Sunday, February 23, 2014

Free Event: Talking Back to Dr. Phil


A Stepping Stones Books & Gifts Free Event

An Evening with David Bedrick
JD, Dipl., PW 

Date:  Friday March 14
Time:  7pm
Center for Spiritual Living Santa Rosa
2075 Occidental Road

"I’m interested in what makes people and organizations tick. I’ve spent half my life trying to understand the dynamics of power and abuse, conflict and resolution, as well as how people’s gifts and natures manifest and unfold. In the 1980’s, I founded a management consulting firm, which I ran for 12 years, working with companies large and small in order to foster empowerment, development, and meaning in the lives of workers across America.

"But this was not enough; I became more and more interested in the inner workings of people—why some thrived and others failed. I refocused my life: becoming a therapist, a counselor, and educator, ultimately becoming certified as a Diplomate of Process Work and teaching psychology at the University level for eight years. My focus has been understanding body symptoms, addictions, dream interpretation, conflict facilitation, and organizational development."
—David Bedrick

In his new book, Talking Back to Dr. Phil:  Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology, counselor, educator and attorney David Bedrick uses examples from the television show, Dr. Phil, to show how our culture's pop psychology quick fixes leave people feeling confused and inadequate.
David will discuss with us a fresh approach to addressing our disturbing feelings and behaviors, which encourages a love-based psychology rooted in the belief that there is profound meaning in our struggles, which can be healed when compassionately reframed.
David Bedrick spent eight years on the faculty of the University of Phoenix and taught courses for the US Navy, 3M, the American Society of Training and Development, the Process Work Institute, and psychological associations.  An expert in counseling individuals and couples, Bedrick focused on domestic relations and family law, as well as women's empowerment, children's rights and more.
Please join us to learn why David left the practice of law for a career of writing and teaching to a larger audience.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Choose the Right Size Purse or Bag


Choosing the right size purse or bag for your day-to-day needs can be a daunting task. I’ve developed a few guidelines that I hope will remove the word “daunting” from this task.

The first suggestion is to use at least two purses or bags—one small and one larger. Some days require more tools in your tool bag so I have different size bags that I use depending on what I will be taking with me that day. Sometimes I leave the house with just my wallet and cell phone, so I take a small bag. Other days, I take water, a notebook, a food bar, both check books, my wallet, and my phone charger. Think ahead to what your day looks like and plan accordingly.

I’m a dancer, so on days where I am taking classes or having instruction, I use a large zipper bag for my shoes, water bottle, notebook, and Kleenex. This bag stays by the door, so it’s ready to go when I’m headed out.

I also have several smaller pouches in my large bag. I keep gum and mints in a small zipper pouch and I keep my check books and wallet in a larger zipper pouch. When I travel, I use yet another pouch that contains my electronic charging devices.

When you are using a large bag, resist the temptation to pack it with things you won’t really need that day. And when using a small bag, resist the urge to pack too much; more is not necessarily better.

Written by Martha Salazar.

In Stepping Stones Books & Gifts we carry a large assortment of bags and purses in various types and sizes. Come in and let me help you choose some that are right for you.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

5 Top Selling Titles for Winter Reading


Winter is a wonderful time to catch up on some reading. A hot cup of tea, a warm fire, a comfy chair, a good book, and you’re good to go! 

Here is a list and brief description of our top five best-selling books. Happy reading!


Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
Clutter is stuck energy that has far-reaching effects physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The simple act of clearing clutter can transform your life by releasing negative emotions, generating energy, and allowing you to create space in your life for the things you want to achieve. In Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, Karen Kingston, pioneer of a branch of Feng Shui known as Space Clearing, expertly guides you through the liberating task of clutter clearing.

The Power of Meditation by Edward Viljoen
This wise and delightful guide to the benefits of meditation practices will help you cultivate a calm, peaceful, and enlightened lifestyle. Drawing from his years of experience as a teacher, spiritual leader, and avid meditator, Edward Viljoen directs you down the path to enlightenment.  Featuring personal anecdotes and stories from the author’s spiritual teachings, The Power of Meditation goes beyond a simple how-to book and offers a wonderful reading experience that will inspire you to live a wiser and more fulfilling life.

The Law of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson
The universe is the handwriting of God, and it is both self-organizing and self-correcting. Where there is lack, the universe is already planning to remove it from your circumstances. That is the Law of Divine Compensation. The only thing that can deactivate the Law is if you have more faith in the reality of lack than in the reality of the Law.

The 5 Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary Chapman
With more than 8 million copies sold, The 5 Love Languages continues to strengthen relationships worldwide. Although originally crafted with married couples in mind, the love languages have proven themselves to be universal. Whether it’s dating relationships, parents, coworkers, or friends – understanding your unique love language and that of others can significantly improve your relationships. The premise is simple: Different people with different personalities express love in different ways. Therefore, if you want to give and receive love most effectively, you’ve got to learn to speak the right language.

Jesus, Buddha, Krishna & Lao Tzu by Richard Hooper
Even though these teachers represent four different world religions, I believe their teachings have a great deal in common. Could it be that their teachings represent four slightly different paths to the same destination? Each of these masters claimed that their teachings came from personal experience of ultimate reality, so we might expect their teachings to be similar. Certainly their teachings carry the weight of authority – in our day, as well as theirs.

All five of these books are available at Stepping Stones Books & Gifts

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Free Event: David Christopher


A Stepping Stones Books & Gifts Free Event

Author David Christopher discusses his work and his book, The Holy Universe:  A new Story of Creation for the Heart, Soul and Spirit, part of a growing worldwide effort to cause a major shift in humanity's consciousness and worldview regarding ecology, social justice and spirituality.


Date:  Friday, February 21
Time:  7 pm
Center for Spiritual Living Santa Rosa
2075 Occidental Road

More than fifteen years ago, David Christopher became intrigued with the “new story” that integrates the science of the 20th and 21st centuries with a spiritual sensibility toward the creation of the Universe. But as he dove deeper into this new worldview, this new story, he felt something was missing.
He missed the poetry. He missed the lyricism of the liturgy and the scriptures. He wanted more. He wanted a story that also felt like the story given to him in his youth.
Today, David travels around the United States teaching about the importance of telling our collective story. He appears before a variety of audiences, including Unity and Unitarian Universalist congregations.
In addition, David has served as a facilitator and facilitator trainer for the Awakening the Dreamer Symposiums produced by The Pachamama Alliance. His work and his book are part of a growing worldwide effort to cause a major shift in humanity’s consciousness and worldview regarding ecology, social justice, and spirituality.
David lives in Northern California and likes to hike and catch up on his reading and research when not traveling around the countryside speaking about The Holy Universe.
Please come and join us to hear David speak about telling "a New Story of Creation ..."






Sunday, February 2, 2014

Book Review: The Power of Intention

Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way

by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

I love how Wayne Dyer defines intention as the impulsion of creation, the source of life itself. In his book, The Power of Intention, he shows us how we can get into alignment with this creative energy, to experience a life of our dreams. He looks at the obstacles that get in the way and talks about how we can shift them to bring ourselves back into connection with the Divine. Dyer devotes a whole chapter to self-worth, which I think is really important in our spiritual work. He then covers specific areas of life, such as abundance, relationship and authenticity. I was pleasantly surprised reading this book, finding it useful to my practice. I even found the new edition, with all its vivid colors and drawings, easy to read, you might say brightening up the text.

Review By Rev. Ruth Barnhart, a staff minister at Center for Spiritual Living Santa Rosa

The Power of Intention is available from Stepping Stones Books & Gifts.

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