Author and energy healer Elaine Grohman believes we have within us the ability to tap into guidance that could help make our lives better. 

"We always have divine communication," said Grohman, who launches her latest book Spirit Awakening: Wisdom for Life and Living on Thursday at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. "But we don't know how to pay attention. We don't hear the guidance that's given us that could really make things better."

The event is free and open to the public.

Messages from angel readings

At the launch event, Grohman – the author of The Angels and Me, a collection of her experiences with divine communication – will read from and sign copies of Spirit Awakening, which began with a group of messages that came to her before "angel readings." She holds the events to share communications from divine beings and loved ones who have died. 

"Whenever I would do audience readings, I was asked by spirit to sit down and write, and it was a message literally for the group," Grohman said. "So I had this beautiful pile of divine messages, and I thought these are so important, people need to hear them."

In the book, she pairs those messages with actual experiences that she and others have had. In one chapter, for instance, a message about how our thoughts "reverberate across the Cosmos" prefaces the story of Grohman's unexpected and moving late night communication with two owls in her yard. 

While she planned that her second book would be about energy medicine, Grohman said that book will also be about "the source of our wounding ... We are so used to getting a diagnosis and treating the symptoms, rather than looking at the cause."

Because stress is the precursor to illness, Grohman said, she felt it was important to have Spirit Awakening lead up to the energy healing book. Readers have told her the book's messages have helped them see things in their lives a little differently. Even a small adjustment in outlook can make a big difference, Grohman believes.

"So many people, their stories define them," she said. "Most of the time, we've been taught not to believe in ourselves, and all of it's falsehoods."

Event to benefit local youth programs

A portion of sales from the Thursday event will benefit Farmington Hills' youth programs. Grohman has had an ongoing relationship with the city of Farmington Hills youth and family services division. 

"Elaine has been a really good friend of the young program for a number of  years, and she has always been very impressed with what we do for the kids," said Youth and Family Services director Todd Lipa, who will speak at the event.

Youth program coordinator Kitty Ostach said funds raised will go toward a tutoring program, a new outdoor wilderness/wellness program and "Girl Power" and "Guy Time" programs. 

The book signing event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. For more information, visit elainegrohman.com.