There have been times when I have encountered someone or something that has had a profound effect on me and I would like to share these inspirations with you. Please, let me know what you find beautiful, meaningful or inspiring.

Books:

Dear and Glorious Physician — by Taylor Caldwell
This is a different look at St. Luke, the Physician. How much of a role does self-cultivation play in being a successful healer?

Out of My Life and Thought — by Albert Schweitzer
This book is an inspiration to me for the dedication it illustrates in this book. After spending 12 hour days working as a physician in Lambarene, Africa, in a remote hospital he helped to create, Schweitzer spent evenings practicing the organ on a wooden table top because he had no organ. During the summer months he traveled around Europe performing in churches to raise money for his hospital.

Reason for Hope — by Jane Goodall
There is a story in the book when Jane Goodall relates the story of coming to visit a research facility in Maryland, U.S. after spending many years of her life studying chimpanzees in Africa. She sees heavily medicated chimpanzees used for medical research. You would expect her to be very angry, but she shows great compassion towards the human beings performing the research. She understands what ignorance can create.

Siddhartha — by Hermann Hess
This is worth reading just for this sentence: "I can be quiet, I can fast and I can wait."

The Alchemist — by Pablo Coelho
Where do we find our stones?

Many Masters, Many Lives — by Brian L. Weis
I received this book from my friend Sharon after the death of my child several years ago. It has helped me heal.

Citadel — by Antoine de Saint Exupery
Available in French. I have carried this book with me for more than half of my life. If I have to name one that I could not live without, this is the one.

Repentance — Cingiz Ajtmatov
Available in Russian. I like the different story lines weaving through the book, sharing the same physical space but a different time in history. I also learned plenty about Old Kyrgyzstan's legends from this author. I would highly recommend any short stories by this Kyrgyz author.

Evolve Your Brain — Joe Dispenza
An extraordinary book about our ability to heal through our minds, including new research about how the brain works. Dispenza is one of the authors in the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know?"

Traditional Acupuncture. The Law of Five Elements — by Diane Connelly
This is a book by my acupuncture teacher. After I read this, I was inspired to study the Five Element Acupuncture. A poetic look at how the Five Elements in nature relate to our bodies, our disease and our health .

Social Movements:

mosaicvoices.org
Outside In
syrculturalworkers.com

Magazines:

Ode Magazine
The Sun Mmagazine

Music and Musicians:

Anna Sophie Mutter
A German violin player. I particularly like her interpretation of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

My Fatherland — by Bedrich Smetana/Parts Moldau and Sharka/

Symphony from the New World — by Antonin Dvorak

Any music of Leonard Cohen

Patti Smith for the way she deals with death and dying in her life. Look through old issues of the Sun Magazine for a great interview with her.