World Travel Holdings’ Home-Based Division Experiences Double-Digit Increase in 2013

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Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) January 15, 2014

World Travel Holdings, the world's leading cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company, announces that its home-based division, comprised of CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., achieved many notable accomplishments in 2013. From CruiseOne reaching the 800th franchise milestone to both brands expanding their marketing programs; launching innovative technological developments; enhancing their training programs; and winning prestigious awards such as the Small Business Influencer Awards, South Florida Business Journal CIO Awards, Women in Ecommerce Golden Mouse Awards and G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Franchise to name a few, the home-based travel companies experienced unprecedented growth.

CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. are essential to the overall success of World Travel Holdings and they were substantial drivers in being named by both Royal Caribbean and Norwegian as their respective Partners of the Year. I am pleased that we were able to prevail and have an impressive year, despite the challenges to the industry, said Brad Tolkin, Co-Chairman / CEO for World Travel Holdings. To win the highest recognition from two of the three largest cruise lines serving the North American market is a validation of the incredible team our organization has and the success of our partnership with our valued cruise line partners. We are thankful for all of the hard work and dedication displayed by our wonderful network of CruiseOne owners and Cruises Inc. agents and look forward to even greater success in 2014.

Sales CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. experienced double-digit sales growth year over year in 2013 as a result of more resources than ever available to vacation specialists, ensuring their ongoing success. These resources included new technology platforms and programs; increased local, national and web-based marketing efforts; and more training opportunities than ever before both in-person and online.

Technology The award-winning information technology team has its eye on the future and in 2013 developed mobile websites for CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., enabling consumers to connect and engage with an agent regardless of time and location. CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. agents will experience even greater technological gains in 2014 as a result of a recently announced half million dollar incremental investment in new resources by parent company World Travel Holdings. We pride ourselves on being the best in travel and this new investment will be 100 percent focused on delivering the tools needed to drive our continued success for our CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. brands, shared Tolkin.

Marketing The innovative marketing team at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. provides its vacation specialists with access to large-scale initiatives. In 2013 an investment was made in a new in-house digital marketing team to manage paid search and lead generation through web advertising for CruiseOne franchise owners. Additionally, we launched a video asset sharing program that provided franchisees access to professional videos which they could personalize and use on television, at special events and on the web. Finally, an email marketing tool was launched that enables work-from-home travel agents with both brands to send professional news updates to their existing databases; and a new custom niche website program enables travel franchise owners to create websites to support their focus to a specific niche.

As the only travel franchise system to offer a field marketing team dedicated to providing local marketing support to individual franchise owners, in 2013 CruiseOne expanded the program to the Northeast and now covers more than 60 pecent of the U.S.

Recruitment The network development team at CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. is pleased to report that both brands continue to gain in size by nearly 10 percent year over year, with CruiseOne reaching the 800th franchise milestone and experiencing a 93.3 percent retention rate among current owners. The brands also implemented two successful programs targeting military veterans and educators. For the second year in a row, CruiseOne received more than 300 entries from 40 different states for its Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General Contest, which awards five military veterans with travel franchises. Cruises Inc. celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week in May by awarding five current, laid-off or retired educators with home-based travel business opportunities.

Training CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. offer year-round continuing education courses through online and in-person training sessions, arming vacation specialists with unparalleled knowledge of cruise lines and resort vacations, destinations, niche specialties and more. A new enhancement to the training program in 2013 was the addition of The Learning Center, an online learning management system providing new and seasoned vacation specialists easy access to more than 10 certification programs and in excess of 400 training modules for product, sales skills and marketing, as well as introductory-level refresher classes for all work-from home travel agents with CruiseOne and Cruises Inc.

2013 also saw record-breaking attendance at five regional trainings throughout the U.S. where CruiseOne franchise owners and Cruises Inc. affiliates learned tips on how to continue expanding their business by attending educational presentations on marketing, sales and technology from the corporate headquarters team and networking with each other and industry executives. With last years regional training attendees experiencing a 23 percent increase in sales, 2014 is poised to be the most well-attended yet, with trainings scheduled in New Orleans (Jan. 31-Feb. 1), Fort Lauderdale (March 28-29) , Boston (May 16-17), Indianapolis (July 25-26) and San Diego (Sept. 19-20). In November, more than 800 work-from-home agents will convene onboard the Regal Princess for the 2014 CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. National Conference, which is the only annual conference in the industry to be held for a full week at sea.

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World Travel Holdings’ Home-Based Division Experiences Double-Digit Increase in 2013

Three-Peat, World Travel Holdings Named One of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in the United States

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Wilmington, MA (PRWEB) January 14, 2014

For the third year in a row, World Travel Holdings, the world's leading cruise agency and award-winning leisure travel company, announces its recognition as one of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces in the United States. This annual award recognizes top employers that display leadership and innovation toward employee engagement.

Having an engaged workforce continues to be a cornerstone of our Company and we are committed to a strong strategic focus on employee communication and engagement, said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of human resources for World Travel Holdings. We are thrilled to be receiving this award for the third year in a row. This recognition gives us the opportunity to share our story with potential employees as we hire for more than 250 sales and service positions across the country each year.

The foundation of World Travel Holdings engagement success is having its employees immersed in the Companys mission and core values while together working toward the same goals. Employees want to have a stake in the company and understand how their role influences the bottom line, said Fiorino. On a quarterly basis, our CFO provides podcast updates on how our company is doing in meeting our goals. The companys annual 401(k) match and corporate bonus plan are contingent on meeting certain annual goals.

In addition, a significant amount of resources are dedicated to professional and personal growth, many of which are focused on leadership. Ninety percent of the Companys Directors and above were promoted from within (63 percent started out as individual contributors). Six out of seven of the companys Senior Vice Presidents were internal promotions (three started as agents).

The Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Awards panel of judges evaluated each applicant based on the Eight Elements of Employee Engagement: Communication, Leadership, Culture, Rewards & Recognition, Professional & Personal Growth, Accountability & Performance, Vision & Values and Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces understand that employee engagement is not just a buzz word, but that engaged employees provide businesses with a unique competitive advantage. Companies that focus on employee success have better engagement and alignment with business objectives and company values, said Achievers CEO, Patrick D. Quirk. These companies serve as role models for other businesses to engage their own employees and build success.

The panel of 14 judges included various academics and thought leaders on employee engagement, and included representation from organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), and Human Capital Institute (HCI) and Northern California HR Association.

World Travel Holdings will be honored alongside other recipients of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Award at the awards gala on April 2, 2014, in San Francisco, Calif.

About Achievers Achievers delivers the only true cloud-based Employee Success Platform that enables remarkable business success. Designed specifically to meet the complex needs of todays changing, modern workplace, it is the most engaging software specifically designed to engage, align and recognize employees. It is software employees love to use every day in over 110 countries. Achievers is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco. Learn how your company can change the world works at http://www.achievers.com.

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Three-Peat, World Travel Holdings Named One of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in the United States

The World Gathers In Shanghai for World Travel Fair

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As a driving force for the global tourism industry, Chinese outbound travel has kept rising during recent years and now tops the market. According to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration ("CNTA"), Chinese outbound tourist figures soared to over 83 million in 2012 and hit 94.3 million in 2013. This market generated USD $102 billion in overseas consumption in 2012.

Considering the increasing of disposable income and the strong business demand, there is no doubt that the leapfrog development of Chinese outbound travel will continue during the next decade. The outbound tourist number is expected to reach 200 million by the end of 2016- an incredible growing rate of 30% year-on-year. Shanghai, the epicenter of China's booming economy and the main gateway to foreign cultures, is the right place for your exposure. It is a market that you cannot miss!

World Travel Fair, the leading travel expo in China staged annually in Shanghai and co-hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration and VNU Exhibitions Europe, is a must-attend event showcasing a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to China's most dynamic markets. It is a unique opportunity for the global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business, plus an effective platform for consumer marketing. In 2013, the expo gathered more than 45,000 visitors and over 550 exhibitors from all over the world.

"World Travel Fair Professional" (for trade visitors only) offers exclusive business atmosphere and facilities for travel trade, providing an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to meet business partners and close deals. Exhibitors' business purpose will be entirely taken care of through our concurrent events, diversified buyers, and arranged business appointments.

For public visitors, the World Tourism Carnival is an efficient way to discover the wonders of the world in an all-around way. Exhibitors are encouraged to bring their features, special offers, travel tips and consumer interaction on-site activities. It is also a great opportunity to achieve brand awareness and generate on-site reservations.

For more information, please visit http://www.worldtravelfair.com.cn, or call us at +86-21-6195-6088/5110-5000 and email to Vincent.zha@vnuexhibitions.com.cn / Sylvia.ye@sicmo.com.cn.

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The World Gathers In Shanghai for World Travel Fair

Meet the travel agent to the stars — literally

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The Virgin SpaceShipTwo in flight over Mojave, Calif. in 2011.

FORTUNE -- In 1914, a former mayor in Florida paid the equivalent of about $9,300 in current U.S. dollars to fly on the first commercial airline flight in the world. The 23-minute journey from St. Petersburg to Tampawas hardly glamorous -- the boat was made of wood and traveled at speeds up to 60 miles per hour -- but the manwas willing to pay the exorbitant price for a trip that at the time seemed out of this world.

One hundred years later, about 600 travelers have paid up to $250,000 tobe a part of a similarly ethereal event: the first commercial flightsinto space, courtesy ofSir Richard Branson's space-tourism venture Virgin Galactic. Although the concept may sound completely outlandish, even dangerous, for the affluent adventurer, luxury travel network Virtuoso is working to bring the concept back down to earth for a few well-heeled customers.

"Virgin Galactic wanted a company that could come in and demystify the experience," said Matthew Upchurch, Virtuoso's chief executive.His company has exclusive rights to book seats on Virgin Galactic aircraft for North, Central and South American passengers. "It is about humanizing the experience and making it more reachable."

MORE:Space-travel startups take off

At a time when the traditional travel agent appears to be a dying profession, Virtuoso's335 global member agencies with more than 7,200 travel agents earned$12.5 billion in sales last year. The companyworks to remain relevant in a digital age by creating travel experiences -- a key word in the age of the web-based booking tool -- for clients ranging from modest means to the top one percent.

Virtuoso has 56 "accredited space agents," or ASAs, that help customers through the complicated process -- medical tests, spousal approval, regular updates on the program's progress --of signing up for Virgin Galactic. Although the company's commercial operations have not yet begun, Virgin Galactic plans to send six passengers at a time on suborbital space flights as early as this year.

"I work for the future astronauts, not for Virgin Galactic," saidJay Johnson, a Virgin Galactic ASA and the president of a Virtuoso member agency. "I don't sugar-coat anything. I just keep them motivated. My number one concern is to keep the customer happy and if they have any concerns I help them address them."

Johnson has successfully booked eight seats on future Virgin Galactic flights. Although he declined to disclose the exact commission he earns fromVirgin Galactic for signing up passengers, he said that he did not become a part of the ASA program for the money. Instead, the clients he meets through Virgin Galactic become profitable to him through othertravel booking opportunities. For example, he just finished planning a 14-month around the world travel experience for a customer he got to know througharranging his travel into space.

The standard commission for a travel agent is about 10 percent the total cost of the trip, but Virtuoso's positioning as a luxury agency allows its agents to earn more for their services.

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Meet the travel agent to the stars -- literally

Healthy pleasures prevail at Las Nubes Natural Energy Resort in Costa Rica

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The world of travel has changed greatly, with more people seeking eco-friendly options, closer contact with nature, and vacations that support a healthier lifestyle.

This doesnt mean that the days of heavy vacation partying and late-night, all-you-can-eat cruise ship buffets have ended. But choices have expanded greatly, and far-flung, healthy destinations are easier to get to than ever before. A vacation can inspire, energize and satisfy all your senses, all while bolstering a sustainable way of living.

At the vanguard of sustainable, nature-friendly, healthier options, Las Nubes Natural Energy Resort in Costa Rica stands as a paragon of the new era of travel. Nestled on a serene forested ridge high above Matapalo beach on Costa Ricas Pacific Coast, and serving a maximum of twelve guests at a time, Las Nubes bills itself as a sacred place of happiness. Amen to that.

All of the electricity at Las Nubes is solar, all of the water derives from a pure mountain spring. Filtration of waste water is accomplished through an ingenious filtration system of lava rocks and plants, and the biodynamic garden provides fresh vegetables, fruits and seasonings for the resorts signature gourmet meals. Exotic birds fly overhead, and yellow-billed toucans squawk in the trees. If you cant relax at Las Nubes, you cant relax anywhere.

Just six years ago, Las Nubes owner and visionary founder Filip D'hulster was involved in the hospitality business in Belgium, living the non-sustainable life of a career chef, working impossible hours, running his energy down to a deficit, and enjoying no free time. A success by common social standards, D'hulster was determined to create a more fulfilling and salutary way of life.

Along with Stijn De Witte, an inspired self-made architect and celebrated Brussels nightlife entrepreneur, D'hulster set about to create Las Nubes on a secluded mountain top in lush, verdant Costa Rica. De Witte designed open, airy buildings, including a spacious main house and elegant bungalows, which have become celebrated in architectural circles for their beauty, simplicity, and serenity.

The ride from the beach up to Las Nubes runs a seven-kilometer dirt road that requires a four wheel drive vehicle, and leaves the rest of the world far behind. At the end of the drive, Las Nubes provides refreshments in every sense of the word.

My wife Zoe and I recently stayed at Las Nubes for over a week, and met other guests from Europe and the U.S., all drawn by the natural setting and eco-friendliness. But dont imagine that Las Nubes skimps on comfort. Instead, it stands as a brilliant example of sustainable and very affordable indulgence.

The bungalows are grand, open-planned and elegant, each one positioned to allow fresh mountain air to circulate through, and situated to afford breathtaking views. And D'hulster is there to see that no reasonable need goes un-satisfied. I like coffee no later than 6:00 a.m., and D'hulster seemed to take great pleasure in making me a small pot every morning.

D'hulster was eager to tour us through his gardens, featuring numerous vegetables, spices including fresh ginger and turmeric, exotic fruits, and even fragrant perfume plants like ylang ylang. An organic food lovers paradise, the small farm also includes chickens which supply eggs and meat, rabbits, turkeys and a friendly horse that is happy to eat fresh bananas from your hand.

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Healthy pleasures prevail at Las Nubes Natural Energy Resort in Costa Rica

These Two Guys Tried to Rebuild a Cray Supercomputer

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And it wasn't easy, even though your iPhone is ten times faster than the machines that used to be model nuclear weapons.

There was a time when the word "supercomputer" inspired the same sort of giddy awe that infuses Superman or Superconducting Supercollider. A supercomputer could leap tall buildings in a single bound and peer into the secrets of the universe.

And chief among this race of almost mythical machines was the Cray. Seymour Cray's first computer, the Cray 1, debuted in 1976, and was the embodiment of all the power that crackled around the supercomputer. It weighed 10,500 pounds. Thirty humans were necessary to help install it. And its first users built nuclear weapons: Model No. 1 went to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Eventually Cray sold 80.

I love this description of its capabilities and style from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (which got Cray's third machine):

With the help of newly designed integrated silicon chips, the Cray-1 boasted more memory (one megabyte) and more speed (80 million computations per second) than any other computer in the world. The Crays bold look also set the machine apart. Its orange-and-black tower, curved to maximize cooling, was surrounded by a semicircle of padded seatsdubbed an "inverse conversation pit" by one observerthat hid the computers power supplies.

One megabyte of memory! 80 million computations per second! Current smartphones blow away that kind of performance.

But still, there's something to the Cray.

And so, as GigaOm reports, two hobbyists, Chris FentonandAndras Tantos,decided to try to recreate the machine,but at desktop scale.

The physical form was relatively easy to put together. They used a CNC machine, painted the wood model, and covered the "semicircle" with pleather. The hardware was easy to get a hold of, too.

"It wasnt difficult to find a boardoption that could handle emulating the original Cray computational architecture. Fenton settled on the$225 Spartan 3E-1600, which is tiny enough to fit in a drawer built into the bench," GigaOm writes. "Considering the first Crays cost between $5 and 8 million, thats a pretty impressive bargain."

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These Two Guys Tried to Rebuild a Cray Supercomputer

What Is Scarlett Johansson Doing in a Super Bowl Ad?

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Scarlett Johansson has won rave reviews for her starring role as a voice - the computer voice with which Joaquin Phoenix falls in love - and only a voice in the critically acclaimed Spike Jonze film "Her."

It's a strange place for the actress to find herself considering she couldn't get a commercial job, she says, as a child actress because of her voice.

Esquire Names Scarlett Johansson 'Sexiest' Again

That makes it all the stranger that Johansson, 29, will be starring in the Super Bowl of commercials, literally, when this year's Super Bowl XLVIII kicks off Feb. 2.

"It's funny," Johansson told ABC News' Bianna Golodryga of being hired by SodaStream International Ltd., as the first-ever Global Brand Ambassador for its home soda-brewing system and kicking it off with a Super Bowl commercial.

Scarlett Johansson: My Divorce From Ryan Reynolds 'Wasn't That Long Ago'

"I could never book anything because of my voice as a kid, as far as commercials went, because I just didn't have that real bubbly and, you know, that little kid voice that sells products and toys and all that stuff," Johansson said.

Also adding to the irony of her own Super Bowl commercial is that Johansson, a Broadway actress in addition to a Hollywood movie star, admits that she just recently started paying attention to football.

"I haven't understood the rules of football up until a couple of years ago when finally somebody sat me down [and] they were like, 'OK, we're going to explain this to you,'" she said. "Because I just thought, 'Why are they all running? They're all running after it at the same time. There's no rules.'"

Johansson has a good excuse for her lack of American football knowledge, considering that she has been spending a lot of her time in France, the home country of her new fianc, journalist Romain Dauriac.

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What Is Scarlett Johansson Doing in a Super Bowl Ad?

‘Spiritual but Not Religious’: A Rising, Misunderstood Voting Bloc

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No, they're not just atheists.

Spirituality is a big story in politics. Maybe as big a story as religion. Its been more than a decade since evangelicals helped George W. Bush win the White House, and weve gotten used to the idea of the values voter, of religion as a political force. But while the evangelical bloc seems to have frayed a bitand liberal mainline religion continues to lose influence, another major religious category is gathering force and deserves politician and pundit attentionthe spiritual but not religious vote.

A fifth of Americans check none on surveys of religious preference. Among the young adults under 30 who helped propel Obama into office, a full third check none. Atheist pundits are quick to claim these gains for their own, but that is not the casenearly 70 percent of nones report belief in God or a universal spirit, and 37 percent describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. This may or may not be the story of the decline of religion, but it is clearly also the story of the ascent of spirituality.

Smart politicians and media observers will pay attention to this trend. There is the potential for spiritual voters to exert major influence this year and in 2016. Religiously unaffiliated voters are strongly Democratic in national elections, and a majority are socially progressive on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. But there is growth possibility for Democrats. While religious nonaffiliation has expanded rapidly in recent years, nones account for a flat 12 percent of voters in presidential contests since 2008. Over the same period, the percentage of nones identifying as Democrats fell slightly, while the percentage identifying as independents increased to halfgood news for Republicans and third-party candidates. Republicans are unlikely to wring much from spiritual voters; but Democrats stand to gain significantly, or lose out, depending on their ability to inspire them.

The question is, will politicians study the category well enough to identify and appeal to broadly shared values and longings? Spiritual voters are a diverse cohort and do not come hand-delivered as a political blocbut there are shared values and experiences that call out for political cultivation. Their support for progressive causes links up with a broader unease with religious, political, and financial institutions viewed as tainted by wrongheaded values and jaded self-interest.

But the other side of religious nonaffiliation, and what politicians often neglect, is that for spiritual voters the sacred strongly persists. Reading them narrowly as atheists or secularists misses out on the political rewards that come from constituents feeling seen and understood. This sacred is various, but it coheres for many in its resistance to religious enclosure and its support of certain progressive values. Politicians fire up religious blocs through careful attunement to religious values. Better attunement to spiritual values will help inspire spiritual voters.

Scholars may be of limited help with this effort, although were coming around. An influential tradition in sociology views religiously unaffiliated spirituality as flimsy egoism that turns away from community and nation, that is socially and politically corrosive. The late Robert Bellah, patron saint of this point of view, complained that his archetypal spiritual individualist has made the inner trip and hasnt come back out again. Sociologists who study religion, with some notable exceptions, have commonly written off spiritual but not religious folks as lukewarm participants in political and civic life.

This is questionable for many reasons, not the least of which is that the religiously unaffiliated have been an important Democratic stronghold in recent decades. And while some research does indicate that spiritual people participate less than religious people in civic and political life, the reason may have less to do with a social defect of individualized spirituality than with politicians, scholars, and journalists mishandling the opportunity to connect.

But in the last several years, sociologists and other religion scholars have begun to take spirituality more seriously, and to think more expansively about its social and civic manifestations. Some of us are finding that spiritual but not religious people usually do care, and deeply, about community and civic participation. The difficult part for them is finding communities and ways of engaging civically that jibe with their spiritual approaches. This requires a careful jujitsu. They are often uncomfortable with narrow religious affiliation (Muslim, Christian, Jew) that would welcome them into traditional religious communities, and traditional religious communities have historically been major routes into civic participation. On the other hand, new spiritual but not religious communities are difficult to establish: What will hold parishioners together aside from what they are not? And if they find common ground and the community holds, do they not eventually become their own religion?

This is not an impassable dilemma. With a third of young adults checking the no religion box, we cant afford to let it be. For politicians, it may be a major opportunity, and for more than empty posturing. If the social project for spiritual people is to identify forms of community and civic participation with which they feel at home, then politicians have the opportunity to be partners from the inside, to help to shape these community and civic forms.

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'Spiritual but Not Religious': A Rising, Misunderstood Voting Bloc

Books for a Spiritual Journey: Three Viva Editions Titles Named Best Spirituality Reads of the Year

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(PRWEB) January 15, 2014

Spirituality & Practice featured Mark Nepo's Reduced to Joy, Maggie Oman Shannon's Crafting Calm: Projects and Practices for Creativity and Contemplation, and Phil Cousineau's Burning the Midnight Oil: Illuminating Words for the Long Night's Journey into Day in a collection of 2013's best spiritual reads.

Their list highlights the Viva Editions titles under the categories of "Calm, Joy, and X - The Mystery:"

Burning The Midnight Oil is hailed as "an engaging, entertaining, and edifying anthology of poems, prayers, and philosophical ditties for nighthawks."

Crafting Calm "offers the spiritual thinking behind 40 crafts projects and practices designed to create calm, comfort, contemplation, creation, community, and connection with others and Spirit."

Reduced to Joy collects "73 poems on the harvested meanings and memories of a full and rich life."

With such a broad range of titles, Viva Editions truly has a book-of-the-year for every reader.

About Viva Editions

Books for Vivacious Living!

Viva Editions are books that inform, enlighten, and entertain. The very name, "Viva!", is celebratory. And while Viva Editions is a line of books that are as fun as they are informational, the intention behind Viva is very seriousthese are books that are truly helpful and intended to enhance people's lives. Viva Editions was founded at a pivotal point in time, as the stock market plummeted, the economy softened, and businesses tightened and cut back. Viva focuses on expansion, courage, and joy in life. In short, Viva is about the very best in the human spirit. As publishers, we need to be aware of the different economic environment we are publishing inand respond to what people really need. Now is the time for fresh thinking and stripped-down self-help books that caused inspiration to spring into action. Viva books open hearts and minds. Viva authors are practical visionaries: people who offer deep wisdom in a hopeful and helpful manner.

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Books for a Spiritual Journey: Three Viva Editions Titles Named Best Spirituality Reads of the Year

Spiritual Enlightenment Seek Knowledge and Wisdom

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Satori is a Zen Process for Enlightenment

Think of a state of being with no mind. It is a thought process without ego and thought between the body and the mind. Think of it as a process of pure thought without any personal opinions, beliefs, and understandings. Satori is a type of thinking, just a blank open mind. It is not a goal you wish to strive for, it is a point of mental relaxation in which you take everything in without prejudice.

Listen Twice as Much as You Speak

When we seek guidance, it is usually to fix a problem or change our path of destiny. The reason you have you two ears and one month is so you listen twice as much as you speak. Acquiring spiritual intelligence requires an open mind like a sponge. It is not often a three minute Internet search, it requires an investment of time and a study of different points of view. The type of knowledge you seek is based on the problem you have. This is a direct impact on where you seek, and what you do with the knowledge you will acquire.

Reference Education

Reference education refers to "text book" type knowledge and is the first step to solving problems related to health, finance, and anything concrete. Questions like this would fall under this category:

This type of education is often easier to get and easier to use in your decision making process. Again, we can't underestimate the importance of researching multiple sources of the same subject as the quality of the education you seek is proportional to the amount of energy you use to gather it.

Philosophical Education

Philosophical education refers to knowledge or wisdom relating to subjects that have no proof of factuality. Millions of people refer to the bible as knowledge and wisdom, but it is not a factual reference like an encyclopedia. What if it was? Wouldn't our troubles be so much easier to solve? Of course, and that is exactly why it is not. Here are some examples of philosophical questions:

Philosophical education is also known as wisdom and advice. The universe has to allow you, in communication with your soul, to define these parameters and live your life accordingly.

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Spiritual Enlightenment Seek Knowledge and Wisdom

How To Achieve Enlightenment, The Spiritual Awakening, And …

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Since you found your way here, you must be aSeeker Of Truth, someone whos serious about how to achieve Enlightenment, Spiritual Enlightenment, Spiritual Awakening, Illumination, Mystical Consciousness, Presence, etc.

But how do you get there from where you are now right now?

Thats the critical question.

There are generally two obstacles on the journey to getting there.

Problem 1.What is enlightenment, the spiritual awakening, and spiritual enlightenment in the first place?

Some people have a solid intellectual understanding of what Higher Consciousness means.

Some have no idea what it means. Its just an attractive target and they want the Experience.

Some people think they know what these terms mean, but they dont really.

Problem 2.I Understand what enlightenment and spiritual awakening are intellectually, but Im not experiencing it. I dont know how to achieve enlightenment and I want to.

Thats a far more common problem.Is it yours?

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How To Achieve Enlightenment, The Spiritual Awakening, And ...

New Book "The God Within Speaks" Reminds Your Higher Self is Calling

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London (PRWEB) January 15, 2014

The search for wisdom, truth and knowledge is a quest affecting all mankind. Author Hazel Sinanan wrote The God Within Speaks to help individuals succeed in that search.

The God Within Speaks illustrates how the answers to lifes big questions can be found within when one cultivates a relationship with their inner-divine being. Sinanan helps readers find truth through the discovery of their sacred self, which allows them to exude clarity, confidence and certainty in a harmonious, balanced life.

Sinanan spent many years as a lawyer and law educator, but after a profound spiritual awakening in 2009 she has rededicated her life to spiritual teaching and energy healing.

The Mantra of my teachings is the path to freedom is truth, Sinanan said. I encourage all people to take the inner journey to their higher mind, which will allow them to find the voice of truth improving and clarifying their daily lives.

The God Within Speaks follows Sinanans personal story to enlightenment in order to inspire the discovery of the extraordinary in what people normally find ordinary.

The God Within Speaks By: Hazel Sinanan SC-ISBN: 978-1-4525-8078-4 SC-Retail price: $23.99 Available at barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.

For more information, please visit http://www.pathtofreedomistruth.com or http://www.thegodwithinspeaks.com.

About the author Hazel Sinanan was a lawyer and law lecturer by profession until 2012. Her spiritual awakening in 2009 led her to discover her higher self and access the spiritual hierarchy of the Earth. She currently travels the world performing workshops to pass along her teachings. Sinanans works have been translated into several languages.

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New Book "The God Within Speaks" Reminds Your Higher Self is Calling

JoGuru brings top Spiritual places to Travel this 2014

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(PRWEB UK) 15 January 2014

A very wise man called Lawrence Durrell once said, Travel can be one of the most rewarding forms of introspection. Well, it couldnt have been better put. Travel isnt just an escape. It isnt about running away from the mundane or packing up and leaving things behind. It is about finding new things.

It is perhaps due to this that travel goes hand in glove with spirituality. This theme of finding things has brought together travel and spirituality since ancient times. So JoGuru gives you suggestions of mystical places to travel to, to quench your spiritual thirst.

The Sacred and the Famous

There are those spiritual places that everyone has heard of

Jerusalem, which holds so much importance for all three Abrahamic religions; Islam, Christianity and Judaism is a really magical place. The very pull it has on believers from all over the world even to this day is testament to the fact that there is a very strong spiritual lure to it. The whole area has an eerily primeval feel to it that is worth experiencing.

Bodhgaya in Bihar, India, is no different. This amazing place is where the Buddha achieved enlightenment. Since it is a huge landmark in Buddhist history, followers of Buddhism as well as tourists seek out this destination in search of its spiritual potential. In fact, there is no dearth of such places in the country. The ancient Jain Architecture is incredibly thought-provoking while the older Hindu temples set atop daunting hills provide a very amazing vantage point and a philosophical perspective to the world.

Spiritual, Unusual

There are a few places that one may not pin point as mystical but the very experience of visiting them is surreal.

The Petroglyphs in Canada have this surreal experience on offer. The Petroglyphs were carved by the old Iroquoian community and the designs and carvings have given rise to a lot of speculation. It is possible that the ancients believed that the rock was sacred but why they believed this is unclear. One thing is for certain, these massive illustrations make it an interesting tourist destination for sure.

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JoGuru brings top Spiritual places to Travel this 2014