According to Tim van der Vliet's bio, he spent 13 years trading stock futures and options. Now with nothing but free time on his hands, he has tried to make a space where he can be creative and cantankerous.

This strategy has paid off with Spiritually Awakening, a spunky and cleverly designed paperback about breaking free, letting go, having fun, feeling the force, and moving towards the light.

The spiritual path puts us in contact with new teachers. Trouble is, we often miss them:

"The most nasty person on my way
I try to see as a teacher today
I bless and bless and try to see
the good thing in the man in front of me
because he too was born an innocent baby
Bless your biggest enemy
your boss, neighbor
whoever it may be
The nastiness
turns around
It shifts to a higher ground
of consciousness…

Do this every day."

Why do walls separate us from one another?

"Every thought of fear
is based on duality
that there are 'the Others'
pointing the finger —
you against me.
The truth is
there is only one Unity
there is only we,
we humanity
or we the Universe.
Dualism is an illusion."

Near the end of this soul-shaker comes the advice: "Let's forget about enlightenment — and start enlightening.