PERSONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND PLANETARY TRANSFORMATION northatlanticbooks.com

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 2 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F B E A W A R E O F H O W Y O U Y O U R S E L F M I G H T B E A S E E D F

FIRST STEP IS TO FIND the OW, BANYEN IS AT another in this issue... Ahumility, the ground, the Nthreshold. Our dear General place of vulnerability from which Manager, Tanis Phillips, is retir- 5 Banyen’s Events you can truly listen. The word ing after 10 successful years at the 6 Chimes & Singing Bowls 8 Music, Art & Creativity BRANCHES OF LIGHT humility comes from the Latin tiller. We are in transition. We humus, which is earth, ground. intend to continue offering the 9 Poetry, Writing & Stories News & Reviews from Just as the seed needs earth to comprehensive and loving services 10 & Hindu Traditions 11 & Banyen Books and Sound grow, humility is the soil for our Banyen’s been known for, for 13 Tibetan Buddhism *ISSUE 50 ! * Spring-Summer-Fall 2017 own seed stories and the stories of many years to come. And we 15 Flowing with the Tao all creation.” —from Spiritual thank Tanis on her way, with the 16 BodyMind Healing Publisher ~ Editor Ecology: 10 Practices to sunlight of appreciation, blessings- 18 Healing Energies & Herbs Kolin Lymworth Reawaken the Sacred in for-the-way ahead, and a slightly 19 Bodywork & Movement Design Laura Duncan Good Look Graphics Everyday Life, by Llewellyn teary fare-thee-well. : ) ) 19 Food & Nutrition [email protected] Vaughan-Lee (see p.36). 20 Inspiration & Self-Help Cover Fiona Gamiet Articulate Design ANYEN NOW OFFERS a spec- 21 Psychology & Dreamwork [email protected] 22 Jungian Psychology EAR FRIENDS OF BANYEN, trum of yoga and medita- B 23 Mythology this issue of Branches of tion supplies, tools, cushions, as On the Cover D 23 Honeybee ~ Batchelor’s Button ~ Spring! Light is Number 50—that means well as excellent natural fibre 23 Western Teachers & Teachings 25 years! For most of those years, clothing, candles, crystals, 26 Dying & Grieving The Banyen Folk every spring and fall, Michael smudge and incenses, altar stat- 27 General Manager: Tanis Phillips Bertrand was both managing edi- ues, essential oils & aromatics, 28 Purchasing: Marina Gingrich 29 & Ritual & Anusha Fernando (books +) tor and great friend. He arranged glowing salt lamps, musical Karen McMahon & Nick Nolet with authors, publishers, designers, instruments and sound healing 30 Native Medicine (music, arts, tools, gifts, gems, beauties +) printers, mailers, and me, to “get tools, body care , artcards, 30 & Magick Receiving & Shipping: it out” into the world. Michael has jewelry, and much more. Some 31 Christian & Jewish Dylan Phillips & Lindsay Shaver since retired. He is very fondly of it is on our website now. 31 & Islam Accounting: Melora Jaune & Jenny Chu 32 & remembered... And the beat goes Events, Publicity & E-News: Jacob Steele 33 & Philosophy Web Wizard & Social Media: on... with this bouquet of strong, ay this springtime bring you 33 Transmissions & Revelations Alethea Lymworth wonderful new books. We are Mnew life in abundance and 34 Business, Work & Money In the Store, at Your Service: honoured to be able to offer such harmony. “In a dark time, the 34 Ecology, Community, Politics Liz Aboya, Cynthia Champagne, a treasure of heart-and-soul teach- heart begins to see.” Thanks for 36 Eco-Philosophy Michael Galloway, Bokudo Holy, ings. Thank you for receiving it, life ~ let’s be in touch. ~Kolin 36 Earth Energies & Eco-Design Asha Isaacson, Alicja Kielbik, and for supporting us these years. 36 Gardening & Permaculture Carly Laughlin, Amanda-Lee Lorenz, 38 Nature as Teacher & Healer Alethea Lymworth, Leanna Manning, 38 ? ! Ross McKeachie, Tom Oakley, how to order by Mail froM banyen Samuel Romero, Janeesha Rosser 38 Science, Brain/Mind & Gaia Levi Shulman, Viti Spinelli, you can phone us toll-free, fax, mail, or email us. we can tell you on 40 Family, Parenting & Youth Angela Spooner, Chloe Traynor the spot what’s in stock and ready to ship today. you can also visit our 41 Relationships & Sex & Chris Turpin website, banyen.com, “browse the shelves” and shop securely 24/7. 42 Women & Men 42 Some (More) Unusual New Printed at International Web Express on ORDERING FROM BANYEN SHIPPING & HANDLING Books Electrabrite newsprint with 25% recycled fibre Call us (during store open hours). If you’re We will backorder to ship later any titles (100% recycled web papers are elusive now) in greater Vancouver area call 604-732-7912. temporarily out of stock. At your request, we 43 Index of Authors & their titles Or toll-free from U.S. or Canada (1-800-663- will ship your order C.O.D. within Canada 8442), or email us ([email protected]), or only. It will cost you an additional $7.00. Publication Mail Agreement # 40063300 fax us (604--737-1636). Our Banyen lotus by a review Return undeliverable Canadian addresses SHIPPING COSTS IN CANADA to: Banyen Books, 3608 West 4th Ave. RETURNS & DEFECTIVES “Expedited and Insured” means that title is our Vancouver, BC V6R 1P1 If unhappy with your order, return it to us Basic Cost + Per Book/Item “Editor’s Choice.” with a copy of your receipt, and we will give Lower Mainland (Metro Vancouver & Lower and you a full merchandise refund. (Please note Central Fraser Valley) $6.00 + $1.50 per book Please note: prices are subject to change without To help make BRANCHES OF LIGHT possible, the exceptions below.) Returns must be B.C. & Western Canada (BC outside the Lower notice. With US/Canadian dollar exchange we welcome selected advertising received by us within 30 days of purchase Mainland, AB, SK) $9.00 + $1.50 per book hiccuping lately, our prices have gone way up and and publisher support. date. Return a defective item with a clear ID Eastern & Northern Canada just recently started to come down again. Thanks for your patience with changing prices. Please direct inquiries to Kolin Lymworth of the defect within 30 days—we’ll gladly $11.00 + $1.50 per book replace it with a new copy. Opened Audios, Canadian Orders over $89: Free Shipping ([email protected]) at the above address. l Videos, Tarot/ sets and the like are Delivery Times: 2-5 business days in B.C., Fax 604-737-1636 Phone 604-629-2190 returnable only if they are defective. 5-7 days within Canada +3 days to outlying areas ( : The Banyen Online Store : ) (Please contact us for Priority or Xpresspost rates.) PAYMENTS & DISCOUNTS books Music videos events BRANCHESOF LIGHT Credit-card payments best handle changing SHIPPING TO THE U.S.A. over 28,000 titles - with curated reviews - is published each Spring and Fall by prices, currencies, taxes, and shipping costs. Regular (insured, 6-9 days): $14 + $2 per book a “little alexandria” open all the time. Banyen Books and Sound We also accept cheques (with your address & (Please contact us for express rates.) phone number on them), drawn on a we’re also now listing a sweet selection of our 3608 West 4th Avenue Canadian bank, and bank or postal money SHIPPING OUTSIDE CANADA/U.S.A. yoga & meditation supplies, incenses, herbs, orders. Orders from U.S.: payment by Visa, Please contact us to enquire about the rates. Vancouver, B.C. V6R 1P1 Canada candles, singing bowls, and calendars, too. Mastercard, or money order in Canadian $. Books: 604-732-7912 Discounts (non-cumulative): 10% on 5+ of Music, Gifts, Tickets: 604-737-8858 same title, $250+ per order (before tax), or To avoid delays in filling your order... Please don’t mail us a cheque until you have Mail Order: From Vancouver area call for seniors (65+). Public libraries, and prison, hospital & school libraries: 20%. contacted us to confirm the amount... banyen.com 604-732-7912 From outside the No free shipping on discounted orders. and give us your mailing address ! signup to receive “Blossoming” Vancouver area: 1-800-663-8442 our monthly e-news & events flash. e-mail: [email protected] Canadian orders $89 and up (before taxes) Open Monday to Friday 10-9 Click “our latest reviews” to see lots of Saturday 10-8 Sunday 11-7 get free shipping... a saving of 12% new title reviews filtered by subject area.

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 3 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ith much appreciation I W announce the retirement of Banyen’s General Manager, Tanis Phillips. Effective June 30, A Division of The Georgetown Group Limited Tanis will pass on the reins of Feed Your Mind, Banyen’s management after ten strong years in the role. Open Your Heart, With her devotion, acumen and coordination (honed over 17 Tanis in front of her recent poster project and Enrich Your Soul years at Banyen with the last 10 on Valentine’s Day as General Manager), Tanis brought Banyen to unprecedented levels of stability, coherence, fairness, and clarity. It’s been a remarkable achievement in Banyen’s 47 years, and has really helped us make it through tough years. I would say we all are sad to lose her steady, utterly dependable caring for “the Banyen garden.” Yet her forward-looking fostering of clear teams, roles, and procedures is a foundation that will support us moving forward into our new era. Her , honesty, and principled kindness in the heat of the fires of keeping a business going in this world will be missed. So, from all of us at Banyen—and I would say all of us in the larger community which Banyen serves—thank you, Tanis. Well done! And blessings aplenty on your way.

Sincerely, Kolin Lymworth, Banyen’s founder/owner. April 19, 2017

the haven on gabriola island

Discover the art of living well, together

Programs in self-responsible, relational living for individuals, couples, children, teens and families www.haven.ca [email protected] •1 800 222 9211

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B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 5 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F CHIMES FOR THE HOME & GARDEN F

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Magical Mystery Space Odyssey, 55in. Little Gregorian, 13in. Crystal, 12in. Glass Bell Purple, 4in. 028375227013––––– $237.00 028375007110–––––––$34.95 028375197019––––––– $13.95 6928500170600–––––– $37.95 Crystal Meditation Black, 16in. Peace Bronze, 16in. Turquoise, 12in. Glass Bell Indigo, 4in. 028375236213––––––– $27.95 028375209019–––––––$34.95 028375197910––––––– $13.95 6928500175100–––––– $37.95 Seafoam Green, 24in. Pachelbel Cannon Silver, 32in. Turquoise, 26in. Glass Bell Teal, 8in. 028375154715–––––– $70.00 028375233816–––––––$61.00 028375132812–––––– $63.00 6928500173700––––– $70.00 Jade, 12in. Earth Bronze, 37in. Bali Silver, 25in. Glass Bell Teal, 4in. 028375182916––––––– $13.95 028375062911–––––– $70.00 028375003013–––––––$67.00 Gem Drop Prism, 10in. 6928500169000–––––– $37.95 Earth Silver, 37in. Rainforest Green, 32in. 028375218219––––––– $13.95 Koshi Aqua Water, 6.25in. 9780100909588––––– $70.00 028375229017–––––– $70.00 Amethyst, 12in. 9789000157723––––– $98.00 Seafoam Green, 37in. Pluto Silver, 27in. 028375197514––––––– $13.95 Koshi Aria Air, 6.25in. 028375227112––––– $106.00 028375062614––––––– $41.95 Piccolo, 7in. 9789000157716––––– $98.00 Crystal Meditation Silver, 16in. Ireland, 25in. 028375016419–––––––– $7.95 Koshi Ignis Fire, 6.25in. Temple Bells, Quintet 028375216918––––––– $27.95 028375233618–––––– $70.00 9789000162550––––– $98.00 028375036516–––––– $53.00 , 40in. , 12in. , 6.25in. Mozart Rose Quartz Temple Bells, Trio Koshi Terra Earth 028375143313–––––––$91.00 028375182718––––––– $13.95 028375035212––––––– $37.95 9789000162567––––– $98.00 Amazing Grace Memorial Urn, 24in. Chakra Chime, 16in. Windbell Dragonfly, 20in. Bamboo, 14in. 028375226016–––––– $84.00 028375201914––––––– $27.95 028375097715––––––– $27.95 9789000090877––––––– $9.95

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39 Zenergy 42 Chimes ounds from gongs and chimes Sare often used in meditation and healing. They redirect the mind to center and promote mindfulness of an individual or a group, raising 38 group consciousness and a sense of oneness. Chimes have also been used to clear stuck and unwanted dense energy allowing flow to occur. Zenergy chimes are an effective tool with meditation, healing or in a yoga practice. 40 They are also a wonderful way to introduce a class, workshop or meeting and they have Zenergy Duo often been used as musical instruments. 028375076710–––––––$22.95 41 Zenergy Quintet 028375184217–––––– $53.00 Zenergy Solo 028375227211––––––– $13.95 Zenergy Solo Mini 9789000140534–––––– $10.95 Zenergy Trio 028375076819–––––––$34.95 44 Singing 43

Meditation Bowls 54 hese meditational singing bowls Tcome from the Himalayas and are 53 used as a gong or toned, while you move a 52 mallet steadily around the rim. The bowls are 51 traditionally made of seven metals, one for each of the planets: gold, silver, mercury, copper, 48 45 47 iron, tin & lead. The actual proportions of different 46 50 metals vary in each bowl, and not all bowls are made of 49 all seven. The traditional Tibetan bowl is said to have more silver & tin, while Nepalese bowls have a golden glow. They were hand-beaten historically but are now often cast mechanically. These bowls are used for meditation, yoga, healing, sound massage, sound therapy, and chakra balancing.

Temple Gong Etched, 8in. Root Chakra Boxset 4in. Machine Etched Medium 9789000187690–––– 9789000187706––––– 9789000151585––––– $150.00 $56.00 $85.00 (This is only a small Fountain Water Bell with Copper Bowl, 16in. Hand Hammered, 5in. Machine Etched Large selection of our 028375086719––––– $250.00 9789000154753–––––$112.00 9789000151578–––––$113.00 Bowls & Chimes. All Crown Chakra Boxset 4in. Hand Hammered, 4in Hand Etched, Small bowls come with 9789000135455––––– $56.00 9789000154746––––– $60.00 9789000151554––––––$76.00 a wooden mallet. Heart Chakra Boxset 4in. Machine Etched Small Hand Etched, Medium Colour, size and 9789000181995––––– $56.00 9789000151592––––– $72.00 9789000151547–––– $100.00 design may vary)

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tary explaining the discovered the hidden order of Nature. She SACRED GEOMETRY COLORING BOOK Art, Creativity meaning behind the reveals how she learned to center her artis- by Francene Hart symbols and animals tic explorations on the intelligence of the $18.95, paper. Inner Traditions. & Music shown and offering heart rather than the intellect, utilizing the 96 pages, 8x11, b/w illus. inspiration to open wisdom and imagery of Sacred Geometry, Drawing on the imagery from her popu- SACRED GEOMETRY OF NATURE your awareness to how reverence for the natural environment, and lar Sacred Geometry Oracle Deck and Sacred Journey on the Path of the Divine these shapes influence the interconnectedness between all things Geometry Cards for the Visionary Path, this by Francene Hart our reality and tune as her inspirations. coloring book contains 45 illustrations of $43.95, cloth. Bear & Company. your energies. From She describes the shamanic lessons that Hart’s renowned Sacred Geometry paint- 210 pages, 8x11, colour throughout dolphins and dragon- Every one of us possesses the potential to accompanied her discoveries and shaped ings and drawings. Each piece is accom- flies, the elements and receive visionary experiences and integrate her understanding of sacred relationships panied by a brief yet insightful commen- them into our lives. Art- with the self, others, and Mother Earth. She ists become visionaries explores how to tap into the energies pro- by cultivating their in- vided by spirit guides and power animals, Creativities stinctive creative spark like Jaguar, Raven, Octopus, and Dolphin, and sharing their pro- and explains her profound affinity for the WIRED TO CREATE found visions with the ocean, including her discovery of water con- Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind world. sciousness in Hawaii. Offering chronicles of by Scott Barry Kaufman & Carolyn Gregoire In this lavishly illus- her inspiring travels and transformational $23.00, paper. Putnam. 288 pages. trated memoir, including encounters around the world, Hart shares Based on the authors wildly popular Huffington Post article “18 more than 80 full-color her experiences at sacred sites in the Ama- Things That Creative People Do Differently” (which generated reproductions of her zon, Central America, Egypt, England, Scot- 5 million views and 500,000 Facebook shares in one week), this intricate watercolor paintings and the stories land, Paris, Cambodia, and the Himalayas well-researched and engaging book uncovers what we know about behind them, Francene Hart recounts the evo- and how these places influenced her art. creativity, and what anyone can do to enhance this essential aspect lution of her art from formative influences to Exploring what is revealed as inspiration of their lives and work. her masterful integrations of Nature, Spirit, arises, Spirit informs, and vision is trans- Filled with insights from the lives of well-known artists and vi- and Sacred Geometry. formed into art, Francene Harts journey sionaries, along with scientific findings and practical advice, this Opening with her early work on mandalas offers a window into the secret order of Na- smart, lively and inspiring book reveals these creativity-sparking and her explorations of the work of Joseph ture, the power of sacred symbols for evolv- attributes and habits: Campbell and C. G. Jung, Hart explains how ing consciousness, and a visionary artistic u Daydreaming her first works of art were in response to the path that blends the mathematical rigors of u Taking Time for Solitude solitary life she led in the forest, where she sacred geometry and the numinous. u Seeking out New Experiences u Nurturing Emotional Sensitivity u Turning Challenges into Opportunities for Growth Music and Words u Making Time for Play u Following Passions JUST BEING AT THE PIANO u Practicing Mindfulness by Mildred Portney Chase u Listening to $19.95, paper. DeVorss. 98 pages u Challenging the Status Quo Harmony begins in the Soul, long before the first note is u Achieving Mastery played… What Quiet did for introverts, Wired to Create will do for creative individuals, along There are many approaches to piano theory. They range from with anyone who aspires to be one—that is, it will help them see themselves in a positive the simple technique of reading music and touching the keys, to light and enhance their strengths, even though they are not always the most conven- playing-by-ear, but few have taken the inner path that begins in tional ones. the soul. Mildred Portney Chase merged her piano lessons with “The go-to book on creativity and genius. He puts together the newest scientific find- the discipline of mindful Buddhist practice and created an experi- ings from the brain, from mental life, and from the messy world of emotion to whiz ence that evokes not just music for the pleasure of the listener, but us to the cutting edge of the highest human accomplishments.” —Martin Seligman, a journey that leads the student to a world of calm and peaceful- author of Flourish ness flowing from the soul out into the universe… ever-evolving “More than ever we need creativity in our lives and to answer the pressing challenges day-by-day within the musician’s heart. of our times. These authors paint a brilliant portrait of the many faces of creativity: a Just being—at the piano— egoless— is to each time seek to reach that place where fusion of seemingly contradictory mental states that can be limpid and messy, wise and the only thing that exists is the sound and moving toward the sound. The music on the crazy, exhilarating and painful, spontaneous and yet arising from sustained training. page that was outside of you is now within you, and moves through you; you are a chan- Fascinating all the way.” —Matthieu Ricard, author of Altruism nel for the music, and play from the center of your being… You are at one with yourself and the act, and feel as if the playing has already happened and you are effortlessly releasing it. The music is in your hands, in the air, in the room, the music is everywhere, LET THE ELEPHANTS RUN and the whole universe is contained in the experience of playing. Unlock Your Creativity and Change Everything “Just Being at the Piano works toward developing the musician’s sensory awareness of by David Usher the sound, of the touch, of what the entire body is experiencing, so that each tone may $22.95, paper. Anansi. 256 pages. sing.” —Lee Strasberg At David Ushers company, CloudID Creativity Labs, there is a sign on the wall that reads: “Dream big, let the elephants run!” The words are a reminder for us to hold a place in our minds for cre- WORDS WITHOUT MUSIC ativity, where big ideas can form and our imagination can run free. A Memoir Based on his wildly popular speaking engagements, Let the Elephants by Philip Glass Run shows us how to reignite creativity whether in the head office, $23.50, paper. Norton. 418 pages, b/w photos the home office or the artists studio. Philip Glass has, almost single-handedly, crafted the dominant Creativity is in everyone’s DNA, not a select few. We all start our lives as creative sound of late-twentieth-century classical music. Yet in Words Without beings but for many that spark becomes lost over time. How do we jump-start creativ- Music, his critically acclaimed memoir, he creates an entirely new and ity process as adults? What does it means to be a creative person? How do we follow unexpected voice, that of a born storyteller and an acutely insightful through with our ideas and turn them into tangible outcomes? chronicler, whose behind-the-scenes recollections allow readers to Usher empowers readers to achieve more “aha” moments through two cornerstone experience those moments of creative fusion when life so magically principles of creativity: freedom and structure. Using a mix of personal anecdotes and merged with art. professional examples from the worlds of industry, technology, science, music, and art, From his childhood in Baltimore to his student days in Chicago and at Juilliard, to he shows us that creativity is not magic; it is a learnable skill that any person or business his first journey to Paris and a life-changing trip to India, Glass movingly recalls his can master. The dynamic full-colour design includes photographs, artwork and illustra- early mentors, while reconstructing the places that helped shape his creative conscious- tions, as well as action pages to help readers start cultivating the habit of documenting ness. Whether describing working as an unlicensed plumber in gritty 1970s New York their ideas for future execution. or composing Satyagraha, Glass breaks across genres and re-creates, here in words, the Let the Elephants Run is the essential guidebook to reigniting and nurturing our cre- thrill that results from artistic creation. Words Without Music ultimately affirms the pow- ativity in accessible and productive ways. er of music to change the world. “Go ahead, write in this book. I dare you. David’s writing will change you, possibly My father was self-taught, but he ended up having a very refined and rich knowledge forever.” — Seth Godin of classical, chamber, and contemporary music. Typically he would come home and have “Let the Elephants Run is a wake-up call for sleeping synapses, and an ode to our nat- dinner, and then sit in his armchair and listen to music until almost midnight. I caught on ural curiosity and imagination. The reader is invited to dare, to reflect, and to play.” to this very early, and I would go and listen with him. — Gillian Ferrabee, Director of Cirque Du Soleil Creative Lab “No matter your opinion of Glass’ music, you will like Glass the man… Aspiring mu- “This book is an enthralling exploration of the creative process that will both fascinate sicians and artists will learn much from Glass, as will general readers, musical or not, and challenge you. David’s insightful take on how to both unleash and control one’s own who will discover an artistic life exceptionally well lived.” —Booklist creativity is particularly relevant in today’s world.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 8 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F S O U N D ‘N’ P O E M , S O M E T I M E S B R I L L I A N T F celestial bodies, to the power of the torus, labyrinths, and the Flower of Life, this col- between our human minds and the mind of Nature or the mind of God. To ignore or oring book will lead you on a contemplative Poems as Windows defy that division, wishing to be as gods,.. journey into the interconnected realms of POEMS THAT MAKE GROWN WOMEN CRY is characteristic of a kind of science that Sacred Geometry, Nature, and Spirit while is at once romantic and industrial, ever in supporting your sense of wholeness and joy. 100 Women on the Words that Move Them New in Paperback search of new worlds to conquer. From its edited by Anthony & Ben Holden work, I fear, we can expect only a continu- $25.00, paper. Scribner. 330 pages, flaps ing spillover of violence, to the world and The follow-up to Poems That Make Grown Men Cry, this collection to ourselves. THE SEVEN SECRETS features the poetry that has moved 100 grown women to tears—in- But a scientist who knows that the OF SOUND HEALING cluding personal, poignant introductions on why each selection boundary exists and accepts, even wel- Incluides Free Audio Download means so much. comes, its existence, who knows that the by Jonathan Goldman In Poems That Make Grown Men Cry, father-and-son team Antho- boundary has a human side and elects to $16.99, paper. Hay House. 164 pages ny and Ben Holden remind us that you don’t have to be an aca- stay on it, is a scientist of a kind opposed In this revised edition of The 7 Secrets of demic or a postgraduate in creative writing to be moved by verse. to the would-be masters of the universe. A Sound Healing , sound healing pioneer Jona- Now British writer (Anthony) and movie producer (Ben) reunite poet, too, can choose the human side of than Goldman, shows with Amnesty International to share Poems That Make Grown Women Cry. that boundary… how sound/resonance/ Late Fragment If we can talk of limits and of scale, we tone can be used to heal And did you get what can slack off our obsession with quantities and transform, breaking you wanted from this life, even so? and immensities and take up the study of down scientific princi- I did. form: of the forms of Nature’s work, of the ples and studies into And what did you want? forms by which our work might be adapt- accessible, understand- To call myself beloved, to feel myself ed to hers. We may then become capable able, and applicable wis- Beloved on the earth. of the hope, I caught years ago from our friend John Todd, for “Elegant solutions doms and techniques. —Raymond Carver Through practical predicated upon the uniqueness of place.” From Tina Brown to Judi Dench to Karen Joy Fowler to Erica Jong, Joyce Carol Oates information and ex- A new collection of Wendell Berry poems to Francine Prose, Sarah Waters and Germaine Greer to Carol Ann Duffy, this collec- ercises, you’ll see how is always an occasion of joyful celebration tion delivers private insight into the souls of women whose writing, acting, and thinking the amazing power of sound can function and this one is especially so. are admired around the world. Their selections include classics by visionaries, such as as personal vibrational therapy for the en- Lord Bryon, Emily Dickenson, and Walt Whitman, as well as contemporary works by hancement of your mind, body, and spirit. masters, including Sylvia Plath, Seamus Heaney, and Adrienne Rich. Each of the 100 Goldman provides a basic understanding of works features an introduction that is often as powerful as the poems themselves. SOMETIMES BRILLIANT the principles of using sound as a healing This collection represents a stunning variety of aesthetic sensibilities and the full The Impossible Adventure of a modality and how it may be used to restore spectrum of human emotion. It also reminds us how poetry can touch minds and balance. Through exploration of a variety Spiritual Seeker and Visionary hearts, and how easily it will do so for all readers who open their heart’s of ancient and modern techniques, you will Physician Who Helped Conquer even just a little. be equipped with a practical application of the Worst Disease in History knowledge that will assist you in leading a by Larry Brilliant more harmonious life. TEN WINDOWS $34.99, cloth. HarperCollins. The seven secrets he articulates are: How Great Poems Transform the World 416 pages, colour photos by Jane Hirshfield This is the long-awaited story of Dr. Larry Everything Is Vibration Brilliant—a rivetting, entertaining, and inspir- Intent Is Powerful $25.00, paper. Knopf. 308 pages, illus. ing memoir whose heart- We Are All Unique Vibratory Beings “Poetry,” Jane Hirshfield has said, “is language that foments rev- Silence is Golden olutions of being.” In ten eloquent and highly original explora- fully told tales illuminate Our Voice Is the Most Healing Instrument tions, she unfolds some of the ways this is done—by the inclusion some of the watershed There are Many Notes in a Scale of hiddenness, paradox, and surprise; by a perennial awareness of events of a generation and Sound Can Change the World the place of uncertainty in our lives; by language’s own acts of dis- many of the legendary Goldman’s guided and exercis- covery; by the powers of image, statement, music, and feeling to people who defined it. es in his free audio download are specifically enlarge in every direction. When a powerful mys- designed to enhance your relaxation and heal- Basho wanted to renovate human vision by putting what he saw into a bare handful of tic steps on the hand of ing, helping to bring the seven core secrets of mostly ordinary words, and he wanted to renovate language by what he asked it to see. a radical young doctor from Detroit, it sound healing into your heart and home. Closely reading poems by Dickinson, Basho, Szymborska, Cavafy, Heaney, Bishop, changes lives and the Among Goldman’s other books (he also and Komunyakaa, among many others, Hirshfieldreveals how poetry’s world-mak- world. Sometimes Brilliant has a number of CDs) are The Divine Name, ing takes place: word by charged word. By expanding what is imaginable and sayable, is the adventures of Larry Brilliant, a philos- Healing Sounds and Chakra Frequencies. Hirshfield proposes, poems expand what is possible. Ten Windows restores us at every opher, mystic, hippie, doctor, groundbreak- turn to a more precise, sensuous, and deepened experience of our shared humanity ing tech innovator, and key player in the and of the seemingly limitless ways that knowledge is both summoned and forged. Poetry, Writing eradication of one of the worst pandemics On a branch in human history. His story, of what hap- & Stories floating downriver, pens when love, compassion and determina- a cricket singing. tion meet the right circumstances to effect —Issa positive change, is the kind that keeps hope A SMALL PORCH “In 20 or 30 years, this book may be remembered as one of the great common-read- and the sense of possibility alive. Sabbath Poems 2014 and 2015 together ers on the pleasures of poetry… This thrilling work of immense value is truly an im- After sitting at the feet of Martin Luther with “The Presence of Nature in the portant book on one of the most important subjects: poetry. However, like a strong King at the University of Michigan in 1963, Natural World: A Long Conversation” drink (or a great poem) it probably isn’t to be taken in a single gulp. It may even seem Larry Brilliant was swept up into the civil rights by Wendell Berry a little intoxicating, but drink.”—Library Journal movement, marching and protesting across $24.50, paper. Counterpoint. 158 pages “With precision and passion, Hirshfield elucidates poetry’s “musical shapeliness,” America and Europe. As a radical young doc- More than 35 years ago, when the weath- “creative intention,” embrace of uncertainty, and how poetry engenders a profound tor he followed the hippie trail from London er allowed, Wendell Berry began spending “unlatching.” She draws stirring examples from Shakespeare, Hopkins, Whitman, Aud- over the Khyber Pass with his wife Girija, Wavy his sabbaths outdoors, en, Milosz and others, and illuminates the power of haiku in her affecting in-depth Gravy and the Hog Farm commune to India. walking and wandering profile of the Japanese poet Basho. Hirshfield writes brilliantly of paradox in poetry, of There, he found himself in a Himalayan ash- around familiar territory, what poets and stand-up comics have in common, and how poetry “counters isolation ram wondering whether he had stumbled seeking a deep intimacy and meaninglessness.” The profound pleasure Hirshfield takes in delineating poetry’s into a cult. Instead, one of India’s greatest only time could provide. efficacy makes for a beautifully enlightening volume. Booklist— spiritual teachers, Neem Karoli Baba, opened These walks arranged Larry’s heart and told him his destiny was themselves into poems to work for the World Health Organization and each year since the view from a small porch in the woods, submit ourselves to making to help eradicate killer smallpox. He would he has completed a se- a place of stillness and reflection, a vantage by it as we have made it, never have believed he would become a key quence dated by the year point “of the one/life of the forest com- its history and ours made player in eliminating a 10,000-year-old disease of its composition. posed/of uncountable lives in countless/ day by day the same. that killed more than half a billion people in Recently the lot was years each life coherent itself within/ the And… these beautiful poems come to- the 20th century alone. published in a collec- coherence, the great composure,/of all.” gether, in this volume, with “The Presence Brilliant’s unlikely trajectory, chronicled tion, This Day, the Sabbath Poems 1979-2013. Our very fields are flowing, of Nature in the Natural World: A Long Con- in Sometimes Brilliant, has brought him into This new sequence for the following 2 years earth burdening the waters. versation,” which is a new essay by Wendell close proximity with political leaders, spir- is one of the richest yet. This group provides To be made thus new, Berry. itual masters, cultural heroes, and titans of a virtual syllabus for all of Mr. Berry’s cul- the place must be made less. There is a boundary that may move technology around the world—from the tural and agricultural work in concentrated And we who walk upon it somewhat, but can never be removed, be- Grateful Dead to Mikhail Gorbachev, from form. Many of these poems are drawn from as it is being made tween what we know and what we don’t, , the Dalai Lama, Lama Govinda,

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Yoga & the Hindu You can do chair yoga! Writing as Healing Never done yoga before? You can do Traditions chair yoga! THE GREAT SPRING Don’t own a pair of stretchy pants? You Writing, Zen and This Zigzag Life New in YOGA FAQ can do chair yoga! Own plenty of athleisure or loungewear, by Natalie Goldberg Paperback Almost Everything You Need to Know but haven’t moved much in weeks/months/ $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 224 pages about Yoga—from Asanas to Yamas What does it take to have a long writing life? Drawing anecdotally years? You can do chair yoga! by Richard Rosen Chair yoga is exactly what it sounds like: on her years of writing, teaching, and practicing Zen, Natalie Gold- $23.95, paper. Shambhala. 246 pages berg, author of Writing Down the Bones, shares the experiences that Here are knowledgeable, concise and exercises you can do sitting down. In Chair have opened her to new ways of being alive—experiences that point readable answers to the most commonly Yoga, yoga instructor Kristin McGee takes you the way forward in our lives and our writing. asked questions about through 100 yoga poses and exercises that are The “great spring” of this book title refers to the great rush of yoga, and illuminating easy enough for all levels and will help read- energy that arrives when you think no life will ever come again— little-known facts and ers stay active, alert, and healthy. Divided into the early yellow flowering forsythia, for example. It also refers to enlightenment: ob- esoteric aspects of the chapters organized by body part (say goodbye structions shatter, pain cracks open, previously resisted truth releases, an acceptance of philosophy and prac- to back pain and hello to better posture), each transiency flows through.Natalie Goldberg shares the moments that have sprung from tice—by renowned yogi exercise includes step-by-step instructions and her own life of writing, teaching, and Zen practice—moments of searching, wandering, Richard Rosen. easy-to-follow photos. Plus, bonus chapters on zigzagging, losing, and leaping where she has found herself and her voice. In these pag- This collection of 5-, 10-, and 15-minute routines help readers es, we watch as Natalie “makes positive effort for the good” one of the guiding rules of questions and answers put it all together and find the time to perform her writing life—and we see that if we can stay attentive in our lives, even in the middle explains the nuts and these exercises. of the ruins, “we can hear the sound of a songbird in a Paris chestnut tree. Whether we bolts of yoga philoso- Now with Chair Yoga, anyone can benefit know if the song comes from inside us or out doesn’t matter.” phy and practice in a from just a few moves a day—and garner the re- You’ll be enthralled, from the first page to the last. Vivid, lucid storytelling! completely clear and readable way. Richard markable physical and mental health rewards. Thirteen of the 22 essays in the Great Spring have been previously published (often in Rosen is known for his engaging teaching “Kristin’s classes strike a perfect balance a different form). Those publications include Yoga Journal, Shambhala Sun, and Creative and writing style and in this book he gives of effort and letting go, seriousness and Nonfiction. pithy, accessible explanations of key aspects lightheartedness, movement and stillness.” “Natalie Goldberg is one of the world’s most beloved writing teachers, a mentor of the tradition, such as: —Ellie Krieger who has inspired millions to take up the pen and write. Here, in The Great Spring, a u Yoga’s main texts, including Upanishads, collection of her best short essays on food, family, writing, painting, meditation, travel, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutra, among others love, loss, death, and enlightenment, she follows her own sage counsel, writing her way u Yamas and niyamas ESSENTIAL KUNDALINI YOGA toward an understanding of what it is to be fully alive.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale u The subtle body--what it means and what An Invitation to Radiant Health, for the Time Being it looks like in practice Unconditional Love, and the Awakening u The evolution of asanas of Your Energetic Potential THE STORY YOU NEED TO TELL u Pranayama by Karena Virginia u Writing to Heal from Trauma, Illness or Loss Mudras and bandhas & Dharm Khalsa by Sandra Marinella And much more. $34.95, paper. Sounds True. $23.00, paper. New World Library. 290 pp Rosen also writes about the origins of 330 pages, 8x11, b/w photos Informed by the author’s years of teaching writing and re- yoga and questions whether it’s a religion, a For new and experienced students both, searching its healing properties, The Story You Need to Tell is practice, or a science; explains the symbol- here is illustrated, practical guidance. Kun- a practical and inspiring guide to transformational personal ism of frequently recurring numbers in the dalini is a uni- storytelling through writing. Riveting true stories illustrate yoga tradition; gives the proper pronuncia- versal life force Marinella’s methods for understanding, telling, and editing tion of commonly mispronounced Sanskrit within each of our own stories in ways that foster resilience and renewal. words; and looks at some of the more eso- us that, once Marinella also shares her own experience of using journal teric aspects of the tradition. This mix of es- awakened, and expressive writing to navigate challenges including breast sential concepts and intriguing little-known holds the power cancer and post-partum depression. Each of the techniques, facts will delight those who are new to the to transform prompts, and exercises she presents work to “unravel the practice as well as experienced practitioners. every facet of knot inside and to make sense of loss.” Based on a profound “Richard Rosen has crafted a delightful our lives. Kun- understanding of how “in our sadness and pain we can be remade,” this is the kind book that equally showcases both his aca- dalini yoga is of storytelling—and the kind of book—that can change and perhaps even save a life. demic knowledge about yoga and his gentle the art and In 2012 when she faced breast cancer, Sandra turned her focus from teaching to sense of humor. Yoga FAQ is a clear resource practice of acti- writing as a way of healing. She began volunteering with veterans and cancer patients. that helps us to formulate and understand vating this radi- As she watched writing help them to transform their lives, she discovered her new pas- our big questions about yoga and spiritual ant energy. With sion—sharing the power of their stories and the methods they used to heal their lives. practice. I felt as if I was tucking into the Essential Kunda- After writing The Story You Need to Tell, Sandra founded the Story You Need to Tell personal story of Mr. Rosen’s own journey lini Yoga, Karena Virginia and Dharm Khalsa Project at www.storyyoutell.com. Here individuals who want to write or tell their stories studying yoga—and the trip was intriguing present the core principles and practices of can discover life-changing stories and learn the healing power of reworking and edit- and fun. Highly recommended for all levels this revered tradition in an inviting and ac- ing their personal life stories. of students and especially for yoga teach- cessible guide. ers.” —Judith Lasater, author of Yoga Body Untold stories don’t go away; they morph into volatile emotions, into flashbacks and Kundalini yoga opens joyous space for anxiety, into behaviors we don’t understand in ourselves, things we wish we didn’t do… connecting deeply with the energy states Untold stories cause ruptures in relationships, ill health, and spiritual or religious crisis… of our being. It brings vital health to the So maybe you’re not a writer. CHAIR YOGA body and opens our consciousness to new potentials of awareness. You don’t have to ever show anyone this writing, and it will still work on your heart and Sit, Stretch, and Strengthen Your Way mind to reorganize your life… to a Happier, Healthier You Created for the modern practitioner, this So maybe it’s scary to think of putting your life-breaking moments into words. book offers clear, comprehensive instruc- This book provides you with a safety net. by Kristin McGee So maybe with a little help you’re ready to live a more resilient story. $23.99, paper. HarperCollins. tion in the key insights and practices of kun- dalini yoga. From philosophy and lifestyle, You can dance on one leg. 272 pges, 7x9, b/w photos From celebrity yoga instructor Kristin to working with anatomy and physical asana, You can get through a crisis. McGee comes this fun, accessible guide to to activating our energy bodies, Essential You can survive grief. 100 yoga poses and Kundalini Yoga is a uniquely practical and in- That is the promise this book makes to you. Now make yourself a promise–to tell the exercises that can be depth manual. Highlights include: story you have to tell! done in your chair u Gorgeous photos illuminating step-by- —from the foreword by Christina Baldwin, author of Storycatcher and take just minutes step instructions. a day. For the majority u Detailed instructions, explanations, of us living a seden- and illustrations for core kundalini and Karmapa to Steve Jobs and the founders testament to faith, love, service, and what it tary lifestyle (from the practices—mantra, pranayama, bhanda, of Google, Salesforce, Facebook, Microsoft means to engage with life’s most important card-carrying couch asana, kriya, meditation, and more. and eBay and Presidents Carter, Clinton, questions in pursuit of a better, more bril- potatoes to the re- u Seven traditional kundalini yoga routines, Bush and Obama. Anchored by the engross- liant existence. puted 86% of North including a pituitary gland series for in- ing account of the heroic efforts of the “Truly magnificent.Sometimes Brilliant mixes American workers tuition, yoga for the immune system, and extraordinary people involved in smallpox a gripping story, a primer on compassionate who sit all day at their detoxing for radiance. eradication in India, this is a riveting and service, and a guide to purpose-driven social job) comes a comprehensive guide to the u Understand the science of the practice, fascinating epidemiological adventure, an action into a can’t-stop-reading narrative, one most accessible form of yoga: Chair yoga! including its effects on the glandular sys- honest reckoning of an entire generation, we need more than ever.” —Daniel Goleman, Desk-bound? You can do chair yoga! tem, spine, nervous system, and skeleton. and a deeply moving spiritual memoir. It is a author of Emotional Intelligence Have limited range of motion? u Meditations, mantras, and yoga poses to

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activate each of the chakras and bring also because its approach to awakening is so Or fall back on any kind of view… health to your energetic body. Buddhism simple and free of adherence to any kind of Free of craving before their death, u Remedies for common emotional chal- ideology. Instead the Atthakavagga points to Independent of past and future, lenges—dealing with fear, shame, and de- THE BUDDHA BEFORE BUDDHISM a direct and simple approach for attaining Not making up anything in the present, pression, among others. Wisdom from the Early Teachings peace without requiring the adherence to They revere nothing… u Kundalini secrets for getting better sleep, by Gil Fronsdal doctrine. The value of the teachings it con- Not clinging to the future, aging gracefully, enhancing fertility, culti- $24.95, paper. Shambhala. 180 pages tains is not in the profundity of their phi- Nor grieving the past, vating vitality, and more. In the tradition of the best-selling Dham- losophy or in their authority as scripture; They see seclusion in the midst of sense Rooted in tradition and infused with a mapada: a translation with commentary of rather, the value is found in the results they contacts sense of infinite possibility, Essential Kun- one of the earliest of the bring to those who live by them. Instead of And are not guided by views. dalini Yoga is a joyful invitation to awaken surviving Buddhist texts, doctrines to be believed, the Book of Eights the vital energy within and receive the gifts which reveals the teach- describes means or practices for realizing “Gil Fronsdal’s fine translation allows us that emerge from connecting more deeply ings to be remarkably sim- peace. to hear how the Dharma may originally have with your own potential for creativity, abun- ple and free of religious Gil Fronsdal’s rigorous translation with been uttered as poetry in the solitude of for- dance, and joy. trappings. commentary reveals the text to be of in- ests.” —Stephen Batchelor, author of After “This book gives practitioners of all lev- One of the earliest of all terest not only to Buddhists, but also to Buddhism els the skills and confidence they need for Buddhist texts, the Atthaka- the ever-growing demographic of spiritu- a powerful, nurturing kundalini yoga prac- vagga, or “Book of Eights,” al-but-not-religious, who seek a spiritual life tice.” —Seane Corn, teacher of the Yoga of is a remarkable document, outside the structures of religion. Awakening DVD Series. not only because it comes NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT from the earliest strain of the literature— The person free of grasping Finding Freedom, Love, and Joy before the Buddha, as the title suggests, Doesn’t depend on knowledge Right Where You Are came to be thought of as a “Buddhist”—but Or take sides when factions disagree, by THE ART OF VINYASA $34.00, cloth. Simon & Schuster. 320 pp. Awakening Body and Mind In his first major book in several years, through the Practice of Ashtanga Yoga mindfulness meditation teacher Jack Korn- by Richard Freeman & Mary Taylor Stephen Batchelor field (author of A $33.00, paper. Shambhala. Path with Heart, 325 pages, 8x11, b/w photos AFTER BUDDHISM Bringing Home the The Art of Vinyasa takes a unique look at Rethinking the Dharma New in Dharma, etc.) invites Ashtanga yoga as meditation in motion that for a Secular Age Paperback us into a new aware- produces profound by Stephen Batchelor ness. Through his inner change. Two $23.95, paper. Yale. 400 pages wise, warmhearted, Some twenty-five centuries after the Buddha started teach- of the most well-re- poignant, often fun- ing, his message continues to inspire people across the globe, spected teachers of ny stories, with their including those living in predominantly secular societies. What the Ashtanga style of Aha moments and does it mean to adapt religious practices to secular contexts? yoga, Richard Free- O. Henry-like out- Stephen Batchelor, an internationally known author and man and Mary Tay- comes, Jack shows teacher, is committed to a secularized version of the Buddha’s lor, explore this rig- how we get stuck teachings. The time has come, he feels, to articulate a coherent orous practice not and how we can free ethical, contemplative, and philosophical vision of Buddhism as a gymnastic feat, ourselves, wherev- for our age. After Buddhism, the culmination of four decades of but as a meditative er we are and whatever our circumstances. study and practice in the Tibetan, Zen, and Theravada tradi- form. They reveal Renowned for his mindfulness practices tions, is his attempt to set the record straight about who the Buddha was and what he that doing the prac- and meditations (he is a teacher of teach- was trying to teach. tice—and particu- ers), Jack provides these keys for opening Combining critical readings of the earliest canonical texts with narrative accounts of larly the vinyasa, or the breath-synchonized gateways to immediate shifts in perspective five members of the Buddha’s inner circle, Batchelor depicts the Buddha as a pragmat- movements—in such a deep and focused way and clarity of vision, allowing us to see how ic ethicist rather than a dogmatic metaphysician. He envisions Buddhism as a constant- allows practitioners to experience a profound to change course, take action, or—when we ly evolving culture of awakening whose long survival is due to its capacity to reinvent awakening of the body and mind. It also de- shouldn’t act—just relax and trust. itself and interact creatively with each society it encounters. velops an adaptable, flexible practice that can Each chapter presents a path to a differ- This original and provocative book presents a new framework for understanding the last a lifetime. ent kind of freedom—freedom from fear, remarkable spread of Buddhism in today’s globalized world. It also reminds us of what Freeman and Taylor give an in-depth ex- freedom to start over, to love, to be yourself, was so startling about the Buddha’s vision of human flourishing. planation of form, alignment, and anatomy, and to be happy—and guides you into an ac- “In this remarkable book, Stephen Batchelor transcends Buddhist dogma to surface and how they work together in the practice. tive process that engages your mind, heart, a vision of the dharma that goes right to the heart of our contemporary global culture. They also present a holistic approach to and spirit, awakens your spirit, and brings Through diligent scholarship and years of practice, the author sheds new and reve- asana practice that includes an awareness real joy, over and over again. Drawing from latory light on the dharma. This is a must-read for all students of Buddhism.” —Joan of the subtle breath, and seamlessly merges his own life as a son, brother, father, and Halifix, Abbot, Upaya Zen Zenter yoga philosophy with practical technique. partner, and on his forty years of face-to- “Brilliant, illuminating, and thought provoking, After Buddhism deserves the ultimate Unlike other books on Ashtanga, The Art face teaching of thousands of people, Jack compliment for a work of this kind: it is useful. In probing the ancient scriptures for a of Vinyasa does not follow the linear pattern presents a stirring call to be here, in the Buddha we can relate to, Batchelor makes his dharma come thrillingly alive.” —Mark of the sequences of postures that are the power of the now, the present, as we work Epstein, author of Thoughts without a Thinker hallmark of Ashtanga yoga. Instead, it in- through life’s passages. His keys to life will Other books by Stephen Batchelor include Buddhism without Beliefs and Confession of terlinks the eight limbs—yama and niyama help us find hope, clarity, relief from past a Buddhist Atheist. (ethical practices); asana (postures); pran- disappointments and guilt, and the courage ayama (breathing); pratyahara (nongrasping to go forward. of the senses); dharana (concentration); SECULAR BUDDHISM “Like a brilliant star to guide us in these dhyana (meditation); and samadhi (harmo- Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World days of darkness Jack Kornfield’s new book ny, insight)—and shows how to establish an by Stephen Batchelor appears just at the right moment. It reminds internally rooted yoga practice. $36.95, cloth. Yale. 288 pages us that there is No Time Like the Present—no We explore the idea of vinyasa and yoga As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream West- matter how dark—to rescue threatened val- as relationship: sometimes joining, some- ern culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional ues—freedom, love, joy—within us and in times separating; interpenetrating, com- form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people the world around us. Like Rabbi Hillel, Jack municating, or merging together. Through have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and challenges us: ‘If not now, when?’”— Broth- practice, this sense of interconnectedness the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, er David Steindl-Rast, co-founder, Grateful- gradually becomes familiar within every schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the ness.org field of experience… Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular Though the struggle to balance rotations “With its incomparable blend of deep rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the wisdom, evocative stories, and powerful in our hip joints so we may sit effortlessly tradition? Is there an ethical framework that can underpin and in Lotus Pose may seem important at times, meditations, No Time Like the Present is the contextualize these practices in a rapidly changing world? fruit of a lifetime of spiritual teaching. Jack it is clear that most important is relation- In this collected volume of Stephen Batchelor’s writings on these themes, he ex- ship with others because that’s where Kornfield’s message is, we don’t have to the emotions—our ability to use and see plores the complex implications of Buddhism’s secularization. Ranging widely—from wait. Love, peace, freedom… it’s all avail- through self-image and those things we val- , religious belief, and agnosticism to the role of the arts in Buddhist prac- able right here, in this very heart.” ue and that give life meaning—come into tice—he offers a detailed picture of contemporary Buddhism and its attempt to find a —Tara Brach, author of True Refuge play. Half the world is given to us, but the voice in the modern world. “A consommé of goodness, heart, laugh- other half is created by how we frame it. Stephen Batchelor is a teacher and scholar of Buddhism. He trained as a monk for ter, tears, and breath, nourishing and deli- The book is fully illustrated with fifty half- ten years in traditional Buddhist communities and now presents a secular approach to cious. Rich in hope and deep wisdom for tones by esteemed photographer and cine- Buddhist practice. The author of the bestselling Buddhism without Beliefs, he lives near these revved up, rattling times.” — Anne matographer Robert Muratore. Bordeaux, France. Lamott author of Grace (Eventually)

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 11 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F C U R R E N T B U D D H I S T T E A C H E R S F Kindness & the Divine Abodes Thich Nhat Hahn’s Awake LOVING-KINDNESS IN PLAIN ENGLISH THE ART OF LIVING The Practice of Metta by Thich Nhat Hanh by Ghante Gunaratana $31.99, cloth. HarperCollins. 224 pages $22.95, paper. Wisdom. 142 pages One of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today The bestselling author of Mindfulness in Plain English invites us teaches how to find nirvana—how to live most deeply and peace- to explore the joyful benefits of living with loving-kindness. With fully every day. his signature clarity and warmth, Bhante Gunaratana shares with Many people believe nirvana is a state of nonbeing that can us how we can cultivate loving-kindness to live a life of joyful har- only be reached through death or “extinction of self.” In The Art mony with others. (We might suggest that this practice is the es- of Living, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh dispels this dangerous sence of what the world needs right now.) misconception, and teaches us how to enjoy enlightenment in To clear greed, hatred and delusion from the field of our conscious- this life without losing ourselves. ness and allow our basic nature to arise, we need only allow good We need our bodies to touch nirvana—to experience it with our feet, our eyes, our wishes to flow. The Buddha offered us some tools with which to do that… hands. That is the reality of no birth and no death, no afflictions, no burning, the extinc- The Buddha taught us to start the practice by sending loving-friendliness to ourselves. tion of the flames. The Buddha himself has said, “My teaching is not about nonbeing. My Then do the same for those closest to us, and work outward from our own circle of friends teaching is to overcome the notion of being and nonbeing.” until we can project a flow of metta to those we don’t like at all, and finally to all beings. You can practice anytime. I recommend doing this meditation right after waking up and In The Art of Living, Thich Nhat Hanh explores two essential questions: What happens again at bedtime. Practicing metta helps you live on an even keel, sleep well, and wake when we are still alive? What happens when we die? As he ultimately shows, if you can an- up energized. As loving-friendliness develops, your thoughts, words, and deeds become swer the first question, the answer to the second comes easily. Based on the last full talks more meaningful, truthful, pleasant, and beneficial to yourself and others. he gave before his sudden stroke and hospitalization, this thought-provoking book is filled Through personal anecdotes, step-by-step meditations, conversational renderings of with simple meditations and practices that focus on recognizing our interconnectedness the Buddha’s words in the suttas, and transformative insights into how we live in and with those around us, as well as with nonliving beings and the entire cosmos. relate to the world, we learn that peace here and now is possible—within ourselves and Arranged in short sections around a few common themes, these teachings offer oppor- in all our relationships. Bhante G speaks directly to how we can cultivate loving-kind- tunities and inspiration for being fully alive in the present moment—consciousness that ness to find emotional clarity, overcome anger, and become more peaceful—both on allows us to face aging, dying, and the unknown with curiosity and joy and without fear. and off the meditation cushion. With powerful mindfulness, concentration, and insight, we can live deeply every mo- “Clear and thoughtful. Ghante Gunaratana delights the reader who is interested in ment of our daily lives and touch our enlightened nature. When we become aware of our better understanding the traditional texts, and also offers beautiful stories from his cosmic body, of our God body, of our nirvana body, then we are no longer afraid of birth own life that illustrate the power and benefits of metta practice. There’s something and death, being and nonbeing. That is nirvana, the pinnacle of the Buddha’s teaching here for everyone.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and practice. BOUNDLESS HEART THE OTHER SHORE The Buddha’s Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity A New Translation of the Heart Sutra with Commentaries by Christina Feldman by Thich Nhat Hanh $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 146 pages $17.95, paper. Parallax. 160 pages Presented by a prominent Insight Meditation teacher, this course in the In 2014 Thich Nhat Hanh completed a profound and beautiful Buddhist practice of the brahma viharas, or “heavenly abodes,” offers de- new English translation of the Prajñaparamita Heart Sutra, one of tailed instructions from the Buddhist tradition in cultivating mindfulness. the most important and well-known sutras in Buddhism. The Heart These four sublime qualities can be cultivated through practice Sutra is Buddhism in a nutshell, containing only 632 characters in and lead to a life lived with wisdom and love. Also known as the the traditional Chinese translation. It is recited daily in Mahayana “four immeasurables,” they aremetta, karuna, mudita, and uppekha, temples and practice centers throughout the world. This new trans- or kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. lation came about because Thich Nhat Hanh believes that whoever The brahma viharas show us a way to live in this world that is guided by the ennobling originally compiled the Heart Sutra was not sufficiently skillful with his use of language qualities of the heart that heal and liberate wherever they touch. The Buddha said he to capture the intention of the Buddha’s teachings—and has resulted in fundamental taught out of compassion for the suffering of the world. In cultivating the brahma viharas, misunderstandings of the central tenets of Buddhism for almost 2,000 years. we widen the circle of our concern and care, understanding we can be intentional partic- In The Other Shore: A New Translation of the Heart Sutra with Commentaries, Thich Nhat ipants in the healing and awakening of our world. Hanh provides the new translation with commentaries based on his interpretation. Many people are familiar with metta, or lovingkindness, meditation, which has be- Revealing the Buddha’s original intention and insight makes clear what it means to come very popular in the last couple decades. But, according to Christina Feldman, transcend duality and pairs of opposites, such as birth and death, and to touch the to focus on that quality-—delightful as it is—is to leave the practice somewhat unbal- ultimate reality and the wisdom of nondiscrimination. Thay offers subtle and profound anced. The four qualities in fact help and balance each other in a way that enhances teachings on non-duality and the letting go of all preconceived notions so that one re- them all. Christina presents teachings on the brahma viharas along with simple practic- mains open to all the wonders of life. The commentary is one of the most simple, clear, es that can lead to a life infused with kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and to concise, and understandable treatments of this very important Buddhist sutra. a way of being that promotes those qualities in the world at large. All phenomena are products of interdependent co-arising; this is the main point of the In this fragile life, so easily broken and riven by affliction, we come to see that it is prajaparamita teaching. only kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity that make sense. As the Buddha put it, Thich Nhat Hanh’s translation and commentary are the fruit of his more than sixty “Whether standing, sitting, walking or lying down we abide in kindness, compassion, years of monastic study and practice. He describes the sutra as “a precious gift to us, the joy, and equanimity. There is no more noble way to live in this world.” This is the essence gift of fearlessness.” An earlier translation was published as The Heart of Understanding. of a liberated heart, rooted in unshakeable kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are… “To be” is to inter-be. You cannot just be by yourself alone. You have to inter-be with Recorded at a live two-day event, this train- every other thing. This sheet of paper is, because everything else is... Without “non-paper NOURISHING INTIMACY ing brings you Tara’s special blend of storytell- elements,” like mind, logger, sunshine and so on, there will be no paper. As thin as this Cultivating Trust, ing, tender guidance, and potent meditations sheet of paper is, it contains everything in the universe in it. Understanding, for applying mindfulness and loving-kindness “Exquisite teaching... as sweet and simple and powerful as it gets. Strongly recom- and Love in All Our New on to our relationships, including: mended to one and all.” —Inquiring Mind Relationships CD u Dissolving the illusion of separation by Tara Brach that keeps us isolated $67.00, 5 CDs. Sounds True. 5.5 hours u Awakening from the belief that we are Why is it often so hard to truly connect GRASSROOTS ZEN weight of Japanese Zen, unworthy of love then with the light-foot- with others, even those we care most about? Community and Practice u How we can manage reactivity during ed lay master Robert Ait- “Our capacity to in the Twenty-First Century engage fully in re- crisis and address the true needs un- ken. As Westerners, they derneath our surface conflicts by Perle Besserman & Manfred Steger found the freedom from lationship starts $21.99, paper. Monkfish. 189 pages with becoming u Practicing forgiveness, healing from past Grassroots Zen offers a study of how one tradition liberating. more awake and relationship trauma, breaking stuck pat- Zen group returned to an ancient Chinese In this book, we’ll be aware within our- terns in conflict, and much more. tradition of community meditation practice exploring the issues con- selves,” says Tara When we are grounded in compassionate without a leader or hierarchy. It outlines an fronting today’s Grass- Brach. With Nour- awareness, we can stay heart-to-heart with authentic, ‘grassroots’ approach, urging roots Zen practitioners. ishing Intimacy, this another, even when we don’t see eye-to-eye. Taking a “hands-on” ap- people from all walks of life to come togeth- proach, we’ll show how renowned mindfulness and heartfulness Here she offers a gentle and practical er in meditation and the study of dharma. meditation teacher offers a treasury of tools the social, professional, and psychological guide for building healthy, openhearted re- Married university professors Manfred Ste- concerns of ordinary people can provide and insights for cultivating self-compassion, lationships with Nourishing Intimacy. ger and Perle Besserman (aka Perle Epstein) opportunities for spiritual awakening. overcoming inner obstacles, and fostering Among Tara Brach’s books are True Ref- (The Shambhala Guide to and Jewish Using the metaphor of a “grassy field” for authentic communication. uge and Radical Acceptance. Mysticism) studied first under the cultural today’s Western “egalitarian community of

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socially mobile members who place less joyful, and harmonious. Read this book! emphasis on transmission and hierarchy It will masterfully help you on a journey than on individual responsibility, we will Reggie Ray in the Body focus on the interplay between the “field” to greater love and acceptance.” —Lodro (the Zen community), the single “grass Rinzler, author of Love Hurts THE AWAKENING BODY root” (the individual practitioner), and the “Excellent medicine for today’s ills.” — Somatic Meditation for Discovering Our Deepest Life dimensions of “time, space, motion, and Pat Enkyo O’Hara, author of Most Intimate by Reginald Ray aspiration” (the world)… Also by Diane Musho Hamilton is Every- $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 181 pages thing is Workable. What would it be like to experience our life directly, truly and com- The present moment is the root of it pletely, and to live it as it actually is? Before we die, wouldn’t it be all. Sad or happy, moving or at rest, the worth knowing this human existence of ours in its fullest possible moment provides endless opportunities measure and extent? for cultivating awareness. Each root in our Tibetan Buddhism grassy field, each moment, is filled with all For many of us, life consists almost entirely of what we know con- the nutrients we need. Going to the root, ceptually through the mediation of the linear, conceptualizing men- becoming one with the moment, we dis- tality of our left brain. The mainstream Western world view privileges cover that life is perfect as it is. We are, at GOOD thinking over direct experience; and this fuels the increasingly disembodied, discon- last, at home in the world. How to Create the Causes of Happiness nected lives of so many of us today. “Future generations may come to see the and Avoid the Causes of Suffering Reggie Ray, a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition, offers six fun- publication of Grassroots Zen as a pivotal in by Thubten Chodron damental body-based meditation practices that connect us back to the literal reality the emergence of a uniquely American $22.99, paper. Shambhala. 256 pages of our body and our most elemental experience of being human. The true richness Training the mind in the habit of hap- Zen.” —Rami Shapiro, Minyan: Ten Princi- of our life is in the raw and rugged reality of a fully present and embodied human piness—here is enlightening commentary ples for Living a Life of Integrity life. The “Six Core Somatic Processes” are: Ten Points, Earth Descent, Yin Breathing, on a classic Tibetan Bud- “Steger and Besserman offer something Coming into the Central Channel, Whole Body Breathing and Rooting, and Twelve- dhist teaching poem by a quite different, and quite welcome... a Zen fold Lower-Belly Breathing. popular modern teach- that comes to terms with, and ultimately The practices can be done seated or lying down. Reggie includes modified practices ing nun. transcends, the hierarchical, sexist, other- that can be done when falling asleep at night, or in the midst of insomnia. These prac- Lojong, or “mind-train- worldly, and pseudo-militaristic overtones of tices allow us to bypass the mental fabrications that keep us from experiencing our world ing” is a practice that the Zen tradition.” —Library Journal and lead us directly to the richness of living a fully present, embodied human life. has gained astonish- The somatic teachings of this lineage hold that true enlightenment is only attainable ing popularly in recent by not separating ourselves and withdrawing from our life, our body, our emotions and years—because it works relationships, from the totality of this rugged, gritty human incarnation of ours. Quite THE ZEN OF YOU & ME in transforming hearts to the contrary, for this lineage, the only way to reach complete realization is in and A Guide to Getting Along and minds. Here is a pre- through our completely embodied human existence. with Just About Anyone sentation of lojong teach- The book includes links to free online audio recordings of the guided meditations by Diane Musho Hamilton ings that predates the “slogan” practice at shambhala.com/theawakeningbody. $17.50, paper. Shambhala. 194 pages with which people have become so familiar “The Awakening Body is a vital resource for practitioners of all movement disciplines Here’s a mini-course in how to deal with in- through the books of Pema Chödrön and to plumb the depth of their somatic interior. I think this book will be a tremendous terpersonal conflict—from a Zen perspective. others, and that is every bit as powerful for resource for those wanting to yoke to their innermost breath and pulse in order to With her book, her imbuing the mind with intelligence and the become clear sentient beings, wide awake in the world.” —Tias Little, author of Yoga hugely popular on- heart with compassion. of the Subtle Body line courses, and her It is Thubten Chodron’s commentary workshops at venues on a Tibetan poem with the imposing title SOMATIC DESCENT throughout the US “Wheel of Sharp Weapons.” It is, as the ti- Experiencing the Ultimate New on and the world, Diane tle of this book indicates, an explanation of Intelligence of the Body CD Musho Hamilton is how karma works in our lives. But in explain- by Reginald Ray one of the most high- ing how to create good karma and avoid the $175.00, 13 CDs. Sounds True. 13 hours. ly visible of experts negative effects of bad karma, it shows us Most of us sense that our bodies contain uncommon in- on conflictmanage - how to live our lives with kindness and hon- telligence—we “feel it in our bones” or notice it in our “gut ment—with good esty—which makes things better not only instincts.” But is there something far vaster here waiting to reason: her methods, for ourselves, but also for everyone else in be experienced? With Somatic Descent, you are invited to tune which combine Zen the world. It shows, clearly and practically, into the natural wisdom of your body, refine and amplify it, wisdom with princi- how to eliminate the causes of anxiety, fear, and explore it deeply. ples from Ken Wil- and depression and to create the causes of In this program, pioneering teacher Reggie Ray presents a fascinating audio pro- ber’s Integral Theory and her own extensive joyful liberation for oneself and all others. gram on this rich dimension of Tibetan Buddhism: how to go beyond the veil of the experience in conflict esolution,r really work. Constructive and destructive actions thinking mind to tap the wondrous yet wholly trustworthy domain of your body. This book encourages us to open a con- are principally differentiated based on the For those who’ve worked with basic breath and body-based meditations, this course versation about difference. It is based on motivation with which they were done… will be a revelation: step-by-step guidance into some of the most transformative and the assumption that the harmony that in- The results of our actions are determined powerful experiences charted by Buddhism’s vast maps of consciousness. cludes our differences is deeper and more principally by our motivation, not by what Drawing on decades of teaching and scholarship, Reggie Ray shares a 13-CD curricu- durable than the one that doesn’t. The others think or say about us. Being a spiri- lum of practices and insights to access the deepest knowing enfolded in the Soma, the book is written for those in relationships tual practitioner requires complete sincerity of all kinds: lovers and friends, married and self-honesty. landscape of your physical body and the source of immediate and greatest fulfillment. With him, you will learn: how your body is a field of infinite wisdom, the origins of couples, coworkers and their managers, “Thubten Chodron’s commentary on leaders and team members, teachers and somatic descent practices and how they transform us on both the neurological and students, parents and young people—any- Dharmarakshita’s Wheel of Sharp Weapons is non-physical levels, many meditations for connecting with and embracing the Soma, one who is in a relationship, one that is a crash course on transforming pain and suf- and how to integrate these profound changes into your daily life. “good as far as it goes,” with the wish that fering into power tools for liberation.” Highlights include: by including our differences, we may deep- —Chade-Meng Tan, u Your body as the field of infinite knowing en to a place of genuine unity. author of Search Inside Yourself. u How to explore the wisdom of the Soma In this book, she turns her attention to u Yin Breathing, Connecting with the Earth, and many other guided practices one of the main places conflict manifests: in u Requesting and receiving wisdom from your body intimate relationships. She provides a very COMING HOME TO TIBET u Supplicating the soma practical guide to navigating conflict in love A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Belonging u Extending your practice to daily life. and to coming to satisfying outcomes where by Ttsering Wangmo Dhompa Among Reggie Ray’s books are Touching Enlightenment and The Awakening Body. both partners feel heard and have their $24.95, paper. Shambhala. 290 pages needs honored. The book can be thought In this compelling, poetic memoir of of as a kind of relationship “first aid kit,” but love, loss, and longing, a daughter’s pil- integrity despite Chinese occupation. tive tribute to her mother, and a homeland also as something all couples should read in grimage to her mother’s After her mother dies in a car accident that she knew little about. order to foster a harmonious and respectful native Tibet becomes a in India, Tsering Wangmo Dhompa decides Dhompa’s story is interlaced with poetic loving relationship. journey of homecom- to take a handful of her ashes back to her prose describing the land, people, and spirit Differences have to be worked with, ing and self-discovery. homeland in Tibet. Her mother left Ti- of the country as experienced by a refugee acknowledged, soothed, integrated… So In this beautifully writ- bet in her youth as a refugee and lived in seeing her country for the first time. It’s the trick is to discover the sameness that ten memoir, a daughter exile the rest of her life, always yearning to an intriguing memoir and also an unusual pervades and includes our differences and travels to her mother’s return home. When the author arrives at the inside view of life in contemporary Tibet, unity in the details of our everyday life. Tibetan homeland and foothills of her mother’s ancestral home in among ordinary people trying to negotiate “We are constantly in relationship with finds both her own deep a nomadic village in East Tibet, she realizes the changes enforced on it by Chinese rule others, and here Diane Hamilton has of- connections to her heri- that she had been preparing for this home- and modern society. fered us a playbook to insure that every one tage and a people trying coming her whole life. “This is one of my favorite books.” of those relationships become more fluid, to maintain its cultural Coming Home to Tibet is Dhompa’s evoca- —Norman Fischer, author of What is Zen?

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a source of consolation to others.” —David Shambhala Gems Richo, author of How to Be an Adult in Rela- A GUIDED TOUR OF HELL Comforted by the compassion of a winged goddess tionships A Graphic Memoir and sustained by the kindness of his Buddhist teachers, by Samuel Bercholz, Sam eventually emerges from his ordeal with renewed illustrated by Pema Namdol Thaye faith that even the worst hell contains the seed of wake- EMOTIONAL RESCUE $33.95, cloth. Shambhala. fulness. His story is offered, along with the modernist How to Work with Your Emotions 150 pages, 8x11, colour illustrations illustrations of a master of Tibetan sacred arts, in order to Transform Hurt and Confusion Here’s a very different kind of near-death experience to share what can be learned about awakening from our into Energy That Empowers You than we usually hear of. Take a trip through the realms of own self-created hells and helping others to find relief by Dzogchen Ponlop hell with a man whose temporary visitor’s pass gave him and liberation from theirs. $20.00, paper. Penguin. 252 pages a horrifying—and enlightening—preview of its torments. Sam’s tale (with Thaye’s viscerally brooding paint- Emotions bring colour and meaning to This true account of Sam Bercholz’s near-death experi- ings) is a harrowing and vivid account, framed with co- our lives, but they can also put us on an ence has more in common with Dante’s Inferno than it does with any gent explications of “The Wheel of Life—and Beyond:” Buddhist exhausting rollercoast- of the popular feel-good stories of what happens when we die. teachings on Samsara, Karma, Wrong Views and Extremism, and er ride that takes us to In the aftermath of heart surgery, Sam, a longtime Buddhist the Six Realms (Realm of the Gods, Realm of the Jealous Gods, blissful peak states, the practitioner and teacher, is surprised to find himself in the lowest Human Realm, Animal Realm, Realm of the Hungry Ghosts, and depths of delusion and realms of karmic rebirth, where he is sent, it turns out, to gain Hell Realm). despair, and everything insight into human suffering. Under the guidance of a luminous “Graphically illustrates the naked consequences of the destruc- in between. It is only by being, Sam’s encounters with a series of hell-beings trapped in tive side of our attitudes and actions.” —Tulku Thondup, author learning to relate to our repetitious rounds of misery and delusion reveal to him how an of The Healing Power of Mind emotions skillfully that individual’s own habits of fiery hatred and icy disdain, of grasping “This book is an astonishingly generous offering: a tour of hell, we benefit from their desire and nihilistic ennui, are the source of horrific agonies that guided with love… a love that destroys illusion to leave the reader richness and glean wis- pound consciousness for seemingly endless cycles of time. in a state of discomfiting wakefulness.” —Susan Piver, Start Here Now dom, rather than letting them control us. Emo- THE COMPASSION BOOK Buddhism’s most renowned practices, gets at the heart of tions get their power from a simple but teachings for awakening the heart compassion as only Pema Chodron can. Featuring the 59 deep-seated source: our lack of self-knowl- by Pema Chodron pithy lojong slogans and Pema’s commentary for everyday edge. When we bring awareness to our expe- $19.95, paper. Shambhala. practice on each facing page, The Compassion Book will rience of emotions, something truly amaz- 125 pages, 4x6, French flaps serve as a go-to handbook for anyone seeking to instill ing happens—they lose their power to make This newly designed reissue of Pema Chodron’s Al- more love and joy in their lives. In addition, the book will us miserable. ways Maintain a Joyful Mind features everyday inspiration offer readers access to a 45-minute audio download on In this book, Rinpoche leads us through drawn from the classic Buddhist practice of lojong and the related meditation practice of tonglen (“sending and the three steps of his Emotional Rescue instructive commentaries by Pema for making the lojong taking”) taught by Pema. Plan. Mindful Gap is the practice of creat- teachings a practical part of everyday life. 24. Change your attitude, but remain neutral. ing a safe distance between you and your 53. Don’t vacillate. Commentary: Work on reversing your caught-up, emotions, which gives you the psycholog- Commentary: If you train in awakening compassion only some self-important attitude and remain relaxed in this process. Instead ical space to work with their energy. Clear of the time, it will slow down the process of giving birth to certain- of always being caught in a prison of self-absorption, look out and Seeing involves recognizing the bigger ty. Wholeheartedly train in keeping your heart and mind open to express gentleness to all things. Then just relax. picture. Last, Letting Go is the practice of everyone. Among Pema Chodron’s many books and audio-books are When releasing stressful physical and emotional This uniquely accessible presentation of lojong, one of Tibetan Things Fall Apart and Don’t Bite the Hook. energy through exercise, relaxation, and awareness. With each step, we become in- creasingly familiar with the inner workings MILAREPA of our emotions, seeing straight to the heart Lessons from the Life & Songs of Tibet’s Great Yogi formed the background for Milarepa’s journey, includ- of anger, fear, passion, jealousy, and pride. by Chogyam Trungpa, edited by Judith Lief ing teachings from the mahamudra tradition from which With time and practice, instead of leading $25.95, paper. Shambhala. 286 pages the realization songs arose. Trungpa also illuminates the us astray, our emotions become our guide Drawn from teachings he gave in the early 1970s, re- meaning of many of Milarepa’s remarkable songs, always towards living a more compassionate, cre- nowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa retells the coming back to relevance of Milarepa’s life to practi- ative, and fulfilling life. stories and realization songs of Tibet’s best-known and tioners today. The purpose of the book is to introduce most-beloved religious figure—and reveals how they re- It is a delight to be bringing Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s certain methods for working with emotions late to our everyday lives. Milarepa went from being the teachings on Milarepa and his songs into print. In spite so that gradually, step by step, we can worst kind of malevolent sorcerer to a devoted and as- of the great distance between the two in time, place, and move from being victims to partners to cetic Buddhist practitioner to a completely enlightened circumstances, when I listened to these seminars, I felt as if creative collaborators with these profound being all in a single lifetime. The story of Milarepa (1052-1135) is Trungpa Rinpoche and Milarepa were present together, conspiring energies. While you won’t find these meth- a tale of such extreme and powerful transformation that it might to do whatever it took to bring the dharma to life. In the fierceness ods in the Buddhist sutras—the discourses seem far removed from our own less dramatic lives—But Chogyam of their dedication, their fearlessness, and their freedom from con- of the Buddha that form the body of his Trungpa shows otherwise. ventionality, both could be called crazy. —Judith Lief teachings—I think the Buddha would rec- This collection of his teachings on the life and songs of the great “In his trademark insightful and inspiring voice, Vidyadha- ognize his instructions in them. Tibetan Buddhist poet-saint reveals how Milarepas’s difficulties ra Trungpa Rinpoche here offers a true feast of wisdom nectar “Emotions can tangle and trip us up with can be a source of guidance and inspiration for anyone—and it that distills the life and lineage of Milarepa, the greatest master no understanding of their wild chaotic shows what devoted and diligent practice can achieve. of Tibet, to illuminate how we can transmute our lives into pure possibility. In this important book Ponlop Trungpa retells colorful stories of Milarepa’s life, highlighting dharma. This volume is captivating, poetic, contemplative, and en- teaches us step-by-step how to unwind emo- his struggles, his awakening, and his teachings. Through these lightening—all in one.”—Tulku Thondup, author of The Heart of tions and use their energy and power. We stories Trungpa reveals the history, traditions, and principles that Unconditional Love no longer have to be at the mercy of anger, delusion, desire, and aggression. Happy he wrote this book.” —Natalie Goldberg, au- thor of Writing Down the Bones ing—and there are likely practical offering of consolation for some- “The three-step process for emotional LOVE HURTS few times we suffer more one you know who’s going through a tough rescue is a superb modern-day expression of Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken intensely than when we time, and for yourself when you’re looking traditional teachings. Its instructions, well by Lodro Rinzler break up with a roman- for the light at the end of the tunnel in your practiced, will be liberating.” —Sharon Salz- $16.95, paper. Shambhala. 144 pages tic partner. It feels like own situation. Here’s Buddhist-inspired advice for work- berg, author of Real Love you may never recover The next time someone close to me dies ing through romantic breakups and other sometimes. But Lodro painful emotional periods—by the best-sell- (as I know they will) or a breakup occurs Rinzler has wonderfully (as I fear it might) or I get knocked on my ing author of The Buddha Walks into a Bar. good news for those suf- ass by some other form of heartbreak (as THE REVOLUTIONARY LIFE I think the only way we can get through fering heartbreak: the is the nature of life) I will have trained to OF FREDA BEDI our heartbreak is to sit in the middle of 2,500-year-old teachings open my heart and give myself the space British Feminist, Indian Nationalist, that terrible, devastating, world-changing of the Buddha are the ultimate antidote for and care needed to accommodate this loss. Buddhist Nun experience. This book will tell you how to emotional pain. And you don’t need to be But that will happen only if I stick to the do that… by Vicki Mackenzie a Buddhist for them to apply to you. In this training of really caring for each smaller heartbreak that comes my way. $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 186 pages Ideally in this book there is something short and compact first-aid kit for a broken A fascinating biography of Freda Bedi, an for each of the many forms that heart- heart, he walks you through the cause and “One of the best first-aid kits I’ve seen. English woman who broke all the rules of break may take, offered with the aim that cure of suffering, with much practical ad- Lodro offers the heartbroken much realistic gender, race, and religious background to be- you will go to where you need to go and vice for self-care as you work to survive a comfort, but also insight that will be useful come both a revolutionary in the fight for In- find a resource to help you out. breakup. The wisdom he presents applies to not only for navigating their own way in dian independence and then a Buddhist icon. Buddhism has a lot to say about suffer- any kind of emotional suffering. It’s a great, the sea of painful emotions, but for being Freda Bedi (1911-1977) was one of the

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about Buddhism in the West. For this book, THE PATH New from The Dalai Lama she traced Bedi’s footsteps and conducted What Chinese Philosophers Can many in-depth interviews with those who knew Teach Us About the Good Life her, including friends, family, government of- THE HEART OF MEDITATION by Michael Puett & Christine Gross-Loh Discovering Innermost Awareness ficials, lamas, and nuns. She also drew heavily $22.00, paper. Simon & Schuster. 202 pp from Bedi’s own writings, diaries, and record- by The Dalai Lama, translated by Jeffrey Hopkins For the first time, an award-winning ings—all provided by Bedi’s family—and the $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 168 pages Harvard professor shares his wildly pop- In The Heart of Meditation, His Holiness the Dalai Lama provides book includes many photographs. ular course on classical intimate details on an advanced meditation practice called Dzog- Chinese philosophy, chen using a visionary poem by the 19th-century saint Patrul Rin- showing you how ancient poche, author of the Buddhist classic Words of My Perfect Teacher. ideas—like the fallacy of The heart of meditation—the thing that brings it alive—is com- & Ch’i the authentic self—can passion. Without that essential foundation, other practices are guide you on the path to pointless. Fortunately, the mind can be trained in compassion, a good life today. Why is a and the mind thus trained with the qualities of love, empathy, course on ancient Chinese kindness, and respect for others is ready for the practice of the CULTIVATING philosophers one of the Great Completeness (Dzogchen), which is considered the pinnacle of spiritual prac- The Root of Energy, Vitality, and Spirit most popular at Harvard? tice in the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness the Dalai Lama here by David Clippinger Because it challenges all teaches the Great Completeness simply but thoroughly, using as his reference a vision- $24.95, paper. Singing Dragon. our modern assumptions ary poem by the nineteenth-century master Patrul Rinpoche to show that insight can 208 pages, b/w illustrations about what it takes to flourish. never be separated from compassion. Through practice of the Great Completeness, How can Qi offer you the means, tools Astonishing teachings emerged two thou- we can access our innermost awareness and live our lives in a way that acknowledges it and will to live a life of balance? Explaining sand years ago through the work of a suc- and manifests it. The wisdom and compassion that arise from such insight are critical, what Qi is, where cession of Chinese sages (such as Confucius, His Holiness teaches, not only to individual progress in meditation but to our collective it comes from, Mendius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Xunzi) ex- progress toward peace in the world. how we use it, and ploring how humans can understand and how we can culti- To develop spiritual qualities such as love, compassion, and altruism to their fullest, improve themselves and their society. And vate it in order to what are these counterintuitive ideas? meditation is needed. At present, our minds are too scattered, and once the mind is scat- achieve wholeness tered, its force is limited. If we channel it, then, like water, it becomes forceful. u Transformation comes not from looking and balance, this within for a true self, but from creating The Dalai Lama deftly connects how training the mind in compassion for other beings is much-needed book directly related to—and in fact a prerequisite for—the very pinnacle of Buddhist meditation. conditions that produce new possibilities. combines knowl- u While accessible to a beginner, he leads the reader in very fine detail on how to Good relationships come not from being edge and practice to sincere and authentic, but from the ritu- identify innermost awareness—who we really are—how to maintain contact with this explore all aspects awareness, and how to release oneself from the endless stream of our thoughts to let als we perform within them. of Qi, including its u this awareness, always present, become consistently apparent. A good life emerges not from planning modern, everyday it out, but through training ourselves to implications. The respond well to small moments. BUDDHISM book not only cov- u Influence comes not from wielding power One Teacher, Many Traditions New in ers the history of Qi, but also demystifies the but from holding back. by the Dalai Lama & Thubten Chodron Paperback vital philosophies and practices surround- u Excellence comes from what we choose to $24.95, paper. Wisdom. 352 pages ing it. Filled with valuable information on do, not our natural abilities. Etc.! Explore the common ground underlying the diverse expres- how to recognize and cultivate Qi in order sions of the Buddha’s teachings with two of Tibetan Buddhism’s In other words, The Path opens the mind to increase your energetic capacity and re- and upends much that we are told about how bestselling authors. turn to a more efficient physical, emotion- Buddhism is practiced by hundreds of millions of people world- to lead a good life. Its most radical idea is that al, and psychological state, it also illustrates there is no path to follow in the first place— wide, from Tibetan caves to Tokyo temples to redwood retreats. Qi’s central importance in meditation, Taiji, To an outside viewer, it might be hard to see what they all have in just a journey we create anew at every moment Qigong, and other Internal Arts practices by seeing and doing things differently. With its common. In Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ameri- that focus upon its vitality. can Buddhist nun Thubten Chodron map out with clarity the con- spirited, convincing vision, really useful new The author also offers instruction on a insights can be gleaned from this book on vergences and the divergences between the two major strains of number of methods for opening the energy Buddhism—the Mahayana traditions of Central and East Asia and the Theravada tradi- how to approach life’s multifarious situations gates of the body to cultivate Qi. with both heart and head. tions of South and Southeast Asia. Especially deep consideration is given to the founda- “This book succinctly pulls together the tional Indian traditions and their respective treatment of such central tenets as the four many threads about Qi, and weaves a bro- If we understand that the stuff that is us noble truths, the practice of meditation, the meaning of nirvana, and enlightenment. has always been a part of the flux and trans- cade valuable to the beginner and advanced formation of the cosmos and always will We “come and see” the experience of peace the moment greed is abandoned. We practitioner alike.” —Deng Ming-Dao, au- be, then we no longer need to fear death; “come and see” the experience of peace the moment hatred is abandoned. We must thor of Scholar Warrior. we become free to fully embrace life. We build up this habit to “come and see” what is really happening within us without point- David Clippinger directs the Still Mountain do away with the last of the distinctions that ing our finger at others. We do not preserve and promote the Buddhist traditions for its T’ai Chi and Chi Kung school in Pittsburgh. limit our experience of the world. sake alone. Rather, we preserve the teaching of the Buddha handed down from genera- tion to generation because they relieve suffering and promote happiness… Buddhism is all its forms draws the world’s attention for its peaceful existence with other religions. Following this central message of the Buddha, every one of us should be a messenger of peace. This is our common bond. —Bhante Helepola Gunaratana, from the foreword The authors seek harmony and greater understanding among Buddhist traditions worldwide, illuminating the rich benefits of respectful dialogue and the many ways that Buddhists of all stripes share a common heritage and common goals. The Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron have carefully fashioned a remarkable, com- prehensive book of teachings in Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions.

most remarkable and secular and spiritual realms. She studied iconoclastic figures meditation with Burmese meditation mas- in Buddhism’s move- ters. She was the first English woman to be ment to the West. accepted by Gandhi into his elite band of Born in England, ed- Satyagrahi, delivering rousing speeches to ucated at Oxford, and thousands of Indians urging them to revolt, married to a Sikh, she and then was imprisoned for subversion. became a major force She was asked by Nehru to help resettle both in shaping mod- Tibetan refugees, and she aided the Dalai ern-day Buddhism Lama when he went into exile. Bedi estab- and Indian history. lished a school for young Tibetan lamas and Be content with what you have; In her life she had also a nunnery, which still exists, to provide many roles—political nuns equal religious opportunities. She was rejoice in the way things are. freedom fighter, spiritual seeker, scholar, also the first woman, of any nationality, to professor, journalist, author, social worker, receive the full Bikshuni ordination, making When you realize there is nothing lacking, wife, and mother of four children (one of her the highest-ranking Tibetan Buddhist whom is a well-known actor). nun in India. the whole world belongs to you. Vicki MacKenzie’s lively biography cap- MacKenzie, a well-known journalist in —from Stephen Mitchell’s version of the Tao Te Ching tures what a trailblazer Bedi was in both the Britain, has forty years of experience writing

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 15 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 GUT David Hinton’s Chinese Classics The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most influential in the social sphere, Confucius’Analects is the Underrated Organ THE FOUR CHINESE CLASSICS source of social wisdom in China. The Chuang Tzu is the by Giulia Enders Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Analects, Mencius $19.95, paper. Greystone. 270 pages, illus wild and wacky prose complement to the Tao Te Ching. This cheeky up-close and personal guide translated and with commentary by David Hinton And with its philosophical story-telling, the Mencius adds to the secrets and science of our digestive $35.95, paper. Counterpoint. 575 pages, b/w illustrations depth and complexity to Confucius’ vision. system reflects the The books collected in this volume represent the first Something planted so deep it’s never rooted up, huge research now into time since the mid-nineteenth century that the four sem- Something held so tight it’s never stolen away: our gut’s microbiome, inal masterworks of ancient Chinese thought have been Children and grandchildren will pay it homage always. as well as the intense translated as a unified series by a single translator. Hin- investigations of the ton’s award-winning experience translating a wide range Cultivated in yourself links between the gut of ancient Chinese poets makes these books sing in En- It makes Integrity real. and the brain. glish as never before. But these new versions are not only inviting Cultivated in your family What an extraordi- and immensely readable, they also apply much-needed consistency It makes Integrity plentiful. nary organ the gut is. to key philosophical terms in these texts, lending structural links Cultivated in your village and philosophical rigor heretofore unavailable in English. Breath- It accounts for two- It makes Integrity enduring. thirds of our immune ing new life into these originary classics, Hinton’s new translations Cultivated in your nation system, extracts energy will stand as the definitive texts for our era. It makes Integrity abundant. from sandwiches and Perhaps the most broadly influential spiritual text in human Cultivated in all beneath heaven vegetarian sausages, and produces more history, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching is the source of Taoist philosophy, It makes Integrity all-encompassing. than twenty unique hormones. which eventually developed into Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism. Equally —from Tao Te Ching, Verse 54 For too long, the gut has been the body’s most ignored and least appreciated organ, EXISTENCE but it turns out that it’s responsible for more A Story of the glorious dance between nothing and everything, than just dirty work: our gut is at the core of by David Hinton between emptiness and existence. It’s an enthralling who we are. Gut, an international bestseller, $24.95, paper. Shambhala. journey that can change the way you look at the world, gives the alimentary canal its long-over- 132 pages, b/w & colour illustrations a journey for which David is a wise and eloquent guide. due moment in the spotlight. With quirky The meaning of life—as expressed in a single Chinese We gaze out as if it were sight seeing for the first time, gaze charm, rising science star Giulia Enders ex- landscape painting: a new work of meditative philosophy with no expectations at all about the nature of consciousness plains the gut’s magic, answering questions by the renowned translator of the Chinese classics. and reality, wanting to see them as they are in and of them- like: Why does acid reflux happen? What’s Join David Hinton on an exploration of the entire selves, free of all our tenuous human stories about them, our really up with gluten and lactose intoler- nature of reality—an ambitious project for such a com- ideas and beliefs. This is, in a sense, the moment portrayed in ance? How does the gut affect obesity and pact book, and even more amazing when you see that the painting, and in it we encounter a revelation altogether unexpected and unimaginable: existence! mood? Communication between the gut this cosmic journey happens all within the exploration and the brain is one of the fastest-growing of a single Chinese landscape painting. The painting called Peace- “A pellucid gem of a book—I couldn’t put it down. Through areas of medical research—on par with ful-Distance Pavilion by Shih-t’ao (1642-1707) is, like other paint- the vision of a single, inexhaustible painting—whose depth opens stem-cell research. Our gut reactions, we ings in that genre, mostly space: one tiny figure, accompanied by onto the mysteries of meditation, calligraphy, poetry, and exis- learn, are intimately connected with our an attendant, looks out over a vast landscape of mountains and tence itself—Hinton gradually discloses for us the whole vast and physical and mental well-being. Enders’s be- clouds. But start looking into that space and, with the right guid- fathomless landscape of Taoist and Ch’an (Zen) . At guiling manifesto will make you finally listen ance, what you end up seeing is profound. first we gaze wonder-struck into the many-mountained distance; to those butterflies in your stomach: they’re David Hinton is the perfect guide. He uses his knowledge of soon we find ourselves immersed; and then we dissolve into the trying to tell you something important. Chinese philosophy, poetry, art, language, and writing system to ch’i-mist drifting up the forested slopes.” —David Abram, author I can’t offer any panaceas, and keeping illuminate this painting’s message, which is ultimately the story of The Spell of the Sensuous your gut healthy is not a miracle cure for everything, but what I can do is to show, in an entertaining way, why the gut is so fasci- a text full of arcane language and extensive nating, what exciting new research is current- The Book of Change: A New Translation commentary. Though informative, these versions rarely ly underway, and how we can use this new by David Hinton hint at the work’s philosophical heart, let alone its liter- knowledge to improve our daily lives. $18.00, paper. Farrar, Straus. 160 pages ary beauty. “Our gastrointestinal tract is not only the In a radically new translation and interpretation of Here, Hinton translates only the original strata of the body’s most under-appreciated organ, but the I Ching, David Hinton strips this ancient Chinese text, revealing a fully formed work of literature in its ‘the brain’s most important adviser.’” —The masterwork of the usual apparatus and discovers a deep- own right. The result is full of wild imagery, fables, aph- Guardian ly poetic and philosophical text. Teasing out an elegant orisms, and stories. Acclaimed for the eloquence of his vision of the cosmos as ever-changing yet harmonious, many translations of ancient Chinese poetry and philos- Hinton reveals the seed from which Chinese philosophy, ophy, Hinton has reinvented the I Ching as an exciting THE SCIENCE OF PLANETARY poetry, and painting grew. contemporary text at once primal and postmodern. SIGNATURES IN MEDICINE Although it was and is widely used for divination, the “[The I Ching is] the only thing that is amazingly true, Restoring the Cosmic I Ching is also a book of poetic philosophy, deeply valued by artists period… You don’t have to believe anything to read it, because and intellectuals, and Hinton’s translation restores it to its original besides being a great book to believe in, it’s also very fantastic po- Foundations of Healing lyrical form. Previous translations have rendered the I Ching as etry.” —Bob Dylan by Jennifer Gehl & Marc Micozzi $24.95, paper. Inner Traditions. 250 pages, b/w illustrations tools—from medic- This comprehensive guide to the cosmic BodyMind Healing inal teas and elixirs wholeness and wellbeing out of the cup- influences that underlie reveals how ones to sacred practices board. Medicine, they show, can be a well- astrological chart has to creative proj- timed hug, a reassuring hand, or a thought- implications for personal ects—to nurture fully prepared meal. health and healing. THE SACRED MEDICINE CUPBOARD and rejuvenate the Echoing the core tenets of the Sacred Liv- When we look at the A Holistic Guide and Journal for Caring entire family, along ing Movement, this book reveals the power vast and intricate cos- for Your Family Naturally with journaling and insight we possess when our body, mind, mos—galaxies, planets, by Anni Daulter, Jessica Booth spaces at the end and soul communicate in harmony. organisms, organs, cells, & Jessica Smithson of each section to Basic Rules for Honoring Nature molecules, atoms—there $28.99, paper. North Atlantic. write, reflect, and u Always ask the plant before you take any- is a fundamental order, 432 pages, colour photos develop a way of life thing from it. a music or harmony of An inspirational guide for holistic family rooted in peace and u Tell the plant what you are using it for—es- the spheres. Our cells wellness, Sacred Medicine Cupboard presents natural health. pecially if you are making medicine. Be clear reflect the images of gal- seasonal insights, practical knowledge, rec- Anni Daulter about the job at hand. axies seen through our telescopes. We are ipes, projects, and journal prompts for a sa- has teamed up with Jessica Booth and Jessica u Please do not take all of the plant; for ex- the microcosm, reflecting the macrocosm cred medicine practice—broken down into Smithson, who bring a wealth of knowledge ample, leave some elderberries for the birds of the heavens. Our ancestors understood 36 chapters. and experience. They share a commitment and critters who depend on that sustenance these patterns and connections between Beautifully designed, with an abun- to encouraging mothers to practice their own during winter. And the plant itself needs humanity and the universe and developed dance of colour photos, this book culti- skills, listen to their innate knowing, and ex- seeds to grow its next generation. spiritual and healing traditions in line with vates skills and tools for readers navigat- plore redefining what health and wellbeing u Always say “thank you” to the plants you har- these cosmic truths. Yet in the 19th centu- ing an increasingly complicated world. mean for their family. vest from, to keep in right relationship with ry, knowledge of these connections was set Organized by topic of the week, such as Awak- The practical tips and creative ideas nature and Mother Earth. aside as medical science sought to create the ening, Blossom, Spicy, Glow, and Rest, Sacred presented here put readers back in touch Other beautiful books by Anni Daulter one size fits all approaches to healing that Medicine Cupboard provides a treasury of with simple time-tested practices that bring are Sacred Pregnancy and Sacred Motherhood. dominate modern medicine today.

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In this comprehensive exploration of the celestial influences that underlie health Ayurveda & Chinese Medicine and healing, Jennifer Gehl, with Marc Mi- cozzi, examines how ancient and modern CHINESE HOLISTIC MEDICINE Motion Sickness, Asthma, Flu, Menstrual Disorders, traditions of healing interconnect through IN YOUR DAILY LIFE Abscesses, Hemorrhoids, Dry Skin, Hepatitis, Allergies, the doctrine of signatures, “As above, so Combine Acupressure, Herbal Remedies Fatigue, Bronchitis, Morning Sickness, Hernia, Poor below.” She reveals how ones celestial na- & Qigong for Integrated Natural Healing Appetite, Prostatitis, Eczema, High Blood Pressure, ture—the arrangement of the cosmos at by Steven Cardoza Nausea, Hives. the moment of birth—has implications for $28.95, paper. Llewellyn. Chinese medicine is holistic, taking the state of the personal health and how each sign of the 406 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations whole person—body, mind, emotions, and spirit—into zodiac corresponds to parts of the body, the With a self-care approach for treating specific ail- account instead of just the apparent disease. Western bio- chakras, and specific plants, herbs, colors, ments and enhancing wellness, this book shares the medical diagnosis is often of limited help in determining and emotions. She explains how sound re-ar- foundational concepts of Chinese medicine and shows a patient’s condition from a Chinese medical perspective, ranges forms according to the principles of you how to integrate acupressure, herbalism, Qigong, since the biomedically defined disease is just one collec- harmony, leveraging not only the human diet, and lifestyle so that you can achieve optimal health out- tion of symptoms among many that may define the particular pat- tern(s) of disharmony affecting the person. Accordingly, ten people self-regulating capacity to restore health but comes. The ancient wisdom and practical techniques in this guide also that of the Earth to restore balance and with the same Western diagnosis may be treated in ten different will help prevent the onset of disease, improve your day-to-day ways with Chinese medicine… harmony. Also explored are the recurrence wellness, and promote longevity. of geometric forms in nature and how to Chinese medical physician and longtime Qigong practitioner This book will provide you with both a new, more complete un- apply this knowledge in sound healing and Steven Cardoza provides integrated healing prescriptions for doz- derstanding of Chinese medicine as well as many integrated tools medical astrology. ens of common conditions, including: Pain, Insomnia, Arthritis, and practices you can incorporate into your daily life. Many books have been written on as- Common Cold, Headache, Poor Memory, Angina, Impotence, Also by Steven Cardoza is Chinese Healing Exercises. trology and on herbal medicine, with only a few touching upon the correspondences between them. This book is inspired by THE WAY OF THE FIVE SEASONS the psycho-emotional (thoughts, beliefs, self-images, emo- the Hermetic principle “As above, so be- Living with the Five Elements for Physical, tions and reactions), and the spirit. low,” “As within, so without,” as well as Emotional, and Spiritual Harmony Detailed information is provided on each Element’s Hippocrates’ quote: A physician without a by John Kirkwood specific attributes, associations, resonances and gifts, and knowledge of the cosmos should not call $34.95, paper. Singing Dragon. anatomical illustrations are included for further guidance. himself a physician. There is one common 380 pages, 7x9, b/w illustrations An invaluable reference book for practitioners and stu- flow, one common breathing. All things are Here is a comprehensive and practical guide to using dents of Chinese Medicine who hope to become better in sympathy.” the Five Element model in your daily life in ways that practitioners to others, the book also provides the means Weaving together the threads of ancient can improve your physical health, foster mental ease to become a practitioner to yourself. science and spirit that formed the original and clarity, create more emotional balance, and bring “The author blends Five Element theory and the tapestry of medicine, Gehl explains how to you closer to spirit. modern psycho-spiritual wisdom of the Diamond Ap- restore the cosmic foundations of healing Having introduced the philosophical and practical prin- proach into valuable advice for staying healthy during for personal, planetary, and universal health ciples of the Five Elements, the author invites you to “live the book,” the seasons. He presents activities, diet and contemplations that and wellbeing. immersing yourself in the many aspects of each Element during its enhance specific aspects of body/mind/spirit—what the author corresponding season. He offers a range of methods of doing this, calls Soul—for each element. including activities such as movement, cooking, gardening, journal- This is a warm, insightful and excellent book.” —Ronald Davis, THE TELOMERE EFFECT ing, visualization, meditation, dialogue and self-acupressure. In work- author of Qigong Through the Seasons A Revolutionary Approach to Living ing with each Element, he explores the three levels or expressions John Kirkwood has been working, living and playing with the Younger, Healthier, Longer of human life—the physical (structures, organs, tissues and systems), Five Elements for over 30 years. by Elizabeth Blackburn & Elissa Epel in a way that supports our greatest health through daily $36.50, cloth. Grand Central Publishing. AYURVEDA LIFESTYLE WISDOM ritual, nourishing food, spiritual practice, and self-care. 398 pages, b/w illustrations A Complete Prescription to Optimize Highlights include: Why do some sixty-year-olds look and feel Your Health, Prevent Disease, u Detailed instructions for a nourishing daily routine, like forty-year-olds and some forty-year-olds and Live with Vitality and Joy organized by time of day and aligned with seasonal look and feel like sixty- by Acharya Shunya changes year-olds? While many $33.50, paper. Sounds True. u Clear, accessible guidance in the basic principles of factors contribute to aging 356 pages, b/w illustrations Ayurveda, as transmitted through an uninterrupted and illness, Dr. Elizabeth Ayurveda teaches us that true health is our birthright, lineage of Ayurvedic healers Blackburn discovered and that by artfully adapting to the rhythms of nature, u Dozens of traditional recipes, along with advice for a biological indicator we can bring ourselves back into balance and experi- structuring your meals according to the season, your called telomerase, the ence optimal well-being. Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom is a constitution, and your unique health needs enzyme that replenishes groundbreaking work within the field of holistic health and trad- u A treasury of lifestyle teachings and wellness practices— telomeres, which protect itional yoga, written by internationally renowned Ayurvedic heal- meditation and pranayama, exercise and yoga, connecting our genetic heritage. Drs. er, teacher, and scholar Acharya Shunya. with nature, rituals for self-care and pleasure, daily cleans- Blackburn and Epel’s Raised in a distinguished lineage of Vedic mystics and healers, ing routines, and working with the doshas (energetic body research shows that the Shunya learned the ancient art of Ayurveda directly from her types) length and health of one’s telomeres are a grandfather, a well-known healer in Northern India. Here, she u Beauty routines and rituals, including recipes for home- biological underpinning of the mind-body presents both an engaging narrative of her unique education, as made scrubs, oil blends, gargles, and more connection. They and other scientists have well as a complete encyclopedia of Ayurvedic practices, recipes, u How modern lifestyles contribute to chronic disease, and found that changes we can make to our daily and knowledge. how to restore vital health through Ayurveda habits can protect our telomeres and increase You deserve health. When you follow Ayurvedic injunctions on u Experience greater physical energy, more joy, better sleep, our health spans (the number of years we re- right living, eating, thinking, sex, exercise, sleep, and leisure, you increased sexual pleasure, improved digestion, stronger main healthy, active, and disease-free). will be living a lifestyle that is resonant with Nature’s intelligence. immunity, and many other benefits in mind, body, and soul The Telomere Effect reveals how Blackburn Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom maintains the integrity of Ayurveda’s trad- I invite you to make every day a health-protecting and health-re- and Epel’s findings, together with research itional teachings while showing us how to integrate them into our claiming day, simply by the art with which it is lived. I remember my from colleagues around the world, cumu- modern lifestyles. Through her in-depth teachings, we learn to live teacher Baba telling me that “a well-lived day is medicine unto itself.” latively show that sleep quality, exercise, aspects of diet, and even certain chemicals profoundly affect our telomeres, and that “A revolutionary set of findings that can standing of health and well-being.” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Full Catastrophe Living When we can iden- chronic stress, negative thoughts, strained transform the way we live our lives, shaping tify and change the relationships, and even the wrong neighbor- the very health of our cells by how we use inner voices that keep hoods can eat away at them. our minds.”—Daniel Siegel, author of Mind us feeling powerless, Drawing from this scientific body of “Gives us… with exactly the practical level YOUR POWER TO HEAL we can go beyond knowledge, they share lists of foods and sug- of detail we need, the long and the short of Resolving Psychological Barriers treating just symptoms gest amounts and types of exercise that are a new science revealing that how we live our to Your Physical Health or relying on doctors healthy for our telomeres, mind tricks you lives, both inwardly and outwardly, individ- by Henry Grayson to fix us. We have far can use to protect yourself from stress, and ually and collectively, impinges significantly $22.75, paper. Sounds True. 249 pages greater potential to information about how to protect your chil- on our health, our well-being, and even our The greatest medical breakthrough in re- heal than we realize. dren against developing shorter telomeres, longevity. Mindfulness is a key ingredient, cent years isn’t the creation of a new drug or In this practical from pregnancy through adolescence. and importantly, issues of poverty and social treatment—it’s the discovery of how much guidebook, Dr. Grayson And they describe how we can improve justice are shown to clearly come into play as your mind affects your health. With Your Power presents life-changing our health spans at the community level, well. This book is an invaluable, rigorously au- to Heal, Dr. Henry Grayson offers a treasury of insights and effective tools anyone can use, with neighborhoods characterized by trust, thentic, and at its core, exceedingly compas- techniques and insights to help you harness including: green spaces, and safe streets. sionate and wise contribution to our under- the mindbody connection. u The new physics of healing—the ever-ex-

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panding body of research that reveals our also know what to do about them. And I am untapped capacity for self-healing so relieved that I can recommend this book Awakening the Chakras u Simple tips to nip many symptoms in the to body workers and healers who often ‘pick bud as they start up’ energy from their clients.” — Donna AWAKENING THE CHAKRAS u Self-assessment questionnaires to help you Eden, author of Energy Medicine The Seven Energy Centers in Your Daily Life locate and change subconscious beliefs and by Victor & Kooch Daniels, with Pieter Weltevrede disturbances $24.95, paper. Inner Traditions. u The Emotional Freedom Technique for re- WOMEN HEALERS OF THE WORLD 256 pages, 7x9, colour illustrations solving trauma and restoring your vitality By understanding the chakras, you can better understand the u Thought Field Therapy to clear the block- The Traditions, History, and Geography ways you interact with the world around you and the energet- ages in your body’s energy system that are of Herbal Medicine New in ic roots of your inner being. Offering an in-depth guide to this impeding health by Holly Bellebuono Paperback powerful ancient yogic science, authors Victor Daniels, Kooch u Why therapy, diets, and exercise regimens $29.99, paper. Skyhorse. N. Daniels, and Pieter Weltevrede—all longtime students of the often fail—and how to make them succeed. 278 pages, 9x9, colour photos late tantric scholar, philosopher, and temple artist Sri Harish Jo- This intimate and inspiring book opens up You don’t need years of meditation hari—explain the essence of each of the 7 chakras and provide the world of herbal medicine to those inter- practice to use your mind to improve your practical tools to work with these energetic wheels of light. ested in learn- health. Your Power to Heal is an invaluable Revealing how each chakra is connected with specific patterns of thinking, feeling, ing about the resource offering tested, practical tools for sensing, and acting, the authors explore how the chakras offer a vertical map of con- history of these anyone dealing with physical illness to help sciousness beginning with the root chakra at the base of the spine and ascending to techniques and you identify your unconscious barriers to the crown chakra on top of the head. They provide dynamic meditations, mantras, and approaches. healing; relieve pain, stress, and anxiety; other methods to work with the chakras. You will learn how to enhance each chakra’s Women Healers of make any treatment or medication more positive features and transform the difficult ones. You will discover the complementary the World shares effective; and start taking charge of your ways they affect each other, the gifts and strengths each can bestow, and the psycholog- with readers health today. ical causes of potential imbalances within them. Coauthor Pieter Weltevrede provides an extraordi- Henry Grayson is founder of the Syner- visual portrayals of traditional images of the chakras and their deities, explaining the nary variety of getic Therapy Institute. spiritual secrets embedded in each. Sharing profound insights from their studies with healing plants Harish Johari, the authors also include chakra wisdom from other gurus they have from around studied with such as Guruji Pilot Baba and Mataji Narmada Puri. Healing Energies, the world that have inspired today’s , as Indian philosophy puts creation in a cyclic form, not in a linear one. It tells us where Healing Herbs we come from and where we are going. Chakras are a story of the elements (earth, water, well as the stories, challenges, and triumphs fire, air, and void) that are connected to our world of sensory perception. It tells us how of remarkable women healers from past and the sense organs originated, and how we can find our way back to what is beyond the CLEAR HOME, CLEAR HEART present—all of whom promote the use of me- senses. dicinal herbs. Learn to Clear the Energy of People Offering practical wisdom for help in daily life and freedom from the tethers of your Through this book, herbalist and author and Places past, chakra work provides a powerful way to hear your inner self more deeply and a Holly Bellebuono aims to educate readers by Jean Haner systematic path for activating higher levels of consciousness. $16.99, paper. Hay House. about sixteen plant-based world healing traditions and thirty women who have prac- 220 pages, b/w illustrations Have you ever entered a room and it just ticed them. Bellebuono also explores the didn’t feel right, yet you couldn’t explain why? geography, history, and medical heritage LOVE HAS SEVEN COLORS Do you sense a natural of twenty countries where these traditions Heart-Centered Practices for the Energy Centers comfort with some peo- originated. by Jack Angelo With thorough knowledge of the uses $18.95, paper. Bear & Company. 160 pp. ple but are immediately Each of us has a light body connecting the spiritual, emotional, stressed by others? The and effects of these healing traditions, read- ers can then move on to featured recipes and physical levels of our being. When we live in a heart-centered truth is that we’re all in- way and choose love as the basis for our actions rather than fear, fluenced far more than for herbal remedies they can make in their home kitchens. Following Bellebuono’s in- each of the 7 energy centers of the light body opens to the wisdom we realize by the invisi- of our souls and radiates with a different color, making us walking ble energy of the peo- structions, readers will produce remedies such as soothing lip balms, wound pastes, rainbows of unconditional love and soul guidance. ple and places around Presenting the Inner Circle Teachings on heart-centeredness us. This, along with witch hazel liniment, face masks, arthritis oils, relaxing bath salts, and revitalizing teas. from the ancient mystery schools, energy medicine healer Jack An- difficult experiences in gelo explains how unconditional love positively affects our subtle your past that still weigh More than simply a glorious full-color world tour, this tribute to women herbalists energy system and allows our 7 energy centers to form the full rainbow of connection you down, can keep you between our hearts, minds, and souls. Describing the location and color of each energy from being a creative and their traditions passes on Holly`s knowl- edge and love of plants to another genera- center and the ways they can affect our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, he force in your life. shows how the 7 energy centers control the flow of energy to and from the multiple Clearing is a gentle but powerful way to tion of plant lovers, healers, and green en- thusiasts. levels of our being and process the energies generated by specific life issues. release the old stress you’re still carrying Providing 29 breathing, relaxation, meditation, and visualization exercises, the au- from your life history, as well as transform Also author of The Essential Herbal for Natural Health, Holly Bellebuono trains and thor explores how to open each energy center to the intelligence of the heart and how you’re affected by the energy around retrain the mind to approach life with love instead of fear. He explains the role of the you each day. Many people experience im- certifies students, teaches pharmacology and formulary, and is a leading presenter heart center in healing and how to balance the masculine intelligence of the mind with mediate shifts in their energy during a clear- the feminine intelligence of the heart. Once the energies of these two polarities are bal- ing, and significant change often unfolds in at workshops and retreats. She is founder of Vineyard Herbs Teas and Apothercary. anced, we become truly heart-centered, radiating the seven colors of love and following the days and weeks afterward. In fact, clear- the wisdom of our soul to discover the spiritual reality of our sacred self. ing has even been described as “accelerated Also by Jack Angelo are The Spiritual Healing of Mary Magdalene and Self-Healing with meditation” because it can lead to a sense Breathwork. of calm and happiness that typically results RESONANCE EFFECT only after years of a mindfulness practice. How Frequency Specific Microcurrent In this simple, elegant guide, Jean Haner is Changing Medicine teaches you, in easy-to-follow steps, how to by Carolyn McMakin describes her experience using a two-chan- pain and disability through the non-invasive clear your own energy or that of any person, $22.99, paper. North Atlantic. nel microcurrent device that has achieved treatment that she developed. McMakin in- as well as bring harmony to the energy of 248 pages, b/w illustrations astounding results that have changed medi- cludes case histories that illustrate the efficacy the spaces you inhabit, so you can reclaim The Resonance Effect is both the author’s cine and created new possibilities for suffer- of the treatment and shares the specific fre- your vitality and joy, and open up infinite story of her inspirational journey of having ing patients over the past twenty years. quencies that each condition requires so that new possibilities in life. Healers, intuitives, the courage to find Nerve pain, fibromyalgia, diabetic neurop- patients direct their own treatments. energy workers, highly sensitive people, and her true calling and an athies, muscle pain, athletic performance, “This book will resonate with patients, care anyone who just wants to optimize their en- account of the devel- injury repair, joint pain, low back pain, neck providers, and anyone who has a loved one ergy and live their best life will find this to opment a remarkable pain, kidney stone pain, the kidney stones suffering pain or health issues. Harmonic be vital training. Jean refines energy clear- newly rediscovered themselves, liver disease, diabetic wounds, resonances, vibrations, oscillations, and fre- ing to its pure essence—the power of the treatment, frequency brain and spinal cord injuries, PTSD, depres- quencies are the vocabulary of a universal lan- compassionate heart. specific microcurrent sion, shingles, asthma, ovarian cysts, abdom- guage that is FSM. Witnessing for myself the “Jean Haner is a brilliant intuitive who (FSM), that takes ad- inal adhesions, and scarring all respond to therapeutic effects of frequency specific mi- had to learn in the laboratory of her own vantage of the body’s specific frequencies. McMakinexplains that crocurrent, on humans and horses, I became body what she teaches here in Clear Home, ability to respond to results are predictable, reproducible, and an ardent supporter of this science-based Clear Heart —and you will be the beneficia- frequencies in order teachable—all without side effects—offering work. This book is as good a read as any Har- ry. Many more people are challenged by the to heal a number of hope and healing to millions of people. ry Potter novel, but it’s not magic. It’s science.” energies around them than is generally rec- chronic conditions. McMakin tells the story of how thousands of —John Sharkey, clinical anatomist, exercise ognized. This book is a gem, helping you to Carolyn McMakin, a chiropractor special- patients with conditions that did not respond physiologist, neuromuscular therapist, and not only become aware of these energies but izing in fibromyalgia and myofascial pain, to other medical therapies recovered from author of Healing through Trigger Point Therapy

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that their clients suffer from, providing im- mer’s) are convincingly influenced by diet. mediate pain relief as well as reducing the Most importantly, the diet that has time Herbs & Wild Medicine and again been shown to reverse and/or strains that may contribute to the patient’s SOME USEFUL WILD PLANTS prevent these diseases is the same whole ongoing aches and pains, leading to rapid, food, plant-based diet that I had found to A Foraging Guide to Food and Medicine From Nature effective, and lasting pain relief. James Earls promote optimal health in my laboratory by Dan Jason and Thomas Meyers argue that approaching research and in the China Study. The find- $16.95, paper. Harbour. the fascia requires “a different eye, a differ- ings are consistent. 186 pages, line drawings ent touch, and tissue-specific techniques.” With over forty years since its original printing, this bestselling Featuring brand new content, this heavily Thomas Myers is the author of Anatomy expanded edition includes the latest undeni- guide still remains a trusted and much-consulted reference for Trains and coauthor of The Concise Book those interested in identifying, foraging and growing wild plants able evidence of the power of a plant-based of the Moving Body; he is currently a lead- diet, plus updated information about the for food and medicine. Now Some Useful Wild Plants is back in print ing figure in the bodywork community. for a new generation of foragers and herbalists. changing medical system and how patients Some Useful Wild Plants contains sections on useful herbs, trees, stand to benefit from a surging interest in berries and seaweeds, as well as commentary on avoiding poisonous species. Pick the Food & Nutrition plant-based nutrition. young tender leaves of orach, salsify and miner’s lettuce for a delicious and vitamin-rich The China Study: Revised and Expanded spring salad or stir-fry. Concoct a cherry bark and licorice fern syrup to soothe a sore Edition presents a clear and concise message throat. Repel insects naturally using sage oil or vanilla leaf. From alder to yarrow, each THE CHINA STUDY of hope as it dispels a multitude of health featured plant has useful descriptors for identification and details on how to harvest, Revised and Expanded Edition: myths and misinformation. as well as how the plant is traditionally used for medicine by First Nations, pioneers and The Most Comprehensive Study of contemporary herbalists. Clear line drawings are provided to assist foragers in accurate Nutrition Ever Conducted and the THE ART OF PLANT-BASED identification. Directions are included for the preparation of ointments, salves, poulti- Startling Implications for Diet, CHEESEMAKING ces, compresses and tinctures. Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health Dan Jason also addresses sustainability when foraging to ensure that harvesting sup- How to Craft Real, Culture, by T. Colin Campbell Non-Dairy Cheese ports the continuous growth of the plant and the natural environment. $24.99, paper. Benbella. 417 pages Compact and informative, Some Useful Wild Plants is easily tucked into a day pack, Here’s the updated and expanded edition by Karen McAthy good for taking along on any nature outing, and will inspire a new level of appreciation of the bestseller that changed millions of lives. $29.99, paper. New Society. for all Mother Nature has to offer. More than thirty years 128 pages, 7x9, colour photos As plant-based, dairy-free diets continue Dan Jason is founder of Salt Spring Seeds. He also wrote The Power of Pulses. ago, nutrition researcher to expand in popularity for health and eth- T. Colin Campbell and ical reasons, cheese THE MODERN HERBAL MEDICINE REFERENCE GUIDE his team at Cornell, in often becomes the partnership with teams in Herbal Productrs, Nutritional Supplements, “last hurdle.” Much China and England, em- and Natural Therapies for 500 Health Conditions of what passes for barked upon the China by Steven Horne & Thomas Easley non-diary “cheese” Study, the most compre- $33.00, paper. North Atlantic. 496 pages lacks the quality and Based on decades of clinical experience by two professional hensive study ever under- depth of authentic, herbalists, this comprehensive, practical reference equips readers taken of the relationship cultured cheese. with a wealth of information that empowers them to use natural between diet and the risk Yet for aspiring DIY remedies to treat 500 different health problems. of developing disease. In plant-based cheese- Unlike guides that simply list natural therapies for various ail- 2005, Colin and his son Tom, now a physician, makers, much of the ments, this book helps readers understand the root cause of prob- shared those findings with the world inThe knowledge of this new craft is scattered in lems so that they can focus on regaining their health rather than just relieving their China Study, hailed as one of the most import- isolated kitchens, and there’s no real reli- symptoms. ant books about diet and health ever written. able guidance to what works, what doesn’t, The authors impart dozens of basic, holistic health-building strategies based on a This exhaustive presentation of the find- and why, when making real, cultured plant- model called “The Disease Tree” that conveys the four root causes of disease, the six ings from the China Study—which exam- based cheese. This book aims to change all imbalances in biological terrain, and supporting the eleven body systems. They link ines more than 350 variables of health and that and bring this new craft into the kitch- 500 health problems to more than 200 single herbs, 50 nutritional supplements, and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in ens of the world. 1000 herbal formulas, with information that enables users to select the appropriate more than 2,500 counties across China and Written by a pioneering plant-based chee- treatment for their own particular condition. Taiwan—conclusively demonstrates the link semaker who draws deep from the well of Cross references, lists of complementary therapies, instructions on how to read and between nutrition and heart disease, diabe- experience, The Art of Plant-based Cheese- understand labels, suggestions for further education, and information on sourcing tes and cancer. making is a clear, highly practical guide that products from a wealth of suppliers make this an essential reference for anyone hoping People who ate the most plant-based extends traditional cheesemaking methods to regain health the natural way. foods were the healthiest and tended to into the realm of plant-based media as a sub- The natural remedies found in this book are available at a fraction of the cost of avoid chronic disease. These results could stitute for dairy. many established medical treatments, and without serious side effects of a number of not be ignored. From the initial experimen- Coverage includes: prescribed medications. All major brands of herbs and supplements are covered here, tal animal studies on animal protein effects u Understanding culturing and fermenta- and can be purchased locally at local health food stores or online. to this massive human study on dietary tion “The single most comprehensive textbook on modern Western herbal medicine patterns, the findings proved to be consis- u Essential ingredients and equipment for that I have seen.” —Matthew Wood, author of The Book of Herbal Wisdom tent. The health implications of consuming either animal or plant-based nutrients crafting plant-based cheese were remarkably different. u Plant and nut-based media and how to Referred to as the “Grand Prix of epide- make them Bodywork research on the role of fascia and myofascia miology” by the New York Times, this study u How to create and train plant-based cul- in the body, and how treatment affects it. This reveals the dramatic effect proper nutrition tures edition takes advantage of more sophisticated can have on reducing and reversing these u Delicious recipes for quick cheeses FASCIAL RELEASE testing to explore in greater detail the rela- ailments as well as obesity and calls into u Advanced recipes for cultured and aged FOR STRUCTURAL BALANCE tionship between anatomical structure and question the practices of many of the cur- cheeses Revised Edition function, making it an even more essential rent dietary programs, such as the Atkins u Resources for sourcing equipment and by Thomas Myers & James Earls guide. Offering a detailed introduction to diet, that enjoy widespread popularity in the cultures. $46.00, paper. North Atlantic. structural anatomy and fascial release ther- Western world. Packed with step-by-step recipes, straight- apy, including postural analysis, complete forward processes, and encouraging experi- 312 pages, 8x11, colour illustrations Heart disease, diabetes and obesity technique descriptions, and the art of proper The treatment of pain through manipula- can be reversed by a healthy diet. Other mentation, this book makes plant-based tion of fascia or trigger points—tender knots assessment of a patient through “bodyread- research shows that various cancers, au- cheesemaking accessible for beginners and in the muscles—is a ing,” the book features 150 color photographs toimmune diseases, bone health, kidney serious foodies alike. hot topic within the that clearly demonstrate each technique. The health, vision and brain disorders in old Simply everything you need to make deli- bodywork community. authors, both respected bodywork profes- age (like cognitive dysfunction and Alzhei- cious non-dairy cheese right at home. Some 85% of local- sionals, give any bodywork practitioner using ized pain has been manual therapy—including physiotherapists, Lesson Plan shown to be muscular osteopaths, chiropractors, myofascial and trig- in origin, and fascial ger point therapists, and massage therapists— The lost bird remembers how to sing and myofascial release the information they need to deliver effective as it splashes in a puddle techniques like those treatments and create long-lasting, systemic and forgets how to fly. shown in this book are change in clients’ shape and structure. extremely effective. Fascia, the soft tissue surrounding mus- This was the teacher’s answer to his This thoroughly re- cles, bones, and organs, plays a crucial role student’s complaints about living on Earth. vised edition of the authoritative reference in supporting the body. By learning to intel- Fascial Release for Structural Balance brings the ligently manipulate it, a bodyworker or ther- —Mark Nepo, from The Way Under the Way book up to date with all of the most current apist can help with many chronic conditions

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May the Divine be invited into every part ley; it is one I which, if and when we do Vegetarian Cookbooks of life! fall, we’ve learned how to get ourselves out “In a marketplace filled with lackluster of it. We need emotional muscles in order to rise up emotionally, just as we need IN MY KITCHEN spirituality books, this book sparkles with physical muscles in order to rise up physi- A Collection of New and Favorite Vegetarian Recipes truth. Through touching personal stories, cally. And developing those muscles takes by Deborah Madison potent insights and holy humor, Tosha Sil- work. It is the work of enlightenment, the $42.50, cloth. Ten Speed. ver reminds us that the only way to truly inner world of the soul. 296 pages, 8x10, colour photos live is hand in hand, heart to heart, and hip Instead of allowing ourselves to embrace From the foremost authority on vegetarian cooking (she bump to hip bump with the Divine.” —Sera and learn from our hurt, we’ve come to founded Greens Restaurant in SF, run by Zen Center) comes a Beak, author of Red Hot and Holy: A Heretic’s numb it, medicate it, dismiss it, or otherwise carefully curated and updated collection of 100 favorite and most Love Story inspired recipes, reflecting how Deborah Madison loves to cook divert our attention so that we never have to now. These recipes from her vast repertoire are all pared down to face it. In not acknowledging our suffering, the key ingredients needed to achieve delicious, nuanced flavor, we actually prolong it and ultimately limit with simplified preparations. our personal growth and opportunity for TEARS TO TRIUMPH enlightenment. In My Kitchen is a vegetable-forward cookbook organized alphabetically and featuring The Spiritual Journey from recipes like Roasted Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Sunflower Sprouts; Fennel Shaved New in As Marianne makes clear, true healing Suffering to Enlightenment Paperback and transcendence can only come when we with Tarragon and Walnuts; and Olive Oil, Almond, and Blood Orange Cake. With by dozens of tips for building onto, scaling back, and creating menus around, Deborah’s finally face our pain and wrestle with what it $19.99, paper. HarperCollins. 256 pages has to teach us. Written with warm compas- recipes have a modular quality that makes them particularly easy to use. The beloved teacher and author of A sion and wisdom, Tears to Triumph offers us Great for both weeknight dinners and special occasions, this book will delight long- Return to Love and other books, Marianne a supported, powerful way forward: into and time fans and newcomers to Madison—and anyone who loves fresh, flavorful cooking. Williamson argues that through the pain, to a deeper awareness of Filled with Deborah’s writerly, evocative prose, this book is not just the go-to kitchen our desire to avoid our feelings, our lives, and our true selves. reference for vegetable-focused cooking, but also a book with which to curl up and pain is actually detri- “The darkness has no power before the light enjoy reading. Lavish photographs, too. mental to our lives, within your heart. Be patient. Give it time, if disconnecting us from Your food may not taste as good to you as it does to those to whom you’re serving it. If it needs time.” so, it’s most likely because you’ve been inhaling it for a while so its flavors are no longer our deepest emotions vivid and new. But that doesn’t mean that others are faking their praise… Don’t apologize and preventing true On an internal level, the great religions of because you feel your food is lacking. If you do that, you just take away the pleasure of healing and spiritu- the world have always led to miracles. On others. In my experience, this can be a hard lesson to learn, yet I feel it’s the most import- al transcendence. In an external level, they have as often led to ant one, and one I’m still learning. Tears to Triumph, she violence and destruction. That must change, and will change, as more people come to Among Deborah Madison’s books are The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and argues that we—as a recognize the mystical truths, the inner Vegetable Literacy. culture and as individ- gold, that lie within them all. The greatest uals— have learned opportunity for humanity’s survival in the to avoid facing pain, and so we avoid our twenty-first century lies not in widening PEACE & PARSNIPS growth. our external horizons, but in deepening our Adventurous Vegan Cooking for Everyone Here she helps us rediscover religious internal ones. That applies to us personally, by Lee Watson principles for dealing with and transcend- and it applies to us collectively. $33.50, paper. The Experiment. ing our suffering. Among Marianne Williamson’s other 324 pages, 8x11, colour photos A life of spiritual triumph is not one in books are A Year of Miracles and The Law of Chef Lee Watson was once, in his own words, “the mightiest which we never fall into a deep, dark val- Divine Compensation. nose-to-tail carnivore of them all.” But four years ago, he went completely vegan—and today, he’s an easygoing evangelist for peaceful, plant-full eating. Now, Peace & Parsnips captures 200 of Lee’s extraordinarily Soul Friends creative recipes, all “rooted” in his love of life and his many trav- SOUL FRIENDS els—from the streets of Mexico and the food bazaars of Turkey to the French country- The Transforming Power of side, the shores of Spain, the spice markets of India and beyond. Twelve chapters burst with gorgeous photos (200 in all), tempting us with Lee’s recipes—all meat-free, dairy- Deep Human Connection free and egg-free, and many gluten-free. Get set to savour: by Stephen Cope u $25.99, cloth. Hay House. 346 pages Breakfast: Plantain Breakfast Burrito with Pico de Gallo As a Senior Scholar-in-Residence for over 25 years at the u Smoothies, Juices & Hot Drinks: Healthy Hot Chocolate renowned Kripalu Center, Stephen Cope has spent decades u Soups: Zen Noodle Broth investigating—and writing about—the integration of body, u Salads: Fennel, Walnut & Celeriac Salad with Caesar-ish Dressing mind, and spirit and the rich complexity of our relationships u Sides: Turkish-Style Spinach with Creamy Tofu Ricotta with others, and with ourselves. Perhaps the central truth that u Nibbles, Dips & Small Plates: Shiitake Tempura with Wasabi Mayo arises from his work is this: human beings are universally wired u Big Plates: Parsnip & Walnut Rumbledethumps with Baked Beans for one thing—vital connection with one another. u Curries: Roasted Almond & Kohlrabi Koftas with Tomato & Ginger Masala Soul Friends invites us on a richly engaging journey into the u Burgers & More: Portobello Pecan Burgers with Roasted Pumpkin Wedges connectivity of the human psyche, the study of which has fas- u Baked & Stuffed: Mexican “Pastor” Pie cinated scholars, philosophers, and thinkers for centuries. Cope seamlessly blends sci- u Sweet Treats: Blueberry & Macadamia Cheesecake; Dark Chocolate & Beet Brownies ence, scholarship, and storytelling, drawing on his own life as well as the histories of u Sauces, Dressings, Toppers & other Extras: Smoky Chipotle & Cauliflower Cheese famous figures—from Eleanor Roosevelt to Charles Darwin to Queen Victoria—whose Sauce; Tofu & Herb Feta! formative relationships shed light on the nature of friendship itself. Lee’s thoughtful, enthusiastic advice makes it easier than you think (and great fun) to create satisfying meals from an inspiring array of seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables and It is the central premise of this book that there are six forms of human connection that easy-to-find staples. This is food that explodes with flavour, colour and texture—and we must have in order to grow, to thrive, to develop, and to live fully. Much of our spiri- tual, psychological, and even physical growth takes place in the context of, and as a result will delight and nourish everyone. of, these special relationships. And I believe that through recognizing and understanding the nature of these connections, we can more skillfully shape who we become. The six mechanisms of transformation, then, as I have described them, are: characteristic wit and 1. Containment 4. Mirroring Inspiration & Self-Help charm, shows how 2. Twinship 5. Mystic resonance to—and invites you 3. Adversity 6. Conscious partnership. to—transform yourself CHANGE ME PRAYERS from the inside out. Integrating wisdom learned from practice, meditation, intensive study, and life ex- The Hidden Power New in Covering a variety of perience, Cope takes a fresh eye to the idea of connectivity and the human spirit. The of Spiritual Surrender Paperback topics—from work to journey to our most vital, fulfilled selves certainly requires us to look and feel within. by Tosha Silver finances to self-worth— But in order to truly thrive as human beings, we must make the most of who we are in $22.00, paper. Scribner. 272 pages Change Me Prayers re- relation to one another. Unsparingly honest, deeply wise, and irresistibly readable, Soul From the author of the bestseller Out- veals how to truly sur- Friends is a rare gem of a book. rageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take render to a Divine plan Most of us will have many friends throughout our lifetimes—friends of all shapes, sizes, the Lead, here’s a thoughtful collection of in the most joyous and and callings. Many of these are wonderful, meaningful friendships. Some are difficult. But prayers and stories to help you actively invite uplifting way. some magic few of these are connections that have gone right to our soul. These five or seven or ten friendships have been powerful keys to determining who we have become the Divine into your life. At its heart, Change Me Prayers is a spiritu- and who we will become… These are the people I call Soul Friends. Change me Divine Beloved into one al guide which offers prayers to the Divine who can give and receive freely and be a that can change someone into a person open “For centuries, writers interested in the soul have reflected on friendship as the foun- clear vessel for your Light. to receive bountiful blessings in everyday dation of all love. Stephen Cope’s contribution is penetrating, subtle, and beautiful… In this sequel to the delightfully profound life. Anyone can use these powerful prayers A very special book.” —Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul Outrageous Openness, Tosha Silver, with her to leave the old limited self behind.

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we can do remarkable, even magical things. only the joyousness of play. The promise Psychology, Therapy where limitless growth Zander shows us that life is a story we tell of this section is great: if we engage fully, becomes possible. ourselves, and that we have the power to we are likely to discover facets of reality & Dreams As children, we de- change that story. She illuminates how break- we have never before experienced, and velop stories about how ing old patterns and telling a new story can become occasional conduits for rare mo- PATHWAYS TO POSSIBILITY the world works, most transform not just our own lives, but also our ments of perfect attunement with life. Transforming Our Relationship of which get improved relationships with others—whether in a mar- This galvanizing book expands our with Ourselves, Each Other, New in upon and amended riage, a classroom, or a business. Finally, she notions of “how much we can grow and and the World Paperback over time. But some do demonstrates how, with this new understand- change, whether we can change others and by Rosamund Zander not, even as we mature ing of ourselves and our place within an inter- even affect the world at large, and how $23.00, paper. Penguin. 272 pages in other ways. Opinion- connected world, we can take powerful action much freedom and joy we can experience.” In this powerful and inspiring book, family ated, self-centered and in the collective interest, and gain a sense of Stimulating and profound, it is the perfect systems therapist and executive coach Rosa- fear-driven, these child deep connection to the universe. companion to her beloved first book, The mund Stone Zander invites readers to shed stories are the source of the behavioral and Art of Possibility. the childhood stories that hold us back, and Having rewritten our own stories in an emotional patterns that hold us back. When adult voice, we avoid the common trap of enter a realm of true maturity and fulfillment, we learn to identify and rewrite these stories, being advice givers (at best) and meddlers (at worst) and we become natural agents for their transformation. We learn to con- DREAMWORKING Healing Trauma, New or Old nect with others on an energetic level that How to Listen to the Inner Guidance creates a synergy for realizing our collec- of Your Dreams IT DIDN’T START WITH YOU tive dreams… by Christopher Sowton How Inherited Family Trauma $22.95, paper. Llewellyn. 408 pages Shapes Who We Are New in The final section of the book presents a Dreams are trying to guide us, but how do Paperback series of “games” that will usher the read- we understand what they are saying? Dream- and How to End the Cycle er into this new territory of possibility and by Mark Wolynn working provides a practical, five-step process connection. These belong to the category for connecting your dreams to your life, help- $23.00, paper. Knopf. 256 pages author/philosopher James Carse dubbed Depression. Anxiety. Chronic Pain. Phobias. Obsessive thoughts. The “infinite games,” open-ended engagements ing you understand the profound requests, evidence is compelling: the roots of these difficulties may not re- with no winners or losers; games that offer invitations, and “glimpses” that come while side in our immediate life experience or in chemical imbalances in our brains—but in the lives of our parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. The latest scientific research, now making head- lines, supports what many have long intuited—that traumatic experience can be passed Brené Brown’s Rising Strong down through generations. It Didn’t Start with You builds on the work of leading experts in post-traumatic stress, including Mount Sinai School of Medicine neuroscientist Ra- RISING STRONG chel Yehuda and psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score. How the Ability to Reset Transforms New in Even if the person who suffered the original trauma has died, or the story has been the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead Paperback forgotten or silenced, memory and feelings can live on. These emotional legacies are by Brené Brown often hidden, encoded in everything from gene expression to everyday language, and $24.00, paper. Random House. 352 pages they play a far greater role in our emotional and physical health than has ever before Social scientist Brené Brown has ignited a global conversation on been understood. courage, vulnerability, shame, and worthiness. Her pioneering work As a pioneer in the field of inherited family trauma, Mark Wolynn has worked with uncovered a profound truth: Vulnerability—the willingness to show individuals and groups on a therapeutic level for over twenty years. It Didn’t Start with up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome—is the only path to You offers a pragmatic and prescriptive guide to his method, the Core Language Ap- more love, belonging, creativity, and joy. proach. Diagnostic self-inventories provide a way to uncover the fears and anxieties The physics of vulnerability is simple: If we are brave enough often conveyed through everyday words, behaviors, and physical symptoms. Techniques for enough, we will fall… The truth is that falling hurts. The dare is to keep being brave and developing a genogram or extended family tree create a map of experiences going feel your way back up. back through the generations. And visualization, active imagination, and direct dia- The author of bestsellers Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection tells us what it logue create pathways to reconnection, integration, and reclaiming life and health. It takes to get back up, and how owning our stories of disappointment, failure, and heart- Didn’t Start With You is a transformative approach to resolving longstanding difficulties break gives us the power to write a daring new ending. It’s Rising Strong. that in many cases, traditional therapy, drugs, or other interventions have not had the As a grounded theory researcher, Brown has listened as a range of people—from capacity to touch. leaders in Fortune 500 companies and the military to artists, couples in long-term re- “It Didn’t Start with You takes us a big step forward, advancing the fields of trauma lationships, teachers, and parents—shared their stories of being brave, falling, and therapy, mindfulness applications, and human understanding. It is a bold, creative, and getting back up. She asked herself, What do these people with strong and loving relationships, compassionate work.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness leaders nurturing creativity, artists pushing innovation, and clergy walking with people through “Wolynn brings a unique, valuable, and grounded voice to this work.” —California faith and mystery have in common? The answer was clear: They recognize the power of Institute of Integral Studies emotion and they’re not afraid to lean in to discomfort. Walking into our stories of hurt can feel dangerous. But the process of regaining our footing in the midst of struggle is where our courage is tested and our values are MEDITATIONS FOR HEALING TRAUMA forged. Our stories of struggle can be big ones, like the loss of a job or the end of a Mindfulness Skills to Ease Post-Traumatic Stress relationship, or smaller ones, like a conflict with a friend or colleague. Regardless of by Louanne Davis magnitude or circumstance, the rising strong process is the same: We reckon with our $23.95, paper. New Harbinger. 220 pages emotions and get curious about what we’re feeling; we rumble with our stories until we Post-traumatic stress isn’t your fault. Many people suffer trau- get to a place of truth; and we live this process, every day, until it becomes a practice matic events—which shock you to the core—and which can lead to and creates nothing short of a revolution in our lives. Rising strong after a fall is how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This evidence-based book we cultivate wholeheartedness. It’s the process, Brown writes, that teaches us the most delivers easy-to-use mindfulness skills that can be used as needed about who we are. to alleviate symptoms and promote healing. Some people heal naturally after they experience a traumatic RISING STRONG event, but some trauma lasts and can develop into PTSD, with AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE New on symptoms like depression, anxiety, panic, flashbacks, difficulty sleeping, or losing inter- by Brené Brown CD est in life. You may find yourself on the sidelines, disengaged from your own life, with $33.50, 3 CDs. Sounds True. 3 hours little sense of who you are and how to relate to others. The body, heart, and mind are all With her previous bestsellers, Dr. Brené Brown helped profoundly affected by trauma; in this way it can live on, causing a serious disconnect us realize that vulnerability is the birthplace for trust, be- and a state of imbalance in which you’re always in survival mode. How do you move on? longing, joy, creativity, and love. Yet a willingness to be vul- This book is designed to target the most common symptoms of post-traumatic stress nerable means accepting that life will sometimes knock us and PTSD, providing mindfulness-based practices to help relieve your symptoms and down. Where do we find the strength to get back up? In her increase self-compassion. Offering meditations for reconnection with your body, heart, research for her breakthrough book Rising Strong, Bren dis- mind, and life, this guide presents a unique, evidence-based way to heal the discon- covered a key factor. Without exception, she says, the concept of spirituality emerged nects and help you re-engage. Instead of getting stuck reliving your trauma or worrying from the data as a critical component of overcoming struggle. about it happening again, these mindful meditations will ground you in the present On Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice, Brené offers an in-depth exploration of this moment and enable you to better cope with unpleasant thoughts and feelings as they critical and oft-misunderstood aspect of wholehearted living. Here she defines spiri- arise—and then let them go. tuality as something not reliant on religion, theology, or dogma—rather, it is a belief You will begin to reconnect with your body, heart, and mind in a way that helps heal in our interconnectedness and in a loving force greater than ourselves. Whether you what was disrupted by trauma. This book will guide you and help you to strengthen and access the sacred through traditional worship, solitary meditation, communion with grow your inborn mindfulness ability. nature, or creative pursuits, one thing is clear: rising strong after falling is a spiritual Following the beautifully simple guidelines and “tips for practice” in Meditations for practice that brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives. Healing Trauma will help you cultivate a wise mind and heart for regaining peace and This audio program presents Brené Brown at her best—communicating with a live well-being in the present moment—anytime, anyplace. audience as seen by millions on her phenomenally popular TED talks.

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 21 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F D R E A M S , E M P A T H Y & J U N G F you sleep. Join Dr. that balances solitude and companionship. sonal lives. Drawing Christopher Sowton THE EMPATH’S SURVIVAL GUIDE on nearly five decades (a Toronto naturopath Life Strategies for of research as well as and psychotherapist) Sensitive People forty-five years work- as he shares five-steps by Judith Orloff ing as a psychoana- to receiving the in- $30.95, cloth. Sounds True. 262 pages lyst, Nathan Schwartz- ner guidance of our What is the difference between having empathy and being an empath? Salant explains that, dreams: Catch, Ampli- Having empathy means our heart goes out to another person in joy in a world where vast fy, Orient, Connect, or pain. But for empaths it goes much further. We actually feel others’ amounts of order Respond. emotions, energy, and physical symptoms in our own bodies, without are being created the usual defenses that most people have. through the growing You will also notice success of science that the dreams are reported in the pres- With The Empath’s Survival Guide, intuitive psychiatrist and em- and technology, the ent tense, not the past tense. This is also path Judith Orloff offers a resource to help sensitive people develop healthy coping something I encourage you to practice with mechanisms in our high-stimulus world—while fully embracing the empath’s gifts of concomitant disorder your own dreamwork. Keeping the dream intuition, compassion, creativity, and spiritual connection. is having devastating effects upon relation- “in the present” will help you when you This practical, empowering, and loving book was created to support empaths and ships, society, and the environment. re-enter the dreamscape to work with it anyone who wants to develop their sensitivities to become more caring people in an As a Jungian analyst with training in the and explore new possible directions. It often-insensitive world. physical sciences, Schwartz-Salant is unique- fosters a sense that you are working with a ly qualified to explore scientific concep- living thing, a work in progress, not just a It helps sensitive people through their unique challenges—and helps their loved ones tions of energy, information, and entropy static record of something that happened better understand the needs and gifts of the sensitive people in their lives. alongside their mythical antecedents. He in the past. In this book Dr. Orloff offers crucial practices, including: analyzes the possible effects of created dis- With hands-on tips and techniques, doz- u Self-assessment exercises to help you identify your empath type order, including its negative consequences ens of examples from the author’s psycho- u Tools for protecting yourself from sensory overload, exhaustion, addictions, and for the creator of the preceding order as therapy practice, and guidance for working compassion fatigue while replenishing your vital energy well as its potentially transformative func- with twelve common dream motifs, this u Simple and effective strategies to stop absorbing stress and physical symptoms from tions. With many examples of the interac- book shows how to facilitate dreamwork for others and protect yourself from narcissists and other energy vampires tion of order and disorder in everyday life psychological and spiritual transformation. u How to find the right work and create relationships that nourish you and psychotherapy, The Order-Disorder Para- u From my years of personal experience in How to navigate intimate relationships without feeling overwhelmed dox makes new inroads into our understand- u group therapy… I learned that we all have Guidance for parenting and raising empathic children ing of the wide-ranging consequences of the sub-personalities or parts, and that each of u Awakening the empath’s gift of intuition, and deepening your spiritual connection order we create and its effects on others and these parts has its own desires and its own to all living beings. the environment. agenda. I observed again and again how For any sensitive person who’s been told to “grow a thick skin,” here is an invaluable “Drawing on a vast array of sources and the parts of a person appear in his or her resource for staying fully open while building resilience, exploring your gifts of depth a lifetime’s experience, Nathan Schwartz- dreams, usually cloaked in the guise of a and compassion, and feeling welcome and valued by a world that desperately needs Salant reveals a great truth hidden at the seemingly external figure. I began to appre- what you have to offer. heart of the world’s authentic mystical ciate how important dream role-playing is “Reading Judith’s book is like having a very savvy sister who teaches you the insider skills traditions: that all new order also cre- and how easily it lends itself to the pursuit of of how to deal with this perplexing and amazing talent of extreme sensitivity… This book ates disorder. This extraordinary work self-awareness and personal growth. is packed with practical hints for embracing sensitivity and turning it into a gift.” —Lorin is a must-read for all those who want to “Christopher Sowton has presented a Roche, author of The Radiance Sutras understand the rhythms of life and the book that is not only thoroughly original Among Judith Orloff’s other books are Emotional Freedom and The Power of Surrender. meanings of our contemporary chaos.” but incredibly comprehensive in both its —Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A width and its depth. If you apply the method Guide to Sacred Activism so well articulated in Dreamworking, your life remorse. Lerner explains what drives both Rich with true stories about the life-chang- “This long-awaited book comes at just may never be the same again—and you will the non-apologizer and the over-apologizer, ing power of solitude, and interwoven with the right time—not only for psychother- celebrate the change!” —Stanley Krippner, as well as why the people who do the worst reporting from the world’s foremost brain apists, who will benefit greatly from its PhD, co-author of Extraordinary Dreams things are the least able to own up. She researchers, psychologists and tech entre- clinical insights, but also for scholars helps the injured person resist pressure to preneurs, Solitude is a beautiful and pre- of politics and culture. This is a deeply forgive too easily and challenges the popu- scriptive statement on the benefits of being thought-out work, the fruit of many years lar notion that forgiveness is the only path SOLITUDE alone. of reflection and patient observation.” to peace of mind. With her trademark hu- A Singular Life in a Crowded World Also by Michael Harris is The End of Ab- —Murray Stein, author of Soul: Treatment mor and wit, Lerner offers a joyful and sani- sence: Reclaiming What We`ve Lost in a World and Recovery by Michael Harris ty-saving guide to setting things right. $32.00, cloth. Doubleday. 288 pages of Constant Connection. Governor General’s Award winner Michael Lead with your heart and not your at- Harris explores the profound emotional and tack dog. It’s difficult and it’s worth it. The courage to apologize, and the wisdom and CHANGE THE STORY OF YOUR HEALTH intellectual benefits of Using Shamanic and Jungian solitude, and how we WHY WON’T YOU APOLOGIZE? clarity to do so wisely and well, is at the Techniques for Healing may achieve it in our Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts heart of effective leadership, coupledom, parenting, friendship, personal integrity, fast-paced world. by Harriet Lerner by Carl Greer and what we call love. It’s hard to imagine $23.95, paper. Findhorn. 220 pages The capacity to $33.00, cloth. Scribner. 195 pages The renowned psychologist and author what matters more than that. The story of our health (in its fullest sense) be alone—properly of The Dance of Anger sheds new light on is more in our control than we might think, alone—is one of life’s “If you want to know why Harriet Lerner is the two most import- according to clinical subtlest skills. Real one of my great heroes, Why Won’t You Apolo- ant words in the En- psychologist, Jungian solitude is a contented gize? is the answer. This book is a game chang- glish language—I’m analyst, and shaman- and productive state er.” —Brené Brown, author of Rising Strong sorry—and offers a ic practitioner Carl that garners tangible “Harriet Lerner is one hell of a wise wom- unique perspective Greer. We can not only rewards: it allows us to an. She draws you in with deft and engaging on the challenge of reframe our experienc- reflect and recharge, prose, and then changes your life with her healing broken con- es but actually experi- improving our rela- rigorous intelligence and her deeply human nections and restor- ence less stress, greater tionships with ourselves and, paradoxically, advice. I promise that you will never see ‘the ing trust. well-being, and even with others. Today, the zeitgeist embraces apology’ in quite the same way.” —Esther Dr. Harriet Lern- better physical health sharing like never before. Fueled by our de- Perel, author of Mating in Captivity er has been studying than it might appear if pendence on online and social media, we apologies—and why we are willing to identi- have created an ecosystem of obsessive dis- some people won’t fy our health story and traction that dangerously undervalues soli- Jungian Psychology give them—for more begin rewriting it. tude. Many of us now lead lives of strangely than two decades. Through journaling exercises and ex- crowded loneliness—we are ever-connect- Now she offers compelling stories and solid panded-awareness practices, many of which ed, but only shallowly so. theory that bring home how much the sim- THE ORDER-DISORDER PARADOX involve working with and in nature, and Award winning author Michael Harris ex- ple apology matters and what is required Understanding the Hidden Side which are influenced by Jungian and sha- amines why our experience of solitude has for healing when the hurt we’ve inflicted (or manic traditions, anyone can tap into hid- become so impoverished, and how we may of Change in Self and Society received) is far from simple. Readers will den resources for healing and work with grow to love it again in the frenzy of our dig- by Nathan Schwartz-Salant learn how to craft a deeply meaningful “I’m $20.95, paper. North Atlantic. 176 pages them effectively. Whether gaining insights ital landscape. Solitude is an optimistic and sorry” and avoid apologies that only deepen Increasing order in a system also creates and balancing energies outdoors, dialogu- encouraging story about discovering true the original injury. disorder: this seemingly paradoxical idea ing and interacting with the earth or a river quiet inside the city, inside the crowd, inside Why Won’t You Apologize? also addresses has deep roots in early cultures through- or lake, or working with dreams, an inner our busy and urbane lives. Harris guides the compelling needs of the injured par- out the world, but it has been largely lost in healer, or a symbol encountered on a sha- readers away from a life of ceaseless pings ty—the one who has been hurt by someone our modern lives as we push for increasing manic journey, readers will find they are toward a state of measured connectivity, one who won’t apologize, tell the truth, or feel systematization in our world and in our per- able to learn why they have struggled to

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 22 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F M Y T H , M E D I T A T I O N & T E A C H E R S F change their habits and will be empowered tricksters, and Native was fueled by some of the prime questions American warriors— JOY ON DEMAND to experience greater wellness within a satis- The Art of Discovering of human existence: What am I? Why am I they all embody les- here? How has this world come to be? fying health story. the Happiness Within Change the Story of Your Health focuses on sons for us. Since the A. H. Almaas shows that the tremendous beginning of time, by Chade-Meng Tan liberating power of the mysterious philoso- four key chapters of a person’s health story: $18.50, paper. HarperCollins. u Eating and drinking and weight human beings have phers’ stone is closer to us than we realize. In 230 pges, b/w illustrations, cartoons u Movement/exercise, flexibility, bal- relied on myths, fairy fact, it is the true nature of all reality—in all tales, and fables to A nimble follow-up to Tan’s bestselling ance, stamina, and strength Search Inside Yourself shows us how to culti- times and all places, without being limited to u Sexuality, body image and acceptance, evoke and explain being anything in particular. Through the phi- life’s mysteries. Bring- vate joy within the con- and changes due to midlife hormonal text of our fast-paced losophers’ stone, real transformation can hap- shifts (commonly known as meno- ing a fresh perspective pen, our consciousness can become free, and to these age-old tales, lives and explains why pause and andropause) it is critical to creativity, we can open to all the possibilities of reality. u Management of an acute ailment or Liz Greene and Juliet Sharman-Burke reveal This place of not-seeking and not-find- how seekers today can find comfort and sup- innovation, confidence, symptoms of a chronic condition. and ultimately success in ing is like coming full circle back to the It also helps readers revise their health sto- port in the legends and lore of the past. simplicity of human life. We are simply The Mythic Journey explores the psycho- every arena. ries as their health changes as a result of aging In Joy on Demand, human beings living normal lives, but now or unexpected challenges. Gaining insights logical themes of many mythical traditions, expressing the qualities of true nature— recounting stories from Greco-Roman, He- Chade-Meng Tan shows sensitivity and love and awareness, com- into their health, letting go of what is standing that you don’t need in the way of optimal health and well-being, braic, Egyptian, Celtic, Norse, and various passion and appreciation, recognizing the to meditate for hours, preciousness of life and the preciousness of and bringing in what is needed to make a pre- Eastern civilizations. More than 50 myths are beautifully retold, and each is followed days, months or years human beings and the preciousness of our ferred new health story a reality—all are pos- to achieve lasting joy—you can actually get environment and the preciousness of all sible when readers take on the challenge of by a psychological overview explaining how we can apply the story to our own lives. consistent access to it in as little as fifteen beings. We seek until we don’t need to. We Change the Story of Your Health and begin using seconds. Explaining joy and meditation as keep finding and finding until we realize the practices regularly. The Mythic Journey is a handbook for hu- the point is not a matter of finding anything man life, guiding readers from the conflicts complementary things that naturally rein- “You will be inspired and feel motivated by force each other, Meng explains how these in particular, because it is all reality. the techniques he shares including journey- of family and childhood, through prob- lems of love, intimacy, and ambition, and two skills form a virtuous cycle, and once put Almaas discusses the factors that are in- ing, dialoguing, chakra clearing, and engaging into motion, become a solid practice that volved in igniting the catalytic property of and partnering with earth, air, water, and fire ultimately “ending with death as the final mythic journey. Each part of the book can can be sustained in daily life. the philosophers’ stone and then begins to to release old worn-out stories. This book will unpack the properties of true nature when it open myriad possibilities for you to discover be read and reread independently of the In this book, we will explore this rela- others; but as a whole, the book takes the tionship and ways to initiate the turning of is free of constraints. Finally, we are left with and work with your inner healer.” —Sandra this powerful, joyful, virtuous cycle. It is the revelation that true nature is endlessly Ingerman, author of Soul Retrieval reader on a journey through the major rites of passage of a human life.” through this cycle that we eventually arrive knowable, and yet nothing we can know or Also by Carl Greer is Change Your Story, where the masters of happiness are, where say about it exhausts its mystery and power. Change Your Life. Visit carlgreer.com. The purpose of this book is to show you every moment is the happiest of our lives The result is a new understanding of what how mythic stories and imagery can bring because we always have joy on demand. relief from internal conflicts and help you liberation and practice are—and a view of to discover greater depth, richness and For many years, meditation has been what it’s like when seeking ceases and life be- Mythology meaning in life. One of the great healing taught and practiced in cultures where al- comes a process of continual discovery. We functions of myth is to show us that we most all meditators practice full-time for begin to appreciate that the freedom of re- are not alone with our feelings, fears, con- years, resulting in training programs op- ality expressed in the complete and fulfilled TOUCHING THE SOUL OF THE WORLD flicts and aspirations. timized for practitioners with lots of free life all human beings seek—and few find—is time and not much else to do but develop actually the simplicity of the ordinary. An Evening with Mythologist and We discover that true self-knowledge profound mastery over the mind. Seeing “The inconceivable voidness’s compas- Storyteller Michael Meade New on comes through facing life’s challenges with courage and strength; “that beauty, talent, a disconnect between the traditional prac- sionate clearlight way seems to unfold him at Bastyr University, Seattle DVD tice and the modern world, the bestselling as its oracular mirror. A great gift of a book!” by Michael Meade power, and wealth bring their own forms of suffering; and that in the darkness of loneli- author and Google’s “Jolly Good Fellow” —Robert Thurman $26.95, DVD. Mosaic. 118 minutes has developed a program, through “wise Among Almaas’s books are The Unfolding In this inspiring event, recorded at Bastyr ness, failure, and loss, we have always discov- laziness,” to help readers meditate more Now and Runaway Realization. University in Seattle, Washington on No- ered light and new hope.” efficiently and effectively. Meng shares the vember 11, 2015, Michael three pillars of joy (inner peace, insight, and Meade weaves story, happiness), why joy is the secret is to success, myth and poetry to talk Meditation and demonstrates the practical tools anyone about how the modern VASTER THAN SKY, can use to cultivate it on demand. world suffers from a loss GREATER THAN SPACE of soul and a lack of the GROUNDED AND FREE Happiness was not something that came What You Are Before You Became meaningful narratives Meditations for Embracing New on naturally to me—it was a skill I had to by Mooji needed to orient life and All of Life CD learn… I started meditating because I was $22.95, paper. Sounds True. 254 pages by Elena Brower miserable enough to try anything… To What if all that you believe yourself to reveal psyche’s hidden meditate, you just need to have a mind. To resources. His palpable $26.95, 2 CDs. Sounds True. 2.5 hours be—your body, mind, emotions, and con- “Inner and outer change often happen practice meditation is to practice with our and potent magic in- ditioning—is actual- through direct action,” reflects yoga and med- mind, to get better at doing certain things cludes an engrossing sto- ly what you are not? itation teacher Elena with it, such as experiencing joy… What if this is merely a ry (animatedly told whilst drumming) that Happiness is trainable, one joyful mo- Brower, “but to en- self-portrait shaped by he uses to unpack significant “gold” for us at ment at a time. gage with life fully, this time. He offers that soul is the missing false identification, hab- we must also be able ingredient, the light inside the darkness, the it, and assumptions? to listen deeply and inner quintessence that holds things togeth- In ever-growing gath- receive.” Western Spiritual er within us and holds us together with the erings worldwide, the With Grounded realms of both culture and nature. Teachers & Teachings revered teacher Mooji and Free, you will This is a classic Michael Meade teaching has opened the eyes of learn how to use offering, and in the form of film, it’s some- thousands through his receptivity and ten- thing many of us could easily enjoy and rare ability to shine light derness to nurture roots of stability and cen- THE ALCHEMY OF FREEDOM learn with. Mr. Meade is one of the great on the ineffable with un- teredness that will serve you through your The Philosophers’ Stone hidden treasures in our culture, whose common clarity, humour, and warmth. most challenging trials and storms. and the Secrets of Existence hard-won soul-work with men, returning With Vaster Than Sky, Greater Than Space—a This immersive audio program includes by A.H. Almaas vets, contemporary wanderers, and at-risk book compiled from his living dialogues two sessions: $24.95, paper. Shambhala. 198 pages youth has continued over many years to and arranged by subject—Mooji uses deep Grounded—practices for cultivating listen- Well-known spiritual teacher A. H. Al- sweeten the world. inquiry, insights, wisdom teachings, and ing, attentiveness, compassion, and the abil- maas, originator of the Diamond Approach, Among Michael Meade’s books are Fate parables to inspire and compel us to dis- ity to be vulnerable and responsive. here uses the metaphor and Destiny: The Two Agreements of the Soul cover our true nature as pure awareness. By Free—helps you to identify the emotions of the mysterious philos- and his newest, The Genius Myth. offering direct pointings to Truth while ad- and beliefs that may be limiting you, and opher’s stone to discuss dressing the common challenges that arise meditations to hold and balance them with a tremendous liberating in our daily lives, Mooji reveals the timeless, intention, kindness, and courage. power that leads to end- boundless love and freedom that is the nat- THE MYTHIC JOURNEY “What we are most afraid of is the gate- less enlightenment. ural perfume of who we truly are. Use, Myths, Fairy Tales, and Folklore way to our freedom.” Here, you are invited For millennia alche- mists sought the philoso- We feel that the sense of ourselves as the to Explain Life’s Mysteries to enter that realm with courage and kind- doer of actions must be in place in order phers’ stone, the miracle by Liz Greene & Juliet Sharman-Burke ness—to evolve and embrace the full won- for things to get done. However, when we $24.95, paper. Weiser. 240 pages der of your life. substance believed to be are quiet—meaning when we don’t engage “Myth is the original self-help psycholo- Also by Elena Brower is the beautiful yoga the key to all the secrets with thought activity and instead rest in the gy.” Greek gods, Norse heroes, Polynesian workbook, Art of Attention. of existence. The quest natural sense of being—we quickly discov-

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 23 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F C O N T E M P O R A R Y T E A C H E R S & T E A C H I N G S F

er that the vital force expresses by itself, and it does so spontaneously, without any intention whatsoever. If you truly give this Jeff Foster’s Here a chance, you will experience the beauty THE DEEPEST ACCEPTANCE yond words to teach, here he confirms his ability to guide and harmony of life when you are rooted Radical Awakening New in in being rather than in doing. us in unexpected new ways to a space of absolute accep- in Ordinary Life Paperback tance and joy—no matter what’s happening in our lives. Mooji is a direct disciple in the lineage of by Jeff Foster Candid, thoughtful, humorous—and deeply compas- the great master Poonjaji $21.50, paper. Sounds True. 304 pages sionate toward those searching for a way out of suffer- and the great sage Sri Ramana Maharshi. How can we bring an effortless yes to this moment? How ing—this refreshingly ordinary guy inspires us to stop From the first encounter, his presence com- do we stop running from “the mess of life”—our predicaments, trying to “do” acceptance. pels people to question their very nature our frustrations, our pain, even our search for liberation—and and existence. He combines wit and wisdom start flowing with all of it, as it is? Remember, feeling something “all the time” is simply not in a way that will appeal to fans of Gangaji, In small venues throughout the UK and Europe, a possible in the ocean that you are… Ram Dass, and Adyashanti. young teacher named Jeff Foster is quietly awakening a Pain is never a thing in your body. It’s always much more alive that than… you find a dance of present-moment sensations, shapes, In the spirit of the times, Mooji has a new generation of spiritual inquirers to the experience of abiding textures, temperatures, which, in the end, you cannot put into words… strong online fan base and social media plat- presence and peace in our ever-shifting world. His informal gath- Simply relax all descriptions, and explore from there. form!: Mooji.org. erings, blogs, and “kitchen-table video posts” have created a rising Without the story, do you really have any way of knowing what pain tide of interest in his teachings. is? And we can go even further: without the story, do you really have I teach one thing and one thing only: a deep and fearless accep- any way of knowing what sensations actually are?... THE LEAP tance of whatever comes your way. This is not passive surrender Everything is made of what you are. The Psychology of Spiritual Awakening or cold detachment, but an intelligent and creative emergence into “The Deepest Acceptance is the story of a merciful awareness, which the mystery of the moment. by Steve Taylor, offers us the heart’s inborn destination we were born to discover. with a foreword by Eckhart Tolle With The Deepest Acceptance, Jeff Foster invites us to discover the Love is the highest form of acceptance. Judgment is the mechanics $22.95, paper. New World Library. 292 pages ocean of who we are: an awareness that has already allowed every of non-acceptance.”—Stephen Levine, author of A Year to Live. Many assume that enlightenment, or wave of emotion and experience to arrive. While Jeff delightfully Also by Jeff Foster is The Way of Rest. “awakening” as the author terms it, is out of admits the irony of writing a book to convey something that is be- More info: lifewithoutacentre.com. the ordinary and extremely rare— and Back to Sanity. In addition, several renowned teachers THE COURAGE TO LOVE New on book The Way of Rest. Here, Jeff presents two hours the result of ardu- of teachings and meditations that help us to meet ous effort— such Meditations CD for Embracing Everything ourselves—and everything else—right now, just as as fasting, long we are. by Jeff Foster deep meditation Welcome medicine for both new seekers and more or yoga practice, $26.95, 2 CDs. Sounds True. 2 hours The heart can hold everything—our joys and our experienced travelers along the spiritual path, these travel to holy inviting sessions are meant to offer inspiration and a places, encoun- sorrows, our victories and our failures, our deep- est fears and longings. “The heart is an unlimited return to peace with each listening. Guided practices ters with teachers include a grounding breath meditation, a meditation thought to be en- room,” teaches Jeff Foster. “Embrace is all it knows.” The Courage to Love brings listeners an audio-learn- on sense , a meditation on presence, and lightened them- a body-scan exercise. selves. But here— ing program to complement the insights in his recent in a book in New World Library’s Eckhart Tolle editions se- Sacred As You Are brings listeners two audio ses- ries— Steve Taylor shows that ordinary peo- SACRED AS YOU ARE New on sions to help us find freedom from identification ple— from all walks of life and every age Depression as a Call CD with the past and future, embrace the full range of and place—can and do regularly experience to Spiritual Awakening our feelings and experiences, and reconnect with awakening. by Jeff Foster the healing power of the present moment. Taylor seeks out the common features $26.95, 2 CDs. Sounds True. 2 hours Jeff Foster shares from his own awakened experi- of these diverse experiences. His resulting Many classical stories of spiritual awakening involve ence a way out of seeking fulfillment in the future cross-cultural investigation of spirituality, a passage through extreme darkness—or what’s known and into the miracle of “all this, here and now.” belief, and human psychology shows how as depression today. Jeff Foster’s story is no different. Among his books are The Deepest Acceptance and spiritual awakening—a shift into a more “Life brought me to my knees in order to shock me into Extraordinary Absence. expansive and harmonious state of being asking the most profound questions,” he explains. “De- —can be both recognized and cultivated. pression made me surrender and begin again.” How is it triggered and experienced? How do people feel in the midst? How are their relationships and goals affected? from across wisdom traditions share their This book describes how I came to learn THE GRACE IN LIVING tion/creation of your own spiritual biography, spiritual biography for inspiration and as that spiritual awakening is far from uncom- Recognize It, Trust It, Abide in It which is a “participatory” third part of the mon. It describes how I came to learn that by Kathleen Dowling Singh illustration of the process. Among them book—offers both encouragement and the it doesn’t just happen to Eastern sages but $24.95, paper. Wisdom. 282 pages are Rodney Smith (principal teacher at Se- wisdom of a radically new view of your life. to seemingly ordinary people in all walks Author Kathleen Dowling Singh (who attle Insight Meditation Society), Cynthia “An instruction manual for opening our of life. It describes how, after a number of also wrote The Grace in Dying and The Grace Bourgeault (principal teacher at The Con- hearts to a richer, more joyful life. It’s diffi- encounters with ordinary awakened peo- in Dying) presents an templative Society), and Llewellyn Vaughan- cult to imagine anyone who wouldn’t bene- ple, I began to study spiritual awakening as opportunity to view Lee (founder, The Golden Sufi Center). fit from this luminous book.” —Larry Dos- a psychologist… and reflect upon our Others featured in this book are Sherry sey, author of One Mind I began to see [awakening] as a particu- lives in a new way—as Ruth Anderson, Prakash Mackay, and Ellen lar state of mind and being that could be an already unfolding Kympton. interpreted in terms of spiritual traditions awakening. I suggest you spend some time with the PRESENCE, VOLUME 2 but didn’t necessarily belong to them…. The Grace in Living first part, that you read it contemplatively. The shift into wakefulness most often oc- offers not only a deep, It provides a context for understanding The Intimacy of All Experience curs—according to my research—outside contemplative read, it the progression of a spiritual journey by Rupert Spira these traditions. invites the reader into and, perhaps, some new ways of looking $28.95, paper. New Harbinger. 192 pages These essays by Rupert Spira are both Because the qualities of experience Tay- engaging in the exer- at the ordinariness and accessibility of timeless and contemporary: potent and re- lor describes are at once unique to those cise of spiritual biog- awakening. It is not written for forward velatory expressions who experience them and ordinarily avail- raphy. Spiritual biogra- movement—point building on point. It’s written for deeper movement, into our own of non-dual under- able to one and all, this is a rare work that phy allows us to recognize the ever-presence longing, our own essence. Reading it con- standing in a way that both describes and inspires. of grace in our lives. Recognizing it, we can templatively will allow you to notice where is free of cultural bag- begin to trust it and, then, consciously abide The term Leap has both an individual your own depths resonate. gage and that is acces- and a collective meaning. On an individu- in it as we continue our journey of endlessly The second part of the book, the sible and relevant to al level, it refers to the shift out of an ordi- deepening realization. awakening stories of others, offers a rarely nary state of being into the more expansive us ordinary folks. The Grace in Living provides a view of four shared intimacy with the inner experi- All that is known is higher-functioning state of wakefulness… stages of the spiritual path as well as instruc- ences of waking up. In conversations with Also , we’re speaking of an evolutionary experiencing, and tions for understanding our own unique me, deeply respected spiritual teachers experiencing is not leap. We examine the evidence that this awakening journey. The four stages are: and longtime practitioners shared their collective Leap is already underway and divided into one part reflections of their own journeys… Their (an inside self) that suggest that what we know as wakefulness First Quarter: From Tasting to Hunger sharings are filled with wisdom and offer a could be the next phase in the evolution of Second Quarter: From Seeking to the End of experiences and an- great many moments worthy of pause and other part (an outside consciousness on our planet. Seeking reflection. Third Quarter: Healing into Maturity object, other, or world) that is experienced. Also by Steve Taylor: Waking from Sleep. Fourth Quarter: Ripening This book—along with your contempla- Experiencing is seamless and intimate, made

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ways already are, Scott Kiloby’s Here Too and reconsider the objects of the body, THE UNFINDABLE INQUIRY Inquiry and the Panorama Inquiry, two self-inquisitive mind, and world, we One Simple Tool to Overcome Feelings of Unworthiness processes of the Living Inquiries, you’ll learn to identify find that they do not & Find Inner Peace and explore the stories you tell yourself that underlie the simply appear to this challenges and disharmony you experience. Then, once Presence; they ap- by Scott Kiloby $23.95, paper. Non-Duality. 210 pages you’ve cracked the foundation of the false deficient self, pear within it. And This book presents the Unfindable Inquiry, the central you’ll use the Unfindable Inquiry and one simple ques- further exploration tool of the Living Inquiries approach to non-dual self-in- tion— Is that you? —to reveal that you are not who or reveals that they do quiry—a process author Scott Kiloby developed to help what you’ve taken yourself to be. No matter what it is you not simply appear us overcome our false sense of separation and the all-too- struggle with—anxiety, depression, relationships, trau- within this Presence common, deep-seated belief that we’re not good enough. ma, addiction—it’s likely that painful self-judgments, and but as this Presence. With this powerful blend of psychology and spirituality, the belief that you’re separate from the world around Finally, we are led to you’ll come to understand that the separate, deficient self cannot you, are at the root of your suffering. With The Unfindable Inquiry see that it is in fact this very Presence that be found. What you’ll find instead is a profound sense of peace. , you’ll discover how to finally be free from your false sense of self takes the shape of our experience from Many of us carry an ingrained belief that we’re somehow inade- and separation, and experience a more fulfilling life. moment to moment while always remaining quate and that we’re separate and alone, which can lead to a gen- As you use the inquiries, the mind clears. Thoughts, when they only itself. We see that our experience is eral dissatisfaction with life, conflicts with others, and an estrange- arise, are quieter and more transparent. You no longer mistake them and has only ever been one seamless totality, for who or what you are. As the mind clears, the heart area begins to ment from ourselves that causes us to look outward for what we with no separate entities, objects, or parts open on its own. You feel emotions more immediately, as soon as they anywhere to be found. feel is lacking. When we look outside rather than looking within, arise, with no need to label them or identify with them. Remember, it’s easy to find ways to confirm our false beliefs about ourselves. “In The Transparency of Things, Rupert Spi- though, that using the inquiries is not about achieving self-improve- ra not only distils the essence of this inquiry With the Living Inquiries, you’ll be able to see your mistaken ment, gaining enlightenment, or creating a better version of your core belief in “my” core deficient self and realize the essential one- story. Selflessness is seen to be your natural state, and relationship is into everyday language; he does so without ness that exists in the here and now. Starting with the Boomerang no longer a source of suffering, seeking, or conflict. reference to any metaphysics or esoteric doctrines. He appeals only to our direct experience, encouraging the reader to dive NATURAL REST FOR ADDICTION accept the difficult thoughts, emotions, and sensations that make you feel like you need to do something—any- into the personal investigation of what it A Radical Approach to Recovery means to be aware. If you do, you will find thing—to change your experience? Through Mindfulness and Awareness yourself tasting the realization enjoyed by This book will guide you, step by step, into the natu- by Scott Kiloby the awakened ones throughout the ages.” — $23.95, paper. New Harbinger. 224 pages ral, open, peaceful awareness that is available to you at Peter Russell, author of From Science to God Freedom from addiction is available in the one place all times. Using the mindfulness-based Natural Rest pro- that’s the most difficult for an addict (and let’s face it, we’re gram for recovery, you’ll learn how to tap into this pres- all addicts in one way or another) to be—the present mo- ent-moment awareness throughout the day, relieving ment. In Natural Rest for Addiction, non-duality teacher and yourself of worries about the future or past by allowing THE USER’S GUIDE addiction specialist Scott Kiloby offers his Natural Rest pro- your thoughts and feelings to come and go as they are, TO SPIRITUAL TEACHERS gram for finding recovery from substance abuse—and addictions of without grasping at or trying to control them. Open Your Heart, all kinds—through the mindful practice of Resting Presence. You’ll also learn about the Living Inquiries, a process of self-in- Discern the Truth, If you struggle with alcoholism, drug dependency, or some oth- quiry developed by Scott Kiloby to target the beliefs, trauma, Practice Wisely er form of addiction, you know all too well the urges and cravings compulsions, and triggers that keep you trapped in the cycle of by Scott Edelstein that drive your habit. Addiction tells you that something is wrong, suffering and seeking. At the heart of addiction is a constant, des- $21.95, paper. Wisdom. 160 pages, 4x6 The User’s Guide to Spiritual Teachers is a nec- that you need something outside of yourself to make you well, perate desire to alter what you’re feeling, to escape from the here essary book for anyone who has, or wants to something to fill the sense of deficiency you carry inside. These and now, to find eliefr . With Natural Rest for Addiction, you’ll gain have, a spiritual teach- a deeper understanding of the complex issues that underlie addic- feelings are often tied to deep emotional trauma, anxiety, depres- er—regardless of faith sion, or pain held in the body that has never fully been acknowl- tive behavior and learn how to find peace, freedom, and well-be- or tradition. This book edged. But what if you could learn to relax into awareness and ing in the present, one moment at a time. addresses concerns that many of us have on the spiritual path, THE ART OF FINDING YOURSELF you thought it was. All that’s left is truth: you are not the including how to find Live Bravely and Awaken to Your True Nature person you’ve taken yourself to be, and you’re certainly a spiritual teacher, how by Fiona Robertson, with foreword by Scott Kiloby not alone. With the Living Inquiries, you have an effec- to manage expecta- $23.95, paper. Non-Duality. 105 pages tive, structured method for realizing that you are not sep- tions about what they In The Art of Finding Yourself , author Fiona Robertson— arate or deficient. can do, and pitfalls to senior facilitator and of Scott Kiloby’s Living Inquiries In The Art of Finding Yourself , Robertson shares how her look out for. Edelstein method of self-inquiry and exploration—reflects on own sense of suffering—especially the deep, painful be- offers valuable perspec- her own experience of discovering and living with this lief that there was something wrong with her—led her to tives that will be useful life-changing process. The Living Inquiries invite you on the Living Inquiries, and what this self-inquisitive process to spiritual teachers and students of any tradi- an inner journey to examine and dispel the stories that looks like in real life. In reflecting on her own personal tion, as well as teachers-in-training and the in- make you feel separate, inadequate, or otherwise wrong. journey, she helps you explore and unravel the stories stitutional leadership of spiritual communities With this book, you’ll begin to learn how to deal with “the stuff of that keep you feeling isolated and not good enough. and practice centers. life” both before and after that false sense of self and separation “Living the inquiries” means approaching life without protecting When, on occasion, I become emphatic, it’s has faded. your story, defending your self-image, or hiding from your deepest to stress the seriousness of what I have to say… Our identities are built on the stories we tell ourselves about our pain. It’s living with no added analysis, interpretation, judgment, or Here is my most vital advice for learning experiences, other people, and the world, and on the beliefs that theorizing, and it can transform your life! from any spiritual teacher. Show up; pay close attention to what you see and hear; we’re truly separate beings and that there’s something wrong with With this book, you’ll discover what it means to realize you are then test it all against what your heart, us—the roots of all suffering. But when you have the courage to not the separate self you thought you were, and find engaging, in- mind, and gut tell you. This mindful really inquire, you discover that your story is not the whole truth, sightful reflections on how to move forward in life using the trans- discernment is the single most important your self-image is not real, and even your woundedness is not what formative Living Inquiries. skill for navigating any student-teacher re- lationship—as well as the turbulent waters of life in general. THE TRANSPARENCY OF THINGS of knowing or awareness alone. This inti- no world, no humanity, no others, as they are Spiritual teachers of all traditions will macy, in which there is no room for selves, normally conceived, to save. In fact, there is Contemplating the Nature of Experience themselves find this book incredibly useful objects, or others, is love itself. It lies at the no problem. Ironically, it is this understanding by Rupert Spira as they reflect on how they benefit their stu- heart of all experience, completely available that is truly humane and compassionate, that $27.95, paper. New Harbinger. 243 pages dents or may be overstepping their bound- The purpose of The Transparency of Things is to under all circumstances. truly helps the world. aries and actually creating harm. This is look clearly and simply at the nature of experi- * your place to look for information, inspira- Of course, the separate self is often of- ence, without any attempt to change it. A series The apparent self tries to relieve the suffering in fended when it hears this because its own tion, sanity, and words of caution. the world, without realizing that the suffering of contemplations leads us gently but directly to imaginary identity is being exposed. We This timely little book offers chapters on it is trying to relieve is inherent in and created see that our essential nature is neither a body may even feel frustration or anger when we Expectations, Assumption, and Misconcep- by its view of itself as a separate inside entity, nor a mind. It is the conscious Presence that is hear this. But this frustration is a gift from tions; Relating to Your Teacher; Red Flags amongst many others, in an outside world. aware of this current experience. As such, it is our true self or aware Presence to itself, and Warning Signs; Some FAQs; Life Bal- The separate, inside self does not suffer. It is the nothing that can be experienced as an object, because it reveals the seed of separation. It ance; Spiritual Community; Saying Good- activity of suffering. This imaginary self cannot is this seed that flourishes as all the various and yet it is undeniably present. cure the problem because it, with all of its bye, and more. forms of suffering. However, these contemplations go much projects, is the problem. However, the separate “Belongs in the hands of every new spiri- further than this. As we take our stand know- self is only a problem from its own imaginary Also by Rupert Spira is Presence, Volume 1: tual seeker.” —Pat Enkyo O’Hara, abbot of ingly as this conscious Presence that we al- point of view. Without this separate self there is The Art of Peace and Happiness. Village Zendo in NY.

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Scott Edelstein is “simply someone who has been in several long-term student-teach- er relationships; who has closely observed : Just So many other such relationships; who has OUT OF YOUR MIND Impermanence by Any Name. interacted with many spiritual teachers off Ticksters, Interdependence, and the This is the nature of change. If you resist it, you have duty; and who is able to write about stu- Cosmic Game of Hide-and-Seek dukkha. You have frustration and suffering. But on the other dent-teacher relationships honestly and, I hand, if you understand change, you don’t cling to it and hope articulately.” by Alan Watts $22.95, paper. Sounds True. 176 pages you let it flow. Then it’s no problem—it becomes positively In order to come to your senses, Alan Watts often said, beautiful… you sometimes need to go out of your mind. Perhaps There’s a Chinese poem that says, “The wind drops, but the petals keep falling. The bird calls, and the mountain more than any other teacher in the West, this former An HOW TO BE ULTRA SPIRITUAL - becomes more mysterious.” Isn’t that strange? There’s no 12 1/2 Steps to Spiritual Superiority glican priest and self-described spiritual entertainer was wind anymore, yet petals are dropping and the bird in the by JP Sears responsible for igniting the passion of countless wisdom canyon cries, and that one sound in the mountains brings $22.95, paper. Sounds True. seekers for the spiritual and philosophical delights of Asia out the silence with a wallop. Slight impermanences bring 251 pages, b/w illustrations and India. For the first time in print, Out of Your Mind brings read- out change, and they give you this very strange sense—yugen, the $54.00, 7 CDs. 7 hours, 53 minutes (unabridged) ers some of Watts’ pinnacle teachings for expanding our aware- mystery of change. Welcome to the Glorious Grandeur of ness and appreciation of the Great Game unfolding all around us. For those both new and familiar with Alan Watts, this book in- Ultra Spirituality… JP Sears is an emotion- Born from recordings of Alan Watts captivating live presenta- vites us to delve into his favorite pathways out of the trap of con- al healing coach, curious tions, this new book captures the true scope of this incomparable ventional awareness, including: student of life, a satirist teacher in action. Follow this brilliant and lively thinker down the The art of the “controlled accident”—what happens when you cosmic rabbit hole. Some chapter topics are: known for his YouTube stop taking your life so seriously and start enjoying it with com- Cosmological Models of the World channel, AwakenwithJP. plete sincerity com. The Eternal Transaction How we come to believe “the myth of myself”—that we are In case you haven’t no- Levels of Perception skin-encapsulated egos separate from the world around us—and ticed, the has The Web as Trap become the Old Age. But The Web as Play how to transcend that illusion don’t recycle your crys- Attachment and Control Unconventional and refreshing insights into the deeper princi- tals just yet! His Enlight- Hypnosis and Habituation ples of Buddhism, , Western philosophy, Christianity, enedness JP Sears is ush- Harmonious Dissolution and quite a bit more! ering in the Newer Age, Nonduality in Action Alan Watts (1915-1973) wrote many books, among them The blinding us with the dawn-like brilliance A Great Doubt Wisdom of Insecurity and The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing that is Ultra Spirituality. How to Be Ultra Spir- Hindu Cosmology Who You Are. itual presents Ultra Spiritual JP’s none-of-a- kind guidance, so you can better yourself ism, Vedanta and yoga, we do not find either philosophy through teachings on: PSYCHOTHERAPY EAST AND WEST or religion as these are understood in the West. We find u Competitive spirituality—the Ultra by Alan Watts something more nearly resembling psychotherapy. Spiritual foundation that the rest of $21.00, paper. New World. 192 pages This synthesis is as powerful now as it was then—and is Before he became a counterculture hero, Alan Watts your Ultra Spiritual path rests on ripe for revival. u Why burying your feelings alive makes was known as an incisive scholar of Eastern and Western The ways of liberation make it very clear that life is not going you thrive psychology and philosophy. In this 1963 classic, Watts anywhere, because it is already there. In other words, it is u Dreaming up your awakening—how to demonstrates his deep understanding of both Western playing, and those who do not play with it have simply missed engineer your carefully contrived spiri- (Freudian/Jungian) psychotherapy and Eastern spiritual the point… tual narrative philosophies. Throughout his career, he examined the The liberative artist plays the part of Orpheus by living in the u Rigidly yogic yoga—the moisture-filled problem of humans in a seemingly hostile universe in mode of music instead of the mode of language. His entire ac- cloud formation that drops rain upon ways that questioned the social norms and the illusions that bind tivity is dancing, rhythm for its own sake, and in this way he becomes your river so your flow can flow and constrict modern people. a vortex which draws others into its pattern. He charms their attention from then to now, absorbing them into a rhythm in which survival u Following the light to the greener spiri- Making a groundbreaking synthesis, Watts asserted that the ceases to be the criterion of value. It is by this attraction, and not by tual pastures of powerful insights of Freud and Jung—which had, indeed, brought psychiatry close to the edge of liberation—could, if melded with direction or commandment, that he is sought out as a teacher in the u He-ness, financial levity, deathliness, way of liberation… and other qualities of the quality guru the hitherto secret wisdom of the Eastern traditions, free humans The high art, the upaya, of a true bodhisattva is possible only for u Mindfullessness—all of the fullness of from the battle with the self. one who has gone beyond all need for self-justification; for so long mindfulness with none of the mind If we look deeply into such ways of life as Buddhism and Tao- as there is something to prove, some ax to grind, there is no dance. u Merciless meditation—the most effec- tive way to become more meditative JUST SO u The Pursuit of Pleasure—how a true materialism (and, duh, more spiritual) An Odyssey Into the Cosmic Web connects us fully through our senses with others u Accessing the forces of critical nonjudg- of Connection, Play, and True Pleasure and to the natural flow of the cosmos. ment by Alan Watts Along the way, you’ll explore many other themes, at u Using plant spirit medicine to experi- New on $135.00, 12 CDs. Sounds True. turns humorous, prophetic, and more relevant today ence a degree of enlightenment that CD 10 hours, 32 minutes than ever. What unfolds is a liberating view of life that you aren’t enlightened enough to ex- Alan Watts (1915-1973, alanwatts.org) has inspired arises from possibility and the unpredictable—perfect perience without the spirit who lives generations of spiritual seekers and, through his books and “just so” not in spite of its messy imperfections, inside its particular vegetation and recordings, continues to enthrall new readers and but because of them. u Humbleness, and how to employ it in listeners to this day. the most superior sense of the word. This is vintage Alan at his lucid, droll, delightfully turned-on If you were God, what kind of universe would you create? A perfect With How to Be Ultra Spiritual, His Enlight- best. Highlights: one free of suffering and drama? Or one filled with surprise and u “The Which of which there is no whicher”—or, how modern enedness JP Sears brings the heart and soul delight? life separates us from truly living, and how to find our way of ancient spirituality back to life with a pro- From the 1950s to the 1970s, Eastern spiritual philosophies back gressive aggression, replacing the diluted sparked in the West profound new ways of perceiving ourselves u uselessness of modern spirituality with the and the mysteries of reality. And from his first radio talks and live The emergent, self-organizing, “no-one-in-charge” intelli- waaay more spiritual wisdom of Ultra Spiri- seminars of that era, Alan Watts was at the forefront—engaging, gence of nature tuality. See if you can keep up . . . inspiring, and delighting listeners of all ages and beliefs. u On taking yourself not too seriously, but more sincerely “Loaded with Laugh-Out-Loud humor… With Just So, Watts illuminates three often-overlooked yet essen- u Discovering your place in the great flow of boundless and an intelligent exploration of the spiritual tial universals: connection, play, and pleasure. This exceptional col- interconnected being delusions many fall prey to. Enjoy JP’s per- lection includes three complementary seminars: u The subtle art of authentic and fully felt pleasure ceptive underlying insights while you laugh u The Cosmic Network–on the interconnected web of the per- u Dancing versus plowing your way to fulfillment, and more. beyond all understanding.” —Tony Robbins sonal and the infinite Among Alan Watts’s many books are The Book: On the Taboo u Ecological Awareness—reflections on how humanity and na- Against Knowing Who You Are, The Wisdom of Insecurity and The Joy- Dying & Grieving ture evolve through discovery and “purposeless” play ous Cosmology.

explores a new, compassionate way to grieve, ney is the first book to overturn prevailing, Dr. Doka helps us realize that our expe- GRIEF IS A JOURNEY explaining that grief is not an illness to get often judgmental, ideas about grief and riences following a death are far more indi- Finding Your Path through Loss over but an individual and ongoing journey. replace them with a hopeful, inclusive, per- vidual and much less predictable than the by Kennth Doka There is no one-size-fits-all way to cope sonalized, and research-backed approach. conventional five stages model would have $22.00, paper. Atria Books. 292 pages with loss. The vital bonds that we form with New science and studies upend the domi- us believe. Common patterns of experienc- In this volume of rare sensitivity and pen- those we love in life continue long after nant but incorrect view that grief proceeds ing and expressing grief still prevail, yet etrating understanding, Dr. Kenneth Doka death in very different ways. Grief Is a Jour- by stages. many other life changes accompany a pri-

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 26 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F F R A N K O S T A S E S K I , R A L P H M E T Z N E R , K E N W I L B E R F mary loss. For example, or navigating any sort of transition or crisis; the deaths of parents, they guide us toward appreciating life’s pre- ’s Back even for adults, modify ciousness. THE RELIGION OF TOMORROW family patterns, change Rachel Naomi Remen in her foreword: relationships, and alter A Vision for the Future of the Great Traditions old family rituals. The great depth of experience he brings —More Inclusive, More Comprehensive, More Complete to this book can only be accumulated by by Ken Wilber While the experience of those who are fearless, who have found $53.95, cloth. Shambhala. 778 pages loss is universal, the re- their way to stillness and presence, who actions to that loss are as As the world’s religions increasingly lose followers, Integral phi- possess an ability to connect to the heart losopher Ken Wilber asks how humanity can evolve future religions distinct and individual as and soul of others, and who are blessed you are. Everyone grieves with the gift of story for sharing the road that have discarded their dying forms, while retaining the change- each individual loss in a unique way. traveled. The Five Invitations is filled with less truths upon which they were founded. Exoteric religions have Unique to this book, Dr. Doka also ex- stories so profound that they function as a lost influence primarily because their myths are simply untenable to plains how to cope with disenfranchised compass, a way to travel an unknown road many people today. The only hope lies in the “inner teachings” of grief—the types of loss that are not so readi- to a desired destination. Many of the true the great traditions, the goal of which is an Awakening to the Ultimate Reality that is ev- ly recognized or supported by society. These stories in this book can be read as parables, ery being’s True Nature. But for these traditions to attract and inspire modern men and wisdom stories that enable us all to live include the death of ex-spouses, as well as women, they must incorporate the extraordinary number of scientific truths learned more purposefully and wisely in many non-fatal losses such as divorce, the end of about human nature in just the past 100 years—about the mind and brain, emotions, diverse circumstances… and the growth of consciousness—that the ancients were simply unaware of and thus a friendship, job loss, or infertility. In addi- This book is not someone’s ideas or beliefs tion, he considers losses that might be stig- unable to include in their meditative systems. about what the experience of dying is and Using Buddhism as an example, Wilber demonstrates how his comprehensive Inte- matized, including death by suicide or from means. It is a sharing of deep experience by disease or self-destructive behaviors such as a superbly aware observer. It invites you to gral Approach—which is already being applied to several world religions—can avert a smoking or alcoholism. And finally, Grief is a grow your eyes… “cultural disaster of unparalleled proportions”—the utter neglect of the glorious upper Journey reminds us that, though strange and I am reminded that death, like love, is reaches of human potential by the materialistic postmodern worldview. painful, grief provides significant opportu- intimate, and that intimacy is the condition This is humanity’s one and only discovery of something that, once experienced, indi- nities for growth of soul and character that, of the deepest learning. viduals almost unanimously claim to be an ultimate Reality, an Absolute Truth, the most looking back, we can know were essential. real and most certain experience that they have ever had. This is the precious jewel that we must not let perish… This is the Truth that we must not let die. Transpersonal In his final “Conclusion: The Evolution of Nonduality,” he writes: We will look back on this (and all previous) ages as being the Darker-than-Dark Ages, THE FIVE INVITATIONS Psychology which was followed by the dawn of a new Light, a new world, a new man, a new Discovering What Death Can woman, a new horizon altogether—as Spirit continues its unstoppable, undeniable, Teach Us About Living Fully irrevocable evolution, dragging us with it… by Frank Ostaseski THE ECOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS Take your seat as ever-present I AMness (opening onto Suchness), this present utterly $38.99, cloth. Picador. 288 pages The Alchemy of Personal, Collective, obvious feeling of being you, and ride it into the future, bringing your own specific, unique, one-of-a-kind gifts and talents with you, therein to work on transmuting this Pioneering Zen Hospice caregiver Frank and Planetary Transformation Ostaseski’s stirring book, The Five Invitations, earth into a radiant heaven of outrageous love and foolishly offered-everywhere kind- by Ralph Metzner ness. Rest in both the timeless Being of your ever-present Self and the raging urgency of is an exhilarating medita- $41.95, paper. New Harbinger. tion on the meaning of evolution’s unfolding Eros as it races through the world of Becoming, recognizing that 642 pages, b/w illustrations your Being and Becoming, your Emptiness and Form, your Eternal Thusness and your life and how maintaining Who are we, really? In The Ecology of Con- temporal Eros, is Spirit’s own way of continuing to realize more and more of its own true an ever-present aware- sciousness, an elder/pioneer in the field of Self and real Condition in and through the only vehicle it could ever use to do so: You. ness of death can bring consciousness stud- us closer to our truest Wilber’s most sweeping work since Sex, Ecology, Spirituality is an impassioned call for ies—well known for wholeness, inclusiveness, and unity in the religions of tomorrow. selves. He dedicates the his groundbreaking book to his mentor, Ste- psychedelic research A BRIEF HISTORY OF EVERYTHING phen Levine, and begins with Ram Dass and the book with this: at 20th Anniversary Edition Death is not waiting Harvard in the early by Ken Wilber $25.95, paper. Shambhala. 352 pages for us at the end of a long 1960s—presents an road. Death is always with us, in the marrow Ken Wilber’s illuminating career as freelance transpersonal philoso- expansive work cul- pher began with his publication of The Spectrum of Consciousness (1975), of every passing moment. She is the secret minating decades of teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to which in effect married Freud and the Buddha. In many books since, experiential research he has described the path of human development—the evolution of discover what matters most. And the good in Eastern philoso- news is we don’t have to wait until the end consciousness—systematically, comprehensively—and brilliantly. phy, shamanism, and of our lives to realize the wisdom that death A Brief History of Everything, Wilber’s accessible and entertaining has to offer. more—to guide you along the path of true consciousness and transformation. summary of his visionary ideas of the evolution of human conscious- In his thirty-plus years as a companion to the ness and culture, has now been revised with 30 pages of new text and additional dying, Frank Ostaseski has sat on the precipice In presenting this work, I want to express diagrams—and this 20th anniversary edition features a new afterword by Ken Wilber and my gratitude and appreciation to the fellow of death with more than a thousand people. A Lana Wachowski. explorers, students, and friends with whom renowned teacher of compassionate caregiving I have had the privilege of collaboratively This book is a friendly and accessible account of men and women’s places in a uni- and the co-founder of the Zen Hospice Project, exploring these realms of consciousness verse of sex, soul, and spirit. Wilber examines the course of evolution as the unfold- Ostaseski has distilled the lessons gleaned over that go far beyond what our modern world- ing manifestation of Spirit, from matter to life to mind, including the higher stages the course of his career into The Five Invitations view regards as real or possible. of spiritual development where Spirit becomes conscious of itself. The author offers : a powerful and inspiring exploration of the es- Questions surrounding consciousness striking and original views of topics of current interest and controversy: gender wars, sential wisdom dying has to impart to all of us. have intrigued humankind throughout multiculturalism, and ecology and environmental ethics among them. The result is an The Five Invitations: time, and have been addressed through a extraordinary ride through the Kosmos. u Don’t wait wide range of perspectives and traditions. “I cannot imagine a better way to be introduced to Ken Wilber than this book. It u Welcome everything, From age-old philosophies to New Age brings the debate about evolution, consciousness, and our capacity for transformation push away nothing spirituality, consciousness—and its various to an entirely new level. More practically, it will save you many missteps and wrong u Bring your whole self forms—has been the topic of much contem- turns on whatever wisdom path you choose to take... to the experience plation. This unique book is a comprehen- “Wilber serves in A Brief History of Everything as a demystifier and a debunker—a u Find a place of rest in the middle sive exploration that covers a wide range of discerning critic of the teachers, techniques, ideas, and systems that promise routes to of things disciplines and subjects within the frame- encompassing truth, but are more commonly incomplete, misleading, misguided, or distorted.”—Tony Schwartz, author of What Really Matters u Cultivate a don’t know mind will, work of psycho-spiritual and consciousness if lived, show us how death can be the studies. The Ecology of Consciousness revives guide we need to wake up fully to our lives. ancient alchemic knowledge, spiritual tra- ing practices of today. With this conscious- Accessing Your Spiritual Intelligence for They are five mutually supportive princi- ditions, and thoughtful theories about con- sciousness—drawing on ancient Eastern ness-expanding book, you’ll explore the Healing and Guidance ples, permeated with love. They have served human life cycle from a spiritual perspec- me as reliable guides for coping with death. philosophy, shamanism, mythology, and MindSpace and TimeStream: And, as it turns out, they are equally rele- other sources, and covering topics such as tive, reflect on your own personal journey, Understanding and Navigating Your States vant guides to living a life of integrity… I personal growth and reincarnation—to give and discover which pathway guides your of Consciousness think of these as five bottomless practices you an expansive foundation for self-inquiry life purpose for your ultimate fulfillment, The Life Cycle of the Human Soul: that can be continually explored and deep- and transformation. growth, and well-being. Incarnation—Conception—Birth— ened. They have little value as theories. To be This book will give you a deeper under- The seven parts of this book are: Death—Hereafter—Reincarnation understood, they have to be lived into and standing of consciousness, show you how to Transformations of Collective Consciousness: The Six Worlds of Existence in Mahayana realized through action. access your own spiritual intelligence, teach An Octave of World History Buddhism These five invitations can be understood you about shamanic, alchemic, and divina- from 1945 to 2001 The World Tree and the World Axis as best practices for anyone coping with loss tory traditions and connect them to heal- Alchemical Divination: Octave Holoarchies: Divination Meditations.

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Some of the text in this book was previously that has allowed by newly plastic brain to published in a series of six small books, wiggle its way out from beneath its typical over the years 2008 to 2013. That text has fog of negativity?... Cannabis & Spirit been extensively revised, corrected, updat- When I told my children that over the CANNABIS & SPIRITUALITY ed, and reorganized in Ecology of Conscious- last month I had been experimenting with An Explorer’s Guide to an ness. a medication for my mood, they were not Ancient Plant Spirit Ally “Not since Virgil showed Dante around surprised. They had sensed that something was different. To them, the experiment edited by Stephen Gray Hell and Purgatory have we had as gifted $21.50, paper. Inner Traditions. 272 pp. a guide as Ralph Metzner help us compre- was a resounding success. My young- Truly a medicine for body and soul, one of cannabis’s greatest er daughter said, “You’ve been much hend and appreciate the major realms of gifts is its remarkable potential for spiritual healing and awaken- consciousness. His blend of erudition, wis- happier. You’ve been controlling your emotions. Like, when you’re angry you’re ing. In this authoritative guide, editor Stephen Gray and 17 oth- dom, common sense, and personal expe- super-chill.”… My older son’s response was er influential voices of the modern cannabis movement explore rience makes each approach he describes especially sweet. “I’ve noticed a change, the spiritual benefits of cannabis and offer guidance on how to (from Alchemy to Buddhism, Agni Yoga for sure. You’ve been kind of playing interact with the intelligence of this plant ally, a companion and through psychedelics, and more) inviting, around in a way you haven’t before. You’re supporter of humanity for millennia. Exploring cannabis spiri- understandable, and enlightening. In ad- more funny and lively. There’s been a lot of tuality in practice, Gray’s chapters examine dosage, strains, and dition, the practices he presents to open things we had to deal with that were stress- methods of intake; the use of cannabis to open the creative channels; how to conduct these many gates make this not only an il- ful, but you didn’t scream or yell.”… group ceremonies with cannabis; and cautions and contraindications for cannabis use. luminating book, but give each of us a way I have felt different and I have been We hear from Chris Bennett on the religious and ritual use of cannabis from pre-bib- to investigate, experience, and ultimately different. Whether it’s the microdose, or lical times to the present, Joan Bello on marijuana and the body-mind connection, Dee the placebo effect, over the past month I decide for ourselves our own best path or Dussault on ganja yoga, Kathleen Harrison on humanity’s co-evolution with cannabis, paths. The book fulfills Metzner’s intention, have had many days at the end of which I looked back and thought, That was a really and cannabis shaman Hamilton Souther on working with the spirit of cannabis. Con- ‘to awaken spiritual intelligence and bring good day. tributors explore the spiritual future of this plant ally as well as the ritual use of canna- about a deeper connection with our essen- bis by the Rastafarians of Jamaica and the Sadhus of India. The chapters from Brazilian tial nature.’” —James Fadiman , author of ayahuasca shaman Mariano da Silva and ayahuasca apprentice Francisco present wis- The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide dom on comingling the sacramental medicines of cannabis and ayahuasca. “This superb book is an antidote for the LISTENING TO AYAHUASCA Revealing the potential of “the people’s plant” to enhance a wide range of spiritual alienation, distrust, and fear that threaten our New Hope for Depression, Addiction, practices, such as meditation, yoga, chanting, visualization, shamanism, spirit work, future existence as a viable species on Earth. PTSD, and Anxiety and explorations with other entheogens, this guide shows how cannabis can be an ef- This book is not only about healing, it is heal- by Rachel Harris fective ally on the awakening journey, unlocking the receptive energy in us all and ing. For all our sakes and that of our descen- $22.50, paper. New World. 376 pages helping us to feel connected to nature, to each other, and to ourselves. dants, it deserves universal readership.” - Larry When National Geographic Adventure pub- Cannabis can unlock us from our habitual way of doing things, and, more importantly, Dossey, MD , author of One Mind lished an article in 2006 about the powerful of thinking about things. It pulls us out of our forward-leaning vector, encouraging us to antidepressant effects hang back, wait a bit, and see how things feel before rushing into anything. It puts us in Entheogens ~ of ayahuasca, the piece touch with our deepest longings and our truest feelings. It enables contemplation and received a phenome- reflection. —from the foreword by Julie Holland, MD Psychedelics nal reader response. “Warning: Reading this book will forever change your opinion of cannabis and your That article struck a relationship with it. Like too many of us, I had underrated cannabis’ spiritual effective- chord with psycho- A REALLY GOOD DAY ness. No more! This wonderful, often lyrical, immensely practical book introduces you therapist Rachel Har- to its diverse spiritual uses, contemporary practices, and the results possible when you How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference ris, who had encoun- honor and respect the plant, the plant’s spirit, and yourself… From the early chapters in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life tered many clients invoking the sheer loveliness of the experience to the last chapter’s warning of misuse, by Ayelet Waldman unresponsive to tradi- this is an important contribution to appreciate the full spectrum of this remarkable $34.95, cloth. Penguin. 229 pages tional therapy and an- Here’s a revealing, courageous, fasci- plant’s effects.” —James Fadiman. microdose researcher and author of The Psychedelic tidepressant protocols. Explorer‘s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys nating, and funny account of the author’s Used for more than experiment with “The contributors point to its ancient pedigree as a plant substance that assists the 8,000 years in the Am- work of shamans and spiritual healers and deepens our connecting with the higher microdoses of LSD azon rainforest, ayahuasca is a powerful— in an effort to treat dimensions of reality and their creative expressions..” —Ralph Metzner, author of The and illegal—psychedelic that has distress- Ecology of Consciousness a debilitating mood ing gastrointestinal side effects. Yet Harris disorder, of her “Gray and his co-authors establish cannabis’s important role in the Ref- found many willing to try it, so deep was ormation—religion’s current movement from being based on sacred words and texts quest to understand their suffering. Harris here shares her orig- a misunderstood to being based on personal spiritual experience.” —Thomas Roberts, author, The Psy- inal research (the largest study of ayahuas- chedelic Future of the Mind drug, and of her ca use in North America) into its effects on search for a really depression, anxiety, and PTSD, along with good day. her own personal experiences. By detailing GANJA YOGA When a small vial ayahuasca’s risks and benefits, she aims to A Practical Guide to Conscious Relaxation, arrives in her mail- help those driven to investigate ayahuasca to Soothing Pain Relief, and Enlightened Self-Discovery box from “Lewis Car- do so safely and to give their psychological by Dee Dussault roll,” Ayelet Wald- caregivers a template for skilled caring and $24.99, cloth. HarperCollins. man is at a low point. healing. 288 pages, 7x8, b/w illustrations Her mood storms have become intolerably “Finally, finally, finally—an ayahuasca Yogis have been using cannabis to enhance spiritual practice severe; she has tried nearly every medication book I can recommend without reservation. for millennia. Today, there is a quiet but growing conversation possible; her husband and children are suf- Rachel Harris focuses not on the journey within the Western yoga community about the potential role fering with her. So she opens the vial, places (giant snakes, dismemberment, insights, of cannabis for modern seekers pursuing a spiritual path. Now, two drops on her tongue, and joins the ranks purging, etc.) but on what eventually mat- certified yoga instructor Dee Dussault takes this ancient prac- of an underground but increasingly vocal ters far more: the ongoing and robust after- tice mainstream. Ganja Yoga isn’t just mixing cannabis and exercise; it is a ceremony group of scientists and civilians successfully effects in people’s lives. Harris is a skilled that makes conscious relaxation an intentional ritual that can be enhanced with prac- using therapeutic microdoses of LSD (doses psychotherapist and a serious ayahuasca tice—a lifestyle to help us make a more harmonious and stress-free world. of 10 micrograms, about one tenth of a typical user, and her credibility in both worlds For some contemporary yoga adherents, marijuana can deepen awareness, accept- “dose” —so sub-perceptual one hardly notices makes her own story, interwoven with those ance, connection, and relaxation during practice. As laws loosen and the stigma sur- it during the day. of the many people she interviewed, infor- rounding marijuana dissipates, cannabis is increasingly seen as a legitimate supplement As Waldman charts her experience over mative and discerning.” —James Fadiman, to increased health and wellbeing. Ganja Yoga explains how to set up a sacred space that the course of a month—bursts of produc- microdose researcher- author, The Psychedel- allows you to use this relaxing substance with yoga for enlightenment (or at least some tivity, odd sleep patterns, a newfound sense ic Explorer’s Guide awesome stretching and meditation). of equanimity-—she also explores the histo- “Rachel Harris has produced a unique- Dee walks you through the considerations and best practices for introducing can- ry and mythology of LSD, the cutting-edge ly brave study of ayahuasca use and users, nabis into your yoga practice, or infusing yoga into your imbibing routine. But it’s not research into the drug, and the byzantine through the experiences of others and, most about being stoned out of your head—as Dee says, its like adding spice to your food. In policies that control it. Drawing on her ex- significantly, her own explorations. She nev- Ganja Yoga, she explains how to: perience as a federal public defender, and er dodges the big questions (Who or what u Reap the benefits of profound relaxation as the mother of four teenagers, and her re- is the guiding intelligence experienced?) or u Assume an altered state in a safe, energizing way search into the therapeutic value of psyche- comes up with static answers. Instead, she u Deepen the spiritual practice of yoga delics, Waldman has produced a book that moves through the mysterious process of u Reconnect with the body using ancient techniques is eye-opening, often hilarious, endearingly self-encounter, sharing a string of hard-won u Select the best setting, time, method of consumption, strains, poses, and breath- honest, and a highly engaging combo of sol- insights into how ayahuasca can work its ing techniques to ensure an excellent experience. id research and self-experiment. magic to relieve human suffering.” —Diana Whether you want to practice in a class or in the privacy of home, Ganja Yoga can be And yet here I am, feeling hopeful and Slattery, cofounder of Women’s Visionary your key to a new, high dimension of spiritual practice. optimistic. Is it microdosing with LSD Congress and author of Xenolinguistics.

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Shamanism & Ritual It is time for the return of this most pre- cious ecstatic firepower that gives rise to Shamanic Guides mystical illumination, universal love, and THE RE-ENCHANTMENT HEALING LIGHT New on ecstatic joy… A Shamanic Path to a Life of Wonder This book is a guide to the basics of Sacred An Apprenticeship in CD by Hank Wesselman Peruvian Shamanism Ecstatics—setting your soul on fire, becoming spiritually cooked, receiving your rope to $22.95, paper. Sounds True. 198 pages In a time when our scientific understanding of the universe has by Don Oscar Miro-Quesada God, and hosting the sacred vibration… $93.50, 6 CDs. Sounds True. 7.5 hours The sacred recipe for setting your soul on never been greater, why do so many people feel unhappy and alien- There’s a growing hunger for shamanic fire… is depicted as moving along this ated? As Dr. Hank Wesselman explains, our search for objective wisdom—particularly for authentic teach- trajectory: knowledge has come at the cost of a deeper, intuitive rapport with ings from the South nature and our spiritual selves. The result is a profound disenchant- American tradition. 1. Building sacred ground vast enough to host an ecstatic fire ment, one that affects us individually and collectively. What we need Healing Light brings now is a “re-enchantment,” a way to renew our relationship with na- us over 7 hours with 2. Getting spiritually cooked; and ture, reawaken to spiritual reality, and reclaim the sense of connection and hope that acclaimed shamanic 3. Reentering the everyday with spiritually gives meaning to our lives. charged and mystically inspired creative teacher and healer This re-enchantment through nature, in my opinion, is predictable, even inevitable, be- action… don Oscar Miro-Que- cause nature is where the juice is. I’m talking about the life force that breathes essence sada. Listeners will We welcome you to discover the oldest and wonder into our world and into our selves. join don Oscar to ex- and most reliable way of resuscitating The Re-Enchantment offers a compelling blueprint for the emerging transformational plore the fine arts of your spiritual life through the sacred vi- spirituality—not a return to the superstition and ignorance of old beliefs, but a “mod- northern coastal Peruvian shamanism; guid- brations that move body, mind, heart, and ern upgrade of the path of the shaman” that reconnects us to our inner sources of ed journeys for transformation and healing; soul. Get ready to be rocked and rolled, intuition, power, and healing. Here he explores: rituals of the Pachakuti Mesa tradition; and trembled and tumbled, flung and sung as u Challenging the cultural mythos—why a new story is arising about who we are and many teachings shared with a Western audi- you are thrown into the ecstatic triumvirate where we fit in to the greater whole ence for the very first time. of fire, light, and vibratory power. Step u The role of the shaman as a mediator between the material and spiritual worlds How does one begin upon the shamanic toward the infinite room of mystery and u Guides, helping spirits, oversouls, and masters of deception—unseen spiritual path of healing and wisdom? allow its mighty force to pull you in. Bradford and Hillary Keeney are autho- forces that influence our lives By doing, we learn. With study, we re- u rized teachers of several lineages including Empowering ourselves to be agents of change through the shamanic path of “di- fine. Through dreaming, we create. And in rect revelation.” loving, we fulfill. that of the Kalahari Ju/’hoan Bushmen (Way of the Bushman as Told by the Tribal There is new spiritual complex coming into being in our world. This mystical mosaic More than 30 years ago, don Oscar Elders), the Japanese practice of seiki jutsu draws from many traditions and many cultures, and has the potential to refresh and per- Miro-Quesada was privileged to acquire, (Seiki Jutsu: The Practice of Non-Subtle Energy haps replace our current mainstream religions with new perceptions and new insights. practice, and share the teachings of two re- Medicine), and other traditions of “shaking In The Re-Enchantment, this teacher presents a provocative call to action—to engage vered shamanic wisdom holders from the medicine” (Shaking Medicine: The Healing the world with a newborn’s eyes, a shaman’s heart, and soul dedicated to a wiser, more northern coast and southeastern Andes of Power of Ecstatic Movement). The Keeneys compassionate future. Peru, don Celso Rojas Palomino and don teach and conduct sessions throughout the Hank Wesselman, a research paleoanthropologist and shamanic teacher with more Benito Corihuaman Vargas. world. www.keeneyinstitute.org than 30 years of experience, is also author of Spiritwalker, The Bowl of Light, and Awak- In this full-length audio curriculum, we ening to the Spirit World (with Sandra Ingerman), among others. have the opportunity to honor and partake in this legacy, directly and in the original way, through the spoken word. With don THE TOLTEC ART OF LIFE AND DEATH ENCOUNTERS WITH POWER Oscar’s personal guidance, listeners are of- Living Your Life as a Work of Art Adventures and Misadventures fered singular apprenticeship in: the princi- by Don Miguel Ruis & Barbara Emrys on the Shamanic Path of Healing ples and methods of Peruvian curanderismo; $19.99, paper. HarperCollins. 304 pages by José Stevens guided shamanic journeys of transforma- From the author of The Four Agreements $23.95, paper. Sounds True. 242 pages tion and healing; empowering rituals; and comes a new spiritual journey, The Toltec When you leave the beaten path of civilization, you enter the a treasury of other insights. Art of Life and Death. In world of primal and mysterious forces—and encounter wonders If you’ve ever been compelled by the root 2002, Don Miguel Ruiz you never thought possible. This is the territory of the shaman. To spirituality of South America, “the Heart Is- suffered a near-fatal learn the secrets of shamanism, José Luis Stevens has traveled to land”— or simply wish to experience more heart attack that left the remote and wild places where the oldest human spiritual prac- deeply our primordial connection with the him in a coma on the tice still exists in its purest form. With Encounters with Power, this natural world—Healing Light offers a rare verge of death for nine respected teacher invites you to experience his journeys to meet and welcoming invitation to this perennial weeks. His journey while shamans around the globe—and share in the wisdom he received. Join this master path of soul wisdom. suspended between storyteller as he recounts his meetings with Spirit in its many guises, including: this world and the next u India and the Life-Changing Reading—at a turning point in his life, Jose receives forms the heart of this a startlingly accurate prophecy autobiographical novel, u Lost in Mexico—a humbling education in the difference between “power” and SACRED ECSTATICS a profound and mysti- “control” The Recipe for Setting Your Soul on Fire cal tale of spiritual struggle. As his body lies u The Guatemala Test and Initiation—the power of being frugal with judgment and by The Keeneys unconscious, Ruiz travels in his dreams and generous with forgiveness $16.95, paper. Keeney Institute. 266 pp. encounters the people, ideas, and events u Encounters with the Power of Aborigines and Songlines Down Under—sometimes Sacred Ecstatics, by Hillary and Bradford Kee- that have shaped him, illuminating the eter- the teacher appears when the student is not ready ney, offers a trailblazing orientation that leads nal struggle between life—unending energy u Journeys for Power with Medicine—visions with the plant spirit of ayahuasca you straight to a direct and truth—and death—matter and subjec- u A Magical Andes Wedding—an unforgettable ceremony attended by people, spir- experience of divine tive knowledge—in which we are all called its, and the forces of nature ecstasy. As your body to engage. u The Dolphin Brujos—nature’s tricksters teach a sharp lesson in responsibility and trembles, quakes, and humility shakes with ultimate This book recounts the events of my life. Unlike my previous writings, it merges the u Encounters with the Dark Shaman—a perilous jungle journey reveals the ferocity bliss, you are filled of nature and the dangerous side of shamanic practice with an extraordinary power of imagination with the teachings of Toltec wisdom… u Nevado Aconcagua: Pilgrimage to a Sacred Mountain—how a holy place can be vibration that initiates Our waking lives, like our sleeping both a dangerous trial and a source of limitless support. incredible transforma- dreams, are works of art. This book is an ar- tion and rebirth. Based In my travels to meet these extraordinary healers, I’ve had terrifying, enlightening, and tistic piece of storytelling about very real in- at times hugely entertaining adventures. Power can destroy us or it can raise us up by on the best of ancient teraction between me and my mother, dona teaching us and nourishing us. I may not be a master, but I have learned a few things that and contemporary ec- Sarita, a well-respected healer in San Diego you may find helpful on your own quest. static traditions, Sacred and my teacher and guide through much of Ecstatics offers a pow- my life. From the moment of my heart attack “There is great wisdom in José’s stories; they bring us into connection with our inner erful means of bringing forth this pinnacle on February 28, 2002, she did everything she chief, the leader within each of us.” —Hank Wesselman, author of The Bowl of Light spiritual experience. could to keep my body from dying. Using Also by José Stevens is Awaken the Inner Shaman. Principally rooted in the mystical, sha- all the power of her faith, she gathered her manic, and healing lineages of the Kalahari children and apprentices to perform a series Bushmen, Caribbean Shakers, and the Japa- of ceremonies on my behalf. confronts me there, I send her to talk to the helps you create the story of your life. nese tradition of seiki jutsu, Sacred Ecstatics In this culmination of a lifetime’s learn- main character of my story, which is my “In the tradition of Castaneda, Ruiz dis- specifies the practical know-how underlying ing, ten years in the making, Ruiz shares own knowledge. In this fantasy, knowledge tills essential Toltec wisdom, expressing with the reception and nurturance of Spirit. A with readers the innermost workings of his is depicted as a mysterious creature called clarity and impeccability what it means for three-step recipe for action leads you to singular heart and mind. Lala. You could say she is the embodiment of men and women to live as peaceful warriors the ineffable ecstatic rapture that is missing Those excursions into my dream state are everything I believe and everything that gives in the modern world. “ —Dan Millman, au- from most spiritual ways. the basis for this book. When my mother shape to my story—just as your knowledge thor of Way of the Peaceful Warrior

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Native American money he earned from teaching to construct Faery & Theurgy Traditions Medicine Ways Meta Tantay, a commu- BETWIXT & BETWEEN nity in the Nevada des- ert. Exploring the Faery Tradition of Witchcraft EMBERS In this book, edited by Storm Faerywolf One Ojibway’s Meditations $25.50, paper. Llewellyn. 318 pages, 7x9 by his grandson Sidian Faery (also known as Feri) is a tradition of great power and by Richard Wagamese Morning Star Jones and $18.95, paper. Douglas & Macinyre. beauty. Originating in the West Coast of the United States sep- longtime friend Stanley arately from the Wicca tradition in England, Faery’s appeal is 176 pages, colour photos Krippner, we hear di- In this carefully curated selection of every- grounded in its focus on power and results. This book provides rectly from people pro- day reflections with awesome nature photos, the tools you need to begin your own Faery-style magical practice. foundly changed by Rolling Thunder, wheth- Richard Wagamese (one Discover the foundational mythology and rites of the Faery tradi- er through direct experience or through of Canada’s foremost tion as well as steps and techniques for: his teachings. We learn of his legendary First Nations storytellers) Creating an Altar interactions with animals and the forces of finds lessons in both the Summoning the Faery Fire Nature and hear from witnesses to his re- mundane and sublime as markable healings, including the healing of Engaging the Shadow he muses on the universe, a young boy where a mist wolf was seen by Exploring the Personal Trinity drawing inspiration from several people. We learn of Rolling Thun- Purifying the Primal Soul working in the bush—saw- ders inspiring impact on men and women Working with the Iron Pentacle ing and cutting and stack- now devoted in service to humankind and Aligning Your Life Force ing wood for winter as well the Earth and read stories both insightful Developing Spirit Alliances as the smudge ceremony and humorous from friends that prove his Journeying Between the Worlds to bring him closer to the climate change true. Creator. Exploring Air, Fire, Water & Earth, etc. Revealing his trickster teachings, his leg- Personal experimentation and creative exploration are the heart and soul of Faery. We carry the embers of all the things endary shamanic powers, his devotion to the The rituals, recipes, exercises, and lore within will help you project your consciousness that burned and raged in us. Pains and Earth, and how his impact did not stop with into realms beyond this world, opening you to the experience of spiritual ecstasy. sorrows, to be sure, but also triumphs, his death, these stories of Rolling Thunder joys, victories and moments of clear-eyed Storm fulfills his oath-bound commitment and respect for his initiatory tradition of from a variety of sources demonstrate how vision. People give us those. People cause Faery/Feri, honoring the folkloric roots of Faery while expressing a stream of teaching flames to rise in our hearts and minds and transformation can come even while walk- that is also as fresh, ever-changing, alive, and vibrant as nature. His development of con- spirits, and life would not be life without ing gently on the Earth. temporary processes and techniques to bring the subtle senses out of dormancy and into them. My journey has been blessed by Stories are almost as essential to people’s current and living awareness is commendable… We must unearth these ancient sensory folks who stuck around until the miracle lives as food, clothing, and shelter. Stories pathways (the roots) and raise them up to the base of humanity’s top-heavy perceptual happened and I could begin to become the provide meaning. Stories provide direction. field. In doing so, Betwixt and Between supports the resacralizing of the underworld. — person I was created to be. And stories provide entertainment… My Orion Foxwood, from the foreword Embers is perhaps Richard Wagamese’s grandfather loved to tell Thunder Stories and As Storm writes in his introduction to this book which “is intended for an interme- most personal volume. Honest, evocative he would have enjoyed knowing that people diate audience, someone who has already explored certain basics of the Craft and now still remember him and continue to tell sto- is looking for something more than the current public model of modern Witchcraft and articulate, he explores the various man- ries about the impact he made on their lives. ifestations of grief, joy, recovery, beauty, generally allows for,” gratitude, physicality and spirituality—con- This book offers some powerful tools, philosophies, rituals, and lore to help inspire cepts many find hard to express. But for your own magical work… But be warned! Faery is not a fair-weather practice. We must Wagamese, spirituality is multifaceted. With- Wicca & Magick be prepared to examine our deepest fears and insecurities if we are to attempt to travel in these pages, readers will find hard-won the astral worlds and return unscathed… We break our senses wide open and then we and concrete wisdom on how to feel the joy can see. And then can we join the Faery dance. But only if we see, so only if we break. in the everyday things. WOMAN MOST WILD FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS What’s needed are eyes that focus with the Three Keys to Liberating the Witch Within soul. What’s needed are spirits open to every- The History and Modern Practice of Theurgy: thing. What’s needed are the belief that won- by Danielle Dulsky Our Pagan Inheritance $21.50, paper. New World. 224 pages der is the glue of the universe and the desire After centuries of persecution, witches by Brandy Williams to seek more of it. Be filled with wonder. $25.50, paper. Llewellyn. 338 pages have gotten super bad press in pop culture. For the Love of the Gods tells the epic story of theurgy, from its Wagamese does not seek to be a teacher From Macbeth to Snow or guru, but these observations made along roots in ancient Egypt to its modern day practice. The lives and pas- White, witches have ap- sions of the early Pagan philosophers come alive in these pages, im- his own journey to become, as he says, “a peared as villains, harm- spiritual bad-ass,” make inspiring reading. mersing you in the bustling cities and diverse cultures that spawned ing the innocent with theurgy as we know it today. Theurgy is best understood when it is Life sometimes is hard. There are chal- black magic. In Woman deeply experienced. The stories presented here re-create the expe- lenges. There are difficulties. There is pain. Most Wild, however, au- rience of these ancient practices and show how they were passed down through gener- As a younger man I sought to avoid them thor Danielle Dulsky de- and only ever caused myself more of the ations of teachers and students of differing ethnicities, genders, and ages. bunks antiquated myths It’s commonly believed that ancient Pagan theurgy traditions were erased from the earth same. These days I choose to face life head and reveals the true na- on—and I have become a comet. I arc and replaced by monotheistic religions—but this is a myth. The way to the gods was never ture of witchcraft: an an- lost. For the Love of the Gods shares step-by-step instructions for theurgic rituals. across the sky of my life and the harder cient spiritual path that times are the friction that lets the worn The teachers instruct us how to engage in study, prayer, and ritual to raise our souls to and tired bits drop away. It’s a good way to rejects religious dogma in favor of female em- the experience of the gods and of the One. As we learn from them, we realize that our travel; eventually I will wear away all resis- practice keeps the Pagan theurgic tradition alive. tance until all there is left of me is light. I powerment and reverence for the earth. In Theurgy participates in the project to restore Pagan religion. Together with indigenous can live towards that end. her sly yet juicy conversational tone, Dulsky peoples, reconstructionists, and those who create new paths, theurgists embody Pagan argues that it’s time to reclaim the word religion in living practice today. witch. More importantly, she shows us that Discover how to offer devotionals, create living statues, invoke into yourself and oth- every woman has a potential witch trapped ers, and achieve personal communion. THE SHAMANIC POWERS inside, waiting to be freed. As our love for the gods draws us, we seek to become like the gods ourselves, suffused OF ROLLING THUNDER Women have been uniquely robbed of As Experienced by Alberto Villoldo, their spiritual power, and the reclamation with their light, dwelling within the happy presence of the divine. John Perry Barlow, Larry Dossey, of wild spirituality, that is, practices and With imagined dialogues between the most influential Western philosophers and and Others understandings that acknowledge the un- their students, and hands-on instructions for Theurgic practices, this book is a compre- edited by Sidian Morning Star Jones tamed, holy, and spiraling qualities of the hensive guide to god-work past and present. natural world as living within all beings, is & Stanley Krippner paramount to pan-gender equality… $19.95, paper. Bear & Company. While this book is primarily for those cycles of nature (“Your Wild Rhythm”), un- 206 pages, colour photos who identify as women, your wild spiritu- es where you crave it most often, spilling One of the most celebrated and contro- ality does not require a physical womb; it derstanding the importance of ritual (“Your over its banks in times of loss or fierce versial Native American medicine men of only asks you to honor the fusion of your Wild Ritual”), and bonding with a circle of need, and finding new rivulets when the the 20th century, Rolling Thunder (1916- body and psyche to your feminine spirit. like-minded seekers (“Your Wild Circle”), high-edged ego begins to crumble to the 1997) was known for his remarkable heal- Though ritual is a vital and load-bearing they can recover, discover and free up the holy ground. Let all part of you feed this ings and for his ability to call on the forces pillar in the Witch’s house, this book is Witch within and take part in a collective wild river, especially the exotic mud of of nature, typically in the form of thunder much more of a three-part ode to your feminine awakening so necessary to our your sensuality and the many-colored wa- clouds. He was also a passionate activist who inborn wild wisdom than a how-to manual healthy evolution in this earth. ters of your creativity. The Witch is being for how to conduct rituals and craft spells. worked to trigger social change on behalf Your spiritual liberation comes from re-wilded through the reclamation of the of Native American tribes. Sought after as a Woman Most Wild gives all women the keys a craft that ebbs and flows over rough fem-force, or Shakti, and She is being lecturer and workshop leader, he used the to freedom: by aligning themselves with the ground, carving out deep trenches in plac- re-wilded through you.

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Christian & Jewish Jewish mysticism (or- Mary & Jesus dained by Reb Zal- Spirituality man), here offers us THE QUEST FOR MARY MAGDALENE a deeply affirming ex- THE HEART OF CENTERING PRAYER by Michael Haag ploration of the chal- $19.99, paper. HarperCollins. Nondual Christianity lenges and possibilities 323 pages, b/w photos in Theory and Practice of the unknown—with Mary Magdalene is a potent and enigmatic figure. In the gos- meditations and ex- by Cynthia Bourgeault pels she finances Jesus’ mission in Galilee and is the only person ercises that can help $22.99, paper. Shambhala. 239 pages with Jesus at his crucifixion, burial and resurrection—the critical Here’s a book on perceiving nondual transform the fear and moments that define his purpose and give rise to a new religion. awareness through the Christian contem- uncertainty of “not Yet in the sixth century Mary Magdalene fell foul of a profound plative method called knowing” into a sense argument in which the established, ritualized and hierarchical Centering Prayer by the of openness, curiosity, Church required that God be worshipped through itself, whereas author of The Wisdom and bravery. everything about Mary Magdalene suggests a more immediate and personal experience Jesus and The Meaning of The unknown is a deep current of mystery of the divine. Pope Gregory reduced Mary Magdalene from an independent visionary Mary Magdalene. that runs through all religions and mystical to a sinner and a prostitute while making Jesus’s mother Mary—who is a nonentity in Centering Prayer is the traditions, and it is also the nexus of contem- the gospels—into a creature of the Church, hailing her as the epitome of all things path to a wonderful and porary psychotherapeutic thought and prac- feminine and holy. radical new way of see- tice and a key element in all personal growth In The Quest for Mary Magdalene, historian Michael Haag presents Mary Magdalene ing the world. It is not, and healing. In The Wisdom of Not Knowing, as the woman at the center of Jesus’s life, a visionary and a radically independent wom- as sometimes thought, Estelle Frankel shows us that our psycholog- an. He explores how she has been used and abused and reinterpreted in every age, and simply an act of devotion- ical, emotional, and spiritual health is radi- he examines what she reveals about woman and man and the divine. al piety, nor is it simply cally influenced by how comfortable we are a Christianized form of other meditation Mary Magdalene is a larger figure than any text, larger than the Bible or the Church; at navigating the unknown and uncertain di- methods. Cynthia Bourgeault here cuts she has taken on a life of her own. In medieval times she was called ‘the light-bearer’, re- mensions of our lives. And who among us is calling her Gnostic epithet ‘inheritor of light’ in her search for the truth. She is the media- not on the edge of the unknown? through the misconceptions to show that tor of the divine mystery and she has remained a potent and mysterious figure ever since. Centering Prayer is in fact a pioneering Drawing on insights from Kabbalah, development within the Christian contem- In the manner of a quest, the book follows Mary Magdalene through the centuries, depth psychology, Buddhism, Christianity, plative tradition. She provides a practical, traces her story through the Renaissance when she became a goddess of beauty and Hinduism, and ancient myth, Frankel ex- complete course in the practice and then love, and looks at Mary Magdalene as the feminist icon she has become today. plores how we can grow our souls by tap- goes deeper to analyze what actually hap- ping into the wisdom of not knowing. She pens in Centering Prayer: the mind effec- TANTRIC JESUS also includes case studies of individuals who tively switches to a new operating system The Erotic Heart of Early Christianity have grappled with their fears of the un- that makes possible the perception of non- by James Reho known and, as a result, have come out wiser, duality. With this understanding in place, $24.95, paper. Inner Traditions. stronger, and more resilient. Each chap- she then takes us on a journey through one 364 pages, colour plates ter includes experiential exercises and/or of the sources of the practice, the Christian Unbeknownst to many, the original Christian spirituality as prac- meditations for befriending the unknown. contemplative classic The Cloud of Unknow- ticed in the early church and by Jesus himself was a tantric spiritu- These exercises help convey how we must ing, revealing it to be among the earliest ality. In the West, often evokes images of arcane rituals or be willing to “not know” in order to gain Christian explorations of the phenomenol- acrobatic sexual positions, while in reality Tantra is a holistic path of knowledge and be able to bear uncertainty ogy of consciousness. life, love, and being—grounded in practice. so we can be free to enjoy a healthy sense of adventure and curiosity. I suspect that within the foreseeable fu- Offering a new understanding of Jesus as guru and master of ture we will see an expanded road map of left-handed Tantra, James Reho, an Episcopal priest and tantric initiate, reframes the Our very human tendency is to foreclose the journey to nonduality, together with Christian story and restores to modern Christianity the tantric wisdom practices that on the present moment by coloring it with a new way of evaluating and leveraging were edited out of church tradition and forgotten over the centuries. He explains how fearful overlays from the past. It seems that Christian mystical texts. Even the effusive tantric Christianity views the human body as the primary temple of the Holy, with erotic the anxious mind would rather imagine the love mysticism usually typecast in present energy as the signature of Divine Presence within. Rev. Reho reveals the similarities worst than wait and be surprised by what maps of consciousness as belonging to a of the earliest Christian practices to the tantric of India and Tibet and explores life actually presents. The chapter, “Cour- personalistic and therefore lower level of the role of Kundalini and the chakras. He details how to work with mantras, icons, age in Face of the Unknown” examines consciousness, I suspect actually contains and pranayama breathing exercises, as well as with gazing as a spiritual practice. In- these dynamics and explores ways we can overcome our fear of the unknown by de- the seeds, metaphorically, of that nonnego- formed by the insights of ancient texts and early masters of Christian spirituality, the veloping greater courage. With courage we tiable Christian affirmation that luminosity author provides step-by-step instructions on how to practice Christian tantric sex with is love; the two cannot be separated. And can face our radical vulnerability and the a life-partner of the opposite or same sex. love requires the participation of the heart. unpredictable nature of life with greater It is refreshing to read the author’s practices that take us beyond words and concepts equanimity. Cynthia Bourgeault’s illumination of the into silence and transformation—that is, into rewiring. This is why a book like this car- Centering Prayer path provides compelling Frankel offers clear, accessible psychologi- ries so much hope with it. Human beings can change: that is what metanoia means—a cal and spiritual insights and a set of practical evidence of how important the practice change in consciousness. But we need some methods along the way to assist the process, has become in the half-century since it first and this book provides that. —Matthew Fox, from the foreword tools, including mindfulness exercises, guid- arose among American Trappist monks, and ed meditations, and journaling exercises. Rev. Reho reveals how these heart-opening practices are rooted in eros, the life of of its maturation and refinement over the “Recasts the ‘unknown’ from a situation deep desire, expressive of God’s grace within us, and are still alive in monastic practices ensuing years of sincere study and practice. of dread to an invitation to ever more liber- in the Christian East. Integrating his personal spiritual experiences, years of study of It will resonate with beginners on the Cen- ating awareness.” —Sylvia Boorstein, author ancient Christian mysticism, and an expertise in yoga and tantra, the author shows how tering Prayer path as well as seasoned prac- of Happiness is an Inside Job we can re-engage the original truths of the early church to affirm the body as a holy titioners. vehicle and to utilize the energy of the erotic to achieve ecstatic union with the Divine. I continue to be impressed by Centering Prayer’s fidelity to the heart of the Christian Sufism, Islam & Rumi tradition and its ability, when explicitly In A Heart Afire, the moored in this tradition, to lead its practi- Enlightening and spiritually uplifting, A teachings and tales of HOLISTIC ISLAM tioners toward nondual awakening along a Heart Afire reveals surprising relevancy today old-world Hasidism are Sufism, Transformation, pathway that corresponds to authentically in cherished Hasidic wisdom and narrative richly enhanced by the Christian and Western reference points. of the past. and the Needs of Our Time enlightening insights, Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Reb by Kabir Helminski interpretations, and per- Zalman) was the founder of the Jewish Re- $21.50, paper. White Cloud. 168 pages sonal reflections of Rabbi Islam once gave birth to a great civiliza- newal movement and author of many books. A HEART AFIRE Zalman Schachter-Shalo- tion that respected religious diversity, free- “A tour-de-force that will take its place Stories and Teachings mi, a modern-day Hasidic dom of conscience, beside the efforts of Buber and Wiesel [in master and founder of and scientific thought, of the Early Hasidic Masters bringing] the deep spiritual practices, sto- the Jewish Renewal move- and Islamic knowl- by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi ries and perspective of Hassidic tradition to ment, and his disciple edge contributed to $33.50, paper. Monkfish. 432 pages life.” —Rabbi Goldie Milgram This brilliant anthology of early Hasid- Netanel Miles-Yepez, a scholar of compar- the birth of humanism ic teachings encompasses teachings from ative religion. Together they add a deeply in the Renaissance. Sufism, Buddhism and depth psychology. meaningful dimension to these stories and Today’s world is des- A Heart Afire is an intimate, guided tour of a facile bridge between old and new inter- THE WISDOM OF NOT KNOWING perately in need of a many of the lesser-known and previously un- pretations of them. Discovering a Life of Wonder spirituality that is free published stories and teachings of the first Readers get a rare introduction to some by Embracing Uncertainty of dogma, based in ex- three generations of Hasidism, especially of the more radical teachings of these pop- by Estelle Frankel periences not beliefs, those of the Ba’al Shem Tov, his heirs (male ular Hasidic masters, and insights that con- $22.95, paper. Shambhala. 234 pages one that can reconcile and female) and the students of his succes- nect them to the ecological, ecumenical, Estelle Frankel, practicing psychother- the human and spiritu- sor, the Maggid of Mezritch. and feminist values of the modern world. apist, storyteller, and seasoned teacher of al realms.

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In his new book, renowned spiritual ality of Islam.” —Karen Armstrong, author teacher and Sufi sheikh Kabir Helmins- of A History of God Tarot & Celtic Shaman’s Pack ki, gives us a compelling interpretation of “Deftly situating Rumi in the crosscur- spiritual or holistic Islam that will heart- rents of Persian, Arab, Turkic, and Mongol THE WILD UNKNOWN TAROT DECK & GUIDEBOOK en contemporary Muslims looking for a history, Gooch gives us an indelible portrait by Kim Krans faith suited for our times, and providing of this mystic so crucial to Christians, Mus- $49.99, cards. HarperCollins. non-Muslims a brilliant introduction to this lims, Jews, and modern-day searchers after 208-page guidebook + 78 colour cards, boxed rich spiritual tradition. Helminksi’s holistic meaning.” —Fernanda Eberstadt From Kim Krans, the beloved artist-seeker behind The Wild Un- Islam is an emerging force in the world. It is known, comes the long-awaited box set of her hit tarot deck and reflected in the rise of the popularity of the guidebook—together for the first time in a beautifully designed box. writings of Jalal ad-Din Rumi who is loved by Astrology, Tarot Kim Krans is a vanguard of the new tarot movement. For a legion followers of all faiths and none. of contemporary seekers, The Wild Unknown is more than a tarot Helminski shows how it is the great Sufi & Divination deck; it’s become a resonant guide for people all over the world, teachers of the Islamic tradition who show inspiring them to share countless images of their readings, tattoos, the way to this universal wisdom. Holistic Is- and art prints from the deck. lam is an expression of the primordial reli- MIDLIFE IS NOT A CRISIS Each of the seventy-eight cards in Krans’s Wild Unknown tarot deck is a work of art gion of humanity that recognizes a journey Using Astrology to Thrive that explores the mysteries and archetypes of the natural world and the animal king- through levels of consciousness leading to in the Second Half of Life dom. Hand drawn in her spare, minimalistic style, the striking images invite deep con- the transformation of self and the mature by Virginia Bell templation. Her Wild Unknown guidebook is also an extraordinary cult art object—a human being. While all religions have a $27.95, paper. Weiser. 264 pages hand-lettered and fully illustrated primer that leads readers through shuffling and cut- tendency to decline into sectarianism, le- Midlife Is Not a Crisis combines astrology, ting the tarot, creating spreads, and interpretations of all seventy-eight individual cards. galism, fundamentalism, and superstition, inspiration, and wisdom about aging to em- Kim’s Wild Unknown tarot deck and tarot guidebook are now available together in humanity is never without the presence of power people to live one beautiful box. Newly designed by Kim herself, and including never-before-pub- realized human beings who have shared the more fully in the lished material, this boxed set retains the mystery, glamour, and allure that made her knowledge and practice of communion with second half of life. It original deck a cult sensation, while introducing a whole new audience to its magic. Ultimate Reality. Holistic Islam is a spiritual is based on the gen- Before beginning any reading, it’s very important to clarify what your or your querent’s antidote to extremism and fundamentalism, erational life cycles intentions and expectations are. To get the ball rolling, ask: established on a clear Quranic basis. Holistic we all share at cer- What do you want to Know? Islam uses Quranic arguments to establish a tain ages, from the Why do you want to know it? spiritually progressive Islam. Saturn Return at 29 After spending a few moments on this, formulate a clear question. Try to avoid yes or Also by Kabir Helminski are The Pocket and Midlife, which no questions. Beginning with the word ‘what” can be especially helpful. For example, “What do I need to know about…?” Once you have your question set, hold it steady in Rumi Reader and The Knowing Heart. peaks at 42, all the way to the Uranus your mind. Repeat it out loud or internally while you shuffle the cards. This step is incred- ibly important. Return at 84. These cycles are the great RUMI’S SECRET crossroads of life, THE CELTIC SHAMAN’S PACK The Life of the Sufi Poet of Lovbe and each cycle is a journey in itself. Strung Journeys on the Shaman’s Path by Brad Gooch together they offer a road map to lifes most by John Matthews $35.99, cloth. HarperCollins. 378 pages $28.95, cards. Connections. Ecstatic love poems of Rumi, a Persian challenging and rewarding passages. In every decade there are trials, lessons, and 176-page guidebook + 40 colour cards, boxed poet and Sufi mystic born over eight cen- John Matthews, elder sage and scholar of the Celtic and Grail mys- turies ago, are be- losses; in this we have no choice. Our free- dom lies in how we respond—consciously or teries, has done it again. This renewed revision of The Celtic Shaman’s loved by millions Pack offers direct access to the powerful archetypes in the inner cos- of readers around unconsciously, awake or asleep. The planet that governs each cycle acts as a wise elder mos of the Celts. This pack constitutes your “shaman’s pouch”—your the world. He has very own collection of items imbued with magical or mystical signif- been compared to or guide and holds the key to navigating the cycle successfully. This book tells the story icance, offering a bridge between the world of the everyday and the Shakespeare for world of unseen reality that is a part of every shaman’s training. his outpouring of of these cycles and provides a guide to living creativity and to consciously and well.` It offers access to the inner cosmos of the Celts through journeying, and enables the user to perceive some of the ways in which the information thus gained can be worked Saint Francis of We are aging differently from the way with shamanically. The pack is therefore not exactly a divinatory system nor a method of Assisi for his spir- we did in the past—we are not only living longer, we are staying healthy and vital lon- determining the direction of your life—though both of these aspects are part of the way in itual wisdom. Yet which it can be used. his life has long ger as well. Midlife Is Not a Crisis motivates remained the stuff people to grow and prosper at any age. Ul- The cards represent key aspects of the Celtic universe, providing you with a set of of legend rath- timately it is a practical guidebook for our shamanic journey coordinates. By working with the images on a daily basis for divina- er than intimate later years that shows us what to expect as tion and discovery, you can learn to journey on the visionary path and gain a height- knowledge. we age and helps us make the most of our ened understanding of yourself as well as insight into your true-life direction. In this breakthrough biography, Brad journey to becoming whole. You, the seeker, are the only one who can make the transition between the states of Gooch brilliantly brings to life the man and Astrology has taught me many things, being and consciousness that the cards depict. By studying and working with the images puts a face to the name Rumi, vividly color- but perhaps the most valuable thing I’ve on the cards, you will gradually learn to recognize the powers they represent… You will ing in his time and place—a world as rife learned is about the power of timing. We become aware of the subtle energies that underlie everything, of the webs woven by the Shapers that hold the pattern of our relationship to all life and creation. with conflict as our own. The map of Rumi’s all bloom at a different time; a rose is no less than a daffodil because it blooms later life stretched over 2,500 miles. Gooch traces Chesca Potter’s powerful images on these cards (the cover image is of ‘The Mound in the season. There is no right or wrong; of Wonders’) are astonishing. this epic journey from Central Asia, where our life is a journey that is constantly un- Taliesin: The Last Celtic Shaman The Celtic Totem Ani Rumi was born in 1207, traveling with his folding, not a series of events to be graded. Also by John Matthews are and - family—who were displaced by Mongol ter- What’s essential is to honor and respect mals Deck. ror—to settle in Konya, Turkey. Pivotal was our process and to treat ourselves with the disruptive appearance of irascible wan- exquisite care no matter where we are in dereer Shams of Tabriz, who taught him to that journey or how long it takes. Astrology Fool’s Mirror,” a whirl and transformed him from a respect- is a valuable tool that can help us under- new method for lay- to us today through an unbroken line. This able middle-aged Muslim preacher into a stand our individual timing and how best ing out the cards, is mature and practical Tarot writing that Whitmanesque poet of radical intimacy and to fulfill it. as well as hints for opens up uncharted areas and throws a re- ecstatic oneness. Their vital connection as Virginia Bell has been a full-time astrolo- using the tarot to vealing light on what we may think is all too teacher and pupil, friend and beloved, is ger for over 20 years. gain deeper levels of familiar to us. one of the world’s greatest spiritual love sto- awareness. Cherry Key points: ries. When Shams disappeared, Rumi coped Gilchrist offers ways u Focuses on the 22 trumps, or the major with the pain of separation by composing to approach each arcana of the tarot TAROT TRIUMPHS card, absorb it, and u Offers advice on how to study each card joyous poems of reunion, both human and Using the Marseilles Tarot Trumps divine. understand its es- and find its unique significance for Divination and Inspiration Ambitious, bold, and beautifully written, sence. Readers are u Provides instructions for laying out and reveals the unfolding of Ru- by Cherry Gilchrist encouraged to re- reading the cards Rumi’s Secret $27.95, paper. Weiser. mi’s devotion to a “religion of love,” remark- late this essence to u Explores the tarot in terms of history, able in his own time and made even more 294 pages, b/w illustrations personal experience divination, symbolism, and esoteric tra- Focusing on the major arcana, or trumps, as the most enduring and rewarding way ditions. relevant for the twenty-firstcentur y by this of the classical Marseilles Tarot, Cherry Gil- compelling account. to prepare for reading the cards. Echoing “A fresh, bracing, and inspiring look into christ invites the reader to experience the the medieval carnival processions of “Tri- the Major Arcana. The Fool’s Mirror in par- “An excellent and accessible introduction Tarot in a direct, fresh, and uncluttered way. to the profound and generous mystical vi- umphs” through the streets of Italy, this en- ticular is the most sophisticated and pro- This in-depth examination of the 22 gaging book celebrates the Tarot cards as a found Tarot layout that I have ever seen.” sion of Rumi that will give Western readers cards of the Major Arcana includes “The a much-needed insight into the true spiritu- magical heritage that has been passed down —Richard Smoley, author of Forbidden Faith

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u Afterlife Places and Beings: Paints a unavoidably and unde- Among Neale Donald Walsh’s many other Metaphysics picture of the afterlife. Osiris, the Mes- niably real. Despite my books are Conversations with God Books 2 & 3 opotamian underworld, offended spir- initial doubt, I came to and Little Soul and the Sun. & Philosophy its, the afterlife as suffering, an after- realize that there are life for heroes, and mythical journeys still aspects of Nature to the afterlife which are neither un- THE AFTERLIFE BIBLE derstood or accepted, THE TABLETS OF LIGHT The Definitive Guide to u Experience and Healing: Gives readers easy exercises and rituals for medita- even though their reality The Teachings of Thoth Otherworldly Experience has profound implica- tion, channeling, dream work, astral on Unity Consciousness by Sarah Bartlett tions for understanding by Danielle Rama Hoffman $19.95, paper. Firefly Books. travel, scrying, , and auto- the true breadth of the matic writing. $25.00, paper. Bear & Company. 320 pp. 400 pages, 6x6, colour photos human psyche and its Within each of us resides a diamond light Throughout history, civilizations have The Afterlife Bible describes the many be- possible continuity after death. seed of Divine consciousness, waiting to be believed in an afterlife. More recently, new liefs in a before- and afterlife, from ancient Kean explores the most compelling case activated. Transmitted to parapsychological research, personal re- myths and religions to Danielle Rama Hoffman ports of near-death experiences, and scien- studies involving young children reporting contemporary spiritual by Thoth, keeper of the tific studies into the nature of energy and verifiable details from past lives, contempo- faiths and practices. Sar- and matter, have prompted a renewed interest rary mediums who seem to defy the boundar- ah Bartlett explains how member of the Council in discovering the truth. The Afterlife Bible is ies of the brain and the material world, appa- the scientificcommuni - of Light, the teachings a great start on that journey. ritions providing information about their lives ty has taken part in the on earth, and ordinary people who recount of the Emerald Tablets search for evidence of some of the most extraordinary near-death of Light enable each of the afterlife and reveals experiences ever recorded. Kean’s first book, us to reactivate the Di- the role of contemporary and her credibility as a seasoned and well-re- vine consciousness that spiritual practices. SURVIVING DEATH spected journalist, made people take notice inhabits our souls and Topics in The Afterlife Bible include: A Journalist Investigates of a topic that many considered implausible. transition from separa- u The Search for Evidence: Gives the his- Evidence for an Afterlife This book will do the same— this time en- tion consciousness into unity consciousness. tory of how the religious, the scientists, by Leslie Kean riched by Kean’s reactions to her own per- Engaging you in a multidimensional con- the believers and the doubters explain $34.99, cloth. Crown. plexing experiences encountered while she versation directly with Thoth, each tablet the afterlife in hard evidence 406 pages, colour photos probed the universal question concerning all transmission in this book includes embed- u Belief : Describes the world’s many cul- Leslie Kean’s impeccably researched, of us: Is there life after death? ded light codes of high vibrational energy tural interpretations of an afterlife. page-turning investigation reveals stunning and consciousness, which activate hidden British psychologist David Fontana These include polytheism, re-incarna- and wide-ranging evidence suggesting that keys to conscious evolution within your tion and karma, ancient Egyptian be- consciousness survives death. Here she studied the evidence for psi for over thirty years. “Psychic abilities are a matter of soul. Offering the opportunity to leave be- liefs, the Vedic traditions, Christianity, continues her examination of unexplained fact, not of belief,” he writes. “What they hind and evolve outdated ways of being, Ancient Mesoamerican beliefs, Kabbal- phenomena that began with her provocative are and they mean for our view of reality such as acting from fear, being restrained ah, and Wicca and controversial UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and is another matter, but one cannot dismiss by self-consciousness, and hiding your bril- u The Nature of the Soul: Describes the Government Officials Go on the Record. them as fiction and yet retain credibility liance, the teachings of the Tablets of Light Ancient Greek soul, the Ancient Egyp- While exploring the evidence for an as an unbiased observer.” The reader will enable you to awaken oracular vision, re-es- tian soul, soul spark, Plato’s chariot, afterlife, I witnessed some unbelievable encounter the reality of the most refined tablish quantum consciousness, become vi- the soul in Taoism, , Islam things that are not supposed to be possi- psychic functioning throughout this book, brationally autonomous, and activate your and many more ble in our material world. Yet they were and by the end will have no questions as to Divine Light Body. its existence. Including breathing exercises, holo- gram-inspired visualizations, and unity con- Becoming Wise with Krista Tippett Transmissions sciousness practices, the Tablets of Light allow you to create tangible results in your BECOMING WISE & Revelations daily life as you move higher on the evolu- An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living tionary scale of divine awakening and devel- by Krista Tippett op a divine partnership with Source. Guided $23.00, paper. Knopf. 288 pages CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD BOOK 4 by Thoth and his Tablets of Light, you can In Becoming Wise, Krista Tippett, host of the radio program On Be- by Neale Donald Walsch rediscover the undiluted version of yourself ing, has created a master class in living for a fractured world. Frac- $32.25, cloth. Rainbow Ridge. 304 pages and your soul’s purpose, accept your Divine ture, she says, is not the whole story of our time. The enduring ques- In the middle of the night on August 2, Light Mission as a Divine Incarnate, and set tion of what it means to be human has become inextricable from the 2016, Neale Donald Walsch found himself the stage to return in the next life as a fully challenge of who we are to each other. She insists on the possibility drawn into a new and resurrected Being of Light. of personal depth and common life for this century, nurtured by sci- totally unexpected dia- Also by Hoffman are The Temples of Light ence and “spiritual technologies,” with civility and love as muscular logue with God in which and The Council of Light public practice. And, accompanied by a cross-disciplinary dream team of a teaching he suddenly faced two faculty, she shows us how. questions: Is the human race be- I’m a person who listens for a living. I listen for wisdom, and beauty, and for voices not THE SACRED HISTORY shouting to be heard. This book chronicles some of what I’ve learned in what has become ing offered help by High- a conversation across time and generations, across disciplines and denominations… ly Evolved Beings from How Angels, Mystics and Higher This book is for people who want to take up the great questions of our time with another dimension? Intelligence Made Our World imagination and courage, to nurture new realities in the spaces we inhabit, and to do so Is there a key role that by Mark Booth expectantly and with joy. humans are being invited $22.00, paper. Simon & Schuster. Krista Tippett’s great gift, in her work and in Becoming Wise, is to avoid reductive to play in advancing their 528 pages, b/w illustrations Written by the author of The Secret History simplifications but still find the golden threads that weave people and ideas together own evolution by joining in a mutual mis- of the World—an underground bestseller for into a shimmering braid. sion to assist the planet during the critical years—The Sacred History Our bodies tell us the truth of life that our minds can deny: that we are in any moment as times ahead? He was told that the answer to both ques- takes us on a captivating much about softness as fortitude. Always in need of care and tenderness. Life is fluid, evanes- journey through the great cent, evolving in every cell, in every breath. Never perfect. To be alive is by definition messy, tions is yes. myths of many ancient civ always leaning towards disorder and surprise. How we open or close to the reality that we Then he was given 16 specific examples - never arrive at safe enduring stasis is the matter, the raw material, of wisdom. of how Highly Evolved Beings respond to ilizations to the astound- ing discoveries of the “When President Obama gave Krista Tippett the National Humanities Medal, he life differently than humans do—and how adopting even a few of those behaviors modern era. The Sacred praised her for ‘thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.’ This book History is the epic story is yet another piece of evidence of the truth behind those words. Grounded in Tip- could change the course of world history for the better forever. of human interaction with pett’s ‘life of conversation,’ the book offers more, much more than a chronicle of her angels and other forms of award-winning public radio program, On Being. In Becoming Wise, Tippett not only gives That information makes up the body of this work. A striking invitation to every higher intelligence, start- us the voices of the remarkable people with whom she’s conversed on-air. She speaks ing from Creation all the her own voice as well, a voice informed by her lifelong search for truth and meaning. reader sets the stage for the extraordinary explorations that follow. Picking up where way through to the operations of the supernat- Wisdom is a communal creation. Tippett is rare in her ability to host a far-flung com- ural in the modern world. munity of luminaries, listeners and readers, who together uncover the wisdom that lies Book 3 in the Conversations with God Trilogy series left off, the revelations about Highly What emerges is an alternative history of within and between us.”—Parker Palmer, author of Let Your Life Speak great men and women, guided by angels Evolved Beings and about how ordinary hu- “Becoming Wise is a tremendously vitalizing read in its totality—a wellspring of nuance or demons, and the connection between mans can answer the call to help awaken the and dimension amid our Flatland of artificial polarities, touching on every significant modern-day mystics and their ancient coun- species on Earth will breathtakingly expand aspect of human life with great gentleness and a firm grasp of human goodness.” —Ma- terparts. This spellbinding narrative brings your view of both your personal and our col- ria Popova, Brain Pickings together great figures— such as Krishna, lective future. Listen to any of her interviews online at onbeing.org. Moses, Buddha, Elijah, Mary and Jesus and Which is exactly what the dialogue was in- Krista Tippett’s other books are Einstein’s God and Speaking of Faith. Mohammed—and stories from African, Na- tended to do.

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 33 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F B U S I N E S S , S A N I T Y & T H E S I M P L E L I F E F tive American and Celtic traditions. Woven into this is an amazing array of stories to bring into focus the qualities and mystical connections, including the sur- Joel Solomon on Clean Money actions that support good leadership and create “islands of sanity.” prising roots not only of astrology and al- THE CLEAN MONEY REVOLUTION ternative medicine but also of important The stories she tells of leaders with whom Reinventing Power, Purpose, and Capitalism she’s worked are exceptionally diverse: from literary and artistic movements, aspects of by Joel Solomon with Tyee Bridge mainstream science and religion and a wide nuns to military commanders. But these $29.99, cloth. New Society. 242 pages leaders are deeply unified in how they work range of cultural references in modern cin- By 2050, $50 trillion will pass from elders to youngers in North with people and partner with life. In the ema, music and literature. America alone. From Boomers to Millennials, the largest intergener- concluding chapters, she brings in her cur- This book of true stories shows how they ational wealth transfer in history is underway and the ramifications rent work, calling on us to develop the qual- can tell us things about the deep structure will remake the world. ities of compassion, insight, and presence of the human experience. The dirty money of “business as usual” is on the brink, wedged be- as “warriors for the human spirit,” creating tween catastrophic climate change and the demographic tidal wave Stories about otherworldly patterns and workplaces and communities where people mystic traces can sensitize us to patterns of Millennials pounding the consumer table for real change. These can still be generous, creative, and kind. like these in our own experience. They forces are transforming the very nature of capitalism into something different and encourage attentiveness to complex, sub- powerful, towards a clean money revolution. tle, inner events which, if provides Clean money is money aligned with a purpose beyond self- interest. Money for the an accurate picture of the world, are at commons. Money that makes the world better. Money regenerating ecosystems and en- Ecology, Community the same time experiences of the inner gendering a healthy balance between people and planet. Money that builds true security: workings of the world and evidence for the long- term, safe, fair resilience. & Politics great forces that weave together to create, maintain and move it. The stories in this Joel Solomon, pioneering clean money investor and change agent (one of the gar- book have been chosen to help bring such dener-visionaries behind Hollyhock), lays it on the line. The revolution is underway, THE SWEETNESS OF A SIMPLE LIFE patterns into focus. the opportunities are everywhere, and the challenges and rewards are immense. by Diana Beresford-Kroeger Philosophical, passionate, entertaining, There is enough money to solve global challenges. It must be activated… $22.00, paper. Ballantine. 357 pages and filled with gorgeous illustrations, The Your name is on your money. Know what it is going, right now, to people and place. The passionately informed botanist/ Sacred History is a remarkable repositioning Ask questions. Demand good options… We own slaves, kill other people’s babies, and scientist/author of The Global Forest-—an of ancient knowledge in such a way that we start wars. We must align our money with our values. international classic see truth through another lens. Part memoir of an inspiring thought leader’s journey from presidential campaign- beloved by readers around the world— Let us now gaze into the great vistas er to budding oceanographer to multi-millionaire investor, part insider’s guide to the opened up by these mystics and vision- businesses remaking the world, and part manifesto for a bright new future. The Clean gives us her tips and aries, the panoramas of armies of angels, Money Revolution explores this massive economic shift, and how you can ride the $50 advice for achieving dynasties of angels, angelic leaders, angelic trillion wave to create the new, ethical, and sustainable businesses that power local better health and heroes and, yes, bad angels. In what fol- economies, restore ecosystems, and build social and financial equity. Joel urges “a $100 peace of mind, with lows we will see galaxies expanding and trillion vision to save civilization by 2050: Let’s be billionaires of good deeds and good ancestors frugality, simplicity collapsing and angelic civilizations rising who did everything we could.” and pleasure not far and falling. behind. In The Sweet- Our entire society is built around [money]. It is seductive. It is perhaps the dominant Are the battles of angels the product of hu- ness of a Simple Life, man fantasy, as the atheists insist? religion in the world today. But money has no values of its own. Money doesn’t account for fairness, justice, beauty, consciousness, or love. That’s our role, and it’s ever more Diana Beresford-Kro- Or are our lives and loves echoes of the eger mixes her clear- lives and loves of angels? crucial that we assume it. We need to start to talk about money in ways that dethrone it and make it subject to human ethics and standards of love and decency… eyed understanding This book is a small attempt, part of an emerging movement, to start making vital dis- of science and her knowledge of trees and tinctions about how wealth is made and used in the world. healing plants with storytelling, wonder- Business, Work The Clean Money Revolution is a must-read for investors, aspiring business leaders, ment, magic, myth and plenty of common wealth managers, and entrepreneurs looking to align values with assets and chart a sense. & Money unique and profitable life course. It could also be a GPS for the 1%, for those entrusted Orphaned at an early age, Beresford-Kro- with wealth for humanity. eger was tutored by elderly relatives in Ire- Joel Solomon is chairman of Renewal Funds, a $98 million mission venture capital land in the Druidic tradition, taught the firm. He has invested in over 100 early growth-stage companies in North America, deliv- overlap between the arts and sciences, and LET MY PEOPLE GO SURFING ering above-market returns while catalyzing positive social and environmental change. the triad of body, mind and spirit. After The Education of a Reluctant Businessman pursuing a Ph.D. in medical biochemistry, - Completely Revised & Updated Beresford-Kroeger set out on a quest to pre- by Yvon Chouinard gonia’s impact on the environment has led ers to engage well serve the world’s forests. $27.00, paper. Penguin. the company to make its famous fleeces out and sanely with In this warm and wise collection of essays, 272 pages, colour photos of recycled soda bottles; to donate at least the destructive she gives us a guide for living simply and Here’s the updated memoir/manifesto 1% of revenues to environmental causes; dynamics of this well: which foods to eat and which to avoid; from legendary climber, businessman, and and to pioneer many other great policies. time. Deepening how to clean our homes and look after environmentalist In Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Choui- the insights in pets; how we can protect ourselves and our Yvon Chouinard, loved ones from illness; and why we need nard relates his and his company’s story and her classic Lead- founder and owner to appreciate nature. She provides an easy the core philosophies that have sustained ership and the New of Patagonia, one of dose of healing, practical wisdom, blending Patagonia year in and year out. It’s the sto- Science, Wheatley the world’s most in- modern medicine with aboriginal traditions. ry of a man who brought doing good and uses two lenses spiring companies. having grand adventures into the heart of This inspiring, accessible book emphasizes As a child, he moved to understand his business model—and who enjoyed even back to basics, with the touchstone not an with his father, a where we are and exotic religion or meditation practice, but more business success as a result. French-Canadian how we got here: the natural world around us. This 2017 edition includes a new chapter, blacksmith, and the the new science of revisions throughout, some colour photos, This book is full of wisdoms to restore rest of his family to living systems and the pattern of collapse in is printed on 100% recycled paper, and a your life and help you connect to the nat- Southern California complex civilizations. Each of them is pow- preface by Naomi Klein. ural world. Most probably, you rarely take in the 1950s with lit- erful on its own; together they offer tremen- time to think about this larger environment, “This is a wonderful book of truth telling, tle English and less dous explanatory power. Wheatley begins but it is directly connected to your health consciousness raising and ballsy bravery. His money. He escaped each section with “What Science Teaches”— and welfare. Nature provides the food you into mountain climbing as a teenager and company created an awareness of the environ- explaining a specific dynamic common to eat, so slow down and take a bite. Savour by his early twenties was among the best mental issues linked to corporate behavior, all living systems. The six dynamics explored it for its singular simplicity. If you get that climbers in America, making famous first product development and company action in separate sections are time, identity, infor- far in this collection, I will tell you more about my bigger mission: saving the global ascents of a number of notorious faces. when others were just tinkering at the edges. mation, self-organization, perception, and Every wannabe entrepreneur, every school interconnectedness. Each section has sever- forests for your children and your children’s When he decided he could make bet- children. We can do it together by sim- ter climbing tools himself for less money teaching a course on “business” and every al short essays. MBA program should buy this book.” —Anita plifying our lives and making our homes and when his fellow climbers agreed and In “Facing Reality,” the two lenses of sci- healthier. I ask only one thing of you: give Roddick, founder, The Body Shop clamored for more, a way of life became a ence and the pattern of collapse are used me your hand. Hold on tightly. I will not business. Some forty years later, Yvon Chou- to describe the causes of many of our most let go. We are on a mission to help nature, inard still summits peaks around the world troubling and disturbing personal and social our world and our only home. Together, we (though he now spends more time surfing). WHO DO WE CHOOSE TO BE? behaviors, especially those of importance to will succeed. Patagonia still makes exceptionally high Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, leaders. Subsequent essays are organized Among Diana Beresford-Kroeger’s other quality things, only it now earns more than Restoring Sanity under “Claiming Leadership” and “Restor- books are Arboretum America and A Garden $250 million a year from worldwide sales, by Margaret Wheatley ing Sanity.” In these, Wheatley answers the for Life. She has also released a potent film, and Chouinard is able to leverage his con- $32.95, paper. Berrett-Koehler. 240 pages question, In our current reality, what is The Call of the Forest, and has created apps cern for the natural settings he’s spent a life- This book seeks to restore leadership as sane leadership? She uses a combination of for tree planting and tree selection for your time enjoying. His resolve to minimize Pata- a noble profession, offering a path for lead- commentary, actual practices, quotes, and place. For more info: Calloftheforest.ca.

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CHANGE HERE NOW Permaculture Solutions for Personal and Cooling Climate Change Community Transformation by Adam Brock DRAWDOWN $28.99, paper. North Atlantic. The Most Comprehensive Plan The subtitle of Drawdown—The Most Comprehensive 376 pages, 50 b/w illustrations Ever Proposed to Reverse Award-winning social entrepreneur and Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming—may Global Warming sound brash. We chose that description because no de- permaculturalist Adam Brock draws from edited by Paul Hawken ecology, sociology, tailed plan to reverse warming has been proposed. There $29.00, paper. Penguin. 240 pages. 8x11, colour photos have been agreements and proposals on how to slow, community econom- Here are the 100 most substantive solutions to roll cap, and arrest emissions, and there are international ics, social justice, and back climate change, based on meticulous research by commitments to prevent global temperature increases indigenous practic- leading scientists and policymakers around the world. from exceeding two degrees centigrade over pre-indus- es the world over to In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an in- trial levels. 195 nations have made extraordinary prog- present more than ternational coalition of researchers, professionals, ress in coming together to acknowledge that we have a eighty proven solu- and activists (including Michael Pollan and Elizabeth momentous civilizational crisis on our earthly doorstep tions for building Kolbert) have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold and have created national plans of action. The UN’s Intergovern- more resilient, equi- solutions to climate change. mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has accomplished the table, and sustainable Techniques and methods described here—some well known, most significant scientific study in the history of humankind, and continues to refine the science, expand the research, and extend communities. Outlin- some you have never heard of—range from clean energy to ed- ing strategies for con- our grasp of one of the most complex systems imaginable—cli- ucating girls in the developing world to land use practices that mate. However, there is as yet no roadmap that goes beyond sciously redesigning pull carbon out of the air. The solutions exist, are economically slowing or stopping emissions. our social and eco- viable and communities throughout the world are currently en- To be clear, our organization did not create or devise a plan. nomic systems to mimic nature’s resilience acting them with skill and determination. If deployed collective- We do not have that capability or self-appointed mandate. In con- and abundance, Brock organizes his narra- ly on a global scale over the next thirty years, they represent a ducting our research, we found a plan, a blueprint that already tive around the pattern language framework credible path toward not just slowing the earth’s warming, but exists in the world in the form of humanity’s collective wisdom, developed by architect Christopher Alexan- actually reaching drawdown, that point in time when greenhouse made manifest in applied, hands-on practices and technologies. der and his colleagues in the 1970s. Each gases in the atmosphere begin to decline. These measures prom- Individuals, communities, farmers, cities, companies, and govern- “pattern” represents an archetype: a flexible ise cascading benefits to human health, security, prosperity, and ments have shown that they care about this planet, its people, and solution to a problem encountered again well-being—giving us every reason to seize our planetary crisis as its places. Engaged citizens the world over are doing something extraordinary. This is their story. and again in our society. an opportunity to create a just and livable world. Each strategy is geared toward a funda- “At this point in time, the Drawdown book is exactly what is Drawdown maps, measures, models, and describes the 100 most mental element of a healthy society and can substantive solutions to global warming. For each solution, we needed; a credible, conservative solution-by-solution narrative be documented and taught in a manner describe its history, the carbon impact it provides, the relative cost that we can do it. Reading it is an effective inoculation against the that makes it easy to replicate. Addressing and savings, the path to adoption, and how it works. The goal of the widespread perception of doom that humanity cannot and will topics such as interdependent communities, research that informs Drawdown is to determine if we can reverse not solve the climate crisis. Reported by-effects include increased decolonization, self care, economics, com- the buildup of atmospheric carbon within thirty years. All solutions determination and a sense of grounded hope.” —Per Espen munity governance, and education, Change modeled are already in place, well understood, analyzed based on Stoknes, author of What We Think About When We Try Not To Think Here Now includes how-to guides, case stud- peer-reviewed science, and are expanding around the world. About Global Warming ies, and much more to help anyone looking for meaning in a chaotic world to incorpo- rate these patterns into their lives. JUST COOL IT! u As individuals we can resist an economic system that “Change Here Now is an excellent contribu- The Climate Crisis and What We Can Do encourages waste and consumption and the careless tion to a realm of permaculture desperately by David Suzuki & Ian Hanington use of fossil fuels. needing attention and active development. $24.95, paper. Greystone. 312 pages u We can divest from the fossil fuel industry and invest The social ecosystem patterns Adam Brock Read Just Cool It by David Suzuki and Ian Haning- in renewable. lays out are intriguing and relevant. I look ton. You will be convinced beyond a doubt that climate u We can cultivate habits of bicycling, walking, and us- forward to testing, living into, and growing change is real. And “if we can put a man on the moon,” ing public transportation instead of cars. through the patterns in this book.” —Dave Suzuki says, “we can change the outcome of the dire crisis u We can resist anti-transit campaigns. Jacke, veteran permaculturalist and co-au- that is upon us.” u We can use fuel-efficient cars or electric cars. thor of Edible Forest Gardens Just Cool It! is a demanding book, structured like a u We can insulate our homes and use energy-efficient university course. First, we must understand what glob- lighting. al warming is. What is meant by calling carbon diox- u We can install solar panels on our houses. u We can buy less “stuff” and waste less. THE LOCAL FOOD REVOLUTION ide a “greenhouse gas”? Why is methane a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2? What is a “positive u We can eat less meat and, by composting, waste less How Humanity Will Feed Itself feedback” mechanism? What is the “albedo effect” that should food. in Uncertain Times keep the Arctic Ocean cold but doesn’t? In our agriculture, we can get away from factory farming and by Michael Brownlee We learn why this particular geological epoch is called the An- monocultures that use GMO seeds requiring chemicals. We can “de- $33.00, paper. North Atlantic. thropocene. Human activity is profoundly altering the biosphere sign an agroecosystem that mimics the structure and function of local 456 pages, b/w photos and, by extension, the very geology of the planet. ecosystems and replace GMOs with evolutionary plant breeding.” Demonstrating that humanity faces an What particular human activities affect climate? Just Cool It gives ex- The authors praise the urban agriculture movement which uses imminent and prolonged global food cri- haustive details about the effect of our addiction to fossil fuels, our prof- space within cities to grow food and keep livestock. sis, Michael Brownlee ligate use of fertilizers, deforestation, overfishing, the “massive swirling Technological solutions are most important. We must revolu- issues a clarion call and islands of plastic waste in the oceans.” Everything is connected. tionize the way we produce electricity. Etc.! manifesto for a revolu- The book gives vivid accounts of desertification of grasslands, Climate change is the most important crisis humanity has faced, tionary movement to massive insect invasion of forests, catastrophic storms and floods, but we still confront huge barriers to resolving it. localize the global food and migrations of people escaping starvation when droughts Just Cool It! is scientist David Suzuki at his most passionate. In supply. He lays out a cause crops to fail. this book, he offers a comprehensive look at the current state of practical guide for those climate science and knowledge and the many ways to resolve the who hope to navigate With growing human populations and profit-driven consumer based economics, more land is being eaten up by development, climate crisis, imploring us to do what’s necessary to live in a bet- the challenging process ter, cleaner future. When enough people demand action, change of shaping the local or habitat is being destroyed and degraded, and resources are being exploited at unsustainable levels. Natural capital is disappearing. starts happening—and this time, it needs all of us doing our best— regional food system, So what is to be done? The bulk of the book is taken up with and the political will to commit ourselves to challenging the system providing a roadmap where deregulated capitalism seems to dominate government. for embarking on the solutions — things we can do individually and collectively. process of righting the profoundly unsus- tainable and already-failing global industri- alized food system. Written to inform, inspire, and empower Brownlee, cofounder of the nonprofit Lo- ing on the ground and in the field. Essays and anyone—farmers or ranchers, community cal Food Shift Group, maps out the underly- thought-pieces explore some of the challeng- gardeners, aspiring food entrepreneurs, ing process of food localization and outlines ing ethical, moral, economic, and social dilem- supply chain venturers, commercial food the route that communities, regions, and mas and thresholds that might arise as the local buyers, restaurateurs, investors, communi- foodsheds often follow in their efforts to take food shift develops. ty food activists, non-profit agencies, policy control of food production and distribution. For anyone who wants to understand, in con- makers, or local government leaders—who By sharing the strategies that have proven suc- crete terms, the unique challenges and extraor- hopes to be a catalyst for change, this book cessful, he charts a practical path forward while dinary opportunities that present themselves as provides a blueprint for economic action, indicating approaches that otherwise might be we address one of the most urgent issues of our with specific suggestions that make the pro- invisible and unexplored. Stories and inter- time, The Local Food Revolution is an indispens- cess more conscious and deliberate. views illustrate how food localization is happen- able resource.

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These are (but for a few) between 400–1200 square feet of floor area — less than half the size and shocking ingre- Eco-Philosophy of the typical new American home. (By way of dients in health and beauty products. Our GREAT TIDE RISING comparison, homes in our book, Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter, averaged 200–300 sq. ft.) increasingly industri- Towards Clarity and Moral Courage alized supply system The homes here — some 65 of them — in a Time of Planetary Change New in is becoming more by Kathleen Dean Moore Paperback vary from unique and artistic to simple and low-cost. Some are plain, ordinary buildings difficult to navigate, $24.50, paper. Counterpoint. more frightening, 272 pages that provide owners shelter at a reasonable Even as seas—and sea levels—rise against the shores, another cost — and some are inspiring examples of and more frustrat- great tide is beginning to rise: a tide of outrage against the pillage design, carpentry, craftsmanship, imagina- ing, leaving us feel- of the planet, a tide of commitment to justice and human rights, tion, creativity, and homemaking. ing stuck choosing a swelling affirmation of moral responsibility to the future and to This is the seventh in a series of high- in many cases between the lesser of several Earth’s fullness of life. Philosopher and nature essayist Kathleen ly-graphic books on homemade building, evils. Dean Moore takes on the essential questions: Why is it wrong to wreck the world? What all of which are interrelated. The series, The Author Deborah Niemann offers health- is our obligation to the future? What is the transformative power of moral resolve? How Shelter Library of Building Books, includes ier, more empowering choices, by showing can clear thinking stand against the lies and illogic that batter the chances for posi- Shelter, Shelter II (1978), Home Work (2004), us how to reclaim links in our food and tive change? What are useful answers to the recurring questions of a storm-threatened Builders of the Pacific Coast (2008), Tiny purchasing chains, to make choices that are time? What can anyone do? Is there any hope? And always this: What stories and ideas Homes (2012), and Tiny Homes on the Move healthier for our families, ourselves, and will lift people who deeply care, inspiring them to move forward with clarity and moral (2014). Each of these books has over 1,000 our planet. courage? (Moore provides many.) photos, and each 2-page spread is carefully In this fully updated and revised edition Mary Evelyn Tucker writes in her intro: laid out with respect to balance of graphics of Homegrown and Handmade, Deborah shows how making things from scratch and Clearly, the nourishing of the human spirit and imagination is what is at stake in our and clarity of information. The underlying theme with Shelter’s growing some of your own food can help present moment—a spirit and imagination that is shriveling before our very eyes with an you eliminate artificial ingredients from anguish and confusion that is heart rending. Kathleen bears witness… books, which has continued for over 40 years We are groping, we are limping, we are struggling. But in this groping, in this dark night we (he was shelter editor for The Whole Earth your diet, reduce your carbon footprint, and are seeking to return to who we are. We are beings of Earth, she writes, who feel the myste- Catalog), is that it’s possible for you to cre- create a more authentic life. rious rhythms of life unfolding… ate your own home with your own hands, us- Whether your goal is increasing your Rediscovering who we are. Finding our purpose as humans to enhance life, not dimin- ing natural materials. Some of these homes self-reliance or becoming a full-fledged ish it. This is her endless prayer. are in the country, some in small towns, and homesteader, this book is packed with an- Beautifully written, Great Tide Rising speaks to and for us humans, now. some in large cities. swers and solutions to help you rediscover traditional skills, take control of your food The Earth is filled, it is populated, it is shivering, with lives of beauty and astonish- from seed to plate, and much more. ment—what a child’s hand holds, and the hand itself, and the reverence in the hand’s This comprehensive guide to food and careful holding. The fate of these lives is not a matter of indifference or of economic ex- pediency alone. These lives are the irreplaceable, priceless consequence of the creativity Gardening fiber from scratch proves that attitude and of the universe over fourteen billion years. Now that humans have taken on the role of knowledge is more important than acreage. Earth-changer, we take on as well the responsibilities of celebration, protection, and fero- & Self-Reliance Written from the perspective of a successful, cious love. self-taught modern homesteader, this well-il- lustrated, practical, and accessible manual GREYWATER, GREEN LANDSCAPE will appeal to anyone who dreams of a more SPIRITUAL ECOLOGY empowered life. 10 Practices to Reawaken by Laura Allen $24.95, paper. Storey. Whether you have 40 acres and a mule the Sacred in Everyday Life 176 pages, 7x9, colour photos or a condo with a balcony, you can do more by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Hart Keep your lawn and garden lush without than you think to safeguard your health, $16.95, paper. Golden Sufi. 112 pages wasting resources by capturing and recycling your money and the planet. And… you can This book offers inspiring and practical guidance for reconnect- the greywater that rediscover traditional skills to meet more of ing to the sacred in everyday life and transforming our relationship drains from your sink, your family’s needs than you ever thought with the Earth. Describing the power of simple, daily practices such shower, and washing possible. as Walking, Gardening, Cooking with Love, and Prayer, this small machine. This accessi- book supports profound changes in how we think about and re- ble and detailed guide spond to the ecological crisis of our times. walks you through THE BIO-INTEGRATED FARM Spiritual Ecology: 10 Practices to Reawaken the Sacred in Everyday Life follows our each step of planning groundbreaking Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth, now in its second edition, which A Revolutionary Permaculture-Based for and installing a System Using Greenhouses, Ponds, included spiritual perspectives on climate change, species loss, deforestation, and other variety of greywater aspects of our present environmental crises from renowned spiritual teachers, scientists, Compost Piles, Aquaponics, systems, including and indigenous leaders. That book drew an overwhelmingly positive reaction from read- Chickens, and More laundry-to-landscape ers, many of whom are asking: What can I do? by Shawn Jadrnicek, and branched drain Spiritual Ecology: 10 Practices to Reawaken the Sacred in Everyday Life answers that question gravity-fed. After identifying greywater with Stephanie Jadrnicek $55.95, paper. Chelsea Green. with inspiring, personal anecdotes from the author Sufi teacher Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee sources in your home and estimating flow and simple practices we all can do. Rooted in the mystical foundation of the worldès great rate, you’ll learn to pinpoint where to redi- 372 pages, 8x10, colour photos spiritual traditions, with a particular connection to Sufism, these timeless practices remind The Bio-Integrated Farm is a twen- rect the wastewater for the greatest benefit. ty-first-century manual for managing na- readers of our deep connections to life, each other, and the Earth, and invite a return of No matter which system you decide to build, meaning to our desecrated world. ture’s resources. doing so is quick and inexpensive and uses This groundbreak- As Rumi says,” there are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground,” and it is this only basic tools and materials readily avail- sacred ground that is calling to us, that needs our living presence, our attentiveness. This ing book brings able at home supply stores. system farming small book offers simple ways to reconnect so that we can once again feel the music, the “Simple, affordable projects and strate- song of our living connection with the Earth. and permaculture gies to conserve water and reuse it for house- to a whole new lev- Among Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee’s other books are Darkening of the Light and For Love hold food gardens, groundwater recharge, el. Author Shawn of the Real. and soil regeneration. These solutions are a Jadrnicek presents win for the household and for the environ- new insights into ment.” — Gemma Bulos, director of Global permaculture, Earth Energies Zealand and Lith- Women’s Water Initiative moving beyond uania. Laura Allen is the author of The Wa- the philosophi- ter-Wise Home and cofounder of Greywater cal foundation to & Eco-Design This book is Action, a collaborative of educators who about homes that practical advanced are larger than teach residents and tradespeople about af- designs based on a functional analysis. SMALL HOMES fordable and simple household water sys- The Right Size “tiny,” but smaller Holding his designs to a higher standard, than the national tems that dramatically reduce water use and Jadrnicek’s components serve at least sev- by Lloyd Kahn average. It’s a logi- foster sustainable cultures of water. $41.95, paper. Shelter. en functions (classical permaculture theo- cal step for Shelter 232 pages, 9x12, colour photos throughout ry only seeks at least two functions). With Publications after every additional function a component per- From Lloyd Kahn, the creator/publisher of our two books on a popular series of building books comes Small tiny homes. HOMEGROWN & HANDMADE forms, the design becomes more advanced Homes, which is highly relevant for these times. Compared to the A Practical Guide to More Self-Reliant and saves more energy. Getting smaller, rather than larger. Some 65 average American Living - Revised 2nd edition A bio-integrated greenhouse, for exam- builders share their knowledge of building home, small homes by Deborah Niemann ple, doesn’t just extend the season for grow- and design, with artistic, practical, and/or are less expensive, use less resources, are more $24.99, paper. New Society. ing vegetables; it also serves as a rainwater economical homes in the U.S., Canada, En- efficient to heat and cool, and cheaper to 320 pages, 7x9, b/w photos collector, a pond site, an aquaponics system, gland, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, New maintain and repair. Food recalls, dubious health claims, scary and a heat generator. Jadrnicek’s preva-

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 36 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F G A R D E N I N G & P E R M A C U L T U R E F Mr. Green Gene Fungi & Forest Gardening LETTER TO A YOUNG FARMER MYCORRHIZAL PLANET How to Live Richly without Wealth on the New Garden Farm How Symbiotic Fungi Work with Roots by Gene Logsdon to Support Plant Health and Build Soil Fertility $31.95, cloth. Chelsea Green. 210 pages by Michael Phillips For decades, the self-described contrary farmer Gene Logsdon $55.95, cloth. Chelsea Green. has commented on the state of North American agriculture. In Let- 244 pages, 8x11, colour photos ter to a Young Farmer, his final book of essays, Logsdon addresses the Mycorrhizal fungi have been waiting a long time for people to next generation—young people moving back to the land to enjoy a recognize just how important they are to the making of dynamic better way of life as small-scale garden farmers. It’s a lifestyle that rec- soils. These microscopic organisms partner with the root systems ognizes the beauty of nature, cherishes the land, respects our fellow of approximately 95 percent of the plants on Earth, and they se- creatures, and values rural traditions. It’s one that also looks forward quester carbon in much more meaningful ways than human carbon offsets will ever and embraces right technologies, including new and innovative ways of working smart- achieve. Pick up a handful of old-growth forest soil and you are holding 26 miles of er and avoiding premature burnout. threadlike fungal mycelia, if it could be stretched it out in a straight line. Most of these Completed only a few weeks before the author’s death, Letter to a Young Farmer is a soil fungi are mycorrhizal, supporting plant health in elegant and sophisticated ways. remarkable testament to the life and wisdom of one of the greatest rural philosophers The boost to green immune function in plants and community-wide networking turns and writers of our time. Gene’s earthy wit and sometimes irreverent humor combines out to be the true basis of ecosystem resiliency. A profound intelligence exists in the un- with his valuable perspectives on many wide-ranging subjects—everything from how derground nutrient exchange between fungi and plant roots, which in turn determines to show a ram who’s boss to enjoying the almost churchlike calmness of a well-built the nutrient density of the foods we grow and eat. livestock barn. Exploring the science of symbiotic fungi in laymans terms, holistic farmer Michael Can you imagine what a sea of change would take place in the mad world of money Phillips (author of The Holistic Orchard and The Apple Grower) sets the stage for practical if so many people produced their food in the same spirit with which they now play golf, applications across the landscape. The real impetus behind no-till farming, gardening producing maybe a little more to keep the philosophers well fed? with mulches, cover cropping, digging with broadforks, shallow cultivation, forest-edge Reading this book is like sitting down on the porch with a neighbor who has learned orcharding, and everything related to permaculture is to help the plants and fungi to the ways of farming through years of long observation and practice. Someone, in short, prosper… which means we prosper as well. who has seen it all and has much to say, and much to teach us, if we only take the time Building soil structure and fertility that lasts for ages results only once we compre- to listen and learn. And Gene Logsdon was the best kind of teacher: equal parts sto- hend the nondisturbance principle. As the author says, “What a grower understands, a ryteller, idealist, and rabble-rouser. His vision of a nation filled with garden farmers, grower will do.” Mycorrhizal Planet abounds with insights into fungal consciousness and based in cities, towns, and countrysides, will resonate with many people, both young offers practical, regenerative techniques that are pertinent to gardeners, landscapers, and old, who long to create a more sustainable, meaningful life for themselves and a orchardists, foresters, and farmers. Michael’s fungal acumen will resonate with every- better world for all of us. one who is fascinated with the unseen workings of nature and concerned about main- taining and restoring the health of our soils, our climate, and the quality of life on Our ways of degrading the climate are in no way distinguishable from our ways of abusing the land. Because he knows this, he speaks exactly at the intersection of econo- Earth for generations to come. my and ecology, where the world will or will not be made better. —Wendell Berry, from the foreword FOREST GARDENING IN PRACTICE An Illustrated Practical Guide for Homes, GENE EVERLASTING Communities and Enterprises A Contrary Farmer’s Thoughts on Living Forever by Toma Remiarz $48.95, paper. Chelsea Green. by Gene Logsdon $25.95, paper. Chelsea Green. 240 pages, 8x10, colour photos A forest garden is a place where nature and people meet 177 pages, b/w illustrations Author Gene Logsdon—whom Wendell Berry once called “the halfway—between the canopy of trees and the soil under- most experienced and best observer of agriculture we have”—has a foot. It doesn’t have to look like a forest: what’s important is notion: That it is a little easier for gardeners and farmers to accept that natural processes are allowed to unfold, to the benefit death than the rest of the populace. Why? Because every day, farmers of plants, people and other creatures. The result is an ed- and gardeners help plants and animals begin life and help plants ible ecosystem. For three decades experimental forest gar- and animals end life. They are intimately attuned to the food chain. dens have been planted in temperate cities and rural sites, They understand how all living things are seated around a dining table, eating while in households, neighborhoods, community gardens, parks, market gardens and plant being eaten. They realize that all of nature is in flux. nurseries. Gene Everlasting contains Logsdon’s reflections, by turns both humorous and Forest Gardening In Practice offers an in-depth review of forest gardening with living, heart-wrenching, on nature, death, and eternity, all from a contrary farmer’s perspec- best practice examples. It highlights the four core skills of forest gardeners: ecology, tive. He recounts joys and tragedies from his childhood in the 1930s and 40s spent on horticulture, design, and cooperation. It is for hobby gardeners, smallholders, com- an Ohio farm, through adulthood and child-raising, all the way up to his recent bout munity gardeners and landscape professionals. with cancer, always with an eye toward the lessons that farming has taught him about Tomas Remiarz has been involved in creating and maintaining forest gardens across life and its mysteries. the UK and Europe for nearly twenty years. Whether his subject is parsnips, pigweed, immortality, irises, green burial, buzzards, or compound interest, Logsdon generously applies as much heart and wit to his words PERMACULTURE AND CLIMATE as he does care and expertise to his fields. losophy and perspective on climate change CHANGE ADAPTATION complements those of formal science and I can promise you, dear reader, that with my way, or rather nature’s way, if you are a Inspiring Ecological, Social, indigenous knowledge, provides detailed de- gardener or farmer, when your heart stops beating and you have to stop weeding, you can keep on feeding the soil indefinitely, no Twitter about it. As your body decomposes Economic and Cultural Responses scriptions of practical applications drawing and folds back into the eternal garden of the food chain, your loved ones will think all the for Resilience and Transformation on case studies from around the world, and more kindly of you… by Thomas Henfrey & Gil Penha-Lopes considers how global responses can most ef- $22.50, paper. Chelsea Green. fectively draw upon the unique contributions Among Gene Logsdon’s other books are Holy Shit and Small-Scale Grain Raising. 110 pages, 7x9, colour photos permaculture has to make. Permaculture is a design system for sus- Strategies outlined—with excellent pho- lent theme is using water to do the work. fruit farm using permaculture patterns. His tainable human habitats and the basis of tos and stories—include: Although applicable in many climates, his landscape requires only the labor of harvest- a worldwide citi- u water regulation and management designs are particularly important for areas ing, and the only outside input he buys is a zen-led movement u soil protection and restoration coping with water scarcity. small amount of chicken feed. By carefully present in over 100 u revegetation Jadrnicek focuses on his experience as engaging the free forces of nature—water, countries. u agrodiversity farm manager at the Clemson University wind, sunlight, convection, gravity, and de- For decades, per- u agroecology Student Organic Farm and at his residence composition—Jadrnicek creates sustenance maculture practi- u in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. without maintenance and transforms waste tioners have devised creation and use of microclimates These locations lie at the cooler northern into valuable farm resources. creative responses u bioclimatic building edge of a humid subtropical climate that ex- The Bio-Integrated Farm offers in- to changes in local u energy descent tends west to the middle of Texas and north depth information about designing and climatic conditions. u bioregionalism, economic localization along the coast to New Jersey. He has cre- building a wide range of bio-integrated proj- In doing so, they u regenerative enterprise have developed a ated permaculture patterns ranging from ects including reflecting ponds, water-stor- u commons-based governance raising transplants and field design to fresh- age ponds, multipurpose basins, green- collective knowl- u social technologies water prawn production and composting. houses, compost heat extraction, pastured edge and experience invaluable to global These patterns have simplified the op- chicken systems, aquaculture, hydroponics, efforts to address climate change. u conflict transformation eration of the 125-share CSA farm while hydronic heating, water filtration and aera- This book seeks to bring this expertise from u personal resilience reducing reliance on outside resources. In tion, cover cropping, and innovative rainwa- the margins into the centre of policy debates u changing worldviews less time than it takes to mow his two-acre ter-harvesting systems that supply water for and mainstream action. It describes in broad u indigenous and local knowledge homestead, Jadrnicek is building a you-pick drip irrigation and flushing toilets. terms how permaculture’s underlying phi- and popular education.

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Nature as Teacher changing yet consistent. They evolve along Conscious Evolution a much more protracted timetable than hu- & Healer mans. Like us, trees feel and react to their THE POWER OF OFF environment, and communicate with us in The Mindful Way to Stay Sane THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING subtle but distinct ways. in a Virtual World by Elizabeth Bailey Here readers are invited to explore trees by Nancy Colier $19.95, paper. Algonquin. from four perspectives: their roots—wisdom $22.95, paper. Sounds True. 226 pages 190 pages, French flaps and understanding; their branches—sym- Our reliance on technology is rapidly changing how each Elisabeth Tova Bailey demonstrates the bols and rituals; their leaves—healing and of us experiences life. We’re facing new issues and difficulties, rewards of closely observing nature in this science; and their seeds—transformation we’re encountering new emotional triggers, and we’re relating inspiring and intimate and spirituality. All of these elements show to each other in new ways. As therapist Nancy Colier writes, story of her encoun- us how, although they live outside us, trees “How we spend our time, what motivates us, and what we want ter with a Neohelix al- offer a path to our inner selves. From the are all are on a radical course of transformation.” The promise bolabris—a common Bodhi Tree to the Garden of Eden, the of technology is that it will make our lives easier; yet to realize woodland snail. Druids to forest monks, medicines to tire that promise, we cannot be passive users—we must bring aware- While an illness keeps swings—people have always received physi- ness and mindfulness to our relationships with our devices. her bedridden, Bailey cal, psychological, and spiritual sustenance The compulsion to constantly check our devices plays on primal instincts. Even people with watches a wild snail that from trees. Filled with insights from botany strong spiritual practices or those who have never had other addiction issues now find them- has taken up residence to poetry, ecology to mythology, and herbal- selves caught in the subtle trap of these miraculous tools we’ve created. in a potted plant on her ism to sacraments, Be More Tree explores the ways these grounded yet soaring beings can Through The Power of Off, she offers us a path for making use of the virtual world while nightstand. Intrigued steady and move us, teach and transform us, still feeling good, having healthy relationships, and staying connected with what is genuine- by the snail’s molluscan inspire and comfort us. ly meaningful in life. You’ll explore: anatomy, cryptic defenses, clear decision u How and why today’s devices push our buttons so effectively, and what you can do making, hydraulic locomotion, and mys- What is forest bathing, and how can it to take back control of your life terious courtship activities, she becomes help us heal ourselves? an astute observer, providing a witty and u Tips for navigating the increasingly complex ways in which technology is affecting Beautiful colour paintings also make the engaging look into the curious life of this our relationships—with ourselves, others, and our devices themselves book great for young and old. underappreciated small animal. u Self-evaluation tools for bringing greater awareness to your use of technology The snail and its offspring were wild u Mindfulness practices for helping you interact with your devices in more conscious creatures. They represented half a billion Science & Cosmology ways years of gastropod evolution. I wanted to u A 30-day digital detox program to kick-start a new healthier relationship with tech- understand their place in such a venerable nology. lineage… While illness keeps me always THE GREATEST STORY aware of my mortality, I realize that what You’ll find that paying attention to your senses in the simplest of ways can instantly land EVER TOLD—SO FAR matters most is not that I survive, nor even you back in your body and re-establish you where you are—in a grounded reality, out of Why Are We Here? that my species survives, but that life itself the ether and in this here and now, where your body actually lives. continues to evolve. As the Holocene mass by Laurence Krauss With The Power of Off, Colier sounds the call for wakefulness, reminding us that we extinction rushes on, which species will be $36.00, cloth. Simon & Schuster. 332 pp. Here the renowned physicist-author of A can use technology in a way that promotes, rather than detracts from, our well-being. left? And what new creatures will evolve This book provides an essential resource for anyone wanting to create a more empow- that we cannot now imagine—for what Universe from Nothing, passionate advocate for ered relationship with technology in the digital age. creature could ever have imagined us? reason Lawrence Addressing startling Internet and smartphone use statistics, Colier offers a path to- At the moment, we humans are lucky Krauss tells the dra- ward peace of mind and genuine human connection. to coinhabit the earth with mollusks, even matic story of the dis- “A wise and loving remedy, a lucid invitation to mindful living, a re-inhabiting of if we are a recent presence in their much covery of the hidden longer history. I hope the terrestrial snails, world of reality—a the heart of life itself. Colier showed me the off button, and I am grateful.” —Mirabai secreted away in their burrows by day Starr, author of Caravan of No Despair grand poetic vision across the earth’s vast landscapes, will con- of nature—and how tinue their mysterious lives, gliding slowly we find our place and gracefully through the night, million of within it. years into the future. HOW SOON IS NOW? In the beginning The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a re- From Personal Initiation there was light. markable journey of survival and resilience, to Global Transformation But more than showing us how a small part of the natural this, there was by Daniel Pinchbeck world can illuminate our own human exist- $26.95, cloth. Watkins. 300 pages gravity. Here’s a bracing “big-vision” book from Daniel Pinchbeck, ence, while providing an appreciation of After that, all hell who wrote Breaking Open the Head and co-edited What Comes what it means to be fully alive. broke loose. After Money? and Exploring the Edge-Realms of Consciousness. “An exquisite meditation on the restora- tive connection between nature and hu- In A Universe from Nothing, Krauss revealed Beyond denial, cynicism, despair, and grief, we have the option mans… As richly layered as the soil she lays how our entire universe could arise from to embrace our role as agents of planetary regeneration, helping down in the snail’s terrarium: loamy, potent, nothing. Now, he reveals what that some- to redeem and restore our world—to find joy in surrendering thing—reality—is. And, reality is not what and regenerative.” —The Huffington Post limited forms of self-interest for planetary communion. we think or sense—it’s weird, wild, and Undergoing metamorphosis means letting go of everything we counterintuitive; it’s hidden beneath every- thought we knew. When we shed the skin of the past, we create day experience; and its inner workings seem the potential for rebirth into a new condition of being, beyond BE MORE TREE even stranger than the idea that something anything we might imagine or conceive. can come from nothing. Until it happens, we can never know if an alternative exists that we can realize. Once A journey of wisdom, symbols, we free the butterfly from the chrysalis, there is no going back. healing, and renewal In an unprecedented work of scientific by Alice Peck history, Krauss leads us to the furthest reach- We are on the brink of an ecological mega-crisis, threatening the future of life on $29.95, paper. Cico. es of space and time, to scales so small they earth, and our actions over the next few years may well determine the destiny of our 144 pages, 7x9, colour illustrations are invisible to microscopes, to the birth and descendants. Between a manifesto and a tactical plan of action, How Soon is Now? by Discover how all trees can mirror us, teach rebirth of light, and into the natural forces radical futurist and philosopher Daniel Pinchbeck, outlines a vision for a mass social us, and heal us. As Alice Peck reflected on that govern our existence. His unique blend movement that will address this crisis. the maple tree in her of rigorous research and engaging story- Drawing on extensive research, Daniel Pinchbeck presents a compelling argument backyard, she began telling invites us into the lives and minds of for the need for change on a global basis. The central thesis is that humanity has un- to notice and then the remarkable, creative scientists who have consciously self-willed ecological catastrophe to bring about a transcendence of our study its intricacies helped to unravel the unexpected fabric of current condition. We are facing an initiatory ordeal on a planetary scale. We can un- and changes. This reality—with reason rather than supersti- derstand that this initiation is necessary for us to evolve from one state of being our became her regular tion and dogma. Krauss has himself been current level of consciousness to the next. Overcoming outmoded ideologies, we will meditation and in- an active participant in this effort, and he realize ourselves as one unified being, a planetary super-organism in a symbiotic rela- spiration. In Be More knows many of them well. tionship with the Earth’s ecology and the entire web of life. Tree, Alice shares what The Greatest Story challenges us to re-en- Covering everything from energy and agriculture, to culture, politics, media and she has learned from vision ourselves and our place within the ideology, How Soon Is Now? is ultimately about the nature of the human soul and the that maple tree, and universe, as it appears that God does play future of our current world. Pinchbeck calls for an intentional redesign of our current from the trees all around us. dice with the universe. In the incisive style systems, transforming unjust and elitist structures into participatory, democratic, and Every tree tells a complete and ongoing of his scintillating essays for The New Yorker, inclusive ones. His viewpoint integrates indigenous design principles and Eastern meta- story—from its powerful taproots to the Krauss celebrates the greatest intellectual physics with social ecology and radical political thought in a new synthesis. birds that alight on its fragile high branch- adventure ever undertaken—to understand es. Trees reflect our lives through their why we are here in a universe where fact is perseverance and seasonal rhythms—always stranger than fiction.

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Deepak Chopra: Genes & Science Brain/Mind/Happiness

YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE HARDWIRING HAPPINESS Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters The New Brain Science of New in by & Menas Kafatos Contentment, Calm, and Confidence Paperback $35.00, cloth. Crown. 276 pages by Rick Hanson Here Deepak Chopra joins forces with physicist Menas Kafatos to $22.00, paper. Doubleday. 304 pages explore some of the most important and baffling questions about Why is it easier to ruminate over hurt feelings than it is to bask our place in the world—and the world itself. in the warmth of feeling loved? Your brain was wired in such a way What happens when modern science reaches a crucial turning when it evolved, primed to learn quickly from bad experiences, but point that challenges what we think we know about reality? In this not so much from the good ones. It’s an ancient survival mechanism brilliant and practical work, Chopra and Kafatos tell us that we’ve that turned the brain into Velcro for the negative, but Teflon for the reached just such a point. In the coming era, the universe will be positive. completely redefined as a “human universe” radically unlike the cold, empty void Being brain-wired to take in the bad and ignore the good makes us worried, irritated, where human life is barely a speck in the cosmos. and stressed, instead of confident, secure, and happy. Each day is filled with opportuni- You Are the Universe literally means what it says—each of us is a co-creator of reality ex- ties to build inner strengths, but the brain is designed to ignore and waste them. This tending to the vastest reaches of time and space. This seemingly impossible proposition makes you come down harder on yourself than you do on others, feel inadequate even follows from the current state of science, where outside the public eye, some key mys- when you get a hundred things done, and feel lonely even when support is all around. teries cannot be solved, even though they are the very issues that define reality itself: Neuropsychologist Rick Hanson here lays out a simple method that uses the hidden u What Came Before the Big Ban power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures that attract happiness, u Why Does the Universe Fit Together So Perfectly? love, confidence, and peace.Dr. Hanson’s four steps build a brain strong enough to u Where Did Time Come From? withstand its ancient negativity bias, allowing contentment and a sense of well-being to become the new normal. We can hardwire in happiness. u What Is the Universe Made Of? u Is the Quantum World Linked to Everyday Life? Your brain has separate systems for liking and wanting. Consequently, it is possible to like something without wanting it. If you let yourself have positive experiences without u Do We Live in a Conscious Universe? trying to hold on to them, you’ll enjoy them more and won’t get carried away by the u How Did Life First Begin? drivenness and pressure of wanting them. Noticing good experiences gives you many opportunities to take in the good each day. The shift into a new paradigm is happening. The answers offered in this book are not our Even noticing your own awareness is an opportunity for a good experience, since aware- invention or eccentric flights of fancy. All of us live in a participatory universe. Once you de- ness is inherently peaceful and never tainted or harmed by what passes through it. cide that you want to participate fully with mind, body, and soul, the paradigm shift becomes personal. The reality you inhabit will be yours either to embrace or to change. “Learning to take in the good is like fully and mindfully breathing in life…it allows us What these great minds offer is a new understanding of who we are and how we can to access our inner strengths, creativity, vitality and love… Hanson gives us the fascinat- transform the world for the better while reaching our higher potential. ing science behind attending to positive experiences, and offers powerful and doable ways to awaken the deep and lasting wellbeing we yearn for.” —Tara Brach, author of Cosmic consciousness has the urge to build upon the old to create the new. This behav- True Refuge ior is called evolution. Confining evolution to life on Earth is a narrow perspective. The entire cosmos exhibits evolution as a basic trait… Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and is also the author of Buddha’s Brain Cosmic consciousness mirrors the observer’s state of being. There is no privileged and Just One Thing as well as several audio programs. point of view, even though in the past religion claimed to have a privileged point of view while today science does the same. But each story is provided with evidence to support it. MIND Because our state of being interacts so intimately with reality that observer, observed, and A Journey to the Heart of Being Human the process of observation are inseparable. by Daniel Siegel $35.95, cloth. Norton. 378 pages, illus. SUPER GENES What is the mind? What is the experience of the self truly made of? How does the mind differ from the brain? Though the mind’s Unlock the Astonishing Power of Your DNA contents—its emotions, thoughts, and memories—are often de- for Optimum Health and Well-Being scribed, the essence of mind is rarely, if ever, defined. by Deepak Chopra & Rudolph Tanzi In this book, noted neuropsychiatrist and New York Times $23.00, paper. Harmony. 325 pages Here the authors of Super Brain present a bold new under- best-selling author Daniel Siegel uses his characteristic sensitivity and interdisciplinary standing of our genes and how changes in lifestyle can boost background to offer a definition of the mind that illuminates the how, what, when, genetic activity. This leap into “radical well-being” is a promise where, and even why of who we are, of what the mind is, and what the mind’s self has waiting to be fulfilled. the potential to become. You are not simply the sum total of the genes you were born Mind is the essence of our fundamental nature, our deepest sense of being alive, here, with. You are the user and controller of your genes, the author of right now, in this moment… This internally felt subjective phenomenon of living, and the your biological story. No prospect in self-care is more exciting. ways we can feel our connections to one another and the world, are subjective phenome- na that are real. These non-measurable facets of the reality of life have many names. Some Learning how to shape your gene activity is at the heart of this exciting and eager- call this our essence. Some call this our core, soul, spirit, or true nature. ly-anticipated book from Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi. For decades medical sci- I simply call this mind. ence has believed that genes determined our biological destiny. Now the new genetics MIND takes the reader on a deep personal and scientific journey into consciousness, has changed that assumption forever. subjective experience, and information processing, uncovering the mind’s self-organiza- You will always have the genes you were born with, but genes are dynamic, respond- tional properties that emerge from both the body and the relationships we have with one ing to everything we think, say, and do. Suddenly they’ve become our strongest allies another, and with the world around us. While making a wide range of sciences accessible for personal transformation. When you make lifestyle choices that optimize how your and exciting—from neurobiology to quantum physics, anthropology to psychology—this genes behave, you can reach for a state of health and fulfillment undreamed of even a book offers an experience that addresses some of our most pressing personal and global decade ago. The impact on prevention, immunity, diet, aging, and chronic disorders questions about identity, connection, and the cultivation of well-being in our lives. is unparalleled. My deepest hope is to join with you to elucidate the nature of our minds, illuminate If the new genetics is teaching us anything, it’s about nature cooperating with nurture. our beliefs and uncover our disbeliefs, demonstrate the mind’s central importance in Your genes can predispose you to obesity or depression or type 2 diabetes, but this is like our lives, and offer some basic ways to define the mind so we can then explore what a saying that a piano predisposes you to play wrong notes. The possibility exists, yet far healthy mind might actually be. The natural next step, once we’ve explored these issues, more important is all the good music a piano—and a gene—are capable of. is to suggest the various ways we might choose to empower ourselves to cultivate a “A paradigm-shattering synthesis of epigenetic science that offers an easy-to-under- healthy mind, personally and in others. stand explanation of the mechanisms by which consciousness and environment control Among Daniel Siegel’s other books are The Mindful Therapist and The Whole-Brain our genetic activity.” —Bruce Lipton, author of The Biology of Belief Child. “Super Genes is an important book. It will empower anyone who reads it, because it expands our view of what it means to be human.” —Larry Dossey, author of One Mind: How Our Individual Mind Is Part of a Greater Consciousness and Why It Matters THE MINDBODY SELF gist, Mario Martinez How Longevity is Culturally Learned and explores the cultural conditions that in- A universe without purpose, which is of experience and to search for some sense the Causes of Health are Inherited fluence our sense of the way it is as far as I can tell, is far more of order beneath… How lucky to have our by Mario Martinez exciting than one designed just for us self and explains how brief moment in the Sun. Every day that $24.99, cloth. Hay House. 295 pages because it means that the possibilities of we discover something new and surpris- From the author of the very success- this affects the diag- existence are so much more diverse and far ing, the story gets even better. ful MindBody Code comes a new book that nosis, prognosis, and ranging. How invigorating it is to find our- treatment of disease “Accessible, illuminating, and surprising— examines the impact our cultural beliefs selves with an exotic menagerie to explore, as well as the way we an ideal guide for anyone interested in under- have on our health and longevity. Drawing with laws and phenomena that previously think about aging. He standing our accidental universe.” —Elizabeth on extensive scientific research and his years seemed beyond our wildest dreams, and to lays out the theory attempt to untangle the knotted confusion Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction of experience as a clinical neuropsycholo-

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 39 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F F A M I L Y & P A R E N T I N G F and practice of his own mindbody cultural science and offers contemplative exercises Conscious Parent, The Awakened Family draws Pregnancy and Birth and experiential processes to help us trans- from Eastern philosophy as well as Western late our minds’ intentions into sustainable psychology to offer enlightened advice and SHAMANIC WISDOM FOR PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD actions that support well-being. Topics in- a clear program for raising confident, con- Practices to Embrace the Transformative Power clude: scious children who are true to themselves. of Becoming a Parent u The pathology of disease and the anthro- In an awakened family, parents are aware by Anna Cariad-Barrett pology of illness that every relationship in their family exists $22.50, paper. Bear & Company. 274 pp. u Growing older vs. “cultural aging” to help each person grow. Parents view their The journey into parenthood transforms us, whether our children u Navigating adversity using uncertainty as children as mirrors through which they are are biological, adopted, in spirit, or not yet conceived. As we give a guide able to see how they themselves need to birth through heart or body, we not only shape-shift into mothers u Biocognitive tools for a healthy life, mature and develop. Instead of fixing what and fathers, but also gain access to the deep inner well of spiritual “Biocognitive Koans for Western Minds.” they see as faults in their children, these wisdom that opens with initiation into parenthood. The MindBody Self presents groundbreaking parents seek to work on themselves, raising In this guide to consciously exploring the shamanic journey of pregnancy and par- their own levels of maturity and presence. enthood, Anna Cariad-Barrett offers techniques and ceremonies to honor the trans- discoveries derived from deep insight and The focus is always on the parent’s aware- impeccable scholarship—but you don’t need formation of becoming a parent and engage the sacred wisdom-keeper within. She ness rather than the child’s behavior. This is provides tools and meditations to create personal shamanic medicine to support you a background in science to benefit from this the core insight of the book. book. Each chapter concludes with a practical and your family on this journey as well as connect with the wisdom of nature, expand “Tsabary’s invaluable book shows how the exercise that makes complex scientific discov- your intuition, and explore altered states of consciousness. challenges of parenting can become a great eries not only accessible but applicable for all Restoring honor to the shadow side of parenthood, the author discusses the shaman- opportunity for spiritual awakening. Becom- readers. And the glossary is brilliant and use- ic perspective on miscarriage, fertility, sexuality, postpartum stress and depression, ing a fully conscious parent is the greatest ful to understanding the book. blended families, and adoption as a form of birthing through the heart. She explains gift you can give to your child.” —Eckhart how to heal any deep psychic wounds from your birth family and transform negative The Mindbody Self takes you on a new Tolle, author, The Power of Now beliefs you may hold about parenthood. She provides chapters on each trimester of journey that shows you how the science of “In this book, Dr. Shefali Tsabary de- hope is overwhelming the myths of doom. pregnancy, offering specific teachings and techniques appropriate to each stage as well scribes the importance of compassion in How you have inherited the resilience as conception, birth, and the postpartum period. to handle adversity in ways that may ap- simple, secular terms, discussing how we My training as a minister and psycho-spiritual counselor as well as my background in pear magical, although they are based on can learn to develop it from our relation- marriage and family therapy and family social science assist me in facilitating and teach- credible scientific evidence. But like any ship with our children.” —His Holiness the ing about varied experiences within the family system… I have also included a number new journey, this one requires courage to Dalai Lama of stories in addition to my own, from parents with diverse backgrounds and experiences. challenge old ways of doing things, and These personal stories connect directly with the heart, helping us to open to healing, patience to let your cultural brain assimi- learning, and discovery in a very powerful way. late the new ways… The good news is that HO’OPONOPONO AND FAMILY Whether you are preparing to welcome your first child or seeking spiritual support we are designed to choose meaning over for the multidimensional experience of being a parent, the author shows how to re- survival of the fittest, and love over fear… CONSTELLATIONS claim and reconnect all the experiences of parenthood and how, through this rite of Enjoy your paradigm shift. A traditional Hawaiian healing method passage, we give birth to our most authentic selves. “There is genius at work in these pages. for relationships, forgiveness and love Dr. Martinez presents ideas and techniques by Ulrich Dupreé that are so startlingly original and innovative $24.50, paper. Findhorn. YOUR BABY’S MICROBIOME that they actually expand the reader’s cap- 158 pages, colour photos The Critical Role of Vaginal Birth acity for astonishment… A must-read book Take a moment to think hard about your and Breastfeding for Lifelong Health for therapists, physicians, and transforma- relationships. The first one to come to mind by Toni Harman & Alex Wakeford tional change agents of every kind.” —Gay may be with your $27.95, paper. Chelsea Green. 194 pages Hendricks, coauthor of Conscious Loving partner or parents At least two amazing events happen during childbirth. There’s Ever After but there are many the obvious main event, which is the emergence of a new human others in your life: into the world. But there’s another event taking place simultane- relationships with ously, a crucial event that is not visible to the naked eye, an event your colleagues at that could determine the lifelong health of the baby. This is the Family, Parenting work, your body, seeding of the baby’s microbiome, the community of good bacteria your past and fu- that we carry with us throughout our lives. & Education ture, your finances, The seeding of the microbiome, along with breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, even with the clutter kick-starts the baby’s immune system and helps protect the infant from disease across still left in your clos- a lifetime. Researchers are discovering, however, that interventions such as the use THE AWAKENED FAMILY ets. Many problems of synthetic oxytocin, antibiotics, C-sections, and formula feeding interfere with, or How to Raise Empowered, Resilient, are relationship-re- bypass completely, the microbial transfer from mother to baby. These bacteria are vital and Conscious Children lated, and the good for human health, and science has linked an imbalance in the human microbiome with news is that you can multiple chronic diseases. by Shefali Tsabary $23.00, paper. Putnam. 368 pages heal all your relationship issues! We can have prevention. We can make a difference. And we can do it in early life. We Oprah called Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s first With his best-selling title Ho’oponopono, know what to do, and we should do it. It’s so simple. The solution starts with birth. —Dr. book “the most profound book on parenting Ulrich Dupree revealed a healing method Rodney Dietert I’ve ever encoun- for solving problems and conflicts by using Drawing on the extensive research they carried out for their documentary film Mi- tered,” making the Hawaiian reconciliation ritual to forgive crobirth—the book has links to videos of the researchers and clear summaries of each it a bestseller in both ourselves and others. This is given chapter—authors Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford reveal a fascinating new view of 2014. Now, Dr. even greater power when combined with the birth and how microscopic happenings can have lifelong consequences, for ourselves, Shefali offers family constellations method. A constella- our children, and our species as a whole. readers a radical- tion allows underlying conflicts to be aired “Our expanding understanding of the roles of the microbiome and epigenetics in ly transformative and resolved. It helps us to experience love health and disease is profoundly changing maternity care and public health for the bet- plan that shows and inner peace through the feeling, deep ter. The conversational style and clear explanations in Your Baby’s Microbiome by parents how to in our hearts, that we are all interconnected. some of the world’s leading scientists and maternity care providers make this new and raise children to The very terms ‘family constellations’ complex information accessible and inspiring to the general public. We now know be their unique, and ‘family conference’ offer a clue to the ways to support the role of healthy microbes in our bodies and in our environment truest selves. way both approaches view a person and to improve our lifelong health and well-being.” —Penny Simkin, author, doula, and the challenges that face them—not in iso- birth educator Letting go of lation, but within the context of their cir- control over our cumstances. At the same time, you will be children is prob- using practical exercises to learn how you ably the hardest can combine these two approaches—for spiritual task we DUMBING US DOWN accomplishing little but your own benefit and for the good of the The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory to teach young people face as parents. world you live in… So let’s get practical! Schooling - 25th Anniversary Edition to follow orders like Parents need to recognize their children Beautiful photographs, very practical cogs in an industrial for who they actually are, and in The Awak- by John Taylor Gatto exercises (such as “An exercise in acknowl- $14.99, paper. New Society. 144 pages machine. ened Family, Tsabary challenges the modern edging your parents and thereby attaining After over 100 years of mandatory school- He became a fierce myths of parenting that define how a child your own strength”), and illuminating case ing in the U.S., literacy rates have dropped, advocate of families is “supposed to be.” Instead of holding our studies fill this book. And the book ends families are fragmented, learning “disabili- and young people children to society’s impossible ideals, Shefali with appendices on “The Hawaiian family ties” are skyrocketing, and children and youth taking back education teaches us how to control our expectations, conference in detail” and two useful lists: are increasingly disaffected. Thirty years of and learning, arguing embrace the present moment, and let go of “Feelings and emotions with negative con- teaching in the public school system led John that “genius is as com- the anxiety surrounding how best to parent notations” and “Feelings and emotions with Taylor Gatto to the sad conclusion that com- mon as dirt,” but that our children. Written in the style of her The positive connotations.” pulsory governmental schooling is to blame, conventional school-

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 40 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F R E L A T I O N S H I P S F ing is driving out the natural curiosity and selves to loving each other, they re-enact the problem-solving skills we’re born with, re- primal union of the Cosmic Couple, Shiva Love, Sex & Awakening placing it with rule-following, fragmented and Shakti, that created the universe. time, and disillusionment. To bring human love from the depths LOVE, SEX AND AWAKENING Gatto’s radical treatise on public educa- of your soul and divine love from Moth- An Erotic Journey from Tantra to Spiritual Ecstasy tion, a New Society bestseller for 25 years, er-Father God into the sexual act is one by Margo Anand continues to bang the drum for an unshack- of the most powerful transformations and $20.95, paper. Llewellyn. 336 pages ling of children and learning from formal healings any human can ever experience… A true virtuoso of Tantra and a brilliant star in the universe schooling. Now, in an ever-more-rapidly Yab-yum is a series of movements, breaths, of erotic delights, bestselling author Margot Anand (The Art of changing world with an explosion of alter- and infinite loops that merge the great Sexual Ecstasy, etc.) has led a life of sexual ecstasy and spiritual native routes to learning, it’s poised to con- depths of love, sex, soul, and God all to- bliss—from Millbrook to Woodstock to Esalen to Poona and far tinue to shake the world of institutional ed- gether—within two hours!... This bonding beyond. This book recounts her fascinating adventures far, wide, ucation for many more years. at all levels transcends physical, sexual, and deep, and provides techniques and exercises to help you and spiritual programming about what we Featuring a new foreword from Zach- connect to the spiritual potential of sex and cultivate a deeper, feel relationships are and should be. ary Slayback, an Ivy League dropout and more fulfilling love life. cofounder of tech start-up career foundry Weaving together mystical feminine wis- I offer these stories as part of a calling to eradicate sexual igno- Praxis, this 25th anniversary edition will dom, transcendent masculine consciousness, rance and to alleviate the suffering that this ignorance has created for so many people inspire new generations of parents and stu- and sexual psychology, the authors offer around the world… Sharing the teachings of my Tantric path with thousands of people dents to take control of learning and kick- practical tools to balance your masculine and around the world has given me firsthand experience of our common human purpose. I start an empowered society of self-directed feminine energies, help with relationship ob- hope you will recognize that my concerns, my pitfalls, my difficulties, and my search are lifetime-learners. stacles, and bring about sexual healing, emo- not very different from your own. Highly relevant in setting the agenda for tional clearing, spiritual growth, and physical One of the first teachers to bring Tantra to the West, Margot has explored the con- a complete overhaul of how we educate our release. Offering female specific, male specif- nection between sex, body, mind, and spirit with yogis and teachers around the world, children—and for what—Dumbing Us Down is ic, and couples exercises, they detail practices including Timothy Leary, Alan Watts, Osho, and many more. Love, Sex, and Awakening a gutsy, forthright presentation of the “hid- for self-awakening, womb pulsing, yoni-lin- shares her amazing stories and explores the answers to profound questions: What is den curriculum” which takes the public dis- gam evolution, and a series of sacred body Tantra? What does a woman need to realize her multi-orgasmic nature? What does it cussion of education skillfully beyond where rites—heart-opening practices. mean for a man to be a Tantric lover? What is awakening? Also by Anaiya Sophia is Sacred Sexual it usually gets stuck. After awakening, I find I can relax, let go, and invite the good, the bad, and the ugly to Union, and with Padma, Womb Wisdom. What I do that is right is simple to the same party. It is no longer a matter of moral judgment, but rather of discrimination. understand: I get out of kids’ way, I give Most of our problems are due to the fact that we say no to reality as it presents itself. them space and time and respect. What We say, “No, not like this. Not that. I want something else.” In this way, we write off the I do that is wrong, however, is strange, BEYOND MARS AND VENUS possibility of loving what is. complex, and frightening. Let me begin to Relationship Skills Also by Margo Anand is Sexual Ecstasy: The Art of the Orgasm. show you what that is… I began to wonder, reluctantly, whether it was possible that for Today’s Complex World by John Gray SEX THAT WORKS being in school itself was what was dumb- An Intimate Guide to Awakening Your Erotic Life ing them down? $34.50, cloth. Benbella. 345 pages For more than twenty years, John Gray’s by Wendy Strgar Also by teacher John Gatto is Weapons of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus has $22.75, paper. Sounds True. 200 pages Mass Instruction. helped couples deep- Millions of couples report sexual dissatisfaction as the num- en their intimacy and ber one reason for ending their relationship—even after years rejuvenate their love together. So if we’ve lost that special spark, depth of connec- Relationships & Sex lives. Men and women, tion, or sense of confidence in our sex lives, how do we redis- it revealed, communi- cover passion and pleasure? Or if were embarking on a new ad- cate so differently we venture with someone, how can we overcome the challenges we might as well be from had the last time? Sex That Works is a practical guide for women different planets. By (and anyone who loves a woman) looking to reclaim intimacy, SACRED RELATIONSHIPS learning to speak each renew curiosity, and embrace our full potential for erotic free- The Practice of Intimate other’s language, mil- dom (which can be significantly healing). Erotic Love lions of people dramat- Having good sex, sex that works, depends on learning to feel. I’ve arranged Sex that by Anaiya Sophia ically improved their Works to highlight the themes of the journey while still allowing you the space to make & Padma Aon Prakasha relationships. But the your own observations and discoveries. In each chapter, I’ve also included some exercis- $23.95, paper. Inner Traditions. 295 pp. world has changed. es related to the theme, to help you in this work of observing and discovering. I invite Here’s a workbook on divine sexual ex- Today, what it means to be a man or a wom- you to return to these exercises as often as you like… pression, sacred relationship, and uniting an is more nuanced and complex than ever. In Learning to feel is a practice, no different than learning a musical instrument. Some days you hit the right notes; other days there is no melody at all. But just by agreeing to the Divine Feminine Beyond Mars and Venus, Gray, (with kudos to his and Masculine. the practice, you open yourself up to an intimacy that deepens your connection with friend Warren Farrell) provides a deeper, more yourself, your partner, and your life. It is an intimate journey that makes sex work. Sexuality is one of current look at keys to true intimacy. Neurosci- our core soul quali- ence research has widened our knowledge of Drawing on her marriage of over 30 years and her work with thousands of people, ties, best evidenced male-female differences and made clear that we Wendy Strgar invites readers to experience a new level of liberation and feeling in their by the design of our have the power to embrace the Mars and Venus sexuality. Nine core topics include Freedom, Pleasure, Finding Your Normal, Courage, physical and spiritual qualities we all possess. We are not solely Mar- Curiosity, Sensation, Fantasy, Attention, and Gratitude—along with stories, skill-build- bodies and their in- tians or Venusians, but unique individuals, each ing activities, and wisdom gleaned from her own journey. Strgar offers healing insights herent propensity for with a distinct blend of feminine and masculine and the guidance of a trusted friend to encourage the full awakening and expression sexual expression. By qualities. of our erotic selves. embracing your sex- She also provides excellent resources (books, organizations, tools) for further help, Both men and women require a new kind ual power in a loving study and exploration. of emotional support that embraces greater union, you can enact a authenticity, intimacy, and personal expres- sacred trinity between your two souls and the sion… Both men and women in relationships Divine, transforming your relationship into need to find their own happiness first without love. If you want to understand yourself bet- Many of us enter into an initiatory temple of spiritual development depending on their partner changing. ter and sweeten your relationship, this book romantic relationships and awakening yourselves to divine , The key to being happy and successful, will take you to the next level.” —Arjuna Ard- full of expectation and direct knowing of God, through sacred body alone or with someone else, is to embrace agh, author of The Translucent Revolution hope, only to be sorely rites. your specific masculine-feminine blend— disappointed by the real- In this workbook, Anaiya Sophia and Pad- to, in effect, move beyond Mars and Venus. ization that the partner ma Aon Prakasha explain how to reactivate Through real-life examples and simple ex- we’ve selected is a flawed your primal sexual expression in harmony ercises, Beyond Mars and Venus shows you LOVING BRAVELY human being with their with the Divine, navigate the waters of Di- how to enrich your self-understanding and 20 Lessons of self-Discovery own neuroses, history, vine Relationship with a partner, and ignite improve your communication in every area to Help You Get the Love You Want and desires. Most rela- the alchemical process of Sacred Marriage or of life, from relationships, to parenting, tionships end because Hieros Gamos—union with God. Integrating by Alexandra Solomon to business, to sex. Each copy of the book $23.95, paper. New Harbinger. 230 pages one or both people hav- shamanic, gnostic, tantric, and alchemical comes with exclusive access to an in-depth Real love starts with you . In order to at- en’t done the internal work necessary to de- traditions with sacred sexual practices, in- online self-assessment, which will reveal tract a life partner and build a healthy inti- velop self-awareness and take responsibility cluding teachings from the Temples of Isis, your score on a 10-point Mars-Venus spec- mate relationship, you must first become a for their own experiences. We’ve all heard they explore how to unite the Divine Femi- trum. Your results let you better interpret good partner to yourself. This book offers “You can’t love anyone unless you love your- nine and Divine Masculine energies within the specific advice throughout the book, tai- twenty invaluable lessons that will help you self,” but amid life’s distractions and the myth each of us and experience the Great Work loring its guidance to your unique situation. explore and commit to your own emotional of perfect, romantic love, how exactly do you of sexual alchemy. They explain how, when “Here you get the real deal: from a man and psychological well-being so you can be do that? two lovers come together and abandon them- who walks his talk and uses every day to live as ready, resilient, and confident in love. In Loving Bravely, psychologist, professor

B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 41 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F T H E W O M E N A N D T H E M E N F

and relationship expert Alexandra Sol- of survival in order to succeed, dulling down have to deal with—like stress, frustration, journey into the heart omon introduces the idea of relational their intuition, and ignoring the fierce pow- feeling in control, and being bored. Girl of the contemporary self-awareness, encouraging you to explore er of their feminine. They have ignored the Time is full of fun activities that you can masculine experience your personal history to gain an under- cycles of the feminine in order to survive in a do with your mom that will also show explores the most chal- standing of your own relational patterns, patriarchal linear system—but now the world you great ways to calm down, chill out, lenging issues in men’s as well as your strengths and weaknesses in has changed. express yourself, feel positive, and become lives—covering every- really confident! relationships. By doing so, you’ll learn what Rise Sister Rise is a transmission that calls thing from work and relationships actually require, beyond the the innate feminine wisdom to rise. It is This book includes: career, to dealing with fairytale notions of romance. And by main- about healing the insecurities, the fears, u Games, mazes, and fill-in-the-blank ac- sex, women, and love, taining a steady but gentle focus on yourself, and the inherited patterns that stop wom- tivities to help you learn more about to finding purpose in an you’ll build the best possible foundation for en trusting the Shakti (power) and wisdom yourself—and your mom increasingly superficial (intuition) that naturally flows through and mechanical world. making a loving connection. u Tips and strategies for getting yourself them. It’s about recognizing all of the ways The Way of the Supe- By understanding your past relationship motivated, relaxed, or out of a funk experiences, cultivating a strong sense of we have been keeping ourselves contained rior Man reveals how a man can live a life of u self-awareness, and determining what it and restrained in effort to fit into a certain Simple breathing exercises to calm your fulfillment without compromise by elaxingr is you really want in a romantic partner, archetype of woman. It’s about co-creating mind into the truth of his very being, discovering you’ll be ready to find the healthy, lasting a whole new archetype of woman—a wom- u Great advice on what to eat to power his deepest vision, and giving his gifts with- love your heart desires. an who does not keep herself small in order up, boost your mood, and activate your out holding anything back. What emerges “A godsend to anyone searching for, but to make others feel more comfortable. A mind is an incredible revelation for men—which struggling to find, true love in their lives.” woman who knows like she knows like she knows u And much more! explains the heart and soul of a woman to —Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion that she is not her body weight, her sexual men—as well as an astonishingly practical partners, or her career. A woman who deep- “Girl Time is a lovely and very heart-full book to living a masculine life of integrity, ly respects the wise woman in her life and mindfulness workbook for mothers and authenticity, and freedom. cultivates her own wisdom every single day. daughters. It will plant seeds of awareness Full of tools, calls to action, contemplative and compassion, and will invite every girl PRACTICE DISSOLVING Women & Men to be curious and connected. Connected- questions, rituals, and confrontational exercis- Like dissolving in the intensity of es, this book teaches women that it is safe to ness—to ourselves and to others—opens let Shakti rise, safe to trust their intuition, and windows to really see, hear, feel, and touch orgasm, a man’s greatest desire RISE SISTER RISE safe to take leaps of faith—because in healing each other’s heart. May this book bene- is to be utterly released A Guide to Unleashing the Wise, ourselves we are healing the world. fit many mothers and daughters.” —Eline Moment by moment, practice loving your Wild Woman Within Snel, author of Sitting Still like a Frog woman and the world, allowing the force of “A treasure trove of activities that will by Rebecca Campbell your surrender to transform every moment into an orgasm of divine dissolution. $15.99, paper. Hay House. 302 pages inspire, educate and connect mothers and GIRL TIME daughters across the generational divide, Embrace every moment of your experi- Rise Sister Rise, from Aussie inspiratrix Re- A Mother-Daughter Activity Book for becca Campbell, radiant author of Light is and build happiness and emotional aware- ence as a lover, and trust whatever direction Sharing, Bonding, and Really Talking ness for all.” —Dr. Christopher Willard, au- love moves you. Die in the giving of your the New Black, is a gift, so you don’t even notice you have sparkling gift for the by Nuanprang Snitbhan thor of Growing up Mindful $21.95, paper. Shambhala. stopped holding onto yourself. Fear is your women who agreed 142 pages, 2-colour illustrations final excuse. Don’t fight it. Love through it. at soul level to be This lovely workbook of bonding exercis- “Finally, a guide for the noncastrated here at this stage in es and activities for preteen girls and their male… To transcend the bodymind means history to lead this THE WAY OF THE SUPERIOR MAN moms will help to transcend and include its sexuality, not global shift that the A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the promote com- transcend and evaporate it. mystics of all of the Challenges of Women, Work, munication about Few are the books that discuss strong sex- ages have predicted: and Sexual Desire emotions and the uality within strong spirituality, instead of the return of the by David Deida tricky issues that tepid sexuality diluted by a mediocre spiri- mother and the rise $25.50, paper. Sounds True. 224 pages tweens have to th tual stance. of the feminine. It This 20 anniversary edition, with an all- navigate. This book steps straightforwardly into the is essentially a call new introduction by the author, invites a new challenge. Love it or loathe it, it is a shout to arms for women Sometimes it’s generation of men to participate in the full hard to talk with from the heart of one perspective of the to rise up, tell their expression of consciousness and love in the your mom about eternal masculine.” —Ken Wilber, author of truth, and lead. Most women have spent infinite openness of the present moment. feelings and situ- The Simple Feeling of Being much of their working lives “making it” in a With grit and considerable insight into the ations that tween Among David Deida’s other books are man’s world, leaning on patriarchal methods deeper desires of the masculine, this powerful girls these days Blue Truth and The Enlightened Sex Manual. F A F E W M O R E U N U S U A L N E W B O O K S F

THE GARDEN THE FIVE THE WORLD IS EVOLUTIONARY LOVE AWAKENING: LONGINGS: GREAT AND RELATIONSHIPS: Designs to Nurture What We’ve I AM SMALL: Passion, Authenticity, Our Land & Always Wanted A Bug’s Prayer for and Activism Ourselves —and Already Have Mindfulness by Andrew Harvey by Mary Reynolds, by David Richo, by Bradley Grieve, & Chris Saade, $34.95 hc. $21.95 pb. $11.99, hc. $23.95 pb.

THE UNTETHERED BODYWISE: RELATIONSHIP: THE COSMIC Discovering Your EVOLUTIONARY Experience Your HOLOGRAM: Body’s Intelligence Unimaginable PARENTING In-formation at the for Lifelong Health by David Marshak, Capacity for Love Center of Creation and Healing $19.95 pb. by Chris G. Moon, by Jude Currivan, by Rachel Carlton $19.95 pb. $21.50 pb. Abrams, $28.99, hc.

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B R A N C H E S O F L I G H T F 42 F S P R I N G - S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 F I N D E X O F A U T H O R S & T H E I R T I T L E S F

Allen, Laura Clippinger, David Gunaratana, Ghante Logsdon, Gene Shunya, Acharya Greywater, Green Landscape . . . 36 Cultivating Qi...... 15 Loving-Kindness in Plain English. .12 • Gene Everlasting...... 37 Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom. . . . 17 Almaas, A.H. Colier, Nancy Haag, Michael. • Letter to a Young Farmer. . . . 37 Siegel, Daniel The Alchemy of Freedom. . . . .23 The Power of Off...... 38 The Quest for Mary Magdalene. . 31 Mackenzie, Vicki Mind...... 39 Anand, Margo Cope, Stephen Hamilton, Diane Musho The Revolutionary Silver, Tosha Love, Sex and Awakening. . . . .41 Soul Friends...... 20 The Zen of You & Me...... 13 Life of Freda Bedi...... 14 Change Me Prayers ...... 20 Angelo, Jack Dalai Lama, The Haner, Jean Madison, Deborah Singh, Kathleen Dowling Love Has Seven Colors ...... 18 • Buddhism...... 15 Clear Home, Clear Heart . . . . .18 In My Kitchen...... 20 The Grace in Living...... 24 Bailey, E. • The Heart of Meditation . . . . 15 Hanh, Thich Nhat Marinella, Sandra Snitbhan, Nuanprang The Story You Need to Tell. . . . 10 The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating. .38 Daniels, Victor & Kooch • The Art of Living...... 12 Girl Time ...... 42 Bartlett, Sarah Awakening the Chakras...... 18 • The Other Shore ...... 12 Martinez, Mario Solomon, Alexandra The Mindbody Self ...... 39 The Afterlife Bible...... 33 Daulter, Anni Hanson, Rick Loving Bravely...... 41 Batchelor, Stephen The Sacred Medicine Cupboard. . 16 Hardwiring Happiness...... 39 Matthews, John Solomon, Joel The Celtic Shaman’s Pack . . . . .2 • After Buddhism...... 11 Davis, Louanne Harman, Toni The Clean Money Revolution. . . 34 • Secular Buddhism...... 11 Meditations for Healing Trauma . .21 Your Baby’s Microbiome. . . . . 40 McAthy, Karen Sophia, Anaiya The Art of Plant-Based Bell, Virginia Deida, David Harris, Michael Sacred Relationships...... 41 Cheesemaking...... 19 Midlife Is Not a Crisis...... 32 The Way of the Superior Man. . . 42 • Solitude...... 22 Sowton, Christopher McGee, Kristin Bellebuono, Holly Dhompa, Ttsering Wangmo • Listening to Ayahuasca. . . . . 28 Dreamworking...... 21 Chair Yoga ...... 10 Women Healers of the World. . . 18 Coming Home To Tibet . . . . . 13 Hart, Francene Spira, Rupert McMakin, Carolyn Bercholz, Samuel Doka, Kennth • Sacred Geometry Coloring Book. .8 Spira, Rupert Resonance Effect ...... 18 A Guided Tour of Hell...... 14 Grief Is a Journey...... 26 • Sacred Geometry of Nature. . . .8 The Transparency of Things. . . .25 Meade, Michael Beresford-Kroeger, Diana Dulsky, Danielle Hawken, Paul Stevens, José Touching the Soul of the World. . 23 The Sweetness of a Simple Life. . .34 Woman Most Wild...... 30 Drawdown...... 35 Encounters with Power...... 29 Metzner, Ralph Berry, Wendell Dupreé, Ulrich Helminski, Kabir Strgar, Wendy The Ecology of Consciousness . . .27 A Small Porch...... 9 Ho’oponopono and Family Holistic Islam...... 31 Sex that Works...... 41 Constellations...... 40 Miro-Quesada, Don Oscar Besserman, Perle Henfrey, Thomas Suzuki, David Healing Light...... 29 Grassroots Zen...... 12 Dussault, Dee Permaculture and Climate Just Cool It!...... 35 Ganja Yoga...... 28 Mooji Blackburn, Elizabeth Change Adaptation...... 37 Tan, Chade-Meng Vaster Than Sky, The Telomere Effect...... 17 Edelstein, Scott Hinton, David Joy on Demand...... 23 Greater Than Space...... 23 The User’s Guide to Booth, Mark • Existence...... 16 Taylor, Steve Spiritual Teachers...... 25 Moore, Kathleen Dean The Sacred History ...... 33 • I Ching...... 16 The Leap ...... 24 Enders, Giulia Great Tide Rising...... 36 Bourgeault, Cynthia • The Four Chinese Classics . .16 Tippett, Krista Gut ...... 16 Myers, Thomas The Heart of Centering Prayer. . .31 Hirshfield, Jane Becoming Wise...... 33 Faerywolf, Storm Fascial Release for Brach, Tara Ten Windows ...... 9 Structural Balance...... 19 Trungpa, Chogyam Nourishing Intimacy...... 12 Betwixt & Between...... 30 Hoffman, Danielle Rama Milarepa...... 14 Feldman, Christina Niemann, Deborah Brilliant, Larry The Tablets of Light...... 33 Homegrown & Handmade. . . . 36 Tsabary, Shefali Sometimes Brilliant 9 Boundless Heart...... 12 Holden, Anthony & Ben Orloff, Judith The Awakened Family...... 40 Brock, Adam Foster, Jeff Poems That Make Grown The Empath’s Survival Guide. . . 22 Usher, David Change Here Now...... 35 • Sacred As You Are...... 24 Women Cry...... 9 Ostaseski, Frank Let the Elephants Run...... 8 Brower, Elena • The Courage to Love ...... 24 Horne, Steven The 5 Invitations ...... 27 Vaughan-Lee, Llewellyn Grounded and Free...... 23 • The Deepest Acceptance . . . . 24 The Modern Herbal Medicine Peck, Alice Spiritual Ecology ...... 36 Brown, Brené Frankel, Estelle Reference Guide...... 19 Be More Tree...... 38 Virginia, Karena Rising Strong...... 21 The Wisdom of Not Knowing. . . 31 Jadrnicek, Shawn Phillips, Michael Essential Kundalini Yoga. . . . . 10 Brown, Brené Freeman, Richard The Bio-Integrated Farm. . . . . 36 Mycorrhizal Planet...... 37 Wagamese, Richard Rising Strong as a The Art of Vinyasa...... 11 Jason, Dan Embers...... 30 Spiritual Practice...... 21 Fronsdal, Gil Some Useful Wild Plants. . . . . 19 Pinchbeck, Daniel How Soon Is Now?...... 38 Waldman, Ayelet Brownlee, Michael The Buddha Before Buddhism. . .11 Jones, Sidian Morning Star A Really Good Day...... 28 The Local Food Revolution. . . . 35 Gatto, John Taylor The Shamanic Powers Ponlop, Dzogchen Emotional Rescue ...... 14 Campbell, Rebecca Dumbing Us Down ...... 40 of Rolling Thunder...... 30 Walsch, Neale Donald Conversations with Rise Sister Rise...... 42 Gehl, Jennifer Kahn, Lloyd Puett, Michael The Path...... 15 God Book 4...... 33 Campbell, T. Colin The Science of Planetary Small Homes ...... 36 Watson, Lee The China Study ...... 19 Signatures in Medicine. . . . .16 Kaufman, Scott Barry Ray, Reginald • Somatic Descent...... 13 Peace & Parsnips...... 20 Cardoza, Steven Gilchrist, Cherry Wired to Create...... 8 • The Awakening Body...... 13 Watts, Alan Tarot Triumphs ...... 32 Kean, Leslie Chinese Holistic Medicine • Just So...... 26 Glass, Philip Surviving Death...... 33 Reho, James in Your Daily Life ...... 17 Tantric Jesus...... 31 • Out of Your Mind ...... 26 Words Without Music ...... 8 Keeneys, The • Psychotherapy East and West. . .26 Cariad-Barrett, Anna Goldberg, Natalie Sacred Ecstatics ...... 29 Remiarz, Toma Shamanic Wisdom for Pregnancy Forest Gardening in Practice . . . 37 Wesselman, Hank The Great Spring...... 10 Kiloby, Scott The Re-Enchantment ...... 29 and Parenthood ...... 40 Goldman, Jonathan • Natural Rest for Addiction. . . .25 Rinzler, Lodro Chase, Mildred Portney The 7 Secrets of Sound Healing. . .9 • The Unfindable Inquiry. . . . .25 Love Hurts...... 14 Wheatley, Margaret Who Do We Choose To Be?. . . . 34 Just Being at the Piano ...... 8 Gooch, Brad Kirkwood, John Robertson, Fiona Rumi’s Secret...... 32 The Way of the 5 Seasons . . . . .17 The Art of Finding Yourself. . . . 25 Wilber, Ken Chodron, Pema • A Brief Hist of Everything. . . . 27 Gray, John Kornfield, Jack Rosen, Richard The Compassion Book...... 14 • The Religion of Tomorrow. . . .27 Beyond Mars and Venus . . . . . 41 No Time Like the Present. . . . .11 Yoga FAQ ...... 10 Chodron, Thubten Gray, Stephen Krans, Kim Ruis, Don Miguel Williams, Brandy For the Love of the Gods. . . . . 30 Good Karma...... 13 Cannabis & Spirituality...... 28 The Wild Unknown Tarot The Toltec Art of Life and Death. .29 Chopra, Deepak Grayson, Henry. Deck & Guidebook...... 32 Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman Williamson, Marianne Your Power to Heal 17 A Heart Afire...... 1 Tears to Triumph...... 20 • Super Genes ...... 39 Krauss, Laurence Greene, Liz The Greatest Story Schwartz-Salant, Nathan Wolynn, Mark • You Are the Universe ...... 39 The Mythic Journey...... 23 Ever Told—So Far...... 38 The Order-Disorder Paradox. . . 22 It Didn’t Start With You...... 21 Chouinard, Yvon Greer, Carl Lerner, Harriet Sears, JP Zander, Rosamund Let My People Go Surfing. . . . .34 Change the Story of Your Health. .22 Why Won’t You Apologize?. . . . 22 How to Be Ultra Spiritual. . . . .26 Pathways to Possibility...... 21

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