In this memoir, Porat Hammarberg chronicles her journey to find her “Soul mate,” a journey she believes will give hope and spiritual guidance to others.
The Israeli-born Hammarberg spent her early years in Israel shaped by her caring family and a love of dance. In 1972, at 19, she meets and marries 21-year-old Rami Cooks. The couple decides to move to Minneapolis to raise their four children, but the author eventually grows unhappy with her marriage and begins attending workshops seeking answers through the ancient Jewish wisdom of Kabbalah and two other spiritual disciplines that concern freeing oneself of the thoughts that make one suffer and releasing “non-love” and negative feelings.
After 25 years of marriage, she leaves Rami builds her skin care business and begins dating. But it isn’t until 2009 that she meets her soul mate—Paul Hammarberg, a former Lutheran minister—on an online dating site and marries him a year later.
Growing up in Israel during some of its most formative years, the author had some strong material for a memoir focused on the emotional turbulence of living in the constant shadow of war, but the book is less memoir than spiritual quest. As a result, much of the narrative is devoted to her appreciation for family and friends and the truths she has learned about positive energy, opening yourself up to the Universe, the power of love, and consciously being grateful every day.
The author details some rather fantastical events in her life that seemingly validate her point of view. Skeptics will probably look askance. But this would be worthwhile reading for readers on a similar spiritual quest, as the author’s passion and enthusiasm practically bounce off the pages, spurring her audience onward: “I am only showing you what is possible and already in your life…So bring forth your amazing imagination and start living your dreams right here, right Now! I am cheering you on.”
Also available as an ebook.
