{"id":28267,"date":"2023-05-01T01:10:47","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T05:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=28267"},"modified":"2023-04-26T16:55:11","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T20:55:11","slug":"book-review-5-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2023\/05\/01\/book-review-5-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review \u2013 I Affirm My Power: Everyday Affirmations and Rituals to Create the Life That You Desire by Phoebe Garnsworthy"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span style=\"color: #111111;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><b><span lang=\"en-US\">Book <\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">R<\/span><span lang=\"en-US\">eview<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<h1><strong><span style=\"color: #111111; font-family: Liberation Serif, serif; font-size: x-large;\">I Affirm My Power:<br \/>\nEveryday Affirmations and Rituals<br \/>\nto Create the Life That You Desire<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n<h1><b style=\"font-size: x-large; font-family: 'Liberation Serif', serif; color: #111111;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Written by Phoebe Garnsworthy<\/span><\/b><\/h1>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #111111;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><b><span lang=\"en-US\">Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<h1><b style=\"font-size: x-large; font-family: 'Liberation Serif', serif; color: #111111;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">130 <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">P<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">ages<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/h1>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #111111;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><b><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Release Date: April 25, 2023<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28268\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr.jpg 1399w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-768x1077.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-1096x1536.jpg 1096w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-150x211.jpg 150w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-1140x1598.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">A charmingly written book about the importance of positive thinking in setting goals, this first comes across as an uplifting coaching session we all need. Sections of the book however delve into toxic positivity and promote the falsehood that everything will always be okay and you can do anything you want to without fail. Before going into a more detailed review, let\u2019s see who this author is.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Phoebe\u2019s page is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.phoebegarnsworthy.com\">Phoebe Garnsworthy &#8211; Spiritual Fiction | Positive Affirmations | Daily Rituals<\/a><\/span>, and it says,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-28272\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/phoebe-garnsworthy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/phoebe-garnsworthy.jpg 474w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/phoebe-garnsworthy-222x300.jpg 222w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">About Phoebe<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Phoebe Garnsworthy is an Australian female author and meditation teacher who seeks to discover magic in everyday life. She travels between the worlds of the seen and unseen, gathering ancient wisdom and angelic energy. Her writings reflect a dance with the mystical and wonderful, an intoxicating love potion to devour in a world that overflows with forgotten love and enchantment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">The intention of her writing is to encourage conscious living and unconditional love.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">It lists a total of ten books she has written, and she is smart enough to include five different e-courses you can get from her page. Some of her books are listed for as little as $6.99, and she offers t-shirts and guided meditations as well, She also has a You Tube page with 146 videos and that can be accessed here:<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/phoebegarnsworthy\"> (148) Phoebe Garnsworthy &#8211; YouTube<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">The Amazon.com listing for this book I am reviewing says, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">About the Author<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Phoebe Garnsworthy is an Australian author who seeks to discover magic in everyday life. She has travelled the world extensively, exploring eastern and western philosophies alike, while studying the influences that these beliefs have on humanity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">The intention of her writing is to encourage conscious living and unconditional love.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.phoebegarnsworthy.com\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">www.phoebegarnsworthy.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I have been believing in magic for all of my life.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Since I was in the middle grade, the universe called my name and enticed me . . . inspiring me to daydream for endless hours in wondrous lust. Through my imagination I escaped to enchanted worlds full with witches, mermaids, wizards and fairies. I&#8217;ve always been searching for ways to escape my reality with something more exciting.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">By the time I was a young adult, I discovered that magic not only existed but was attainable to all of us through a spiritual connection to life. And it was from here that my journey of self-discovery of the world that was inside of me began.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I travelled and learnt as much as possible from spiritual leaders and ancient philosophical texts. I walked across incredible lands, met real-life witches, shamans and angels who showed me how we can utilize our natural resources on Earth to heal ourselves and bring peace to the world around us. And I weave these teachings of mindfulness, conscious living, meditation, astral travel, chakras, quantum physics and many more throughout my novels. They are constantly evolving and infinitely changing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">My writings reflect my dance with the mysterious and wonderful, an intoxicating love in a world that\u2019s overflowing with beauty and magic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I\u2019ve never stopped believing in magic nor dreaming about alternate realities. I swim with mermaids every time I touch the ocean and I practice spiritual witchcraft daily. I am surrounded with inspirational people who I consider Kings and Queens. Everything is possible if you only dared to dream. Everything is perfectly beautiful, if you only chose to see. I want to show you how magical you are, how wonderful the world is, and how much love you hold inside.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">My love is unconditional and forever lasting, Phoebe Garnsworthy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.phoebegarnsworthy.com\">www.phoebegarnsworthy.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Luckily for Phoebe, witches are real, and it is my guess that a lot of witches are going to like what she has to say although some of us will find her writings too full of insistence that if you follow her formula, you are immune to failure. Let\u2019s examine the book, shall we?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">The book is separated into a total of 41 chapters that are short and sweet, all of which focus on a central thing like \u201c I Welcome Love Into My Life with an Open Heart\u201d and \u201cMy Life Flows with Harmony.\u201d Some books have chapters that are so long, they seem impossible to get through, but by making the chapters short, Garnsworthy helps readers read what she has to say about the subject, and then draw their own meaning from it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">For example, in \u201c I Always Have Everything That I Need\u201d the section goes from page 104 to page 108, and only part of that is her writing. Part of that is suggested meditation on the subject and part of that is a journaling exercise. I especially like the structure of these chapters, because while a writer is supposed to basically teach topics, everybody has their own beliefs before they start reading, and they apply an author\u2019s words to their own lives in their own ways.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">However this is where I do not agree with the author: there are times in life when people don\u2019t have things they need, and telling themselves that they do won\u2019t change that. In that chapter, she writes, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cYou don\u2019t need to stress or worry that what you have is not enough, because your very existence shows that this is not true. Your soul, your spirit guides, and your angels have all ensured that your life is filled with all the blessings that you could possibly need right here at this moment.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">For some of us, this might be very true, especially when we are being negative. However, tell that to somebody who is starving because they have no food or people who cannot afford life saving medication. There is no angel or god that ensures that everybody\u2019s needs are always met, and a lot of people go without. A lot of our positive thinker authors, speakers, and leaders miss this point, and I will tell you a dirty secret a lot of witches know that we try very hard to break out of secrecy. Ready? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">You can\u2019t think your way to success and sometimes. No matter how much you think the \u201cright thoughts\u201d and do the \u201cright things\u201d, you might not accomplish what you want to or need to and that does not mean you failed or are negative. It\u2019s actually a negative affirmation to tell yourself that all is possible and you can never fail or that you never go without. There are other places in the book I disagree with the author, but I will only discuss one more of those, because there is a whole lot I do agree with that people need to focus on.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">In the section \u201c I Have All the Answers I need Right Now.\u201d This could be true for some people but how many people have you seen who seriously\u2026 don\u2019t have the right answers, but they are positive that they do? In this section, she writes, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cThere are no wrong choices in life; there\u2019s no wrong pathway for you to take. Because everything that is placed in your life is an opportunity to step deeper into a more authentic you. And in return, you will always receive an incredibly rewarding experience.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">Tell that to my friend who is now dead because she thought trying heroin would be a good idea and a rewarding experience. Then tell that to her teenage daughter who she left behind. This is an extreme example, but it really happened because somebody made a wrong choice, and it ended in tragedy. If we do not question ourselves when we have an idea, sometimes it ends up very badly for us.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">This is certainly a feel-good book, and it is designed to be such. In the beginning, she writes, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cI wrote this book at a time of despair in my life. At a time when I felt out of alignment with my soul, when I was floating amidst the madness of uncertainty. I was struggling to find my anchor of breath, to feel grounded in my skin and secure in my space here on Earth. And most importantly, I had great trouble surrendering and trusting wholeheartedly into the magical workings of the Universe. But all of those struggles were in my head. Because I knew the truth of how to realign with the power of my divinity\u2014I needed to get back into a healthy and spiritual routine. All that was required was a commitment to honor myself and my experience. And so, I created this affirmation and manifestation book to share with you my routine. This perfect combination of daily rituals, spiritual practices, journaling, and meditation is what was needed to connect with my soul and feel the power of my truth once more. And within a short time of consistent repetition, I recognized myself again. I felt the echoing voice of my soul beating loudly in my heart, speaking love notes through my mind, and telling me that all is as it should be.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">When going through times of despair and we feel disheartened, sometimes, we need to get a message that maybe not all hope is lost, and we still do have a lot of personal power despite everything. Sure, I don\u2019t agree that everything will always be okay because I am old enough to know that it isn\u2019t sometimes \u2014 but in dark times, you can\u2019t sit around freaking out over that. You have to try to get a hold of your emotions and think of something you can try and do to better the situation- or to at least not make things worse. A book like this can certainly help you with that. Just keep your head about you. Don\u2019t fly off in the direction that nothing can ever go wrong or that everything is okay. Be levelheaded and balanced in thinking positively.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">One witch once told me \u201cBe open minded, but not so open minded your brain slides out.\u201d I can\u2019t think of a better way of saying it. This book shows a lot of faith in both the self and the universe as a whole. In the first chapters, the author tells the readers that the way to read this book is to ask the powers that be to show you what you need to hear and then open the book to a random page. That is the message you are to hear. There are some very helpful messages she has, and I will discuss one.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">In the section, \u201c Listening to Our Energy\u201d, she writes, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cIn order to transform your energy, we need to be aware of the energy you currently hold. Your energy changes all the time\u2014every second, every day, in every activity that you do. Your energy is influenced by the words you say, the thoughts you think, and the events in your life that you consciously and unconsciously choose. Every area of your life is affecting your energy, for the good or bad. This is why it is crucial to be aware of your energy so that you can cleanse, recharge, and protect it often.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">While we can\u2019t control everything that goes on around us, we can control our own reactions, and that starts with our energy and attitude. She then writes in \u201cAffirmations and Manifestations\u201d about something I like to call mouth magic, or that which we tell ourselves. She writes, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cSpeaking an affirmation of what you desire is the first step toward embodying it. Consciously making choices that support your desired affirmation will be the key factor in achieving your manifestation.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">And then she adds later on in the section, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">\u201cBut speaking our affirmations and saying our manifestations out loud is only the beginning. We need to ensure that our actions and choices in life support our wishes. Imagine that you are seeking peace. You are saying peaceful affirmations in the morning, but then during the day you find yourself yelling at street traffic, spending time with friends who gossip negatively, or refusing to take time out of your day to walk in nature and harmonize your energy flow. Even though we can desire one thing, we can consciously be acting against it. So be sure to check in with yourself, be self-aware with your actions, and choose your thoughts wisely.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">This whole point in and of itself is the whole reason everybody ought to have a copy of this book. Even if you read no other sections, the \u201cAffirmations and Manifestations\u201d section is crucial knowledge for anybody who practices magic or just wants to improve themselves. The things we tell ourselves create our attitude and we ought to make sure it is a good one. Then we have to act, not just tell ourselves things. If you just understand this, your magic will be powerful all your life. The book is worth buying, and the author has been good enough to offer it for a low price. She\u2019s not looking to get filthy rich off her writings, she just wants to help, but hey, a book costs money to produce, so no, it\u2019s not free, even though she offers free stuff! You can order your copy in paperback or as an e-book here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.phoebegarnsworthy.com\/books\/i-affirm-my-power\/\">I Affirm My Power &#8211; Phoebe Garnsworthy<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28268\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"107\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr.jpg 1399w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-768x1077.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-1096x1536.jpg 1096w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-150x211.jpg 150w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/i-affirm-my-power-9781524879334_hr-1140x1598.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 107px) 100vw, 107px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/1524879339\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1524879339&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=paganpages-20&amp;linkId=b46040d92e1b3405372781c412354bd9\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\">I Affirm My Power on Amazon<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><b>**<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><b>About the Author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20795 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saoirse.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"212\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saoirse.png 360w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Saoirse-300x230.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px\" \/><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #464646;\"><b>Saoirse<\/b><\/span><span style=\"color: #464646;\">\u00a0is a practicing witch, and initiated Wiccan of an Eclectic Tradition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #464646;\">A recovered Catholic, she was raised to believe in heaven and hell, that there is only one god, and only one way to believe. As she approached her late 20\u2019s, little things started to show her this was all wrong. She was most inspired by the saying \u201cGod is too big to fit into one religion\u201d and after a heated exchange with the then associate pastor of the last Xtian church she attended, she finally realized she was in no way Xtian, and decided to move on to see where she could find her spiritual home.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #464646;\">Her homecoming to her Path was after many years of being called to The Old Ways and the Goddess, and happened in Phoenix, Arizona. She really did rise from her own ashes!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #464646;\">Upon returning to Ohio, she thought Chaos Magic was the answer, and soon discovered it was actually Wicca. She was blessed with a marvelous mentor, Lord Shadow, and started a Magical Discussion Group at local Metaphysical Shop Fly By Night. The group was later dubbed A Gathering of Paths. For a few years, this group met, discussed, did rituals, fellowship, and volunteering together, and even marched as a Pagan group with members of other groups at the local gay Pride Parade for eight years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"left\"><span style=\"font-family: Liberation Serif, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #464646;\">All the while, she continued studying with her mentor, Lord Shadow, and she became a Third Degree High priestess in 2022. She belongs to the Black Dragon Clan.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Book Review I Affirm My Power: Everyday Affirmations and Rituals to Create the Life That You Desire Written by Phoebe Garnsworthy Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing 130 Pages Release Date: April 25, 2023 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; A charmingly written book about the importance of positive thinking in setting goals, this first comes across as an uplifting coaching session we all need. Sections of the book however delve into toxic positivity and promote the falsehood that everything will always be okay and you can do anything you want to without fail. Before going into a more detailed review, let\u2019s see who this author is. Phoebe\u2019s page is Phoebe Garnsworthy &#8211; Spiritual Fiction | Positive Affirmations | Daily Rituals, and it says, About Phoebe Phoebe Garnsworthy is an Australian female author and meditation teacher who seeks to discover magic in everyday life. She travels between the worlds of the seen and unseen, gathering ancient wisdom and angelic energy. Her writings reflect a dance with the mystical and wonderful, an intoxicating love potion to devour in a world that overflows with forgotten love and enchantment. The intention of her writing is to encourage conscious living and unconditional love. It lists a total of ten books she has written, and she is smart enough to include five different e-courses you can get from her page. Some of her books are listed for as little as $6.99, and she offers t-shirts and guided meditations as well, She also has a You Tube page with 146 videos and that can be accessed here: (148) Phoebe Garnsworthy &#8211; YouTube The Amazon.com listing for this book I am reviewing says, About the Author Phoebe Garnsworthy is an Australian author who seeks to discover magic in everyday life. She has travelled the world extensively, exploring eastern and western philosophies alike, while studying the influences that these beliefs have on humanity. The intention of her writing is to encourage conscious living and unconditional love. www.phoebegarnsworthy.com I have been believing in magic for all of my life. Since I was in the middle grade, the universe called my name and enticed me . . . inspiring me to daydream for endless hours in wondrous lust. Through my imagination I escaped to enchanted worlds full with witches, mermaids, wizards and fairies. I&#8217;ve always been searching for ways to escape my reality with something more exciting. By the time I was a young adult, I discovered that magic not only existed but was attainable to all of us through a spiritual connection to life. And it was from here that my journey of self-discovery of the world that was inside of me began. I travelled and learnt as much as possible from spiritual leaders and ancient philosophical texts. I walked across incredible lands, met real-life witches, shamans and angels who showed me how we can utilize our natural resources on Earth to heal ourselves and bring peace to the world around us. And I weave these teachings of mindfulness, conscious living, meditation, astral travel, chakras, quantum physics and many more throughout my novels. They are constantly evolving and infinitely changing. My writings reflect my dance with the mysterious and wonderful, an intoxicating love in a world that\u2019s overflowing with beauty and magic. I\u2019ve never stopped believing in magic nor dreaming about alternate realities. I swim with mermaids every time I touch the ocean and I practice spiritual witchcraft daily. I am surrounded with inspirational people who I consider Kings and Queens. Everything is possible if you only dared to dream. Everything is perfectly beautiful, if you only chose to see. I want to show you how magical you are, how wonderful the world is, and how much love you hold inside. My love is unconditional and forever lasting, Phoebe Garnsworthy www.phoebegarnsworthy.com Luckily for Phoebe, witches are real, and it is my guess that a lot of witches are going to like what she has to say although some of us will find her writings too full of insistence that if you follow her formula, you are immune to failure. Let\u2019s examine the book, shall we? The book is separated into a total of 41 chapters that are short and sweet, all of which focus on a central thing like \u201c I Welcome Love Into My Life with an Open Heart\u201d and \u201cMy Life Flows with Harmony.\u201d Some books have chapters that are so long, they seem impossible to get through, but by making the chapters short, Garnsworthy helps readers read what she has to say about the subject, and then draw their own meaning from it. For example, in \u201c I Always Have Everything That I Need\u201d the section goes from page 104 to page 108, and only part of that is her writing. Part of that is suggested meditation on the subject and part of that is a journaling exercise. I especially like the structure of these chapters, because while a writer is supposed to basically teach topics, everybody has their own beliefs before they start reading, and they apply an author\u2019s words to their own lives in their own ways. However this is where I do not agree with the author: there are times in life when people don\u2019t have things they need, and telling themselves that they do won\u2019t change that. In that chapter, she writes, \u201cYou don\u2019t need to stress or worry that what you have is not enough, because your very existence shows that this is not true. Your soul, your spirit guides, and your angels have all ensured that your life is filled with all the blessings that you could possibly need right here at this moment.\u201d For some of us, this might be very true, especially when we are being negative. However, tell that to somebody who is starving because they have no food or people who cannot afford life saving medication. There is no angel or god that ensures that everybody\u2019s needs are always met, and a lot of people go without. A lot of our positive thinker authors, speakers, and leaders miss this point, and I will tell you a dirty secret a lot of witches know that we try very hard to break out of secrecy. Ready? You can\u2019t think your way to success and sometimes. No matter how much you think the \u201cright thoughts\u201d and do the \u201cright things\u201d, you might not accomplish what you want to or need to and that does not mean you failed or are negative. It\u2019s actually a negative affirmation to tell yourself that all is possible and you can never fail or that you never go without. There are other places in the book I disagree with the author, but I will only discuss one more of those, because there is a whole lot I do agree with that people need to focus on. In the section \u201c I Have All the Answers I need Right Now.\u201d This could be true for some people but how many people have you seen who seriously\u2026 don\u2019t have the right answers, but they are positive that they do? In this section, she writes, \u201cThere are no wrong choices in life; there\u2019s no wrong pathway for you to take. Because everything that is placed in your life is an opportunity to step deeper into a more authentic you. And in return, you will always receive an incredibly rewarding experience.\u201d Tell that to my friend who is now dead because she thought trying heroin would be a good idea and a rewarding experience. Then tell that to her teenage daughter who she left behind. This is an extreme example, but it really happened because somebody made a wrong choice, and it ended in tragedy. If we do not question ourselves when we have an idea, sometimes it ends up very badly for us. This is certainly a feel-good book, and it is designed to be such. In the beginning, she writes, \u201cI wrote this book at a time of despair in my life. At a time when I felt out of alignment with my soul, when I was floating amidst the madness of uncertainty. I was struggling to find my anchor of breath, to feel grounded in my skin and secure in my space here on Earth. And most importantly, I had great trouble surrendering and trusting wholeheartedly into the magical workings of the Universe. But all of those struggles were in my head. Because I knew the truth of how to realign with the power of my divinity\u2014I needed to get back into a healthy and spiritual routine. All that was required was a commitment to honor myself and my experience. And so, I created this affirmation and manifestation book to share with you my routine. This perfect combination of daily rituals, spiritual practices, journaling, and meditation is what was needed to connect with my soul and feel the power of my truth once more. And within a short time of consistent repetition, I recognized myself again. I felt the echoing voice of my soul beating loudly in my heart, speaking love notes through my mind, and telling me that all is as it should be.\u201d When going through times of despair and we feel disheartened, sometimes, we need to get a message that maybe not all hope is lost, and we still do have a lot of personal power despite everything. Sure, I don\u2019t agree that everything will always be okay because I am old enough to know that it isn\u2019t sometimes \u2014 but in dark times, you can\u2019t sit around freaking out over that. You have to try to get a hold of your emotions and think of something you can try and do to better the situation- or to at least not make things worse. A book like this can certainly help you with that. Just keep your head about you. Don\u2019t fly off in the direction that nothing can ever go wrong or that everything is okay. Be levelheaded and balanced in thinking positively. One witch once told me \u201cBe open minded, but not so open minded your brain slides out.\u201d I can\u2019t think of a better way of saying it. This book shows a lot of faith in both the self and the universe as a whole. In the first chapters, the author tells the readers that the way to read this book is to ask the powers that be to show you what you need to hear and then open the book to a random page. That is the message you are to hear. There are some very helpful messages she has, and I will discuss one. In the section, \u201c Listening to Our Energy\u201d, she writes, \u201cIn order to transform your energy, we need to be aware of the energy you currently hold. Your energy changes all the time\u2014every second, every day, in every activity that you do. Your energy is influenced by the words you say, the thoughts you think, and the events in your life that you consciously and unconsciously choose. Every area of your life is affecting your energy, for the good or bad. This is why it is crucial to be aware of your energy so that you can cleanse, recharge, and protect it often.\u201d While we can\u2019t control everything that goes on around us, we can control our own reactions, and that starts with our energy and attitude. She then writes in \u201cAffirmations and Manifestations\u201d about something I like to call mouth magic, or that which we tell ourselves. She writes, \u201cSpeaking an affirmation of what you desire is the first step toward embodying it. Consciously making choices that support your desired affirmation will be the key factor in achieving your manifestation.\u201d And then she adds later on in the section, \u201cBut speaking our affirmations and saying our manifestations out loud is only the beginning. We need to ensure that our actions and choices in life support our wishes. Imagine that you are seeking peace. You are saying&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":211,"featured_media":28268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10005],"tags":[14310,14464,14460,10095,10015,14462,14463,14465,10075],"class_list":["post-28267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews","tag-14310","tag-affirmation","tag-andrews-mcmeel","tag-book","tag-book-review","tag-i-affirm-my-power","tag-phoebe-garnsworthy","tag-positive-thinking","tag-review"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/211"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28267"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28274,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28267\/revisions\/28274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}