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What Everyone Believed: A Memoir of Intuition and Awakening
When a series of puzzling, devastating life events drive an Ivy-League-trained engineer into despair, she searches within for her own truth and wisdom and discovers that when you connect to your intuition, your soul, and follow it consistently regardless of conditioning, convention, or outer expectations, you access the power of interconnectedness, and with it a level of purpose, synchronicity, and universal cooperation that isn't possible coming from your own personal goals or agenda. Step-by-step, and in the entertaining form of a personal memoir, this book shows you how to learn to trust your intuition and access the power of interconnectedness--the true "Holy Grail. The "Holy Grail" isn't a relic or a bloodline, but rather the interconnectedness, the grace and the magic that's accessed through trust in your inner guidance. She then reveals its secrets--including the way to the "Golden Age," the truth behind the origin and lineage of Christ and Mary Magdalene, the gifts and the purpose of painful and challenging experiences (sometimes referred to as the experience of "duality"), and finally, humanity's extraordinary destiny. It is now time for revealing all this so that we can begin to create a new world with grace and greater ease.
- GenresSpiritualityNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2008
6 people are currently reading
1137 people want to read
About the author
Christine Hoeflich
2 books48 followersChristine Hoeflich is the author of two books: 1. "Reconnected: A Spiritual Awakening Memoir" (Kindle title; the original hardcover title is "What Everyone Believed: A Memoir of Intuition and Awakening") and 2. "The Spiritual Awakening Process: Coming Out of the Darkness and Into the Light," available in both Kindle and paperback versions. A former materials engineer, she has developed the steps for strengthening the relationship with our higher self, gaining trust in our intuition, accessing our inner shaman and Interconnectedness, and fulfilling our divine purpose.
North Atlantic Books recognized Christine's memoir as “one of 4 Notable Spiritual Awakening Memoirs,” along with Eat Pray Love, The Happiness Project, and Star Sister. She has written articles, blogged and tweeted on spiritual awakening and personal growth. About nine months after getting on Twitter, Mashable.com recognized Christine in their article, “Nonfiction Tweets: 70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter,” in the Creative Nonfiction category. Also, CreativeClass.com (online college degrees) recognized Christine in their article, “100 Amazingly Insightful People You Can Learn from on Twitter,” in the "Words of Wisdom and Inspiration” category, along with Oprah and Deepak Chopra.
Christine blogs about spiritual awakening at ChristineHoeflich.com. You may reach her through her blog.
North Atlantic Books recognized Christine's memoir as “one of 4 Notable Spiritual Awakening Memoirs,” along with Eat Pray Love, The Happiness Project, and Star Sister. She has written articles, blogged and tweeted on spiritual awakening and personal growth. About nine months after getting on Twitter, Mashable.com recognized Christine in their article, “Nonfiction Tweets: 70+ Authors to Follow on Twitter,” in the Creative Nonfiction category. Also, CreativeClass.com (online college degrees) recognized Christine in their article, “100 Amazingly Insightful People You Can Learn from on Twitter,” in the "Words of Wisdom and Inspiration” category, along with Oprah and Deepak Chopra.
Christine blogs about spiritual awakening at ChristineHoeflich.com. You may reach her through her blog.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 3, 2018
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I have to say, this book was not quite what I thought it was going to be, I thought it was going Pagan but it's not. It's about God. That being said, I still read the book and enjoyed it. It's my own fault I keep getting burned with these kind of books.
I loved the writing, the author has such a wonderful voice as she goes. It more feels like she's talking to the reader and less like I'm just reading a book. I love when authors do that. It adds such a wonderful touch. The story is kinda slow to start but the last few chapters really make up for all that. I loved watching the author's journey as she finds herself. So while this book wasn't what I thought it would be... I am still glad I read it. I did enjoy it.
I have to say, this book was not quite what I thought it was going to be, I thought it was going Pagan but it's not. It's about God. That being said, I still read the book and enjoyed it. It's my own fault I keep getting burned with these kind of books.
I loved the writing, the author has such a wonderful voice as she goes. It more feels like she's talking to the reader and less like I'm just reading a book. I love when authors do that. It adds such a wonderful touch. The story is kinda slow to start but the last few chapters really make up for all that. I loved watching the author's journey as she finds herself. So while this book wasn't what I thought it would be... I am still glad I read it. I did enjoy it.
November 26, 2016
There are an ever-growing number of spiritual awakening accounts showing up, or so it seems, but this book has to be one of my favorites. I find it helpful sometimes to read the accounts of those who are going different routes. Lately I've even been reading Theresa of Avila, although I tend to agree with Bernadette Roberts that both she and St. John of the Cross were limited in what they could say because of the inquisition. "Reconnected" is a thoroughly modern book, from someone that's easy to identify with, and written in a style that is extremely accessible.
The book flows from beginning to end, and once you get into it, you won't be able to put it down until you finish. The author makes it extremely easy to empathize with her experiences, which invokes a process that helps you to recognize similar issues and experiences in your own life.
From the point of view of a student of A Course in Miracles it is remarkable how the book shows you the process, which in a way is the "universal course," as the Course calls it - in other words different people may go different paths, but in the end only truth is true, and everything else is a lie, and clearly at some level of abstraction the path is always similar even if the forms are very different, and even if the theology people identify with is very different.
Meanwhile, the important part is the process, and that always entails simply becoming more honest about the ego, and making the one and only meaningful choice we ever can make: a conscious effort of connecting more with the right mind or the higher self, as Christine would call it - using the Holy Spirit as your guide (the Council of Light in Christine's parlance). Importantly, she sees clearly that fighting the ego is a non-starter, for fighting it only servers to make it stronger. Making the conscious effort to connect with spirit is sure to bear fruit, and this book is full of helpful steps you can take.
In the end, the only place where I would part ways with the book is in the "theogical" views the author espouses in the last few pages of the final chapter, where, similar to some schools of Advaita Vedanta, she views the universe as an exercise in self-discovery by God, which preserves a crypto-dualism, for then the world is still created by God, and not by the Ego as the Course would have it. Having said that, it is still very interesting how she intuits the non-dualistic nature of reality, where all is one, and she comes very close to expressing the nature of the Kingdom as we know it from the Thomas Gospel and from the Course - as in saying 113 of the Thomas Gospel (Pursah's rendering):
113. The disciples said to him, “When will the Kingdom come?” He said, “It will not
come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Behold here,’ or ‘Behold there.’
Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people
do not see it.”
Throughout the book there is a deep realization that the life you experience is the expression of your own inner choices, and that you do have the power to change your life by connecting to your inner teacher, and thereby altering your entire relationship with the world, so that you start being at cause instead of feeling like a victim and being an effect. If you connect with spirit, you are "at cause" as Gary Renard likes to call it, and the resulting experience is of "being in the flow." Here again, I find Christine's descriptions of that discovery in her own life helpful and inspiring, and the reader has to realize in the end that it is the only way to live. Living from the ego is nothing else but swimming against the stream and it is exhausting.
As I write this, I realize it is Thanksgiving Day today, and I find myself very much identifying with the sense of thankfulness that Christine expresses so eloquently throughout this book with the realization that I needed all of the experiences in my life to get to where I am today, and the only thing that really matters is the choice, day by day and even minute by minute, to follow my inner guidance and act from that, or join with the ego and continue the illusion that anything can be changed in the world. As the old saying goes: change starts within.
The book flows from beginning to end, and once you get into it, you won't be able to put it down until you finish. The author makes it extremely easy to empathize with her experiences, which invokes a process that helps you to recognize similar issues and experiences in your own life.
From the point of view of a student of A Course in Miracles it is remarkable how the book shows you the process, which in a way is the "universal course," as the Course calls it - in other words different people may go different paths, but in the end only truth is true, and everything else is a lie, and clearly at some level of abstraction the path is always similar even if the forms are very different, and even if the theology people identify with is very different.
Meanwhile, the important part is the process, and that always entails simply becoming more honest about the ego, and making the one and only meaningful choice we ever can make: a conscious effort of connecting more with the right mind or the higher self, as Christine would call it - using the Holy Spirit as your guide (the Council of Light in Christine's parlance). Importantly, she sees clearly that fighting the ego is a non-starter, for fighting it only servers to make it stronger. Making the conscious effort to connect with spirit is sure to bear fruit, and this book is full of helpful steps you can take.
In the end, the only place where I would part ways with the book is in the "theogical" views the author espouses in the last few pages of the final chapter, where, similar to some schools of Advaita Vedanta, she views the universe as an exercise in self-discovery by God, which preserves a crypto-dualism, for then the world is still created by God, and not by the Ego as the Course would have it. Having said that, it is still very interesting how she intuits the non-dualistic nature of reality, where all is one, and she comes very close to expressing the nature of the Kingdom as we know it from the Thomas Gospel and from the Course - as in saying 113 of the Thomas Gospel (Pursah's rendering):
113. The disciples said to him, “When will the Kingdom come?” He said, “It will not
come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Behold here,’ or ‘Behold there.’
Rather, the Kingdom of the Father is spread out upon the earth, and people
do not see it.”
Throughout the book there is a deep realization that the life you experience is the expression of your own inner choices, and that you do have the power to change your life by connecting to your inner teacher, and thereby altering your entire relationship with the world, so that you start being at cause instead of feeling like a victim and being an effect. If you connect with spirit, you are "at cause" as Gary Renard likes to call it, and the resulting experience is of "being in the flow." Here again, I find Christine's descriptions of that discovery in her own life helpful and inspiring, and the reader has to realize in the end that it is the only way to live. Living from the ego is nothing else but swimming against the stream and it is exhausting.
As I write this, I realize it is Thanksgiving Day today, and I find myself very much identifying with the sense of thankfulness that Christine expresses so eloquently throughout this book with the realization that I needed all of the experiences in my life to get to where I am today, and the only thing that really matters is the choice, day by day and even minute by minute, to follow my inner guidance and act from that, or join with the ego and continue the illusion that anything can be changed in the world. As the old saying goes: change starts within.
May 25, 2009
“What Everyone Believed” promises to be the heartfelt memoir of a woman who turned her life around, from an unhappy marriage and career to a future filled with happiness that holds the potential answers to life that the world has been searching for. What it delivers instead (at least for the first half of the book) is a cryptic mess. As a reviewer, I take no pleasure in that description, but I am afraid it is apt. The book does improve in the final few chapters, but by then the reader is likely to have long stopped reading.
The overall problem with the book lies with its narrative description of how the author reached her goal of spiritual awakening. First, she fails to explain with any detail key elements that are vital to the change, for example, her reliance on the Counsel of Light for guidance. The Counsel of Light is only fully explained once the journey is over, making it challenging to the reader to see any value. Second, the author chronicles the events of her life (her strained marriage, her children, her refusal to get a job in her field while undergoing her journey, an extra-marital affair) in a way so haphazard as to question the value of any of the lessons she is seeking to impart.
What the book could have used is a serious content editor, someone to look at the stories and anecdotes with a subjective eye and a red pen. Just a few minor examples: Throughout the book, her extra-marital love interest is referred to a J (just as her husband is called W); however, at some random point, he starts to be called Jon. Another example is a quote from the band Metallica; shortly thereafter, the author starts referring to a “Mr. Metallica” and imparts ideas about his potential journey. It was hard to know whether to take this seriously or see it as some strange injection of humor. Then there was the story of a dead bunny, which kept mysteriously moving. Was it dead or not? Does the reader even care? There were plenty of stories of drain pipes and the need for new tires that failed to inspire.
Then there are the final few chapters, which stand head and shoulders above the rest, that make up the core of the book. If some of the wisdom and insight found on these final few pages of “What Everyone Believed” had been imparted throughout the memoir, it might have been a different book (and a different review) altogether.
Critics don’t like to give bad reviews, and this review is no exception. I came to the book with high hopes, but was disappointed. Normally, I would also feel anguish for what the author will experience as well, once they read the review. However, in author Christine Hoelich’s words, “Incidentally, most enlightened folks realize that critiques aimed at them often have little or nothing to do with them, but instead reflect the fears, misconceptions, proclivities, or unexamined conditionings of the critics--usually unknown to them.” Looks like the only worry I (and others) need have is for our own lack of enlightenment.
The overall problem with the book lies with its narrative description of how the author reached her goal of spiritual awakening. First, she fails to explain with any detail key elements that are vital to the change, for example, her reliance on the Counsel of Light for guidance. The Counsel of Light is only fully explained once the journey is over, making it challenging to the reader to see any value. Second, the author chronicles the events of her life (her strained marriage, her children, her refusal to get a job in her field while undergoing her journey, an extra-marital affair) in a way so haphazard as to question the value of any of the lessons she is seeking to impart.
What the book could have used is a serious content editor, someone to look at the stories and anecdotes with a subjective eye and a red pen. Just a few minor examples: Throughout the book, her extra-marital love interest is referred to a J (just as her husband is called W); however, at some random point, he starts to be called Jon. Another example is a quote from the band Metallica; shortly thereafter, the author starts referring to a “Mr. Metallica” and imparts ideas about his potential journey. It was hard to know whether to take this seriously or see it as some strange injection of humor. Then there was the story of a dead bunny, which kept mysteriously moving. Was it dead or not? Does the reader even care? There were plenty of stories of drain pipes and the need for new tires that failed to inspire.
Then there are the final few chapters, which stand head and shoulders above the rest, that make up the core of the book. If some of the wisdom and insight found on these final few pages of “What Everyone Believed” had been imparted throughout the memoir, it might have been a different book (and a different review) altogether.
Critics don’t like to give bad reviews, and this review is no exception. I came to the book with high hopes, but was disappointed. Normally, I would also feel anguish for what the author will experience as well, once they read the review. However, in author Christine Hoelich’s words, “Incidentally, most enlightened folks realize that critiques aimed at them often have little or nothing to do with them, but instead reflect the fears, misconceptions, proclivities, or unexamined conditionings of the critics--usually unknown to them.” Looks like the only worry I (and others) need have is for our own lack of enlightenment.
December 12, 2016
I really enjoyed reading this book. And, I suspect all fans of the Self-Improvement genre will love having a nibble on this one also! Reconnected: A Spiritual Awakening Memoir is a very well written life improvement book. This book is intelligent, wise and packed to the rafters with practical common sense advice. It becomes very obvious as you read through this page turner that the author is imparting her wisdom and understanding as to what happiness and success really means. It’s an excellent guide for putting things into perspective.
Profound thoughts are explained here in the most simple manner. That's all one can say about this book. It is difficult to write a more objective review, because the impact the author will have on you will make you see life and its problems in a wise and practical way. The book should NOT be read - it should be absorbed and reflected upon.
This book has helped me clarify my thinking, process my feelings, and make better decisions. If you are you ready to stop drifting and design a life you love, this read with help you on your journey. The author has put her heart in the pages of this book that will encourage and give hope to the reader. So many wonderful and courageous people share their experiences through books, and I thank this author for sharing hers. While I personally believe that everybody’s spiritual journey is as unique as our DNA, some parts of the book I am in agreement with, while other’s I’m not. However, there is, I believe, interconnections between every living thing on this planet that makes each journey and opinion worthwhile as long as it leads ultimately to peace and harmony.
The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. Her words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement in the face of serious issues, this would come highly recommended from me.
No matter what your situation is today, this book will put you on the right path to better things. I’ve been around the block a few times myself and even I found this read to be very insightful. This wonderful new book will show you how to properly tune into life and the simple rules you must follow to achieve this. This by far is one of the best Self-Improvement books I’ve read in a long time. The author must be commended for her time and effort for producing such an insightful book. Also, the writing style is friendly which makes for an enjoyable read.
Reconnected: A Spiritual Awakening Memoir is a wonderful read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It's an impressive work for author Christine Hoeflich and I'll certainly be looking forward to reading more from her in the future. A well deserved five stars from me.
I would highly recommend this perceptive and intuitive read.
Profound thoughts are explained here in the most simple manner. That's all one can say about this book. It is difficult to write a more objective review, because the impact the author will have on you will make you see life and its problems in a wise and practical way. The book should NOT be read - it should be absorbed and reflected upon.
This book has helped me clarify my thinking, process my feelings, and make better decisions. If you are you ready to stop drifting and design a life you love, this read with help you on your journey. The author has put her heart in the pages of this book that will encourage and give hope to the reader. So many wonderful and courageous people share their experiences through books, and I thank this author for sharing hers. While I personally believe that everybody’s spiritual journey is as unique as our DNA, some parts of the book I am in agreement with, while other’s I’m not. However, there is, I believe, interconnections between every living thing on this planet that makes each journey and opinion worthwhile as long as it leads ultimately to peace and harmony.
The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. Her words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement in the face of serious issues, this would come highly recommended from me.
No matter what your situation is today, this book will put you on the right path to better things. I’ve been around the block a few times myself and even I found this read to be very insightful. This wonderful new book will show you how to properly tune into life and the simple rules you must follow to achieve this. This by far is one of the best Self-Improvement books I’ve read in a long time. The author must be commended for her time and effort for producing such an insightful book. Also, the writing style is friendly which makes for an enjoyable read.
Reconnected: A Spiritual Awakening Memoir is a wonderful read that will leave you feeling like a better person for having read it. It's an impressive work for author Christine Hoeflich and I'll certainly be looking forward to reading more from her in the future. A well deserved five stars from me.
I would highly recommend this perceptive and intuitive read.
April 26, 2018
How do you awaken to your higher self, the source of your intuition and inner power? And how do you know that you’re on the right track?
I wondered about that for years before I began to write What Everyone Believed: A memoir of intuition and awakening. This is my story of who I thought I was, based on my past experiences and cultural conditioning, and what it took to break free from the past and create my life from a greater sense of truth.
This book is especially helpful in these chaotic and highly polarized times. Readers of this book will be able to see and understand that what’s occurring here on Earth is both beautiful and amazing ... which will provide some comfort regardless of what’s occurring around them.
This book was difficult for me to write. But if I could help make the awakening process a bit easier for others, it was well worth it. I hope you love reading it as much as I loved completing it.
Love,
Christine
I wondered about that for years before I began to write What Everyone Believed: A memoir of intuition and awakening. This is my story of who I thought I was, based on my past experiences and cultural conditioning, and what it took to break free from the past and create my life from a greater sense of truth.
This book is especially helpful in these chaotic and highly polarized times. Readers of this book will be able to see and understand that what’s occurring here on Earth is both beautiful and amazing ... which will provide some comfort regardless of what’s occurring around them.
This book was difficult for me to write. But if I could help make the awakening process a bit easier for others, it was well worth it. I hope you love reading it as much as I loved completing it.
Love,
Christine
Read
July 28, 2011I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I loved reading Christine's journey & how genuine she was as she went through different challenges in her life. I found her to be inspiring as she listened to her gut instincts. We all go through this journey in life & it's interesting to hear how other people come to their conclusions.
August 31, 2021
At first I couldn't get into this book, but the more it progressed the more I enjoyed this. It was a beautiful sprititual awakening book. Lately ive been struggling through a depression and this is exactly what I needed to read.
April 28, 2021
Reconnected: A spiritual awakening memoir by Christine Hoeflich chronicles her journey to find her inner happiness. Just like most of us; She followed what she thought was expected, what she thought she wanted out of life, and fought against her inner voice and signs around her. The only thing this brought was a temporary satisfaction that would leave her feeling empty and cause conflict in her everyday life. Eventually, she hit a low point in her life were all of this was threatening to destroy everything she held dear in life. It was at this low point that she was asked to join a soul recognition workshop that could be the miracle she needed to save her. As she was about to find out though the workshop, even though it provide some answers, was only the beginning of her journey. Christine now knows what her inner being is telling her but she still has many obstacles to overcome before she can accomplish her life's purpose. Once Ms. Hoeflich learns how to get in touch with her inner being she starts receiving insights from everything around her to help overcome her obstacles.
There are so many aspects I like about this book. The way she gleams insight out of an event or something someone says to her. One example was when she saw a nut fall from the sky and a friend told her about how birds will drop nuts to crack them. That one simple talk started her thinking and gleam some more insight in how we all connected to the universe. Then there is the way that just about everything around her start inspiring new ideas for her writing,
One of the things I don't like about this book is how ms. Hoeflich allows self-doubt creep in even though she has made great strides in her work. I can't blame her though since it is part of the way we are conditioned all are lives.
I would highly recommend this book for everyone. Most of us just stumble through life and can get plenty out of this book to inspire us to get in touch with our own inner beings. Even if you are one of the rare people that have found your life path it is still a good way to keep you focused.
I would give this book a 4 out of 4 stars
There are so many aspects I like about this book. The way she gleams insight out of an event or something someone says to her. One example was when she saw a nut fall from the sky and a friend told her about how birds will drop nuts to crack them. That one simple talk started her thinking and gleam some more insight in how we all connected to the universe. Then there is the way that just about everything around her start inspiring new ideas for her writing,
One of the things I don't like about this book is how ms. Hoeflich allows self-doubt creep in even though she has made great strides in her work. I can't blame her though since it is part of the way we are conditioned all are lives.
I would highly recommend this book for everyone. Most of us just stumble through life and can get plenty out of this book to inspire us to get in touch with our own inner beings. Even if you are one of the rare people that have found your life path it is still a good way to keep you focused.
I would give this book a 4 out of 4 stars
July 23, 2018
I won this book on a good reads giveaway. It wasn’t quite what I expected, however I did enjoy it. It’s great for anyone who is starting out on their “me” journey. Everyone’s journey is a little different, and that’s the way it should be. It doesn’t quite speak to me, but I’m sure it does to many.
July 24, 2018
I truly enjoyed the book. I have recommended and borrowed out my copy of the book to several of my friends and they all loved the book. I really hope that Christine will continue to write more books on this and other related subjects .
Want to read
June 29, 2018#GoodreadsGiveaway
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews