Art & Stories
Find the most beautiful and inspirational art, movies, music and stories from all different writers, artists, musicians and filmmakers.
The Vanishers, Kindle Book Review
Looking for a book full of psychological insight, deep characters, emotional intelligence and social commentary? Then Heidi Julavits' The Vanishers, out now on Kindle book format, is well worth a read. . .
Title: The Vanishers
Format: Kindle Ebook
By: Heidi Julavits
Positive Inspirations: Packed full of emotional intelligence and deep, realistic characters
Wonderfully creative in its writing (with stunning descriptions)
Full of psychological insight (especially social psychology)
The Vanishers Kindle Book Synopsis
Julia Severn, an initiate at the Instituteof Integrated Parapsychologyand stenographer to the great seer, Madame Ackermann (a recipient of "the occult equivalent of a MacArthur"), has a lot of raw talent. So much, in fact, that the relationship between mentor and protégé quickly sinks into hostile territory when Madame Ackermann taunts Julia with specters of her late mother. After a game of mental telepathy goes awry (forget Twister," these Read more [...]
The Vanishers, Kindle Book Review
Posted in About society, Art & Stories, Understanding Feelings / Emotions | Tagged kindle | Leave a commentFeng Shui Basics: Chi, Elements & Feng Shui Bagua
Get to know Feng Shui basics and the Feng Shui Bagua map as we introduce the most importants essentials and basics of Feng Shui.
Click images for large version
Today I feel I need to try something new. And looking about my room as I type this I’m made aware that my new activity should involve cleaning, design and organisation, as the space around me looks as though it were hit by a bomb. My new activity should also involve a lot of relaxation (lordie I could use some of that!) and productivity. So, what better subject to look at today than Feng Shui basics and the Feng Shui Bagua map.
Feng Shui Basics: Chi, Elements & Feng Shui Bagua Map
Feng Shui basics are all about energy and flow, about balance and harmony in the home, office or other area. Feng Shui’s central concept is the idea of balancing “chi,” the world’s universal energy. Feng Shui is about designing our living spaces to maximise the flow of this central, universal energy, which is said to Read more [...] Feng Shui Basics: Chi, Elements & Feng Shui Bagua
Posted in Art & Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged feng shui, self improvement | Leave a commentSoft Relaxing Music
This soft and relaxing piano music comes to us from contemporary classical and new age artist Laura Sullivan, who can be found at her website: Laura Sullivan music.
Laura Sullivan composes soft music of the Contemporary Classical and New Age genres, with piano and other acoustic instrumentation, including ethereal vocals. Her influences include the Easy Listening music styles of Enya and Yanni and the piano music of Liz Story, George Winston and David Lanz.
Soft Relaxing Music by Laura Sullivan
Play the most relaxing games here
Read more [...]
In Search of Lucy kindle Book Review
Title: In Search of Lucy
Format: Kindle ebook
By: Lucy Fairchild
In search of Lucy Synopsis
Lucy Lang's life is spiraling out of control. For years she sacrificed her own needs to care for her half sister and alcoholic mother, only to be abandoned by both. Now, at age 30, Lucy finds herself held back by memories and regret as she struggles to find her own purpose in life. But when her sister needs a kidney transplant, Lucy is the only one who can save her life.
With the help of new friends and a man who won't give up on her, Lucy sets out on a journey to reunite with her sister and find the answers she so desperately needs. Can she get past her emotions and have a chance at happiness? With its colorful and endearing cast of characters, In Search of Lucy takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions from sadness and heartache to happiness and hope.
In Search of Lucy Excerpt
The sun was starting to make its way down, and in the distance Read more [...]
In Search of Lucy kindle Book Review
Posted in Art & Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged kindle | Leave a commentWishes Fulfilled Kindle Ebook Review on Subconscious Manifestation
We've discussed subconscious mind power many times here on Arolemodel.com, noting how important it is to be able to make use of the power of your subconscious mind. Anyone who enjoyed those articles will likely be very interested in Dr Wayne Dyer's "Wishes Fulfilled," which Dr/ Dyer describes as, " a voyage of discovery, wherein you can begin to tap into the amazing manifesting powers that you possess within you." Here's the low-down. . .
Title: Wishes Fulfilled
Format: Kindle ebook
By: Dr. Wayne Dyer
Wishes Fulfilled Kindle Ebook Synopsis
This book is dedicated to your mastery of the art of realizing all your desires. The greatest gift you have been given is the gift of your imagination. Everything that now exists was once imagined. And everything that will ever exist must first be imagined. Wishes Fulfilled is designed to take you on a voyage of discovery, wherein you can begin to tap into the amazing manifesting powers that you possess within you and Read more [...]
Wishes Fulfilled Kindle Ebook Review on Subconscious Manifestation
Posted in Art & Stories, Self Improvement, spiritual | Tagged kindle | Leave a commentCartier’s Ring kindle Ebook Review
Title: Cartier’s Ring
Format: Kindle ebook
By: Pearson Moore [br] [br]
A great novel for readers looking for strong female characters and a story of courage and bravery would do well to consider Cartier’s Ring by Pearson Moore. Here’s a look. . .
Cartier’s Ring Kindle Book Synopsis [br] [br]
She is healer, hunter, warrior. Her strength will inspire generations. Her courage will found a nation. Experience history as never before. See the history of North America through the eyes of the woman who lived and breathed it: Myeerah of Hawk Clan, Matriarch to a nation.
"Only men have dreams such as this, not girls. Not the daughter of a slave." So begins an adventure that will span eight decades across two continents and dozens of historical figures. From swashbuckling pirates on the high seas to the slave traders of Mexico, to the genocidal wars of North America, Pearson Moore engages from the very first page, using a vibrant prose style that captivates the imagination, Read more [...]
Cartier’s Ring kindle Ebook Review
Posted in Art & Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged kindle | Leave a commentThe Last Innocent Hour: Persistence themed Kindle Book
Read all Arolemodel.com book reviews here
I recently came across an interesting post that Barbara Taylor Sissel (Kindle author of The Last Innocent hour) wrote on her blog about the importance of persistence in relationships. Regular Arolemodel.com readers will know well the psychological importance of persistence (those who havent already done so can read our look at the mental health benefits and social benefits of persistence here). Here, Sissel very eloquently describes the importance of persistence in relationships. . .
"I ran across this quote a few days ago: The art of love … is largely in the art of persistence. Albert Ellis said it. And it is sticking in my mind, sticking to it in much the same way oatmeal sticks to your ribs. At first I thought of writing, how it is an act of love and how persistence is such a huge part of that love. . .
Then I extrapolated … what of my love for my children? How much of loving them was/is persistence? The Read more [...]
The Last Innocent Hour: Persistence themed Kindle Book
Posted in Art & Stories, Love, relationships | Leave a commentFourth & Forever Kindle Book Review
Forth And Forever (kindle Book)
I hope you find the art on this and other pages here inspiring and motivating to your self improvement goals.
Format: Kindle
Positive Inspirations: Love, Integrity, Relationships and Honour
To escape the lingering sorrow of his wife's death, Josh Edwards, forty-four, a retired Army helicopter pilot, journeys with his son toMissoula,Montanato start life anew. Josh's son, Bobby, enrolls at The University of Montana, where he hopes to make the football team as a walk-on. Josh, a skilled football kicker and passer, is observed by the Grizzlies coach as he and Bobby work out on the practice field. When tryouts arrive, Josh finds himself being invited to join the team. Thus begins a season of trials and tribulation where Josh becomes mentor and father-figure to his teammates, as theUniversityofMontana Grizzliesmake a run for the Division I National Championship.
Review Highlights
“The story is about Read more [...]
Fourth & Forever Kindle Book Review
Posted in Art & Stories, honour | Tagged kindle | Leave a commentSecrets in the Shadow Novel on Emotional Abuse / Relationships
Title: Secrets in the Shadow
Format: kindle
Positive Inspirations: Will open your eyes to the lives of others
Covers the journey from past pain to future hope
T.L Haddix’s Secrets in the Shadow has been doing well on Kindle as of late, with 4 stars out of 5 from 16 reviews. It’s the first in the Shadows Collection of standalone Romantic Suspense novels set in Indianna.
Lauren’s life changed forever when a relative attempted to rape her thirteen years before the events of the novel. She suffered a failed marriage and now is close friends with her ex-husband with whom she shares custody of her children. Laruen is ready to start a new love story with a new man when the past catches up with her.
T.L Haddix crafts a realistic and engaging read with very realistic characters—particularly Lauren as she faces her past pains and searches for hope for the future. Read more [...]
Secrets in the Shadow Novel on Emotional Abuse / Relationships
Posted in About society, Art & Stories, personal bravery | Leave a commentMindfulness Meditation on Colour & Shape Through Painting
One of the best mindfulness meditation techniques is to meditate on shape and colour.
Often are the times we forget to pay attention to the world around us as the stresses of the day occupy our minds. We become more and more stressed and simultaneously less and less connected, mentally, to our outside world.
By bringing our attention to the shape, form and colour of objects and scenery in our environment, we bring our minds back to the present moment, relaxing ourselves and even becoming aware of things we were not previously aware of (anyone who meditates frequently will know well how frequently we fail to spot opportunities simply because we are preoccupied). These are the benefits of mindfulness meditation techniques like the following. . .
Alternatives to this Exercise
Beatiful video inspiring mindfulness Mindfulness Mediation Beautiful relaxing short film How to live in the Moment How to be happy
Mindfulness Read more [...]
Mindfulness Meditation on Colour & Shape Through Painting
Posted in Art & Stories, Self Improvement, Uncategorized | Leave a commentMindfulness Meditation video with inspiring & relaxing images
Imagine a red sun setting over an eternity of water, lulling your mind to surrender to the beauty of nature; this is the vision of FLOW, a beautiful an inspiring short film by Lukas Steinbrecher in which he reminds us all, through stunningly beautiful and inspiring images, to let go of our stress and worries and to see beauty in life now.
This video and its inspiring imagery clearly speak of the quality of meditative calmness, that stillness when we see things for they are.
Take fifteen minutes right now to give your mental health a boost through the following simple exercise:
Alternatives to this Exercise
Beatiful video inspiring mindfulness Mindfulness Mediation Beautiful relaxing short film How to live in the Moment How to be happy
Mindfulness Meditation Exercise
Firstly, watch the video. It's only three minutes long and is wonderfully relaxing and inspiring.
After watching the video, set an alarm for ten minutes time and spend ten minutes performing a meditation on your Read more [...] Mindfulness Meditation video with inspiring & relaxing images
Posted in Art & Stories, Seeing Beauty in Life, Self Improvement | Leave a commentBaroque Art Video will Develop Love of Learning + Curiosity
Want to develop your love of learning or your curiosity? Then check out this fantastic educational video in which kenny Mencher looks at the Baroque art movement.
Title: Baroque Art The Vatican: Maderno and Bernini
Inspires: Curiosity & love of Learning & Creativity
Kenny Mencher, professor at the Department of Art and History at Ohlone College presents this fantastic look at Baroque art. The video itself discusses the definition of Baroque, explains how to identify Baroque art, discusses the history of the art movement and also takes a look at some of the best piece of Baroque artwork.
This is a fantastic video for developing both your love of learning and your curiosity (which Arolemodel.com readers will recognise as being 2 of the 24 character strengths in positive psychology). The love of learning part of the video is immediately evident. As for the curiosity. The joy and passion with which Kenny Mencher discusses the use of shape, pattern Read more [...]
Baroque Art Video will Develop Love of Learning + Curiosity
Posted in Art & Stories, Uncategorized | Leave a commentSolipsist; a beautiful short film about connectedness and transcendence
Solipsist; a beautiful short film about connectedness and transcendence
On the surface, Andrew Huang's Solipsist is a gorgeously lush visual masterpiece, its colours exploding right out of the screen with palpable beauty. It is the sort of short film that you'll begin to watch and then ten minutes later, at the film's conclusion, question just how exactly the director managed to hijack your mind so absolutely. It is a meditation on colour, an artistic candy store of delight.
Looking deeper, one can see how the title takes form in the work.
Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's mind is certain to exist, that we cannot know for sure that the material world, other people, even life itself exists outside of the realms of our own mind. The sequences of the film reflect this idea as the various characters try to transcend their physical form to connect to one another.
About the Film Maker
Andrew Huang is a commercial and music video director living in Read more [...]
Solipsist; a beautiful short film about connectedness and transcendence
Posted in About society, Art & Stories, Seeing Beauty in Life, Self Improvement, spiritual | Leave a commentSamurai Philosophy!
The video below is about the seven principles of the Samurai and is set to the music of The lonely Shepherd by Georghe Zamfir. It was uploaded to youtube by PlanetDrax.
The Seven Principles of the Samurai
Bushido, the way of the samurai, grew out of the fusion of Buddhism and Shintoism. This way can be summarized in seven essential principles:
1. Gi: the right decision, taken with equanimity, the right attitude, the truth. When we must die, we must die. Rectitude.
2. Yu: bravery tinged with heroism.
3. Jin: universal love, benevolence toward mankind; compassion.
4. Rei: right action--a most essential quality, courtesy.
5. Makoto: utter sincerity; truthfulness.
ó. Melyo: honor and glory.
7. Chugo: devotion, loyalty.
These are the seven principles underlying the spirit of Bushido, Bu--martial arts; shi--warrior; do the way.
The way of the samurai is imperative and absolute. Practice, in the body, through the unconscious, is fundamental to it, thus Read more [...]