This document provides an introduction to Raquel Glottman, who has been asked by a friend to write a book about her life over nine months. It summarizes her background, interests, and personality in 3 sentences:
Raquel is an artist living in Miami with her 5-year-old daughter; she practices yoga, teaches photography, and seeks to understand existence through exploring multiple spiritual traditions and experiences like psychedelic plants in the Amazon; though she has faced challenges like her father's bankruptcy and brother's death, she maintains an open and curious outlook on life.
This document is an introduction written by Johar Mohammad to accompany his poem "Reflections on God, Islam and Life." It provides background on Johar, explaining that he wrote the poem at age 14-15 while excluded from school. It also shares some poems on God written by Johar's classmates to provide context for his own poem. The introduction explores Johar's varied personalities and experiences in school, home life and with friends. It aims to give readers insight into what motivated Johar to write his reflections on faith from a Muslim perspective.
A lot many of us carry problems around in life. We all have an incredible number of issues that are tucked away at the back of our minds, making us uncomfortable and holding us back. The longer we ignore these problems, the more they build up, controlling and governing a large part of what happens to us in our lives.
This document contains multiple short passages and articles on various topics related to student life:
- The first passage expresses love for one's university group and how it provides friendship and support.
- The second discusses the importance of reading literature to gain knowledge and improve one's skills and mind.
- The third article argues that exams are an important part of student life that test their knowledge and skills acquired through learning, and can motivate students to work hard.
After struggling his whole life trying to get in, where he fit in this serial entrepreneur finally hit rock bottom
After running out of options in life and taking the low road instead of the high road he found himself stuck in career he had no interest in doing.
After sitting around for years thinking and thinking of how he was going to get out the situation he had got himself in he realized that he couldn't think himself into a new way of acting he had to act himself into a new way thinking
And that is where his journey began the journey of cracked the success code to life.
Bree Hohnbaum discusses her journey to becoming a teacher. She shares experiences from her childhood education, struggles in college, and finding her passion for teaching. She realized in 7th grade she wanted to be a teacher after learning about the impact teachers can have. Though she struggled in her early years of college, she found success at Community College of Western Idaho and is now studying to become an elementary school teacher. She believes that education can change the world and that teachers are the future.
This document is a reflection by Lacey Desper on her formal and informal educational experiences. It describes her K-12 education, including struggles with adopted siblings and challenges in high school calculus. It details her failed attempt at Baker University due to taking on too many extracurricular activities. It then describes obtaining an associate's degree from Johnson County Community College while starting a family. Desper compares her experiences to those described in an online essay by PrisonerSix about struggles with education. She concludes that overcoming challenges has helped her better understand how she learns and how to approach future education for the benefit of her daughter.
This document contains a student's journal entries for a social psychology course. The entries discuss various concepts from the course, including how the student developed hygienic behaviors from observing their mother's practices, how the presence of skilled classmates enhanced their drawing performance, and how positive messages can be persuasive by promising good outcomes like the benefits of exercise. The student provides personal examples for concepts like extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, cognitive biases, and influence techniques.
Social Psychology Individual Journal FNBE 0814Zi Shan
This document contains a student's journal submissions for a social psychology course. It discusses various topics:
1) Motivation, describing intrinsic motivation as things done for enjoyment and extrinsic motivation as things done due to obligation. An example of intrinsic motivation is described.
2) Counterfactual thinking, which involves imagining alternative outcomes for past events. Upward counterfactuals involve regret over what could have been better, while downward counterfactuals provide relief over what could have been worse. Examples of both are given.
3) Self-fulfilling prophecy, where one's expectations shape one's actions and cause the expected outcome to occur. Examples of how expectations can negatively impact students, employees, and oneself are provided.
This document is an introduction written by Johar Mohammad to accompany his poem "Reflections on God, Islam and Life." It provides background on Johar, explaining that he wrote the poem at age 14-15 while excluded from school. It also shares some poems on God written by Johar's classmates to provide context for his own poem. The introduction explores Johar's varied personalities and experiences in school, home life and with friends. It aims to give readers insight into what motivated Johar to write his reflections on faith from a Muslim perspective.
A lot many of us carry problems around in life. We all have an incredible number of issues that are tucked away at the back of our minds, making us uncomfortable and holding us back. The longer we ignore these problems, the more they build up, controlling and governing a large part of what happens to us in our lives.
This document contains multiple short passages and articles on various topics related to student life:
- The first passage expresses love for one's university group and how it provides friendship and support.
- The second discusses the importance of reading literature to gain knowledge and improve one's skills and mind.
- The third article argues that exams are an important part of student life that test their knowledge and skills acquired through learning, and can motivate students to work hard.
After struggling his whole life trying to get in, where he fit in this serial entrepreneur finally hit rock bottom
After running out of options in life and taking the low road instead of the high road he found himself stuck in career he had no interest in doing.
After sitting around for years thinking and thinking of how he was going to get out the situation he had got himself in he realized that he couldn't think himself into a new way of acting he had to act himself into a new way thinking
And that is where his journey began the journey of cracked the success code to life.
Bree Hohnbaum discusses her journey to becoming a teacher. She shares experiences from her childhood education, struggles in college, and finding her passion for teaching. She realized in 7th grade she wanted to be a teacher after learning about the impact teachers can have. Though she struggled in her early years of college, she found success at Community College of Western Idaho and is now studying to become an elementary school teacher. She believes that education can change the world and that teachers are the future.
This document is a reflection by Lacey Desper on her formal and informal educational experiences. It describes her K-12 education, including struggles with adopted siblings and challenges in high school calculus. It details her failed attempt at Baker University due to taking on too many extracurricular activities. It then describes obtaining an associate's degree from Johnson County Community College while starting a family. Desper compares her experiences to those described in an online essay by PrisonerSix about struggles with education. She concludes that overcoming challenges has helped her better understand how she learns and how to approach future education for the benefit of her daughter.
This document contains a student's journal entries for a social psychology course. The entries discuss various concepts from the course, including how the student developed hygienic behaviors from observing their mother's practices, how the presence of skilled classmates enhanced their drawing performance, and how positive messages can be persuasive by promising good outcomes like the benefits of exercise. The student provides personal examples for concepts like extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, cognitive biases, and influence techniques.
Social Psychology Individual Journal FNBE 0814Zi Shan
This document contains a student's journal submissions for a social psychology course. It discusses various topics:
1) Motivation, describing intrinsic motivation as things done for enjoyment and extrinsic motivation as things done due to obligation. An example of intrinsic motivation is described.
2) Counterfactual thinking, which involves imagining alternative outcomes for past events. Upward counterfactuals involve regret over what could have been better, while downward counterfactuals provide relief over what could have been worse. Examples of both are given.
3) Self-fulfilling prophecy, where one's expectations shape one's actions and cause the expected outcome to occur. Examples of how expectations can negatively impact students, employees, and oneself are provided.
This document is the prologue and first chapter of an autobiographical story told in the first person. It introduces the narrator, who will recount his experiences with six romantic partners over his life. The chapter describes his childhood and being forced to repeat 7th grade after transferring to a new strict English-medium school led by an unkind principal who renames him. It ends by describing his first sight of a girl at this new school, which sparks his first love at first sight and marks a change in his life experiences with women.
The document is an autobiographical account by the author describing their two years studying at S.P. Higher Secondary Institute after 10th grade. [1] It describes the chaotic environment and lack of discipline at the school initially. [2] New leadership brought in reforms like uniforms and attendance policies. [3] The author focused on subjects like Islamic Studies and Psychology, finding other classes unsatisfactory due to poor teaching. They ultimately topped their humanities class and published their first book during these formative years.
Matt reflects on how he developed various habits of mind over the semester in his English class through assignments like blogs, wikis, and reflections. He struggled with persisting through illness but was able to complete his work. He also learned to manage impulsivity, take responsible risks, think flexibly, strive for accuracy, apply past knowledge, question problems, and improve his writing. The reflective assignments helped him grow as a student and transfer skills to other classes and life goals.
Islamic Speech Review (Shayk Kamal El Mekki)Raja Rosenani
The document expresses deep appreciation to the Islamic Studies lecturer Puan Mashitah binti Sabdin for her guidance and help in making the dissertation possible. It also thanks the group members for their teamwork and commitment in completing the project on time. Additionally, it expresses gratitude to the author's parents for their endless support, both financially and otherwise. Lastly, it thanks classmates for providing feedback that helped improve the work.
From the Other Side of Happiness V1 5 ChaptersCassandra Jakes
This document is an introduction to a story about Cassandra Bradley Jakes, a 28-year-old successful doctor who feels empty inside despite her accomplishments. She reflects on her childhood and difficult past, wondering what is missing from her life. The story then shifts to Cassandra's school days where she formed a close friendship with Sharon, who helped her through challenges. After graduating high school, Cassandra had a traumatic experience getting lost on the night of her graduation that has left a dark shadow. She realizes she has hard work ahead as she prepares for college in the fall.
This document contains introductions from several students of Apeejay School in Pitampura, New Delhi, India. Each student shares some details about themselves, including their name, age, hobbies and interests. Some of the students discuss their family backgrounds, career goals, and what they value. The document aims to help readers learn more about the lives and perspectives of these Indian teenagers.
This document contains an interview with Rafel Naseer, an English Fellow working at a university in Moldova. In the interview, Rafel discusses his reasons for returning to Moldova after previously living there from 2008-2010. He says that while Moldovans and Americans have many similarities, Moldovans place more emphasis on collective work. The interview also touches on Rafel's childhood, career path, hobbies and views on freedom. It concludes with him sharing how his family celebrates Christmas in their home in Florida.
An Interview with Rev. Paul G. Zimmer IICindy Bauer
Rev. Paul is the author of several novels, the most recent a book of devotions and the DAZE series, plus a mystery suspense novel titled Convoy Murder.
This document contains two journal entries by a student discussing concepts from social psychology. In the first entry, the student describes an experience where a classmate said condoms were unethical because they promote sex, contrary to the student's view that condoms prevent unwanted pregnancy. The student realizes common sense can differ based on upbringing. The second entry describes the student gaming excessively and almost failing an exam, but miraculously passing after last-minute studying, feeling better about their performance than friends who studied harder. Both entries examine how personal experiences relate to psychological concepts like the false consensus effect and downward social comparison.
Aaron Murphy is attending college for the first time at the age of 20 and finds it challenging to adjust. He lives off campus, which hinders his ability to fully engage in campus life. Attending classes is difficult due to unreliable transportation, and he has been late or missed classes. Murphy sees his classes like children that require attention and commitment. He spends much of his time studying in the library, which feels like a sanctuary. Murphy joins a counseling session to help work through challenges and finds relief in sharing his thoughts. He remains determined to accomplish his goals through positive thinking and effort despite difficulties.
This document is a reflection by an English lecturer on their teaching experiences at a college. They feel like an entertainer to disengaged students but still finds teaching rewarding when students appreciate their efforts. The lecturer enjoys reading novels by Indian authors like RK Narayan in their spare time instead of newspapers, as their father had insisted on. They have influenced a colleague to also enjoy RK Narayan's works.
1) The document discusses the concept of social learning perspective, which suggests that human behavior is influenced by observing others. The author provides examples of how observing confident communication styles of others influenced them to become more social and speak up.
2) It also discusses the concept of self-concept and how reflecting on strengths and thinking positively about oneself can influence how one views their abilities and interacts with others.
3) Finally, it discusses the concept of optimistic bias, where people tend to believe they are less likely to experience negative events and more likely to have positive outcomes compared to others. The author provides examples of how this impacted their beliefs and behaviors.
Artwork_Pyrography_ A Sketchbook Review By C.S.Alexis_JerHooffman47
The document provides an autobiographical sketch of the author's childhood and development of their creativity. It describes growing up in a close-knit family of 5 children where the parents fostered creativity and learning through activities like "The Crouch's Little Theatre" performances. The author had an early interest in art but their path was impacted by their father's unexpected death when they were a teenager. They found inspiration and direction through art classes and pursuing their own creative vision.
The document appears to be a collection of passages from a blog or memoir describing the author's journey of self-discovery and coming of age. It discusses dealing with feelings of uncertainty about identity and purpose, and questions about who the author is perceived to be by others. The passages describe facing challenges fitting in and feeling different than others while growing up in a new country and culture than one's own heritage. Overall it explores themes of finding oneself and one's path in life through facing adversity and personal growth over time.
The document describes a fourth grade student's experiences throughout the school year. It discusses their favorite and least favorite subjects, which include physical education, math, and Chinese language learning. It also outlines the student's goals, such as improving their writing, reading harder books, and getting better at division in math. Extracurricular activities at the school like the library, recess, and Fun Fridays are also mentioned.
The Book of Samuel is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books in the Old Testament. The book is part of the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books that constitute a theological history of the Israelites and that aim to explain God's law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets.
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
This document is the prologue and first chapter of an autobiographical story told in the first person. It introduces the narrator, who will recount his experiences with six romantic partners over his life. The chapter describes his childhood and being forced to repeat 7th grade after transferring to a new strict English-medium school led by an unkind principal who renames him. It ends by describing his first sight of a girl at this new school, which sparks his first love at first sight and marks a change in his life experiences with women.
The document is an autobiographical account by the author describing their two years studying at S.P. Higher Secondary Institute after 10th grade. [1] It describes the chaotic environment and lack of discipline at the school initially. [2] New leadership brought in reforms like uniforms and attendance policies. [3] The author focused on subjects like Islamic Studies and Psychology, finding other classes unsatisfactory due to poor teaching. They ultimately topped their humanities class and published their first book during these formative years.
Matt reflects on how he developed various habits of mind over the semester in his English class through assignments like blogs, wikis, and reflections. He struggled with persisting through illness but was able to complete his work. He also learned to manage impulsivity, take responsible risks, think flexibly, strive for accuracy, apply past knowledge, question problems, and improve his writing. The reflective assignments helped him grow as a student and transfer skills to other classes and life goals.
Islamic Speech Review (Shayk Kamal El Mekki)Raja Rosenani
The document expresses deep appreciation to the Islamic Studies lecturer Puan Mashitah binti Sabdin for her guidance and help in making the dissertation possible. It also thanks the group members for their teamwork and commitment in completing the project on time. Additionally, it expresses gratitude to the author's parents for their endless support, both financially and otherwise. Lastly, it thanks classmates for providing feedback that helped improve the work.
From the Other Side of Happiness V1 5 ChaptersCassandra Jakes
This document is an introduction to a story about Cassandra Bradley Jakes, a 28-year-old successful doctor who feels empty inside despite her accomplishments. She reflects on her childhood and difficult past, wondering what is missing from her life. The story then shifts to Cassandra's school days where she formed a close friendship with Sharon, who helped her through challenges. After graduating high school, Cassandra had a traumatic experience getting lost on the night of her graduation that has left a dark shadow. She realizes she has hard work ahead as she prepares for college in the fall.
This document contains introductions from several students of Apeejay School in Pitampura, New Delhi, India. Each student shares some details about themselves, including their name, age, hobbies and interests. Some of the students discuss their family backgrounds, career goals, and what they value. The document aims to help readers learn more about the lives and perspectives of these Indian teenagers.
This document contains an interview with Rafel Naseer, an English Fellow working at a university in Moldova. In the interview, Rafel discusses his reasons for returning to Moldova after previously living there from 2008-2010. He says that while Moldovans and Americans have many similarities, Moldovans place more emphasis on collective work. The interview also touches on Rafel's childhood, career path, hobbies and views on freedom. It concludes with him sharing how his family celebrates Christmas in their home in Florida.
An Interview with Rev. Paul G. Zimmer IICindy Bauer
Rev. Paul is the author of several novels, the most recent a book of devotions and the DAZE series, plus a mystery suspense novel titled Convoy Murder.
This document contains two journal entries by a student discussing concepts from social psychology. In the first entry, the student describes an experience where a classmate said condoms were unethical because they promote sex, contrary to the student's view that condoms prevent unwanted pregnancy. The student realizes common sense can differ based on upbringing. The second entry describes the student gaming excessively and almost failing an exam, but miraculously passing after last-minute studying, feeling better about their performance than friends who studied harder. Both entries examine how personal experiences relate to psychological concepts like the false consensus effect and downward social comparison.
Aaron Murphy is attending college for the first time at the age of 20 and finds it challenging to adjust. He lives off campus, which hinders his ability to fully engage in campus life. Attending classes is difficult due to unreliable transportation, and he has been late or missed classes. Murphy sees his classes like children that require attention and commitment. He spends much of his time studying in the library, which feels like a sanctuary. Murphy joins a counseling session to help work through challenges and finds relief in sharing his thoughts. He remains determined to accomplish his goals through positive thinking and effort despite difficulties.
This document is a reflection by an English lecturer on their teaching experiences at a college. They feel like an entertainer to disengaged students but still finds teaching rewarding when students appreciate their efforts. The lecturer enjoys reading novels by Indian authors like RK Narayan in their spare time instead of newspapers, as their father had insisted on. They have influenced a colleague to also enjoy RK Narayan's works.
1) The document discusses the concept of social learning perspective, which suggests that human behavior is influenced by observing others. The author provides examples of how observing confident communication styles of others influenced them to become more social and speak up.
2) It also discusses the concept of self-concept and how reflecting on strengths and thinking positively about oneself can influence how one views their abilities and interacts with others.
3) Finally, it discusses the concept of optimistic bias, where people tend to believe they are less likely to experience negative events and more likely to have positive outcomes compared to others. The author provides examples of how this impacted their beliefs and behaviors.
Artwork_Pyrography_ A Sketchbook Review By C.S.Alexis_JerHooffman47
The document provides an autobiographical sketch of the author's childhood and development of their creativity. It describes growing up in a close-knit family of 5 children where the parents fostered creativity and learning through activities like "The Crouch's Little Theatre" performances. The author had an early interest in art but their path was impacted by their father's unexpected death when they were a teenager. They found inspiration and direction through art classes and pursuing their own creative vision.
The document appears to be a collection of passages from a blog or memoir describing the author's journey of self-discovery and coming of age. It discusses dealing with feelings of uncertainty about identity and purpose, and questions about who the author is perceived to be by others. The passages describe facing challenges fitting in and feeling different than others while growing up in a new country and culture than one's own heritage. Overall it explores themes of finding oneself and one's path in life through facing adversity and personal growth over time.
The document describes a fourth grade student's experiences throughout the school year. It discusses their favorite and least favorite subjects, which include physical education, math, and Chinese language learning. It also outlines the student's goals, such as improving their writing, reading harder books, and getting better at division in math. Extracurricular activities at the school like the library, recess, and Fun Fridays are also mentioned.
The Book of Samuel is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books in the Old Testament. The book is part of the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books that constitute a theological history of the Israelites and that aim to explain God's law for Israel under the guidance of the prophets.
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
Trusting God's Providence | Verse: Romans 8: 28-31JL de Belen
Trusting God's Providence.
Providence - God’s active preservation and care over His creation. God is both the Creator and the Sustainer of all things Heb. 1:2-3; Col. 1:17
-God keep His promises.
-God’s general providence is toward all creation
- All things were made through Him
God’s special providence is toward His children.
We may suffer now, but joy can and will come
God can see what we cannot see
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
Protector & Destroyer: Agni Dev (The Hindu God of Fire)Exotic India
So let us turn the pages of ancient Indian literature and get to know more about Agni, the mighty purifier of all things, worshipped in Indian culture as a God since the Vedic time.
The Enchantment and Shadows_ Unveiling the Mysteries of Magic and Black Magic...Phoenix O
This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 6)heartfulness
Dear readers,
This month we continue with more inspiring talks from the Global Spirituality Mahotsav that was held from March 14 to 17, 2024, at Kanha Shanti Vanam.
We hear from Daaji on lifestyle and yoga in honor of International Day of Yoga, June 21, 2024. We also hear from Professor Bhavani Rao, Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, on spirituality in action, the Venerable BhikkuSanghasena on how to be an ambassador for compassion, Dr. Tony Nader on the Maharishi Effect, Swami Mukundananda on the crossroads of modernization, Tejinder Kaur Basra on the purpose of work, the Venerable GesheDorjiDamdul on the psychology of peace, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on how we are all related, and world-renowned violinist KumareshRajagopalan on the uplifting mysteries of music.
Dr. Prasad Veluthanar shares an Ayurvedic perspective on treating autism, Dr. IchakAdizes helps us navigate disagreements at work, Sravan Banda celebrates World Environment Day by sharing some tips on land restoration, and Sara Bubber tells our children another inspiring story and challenges them with some fun facts and riddles.
Happy reading,
The editors
Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu ExpertSanatan Vastu
Santan Vastu Provides Vedic astrology courses & Vastu remedies, If you are searching Vastu for home, Vastu for kitchen, Vastu for house, Vastu for Office & Factory. Best Vastu in Bahadurgarh. Best Vastu in Delhi NCR
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
The forces involved in this witchcraft spell will re-establish the loving bond between you and help to build a strong, loving relationship from which to start anew. Despite any previous hardships or problems, the spell work will re-establish the strong bonds of friendship and love upon which the marriage and relationship originated. Have faith, these stop divorce and stop separation spells are extremely powerful and will reconnect you and your partner in a strong and harmonious relationship.
My ritual will not only stop separation and divorce, but rebuild a strong bond between you and your partner that is based on truth, honesty, and unconditional love. For an even stronger effect, you may want to consider using the Eternal Love Bond spell to ensure your relationship and love will last through all tests of time. If you have not yet determined if your partner is considering separation or divorce, but are aware of rifts in the relationship, try the Love Spells to remove problems in a relationship or marriage. Keep in mind that all my love spells are 100% customized and that you'll only need 1 spell to address all problems/wishes.
Save your marriage from divorce & make your relationship stronger using anti divorce spells to make him or her fall back in love with you. End your marriage if you are no longer in love with your husband or wife. Permanently end your marriage using divorce spells that work fast. Protect your marriage from divorce using love spells to boost commitment, love & bind your hearts together for a stronger marriage that will last. Get your ex lover who has remarried using divorce spells to break up a couple & make your ex lost lover come back to you permanently.
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The Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings, of the Hebrew Bible. In most Christian canons it is treated as one of the historical books and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel.
3. “A task has been laid out. A challenge, a test of faith”
4. September 1
A task has been laid out. A challenge, a test of faith.
A few months ago a friend asked me to write a book. Just like that. My first reaction was a doubtful look that
spelled ‘yeah right.’ Yet he was convinced. I thought it was funny. We are good friends and spend a lot of time
in each other’s company, and this book topic kept popping up. A few weeks later, yet another conversation was
followed by a book contract and a note that read: “I am commissioning you to write a book for nine months. I will
sponsor it. ”
I still thought it was funny, and funny is always welcomed. Besides, as an artist, I’ve always wanted to be commis-
sioned so I went along with it.
“The subject?” I asked.
“You,” was the reply.
I cracked up.
“Really?”
“Yes, what you’ve experienced, what you have learned, but most importantly how you live.”
“Are you serious?”
And then in a solemn way, which I still found funny, he said the words that put gravitational weight to the subject:
“Raquel you can and WILL do it”.
“OK”, I said, agreeing to it light-heartedly.
“Very well then now I ask you to put your current projects on hold and concentrate on your task of this picture/
life-style book you must do, not for me, but for your daughter and yourself. It is time you place all the reading and
past learning to work for you. I have made it my personal mission to give the world Raquel.”
Oh boy!
6
5. “All right Jay, I will do as you request” was my final response, together with a promise that I would send him
everything as I wrote it. Deep inside, I liked the invitation and felt willing to give it a shot for nine months as he
requested. Why not ? I”ll approach it as a creative challenge that might culminate in some form of purposeful
overall vision. So I agreed.
And now here we are. You, anonymously reading this sometime in the future, and me, sitting in front of my com-
puter on a Monday morning, wondering where to begin.
I suppose I should start by formally introducing myself. But why not do things differently?
Let’s begin by introducing one of my dominant personal flaws, since you, as reader, will have to cope with it to
some extent, I introduce to you my very own, individualized and fully accepted ADD. What this means (to me),
and I am playfully flexible with the term, is that my mind is open to multiple influences at once and has the ability
to link one subject to another, leave it, come back to it, go around it, and then link it back through an additional
thread.
I can put it visually as I recently saw this object in Thomas Jefferson’s bedroom at Monticello. Mr. Jefferson had
a revolving book holder that held six books open simultaneously, a good metaphore for a multitasking mind. So,
dear reader, I hope you can bear a little ADD peppered in here and there as a literary style suited to the over-
stimulated contemporary mind of our day.
One of my favorite quotes is ‘Nothing that is human is foreign to me’, the words of the Roman poet Terentius. It
means we are all the same, based on the same palette of emotions, characteristics and reactions. We have all
been sinners and saints, priests and whores, foolish and wise, thieves and donors. My story is your story, your
story is my story, and at the end we are one and the same.
My official name is Rachel Natalia, but I have always gone by Raquel. My spiritual name is Iswari, it was given to
me when I became a certified yoga instructor.
I am in my late thirties, which is a great age. I think at this point I know what my life is about and what I am cut
out for, although some days, we all lose the plot, forget the meaning of existence, and face that nullifying empti-
ness of being....but that is only some days.
7
6. ( One of my favorite quotes is
‘Homo sum; humani nil a me alienum puto’
‘Nothing that is human is foreign to me’
)
7. It is said that every seven years our bodies regenerate completely both at a cellular and (by ramification) emo-
tional level. That means I am on my sixth life cycle. I’ve been told I will live long. Eleven life cycles would do.
I currently live in Miami. I am the proud mother of an amazing, five-year-old, gorgeous and brilliant princess-from
the stars named Catalina. Her father, a psychoanalyst, lives in London. We separated when she was eighteen
months old and I’ve been raising her on my own since then.
I think of myself as an artist. I remember at age fifteen deciding that being a photographer was the coolest pos-
sible occupation. This led to a life of taking pictures and experimenting with the medium. I’ve also tried my hand
at sculpting, drawing, making mosaics and even Runes. I’m sure I’ve been an artist before in another life. I could
tell when I put my hands on clay and started to sculpt the human figure. A fellow student at the Art Student
League in NYC where we worked with a live model turned to me after class and said
“I wish I could forget everything I know about sculpture so I could sculpt like you.”
And as I was working one of my first sculptures. I know I’ve been doing this for lifetimes. Artists are born to be
artists.
When I finished highschool my father told me I could study anything as long as I would be committed and dedi-
cated to it. So I studied photography and made it my occupation. Although, if one defines ‘occupation’ as a way
to earn a living, mine widely defeates the purpose. Still, I hope to be an artist for this, and many life times more
to come. It is my prerogative, and I have my father’s blessing. That I don’t care about the financial practicality of
my decision is a mystery, even to myself. Admittedly, it is a bold freedom I allow myself. I probably learned it from
yoga. Not to worry that is. To be trusting and in the moment. Worrying and fear are future-based. In present time
we don’t need to worry or fear anything.
Yoga is a big part of my life. But I wouldn’t say I am a yogi. I do, however, practice asana yoga four to five times
a week. My first lesson was with a humble urban master named Dharma Mitra in Manhattan. I was twenty-five
and was immediately hooked. I remember walking out of that first class on a crispy Sunday morning feeling a joy,
openness, an inner peace I had never felt before. I was filled with inexplicable happiness. I had found the path to
serenity through self-love and self-discovery. Now I can’t conceive of my life without this discipline. Since I became
Ω
a certified instructor I have been teaching continuously. But I can’t say I am a yogi, because I am not one all the
time.
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8. Basically, I am not fanatic about anything. After all, Buddha, the enlightened one taught ‘The middle way’: a bit of
everything and nothing in extreme. The middle way is my way.
I bartended for ten years while putting myself through art school. I was an art student for a long time making my
way through five different colleges. I studied art for eleven years and would have gladly made studding my profes-
sion, but eventually, after scholarships, graduations, honors and a Master’s degree, it was time to face ‘the real
world!’
I remember on the last day of college asking our art teacher “so what do we do now?”
It was a valid question. We had been making art, putting it up on the wall for critique and then going off to make
some more, ... and that was basically what we knew how to do. “So now what?”
I will never forget our teacher’s response: “If you keep doing it” he said, “it will take you somewhere.”
So I have been following those famous last words, but eventually it didn’t matter if art would take me somewhere
or not. It is just what I do, what holds my attention and challenges my imagination. I don’t make art for recogni-
tion or profit, but because I am absorbed in the process regardless of exposure, success, or plain good sense.
I consider myself a student of life on my own terms. I quest for answers about the reality of reality, longing to find
a satisfactory meaning behind the physical, spiritual, psychic and archetypal realms. My soul craves to understand
the nature of its existence. So, I seek.
To me, there is information and then, there is Exciting Information. Personally, I reach for the Exciting Information
to put my puzzle of understanding together.
I am all up for an evolutionary revolution! I think the world is both in the midst of an exciting renaissance in
technology, arts, sciences and spirituality, yet at the same time, in a collective existential and biological crisis. Big
changes are around the corner. Choosing one’s source of information is a discipline, a commitment to personal
growth. Each one is responsible for his/her own growth. There is no time to waste, of that I am sure.
So, there you have it. I am a self-confessed information-chauvinist. When I am around art I also become a most
despicable art-chauvinist. I am biased with an attitude, but keep my ruthlessness to myself. To me Art is a visceral
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9. instinctual experience; when I am in a gallery or museum I move fast past what doesn’t grab me, waiting expec-
tantly for Art to work its magic and make me stop to take it in with wonder. These encounters with art turn me on.
To share the artist’s wow! And possibly even aha!,–– That’s exciting! That is art at it’s best, moving our emotions,
and stimulating out thoughts and senses.
I was born in Miami, Florida, but raised in Bogota, Colombia. My father is Jewish and my mother Catholic. I have a
ttwin sister. We have an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister. Sandwiched in this symmetrical
composition, we were once a big family of six children until our oldest brother died at age twenty-three. I was sev-
enteen at the time. He was a casualty of the eighties’ heavy party scene. My older brother was cool, good looking
and wild. He lived fast and died fast. When he passed away I couldn’t understand what had happened. For a long
time I didn’t get it. I was the closest person to him then.
I lived in Bogota until I finished high school and left for Sarah Lawrence college in upstate NY. Back in Colombia
my father’s business was very well known, and bore our last name. As a friend once put it, ‘in Colombia your
name is a brand literally’. But,... my father made some mistakes, as he puts it, and eventually found himself
unable to continue running the business. He lost everything he had andhad to leave the country. The event was a
major national and international ordeal and the reason why we, as a family, unexpectedly found ourselves living in
Israel. Our father’s bankruptcy was a shock. I was in my early twenties when it happened. One of the many ways
my life changed was going from never worrying or thinking about money, to having financial support amount to
whatever was in my pocket. It was like falling into an abyss. Luckily, we, the children, were old enough to take
care of ourselves and pull out our emergency parachutes. Immediately after arriving in Israel my sisters and I set
out to find jobs and made the abrupt transition from over-protected rich society girls, to waitresses in restaurants
in a language we barely spoke.
10. The hard part, the real devastating part, was seeing our father go through a tormenting indignity he did not
deserve, and knowing that there were many other families suffering because of his collapse. It was hard and sad,
and some days it still is. Almost twenty years later my father still wakes up at night with nightmares about the
whole ordeal.
But, in many other ways, our family’s fate was a growing opportunity for all of us and pulled us closer together. To
my twenty-something self, it meant goodbye high society, hello world! In my core I never felt any different before
or after the Gold American Express card. Money comes and goes, that I learned fast. Best not to be defined by it.
My brother’s death, my parents’ divorce and my father’s bankruptcy were the three major turbulent events in my
early years.
Being half Jewish and half Catholic also turned out to be a blessing in disguise, although it didn’t seem that way
growing up. We were in a limbo, not Jewish enough for the Jewish community and definitely not Catholic for the
Catholics. An awkward dilemma. In my case, it left me free of religion. They say religion is an instinctual need, yet
no single religion ties me. I like them all. I love celebrating Jewish high holidays and going to Sabbath dinners. I
would never miss Christmas at my mom’s (frankly there is nothing religious about that.) When I practice yoga and
chant in Sanskrit I am in contact with Hinduism; when I go on meditation retreats I tap into my inner Buddhist. In
the Amazon I experience Shamanism, an expanded state of consciousness induced by sacred plants. It is in this
state where I have been able to communicate with nature, time travel, and journey intra-dimensionally, where I
have felt closest to the Divine Creative Spirit, God if you will.
Instead of believing, I prefer to explore. I’d rather discover for myself. And as far as I’ve seen, there are a number
of possibilities, multiple dimensions and answers in different places. Truth is pluralistic and mutable, but the
essence is one.
Having said that, and, as I am observing myself with sincerity, I must add that for whatever reason, when I am on
a plane about to take off I always cover my eyes and pray ‘Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad” (Hear,
Oh Israel God is among us, God is One). I guess this is my way of saying that, in case of emergency, when it
comes down to it, I feel more Jewish that anything else.
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11. I am left-handed and dyslexic. Luckily, I got specialized help for my dyslexia at a young age because as a kid I
had no clue which direction I was supposed to read or write. Left to right didn’t particularly make more sense than
right to left. I had a lot of moments of doubt on that single matter. ‘Which way is it? How come everyone knows
and I don’t?’ After I figured it out, I was forced to reverse it once again when I had to learn Hebrew in Israel. Now
I have a small tattoo on my right shoulder, now I know.
Had it not been for my dyslexia, being a dancer would have been my first career choice. But that dream crashed
the day I walked out of my last ballet class crying. The teacher was upset at the whole class, but I knew it
was I who made everyone mess up, I who didn’t know which way I was going. It was I who had to accept my
limitations.
My twin sister was named after our Russian great-grandmother. Ours was a natural birth. I am particularly grate-
ful to my mother for that. We were born nine minutes apart. I came out first. Our astrological sign is Libra, the
Balance. Those born under this sign can see both sides of things, though we are not always able to decide which
side to settle for. We can also go from one extreme and then easily go to it’s opposite. Ours is an air sign ruled by
Venus, the planet of love and beauty. In the Chinese calendar we were born in the year of the dog and like dogs,
we are good hearted and loyal and wiggle our tails when happy and bark when annoyed. We rarely bite.
Being a twin is a rare privilege. As a child I felt sorry for all of those who didn’t have one. My twin and I are not
identical and have very different personalities. She is a passionate journalist; A compassionate, interesting, intelli-
gent, and elegant journalis. She is really good at what she does, a first-class professional, yet her greatest feature
is her heart. My twin sister is a genuinely kind and caring human being. She has been my angel many times.
There were moments when I don’t know what I would have done without her support. She is one of my favorite
people in the world, which explains why we chose to be twins. Twinhood is guaranteed time together, with a lot
of complicity, unconditional love and an irresistable sense of humor. Our laughter attacks landed us in occasional
trouble growing up. She is the only one who knows how funny I actually am.
Physically I am five foot six inches tall. Give and take three pounds, my average weight is one hundred and twenty
pounds. I never forget to eat. I love food and don’t necessarily have to be hungry to eat. Most of the time I am
a fish vegetarian and gladly pay the extra buck for organic local produce. I would say I am nutritiously conscious.
I’m the type that loves spirulina, kale and seaweed and grows sprouts at home for salads. It bothers me when I
cut open a fruit and find it is seedless. It makes me think one day someone will eat the last orange, seedless.
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12. I’ve had two root canals, no surgeries otherwise.
I’ve never been hospitalized.
I have a scar under my left eye, but no memory of how I got it, only my mother’s account of the event, though
she was our of town when it happened. All I know about my scar is that it involved my older brother, a door, and
so much blood they thought my eye had burst.
I never use deodorant, in part, because I don’t mind my own smell. In fact, I rather enjoy it (yet another advan-
tage of a healthy diet), but mainly because chemicals in deodorants are absorbed by the glands and this can
cause cancer. Logic tells me armpits are for sweating, not for clogging.
I’m active and athletic. In addition to yoga, I like running and swimming. I’m not afraid of distances. I run almost
everyday. I also like trekking mountains. My ideal dose is one long trek a year, and small ones whenever possible.
I’ve been nicknamed Rocky and Manzana.
I’ve been told I look like a celebrity actress, but it’s always a different one.
I’ve spent a total of forty-five days in silence.
I’ve visited twenty-five countries but speak only three languages.
Currently I listen to Pimsleur French while driving. No time to waste.
I wish I had better memory and nicer handwriting.
I never wear a watch.
I dislike TV and gossip and find they both lower my vibration.
I am inept at telling lies.
My favorite word is clarity.
My least favorite word is cellulite.
I breast fed my daughter for a year and a half.
I will never own a diamond because I made a vow, during rough times as a single mother, that if I was ever given
one I would sell it and personally hand out the money to mothers in need.
I admire people with knowledge, but mostly, I admire integrity.
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13. One of my goals is to master time. But to claim my eternity I still need to learn to surpass the limitations of linear
time. On a more practical level, to master linear time I probably need to be more effective.
My other big goal is to de-condition my mind. To free it from habits, programming, indoctrination and mostly
judgments.
I believe in reincarnation. I accept the existence of other cosmic beings.
Once I saw Jesus in a dream. I dreamt I was walking on an empty road when I found a house. Jesus opened the
door and welcomed me in. He was beautiful and had a a hippy flare to him, he radiated compassionate love and
kindness. The house had many rooms and was full of other good-hearted, good-looking individuals. I was in the
house of love. I woke up feeling blessed and touched by grace.
Speaking of Jesus, I’ve concluded that everyone has a cross to bear. Big or small, we all have something we need
to work out. Nobody goes through life without at least one mightily ordained lesson to unravel.
I am aware of the 2012 prophesies. I believe that once this information is understood, preparing for this shift
becomes a priority! I’d like to humbly share what I’ve understood thus far regarding the the subject of cosmic
alignment, ascension of consciousness and the ancient time keeper’s prophesies. For what can be more fascinating
than understanding where the cosmic clock stands?! In the big picture we are an evolving human species living
in vibrational unison within the intelligent organism that is our Planet, Earth Mother, who is also part of a larger
evolutionary plan.
Our planet is currently entering the Age of Aquarius represented by the man with the water pitcher. In this new
age, the Messiah, the great savor is you. In the new Age we are meant to awaken to the realization that God is
not somewhere else. Those of us alive today are the awaited ones from the prophesy. It is no coincidence and no
small occurrence to be here now at the cusp of an age and the death of an era. Ours is the generation that will go
through the before and after. That means, you and me, in our lifetime, will have the memory and experience of
the past together with the memory and experience of the future. And now, right now, we stand in that pin head
moment in time, just, just, just before, with the vision, the intuition, the possibility, the entire transformation in our
hands, just a heart beat away.
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15. Recently, I was given the most valuable and simple advice: “Don’t judge anything or anyone and your life will
change completely.”
I try to follow this suggestion, but judging is a stubborn little habit to break. Yet, it’s when we don’t judge that we
get to see the truth of situations and people as they are. When we judge we limit, pass sentence and get trapped
in our own ignorant one-pointed view, not letting people be who they are, missing them, and the entire point of
the encounter all together.
I wonder... could I ask you, reader, to try to leaf through these pages without judging me?
May I safely be an open book?
For I am just another woman, not perfect, not an example, not better or right. Just me, today, right now, sharing
as is.
Lets release ourselves and others from the prison of our judgments and instead open up to discover the unique
universe each one of us holds. Or, at least, lets try!
My intention here is simply to share who I am with honesty, though, one does have to wonder where is honesty
when memory is so selective? What are facts but accounts of the way we remember, and truth the angle we
remember them from?
So, there it is. The introduction to me.The first step.
Which leaves me wondering what’s next?
I guess I’ll find out when I sit again here tomorrow.
Writing will be like going for a walk, one step at a time.
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