Written from a quiet farmhouse in the South of France, Elicia Woodford’s memoir traces her transformational path through heartbreak, spiritual initiation, and profound self-inquiry. Her story moves from her city loft in Atlanta to a healing island in Thailand, directly to the Occupy Oakland protests, into the jungles and coast of Costa Rica, and ultimately to the calming lavender fields of Provence, each location serving as a portal into deeper layers of wisdom.

Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love will quickly find themselves captivated by this unflinchingly honest account of the author’s search for love on a global canvas, with perhaps an even deeper level of self-reflection leading to a profound sense of empowerment and the love of a lifetime.

Indeed, at its core, Free To Be Me is not “a romantic travelogue.” It is about coming home to oneself.

Sensory Detail, Symbolism, and Synchronicity

Throughout this remarkable memoir, readers encounter the signs and symbols that accompanied Elicia Woodford’s inner awakening: hummingbirds, doves, roses, eclipses, caves, dreams, visions, and the unshakable whispers of intuition. (Music lovers will also vibe with Elicia’s suggestions for their playlist – songs from artists ranging from Peter Gabriel to Sinead O’Connor.)

These moments are not presented as fantasy. Instead, they are grounded in the emotional reality of a brilliant woman finding the courage to listen deeply to her body, her inner child, and her soul. And, as they read about these signs, symbols, and lessons, readers will find themselves inspired to engage in their own uniquely personal journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

“Healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken; it’s about reclaiming what was always whole,” Elicia Woodford writes, offering both a personal revelation and a guiding principle of her work.

A Love Story Rooted in Destiny, Not Dependence

Amid the author’s journey emerges an unexpected love story, one that unfolds across continents and seems orchestrated by synchronicities too precise to ignore. Yet Elicia Woodford is clear: this love arrived not to rescue her, but to meet her at the level of wholeness she fought so hard to claim.

Following a series of profound insights, often learned through pain and vulnerability, the author ultimately connects finds her Great Love, Olivier, a process mirroring the truth that genuine connection becomes possible only after the inner child is heard, held, and healed.

A Guide for Readers Seeking Emotional Freedom

Offered not as a manual but like a revealing letter written by a longtime friend, Free To Be Me is deeply personal. The author’s intention is clear. Elicia Woodford wrote this extraordinary book for anyone longing to break free from old patterns of self-abandonment, emotional suppression, and inner conflict.

The memoir complements her larger body of work, which includes:

• The Core Emotional Healingâ Self-Study Course, guiding people to heal childhood wounds and build emotional support
• The True Essence Photography Program, where participants reconnect with and express their authentic selves
• The Resource Vibe Podcast, connecting listeners with master-level healers and spiritual resources across all disciplines

Collectively, these offerings reflect Elicia Woodford’s lifelong mission:
to nurture the wounded inner child and help others support themselves with courage, compassion, and emotional clarity.

For Readers Standing at the Threshold of Change

By the time the reader reaches the epilogue, where Elicia Woodford sits on her porch with her completed manuscript, surrounded by roses, doves, and her beloved dog River, the transformation is complete. The external journey across the globe mirrors the internal journey through grief, revelation, and rebirth.

“We must walk this path ourselves,” Elicia Woodford writes, “yet we are never truly alone.” At each step of of the journey, she honors the friends and spiritual advisors (spanning a wide range of disciplines), animals (especially her beloved dogs), and unseen forces (ever-present symbols like hummingbirds) that accompanied her.

Free To Be Me is a testament to what becomes possible when a woman stops silencing her truth and begins listening to the quiet, unshakeable wisdom within. It is also a reassuring message to her readers, that it is possible for all of us to attain the happiness we’ve always dreamed of.

About the Author

Elicia Woodford is a healer, teacher, and founder of Core Emotional Healingâ, with more than two decades of experience guiding others through emotional transformation. Known for her intuitive depth, compassionate presence, and the luminous clarity of her storytelling, she helps people reconnect with their inner child, express their authentic voice, and reclaim the parts of themselves long buried beneath trauma or self-doubt.

Her work spans memoir writing, emotional healing programs, photography-based personal development, and her Resource Vibe podcast, where she introduces listeners to the master-level spiritual resources that can help them transform their lives.

She lives in the South of France with her Great Love, Olivier, and her beloved dog River, wandering lavender fields, beaches, and vineyards, gathering simple moments like treasures.

For more information, visit:

www.eliciawoodford.com

Elicia Woodford is the author of Free To Be Me: A Memoir of Trauma,
Healing and Rebirth, a courageous and deeply personal memoir that
chronicles her journey through unhealthy relationships, deep inner healing,
and profound self-discovery. Through radical honesty, Elicia shares how
she learned to break destructive patterns, protect her inner child, and
recognize the signs life was offering her along the way.
Free To Be Me is both a powerful personal story and an invitation for
readers to reflect on their own lives, trust their inner guidance, and believe
that healing (and happiness) are possible. Please welcome, Elicia
Woodford.

3 KEY THEMES TO EMPHASIZE:
• Healing is possible for everyone. No one has to stay stuck in unhealthy
relationships, situations, or lifelong patterns.
• The importance of self-awareness and inner-child healing. Understanding
and protecting the inner child is essential to breaking destructive cycles.
• Alignment versus force. There is a meaningful difference between trying
to manifest outcomes and paying attention to the signs life offers.
• Learning to trust intuition and timing. Slowing down and listening often
reveals guidance that pushing forward can obscure.
• Openness with discernment. Exploring spiritual and healing modalities
while remaining honest about missteps and lessons learned.<b

The post A Memoir of Emotional Courage, Global Adventure and Radical Self-Discovery by Elicia Woodford’s Free to Be Me Chronicles the Author’s Soul-Gripping Journey Through Love, Loss, Healing and the Transformational Power of Inner Truth appeared first on Good News!.

The post SpongeBob at Circus Circus appeared first on Good News!.

The anticipated sequel to Richard Sparks book, “New Rock, New Role,” has just been released.

“New Rock, New Realm,” is a captivating tale that will enthrall lovers of epic fantasy. Told with his customary wit, Richard Sparks’ skillful storytelling weaves a tapestry of adventure, mystery, suspense and emotional depth—with plenty of comic moments spicing up events as they progress.

Memorable characters, imaginative settings and challenging quests all combine to make the New Rock series an unforgettable addition to the genre. Richard describes the books as high adventure spiced with low comedy.

It starts out with the character’s love of video games and turns into a rollicking adventure.

In the first book Daxx wakes up to find he’s turned into his own avatar and is in the middle of a wilderness he doesn’t recognize.

Shortly after surviving—against overwhelming odds—their epic quest in New Rock New Role, a mysterious ghost ship arrives, carrying a cryptic message for them. Setting sail full of good intentions, they are soon embroiled in the eternal struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil.

The heart stopping action is interspersed with humor making it a ridiculously fun and addictive read. The idea for the books stemmed from Richard’s love of gaming – something he’s turned to in his later years.

Born in England, and a graduate of Oxford University, Richard started out as a writer of stage plays, comedy revues and TV, for such shows as Not the Nine O’clock News. Rowan Atkinson performed his Schoolmaster sketch in John Cleese’s The Secret Policemen’s Ball, and he has a host of other TV credits. On being hired by Columbia Pictures TV, Richard moved to Los Angeles.

He has written libretti for several new operas composed by Lee Holdridge, produced by the LA Opera, as well as writing new English versions of German and Italian classics.

His lyrics have been recorded by talents as diverse as Dom de Luise, Vanessa Wiliams and Plácido Domingo.

The post anticipated sequel to Richard Sparks book, “New Rock, New Role,” has just been released.  appeared first on Good News!.

“The Adventure Jar: A Story of Magic for Families Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer” is intended for children ages three to eight. The book follows the story of a family affected by metastatic breast cancer as they discover that even through the challenges of their mom’s diagnosis – involving inevitable change, uncertainty and disappointment – there is magic to be found in time shared together.​

Family life can be upended when a parent has cancer, and it can be difficult for parents to bear witness to the impact it can have on young children – creating a crucial need for resources to help navigate the challenging emotions that follow.

The Adventure Jar, led by Gilead Sciences, was created in collaboration with eight diverse members of the metastatic breast cancer (MBC) community and professionals, including a psychiatrist, to help families impacted by MBC.​

Among these collaborators is Gilead Patient Ambassador Lauren Huffmaster. She was diagnosed with MBC at 37 years old and struggled with the emotional impact cancer had on her husband and three young daughters, who were two, four and six at the time. Nearly a decade since her diagnosis, MBC continues to shape the lives of her daughters, but they’ve made it a habit to redefine their circumstances.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and leading cause of cancer death among women aged 20 to 49 years in the US[ Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., Wagle, N. S., & Jemal, A. (2023). Cancer statistics, 2023. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 73(1), 17–48. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21763.​

MBC is the most advanced stage of breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, most often the bones, lungs, liver or brain.​[ Metastatic Breast Cancer Facts and Statistics. (n.d.). Susan G. Komen®. Retrieved June 14, 2024, from https://www.komen.org/breast-cancer/facts-statistics/what-is-breast-cancer/metastatic-breast-cancer/ It’s a lifelong disease, and treatment is an ongoing reality that doesn’t go away for most people.​ As younger women are being diagnosed with MBC at an alarming rate, this means that families, including many young children, are increasingly impacted.

#adventurejar #cancer #breastcancer

The post HELPING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY BREAST CANCER FIND MAGIC WITH “THE ADVENTURE JAR” appeared first on Good News!.

#stevenjoseph #snoodles #spaceepisode #zoodlesstrikeback

The post Steven Joseph the author of the new book, Snoodles in Space Episode 2: The Zoodles Strike Back! appeared first on Good News!.

July 2, 2021/22 Tammuz 5781

Dear Friends,

When the young boy was asked by his father to say the prayer over the bread, he realized he didn’t have his head covered…so he asked his little brother to rest a hand on his head until prayers were over. The little brother grew impatient after a few minutes and removed his hand. The father said, This is important…put your hand back on his head! The little boy exclaimed, What am I???? My brother’s kippah?

Today, on my father’s 6th yahrzeit (anniversary of his death), I imagine him telling this joke at shabbos
kiddush, cracking himself up, and getting those around him to smile as well. Haha. Am I my brother’s kippa! Those of you who knew Jules (my father) know it’s true. My father was a shul mensch, a regular in the pews. He appreciated the hazzanut with which we grew up and careful and intentional davenning. He paid close attention to the rabbi’s sermons and enjoyed a good shul joke. He loved to laugh and he laughed the most when something smart emerged from the moment.

Memories of my father rose like heat from the summer pavement in the days leading up to his yahrzeit. Expected yet unexpected. Highlighting his presence and power in my life. Earlier this week, I finally crossed a local adventure off my rather short bucket list with a visit to The Little Red Lighthouse in Fort Washington Park. As a child, I would listen to The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward, on cassette tape with my father. Whenever we’d visit my grandparents just over the GWB in Fort Lee, NJ, I’d peer out the window trying to spot the lighthouse. She stood like a family friend offering greetings and pointing the way on our journey. In the book, the lighthouse feels dwarfed, unimportant and unnecessary next to the expansive bridge and its bright light. When a great fog rolls in and the light-keeper fails to come and fire up its light, the lighthouse learns the ships of the river are in great danger. The Bridge calls, “Little brother, where is your light? The Lighthouse wonders ‘Am I brother of yours bridge? Your light was so bright that I thought mine was needed no more.’ The great Bridge calls down, asks it to turn on its light, and explains that the bridge’s beacon is for the ships of the air, not those on the water. Great gray bridge, put your hand on that lighthouse’s keppy and remind it of its worth. Fire up its light so it shines where it is needed most.

This week’s parasha, Pinhas (or Pinchis, as my father would say) introduces the daughters of Zelophehad who come to challenge the laws of inheritance that favor sons, making daughters insignificant. Their reasoned request to claim land in their father’s name goes through Moses to the HolyOne. The Torah teaches, Kayn b’not Zelophehad dovrot naton titayn lahem ahuzat nahalah b’toch achay avihem v’ha’avarta et nachalat avihen lahen/The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You should give them a hereditary holding among their father’s kinsmen and transfer their father’s share to them (Numbers 27:7). Rashi (11thc) emphasizes we are to understand the word Kayn as right or proper. God said: Exactly so is this chapter written before me on High (The Law has long since been fixed) (Sifrei Bamidbar 134:1). This tells us that their eye saw what Moses’ eye did not see. (They had a finer perception of what was just in the law of inheritance than Moses had.) (cf.Midrash Tanchuma, Pinchas 8). These sisters stepped out of the shadow of fear (tzel pachad) to challenge the status quo. Their lens on the turning kaleidoscope of life exposed wisdom, shape and color that would have been ignored and unseen. Standing together, they held the kippah over Moshe’s head, inviting Gd to affirm holiness in all.

My daughter, the youngest of my father’s 5 grandchildren, carries the name of one of the daughters of Zelophehad, Noa. On Friday night, I bless her in the name of this biblical warrior who stepped into the light with neither fear nor anger, only strength, sanctity of family and a call for justice. My daughter blesses herself on Friday night with her everyday name, Zahara, letting her radiant sparkling light shine. She blesses me too. In those sacred shabbos moments, she reminds me we are each other’s kippah, the one that turns us towards one another to affirm the holy moments, stand by one another and be seen in all our refracted light.

I’m delighted that Jessica Futran joined our senior staff this week as Cantor Halev transitions to emeritus status. We are all each other’s kippah, working to raise up community in love. May we all live as my father did, with light, laughter, integrity, intensity and always as ourselves.
​​​​​​​
Shabbat Shalom
rg

Congregation Habonim
103 West End Ave
New York, NY 10023

Delivered to renee.edelman@edelman.com
Forward This Message
Can’t see any pictures?

Unsubscribe

#father #say #joke #laugh #Memories #adventure #laws #inheritance #Torah #Moses #integrity #intensity

The post Congregation Habonim: Message from Rabbi Gelber appeared first on Good News!.

The post Gems from the Turkish Poet Rumi though for the day appeared first on Good News!.

Arriving in the Kilimanjaro International Airport late evening we were met by our safari driver-guide outside the arrival lounge and transferred to our accommodations at the beautiful Kibo Pace Hoel in Arusha Tanzania. Our package featured Arusha Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arusha is the gateway to some of Tanzania’s most famous attractions: Mt. Kilimanjaro the National Parks and Lodges for Game Drives. Arusha is also known for the precious stone Tanzanite, produced in Arusha and exported worldwide.

After a great breakfast at 6:00 am, our group set out on our first safari to discover East Africa’s legendary wildlife. Our small group was outfitted in a six-seat safari vehicle with pop-up roof allowing for excellent viewing and photography. Our tour leader would rotate each day between our small group of two safari vehicles and tell us fascinating stories of the wildlife. Our sharp-eyed naturalist guides offered insights about the ecosystem
while spotting huge herds of elephants, wildebeest, zebras, towering giraffes and antelope. These huge herds gather to stay in Tarangire National Park until the onset of the rains whey they migrate to good grazing areas.
                       

We departed after breakfast the following day and began the two-hour drive to Lake Manyara National Park, nestled on the basin of the Great Rift Valley. This small National Park has seven distinct habitats which are home to quite a few wildlife. Here we viewed small baboons black-faced monkeys, blue monkeys, impalas, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, waterbuck, bushbuck, zebras and wildebeest- all gathered in groups. Today’s highlight was a large hippo pool with hundreds of hippos. We were allowed to get out of our vehicle to take close-up photographs of these hippos. In the distance were thousands of flamingos on Lake Manyara.

On Tanzania safaris you are not allowed to get out of the safari trucks – this was the one exception. After a late picnic lunch of chicken legs, a small sandwich, water, juice and cake we continued our safari before proceeding to our lodge in Karatu for dinner and overnight. Karatu is one of the seven districts in the Arusha region of Tanzania. The sounds of a bush baby, known as a “Galagos” could be heard during the night.

The following day was a rare opportunity to take a village walk to the Tloma Village-Gibbs Farm to experience different activities of the local Iraqw Tribe. The tour included visiting a school, the Makonde Tribe carving center, the village church with traditional singing and dancing, and an outdoor local coffee grinding station. After returning to the lodge for lunch and a short nap, we continued touring the farmers market before our return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Today was the start of two days in the Serengeti National Park’s great migration. At 6:30 am, we proceeded to the Serengeti National Park entrance gate for a two-and half hour drive. Once inside the park we stopped for a picnic lunch where numerous birds could be seen. We were looking forward to enjoying our afternoon game drive en route to Central Serengeti. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti is the largest mass movement of land mammals in the planet. Towering above is Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s largest mountain. The Serengeti ecosystem protects the most varied collection of terrestrial (animal) wildlife on earth and is one of the last migratory systems still intact. Not only did we see the wildebeest migration, we encountered baby lions being fed by their mothers, elephants taking baths, zebras, elands, giraffes, waterbucks, families with baby baboons, a tiger and a leopard sleeping in a tree. This was one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles to see.

The last morning our safari departed at 6:39 am with a packed lunch for a four-hour drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Center. Ngorongoro is technically a caldera, which is an extinct volcano and the largest intact and unbroken caldera in the world. The crater is a microcosm of African scenery with abundant wildlife of more than 20,000 larger animals. Over the years the floor of the crater has become mostly grassland with a lake whose size changes, depending on the rains. We descended 2,000 feet to the base of the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the lake were colourful flamingos and a variety of other birds – ostriches, cranes and storks. Glimpses of elephant, buffalo, cheetah, hyena, warthog and many antelopes were grazing on this land, Mid-afternoon, we slowly began the climb out of the Crater as we headed for a hot lunch at a lodge overlooking the Crater. After lunch, a two-hour drive took us to our lodge for an overnight and a late dinner. Our wildlife viewing was fascinating and the experience unbeatable on this game drive in the Ngororngoto Crater.
After breakfast, we were driven back to Arusha for last minute shopping at the Cultural Heritage Center. We proceeded to the Kibo Palace Hotel for lunch and a day room to freshen up. In the evening we were transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for our flight back home.

The post ON SAFARI IN TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA by Terri Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.

The post Official “Hugo” Trailer appeared first on Good News!.

Part 1

Part 2

Legends of Rock~ Heidi and Woodstock Legendary producer Artie Kornfeld shoot Tv Pilot in Miami for Legends of Rock. The Spirit is arising for the 50th. Grab a copy and get the real story behind the scenes on Woodstock 69 ​https://www.amazon.com/Pied-Piper-Woodstock-Artie-Kornfeld/dp/0615325998
Now booking The Spirit of Love Tour with Heidi and Artie. One lucky college a month will get this dynamic duo out to have conversations and music in Peace, Love and Understanding. How do we move through these times together in the name of love? How does the spirit of miracles work? Bridging the old wave with the new wave, what can be done together today? Along with inspiring, historical stories and adventures, and Heidi’s music.. it is a total love in. #OneLoveRising on the Road to 20/20 get on the bus! www.thespiritoflove.org
www.heidilittle.com

The post Co-Founder of the 1969 Woodstock “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music”, Artie Kornfeld speaks to Good News with Heidi Little appeared first on Good News!.