Spirituality and religious experience Books

Book SynopsisPeabody Award-winning broadcaster and National Humanities Medalist Krista Tippett has interviewed the most extraordinary voices examining the great questions of meaning for our time. The heart of her work on her national public radio program and podcast, On Being, has been to shine a light on people whose insights kindle in us a sense of wonder and courage. Scientists in a variety of fields; theologians from an array of faiths; poets, activists, and many others have all opened themselves up to Tippett''s compassionate yet searching conversation. In Becoming Wise, Tippett distills the insights she has gleaned from this luminous conversation in its many dimensions into a coherent narrative journey, over time and from mind to mind. The book is a master class in living, curated by Tippett and accompanied by a delightfully ecumenical dream team of teaching faculty. The open questions and challenges of our time are intimate and civilizational all at once, TiTrade ReviewKrista Tippett is one of America's ablest listeners, and in this book she assembles many of the people she has listened to and uses their example, and her own, to show us how many surprising and idiosyncratic paths still remain towards what even the most secular among us can agree should still be called enlightenment. - Adam GopnikKrista Tippet's ecumenical generosity speaks both to high moral standards and to diverse ways of conceptualizing and achieving them. Her trade has been listening, and from that listening has emerged a deep understanding of the mind and the heart and the curious bridges between them. This is a book about kindness and forgiveness and the insight that is contingent on abandoning monolithic paradigms. Becoming Wise is an ambitious title, but in culling the wisdom of others, Tippet achieves a distinct and lovely wisdom of her own. " - Andrew Solomon, author of Far From the Tree and The Noonday DemonWe need Krista Tippett's voice and wisdom now more than ever. She has elevated the art of listening and the practice of being present in a way that is both accessible and soulful. BECOMING WISE is what I've been waiting for from Krista - the opportunity to learn from her and her experiences. This is brilliant thinking, beautiful storytelling, and practical insight. You won't forget what you read here - Brene Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Rising StrongI am a great admirer of Krista Tippett ... With this book, she has gathered all her years of learning and listening to create a masterpiece of philosophical and spiritual reflection. About halfway through the book, I stopped flagging pages and highlighting passages when I realised I was highlighting nearly every word. This entire book is filled with things I never want to forget. The only remedy will be to keep it near me, always. - Elizabeth GilbertFans of Elizabeth Gilbert and Brene Brown will love this ... it's an enlightening take on life - Soul and Spirit magazine

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis soul-stirring account of an eight-thousand mile-long pilgrimage is motivated by the author's determination to show the world that our true destination can be peace in every step we take. * Phil Cousineau, filmmaker and author of The Art of Pilgrimage *Satish Kumar ought to sit on a council of elders, guiding us through real wisdom, to the utopia that his path has shown us is possible. * Russell Brand, comedian *Satish Kumar is one of our more remarkable fellow humans. If you don't know his story, now is the moment to learn it! * Bill McKibben, climate activist, author of The End of Nature *With this wonderful book the transcendentally inspiring Satish Kumar takes us on a journey where every step is taken with love and compassion. * Gelong Thubten, Buddhist monk and author of A Monk’s Guide to Happiness *A great narrative like this could only have been born by walking a long journey with purpose. In his pure and elegantly simple voice, Satish describes the glorious variety of people and cultures he meets along the way, and how each is on their own pilgrimage to peace. This story is a global treasure. * Dr Guy Hayward, director and co-founder of the British Pilgrimage Trust *Anybody who has heard the force by which Satish can speak of peace might wonder of its source. This book shows us through the nomad journey of his life and of our times. * Alastair McIntosh, author of Soil and Soul *The Peace Walk of Satish Kumar, a living legend, is an inspiring and fascinating journey. The book is riveting, original and thought-provoking. His wise, comforting, motivational and spiritually uplifting words will inspire many to ‘walk the walk’. Underpinned with practical life experience and lessons, this book is a must-read. * YOGA Magazine *Satish Kumar literally walks the talk. He lives Gandhi's philosophy: 'Be the change you want to see in the world'. An inspirational, humbling book. * Psychologies magazine *A pilgrimage, a travelogue and a paean to peace, every step of Satish’s vivid journey across a supposedly divided world is a masterpiece of literary reconciliation and hope. * Dr Nick Mayhew-Smith, author of Britain’s Pilgrim Places *Satish Kumar is a real Earth Pilgrim, a lifelong and passionate peace campaigner. This story of his remarkable journey is captivating throughout. * GreenSpirit *Quietly passionate, gently insistent and manifestly moved by joy and hope, Satish is a living example of putting wisdom to work in all kinds of ways. This book chronicles an enterprise very typical of him – risky, but motivated by the only sort of realism that matters, the realism that confronts the 'Emperor’s New Clothes' of a stale, frightened and destructive world order and shows how human beings can learn and grow. * Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *Satish Kumar’s book is an inspiration for all citizens yearning for peace. Satish shares his experiences of love, compassion and generosity as he travelled to Washington without money to stop the bomb. Satish is a tireless pilgrim of peace. His message is more important than ever. * Vandana Shiva, winner of Right Livelihood Award and author of Earth Democracy *We can talk about peace, we can write about it. But until I read his wonderful book, I never knew Satish had walked for it too. His whole life has been one long walk for freedom, justice, harmony and peace. Yes, it is an extraordinary adventure, but it is much more than that. His life would be this walk. Here is a book that inspires us to follow in his footsteps, that gives us all hope. * Michael Morpurgo, author of Warhorse *Satish Kumar’s memoir of his 8,000 mile peace walk from India to America is a warmly written, gripping and inspirational tale, offering us all hope in dark times. Never have his message of peace, tolerance and unity been more timely or more necessary. * Kindred Spirit magazine *Table of ContentsDestination Peace Pakistan: The Land of Hope and Hospitality Afghanistan: The Mountains of Magic and Mystery Iran: A Place of Poetry and Passion The Soviet Union: A Land of Power and Promises No Problems in Poland East Germany: Hawks and Doves West Germany: Flowers and Philosophy Beautiful Belgium Fabulous France England: Green and Pleasant Land USA: Prejudice and Prosperity Japan: Home of Humility

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Book Synopsis★ Publishers Weekly starred review One of the Top 100 Books and One of the 5 Best Books in Religion for 2019, Publishers Weekly Christianity Today 2020 Book Award Winner (Spiritual Formation) Outreach 2020 Resource of the Year (Spiritual Growth) Foreword INDIES 2019 Honorable Mention for Religion This is not a book about Saint Augustine. In a way, it's a book Augustine has written about each of us. Popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith has spent time on the road with Augustine, and he invites us to take this journey too, for this ancient African thinker knows far more about us than we might expect. Following Smith's successful You Are What You Love, this book shows how Augustine can be a pilgrim guide to a spirituality that meets the complicated world we live in. Augustine, says Smith, is the patron saint of restless hearts--a guide who has been there, asked our questions, and knows our frustrations and failed pursuits. Augustine spent a lifetime searching for his heart's true home and he can help us find our way. "What makes Augustine a guide worth considering," says Smith, "is that he knows where home is, where rest can be found, what peace feels like, even if it is sometimes ephemeral and elusive along the way." Addressing believers and skeptics alike, this book shows how Augustine's timeless wisdom speaks to the worries and struggles of contemporary life, covering topics such as ambition, sex, friendship, freedom, parenthood, and death. As Smith vividly and colorfully brings Augustine to life for 21st-century readers, he also offers a fresh articulation of Christianity that speaks to our deepest hungers, fears, and hopes.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionOrientationHeart on the Run How to Hit the RoadAugustine Our Contemporary How to Find YourselfA Refugee Spirituality How to Live BetweenDetours on the Way to MyselfFreedom How to EscapeAmbition How to AspireSex How to ConnectMothers How to Be DependentFriendship How to BelongEnlightenment How to BelieveStory How to Be a CharacterJustice How to ProtestFathers How to Be BrokenDeath How to HopeHomecomingIndex

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Book SynopsisSacred Knowledge is the first well-documented, sophisticated account of the effect of psychedelics on biological processes, human consciousness, and revelatory religious experiences. Richards argues that, if used responsibly and legally, psychedelics have incredible potential to assuage human suffering and contribute to the quality of life.Trade ReviewSacred Knowledge is not only timely and relevant to a whole host of current social/legal issues but also addresses, with seemingly effortless ease, many of the deeper/subtler metaphysical implications of psychedelics—their therapeutic and spiritual potential. Richards's clear prose makes articulating such difficult topics look easy. -- G. William Barnard, Southern Methodist UniversityRichards' Sacred Knowledge is not a tome but rather a concise work rich with personal stories, observations, and insights into a compelling topic long ignored and now garnering the attention it has long deserved. -- Charles S. Grob, University of California, Los Angeles, School of MedicineA seminal work that will become required reading for anyone seriously interested in either religious experience or psychedelic research. There has not been a book in this area as valuable since William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience, more than a century ago. -- James Fadiman, author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred JourneysIn this wonderfully sensitive, critical, and confessional history one of the foremost clinicians and scholars of presents his own experience with psychedelics and with guiding others in studies to occasion mystical experiences using entheogens. Neither addictive nor toxic, these drugs whatever called surely can under the right set and setting reveal the God within us all. This book is the best accessible overview by someone who knows by experience, and can guide others whether they choose to be involved with entheogens personally or seek to simply to understand others who do. Regardless of choice, this loving man should be your guide. -- Ralph W. Hood Jr. , University of TennesseeAn inspiring testament to half a century of scientific research and personal exploration into the responsible, beneficial use of psychedelic substances. William A. Richards's work is visionary, personal, and transpersonal, instilled with kindness, deep humanity, and quiet wisdom. -- Don Lattin, author of The Harvard Psychedelic ClubThis is a great book which I highly recommend. It is an immersive experience, which provides an opportunity for those unfamiliar with nonordinary states of consciousness to catch a glimpse of their beauty and power. William A. Richards seamlessly weaves together his extensive understanding of spirituality on the one hand and academic and clinical science on the other – a rare combination. His humour, insights, and empathy shine through on every page. The topic is timely and a manifestation of the fact that the intellectual battle regarding the potential of nonordinary states of consciousness (as, in this case, facilitated by psychedelics) has been won. -- Amanda Feilding, director, Beckley FoundationSacred Knowledge provides the most comprehensive overview of the actual use of psychedelics in psychotherapy and of the transformative power of mystical experiences. -- Torsten Passie, Hannover Medical SchoolThis is a wonderful book and couldn't have been launched at a more auspicious time. As William A. Richards has portrayed so beautifully, psychedelics provide an experience of total sanity and give a glimpse of a deeper, more heart-centred, and universal spiritual reality. In my opinion everyone should read this book, not just researchers, theologians, and philosophers but also the ordinary person in society. As society becomes more and more degraded, the planet more and more polluted, and the natural world destroyed, the truth of what the great mystic Krishnamurthy said, 'It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society,' will become ever more apparent. Increasingly I find more and more people are asking at a deeper level 'why am I here? 'What is this life about? What is it all for'? The sane answer to many of these questions is to be found in this book. -- Ivor Browne, University College DublinA practitioner and professor, Richards writes as a guide into the depths of psychedelic spirituality in an attempt to bring entheogens—substances that 'generate the divine within'—back into the mainstream. * Publishers Weekly *Richards is a generous and gregarious writer, who avoids platitudes for a mix of hard evidence, anecdotal stories, and memoir-like ruminations... Timely. * Baltimore City Paper *A valuable work and a real treat to read.... Few people could have written Sacred Knowledge and even fewer people could have done it so eloquently. * OPEN Foundation *In Sacred Knowledge, Richards . . . distills his years of thinking about psychedelics’ psychotherapeutic and spiritual uses into a book that is readable for educated general readers, intellectually firm enough for scholars, and flavored by his personal experiences. -- Tom Roberts, ErowidPart memoir, part manifesto, Sacred Knowledge charts the birth, death, and resurrection of psychedelic research. . . . The conclusion to be drawn from this book is that it’s time—in a safe setting and with careful guidance—that we started taking our miracles in tablet form. -- Charles Gilmour * Independent *Table of ContentsForeword, by G. William BarnardPreface: One Discovery of TranscendenceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionNote to the ReaderPart I. Setting the Stage1. The Death and Rebirth of Psychedelic Research2. Orientation, Definitions, and the Limits of Language3. Revelation and DoubtPart II. Mystical and Visionary Forms of Consciousness4. Intuitive Knowledge5. Approaches to Unitive Consciousness6. New Perspectives on Time and Space7. Visions and ArchetypesPart III. Personal and Interpersonal Dynamics8. The Interpersonal and the Mystical9. Experiences of Meaninglessness, Despair, and Somatic Discomfort10. Religious Conversion and Psychodynamic Experiences11. Discipline and Integration12. Reflections on DeathPart IV. Present and Future Applications of Entheogens13. Psychedelic Frontiers in Medicine14. Psychedelic Frontiers in Education15. Psychedelic Frontiers in Religion16. Maximizing the Probability of Safety and BenefitPart V. Onward17. Fears of Awakening18. Entering Into a New Paradigm19. Movement Into the FutureEpilogue: A Concise Report of Insights from the Frontier Where Science and Spirituality Are MeetingSelected BibliographyA Hopkins Playlist for Psilocybin Studies (2008 Version)Name IndexSubject Index

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Book SynopsisBeing delivered and set free from sin and bondage doesn't mean that the enemy now considers you off limits. Focusing on key Bible strategies, John Ramirez teaches you how to shore up your defenses after winning a battle and how to put your life back in order so that when the next attack comes, you are stronger, wiser and more knowledgeable than ever.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Seminary Co-Op Notable Book of the Year""Winner of the American Book Fest Best Book Award, Religion Category""A meditative blend of history and travelogue . . . brings the soundscape of the desert to life." * New Yorker *"An engaging and inspiring book that provides much needed reflection on the significance of nature, sound, and silence in a noisy age."---Elizabeth Orens, The Living Church"[Sonorous Desert] is about the experience of solitude, sound, and silence in the ancient world and today. . . . These ideas are significant for current discussion of spirituality and human well-being." * Choice *

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Book Synopsis`Human evolution has now arrived at a decisive crossroads. The future of humankind on Earth depends on whether people recognize their determining role in the evolution of the consciousness of Earth.' - Marko Pogacnik; Humanity today faces a unique task: to overcome the thousand-year-old division between heaven and earth, spirit and matter. This, says Marko Pogacnik, is our present-day challenge. But we have an important ally in this work in the being of Jesus, also known as Christ, whose teachings are intended to help us at this critical time of human development. Historically, however, Jesus' words of wisdom were harnessed to the construction of an earthly religion, and much of their deeper meaning was lost in the process. Christ Power and Earth Wisdom is the story of the author's discovery of a `Fifth Gospel', woven invisibly into the four canonical Gospels. It teaches humanity how to live positively in the third millennium. Bringing together knowledge of elemental beings, Earth science and Christ, the author has translated over one hundred of Jesus' sayings into a language that the modern mind can understand. He identifies blockages in the Biblical gospels that have prevented the Spirit of Christ from manifesting in the past era. But the time is now ripe for understanding the multilayered reality of these teachings. Based on methods of investigation and perception that Pogacnik has developed over many decades of work in healing the various dimensions of Earth's landscape and nature, he deciphers the hidden, holistic messages in Christ's teachings, dismantling the obstacles that have arisen through outdated interpretations. The text is complemented with Pogacnik's energetically-charged drawings, forming a feeling counterpart to the thought flow of the book. A new Postscript offers an important update relating to methods of gaining a broader, spiritual perception of reality in the present.Table of ContentsForeword - Preface - 1 On the Quest of a Fifth Gospel - 2 Testing the Etheric Layers of the Gospel Texts - 3 The Invisible Archetypal Pattern of the Gospels - 4 The Realization of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth - 5 Traces of the Feminine and the Voice of Nature in the Gospels - 6 Conversations with the `Old Wise One' - 7 An Essential Step Forward - 8 Obstructive Patterns of Power - 9 The Several Layers of Jesus' Teaching - 10 Who Jesus Was and Who Christ Is - 11 The Christ Archetype Across Cultures - 12 Sacred Geomancy: Expression of Christ Power on Earth - 13 Cinderella: a Folk Tale of Human Evolution - 14 Humanity in the Mirror of the Present Earth Changes - 15 Contemplating Some of the Sayings of Jesus - Bibliography - List of the Sayings of Jesus Quoted in the Book

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Book SynopsisA calming collection of allegories, and illustrations from a world-renowned peace ambassador.Global peace ambassador Prem Rawat has spent his entire life travelling the world to deliver one timeless message: Peace is Possible. Conflict, he explains, takes place at three levels: between countries, between people, and finally within each of us as individuals. These levels are all interconnected. Hence the conflict that rages within a person will lead them to seek out conflict with another. Similarly, conflict between people of one nation is likely to result in conflict between many nations. So the first step to world peace is a simple one: we must first find peace within ourselves. Peace is Possible draws together age-old stories which, as they have been passed down over generations, inspired and transformed the lives of millions. From the power of adaptability, to the importance of trust, to the sticking-place of courage, these are the mes

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Book Synopsis"This book almost didn't exist. I was about to write a serious, heavy book entitled How To Save Western Civilization, as a sequel to my book How To Destroy Western Civilization and Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss. But writing it was not making me happy, and reading it was not going to make anybody else happy either. And then I stopped just long enough for my guardian angel to squeeze through that tiny window of opportunity that I had opened up by my silence and to whisper this commonsense question into my subconscious: "Why not make them happy instead?" (Angels specialize in common sense.) I started thinking: Western civilization is neither healthy, happy, nor holy. Humor is all three. Humor is not only holy, it's Heavenly. And if you are surprised to be told that humor is Heavenly, you need to read this book because you reveal your misunderstanding of both humor and Heaven. If you ask, 'Is there laughter in Heaven?' my answer is: 'You can't be serious!'" Trade Review... Probably the shortest, funniest philosophy book you’ll ever read — Sarah Schutte, National Review

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Book SynopsisHow can Christians pursue and implement the miraculous gifts of the Spirit without falling into fanatical excess and splitting the church in the process? In Practicing the Power, pastor and author Sam Storms offers practical steps to understanding and exercising spiritual gifts that remains grounded in the word and centered in the gospel.Trade Review'Few people write on spiritual gifts as wisely, biblically, and helpfully as Sam Storms. This book covers all kinds of practical and theological questions about the use of the gifts, and does so with insight and clarity---so if you’re looking for answers to any of them, look no further.' * Andrew Wilson, Teaching Pastor at King’s Church London *'I am an elder in a church that engages with God in genuine worship, seeks maturity through dynamic preaching, loves compassionately in community, expresses mercy to the disenfranchised, and multiplies through intentional missionality. Thankful for God’s many blessings, we long for more of his grace, especially through an outpouring of the Spirit’s gifts. But how can our church experience this renewing power? It seems Sam Storms wrote this book to guide our church in this quest. I think it is for your church too!' * Gregg R. Allison, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; elder, Sojourn Community Church; secretary, the Evangelical Theological Society; author, Historical Theology; Sojourners and Strangers; Roman Catholic Theology and Practice *'Sam has written an immensely practical book on the gifts of the Spirit that will help anyone who longs to experience the Holy Spirit’s gifts and see those gifts meaningfully integrated into the life of their church. ' * Jack Deere, former professor of Old Testament Exegesis and Semitic Languages at Dallas Seminary; pastor; and author of Surprised by the Power of the Spirit *'Sam Storms has done it again. This book combines sound theology with inspiring personal examples, together with practical ways to express the compassion of Jesus to others by partnering with him in spiritual gifts. Sam successfully demystifies what it means to obey the apostle Paul’s injunction to earnestly desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to grow in this dimension of the grace of God, and especially pastors seeking to lead their flock into a deeper experience as empowered evangelicals who want all that Jesus provides for us.' * Mike Bickle, International House of Prayer of Kansas City *Table of ContentsForeword by Matt Chandler Introduction 1. Welcome to the World of Word and Spirit 2. Earnestly Desire Spiritual Gifts 3. The Place of Prayer in Practicing the Power 4. Identifying Prophecy in the Local Church 5. The Gift of Prophecy in Real Life 6. Principles from Practicing Prophecy in the Local Church 7. Worship in the Spirit 8. User-Friendly Deliverance 9. Do not Quench the Spirit 10. Manipulation or Ministry? Conclusion Appendix A--Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Appendix B--Does the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy Undermine the Finality and Sufficiency of the Biblical Canon?

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Book SynopsisDrawing on the wisdom of Pope Francis and the spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, austen Ivereigh has written a captivating spiritual guide for our turbulent age. Designed as an eight-day Ignatian retreat, First Belong to God serves as a roadmap to deeper discipleship. It does this by focusing on the three foundational forms of belonging: to God, to creation, and to others. Whether you're embarking on a solitary spiritual expedition or a journey with like-minded individuals, First Belong to God offers the next best thing to a personal retreat with Pope Francis: a full-soul immersion into his wisdom via the classic Jesuit retreat that shaped him profoundly.

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Book SynopsisFrom Jewish to Christian, Mormon and Pagan, women''s sacred circles are sprouting up everywhere, in astonishing variety providing a haven where essential female values can be discussed and embraced.This much-needed guide celebrates the rich diversity of women''s spiritual lives and offers practical, step-by-step advice for those who want to create and sustain a spirituality group of their own.Sacred Circle shows us how we can use a group to explore our relationship to the sacred, and honor the divine in everyday life. The authors, drawing from their own group experiences as well as those of many diverse groups around the country, share the model they''ve developed, while offering wise advise on how and why groups work. They propose circle basics, such as listening without an agenda and rotating leadership, and also offer reflections on the power of personal storytelling and thoughts on reclaiming and reinventing ritual. Women longing for a powerful and supportive

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Book SynopsisAfter ''Hit Man''. The New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Mandocuments John Perkins’ extraordinary career as a globe-trotting economic hit man. Perkins’ insider’s view leads him to crisis of conscience--to the realization that he must devote himself to work which will foster a world-wide awareness of the sanctity of indigenous peoples, their cultures, and their environments. Perkins’ books demonstrate how the age-old shamanic techniques of some of the world’s most primitive peoples have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality. Many indigenous cultures practice shapeshifting. Native American hunters take on the spirit of their prey to ensure a successful hunt; Asian medicine men “ingest” a sickness to heal the one afflicted; Amazon warriors become jaguars to soundlessly travel the jungle. Those who shapeshift understand that all of life is energy and that by focusing your intent you can change energetic patterns, rendering a new form. Shapeshifting can occur on three levels: cellular--transforming from human to plant or animal; personal--becoming a new self or leaving an addiction behind; and institutional--creating a new business or cultural identity. Since 1968, master shamans in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas have been training John Perkins to teach the industrial world about the powerful techniques involved in shapeshifting. His groundbreaking book takes you to deserts and jungles, mountains and oceans, medical research centers and corporate board rooms to learn the step-by-step methods of this practice that integrates ancient and modern techniques to bring about profound healing.Trade Review"John's wonderful storytelling creates a journey so captivating it shifted me beyond time and space--a compelling book for anyone." * Stephan Rechtschaffen, M.D., President, Omega Institute, author of Time Shifting *"Only a handful of visionaries have recognized that indigenous wisdom can aid the transition to a sustainable world. John Perkins' wonderful story of life among the shamans brings great insight for an industrial civilization consuming and polluting itself toward catastrophe." * Edgar Mitchell, ScD., Apollo astronaut, founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and author of R *"Shapeshifting is an engaging saga of one individual's transformation from global businessman to on-the-ground conservationist and healer." * Michael Balick, Ph.D., author of Plants, People and Culture *"John Perkins eloquently portrays how changing our dream can propel us into shapeshifting not only ourselves but also the reality of the world around us. Perkins is a bridge." * Kenny Ausubel, Founder, Collective Heritage Institute, author of Restoring the Earth and Seeds of Ch *“His groundbreaking book takes you to deserts and jungles, mountains and oceans, medical research centers and corporate board rooms to learn the step-by-step methods of this practice that integrates ancient and modern techniques to bring about profound healing.” * Branches of Light, October 2012 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: The View From Above 1 The Mayan View 2 A Corporate Executive in the Amazon 3 The Matter of Energy 4 Desert Bedouin and the Shifting Sands 5 Institutional Versus Personal Shapeshifting 6 Shapeshifting with Bugimen 7 The Nature of Ecstasy, and Dreams Versus Fantasies 8 Lessons from a Headhunter and an Andean Healer 9 Shifting the Utility Industry 10 Transition Part 2: The View From Without 11 An Amazon Shaman Disappears 12 Being the "Other" 13 Shapeshifting a Deadly Virus 14 Globes of Energy 15 Indigenous Elders Speak Out 16 Shapeshifting Through Time and Space EpilogueAcknowledgments Note on Dream Change CoalitionSuggested Reading

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Book SynopsisAccessible Guide from Bestselling Author for Embracing the Prophetic CallingInternationally respected prophet and bestselling author James W. Goll offers a readable, practical approach to the prophetic gifting. Centered around a unique, hands-on 21-day guide, he helps believers develop the intimacy with God essential to hearing his voice clearly and correctly--and then proclaiming his words faithfully.Through illustrations from his own life and those of John, Daniel, and Ezekiel, Goll exposes common misconceptions, the successes and failures of gifted people throughout church history, and wisdom from the trenches of the prophetic. Devotional prayers and reflection questions follow each chapter. A must-have resource for those in prophetic ministry and all who work with them.

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Book Synopsis''I wish to remain single, for I have made a vow of virginity.''This is the remarkable story of the twelfth-century recluse Christina, who became prioress of Markyate, near St Albans in Hertfordshire. Determined to devote her life to God and to remain a virgin, Christina repulses the sexual advances of the bishop of Durham. In revenge he arranges her betrothal to a young nobleman but Christina steadfastly refuses to consummate the marriage and defies her parents'' cruel coercion. Sustained by visions, she finds refuge with the hermit Roger, and lives concealed at Markyate for four years, enduring terrible physical and emotional torment. Although Christina is supported by the abbot of St Albans, she never achieves the recognition that he intended for her.Written with striking candour by Christina''s anonymous biographer, the vividness and compelling detail of this account make it a social document as much as a religious one. Christina''s trials of the flesh and spirit exist against a ba

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Book SynopsisDigging for Diamonds explores 12 key facets which help you understand your unique God-given gifts and how you can live a valuable, purposeful life. Are you tired of living on planet shallow? Have you realised that there is nothing super about superficial? If so, then it's time to get real! What is hidden matters. What you can't see always shapes what you can see. And this is true for us too. God doesn't want us to be shallow people, so no matter how impressive (or not) we appear to be, it's what happens beneath the surface that matters most of all. So, it's worth digging a bit deeper to find out what is really valuable. Often it is in the hidden and slightly messy places where we find the greatest treasure of all. It's in the darkness that we often find diamonds. This book looks at 12 different facets of diamonds and the lessons we can learn from them, such as being unique but flawed, being resilient, knowing our value, being transformed and becoming a prism through which transformation happens. Cathy Madavan will in turns make you laugh and make you think. As you read and reflect on each chapter you will be challenged to move past the surface and to really dig deep into the treasure beneath the surface in your own life. You may well be richer than you realise. Content Benefits: Digging for Diamonds encourages us to dig deeper and discover more of the life-transforming treasures of our identity, strength, character and purpose that God has already placed within us - right where we are. Helps you to find the treasure hidden in the messiness of life Encourages you to be brave and move beyond the culture of shallowness to authenticity Uses the metaphor of diamonds to deliver life lessons Each chapter includes a Bible reading, teaching, questions and a prayer Studies themes such as identity and purpose Perfect for quiet times or discipleship groups as well as personal use Will encourage you to see that you are precious to God Gain a deeper understanding of your unique God-given identity and gifts Encourages you to live a valuable, purposeful life Written in an engaging and accessible style that is suitable for all to understand A perfect gift for any occasion to inspire friends, family or loved ones to dig deeper into God's truths Ideal inspirational gift for women A 40 Day Devotional companion is also available to explore the themes in more detail Audiobook narrated by author available Cathy Madavan is a regular speaker at events including New Wine and Spring Harvest Binding - Paperback Pages - 224 Publisher - Authentic Media

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Book SynopsisA masterpiece of women’s wisdom.—Christiane Northrup, M.D. The journey to capture her feminine soul and live authentically . . . makes a fascinating, well-researched and well-written story.—Publishers WeeklyIn celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its publication, a newly reissued edition of the bestselling author’s classic work of feminine spiritual discovery, with a new introduction by the author.I was amazed to find that I had no idea how to unfold my spiritual life in a feminine way. I was surprised, and, in fact, a little terrified, when I found myself in the middle of a feminist spiritual reawakening.—Sue Monk KiddFor years, Sue Monk Kidd was a conventionally religious woman. Then, in the late 1980s, she experienced an unexpected awakening, and began a journey toward a feminine spirituality. With the exceptional storytelling skills that have helped make her name,

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Book SynopsisHow do I know it's God? is one of the most commonly asked questions of new and mature Christians alike, and the aim of God Conversations is to both equip and inspire the reader and show them that hearing the voice of the Spirit is accessible to everyone who chooses to follow Jesus. Most Christians know that God speaks, yet struggle with how to recognise his voice in their everyday lives. What does God's voice sound like? How do we know if what we're hearing is from God? Stories of God talking to his people abound throughout the Bible, but we usually only get the highlights. We read; "And God said to Joseph; 'Go to Egypt'", and then; "Mary and Joseph left for Egypt." We don't get a blow-by-blow description of how God spoke. We don't receive a detailed explanation of how they knew it was God, and we don't get to see what was going on inside their heads as they acted on what they'd heard. In God Conversations, international speaker and pastor Tania Harris shares insights from her own journey about hearing God's voice. You'll get to eavesdrop on some contemporary conversations with God in the light of his communication with the ancient characters of the Bible. Part memoir, part teaching, this unique and creative collection of stories will help you to recognise God's voice when he speaks and how to respond when you do. Tania has woven theology, biblical stories and her personal journey together to show us how God speaks. MELINDA DWIGHT, ALPHA AUSTRALIA Read it and buckle up! BJORN SCHAFER, ICF SWITZERLAND You'll find yourself saying, 'I can do this too.' JOHN STEELE, NEW LIFE CHURCHES, NEW ZEALAND

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Book SynopsisLooking back on a life of struggles and trials, Helen Roseveare shares her testimony of God’s dealings with her – of his all sufficiency and the response which it requires: not just acceptance, but joy in the face of hardship! I hope that reading this short book will inspire you to look at the Bible with a curiosity that takes you further into the word of God and will drive you to live for him with great determination and passion. ~ Helen Roseveare (1925–2016)Trade ReviewIt's an even greater encouragement reading this book on the other side of Helen Roseveare's home going to heaven, knowing that her struggle is over and she persevered to the end. Let her minister to you in her discouragements, in her victories, and in her perspective as a believer who has finished the race and glorified her Saviour all along the way. -- Courtney Reissig (Author of ‘Teach Me to Feel: Worshipping Through the Psalms in Every Season of Life’)I hope that reading this short book will inspire you to look at the Bible with a curiosity that takes you further into the word of God and drive you to live for him with great determination and passion. -- Helen Roseveare ((1925–2016) Former missionary to the Congo, internationally respected speaker with WEC ministries and author)I am glad that Roseveare left us this brief final testament to God's goodness when providence appears to frown. To borrow from the writer of Hebrews, by her faith, she still speaks, even though she is dead. -- Betsy Childs Howard (Editor, The Gospel Coalition)Count it all Joy exudes love for Christ, delight as well as struggle in serving him, and the wisdom of a tested and seasoned disciple. As always, Helen Roseveare's total commitment to Christ coupled with her biblical realism shine through to both challenge and encourage us. -- Sinclair B. Ferguson (Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi)

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Book SynopsisEvery spiritual practice, every exercise of consciousness, all meditation -- indeed, every moment of true awareness -- we do with the 'gentle will', even if we are unaware of it initially and cannot fully activate it yet. Through practice, however, the gentle will begins to shine, and we gradually gain the ability to access it in our ordinary, daily activities, allowing our lives to become infinitely richer, meaningful and creative.The gentle will is relaxed, receptive, expressive, creative, soft, light and playful. It is not rigid or cramped. We use the gentle will in artistic activities such as playing a musical instrument, writing a poem, or painting a picture. In today's world, however, life is governed by the principles of usefulness, utility, comfort, and efficiency -- the hard will of egoism. Georg Kühlewind writes in this book that the only hope he sees of avoiding global destruction is a change in human consciousness; the 'hard will' must become the 'gentle will'. To this end, he provides exercises through which we may transform the hard will into the gentle will.

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Book SynopsisIn our hurried, everyday lives, time of day and even seasons can blur together, leaving us distanced from the natural world and spiritual rhythms.This book is a visionary and practical exploration of thoughts and meditations which can help us engage with the changing moods of the year. Rittelmeyer's descriptive sketches of the Christian festivals and subjects from the New Testament are offered as helpful spiritual signposts along the path of the year.The meditations can be used as devotions to help us deepen our own insight, and to stimulate creative and meaningful religious celebrations.

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Book Synopsis"Over the years, Thomas Moore has taught us how to discover the holiness concealed in the ordinary." - Harold Kushner In his latest book, Thomas Moore finds striking new meaning in the rich stories and imagery of the Gospels, recasting Jesus not as a teacher of morals and beliefs but as a spiritual visionary with a radical vision for humanity. This highly original take on the Gospels offers a fresh, new way of imagining human life and society. It presents Jesus not as the founder of a religion but as a world reformer offering a spiritual path to everyone, from every background. It offers a personal spirituality fit for the 21st century, where the individual bears responsibility for meaning and for a creative, convivial way of life. "The sincerity, intelligence and style - so beautifully clean - of Tom Moore's 'Care of the Soul' truly moved me. The book's got strength and class and soul, and I suspect may last longer than psychology itself." - James HillmanTrade ReviewThe sincerity, intelligence and style - so beautifully clean - of Tom Moore's 'Care of the Soul' truly moved me. The book's got strength and class and soul, and I suspect may last longer than psychology itself. James Hillman Over the years, Thomas Moore has taught us how to discover the holiness concealed in the ordinary. Harold Kushner

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Book SynopsisInfinite Receiving is so much more than manifestation. When your purpose is truly aligned with what the universe wants for you, and you consciously take action, your dreams really can come true. This book will help you find your purpose and take actionable steps to live the life you want. Faith plus action equals miracles!Stop standing in your own way. We need to let go of fear, shame, guilt, and judgement in order to consciously receive all that we desire. When we open up our hearts and release self-doubt, we create energy that allows us to see more ‘magic’ in our lives and actively pursue our dreams. Through meditations, affirmations, and practical exercises, Suzy Ashworth will show you how to become more aware of your energy and help you to redefine your relationship with wanting. By following the four pillars of Infinite Receiving®, you can increase your state of awareness and attract much more into your life, including:· Sovereignty: Take ownership of your spiritual and inner authority, and lead with integrity and personal power.· Infinite possibilities: Trust yourself and believe you are worthy. Allow yourself to open up and create space to receive beyond your wildest dreams.· Community: Cultivate a supportive culture in any space you step into. When we come together, we all rise.· Embodiment: Become adept at taking yourself out of your mind and into your body and heart. You will talk the talk and walk the walk.Learn to consciously co-create a world beyond what you thought was possible by tuning into the frequency of Infinite Receiving®.

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Book SynopsisA resource which aims to help individuals, pairs or groups embody the season of Lent through the intersection of classical Hatha Yoga practice and Christian spirituality. The eight sessions can be practised on a chair only or on an exercise mat indoors or outdoors.At its core, this book is a holistic exploration of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which is full of universal opposites, paradoxes and dualisms: A time to be born and a time to die a time for love and a time for hate.' Lent is the time when many Christians focus on Jesus' confrontation with the oppositional forces of good and evil in the desert, as well as his last days leading to his crucifixion. The author believes that mind-body dualism in any sector is dangerous, but in religious communities it is toxic. In our digital age, this is the season for embodiment,' she says. The holistic modality of yoga offers a toolbox for more embodied wholeness, unity and peace moment by moment Attentiveness to ourselves as autonomous subjects rather than objects can result in more compassion, empathy and wellbeing. For me, Jesus-centred embodiment is the way towards better self-care, and improved relationships with others, the Earth and all living things, as well as deeper intimacy with the Source of all breath.'Pauline Steenbergen is an Associate Member of the Iona Community, a Church of Scotland minister, a Spiritual Director, an ecumenical pioneer and a Yoga Scotland teacher. Spiral bound for ease of use.

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Book SynopsisThe memoirs of renowned Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard and his extraordinary journey toward inner freedom and compassion in action.Matthieu Ricard began his spiritual transformation at the age of twenty-one, in Darjeeling, India, when he met Tibetan teacher Kangyur Rinpoche, who deeply impressed the young man with his extraordinary quality of being. In Notebooks of a Wandering Monk, Ricard tells the simple yet extraordinary story of his journey and the remarkable men and women who inspired him along the way, including Kangyur Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and the fourteenth Dalai Lama, as well as great luminaries such as Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, and a number of leading scientists.Growing up, Ricard, the son of philosopher Jean-François Revel and artist Yahne Le Toumelin, regularly found himself in the company of intellectuals and artists such as Luis Buñuel, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Igor Stravinsky. Young Ricard loved nature, classical music, and science and dreamed of unlocking the mysteries of molecular biology. But, six years after meeting Kangyur Rinpoche, Ricard gave up a promising career in genetics to pursue a meditative life in the remote Himalayas. While spending half a century in India, Bhutan, and Nepal, he visited Tibet more than twenty times and spent years publishing rare Tibetan texts and photographing his spiritual teachers and the world in which they lived. Elegantly translated by Jesse Browner and accompanied by more than fifty full-color photographs, some of which are Ricard’s own, Notebooks of a Wandering Monk charts Ricard’s lifelong path to wisdom and compassion. This candid and reflective memoir will inspire all readers, wherever they may be on their own journey to a meaningful and well-lived life.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1923, The Prophet is a collection of twenty-six poetic fables that centre around the prophet Al Mustafa, who, boarding a boat in the city of Orphalese, where he has lived for many years, prepares to sail home. On the voyage Al Mustafa is approached by a group of travellers, with whom he discusses deep topics - love, friendship, passion, pain, religion - and The Prophet becomes a manual and spiritual guide. This edition features the original illustrations prepared by the author, as well as an introduction by Dr Daniele Nunziata, which introduces the great work for a new generation.Trade Review'I have loved many books over the years, but the one I would never be parted from and read again and again is The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.' (Lesley Pearse, The Independent)

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Book Synopsis★ Publishers Weekly starred review 2023 Christian Book Award® Winner (Christian Living) Christianity Today 2023 Book Award Finalist (Christian Living & Spiritual Formation) Outreach 2023 Recommended Resource (Christian Living) A "Best Book of 2022," Englewood Review of Books "This incisive and eloquent volume will expand readers' minds."--Publishers Weekly "A beautifully written book. . . . [Smith] offers a good, pastoral word to Christians today."--Christian Century Many Christians live a faith that is "nowhen." They are disconnected from the past or imagine they are somehow "above" the flux of history, as if every generation starts with a clean state. They lack an awareness of time and the effects of history--both personal and collective--and thus are naive about current issues, prone to nostalgia, or fixated on the end times and other doomsday versions of the future. Popular speaker and award-winning author James K. A. Smith explains that we must reckon with the past in order to discern the present and have hope for the future. Integrating popular culture, biblical exposition, and meditation, he helps us develop a sense of "temporal awareness" that is attuned to the texture of history, the vicissitudes of life, and the tempo of the Spirit. Smith shows that awakening to the spiritual significance of time is crucial for orienting faith in the twenty-first century. It allows us to become indebted to the past, oriented toward the future, and faithful in the present.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: When Are We? The Spiritual Significance of TimekeepingMeditation 1: Ecclesiastes 3:9-151. Creatures of Time: How to Face Our Forgetting2. A History of the Human Heart: How to Learn from GhostsMeditation 2: Ecclesiastes 7:10-143. The Sacred Folds of Kairos: How (Not) to Be Contemporary4. Embrace the Ephemeral: How to Love What You'll LoseMeditation 3: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:85. Seasons of the Heart: How to Inhabit Your Now6. On Not Living Ahead of Time: How to Sing Maranatha!Epilogue: History in Heaven

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Book SynopsisBased on the 1928 Bampton Lectures, The Vision of God was the first of Kenneth E. Kirk''s three major books on moral theology. Drawing inspiration from the ascetic tradition of Christianity, Kirk advocates the priority of worship in ethical thought. Beginning with the sixth beatitude, he places the visio Dei front and centre throughout, placing himself in a eudaimonistic tradition that ranges from Irenaeus to Aquinas and the Shorter Catechism. Worship, he shows, offers the opportunity to discover and acknowledge something more valuable than the self, and thus contains the key to moral instruction. Although Kirk published an expanded ''complete edition'' of The Vision of God in 1931, he notes in the preface to the shorter text presented here that ''what remains approximates to, though it is not quite identical with, the actual lectures as originally delivered.'' The reader therefore has in their hands the essence of Kirk''s thesis, which continues to prompt debate today.Trade Review"It could be argued that Kirk's Vision of God is the single most significant essay on moral theology written by an Anglican in the twentieth century. . . . It is effectively a prolegomenon to virtue ethics, which, since the advent of Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue, has once again taken pride of place. But Kirk's argument also directs us towards an integrated vision of theology, where moral, ascetic and doctrinal thought coalesce within one context." Stephen Platten, in Theology, January 2021 "We have never read any theological work which has a more direct bearing on practical problems of ecclesiastical statesmanship and religious policy." Times Literary Supplement "A great book." Expository TimesTable of ContentsForeword Preface Lecture I. The Vision of God in Pre-Christian Thought 1. The Vision of God 2. Formalism and Rigorism 3. Jewish Anticipations 4. Pagan Anticipations 5. Philo of Alexandria Lecture II. The New Testament 1. Rigorism and Eschatology in the Teaching of Jesus 2. New Testament Variations 3. The Origin of New Testament Rigorism 4. The Vision of God in the New Testament Lecture III. Formalism 1. The Beginnings of Codification 2. Codification in the New Testament 3. The Dangers of Formalism 4. The Motive of Reward in the Gospels Lecture IV. Rigorism 1. The Beginnings of Monasticism 2. Monasticism and The Vision of God 3. The Gnostics Lecture V. The Reply to Rigorism (I. - Discipline) 1. Rigorists & Humanists 2. The Two Lives 3. The Reform of Monasticism Lecture VI. The Reply to Rigorism (II. - Doctrine) 1. Naturalism and Christianity 2. St Clement of Alexandria 3. St Augustine 4. St Bernard of Clairvaux Lecture VII. Confusion and Order 1. The Twelfth Century 2. The School of St Victor 3. St Thomas Aquinas 4. St Ignatius of Loyola 5. St Francis de Sales Lecture VIII. Law and Promise 1. The Reversal of Tradition 2. 'Worship' and 'Service' 3. Disinterestedness and Pure Love 4. Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisFor sisters Mary Kennedy and Deirdre Ní Chinnéide, spirituality has been at the centre of their lives since childhood. Their home on St Brigid's Road in Clondalkin, Dublin, was around the corner from a holy well, a place that signalled family, community and divinity.In these pages, they draw on this heritage, with an emphasis on Celtic spirituality - a key focus in Deirdre's work and a long-held area of interest for Mary. The journey to the well is a pilgrimage to source, to that which remains steadfast whatever challenges we face. Traversing the Celtic seasons of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa, the authors explore themes such as hope, love and loss, resilience and new dawns, through personalreflections, stories, lore and healing words.Journey to the Well is a book of rich connection that celebrates the divine within each of us.

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Book SynopsisChristopher Isherwood was born in 1904. He began to write at university and later moved to Berlin, where he gave English lessons to support himself. He witnessed first hand the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany and some of his best works, such as Mr. Norris Changes Trains and Goodbye to Berlin, draw on these experiences. He created the character of Sally Bowles, later made famous as the heroine of the musical Cabaret. Isherwood travelled with W.H Auden to China in the late 1930s before going with him to America in 1939. He died on 4 January 1986. His novel A Single Man was recently made into an award-winning film by Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.Trade ReviewIsherwood has reinvented the spirit of devotion for the modern reader. If I had to propose a candidate for canonization, Isherwood - wry, self-conscious, scrupulously honest - would get my vote -- Edmund White * New York Times *A masterpiece of spiritual memoir * Los Angeles Times *What emerges is a record of a religious adventure that would have delighted Kierkegaard... Isherwood rejects conventional piety - all the humdrum apparatus of worship - in favor of a direct, even jaunty appreciation of how preposterous, certainly precarious, spirituality can be today. * New York Times *The sacred and the profane collide like never before -- Giles Foden * Conde Nast Traveller *

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Book SynopsisIn the face of climate change, species loss, and vast environmental destruction, Belden C. Lane's spiritually centered environmentalism suggests that we must look to teachers in nature to understand how to save ourselves. Pairing anecdotes of personal encounters with nature with the teachings of spiritual leaders from a range of religious traditions, this book invites us to participate once more in the great conversation among all creatures and the earthitself.Trade ReviewIn this extraordinary book, Lane explores our human need for deep and meaningful connections with nature ... This is a precious book for all nature lovers and also for those who after reading it, will be. * Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface Introduction: Wilderness and Soul Work Part I: Beginning to Listen Chapter 1: Restoring the Great Conversation Chapter 2: Falling in Love with a Tree Part II: Nature Teachers and the Spiritual Life AIR: The Child Chapter 3. Birds: Sandhill Cranes, the Platte River, and Farid ud-Din Attar Chapter 4. Wind: Buford Mountain and The Way of a Pilgrim Chapter 5: Trees: A Cottonwood Tree in a City Park and Hildegard of Bingen FIRE: The Adolescent Chapter 6. Wildfire: North Laramie River Trail and Catherine of Siena Chapter 7. Stars: Cahokia Mounds and Origen of Alexandria Chapter 8. Deserts: The Western Australian Bush and Gregory of Nyssa WATER: The Adult Chapter 9. Rivers: Colorado's Lost Creek Wilderness and Teresa of Avila Chapter 10. Canyons: Grand Staircase-Escalante Wilderness and Laozi Chapter 11. Islands: Monhegan Island and Nikos Kazantzakis EARTH: The Elder Chapter 12. Mountains: Hemmed-In-Hollow and the Baal Shem Tov Chapter 13. Caves: Lewis Cave and Ignatius of Loyola Chapter 14. Wolves: Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Francis of Assisi Conclusion: Taking the Great Conversation Seriously Afterword Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn volume 2 of this monumental work, Mircea Eliade continues his magisterial progress through the history of religous ideas. The religions of ancient China, Brahmanism and Hinduism, Buddha and his contemporaries, Roman religion, Celtic and German religion, Judaism, the Hellenistic period, the Iranian syntheses, and the birth of Christianity - all are encompassed in this volume.

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Book SynopsisA new reflection from Jean Vanier on the Gospel of John, based on a series of talks originally written for television. Vanier moves through each passage, setting it in the context of the other gospels, and drawing out messages for our contemporary world.

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Book SynopsisYou must become the change you long for.Fine words, a great vision, but where to begin?We caterpillars know. From the moment we are conceived in our parents' mating dance, we already contain the cells that hold our future butterfly.We become, literally, the change we carry within us, as our hidden wings take shape.Let us tell you our story Tumultuous changes are occurring in the world around us, and the structures and values by which we have charted our lives seem to be collapsing. Many of us are struggling to plot a spiritual path through this unfamiliar landscape, and to believe in a positive future. Hidden Wings is a book offering hope and understanding.Using the example of a caterpillar entering the devastating, world-altering stage of the chrysalis, before emerging transformed as a butterfly, Margaret Silf helps us to see that these times of chaos could in fact be an opportunity for profound spiritual transformation.

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Book SynopsisTo learn to read a text for the portals of silence that are implicit in it is to gain a powerful tool for supporting and expanding one's silence, and to open the reader to the insight that ensues. The sort of reading proposed in this volume is both costly and rewarding. These pages invite readers once again to look at their own minds, to reflect on what is happening there, and to understand the essential role of silence for being human, and for living our own truth with one another.This second volume of Maggie Ross's Silence: A User's Guide offers application to support the process set out in volume one.Trade Review‘This is a book written out of wisdom, love, and experience. It is to be read slowly, deeply, and contemplatively. While highly informed, the scholarship folds into and out of an embodied, mindful practice. Reading demands that same practice. Only Maggie Ross could have written it as a genuine theological gift to us all.’ -- Graham Ward‘Maggie Ross brings an extraordinary combination of practicality, scholarship, and prayerful reflection to this remarkable book. Readers cannot fail to profit from its many explorations, which lead to a passionate, iconoclastic, and cheering affirmation of the centrality of silence in our meetings with God.’ -- Diarmaid MacCulloch * Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford *‘Maggie Ross is a seer, listener, and hearer of the first magnitude! Now she does it with that most ordinary and universal of spiritual disciplines—silence itself. Come see, listen, and hear with her, and watch her words silence you.’ -- Richard Rohr * Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico *

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Book SynopsisGlimpses of Eden is a seasonally-arranged collection of the very best of novelist Jonathan Tulloch's acclaimed nature column, which has run in The Tablet for more than ten years. In ninety-six evocative daily records of his explorations of the land, mostly within an hour's bike ride from his North Yorkshire home, Tulloch captures snapshots of the wonders of the natural world. Here are eternal stories of resilience and beauty, hope and death, survival and renewal, a tapestry of miraculous creation to enrich our souls and deepen our understanding of life. Each reading is followed by a new reflection written for this volume.Trade Review‘Today I think I’ll go for a walk and search for some gorse, or something similarly uncelebrated yet remarkable. Like Linnaeus, from time to time it does us good to get down on our knees before something truly great.’

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Book SynopsisIn Sharing the Darkness, Sheila Cassidy â a leading figure of the hospice movement, and survivor, as a young doctor, of torture for daring to give medical care to an opponent of the Pinochet regime in Chile â meditates on the mystery of our wounded humanity, trying to wrest meaning and a spirituality of caring out of the reality of suffering.Trade Review‘The growth of the spirit is perhaps the most beautiful revelation of God’s love that we are privileged to see, and like all beginnings of life, it is about the secret emergence of something new and vulnerable in the darkness.’ -- Sheila Cassidy

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Book SynopsisHoliness cannot be taught by any kind of trick or technique and can only be truly understood through a personally transformative process, explains theological writer and professor Donald Nicholl in this classic work, which arose first from a series of conferences that he gave to a community of Poor Clares.

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Book SynopsisThe Christian world is at a crossroads, writes Alan Ecclestone, ready to take the way of ''engagement with the Passion of Christ in the world today'' or to pass into spiritual death. This classic book, winner of the Collins Religious Books Award, helps the reader find the answers within to face up to this supreme challenge.

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