Rising From the Cinders

I'm honored and excited to share Christopher Bowen's review of my book "Rising From the Cinders".
He's a composer and instrument inventor at Moving Pictures Music & a Blue Man within the Blue Man Group. He's performed all over the world and just returned from Brazil. He's a composer, musician, writer, visual artist, performer and teacher.
He's been in the Blue Man Group for 28+ years.
Thank you so much Chris for taking time to read my book and extend such a beautiful review.

"In Rising From The Cinders, Laurie A. Morrill has written the memoir of her own life’s generative transformation and by doing so, has given us a gift of the great wisdom she has discovered through her clear, focused and relentless self-examination of that experience and her life that preceded it. She has done what we should all do and emboldens us to do it in sharing her own life with us. Ms. Morrill’s vulnerability, stories and love for this work open up the reader’s heart and take it on a swiftly-turned-page journey into self and soul. The chapters are short and there is something to carry with you from each. Like this, one of my favorites, from the chapter Traveling for Knowledge:
“I quickly learned that there was a golden thread running through all the techniques I was learning. It was about letting go, trusting my intuition, and realizing that the more I let go, the more possibilities there would be… We as individuals receive energy when we give to others, and that cycle is important. Learning not to withhold who you are but instead share the differences we all have is being vulnerable and real… We limit ourselves when we do not allow life to show up with “all possibilities”; it takes more energy to resist something in our lives than it does to let it happen… letting the critical thoughts of ourselves and others go, and not judging ourselves harshly will allow the Universe to work behind the scenes in our favor. Loving ourselves is the single most important thing we can do for ourselves and each other.”

I highly recommend Rising From The Cinders to anyone who is curious and invested in living and loving life as the fullest person they quite probably already are."

- Christopher Bowen

I've finished your book! I was so impressed by your writing skills and with the content, I can't begin to tell you. Many times I felt that you were writing MY story. I have spent my life having the feelings of "not mattering" or not being able to measure up to others or not being worthy. I don't know if I ever sought attention when I was little, even then I knew that my brother deserved the best of everything because he seemed so perfect in every way, but I did wish someone could see me and help me find self worth. I wonder if all little girls back then had these feelings, I don't think boys do.

Sometimes I felt so sad and the things you went through and had to keep inside, I also felt you were so wonderful when you helped your parents to transition during their time of need. No one could ever ask for a more supportive or loving child. When you wrote about your drive thru the apple orchards late at night, those are the orchards that I am now living in and their beauty fills every window, giving such a feeling of comfort and being grounded.

Thank you for writing your story and for all you do to help others, I know for sure that God recognizes you and sent you here to smooth other people's journeys and someday you will understand why you are such a valuable creation.

- Peggy E

Rising From the Cinders gives the reader a remarkable reason to remember their own childhood.

“I scooped up some dirt, and found a small bird feather, a piece of wood, a small piece of screen, and an old miniature man. I would be able to capture this vacation and family memory in this small container and take a piece of it home with me. I packed it up and when we got home I kept it in my desk in my room.”

This passage about Laurie’s mystical place, a camp on Woodbury Lake in Vermont, beautifully illustrates the connection that I too, have with this same lake. In my youth, we attended many family reunions there. I learned to fish, putting yucky worms on a hook to catch thin sunfish and pumpkin seed fish, from my memory, on a dock of this lake. I remember hitting my nose on the floating dock while swimming and feeling like I had broken it. My sisters came to my rescue along with cousins. While I was not drowning, my tearful cries gave them a reason to pause and reach for my hand to pull me up and rescue me.

Rising From The Cinders gave me the permission to own my childhood memories by truly acknowledging and feeling them. I did not know that those fish would die, even if we threw them back. Would I die if I broke my nose on that dock? No. The only thing I knew for sure is that I loved this time of peace when parents (mine and my cousins) were not fighting. It was family time and activity surrounded by smiling faces and bountiful food.

This memoir is a gift to humanity and local communities alike. Laurie offers this by being fully present in all of the lessons she shares with us. From birth to death, as well as grieving the end of her marriage, the messages are poignant and meaningful. Enjoy this experience of a chrysalis emerging into a gorgeous butterfly! Put yourself in her shoes and actively gain your own wisdom as you relive your own story."

- Kelli L.

"Rising From The Cinders forced me to explore my spirituality, in a way that no other book has. As an atheist who normally reads historical biographies, this is not the type of book I would naturally gravitate towards. Having said that, Laurie’s masterpiece is a triumph in transcending boundaries between the physical world and the spiritual worlds. If it can change the perspective of a stone-cold atheist, I would encourage anyone to read this book.

The second important take-away, is how it made me take a closer look at my current relationships with my parents, spouse and children. I have a new-found appreciation of the lessons we learn from everyone we meet. Whether it’s a random person at an airport, or my two year old daughter.

Laurie teaches me that coming from a place of love is a sure bet no matter the situation."

- Alex J.

Your book is so honest and your story definitely came straight from the heart. As I read about your experiences in life growing up and living as an adult, mother, wife, and partner....your life patterns are scary, sad, awesome, and enlightening....and coming to the realizations you have, the journey you have been on for years getting to where you are now, and understanding what things have meant from 30-40 years ago is amazing; I was fascinated many times reading about various things like learning how you picked your parents to making some of the hardest decisions in your life about relationships, to some of the modalities you have learned is stunning....and some of the lasting friendships you have made and still have are truly a gift, I envy your authenticity.....

- Elaine

“I highly recommend this book. “Rising From the Cinders” resonated with me from the moment I’d started reading it. Laurie’s vulnerability and honesty in relating her journey touched me deeply. As I read the book, I saw pieces of myself in it. I saw pieces of my own pain, my own struggle and my quest for releasing past trauma. To read her story allowed me to reflect on mine with a different perspective. There were so many parallels with my struggles to hers, that I’d had some major epiphanies.

It’s one of those books, where you can’t put it down, yet I needed to in order to process some of the insights I’d gained while reading it. I believe that there are no coincidences in life, only synchronicities. This book came into my consciousness just at the right time. It helped me release thoughts, beliefs and behavior patterns that no longer served me. It helped me realize that in order to best serve the people that I perform Reiki on that I need to be a clear channel. My new mantra is “Be open to all possibilities."

- Susan B.