Peace From Broken Pieces Book Review: Life After Loss

Failure. The mere mention of the word sets off alarm bells throughout the nervous system. We want to reject the idea outright, to look away, and to consider something, anything else. The thought of it is far too daunting, and the fear of it is pervasive. New Agers typically respond to even the notion of it with their seemingly inexhaustible supplies of positive affirmations. The “Law of Attraction” crowd will take it one step further and practically blame the fallen for their circumstances. The Buddhists, with their rigorous practice of acceptance, are seemingly well prepared to handle its presence. The ACIM folks seem to share an ability to recognize even the worst parts of life as perfect, in the divine scheme of things. Then there’s Iyanla Vanzant.

Iyanla is a Yoruba trained Priestess who wrote an entire book about it. Failed marriage? Check. Failed major career opportunity, with none other than media icon Oprah Winfrey? Check. Home foreclosure? Yep. Loss of assets due to family illness? Iyanla’s been there and done that, too. Add the untimely death of her middle child to cancer, and you begin to get some idea of what “Peace From Broken Pieces” is all about.

Vanzant does not however, wallow in her misery. Rather she bravely combs through the ashes of her devastation. Like a dedicated forensic scientist, she pours through the wreckage of her life in search of origins, and answers. In the process she unearths family pathologies, but she doesn’t hang her story on those. Her journey is about self awareness and ultimately peace, and her courage and honestly are necessary and remarkable. The scenes, like those of childhood beatings, are at times harrowing. But her persistent search for meaning and understanding carry her and readers through them. Her willingness to share so candidly gives us all permission to take a deeper look at life’s uncomfortable side. Her strength and wisdom light our way through it.

FYI, Hay House provides the books I review, though they do not exercise any editorial control of the content of my reviews. I am also one of the featured bloggers on the new “Hay House Book Club” which air every Friday at 11:00 A.M. PST on Hay House Radio. In fact the show with Iyanla debuts June 24th. You can also join the discussion about “Peace From Broken Pieces” and other Book Club selections on Facebook.

Sun into Cancer: Expressions of Love & Vulnerability

As revolutionary 2011 reaches its midpoint, the intuitive, nurturing and initiating energies of Cancer arrive. Knowing what we want to overthrow is easy. Knowing what we want to replace it with is somewhat more challenging. And building the new utopia? Well, that is another matter entirely. Powerhouse planets Saturn, Pluto and Uranus are already traveling in close degree to one another and occupying three of astrology’s four instigating or Cardinal signs, Libra, Capricorn and Aries. The Sun’s entrance into Cancer at 10:17 A.M. PST on June 21st completes the set and reactivates a Grand Cardinal Cross. July 1st’s new moon eclipse in sensitive Cancer, as well as Mercury and Venus Cancer transits, underscore this cycle’s theme of releasing the past to birth the new.

The Sun’s movement into Cancer transforms the current T-Square the outer planets are forming into a Grand Cardinal Cross. Mercury strengthens the Cancer aspect of the Cross as it travels through the sign of the Crab until July 1st. Venus then takes up the cause on July 3rd when she enters Cancer. Encompassing all four of astrology’s elements, water, air, earth and fire, a Grand Cardinal Cross positions at least one major force (planet) at each of the four initiating points of astrology’s wheel. These energies signal and support new beginnings. The angles created between the planets however, form squares and oppositions. These aspects bring up conflicting issues in need of resolution. In an atmosphere of what astrologer Stephanie Austin describes as “change or be changed,” here are some hot spots to be mindful of. On June 26th the Sun squares radical Uranus, on the 27th it opposes destructive Pluto and on July 2nd it squares unyielding Saturn.

Cancer’s psychic prowess, maternal instinct and inner drive are some of this sign’s most valuable resources. Its motive after all is to create and foster emotional security. In 2011 however, if we are intent on birthing something truly transformational, we will need to access one of protective Cancer’s most guarded traits, her vulnerability. In part that means getting in touch with our emotional bodies. From the impact of a Tsunami, to the devastation wrought by flooding, to the ability of even calm water to eventually erode solid rock, the power of water is indisputable. Symbolized by that element, our feelings carry a similar force. Whether expressed or repressed, their magnitude shapes our lives profoundly and in ways that we rarely stop to examine. The new moon solar eclipse of July 1st gives us a sweet opportunity to connect with the emotions driving our actions and consequently writing our stories. Even the unpleasant ones are messengers. When fully embraced, they will serve as a fine-tuned navigation system for those new realities we are birthing. Later that day, Mercury will enter Lion-hearted Leo where, due to an August retrograde, he will be active until September 8th. A new moon eclipse with this Cancer-Leo combination is a cosmic invitation to begin living with less fear and more courage.

More moments of sublime clarity about how to build those new paradigms arrive on June 22nd when the Sun trines dreamy Neptune, July 7th when expansive Jupiter trines Pluto and during the July 15th full moon in constructive Capricorn. Under these conditions, Cancer’s intrinsic beauty and power are like cascading moonlight pouring onto a glass ocean. Wordless, their effusive lunar magic speaks to the deepest corners of our being. Under their luminous influence, hoarding Cancer freely surrenders old resentments, hurt feelings and perceived slights to the past. Unlocked, the Crab’s hardened shell retracts. Our crusty little creature bravely ventures into the unknown, fully exposed and completely vulnerable to life’s softness, poetry and romance. So while this cycle’s Grand Cardinal Cross is certain to bring discordant issues and messy feelings to the stormy surface at times, the mantras “It is safe to feel” and “It is safe to love” echo in the heart’s chambers.

Please join Elizabeth for two very special radio appearances this week. On June 21st at 11:00 A.M. PST she is the guest host for vacationing C.A. Brooks on “Simple Tales” on 12Radio. She will be welcoming Vedic astrologer Mo Abelbaki to talk about those Nodes and why they are such a significant part of the chart. Then the Cancer Confab begins when Cancer natives Reverend Keith Ruback, 12Listen Advisor Jamie Dawn and Hay House Radio Producer Diane Ray join Elizabeth to talk about the Crab; the good, the bad and the moody! Come celebrate the Summer Solstice with “Simple Tales!”

On Friday June 24th at 11:00 A.M. PST the latest edition of the new “Hay House Book Club” debuts on Hay House Radio. Elizabeth joins host Diane Ray, author Iyanla Vanzadt and fellow Hay House bloggers to talk about Iyanla’s powerful book “Peace From Broken Pieces.”