comments and throwaway asides. I felt sorry for the child inside me who had been very confused about the world, about relationships and about where on earth her life was headed. It was the diary of someone consumed by her own messy life, and was desperately trying to fathom a way out, but without having to make too much effort. It was Bridget Jones but with soft drugs, hard rock and a boyfriend.

What scares me now when reading back through my diary, is how unconscious I was to anything. These days I am stringently aware of myself, of others, of the world, the planet, animals and all of our spiritual places within it. Back then, I could not see past my own bed, work and another rampaging night out. I was living the fantastical young woman’s life. I was exploring all that life had to offer when living in a two up two down on the hard side of town.

I was making friends, meeting people, shopping with the funds from my first proper job, misbehaving and apparently having massive amounts of fun.

But my thoughts never drifted beyond all of this. The only inner seeking I did, was to harp back to my life just before Leicester and wonder where it all went wrong.

This may sound like a familiar scenario to you. Many of us have a tendency to live shallow, self-seeking lives, not because we are bad people, but because there are few other options apparent to us. We earn money, we buy things, we feather our nest and we believe that this gives our lives meaning. At weekends we pour this money into a social account that sees us through another week with a few funny memories. The lucky few of us have great careers, or wonderful children to focus on. But still… we are not thinking outside of the four walls of our own lives.

I believe there is more to our lives than we currently realize. We are not simply little human consumption machines, we are powerful spiritual beings and it is time we started to explore this. Accessing this knowledge and empowering ourselves with it is the aim of this book.

The High Heeled Guide to Spiritual Living will help take you from the shallow side to a deeper and more fulfilling existence.

I intend to show you that beyond our little lives, you are connected to infinity.

You are in cahoots with all other people and things on this planet, and when you know this you can begin living above and beyond your current, somewhat limited, potential.

I want you to know that you are a spiritual being, having a human experience. To explore this you do not need to wait until you die. You are spiritual now, this is your life now. The two things can be merged to great effect and all things can become more meaningful than you ever anticipated.

Whilst we didn’t find James’s passport during our clear out, it became clear to me that somewhere along the line I had found my passport to a crazily fulfilling life. By realizing my spirituality and the life force and energy of all things, I too had realized who I am. I have found my purpose and flown to greater, happier heights.

I will say no more, save for the fact that this book is written for you. My last book, if I am honest was written for me, it was a kind of therapy that prepared me for my spiritual path.

Instead now I devote this book to you in your high heels, your biker boots, your sandals and your bare feet. I devote it to women, and to men, and to children should they feel that way inclined.

All I want to do is help change the world and if I can get your consciousness to budge one tiny little millimeter, then I am smiling.

Peace and Love