workshop 
announcement

in issue five
Scintillations
My Final Phone Call
Master Of My Fate
Almost Famous Photographers
Bugs
Cubicle Hell
Breaking Out Of My Cocoon
Letters To My Younger Self 
Boundaries & Walls
Surviving Today
Adventures In Chalking
Books That Changed My Life
Declare What You Are
My Most Brave Moment
Masks of Bravery  
Love And God
Moody Girl

poetry
Vocalizing
Bravery
The Imaginary "You"

afterthoughts
comments from our readers

contributors

take me back
to the cover
to contents page 

in every issue
What Do You Think?
Subscribe To Be Real
Write or Photograph 
For Be Real Magazine

future issues
Issue Six: Friendship
Issue Seven: Trust

previous issues
Issue One: Change
Issue Two: Balance
Issue Three: Spring
Issue Four: Goddess

Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss

Recently, someone asked me if I believed in past lives. I emphatically answered “No!” I was then directed, no ordered, to read Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss. I was told that the author was credible — a doctor, no less! — and that the book would totally change my outlook. I said “Okay, I’ll read it,” only to placate this person, but had no real intention of reading the book. As if psychic, this person said “Really, Pamela, you must read this book. Take me seriously and go get it!” My respect for this person won out, and I checked the book out of my local library the very next day. At 219 pages, its size was not overwhelming, and I decided that I would read it while working out on the stationary bike.

Normally, riding for 30 minutes is a struggle, but not during the time I was reading this book. The author’s down-to-earth manner and his reluctance to believe in past lives himself sucked me right in. Before I knew it, 30 minutes had passed, and I still couldn’t put the book down! I did, though, and after my workout, I excitedly called my fiancé to give him a blow-by-blow of what I had read so far.

Brian Weiss, a doctor of psychiatry, begins the story by relating a bit about a patient of his. This woman was plagued by fears and conventional therapy did not seem to help her. So, as a last resort, Dr. Weiss resorts to hypnotherapy in an effort to discover what was going on with her. Instead of getting the answers he was looking for, under hypnosis she gives him a detailed description of a life that would’ve had to have taken place in another era. A bit thrown back by the information yielded in this first session, Dr. Weiss continues hypnotherapy on his patient, and discovers not only a whole other realm, but also receives important messages from “Masters,” — wise souls who live in another dimension.

As Dr. Weiss’ experiences unfolded, my disbelief melted away. I can’t honestly say that I am now a believer, however I am no longer a disbeliever. If anything, this book has shown me that real-life people can encounter extraordinary, life-changing knowledge. I’m now open to learning more… and not just about past lives. I find that I am now spiritually awake and no longer willing to have my beliefs go unchallenged. I am so glad I was instructed to read this book; it’s opened up a whole new world to me.  - Pamela Pierson

The Brave Little Parrot by Rafe Martin and Susan Gaber

This book brought me to tears the first and second time I read it.  Is it a children's book or a poignantly told tale for adults, merely disguised as a children's book?  You decide.  Either way - read it.  - Julie Russell

Brave On the Rocks and Spilling Open  by Sabrina Ward Harrison

Sabrina’s books have brought me a sense of belonging, a clearer view of creativity, and a love for journal writing and collage art.  Sabrina’s first book was Spilling Open.  This is where I discovered her.  In Spilling Open, she writes about being a girl who feels alone but then realizes that there are many girls out there that feel the same way she does.  Sabrina writes in a jumble of styles using markers, crayons, paints and photographs.  I fell in love with the way she expresses herself so freely.  I was amazed to find out she was so young—even younger than me.

I think it would be cool to open myself up and write my own journal without holding back my feelings, fears and insecurities. 

When Sabrina’s second book, Brave On the Rocks, came out a little while ago I knew I wanted to include it in the Be Real Bravery Issue.  It is about how her life drastically changed after Spilling Open came out.  Because of all the new attention she was pulled in many different directions, making too many sacrifices to her health and never saying NO.  She then goes off to Italy by herself, writing about her adventures there and finds her true self all over again.  The colors, photographs, poems and descriptions are amazing and magical to me.  They brought me to Italy with her.  She also writes about returning home and the adjustments she has to make.  To me coming home is more brave than traveling to Italy alone. 

We may not all have a book just out, we may not be dealing with all the publicity, but we are dealing with our real lives and that is what this book is about.  It is about being brave in our own worlds.  Waking up and being alive, living life the way we want to live it.  I congratulate Sabrina on another book well done.  I look forward to hearing about the next big adventure in her life.  Go visit Sabrina at her website: www.sabrinawardharrison.com.    – Stefanie Reneé

nextarticle