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Explorations of a Cosmic Soul
A revised and expanded edition of the bestselling Explorations of a Cosmic Soul .
Align your soul and spirit with this beautiful collection of poetry straight from the author’s heart. Written by Allie Michelle, this edition includes her author notes that convey the energy she experienced when writing these poems. Inspiring and powerful, Allie's words will sweep you off your feet delivering the message that YOU are a cosmic being.
Align your soul and spirit with this beautiful collection of poetry straight from the author’s heart. Written by Allie Michelle, this edition includes her author notes that convey the energy she experienced when writing these poems. Inspiring and powerful, Allie's words will sweep you off your feet delivering the message that YOU are a cosmic being.
192 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2021
92 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 7, 2018
so bland and basic. the ponderings of a white girl who takes astrology a bit too seriously. could barely even get through it.
July 21, 2021
The collection is too long, there are maybe 5 good poems here. I found the handwritten musings more interesting than a single poem. Unfortunately for me most of the time I felt as though I were reading middle school poetry homework. I can summerize the whole thing: Follow your heart, you're a goddess, the universe wants to give you your dreams if you just ask for it, love everyone especially yourself, be in harmony with Mother Nature, travel and meditate. Etc. I recently read Rupi Kaur and this reminded me a lot of that, but more optimistic and happy. Considering the popularity of Rupi Kaur, I will assume there is an audience for this, but it's not me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this and provide my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this and provide my honest review.
June 7, 2019
Actual rating 2.75/5
I lurk on Allie's instagram page here and there and follow many people w/ a similar aesthetic to her. I've been debating on whether getting this poetry collection for a while now (Since I don't like poetry), but I made the mistake of not remembering to check goodreads reviews. I wanted to love this poetry collection so so so bad. I have been upping my reading this past year and I never understood what that meant when people said they wanted to love something, but couldn't and I have experienced it multiple times this year alone.
Now, this might be biased because I do not care for poetry, especially new age poetry. I don't like the basicness of this. I feel like she kept trying to be deep, but it just wasn't connecting for me. I like poetry that makes you think, that makes allusions to other stories or themes, but Kali was the only poem that did such a thing. I would have liked more cosmic poems(given the title), instead, I'm left after reading this not remembering any major lines of any of the poems.
I bought this is on Amazon for $14.44 and was upset by the size of it, but now I'm upset with the content. Some of the author notes (I think that's what they were) were not printed well and I couldn't make out the words sometimes, I get she was trying to do the handwriting aesthetic but it could have been printed/scanned better or used handwriting type font. I wish I would have known someone with a copy (or it was available in store) because I wouldn't spend more than $5-$7(USD) on this and had I seen it in a store I probably would not have picked it up.
I lurk on Allie's instagram page here and there and follow many people w/ a similar aesthetic to her. I've been debating on whether getting this poetry collection for a while now (Since I don't like poetry), but I made the mistake of not remembering to check goodreads reviews. I wanted to love this poetry collection so so so bad. I have been upping my reading this past year and I never understood what that meant when people said they wanted to love something, but couldn't and I have experienced it multiple times this year alone.
Now, this might be biased because I do not care for poetry, especially new age poetry. I don't like the basicness of this. I feel like she kept trying to be deep, but it just wasn't connecting for me. I like poetry that makes you think, that makes allusions to other stories or themes, but Kali was the only poem that did such a thing. I would have liked more cosmic poems(given the title), instead, I'm left after reading this not remembering any major lines of any of the poems.
I bought this is on Amazon for $14.44 and was upset by the size of it, but now I'm upset with the content. Some of the author notes (I think that's what they were) were not printed well and I couldn't make out the words sometimes, I get she was trying to do the handwriting aesthetic but it could have been printed/scanned better or used handwriting type font. I wish I would have known someone with a copy (or it was available in store) because I wouldn't spend more than $5-$7(USD) on this and had I seen it in a store I probably would not have picked it up.
December 26, 2021
I loved the message of this book and it had some really amazing poems. It did get a little repetitive towards the middle but the start and the end were amazing. There were only a few poems I didn't love. I also wasn't sure if I should give this a 3.5 or 4 but I thought 4 because the really good poems definitely out weighed the repetitive ones.
September 30, 2021
Empowerment Within, Freedom Without
What we fear outside
Already exist within
When we heal inside
Our external fears will lose their power
Rating: 4.25 🌟
First and first, I'd like to express my gratitude to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this poetry.
This poetry is full of expressing self-empowerment, healing & appreciating every tiny moment of your life. This is the first poetry book by this author I had read and I will definitely pick another book of her in the future 🤍
December 27, 2018
*2.5/5, but definitely not a 3/5.
I went into Explorations of a Cosmic Soul with enthusiasm and curiosity. I've been following Allie Michelle's social media profiles for a long time, and she's a brilliantly inspiring individual. However, I was slightly disappointed by this poetry collection after all the hype and rave reviews it has received.
The biggest flaws of this book were the fundamentals of writing. There were a ridiculous amount of typos. In one poem, she accidentally wrote "passed" instead of "past." In another, she forgot to add a page break between two poems, so I had trouble discerning one poem from the next. The title of the second title appears at first to be a line of "Thought Loops", the only difference being the fact that "Cosmic Humor" is bolded. There were also less obvious, but still basic typos, such as numerous apostrophe errors, etc. If she had gotten multiple people to proof-read this, that wouldn't have been a problem. Unfortunately, it distracted from her magic.
Next, the rhyme and syllables were kind of a mess. There would be a four stanza poem, the first two following a distinct rhyme scheme with no syllable pattern. Then the third stanza would have no rhyming at all. The fourth would revert back to the structure of the first and second. She also overused many spirituality trigger words. I think if she could have wrote free verse poetry instead, the message would be less diluted. Probably due to that fact that I was reading 1984 at the same time, her patterns unfortunately brought to mind the poet in 1984 who says that the history of English poetry is due to the rhymes that exist in our language.
Not only were the rhymes repetitive, the messages were, too. I think this whole collection just isn't approachable to the general public. Explorations of a Cosmic Soul was written for a very specific mold of a person. The intended audience is probably a young woman who believes wholeheartedly in astrology, and believes that intuitive realities are more important than science. There were quite a few moments where I felt bad for Allie Michelle, because she clearly does not see how beautiful maths and sciences are. I would come to a statement that science proves to be entirely false, and I just felt removed all of a sudden. But if you are the intended audience, you would likely love her poetry. Clearly this book was written from the heart, and not the brain. Although it is interesting to read her perspective, I think if she had managed to combine both, the impact would have been much stronger.
There were a few poems which were just so applicable to me that I was tearing up and freaking out, though. They were phrased in a unique way which successfully cleared up my inner confusion. I'm so grateful for those. I do not regret reading this book, because those few poems will probably stick with me forever. Many of the poems read like mantras, and I could definitely see myself reading my favorites as daily morning mantras. "From Lonely to Alone" is brilliant, brilliant brilliance. I also liked "Purpose Beyond Perfection", "Expectations", "Blank Slate", and "Lessons From a Spider".
I went into Explorations of a Cosmic Soul with enthusiasm and curiosity. I've been following Allie Michelle's social media profiles for a long time, and she's a brilliantly inspiring individual. However, I was slightly disappointed by this poetry collection after all the hype and rave reviews it has received.
The biggest flaws of this book were the fundamentals of writing. There were a ridiculous amount of typos. In one poem, she accidentally wrote "passed" instead of "past." In another, she forgot to add a page break between two poems, so I had trouble discerning one poem from the next. The title of the second title appears at first to be a line of "Thought Loops", the only difference being the fact that "Cosmic Humor" is bolded. There were also less obvious, but still basic typos, such as numerous apostrophe errors, etc. If she had gotten multiple people to proof-read this, that wouldn't have been a problem. Unfortunately, it distracted from her magic.
Next, the rhyme and syllables were kind of a mess. There would be a four stanza poem, the first two following a distinct rhyme scheme with no syllable pattern. Then the third stanza would have no rhyming at all. The fourth would revert back to the structure of the first and second. She also overused many spirituality trigger words. I think if she could have wrote free verse poetry instead, the message would be less diluted. Probably due to that fact that I was reading 1984 at the same time, her patterns unfortunately brought to mind the poet in 1984 who says that the history of English poetry is due to the rhymes that exist in our language.
Not only were the rhymes repetitive, the messages were, too. I think this whole collection just isn't approachable to the general public. Explorations of a Cosmic Soul was written for a very specific mold of a person. The intended audience is probably a young woman who believes wholeheartedly in astrology, and believes that intuitive realities are more important than science. There were quite a few moments where I felt bad for Allie Michelle, because she clearly does not see how beautiful maths and sciences are. I would come to a statement that science proves to be entirely false, and I just felt removed all of a sudden. But if you are the intended audience, you would likely love her poetry. Clearly this book was written from the heart, and not the brain. Although it is interesting to read her perspective, I think if she had managed to combine both, the impact would have been much stronger.
There were a few poems which were just so applicable to me that I was tearing up and freaking out, though. They were phrased in a unique way which successfully cleared up my inner confusion. I'm so grateful for those. I do not regret reading this book, because those few poems will probably stick with me forever. Many of the poems read like mantras, and I could definitely see myself reading my favorites as daily morning mantras. "From Lonely to Alone" is brilliant, brilliant brilliance. I also liked "Purpose Beyond Perfection", "Expectations", "Blank Slate", and "Lessons From a Spider".
August 22, 2021
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
I was expecting something different from this book. The font of the letter is pretty, it imitates a typewriter, but it makes it harder to read, and the handwritten annotations along the book are also difficult to read, thought it turned the book a bit more personal. I enjoyed some of the poems, but overall I didn't really like it.. I felt like most of the book was a repetition of itself. Rating: 3/5 stars.
I was expecting something different from this book. The font of the letter is pretty, it imitates a typewriter, but it makes it harder to read, and the handwritten annotations along the book are also difficult to read, thought it turned the book a bit more personal. I enjoyed some of the poems, but overall I didn't really like it.. I felt like most of the book was a repetition of itself. Rating: 3/5 stars.
November 8, 2022
I found this book while walking around a store in Vancouver and picked it up offhandedly and I’m so glad I did. The cover grabbed my attention but the words inside were exactly what I needed while I traveled around on my little holiday. This was an amazing collection of poems and I’m so glad I got to hear these words at the time in my life. Will most definitely be reading new works for this author and recommending them out.
April 13, 2018
“This is what a feminine future looks like...Their intuition will no longer be questioned and beaten down by logic. It, along with all their emotions, will be praised and used as guidance, not something to medicate or see as a burden.”
August 27, 2021
Lately I have been getting more and more into poetry, and I really love reading all the thoughts of people who can manage to put them into writing as beautifully as poets do.
The author has great thoughts, and she puts them into poems beautifully. My favourite part was when after some poems, she had some handwritten notes in the book, that explained her thoughts or process, how did she created such a special and magical poem.
I really enjoyed reading it until a point, but after that the poems kind of started repeating the same topics and I kind of got bored. There were some surprises around the end of the book though, that were worth reading until the very end, but some of the poems in the third quarter just were not for me I think. Or because I felt like those topics were alredy explored and explained there was no need to do it again.
Overall it is a lovely poetry book, and I loved reading it, I think you should check it out if you are looking for a special experience with a lovely poetry book.
The author has great thoughts, and she puts them into poems beautifully. My favourite part was when after some poems, she had some handwritten notes in the book, that explained her thoughts or process, how did she created such a special and magical poem.
I really enjoyed reading it until a point, but after that the poems kind of started repeating the same topics and I kind of got bored. There were some surprises around the end of the book though, that were worth reading until the very end, but some of the poems in the third quarter just were not for me I think. Or because I felt like those topics were alredy explored and explained there was no need to do it again.
Overall it is a lovely poetry book, and I loved reading it, I think you should check it out if you are looking for a special experience with a lovely poetry book.
January 7, 2025
It is for the seeker. The one who chooses to dive into unexplored depths.
It is for the one who is ready to meet the truth within themselves.
we are witnessing the rise of the feminine energy. Feminine energy by this definition is one that heals, one that nourishes, one that is of service and one that is powerful enough to give life to any area that needs it.
It has long been predicted by shamans, yoga masters, and spiritual teachers that women will heal this planet with their feminine energy. They will heal the Earth from the destruction of war, they will heal society from its ego driven insecurities, and they will heal our relationships with each other.
Kings rule by power, Queens rule through service. They both have power, they both are rulers, leaders, and teachers but their approach is very different.
We are moving once again from self to community, from God to Goddess, and from destruction to nourishment.
Women are different than men, their brains work differently, and that difference is what the world needs.
The world may get a bit darker before we see the true emergence of light.
What is your purpose?
What is your task?
To live, to love,
To show up for what the moment asks
...
You want to change the world?
Then find what you love, and let it set you free
If you think all you are
Is who you could be
Then you will ever experience
You own divinity
All the answers exist inside
Slow down, get still, open your eyes
Problems arise when we forget who we are
From making even the simplest of
decisions a mindful choice
You never look up and think
"You should be this or that,"
She honors all sides of herself equally
Knowing that there is a time for shadow
And there is a time for light
All things in nature embody this balance
Some humans stay comfortable and rooted
Afraid of the unknown, their minds polluted
Past, present, and future exist all at once
Deja vu is merely an intuitive hunch
It is the ghost of a lesson we have already learned
Reminding us to choose differently and discern
Love will set us free
Untether your soul and don't let
Time, tell you who you should be
Play when you're eighty
And be wise at eighteen
Create your own reality
And never lose sight of your dreams
I think I'd prefer to be immersed in the now
Rather than wonder when
Things will manifest or how
Slow down, breathe, my love
There will always be
Something important to attend to
And yet, what is more important than
To sit and be in total peace
We fear silence,
Yet through silence we are free
Give a gift to each person you meet
They have their own struggle beyond what you see
Hate does not take a break
And fear spreads like wildfire
There is too much at stake
Lives are being sacrificed for dollars and empires
The world cannot afford ignorance
Everything that is happening directly affects you,
Just because it is not at your doorstep
Does not make it of less value
We are each responsible for spreading light
And leaving this world better
Ensuring everyone their rights
At first becoming whole is lonely
We shed our old skin
And some relationships may temporarily fade away
As the uncertainty of our identities are shaken up
Untethered Love
People often come in and out of our lives as messengers of light, as wonderful teachers
Each of them carrying with them a lesson
Some of them stay for a lifetime
Some of them only for a moment like a bright comet passing by
But when we absorb the lesson we're meant to learn from them
If you try to please everyone
You will never grow to be more
We don't need more perfect people
Sculpted by an idea that is unreachable
Let them see you how they please
They will praise you or judge you
So many gifts hidden inside of you
In the greatest love you have ever known
One that comes from inside
With an unshakable purpose that shows you
Why you are alive
We say go with the flow because life comes in waves
There are times where our loves will have too fast a pace
There are time when our to-do list will overwhelm
An times when we will need to ask for help
There are slow waves where we won't know what to do
Where we forget our purpose and that this is temporary too
To learn the importance of connection
How do you speak about yourself?
But perhaps what we do not know
Is that there is something much better
Already on its way
When you wish and manifest
Or when you pray
Make sure to add,
"This or something better,"
Instead of getting stuck on what you crave
Be content with what is
The more gratitude you feel
The more you will attract bliss
Always be excited of what is to come
For our dreaming is never truly done
Know you are never lacking
For all things are one
Insecurity will always be loud and demanding
It needs to be seen and validated constantly
Compassion is subtle
Compassion is our truest form of strength
You cannot become all that you are meant to be
By staying where you are
When one of us is hurt, all of us bleed
There is no dream that is out of reach
A seed never question it will grow
Into the mightiest tree
You can never step in the same river twice
You will never again live the same moment of life
Can you treat a struggling stranger
With the same kindness as your loved one?
We must create healthy boundaries
We cannot give what we do not have
Always balance the mind, the body, soul triad
For when we open our eyes and see only love
Our eyes will truly be open
Do not worry so much
Your life energy is precious
Do not waste it trying to figure things out
We must fall in love
With ourselves unconditionally
Before we can extend this
To another soul
Conditional love
Only tries to control
But unconditional love
Is to create value and happiness
For yourself
And remain whole
You want someone to look
Into your soul
And love all that you are
Do you look into your soul
And love all that you are?
You want someone to fully accept
Support and care for you
Do you fully accept, support,
And care for yourself?
Love is the water that cools hate's flame
Compassion is our reminder that we are all the same
Speak your life into being
As though it has already happened
Underneath it all
We crave the same thing
Love, connection, belonging,
To see and be seen
To feel and be felt
We cannot always rest of the excuse that all things are meant to be
Though certain things are written, our hearts are always free
Every moment we have the choice of what direction to go in
Free Will has no compass
The secret to happiness is learning to dance in the eye of every storm
A leaf came down and kissed me on the face
As I looked up I saw a bird take flight
It's wings spread beneath the sun's rays
We spend so much of our lives looking down
Getting lost in the chatter of our mind's
Or stressfully running around
...
And imaged my own wings spreading
...
This bird symbolized freedom from desire
...
Get outside of yourself and away from the mind's voice
There are no mistakes if we learn
They become colorful stories that make up our being
And I hope your choices reflect
Your dreams and not your fears
And stay passionately curious
I do not trust those that stay the same
It means they are submissive
To society's complex game
It means to their heart they are dismissive
And choose security over growth
Question everything
Why do we always ask the same questions?
What is your name?
Where are you from?
What do you do?
This teaches us nothing about what they have been through
We learn little about who they truly are
Their hopes and dreams or how they learned from their scars
We must ask better questions for the sake of connection
So enjoy life like a huge party
But don't forget to grow
To live numbly or in ecstasy is a choice
For even the world itself won't last
The Awakening
When I found home within myself
I was free
When I truly loved myself
I opened my eyes
And could finally see
I gazed at everything
And recognized it as me
Then we must set ourselves free
And stop waiting for anyone else's permission
Anxiety is a waste of the imagination
Meant to keep us suffering
I am of the earth
My heart is the deepest part of the sea
The flowers are my lips
My eyes exist within every tree
The curve of their branches my hips
My arms are the wings of every bird
My spine forged by mountains
It is for the one who is ready to meet the truth within themselves.
we are witnessing the rise of the feminine energy. Feminine energy by this definition is one that heals, one that nourishes, one that is of service and one that is powerful enough to give life to any area that needs it.
It has long been predicted by shamans, yoga masters, and spiritual teachers that women will heal this planet with their feminine energy. They will heal the Earth from the destruction of war, they will heal society from its ego driven insecurities, and they will heal our relationships with each other.
Kings rule by power, Queens rule through service. They both have power, they both are rulers, leaders, and teachers but their approach is very different.
We are moving once again from self to community, from God to Goddess, and from destruction to nourishment.
Women are different than men, their brains work differently, and that difference is what the world needs.
The world may get a bit darker before we see the true emergence of light.
What is your purpose?
What is your task?
To live, to love,
To show up for what the moment asks
...
You want to change the world?
Then find what you love, and let it set you free
If you think all you are
Is who you could be
Then you will ever experience
You own divinity
All the answers exist inside
Slow down, get still, open your eyes
Problems arise when we forget who we are
From making even the simplest of
decisions a mindful choice
You never look up and think
"You should be this or that,"
She honors all sides of herself equally
Knowing that there is a time for shadow
And there is a time for light
All things in nature embody this balance
Some humans stay comfortable and rooted
Afraid of the unknown, their minds polluted
Past, present, and future exist all at once
Deja vu is merely an intuitive hunch
It is the ghost of a lesson we have already learned
Reminding us to choose differently and discern
Love will set us free
Untether your soul and don't let
Time, tell you who you should be
Play when you're eighty
And be wise at eighteen
Create your own reality
And never lose sight of your dreams
I think I'd prefer to be immersed in the now
Rather than wonder when
Things will manifest or how
Slow down, breathe, my love
There will always be
Something important to attend to
And yet, what is more important than
To sit and be in total peace
We fear silence,
Yet through silence we are free
Give a gift to each person you meet
They have their own struggle beyond what you see
Hate does not take a break
And fear spreads like wildfire
There is too much at stake
Lives are being sacrificed for dollars and empires
The world cannot afford ignorance
Everything that is happening directly affects you,
Just because it is not at your doorstep
Does not make it of less value
We are each responsible for spreading light
And leaving this world better
Ensuring everyone their rights
At first becoming whole is lonely
We shed our old skin
And some relationships may temporarily fade away
As the uncertainty of our identities are shaken up
Untethered Love
People often come in and out of our lives as messengers of light, as wonderful teachers
Each of them carrying with them a lesson
Some of them stay for a lifetime
Some of them only for a moment like a bright comet passing by
But when we absorb the lesson we're meant to learn from them
If you try to please everyone
You will never grow to be more
We don't need more perfect people
Sculpted by an idea that is unreachable
Let them see you how they please
They will praise you or judge you
So many gifts hidden inside of you
In the greatest love you have ever known
One that comes from inside
With an unshakable purpose that shows you
Why you are alive
We say go with the flow because life comes in waves
There are times where our loves will have too fast a pace
There are time when our to-do list will overwhelm
An times when we will need to ask for help
There are slow waves where we won't know what to do
Where we forget our purpose and that this is temporary too
To learn the importance of connection
How do you speak about yourself?
But perhaps what we do not know
Is that there is something much better
Already on its way
When you wish and manifest
Or when you pray
Make sure to add,
"This or something better,"
Instead of getting stuck on what you crave
Be content with what is
The more gratitude you feel
The more you will attract bliss
Always be excited of what is to come
For our dreaming is never truly done
Know you are never lacking
For all things are one
Insecurity will always be loud and demanding
It needs to be seen and validated constantly
Compassion is subtle
Compassion is our truest form of strength
You cannot become all that you are meant to be
By staying where you are
When one of us is hurt, all of us bleed
There is no dream that is out of reach
A seed never question it will grow
Into the mightiest tree
You can never step in the same river twice
You will never again live the same moment of life
Can you treat a struggling stranger
With the same kindness as your loved one?
We must create healthy boundaries
We cannot give what we do not have
Always balance the mind, the body, soul triad
For when we open our eyes and see only love
Our eyes will truly be open
Do not worry so much
Your life energy is precious
Do not waste it trying to figure things out
We must fall in love
With ourselves unconditionally
Before we can extend this
To another soul
Conditional love
Only tries to control
But unconditional love
Is to create value and happiness
For yourself
And remain whole
You want someone to look
Into your soul
And love all that you are
Do you look into your soul
And love all that you are?
You want someone to fully accept
Support and care for you
Do you fully accept, support,
And care for yourself?
Love is the water that cools hate's flame
Compassion is our reminder that we are all the same
Speak your life into being
As though it has already happened
Underneath it all
We crave the same thing
Love, connection, belonging,
To see and be seen
To feel and be felt
We cannot always rest of the excuse that all things are meant to be
Though certain things are written, our hearts are always free
Every moment we have the choice of what direction to go in
Free Will has no compass
The secret to happiness is learning to dance in the eye of every storm
A leaf came down and kissed me on the face
As I looked up I saw a bird take flight
It's wings spread beneath the sun's rays
We spend so much of our lives looking down
Getting lost in the chatter of our mind's
Or stressfully running around
...
And imaged my own wings spreading
...
This bird symbolized freedom from desire
...
Get outside of yourself and away from the mind's voice
There are no mistakes if we learn
They become colorful stories that make up our being
And I hope your choices reflect
Your dreams and not your fears
And stay passionately curious
I do not trust those that stay the same
It means they are submissive
To society's complex game
It means to their heart they are dismissive
And choose security over growth
Question everything
Why do we always ask the same questions?
What is your name?
Where are you from?
What do you do?
This teaches us nothing about what they have been through
We learn little about who they truly are
Their hopes and dreams or how they learned from their scars
We must ask better questions for the sake of connection
So enjoy life like a huge party
But don't forget to grow
To live numbly or in ecstasy is a choice
For even the world itself won't last
The Awakening
When I found home within myself
I was free
When I truly loved myself
I opened my eyes
And could finally see
I gazed at everything
And recognized it as me
Then we must set ourselves free
And stop waiting for anyone else's permission
Anxiety is a waste of the imagination
Meant to keep us suffering
I am of the earth
My heart is the deepest part of the sea
The flowers are my lips
My eyes exist within every tree
The curve of their branches my hips
My arms are the wings of every bird
My spine forged by mountains
October 3, 2018
I love Allie Michelle for her transparency. I've been following her Instagram for sometime and these poems kind of ring true with her lifestyle. The spirituality, yoga, and poetry in this book tell a story of someone trying to keep two feet on the ground while never losing their spiritual self. I used these poems as kind of a way to create intentions in the morning or as something for me to think about through out the day. I am looking forward to Allie writing and continuing her journey in the poetry world.
June 12, 2018
I can definitely see why someone would enjoy this and feel a deep connection to it. I was gifted this by a friend who knows how much I love poetry. Allie Michelle clearly see the world differently and her words are beautiful but for me, they lack depth and felt more of a generic mantra that your yoga instructor would tell you during class. If you are into astrology, meditation or feel like you need your spirit readjust, I'd recommend it.
October 6, 2021
Die Gedichte in diesem Buch beschäftigen sich in mehreren Kapiteln mit der Suche nach sich selbst, nach Ruhe und Zufriedenheit und dem Wertschätzen der eigenen Stärken. Viele Gedichte haben ein Reimschema, was mir sehr gefallen hat. Gelegentlich wird das Buch aufgelockert durch Zeichnungen von Sternbildern und Anmerkungen der Autorin darüber, wie das Gedicht entstanden ist oder was sie damit ausdrücken wollte.
Ich muss gestehen, dass mich das Vorwort einer Astrologin sehr abgeschreckt hat; so sehr, dass ich das Buch fast abgebrochen hätte. Das Vorwort ist sehr lang und nimmt Bezug auf Sternkonstellationen etc., womit ich überhaupt nichts anfangen kann. Zum Glück haben mir die Gedichte dann aber doch ganz gut gefallen. Allerdings haben mich nur wenige wirklich berühren können. Nach etwa zwei Dritteln des Buches gab es noch einmal einen kurzen Kommentar der Autorin zur Neuauflage, und sofern ich es richtig verstanden habe, waren die folgenden Gedichte neu. Diese Gedichte haben mir deutlich besser gefallen; sie konnten mich eher berühren und ich konnte besser eine Verbindung zu ihnen aufbauen.
Fazit:
Eine schöne Gedichtsammlung, die mich jedoch teilweise nicht erreichen konnte. Daher von mir 3,5 Sterne.
In English:
The poems in this book deal in several chapters with the search for yourself, for peace and satisfaction and the appreciation of your own strengths. A lot of the poems have a rhyme scheme, which I really liked. Occasionally the book is loosened up with drawings of constellations and notes by the author about how the poem was created or what she wanted to express with it.
I have to admit that the foreword by an astrologer scared me off; so much so that I almost broke off the book. The foreword is very long and refers to star constellations etc., which unfortunately wasn't my cup of tea. But fortunately, I still really liked the poems. However, only a few have really touched me. After about two thirds of the book there was another brief comment by the author on the new edition, and if I understood it correctly, the following poems were new. I liked these poems a lot better; they were more likely to touch me and I was more able to connect with them.
Conclusion:
A nice collection of poems, but some of them couldn't reach me. Therefore 3.5 stars from me.
Ich muss gestehen, dass mich das Vorwort einer Astrologin sehr abgeschreckt hat; so sehr, dass ich das Buch fast abgebrochen hätte. Das Vorwort ist sehr lang und nimmt Bezug auf Sternkonstellationen etc., womit ich überhaupt nichts anfangen kann. Zum Glück haben mir die Gedichte dann aber doch ganz gut gefallen. Allerdings haben mich nur wenige wirklich berühren können. Nach etwa zwei Dritteln des Buches gab es noch einmal einen kurzen Kommentar der Autorin zur Neuauflage, und sofern ich es richtig verstanden habe, waren die folgenden Gedichte neu. Diese Gedichte haben mir deutlich besser gefallen; sie konnten mich eher berühren und ich konnte besser eine Verbindung zu ihnen aufbauen.
Fazit:
Eine schöne Gedichtsammlung, die mich jedoch teilweise nicht erreichen konnte. Daher von mir 3,5 Sterne.
In English:
The poems in this book deal in several chapters with the search for yourself, for peace and satisfaction and the appreciation of your own strengths. A lot of the poems have a rhyme scheme, which I really liked. Occasionally the book is loosened up with drawings of constellations and notes by the author about how the poem was created or what she wanted to express with it.
I have to admit that the foreword by an astrologer scared me off; so much so that I almost broke off the book. The foreword is very long and refers to star constellations etc., which unfortunately wasn't my cup of tea. But fortunately, I still really liked the poems. However, only a few have really touched me. After about two thirds of the book there was another brief comment by the author on the new edition, and if I understood it correctly, the following poems were new. I liked these poems a lot better; they were more likely to touch me and I was more able to connect with them.
Conclusion:
A nice collection of poems, but some of them couldn't reach me. Therefore 3.5 stars from me.
July 20, 2021
Rating: 2.5
I’m not a big poetry reader, but every now and then I like to pick up a collection. I found this one on NetGalley and the cover and title instantly drew me in.
I think the easiest way to format my review is like this:
Things I liked:
- The font used (yes, this is important to me)
- The foreword about Astrology
- The Second section of the collection (Allie Michelle’s newer poems)
- The explanations after some of the poems about how the poem came to be
Things I didn’t:
- The poems in the first half
The first half of this collection, which were re-published poems from Allie Michelle earlier works, honestly read like badly sung rap songs. I skim-read most of these.
- Random blank pages after every poem in the second section of the collection
- The lack of images / illustrations (aside from occasional constellations)
- Allie Michelle’s handwriting after some of the poems (was super difficult to read)
There is a huge difference in readability between the first and second section. I feel like Allie Michelle has really grown as a poet since publishing the first section of this collection. I wish we’d gotten a whole new collection with only their newer poems.
I also loved the idea of descriptions / explanations of some of the poems written in their handwriting throughout the collection, with how the poem came to be. Except for the fact that they were super difficult to read and I didn’t get the full experience from them.
The small second section (maybe a quarter of the collection) really saved this for me. I enjoyed these poems, and wonder if there were meant to be illustrations with some of these as every page after one of the new poems was blank.
Overall, I would be interested to try some newer works by Allie Michelle, as there was definite growth between the two sections included in this collection. I still feel like some readers would enjoy this collection entirely. So if you enjoy a broader range of poetry (and aren’t as specific in your tastes as I am), I recommend you give this one a try.
I received an e-copy of this collection from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m not a big poetry reader, but every now and then I like to pick up a collection. I found this one on NetGalley and the cover and title instantly drew me in.
I think the easiest way to format my review is like this:
Things I liked:
- The font used (yes, this is important to me)
- The foreword about Astrology
- The Second section of the collection (Allie Michelle’s newer poems)
- The explanations after some of the poems about how the poem came to be
Things I didn’t:
- The poems in the first half
The first half of this collection, which were re-published poems from Allie Michelle earlier works, honestly read like badly sung rap songs. I skim-read most of these.
- Random blank pages after every poem in the second section of the collection
- The lack of images / illustrations (aside from occasional constellations)
- Allie Michelle’s handwriting after some of the poems (was super difficult to read)
There is a huge difference in readability between the first and second section. I feel like Allie Michelle has really grown as a poet since publishing the first section of this collection. I wish we’d gotten a whole new collection with only their newer poems.
I also loved the idea of descriptions / explanations of some of the poems written in their handwriting throughout the collection, with how the poem came to be. Except for the fact that they were super difficult to read and I didn’t get the full experience from them.
The small second section (maybe a quarter of the collection) really saved this for me. I enjoyed these poems, and wonder if there were meant to be illustrations with some of these as every page after one of the new poems was blank.
Overall, I would be interested to try some newer works by Allie Michelle, as there was definite growth between the two sections included in this collection. I still feel like some readers would enjoy this collection entirely. So if you enjoy a broader range of poetry (and aren’t as specific in your tastes as I am), I recommend you give this one a try.
I received an e-copy of this collection from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
I’ve started to read more poetry lately, so when this caught my interest I decided to give it a go. Now that I have finished this collection and had some time to think about it, I am still not completely sure how I feel about this one.
I found the pieces flowed well and connected with each other beautifully, but it felt to me as if not every poem was as strong or as moving as it seemed it was intended to be. In saying that, not every poet or poem is for everyone. This collection is just not quite what I needed it to be. So it could be, and I am sure it will be, exactly what someone else might need when they pick it up.
I definitely did have some favourites in this collection though, including: ‘From Lonely to Alone’, ‘Purpose Beyond Perfection’, ‘human’ and ‘do not tell me of who you know’. I especially loved the little snippets of musings which were placed after some poems, these, I felt, were just as poetic as the poems themselves. I would say though, that they should have been printed a little clearer, I had trouble making some of them out. (Though this is more a fault of printing than of the writing itself.)
Overall, while I did not love this collection of poetry, I can see the passion and care that went into writing these poems and into putting them together. I am sure this collection will find the right person when they need it most once it makes it’s way into the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing who sent me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found the pieces flowed well and connected with each other beautifully, but it felt to me as if not every poem was as strong or as moving as it seemed it was intended to be. In saying that, not every poet or poem is for everyone. This collection is just not quite what I needed it to be. So it could be, and I am sure it will be, exactly what someone else might need when they pick it up.
I definitely did have some favourites in this collection though, including: ‘From Lonely to Alone’, ‘Purpose Beyond Perfection’, ‘human’ and ‘do not tell me of who you know’. I especially loved the little snippets of musings which were placed after some poems, these, I felt, were just as poetic as the poems themselves. I would say though, that they should have been printed a little clearer, I had trouble making some of them out. (Though this is more a fault of printing than of the writing itself.)
Overall, while I did not love this collection of poetry, I can see the passion and care that went into writing these poems and into putting them together. I am sure this collection will find the right person when they need it most once it makes it’s way into the world.
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing who sent me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2021
I read an E-ARC of these poems through Netgalley. All opinions are my own and an honest review.
These sets of poems are hit or miss with much more hit than miss. The author has insightful thoughts throughout the poems, such as loving yourself now and when we create a "love affair" with our future self, we're "dishonoring" our current self. In addition to having a universe and stars theme, many of the poems also focus on self-love unconditionally-- even embracing our dark side, which I appreciate.
Some of the poems (very few) do come off a bit pretentious and lectury. However, the majority of the poems are quite good and do have inspiring messages. One thing I didn't like though, was some of the notes in between the poems. I preferred reading the poems one after another and having the author interrupt to have a handwritten letter or what she was doing as she wrote the poem, or what made her write the poem, pulled me out of her writing.
The images of stars in between every handful of poems was a nice touch and fit the theme quite well. The cover is also beautiful and makes me think of my favorite Egyptian goddess.
I'd say it's good for at least one solid read through. There's also a lot of great quality content; you can tell the author worked very hard and I believe she successfully pulled off these poems.
These sets of poems are hit or miss with much more hit than miss. The author has insightful thoughts throughout the poems, such as loving yourself now and when we create a "love affair" with our future self, we're "dishonoring" our current self. In addition to having a universe and stars theme, many of the poems also focus on self-love unconditionally-- even embracing our dark side, which I appreciate.
Some of the poems (very few) do come off a bit pretentious and lectury. However, the majority of the poems are quite good and do have inspiring messages. One thing I didn't like though, was some of the notes in between the poems. I preferred reading the poems one after another and having the author interrupt to have a handwritten letter or what she was doing as she wrote the poem, or what made her write the poem, pulled me out of her writing.
The images of stars in between every handful of poems was a nice touch and fit the theme quite well. The cover is also beautiful and makes me think of my favorite Egyptian goddess.
I'd say it's good for at least one solid read through. There's also a lot of great quality content; you can tell the author worked very hard and I believe she successfully pulled off these poems.
August 3, 2021
Explorations of a Cosmic Soul is a collection of poems by Allie Michelle. These poems reflect lessons she’s learned through travel, love, and soul searching.
I really enjoyed the poems in this book and finished it within a couple of hours. Michelle’s words were thoughtful and inspiring. Certain poems had handwritten notes that explained where she was, what she was going through, or what had specifically inspired her to write said poem. I felt as though these notes helped to deepen the connection between the author and the reader. Although I enjoyed this special touch, the handwriting was difficult to read at times.
There were more than a handful of poems that made rhyming its focal point, rather than getting the point across. While rhyming works wonderfully for some poems, it left some of Michelle’s work feeling like she had less words and options to choose from to clearly express what she wanted to. Using the rhyming technique creates limitations and there were pieces that would have done well without it.
This collection of poems serves as a reminder to focus on the present, appreciate the small things, and find inner happiness. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the poems in this book and finished it within a couple of hours. Michelle’s words were thoughtful and inspiring. Certain poems had handwritten notes that explained where she was, what she was going through, or what had specifically inspired her to write said poem. I felt as though these notes helped to deepen the connection between the author and the reader. Although I enjoyed this special touch, the handwriting was difficult to read at times.
There were more than a handful of poems that made rhyming its focal point, rather than getting the point across. While rhyming works wonderfully for some poems, it left some of Michelle’s work feeling like she had less words and options to choose from to clearly express what she wanted to. Using the rhyming technique creates limitations and there were pieces that would have done well without it.
This collection of poems serves as a reminder to focus on the present, appreciate the small things, and find inner happiness. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 11, 2021
I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
This is a republishing of the author’s poems. This has additional poems, as the author says in their author’s note, which oddly is in the middle of their poems—perhaps to make the distinction between her earlier work and the poems that they have composed since then.
These poems speak about looking outside of yourself and really appreciate how you are part of the bigger picture—how “now” is not the end of the world and there is more to what we are experiencing at a certain time in our individual lives.
The poem I liked best was one that went along the lines of trying to manifest something and that certain thing isn’t appearing. The author states that you can’t possibly know what is ahead and dreams simply change, so at the end of a manifestation, one should add “this or something better.” I love that, and it really spoke to me.
I also really enjoyed how the author had her handwritten notes after some of the poems that kind of explained what was happening at the time or what inspired the above poem.
I definitely recommend reading their poems!!
This is a republishing of the author’s poems. This has additional poems, as the author says in their author’s note, which oddly is in the middle of their poems—perhaps to make the distinction between her earlier work and the poems that they have composed since then.
These poems speak about looking outside of yourself and really appreciate how you are part of the bigger picture—how “now” is not the end of the world and there is more to what we are experiencing at a certain time in our individual lives.
The poem I liked best was one that went along the lines of trying to manifest something and that certain thing isn’t appearing. The author states that you can’t possibly know what is ahead and dreams simply change, so at the end of a manifestation, one should add “this or something better.” I love that, and it really spoke to me.
I also really enjoyed how the author had her handwritten notes after some of the poems that kind of explained what was happening at the time or what inspired the above poem.
I definitely recommend reading their poems!!
July 19, 2021
Score: 4.5/10
Reread: no
While some of the poems were amazing, as a whole, the collection was pretty bland and basic. One of my main issues was that in most of them, she started writing them in rhyme but then gave up during the last 3-5 lines. Or even worse, she just gave up on the rhyme in the last line. And I did not feel like all of this had a purpose. It wasn't as if that last line had a great impact or anything it just seemed like she didn't know any other words sometimes.
There were 2 other things that bugged me format-wise:
1) all the handwritten notes took me ages to understand because of the handwriting
2) all the signs pages had no writing of what sign it was and the content was not spread evenly between constellations
While I enjoyed the book for a while, it was a bit hard to get through all of it since it started giving me a repetitive feeling.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Reread: no
While some of the poems were amazing, as a whole, the collection was pretty bland and basic. One of my main issues was that in most of them, she started writing them in rhyme but then gave up during the last 3-5 lines. Or even worse, she just gave up on the rhyme in the last line. And I did not feel like all of this had a purpose. It wasn't as if that last line had a great impact or anything it just seemed like she didn't know any other words sometimes.
There were 2 other things that bugged me format-wise:
1) all the handwritten notes took me ages to understand because of the handwriting
2) all the signs pages had no writing of what sign it was and the content was not spread evenly between constellations
While I enjoyed the book for a while, it was a bit hard to get through all of it since it started giving me a repetitive feeling.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
January 8, 2019
What if we stopped asking,
"How will this turn out?"
And ceased wondering
If we're meant to take a certain route
What if we recognized
Our path is wherever we step?
And released feeling lost
Or caught in a wave of regret
What if we no longer
Held on to what has been?
And remembered we are
Weavers of our fate
Creating a web of magic within
— The Future
–––––
Explorations of a Cosmic Soul by @alliemichellel was just the book I needed. Her words were what I needed. I will take her words within my brain and send this book to anyone who needs this. Also, @spiritdaughter wrote the forward and it was everything and more. I give this book five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so yes, go purchase your own copy and when you're done, pass it on to someone else who may need these words of healing 🍃 (and yes, that poem is written by Allie. I told y'all, amazing)
"How will this turn out?"
And ceased wondering
If we're meant to take a certain route
What if we recognized
Our path is wherever we step?
And released feeling lost
Or caught in a wave of regret
What if we no longer
Held on to what has been?
And remembered we are
Weavers of our fate
Creating a web of magic within
— The Future
–––––
Explorations of a Cosmic Soul by @alliemichellel was just the book I needed. Her words were what I needed. I will take her words within my brain and send this book to anyone who needs this. Also, @spiritdaughter wrote the forward and it was everything and more. I give this book five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so yes, go purchase your own copy and when you're done, pass it on to someone else who may need these words of healing 🍃 (and yes, that poem is written by Allie. I told y'all, amazing)
July 23, 2021
Rating: 2.5
Re-Read Factor: No
Explorations of a Cosmic Soul is your run-of-the-mill Instagram poetry collection that strings words aesthetically rather than have much meaning behind them. One caveat I have with the formatting of the poems are the ones that are handwritten. If styled a little more legibly, it would be easier to read. I was mostly trying to read what was presented on the page rather than absorbing the content on the page, which was sadly detracting from the reading experience.
Re-Read Factor: No
"Your voice is your most powerful tool
In creating a reality set by your own rules
Speak up with what works for you
Your dreams will be successful
If you honor what is true"
Explorations of a Cosmic Soul is your run-of-the-mill Instagram poetry collection that strings words aesthetically rather than have much meaning behind them. One caveat I have with the formatting of the poems are the ones that are handwritten. If styled a little more legibly, it would be easier to read. I was mostly trying to read what was presented on the page rather than absorbing the content on the page, which was sadly detracting from the reading experience.
October 12, 2024
A really shallow and naive collection of poetry, centred on the answers to life and the universe all coming from within. Multiple times it struck me the sort of messaging these poems were leaving revolved around a sort of mindset that is actually quite selfish. Most of the poems read like the jotted down bored-in-class meanderings of a 14 year old who hasn't had the time to ponder any kind of meaningful insight based on life experience or lessons learned. In fact I would go as far as to say this reads less like a poetry collection than it does an attempt at being a self-help guru, the sort that will have you believing in chakras and inner energies and the sort. You won't be gaining any insight from perspectives formed almost entirely inwardly without ever being touched by the sort of societies we are all forced to live in on a daily basis.
July 17, 2021
Thank you so much for the E-ARC!
Some of the poems, in their simplicity, were beautiful, others were not. I wish I could say I enjoyed reading this but most of the poems lacked depth and emotion, I couldn't connect with them.
I loved that this version includes author notes that explain the reasoning behind some of the poems. The notes were handwritten and made the book feel a bit more personal, however, it could just be an issue with the ebook version but the quality was terrible and I couldn't understand what some of the words were.
Honestly, if you're already a fan you'll love it but this isn't for everyone.
Some of the poems, in their simplicity, were beautiful, others were not. I wish I could say I enjoyed reading this but most of the poems lacked depth and emotion, I couldn't connect with them.
I loved that this version includes author notes that explain the reasoning behind some of the poems. The notes were handwritten and made the book feel a bit more personal, however, it could just be an issue with the ebook version but the quality was terrible and I couldn't understand what some of the words were.
Honestly, if you're already a fan you'll love it but this isn't for everyone.
July 27, 2021
Thank you to Andrew McNeel Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very thoughtful and compelling collection, and I love how much you can hear the author's tone and voice in their words. Though I do enjoy poetry, I don't read it very often lately, so I decided to step outside my usual reads and try this one out! Though I do think these poems had a lot of value, and it was a quick, upbeat read, I didn't find myself personally connecting to many of them. I think many others out there would enjoy this collection, so I would still recommend!
This is a very thoughtful and compelling collection, and I love how much you can hear the author's tone and voice in their words. Though I do enjoy poetry, I don't read it very often lately, so I decided to step outside my usual reads and try this one out! Though I do think these poems had a lot of value, and it was a quick, upbeat read, I didn't find myself personally connecting to many of them. I think many others out there would enjoy this collection, so I would still recommend!
May 27, 2024
It doesn’t take a whole lot of snazzy words and stuff to impress me. And this collection of poems doesn’t have all that. Which is why I could connect so well with it.
It’s simple. Contemplative. Eye opening. And mainly for the types of people who can enjoy earth-shattering truths in simple writing.
I started this book with a closed off heart, and finished it with a newer perspective about love, life, and my dreams. I think this is a book for readers who need an awakening or who have forgotten what life is really all about and what our purpose is (to live, to love). So pick it up and read it.🙂
It’s simple. Contemplative. Eye opening. And mainly for the types of people who can enjoy earth-shattering truths in simple writing.
I started this book with a closed off heart, and finished it with a newer perspective about love, life, and my dreams. I think this is a book for readers who need an awakening or who have forgotten what life is really all about and what our purpose is (to live, to love). So pick it up and read it.🙂
July 29, 2018
I love these words
I really love poetry books because they can be short and sweet, but they can say much more than any thousand page book could. This book makes me happy and I reread it sometimes and I feel encouraged and connected to the world, my brothers and sisters, every living creature. It's something that I read and I'm more aware of how grateful I am for this life and the opportunity to live in this beautiful planet with its beautiful inhabitants, and we are all trying to figure it out as we go. It's an exploration indeed.
I really love poetry books because they can be short and sweet, but they can say much more than any thousand page book could. This book makes me happy and I reread it sometimes and I feel encouraged and connected to the world, my brothers and sisters, every living creature. It's something that I read and I'm more aware of how grateful I am for this life and the opportunity to live in this beautiful planet with its beautiful inhabitants, and we are all trying to figure it out as we go. It's an exploration indeed.
will-not-finish
July 21, 2021Thank you, NetGalley for a chance to read and review this.
This is the most basic bland stuff you could have ever written. I absolutely despised the introduction with the whole feminine energy will heal the world as if women don't have every other burden placed on them anyway, let's just throw this onto it as well. The poems were the sort of thing a 15-year-old would write.
I'm sure everyone wants to become a writer, should you is an altogether different matter and most publishing companies should really think things through.
This is the most basic bland stuff you could have ever written. I absolutely despised the introduction with the whole feminine energy will heal the world as if women don't have every other burden placed on them anyway, let's just throw this onto it as well. The poems were the sort of thing a 15-year-old would write.
I'm sure everyone wants to become a writer, should you is an altogether different matter and most publishing companies should really think things through.
August 8, 2021
"Explorations of a Cosmic Soul" reminded me of the beauty of poetry that has been missing in daily life for years. Raising questions of pain, existence, growth, and purpose in a rushing society, Allie Michelle uses dreamy language and word choice to explore what we are lacking in modern society. I enjoyed her perspective of self-love and growth in a world asking us to hustle and judge, expecting others to love us without question when we struggle to love ourselves without question. Bringing a touch of art to discussions of trauma-informed healing, Michelle offers a treat to the soul.
June 21, 2023
This poetry collection has nice messages and reminders about how to keep a good mindset, but after a while I found them quite repetitive. Nevertheless, I liked the holistic ideas in this collection and how the author mentioned about how there is no right time to release your art. She says "As artists, I believe we're meant to always be emptying our creative well, so there's space for new ideas to come through. It may sound cheesy, but I believe that everyone is a poet. It's just whether or not you've put pen to paper and exercised that muscle."
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