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"Reflections and intentional spiritual practices for the growing number of people living at the intersection of contemplation and justice"--
From beloved spiritual teacher Carl McColman comes a book about big possibility: the hope of achieving authentic, blissful, experiential union with God. He reveals the various ways Christian mysticism and contemplation have been in dynamic practice through the centuries, proving inspirational for today's seekers, regardless of faith tradition.
Clarify your true hungers--and nourish your soul. Fasting is not just the physical practice of giving up food. Fasting can also be a way to combat our culture of endless distractions and busyness. Fasting is an act of letting go, of making more internal space to listen to the sacred whispers of our lives. Join Christine Valters Paintner, online abbess of Abbey of the Arts, on a spiritual journey through seven different kinds of fasts, including fasting from control, from our attachments, from our grasping, and more. When we practice these fasts, we can discover unexpected spiritual gifts, as well as answers to deeper questions, leading us to ask: "What is my true hunger?" Perfect for Lent, or any period when a deeper intention to clarify your true hunger is needed, A Different Kind of Fast helps us enter our hearts, stripping away old patterns and habits. Featuring striking woodcuts from artist Kreg Yingst, the book draws on the wisdom of the desert elders, Paintner offers practical contemplative practices like lectio divina, breath prayer, visio divina, meditation with desert wisdom, contemplative walks, and creative rituals. As we fast from rushing, planning, being strong, holding it all together, seeking certainty, and control, we can softly reorient ourselves toward that which nourishes and fulfills us, for the reflective Lenten season and beyond.
You will feel the inspiration of Jesus when you read the poems in this book. The poet points to a lifelong love of limericks as the influence behind his poetic endeavors. They are religious, largely inspired by his Christian upbringing. Although his first poem was written at the age of eighty-two, a desire to share his love for Jesus poetically has resulted in a large collection of poems not only about Jesus but also about everyday events in the long life of a dedicated Christian. The poet follows strict rules, so all the poems rhyme and are constructed that they make excellent lyrical and metrical subjects for reading to others.
"As rich and thoughtful as all of Brian McLaren's work, but with a particular urgency!" —Bill McKibben "Riveting. Challenging. Brave. Devastating. Hopeful." —Rabbi Sharon Brous, IKAR, author of The Amen Effect A deeply insightful exploration of how to live with wisdom, resilience and love in our turbulent times For the last quarter-century, author and activist Brian D. McLaren has been writing at the intersection of religious faith and contemporary culture. In Life After Doom, he engages with the catastrophic failure of both our religious and political leaders to address the dominant realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and the increasing likelihood of civilizational collapse. McLaren defines doom as the “un-peaceful, uneasy, unwanted feeling” that “we humans have made a mess of our civilization and our planet, and not enough of us seem to care enough to change deeply enough or quickly enough to save ourselves.” Blending insights from philosophers, poets, scientists, and theologians, Life After Doom explores the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief, and the need for new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging in turbulent times. If you want to help yourself, your family, and the communities to which you belong to find courage and resilience for the deeply challenging times that are upon us — this is the book you need right now.
From the founder of the nation’s largest housing program for homeless LGBTQ youth, a tender, uplifting account of his friendship with a nonbinary teenager and dozens of queer kids who inspired him to live a life of service and resistance “This heartfelt narrative serves as both a reminder of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and a testament to the transformative power of service and love.”—Kristen Lovell, director of HBO’s The Stroll Our need for family is not easily extinguished. Carl Siciliano met Ali Forney—a Black nonbinary teenager overflowing with life—in 1994 while working at a daytime center for homeless youth in New York City. Nineteen years old and driven from home, Forney was the heart of the community, known for infectious laughter, fierce loyalty to friends, and an unshakeable faith that “my God will love me for who I am.” Then Forney was murdered, a moment of horror and devastation that exposed the brutality that teenagers like Forney faced in a city marked by gentrification, housing insecurity, and the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic. Motivated by Forney’s spirit, Siciliano fought to create a home where unhoused teens could live and feel loved—bolstered by his own exclusion from the church as a gay Catholic man. This is Siciliano’s story of mending hearts broken by displacement and rejection, including his own. Siciliano shares what he learned from Forney and thousands of other queer teens—wounded, brave, vibrant people who lived true to their inner experiences and created family under desperate circumstances—while he helped lead a movement that compelled New York City to invest millions of dollars in kids who’d been ignored for decades. Written with heart and profound insight, Making Room is a landmark personal narrative, bringing to life an untold chapter of LGBTQ history and testifying to the power of community, solidarity, and the human spirit.
Inner Bonding is a proven six-step self-healing process that has been developed and optimized over 30 years by Dr. Margaret Paul, Ph.D. and Dr. Erika Chopich, Ph.D. It’s comprehensive. It’s practical. And it always works when you do it. In this book, Margaret, through the powerful Six-Step Inner Bonding pathway, shows how you can create and maintain the inner safety you need so you can become strong enough to love. Inner Bonding empowers you to self-heal the root causes of anxiety, depression, addictions, failed relationships and many other problems that inhibit your personal and spiritual growth and satisfaction. It teaches you how to love yourself rather than continue to abandon yourself, how to move beyond emotional dependency and attain emotional freedom, and how to heal any underlying control issues. In friendships, marriages, and work relationships, your joy, aliveness, and creativity get lost as you give up parts of yourself in an attempt to feel safe. In romantic relationships, passion dries up. Superficiality, boredom, fighting, and apathy take its place. You try valiantly to figure out what went wrong. But too often you might ask, “What am I doing wrong?” or “What are you doing wrong?” rather than inquiring into the underlying fears and resulting self-abandoning behaviors that create the unsafe relationship space. The key to doing this is learning how to create a safe inner space where you can work with and overcome your false beliefs and your fears of rejection and engulfment. This is a process, not an event.
If you have ever felt overwhelmed, exhausted or unworthy, this book is for you. Sometimes all it takes is a simple question to awaken the strength and compassion hiding within us. To wake us up to the truth and beauty of who we are. Daily Awakening is a nurturing guide to living a life free from struggle, anxiety and overwhelm, offering a sacred space for introspection where self-acceptance and self-respect can blossom. Drawing on ancient wisdom and modern science, this book provides 365 days of insightful questions to encourage reflection, awareness and healing. From overcoming perfectionism to rediscovering your inner child, and coping with anxiety to tackling burnout, integrative counsellor and meditation teacher Nicola Jane Hobbs offers soothing words and gentle advice to inspire you to slow down, make peace with yourself and create a life full of meaning, beauty and joy. This year-long journey will allow you to form a deep connection with your authentic self and will equip you with the tools to stay true to your heart among the never-ending demands of the modern world.
Embark on a journey through the shadows with "Gothic Grimoire," a spellbinding collection of love, revenge, and binding spells curated for the ardent supernatural fiction fan. Within these pages lies a potent mix of dark arts and heartfelt incantations, each meticulously crafted to enthrall and empower. From the depths of love's despair to the heights of vengeful triumph, these spells weave a tapestry of mystical intrigue and Gothic allure. Whether you're a seasoned witch, a curious newcomer to the craft, or a lover of all things supernatural, this grimoire offers a unique blend of magic and emotion, set against a backdrop of dark fantasy. Explore ancient rituals, forbidden spells, and the power of the unseen, as you navigate the complex emotions of love and revenge. With each spell, unlock secrets from the otherworld, bind destinies, and invoke the powers that lurk in the shadows. Perfect for those fascinated by the darker side of witchcraft and readers seeking to add a touch of magic to their lives, "Gothic Grimoire" is your guide to the enchanting world of spells that bind the heart, soul, and beyond. Dare to open the pages and cast your spell; the magic within is waiting to be unleashed.
