Sandra Carrington-Smith's Blog

History Repeats Itself: The Muslim Witch-hunt

Of the four billion people who died in the 20th century from all causes combined, 185,000,000 deaths were caused by other humans. At 8.5 millions, murders exceed deaths related to natural disaster (including floods, earthquakes and volcanoes) by five millions. These are scary odds. They get even scarier when one thinks that many of the 'manmade' deaths are the product of hate crimes.

Sadly, since the September 11, 2001 incident, and again since the killing of Osama Bin Laden,…

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Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on May 7, 2011 at 9:51am — No Comments

The Last Sunday Morning in New Orleans

The morning of September 12 I woke up earlier than I had planned. Since our flight out of New Orleans wasn’t supposed to leave until one in the afternoon, I had envisioned sleeping in a little, and then taking my sweet time trying to find some extra space in the suitcase to fit all the little knick-knacks I bought the previous four days.

It wasn’t meant to be. I woke up bright and early at 6am, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t go back to sleep. Since my sister was still… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on October 7, 2010 at 5:55am — No Comments

Eye on New Orleans: Katrina's Other Orphans

As we continue our Hooked on the Book campaign, we would like to take the time to honor yet another category of Louisiana residents -- our four-legged friends. During Hurricane Katrina many animals were lost and separated from their families. Thanks to the effort of the Louisiana SPCA, many were able to be reunited with their original families, while others were placed in new loving homes.

As we approach the fifth anniversary of Katrina, I am… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on August 27, 2010 at 1:10pm — No Comments

Cardinal Grand Cross 2010 -- How Will It Affect You?

While many of us are busy anchoring down on earth during what appears to be a very stressful summer on so many levels – the economy is still shaky, natural disasters seem to pop up like mushrooms on a wet field, relationships are strained and people feel ‘stuck’ – astrologers around the globe are keeping their eyes firmly on the sky, as a very unusual configuration of planets is lining up in the heavens.

Personally, I am at a loss when it comes to technical information associated to… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on August 2, 2010 at 8:15am — No Comments

United in Prayer - Will you Join Us?

Dr. Masaru Emoto is a scientist from Japan who has done research, and published information, about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research revealed that water physically responds to emotions.

When we think of what’s happening in the Gulf, most of us feel overwhelmed and overcome with negative emotions, but while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly send out our… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on June 22, 2010 at 8:05am — 3 Comments

Hooked on the Book

Many have wondered where I have disappeared to the past few weeks, as my online presence has been reduced to bare bones, so it is time to unveil the reason for my absence. Aside from helping my consulting editor finalize the files of both titles to be uploaded on Kindle, Nook and other e-applications (Housekeeping for the Soul is now, finally, available in digital format; The Book of Obeah will be soon), our focus has been on other projects as well.

The greatest and most rewarding… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on June 3, 2010 at 5:25am — No Comments

Our Current State of Affairs: Reality or Illusion?

Our world is going through a hard shift. On that, I believe, everyone is likely to agree. Not only does it seem that our planet is being traumatized by increasingly frequent disasters, but also the people inhabiting it are struggling to just make it to the next day. All one has to do is open any newspaper, or listen to any random newscast – crime is on the rise, the economy is at its lowest since the depression of ’29, and tension is growing in many parts of the world. It is not uncommon to… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on May 26, 2010 at 9:20am — No Comments

International Book Award Winner!

I found this out last night, and maybe I shouldn't even say anything, since results won't be announced until next week at Book Expo of America in NYC, but I am so excited I think I will fly away if I don't share...

The Book of Obeah won the International Book Award in the multicultural fiction category!!!

And, if I wasn't already happy enough, I found out Housekeeping for the Soul was a finalist in the nonfiction inspirational category!

I am SO happy right now,… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on May 19, 2010 at 11:11am — No Comments

The Teacher Who Came Dressed as a Monster

“A great teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others.” ~ Author unknown

A few months ago, I read somewhere that the two greatest teachers of compassion the world has ever seen are Hitler and the Dalai Lama. Being a huge fan of the Dalai Lama but personally not too sold on Hitler, this statement struck me as strange – how could anyone compare a holy man whose life purpose is to spread peace and compassion, to a military figure whose intent… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on May 11, 2010 at 7:48am — No Comments

Driving the Distance

“Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.” ~Author unknown

I don’t think many of us ever realize just how fortunate we are. Yesterday, I had a chance to briefly enter the world of someone who has very little, and I realized how much I take for granted.

While talking to this man, I learned that they have a specific amount of money they can use for food every month; with the prices of… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on May 7, 2010 at 5:30am — No Comments

What Tomorrow Might Bring

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it empties today of its strength.” – C. Ten Boom

Robert J. Burdette, an early 900s American humorist and clergyman, once said that it isn't the experience of today that drives men mad, but the remorse for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow might bring.

Although the past clings to life in our minds, it is but a ghost of times gone by. It is easy to identify with because of the emotional triggers… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on April 27, 2010 at 7:21am — No Comments

Filling Up the Tank: Turning Our Emotions Around to Serve a Greater Purpose

“Emotions are the fuel to really move you along - that's the only way you can create music. If you don't feel any emotions, it's not going to happen.” ~ Jan Hammer

In one of her comments to one of my posts, friend and fellow writer Alice grist described how hearing of the success a childhood friend experienced in her career, motivated her to stir her own creative juices and start writing professionally.

Although their friendship had ended many years before… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 24, 2010 at 6:52am — No Comments

Anatomy of a Gift

“Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” ~ Proverb of origin unknown

Although this wise, old proverb hints at the fact that we shouldn’t judge a gift by its monetary value, a few days ago I couldn’t help but come up with a slightly different interpretation for it.

A week ago, I woke up to a terrible head cold – sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, and all the necessary garnishes to make me feel utterly miserable. Not being a fan of medications unless absolutely necessary,… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 22, 2010 at 7:34am — 1 Comment

The Big Book of Soul - Book Review

Being passionate of all things spiritual, I became really intrigued when I read the editorial reviews of The Big Book of Soul. Finally I had the opportunity to read a book dealing with the spiritual practice of Hoodoo which focused on healing rather than hexing.

I went to a local bookstore to pick up a copy already expecting to like the book, but nothing prepared me for the treat I was about to receive. The cover itself, with its abundance of color and festive energy was striking… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 19, 2010 at 7:52am — No Comments

An Apology to Readers

I found out last week that the US printer has made a mistake on some of the copies of Housekeeping for the Soul they sent out to the distributor. By the time the mistake was discovered, the distributor had already sent out a shipment to Amazon.

Although I hope that all faulty copies were retrieved before Amazon filled pre-orders, I have no way to know all of them were. So, if you have pre-ordered a copy, and you receive one with my cover and someone else's book in it (the author is… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 18, 2010 at 1:36pm — No Comments

A Love that Never Dies

“You taught me how to love; you taught me how to live; you taught me how to laugh; you taught me how to cry, but when you left, you forgot to teach me how to forget you.” ~ Hendie

Not too long ago, my mother was telling me about a friend of hers, Anita, who recently lost her husband after a long battle with cancer. Anita and her husband were married for almost fifty years, and were only a few weeks shy of celebrating their anniversary. Theirs was a symbiotic relationship - their… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 16, 2010 at 5:15am — No Comments

The Power of Our Beliefs

“Fear is faith that it won’t work out.” ~ Author unknown

While watching a comedy sitcom in which a kid was trying to learn how to swim, I saw my daughter become pensive for a moment. Then, with a puzzled look spreading across her little face, she said: “If I can swim, why is he having such a hard time with it? He can just float.”

I tried to remind her of when she didn’t know how to swim either, and how apprehensive she was when the swimming instructor first… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 15, 2010 at 6:44am — No Comments

Let's Meet at Sandra's Virtual Cafe!

Good morning everybody!

I hope this post finds you all well. As most of you know, the past several months Dena and I have been busy setting up a strong platform in preparation for the books being released. As the “birth” of Housekeeping for the Soul is getting closer, the pressure of “existing” simultaneously on multiple sites has become a bit much to handle. After careful consideration, Dena and I decided that it would be fun to have a place where I can interact with everyone… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 7, 2010 at 8:54am — No Comments

A Walk in the Woods

“In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself in a dark wood where the straight way was lost. Ah! How hard a thing is it to tell what a wild, and rough, and stubborn wood this was, which in my thought renews the fear! So bitter is it that scarcely more is death: but to treat of the good that I there found, I will relate the other things that I discerned.” ~ Dante Alighieri

It’s quite amazing how time and age can make such a difference in the way one… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on March 3, 2010 at 5:57am — 1 Comment

Guidance vs.Control

“Give people enough guidance to make the decisions you want them to make. Don’t tell them what to do, but encourage them to do what is best.” ~ Jimmy Johnson

A few days ago, I had a conversation with my daughter’s preschool teacher. Her concern was that even if Morgan scores exceptionally well on tests, she rarely follows directions, and prefers instead to follow her own mental map.

After hearing the same things over the years about my boys, her observations… Continue

Added by Sandra Carrington-Smith on February 25, 2010 at 6:48am — 1 Comment

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