Above the Line: My Wild Oats Adventure, by Shirley MacLaine (Atria Books) — A funny, fierce, imaginative memoir chronicling New York Times bestselling author and Academy Award winner Shirley MacLaine’s remarkable experiences filming Wild Oats in the Canary Islands and the extraordinary memories her time there brought forth of a past life on the lost continent of Atlantis. Her agent told her not to get on the plane. The male leads weren’t even cast. The financing was shaky at best. The script had been re-written countless times. And yet something about Wild Oats lured Shirley MacLaine to the film’s location shoot in the far-off Canary Islands–and straight to the center of one of the most thrilling and paradigm-shifting adventures of her life. The making of the film reads like a screwball comedy, as the cast and crew face unpredictable daily obstacles with ingenuity, grit, and personal sacrifice. Yet the chaos leads Shirley to a revelatory new understanding of the demise of one of history’s most elusive yet endlessly intriguing places. Scholars have long theorized that Spain’s Canary Islands are the remnants of the mighty lost continent of Atlantis. As the movie set descends into pandemonium, Shirley finds fascinating corollaries between the island’s cataclysmic fate and our own dangerous trajectory. Can we learn the lessons the citizens of Atlantis failed to comprehend? The answer is borne out of recovered memories from Shirley’s past life on Atlantis and through a series of meditations that reveal the necessity of unfettered imagination when looking for bold new truths, rendering this evocative memoir essential reading for anyone seeking a broader understanding of what it means to be human–both where we came from and where we are going.
A Course in Miracles Made Easy: Mastering the Journey from Fear to Love, by Alan Cohen (Hay House) — A Course in Miracles (ACIM)–the self-study spiritual-thought system that teaches the way to love and forgiveness–has captured the minds and hearts of millions of people, and delivered inner peace where fear and pain once prevailed. Its universal message is unsurpassed in its power to heal. Yet many students report that they have difficulty grasping the principles, or encounter resistance to the lessons. So, even while they yearn for the spiritual freedom the Course offers, they put the book aside, hoping one day to get to it. Alan Cohen, ACIM student and teacher for over 30 years, takes the Big Picture ideas of the Course and brings them down to earth in practical, easy-to-understand lessons with plenty of real-life examples and applications. A Course in Miracles Made Easy is the Rosetta stone that will render the Course understandable and relatable; and, most importantly, generate practical, healing results in the lives of students. This unique reader-friendly guide will serve longtime students of the Course, as well as those seeking to acquaint themselves with the program.
A Monk’s Way, by Clark Eide (AGT Publishing) — Jean Moreau, a modern monk at the Abbey of Kervennec, is in trouble. His obsession with a beautiful woman provokes his undoing with his God and with his rival, now the power-hungry abbot. A Monk’s Way is a parable for modern times, describing in rich language and clear steps the soul journey Jean must make to get back to wholeness. A Monk’s Way introduces the reader to an understanding of the two worlds we see – the worlds of the material and of the spiritual. Jean teaches us the path to spiritual Awareness, creating a guidebook to Spirit that all can use to bring us closer to our Source. Combining his two realities as a priest – and a man – A Monk’s Way in a tactful and insightful way suggests to the reader that true spirituality comes via direct connection to God as opposed to merely following the blind dogma of a religion. In the end, the reader of A Monk’s Way develops the tools necessary to cultivate the sine qua non — Awareness — in order to arrive at a meaningful and mindful direct relationship with God.
Angels: The Definitive Guide to Angels from Around the World, by Marie-Ange Faugerolas (Penguin Publishing) — Angels appear in every major world religion–from Christianity to Judaism, Islam to the Native American Thunderbirds. This book is a celebration of all the world’s divine messengers and a definitive resource containing all of the knowledge collected about these awe-inspiring beings. Rigorously researched, Angels is packed with knowledge about these protectors and guides, including: who (or what) angels are, their duties to the people of earth, their appearance, and their origins; prayers for invoking your guardian angel and chasing away negative emotions; and the many rituals that will help you call on angels to help transform your life and guide, protect, and steer you toward love and success…and much more. This tome of ancient and modern angel wisdom offers a perspective on a world we could only have previously imagined, as well as practical tools to bring more love, light, and energy into our lives.
The Art and Science of Hand Reading: Classical Methods for Self-Discovery through Palmistry, by Ellen Goldberg & Dorian Bergen (Destiny Books) — Palmistry is a science and a universal language. The hand tells a story about your talents, relationships, health, and how you feel about yourself. It reveals periods of ease or challenge in your life, and it speaks about your weaknesses and the traits you need to develop. As you change, so do your hands, reflecting the progress you have made. In this comprehensive guide to hand reading, based on Ellen Goldberg’s 40 years of teaching palmistry and the Western Mystery tradition, the authors make the powerful insights of the hand accessible in an inviting and user-friendly manner. The book presents the character traits and personality archetypes associated with each of the seven mounts of the palm and shows how to determine which are most influential in the nature of the individual. The mount archetypes reveal the lifestyle, love,sex, and marriage preferences; the best career choices; and the unique strengths and weaknesses for each person. The book also examines other factors that enhance the qualities revealed by the mount types, including the flexibility of the hand, texture of the skin, and the shapes of the fingers, fingertips, and nails. The meaning of each major and minor line is described in detail as well as the influence the person’s own mind has in healing defects and obstacles found on their lines. The authors also provide accurate timing guides for each line, making it possible to locate specific events and to see how your lines change over time. Presenting the hand as a guide to self-fulfillment, The Art and Science of Hand Reading incorporates correspondences to other mystical sciences such as astrology, Kabbalah, the Hermetic teachings, and archetypal psychology. It also includes practical examples and more than 600 illustrations to show how to integrate the meanings of each part of the hand to form a complete picture of your inner psychology and your ever-changing destiny.
Beowulf’s Ecstatic Trance Magic: Accessing the Archaic Powers of the Universal Mind, by Nicholas E. Brink (Inner Traditions/Bear & Co.) — Using the altered state of ecstatic trance to access the memories of the Universal Mind, Nicholas Brink takes us back to ancient Scandinavia, to the time of the epic of Beowulf, the oldest piece of literature written in the English language. Sharing his ecstatic trance techniques along the way, his journey allows us to re-experience the life and shamanic practices of Queen Wealhtheow, the wife of King Hrothgar, the king rescued by Beowulf from the torment of the monster Grendel. Revealing a hidden side to the epic of Beowulf, Brink details how Grendel respected and would not harm Queen Wealhtheow and her teacher Vanadisdottir, a priestess of the goddess Freyja, for they practiced the ancient magic of the earlier hunter-gatherer era when the Great Mother Earth was worshipped. In the time of the queen the peaceful and compassionate traditions of this era were becoming forgotten, succumbing to settlements, kingdoms, and territorial disputes. We gain first-person experience of Wealhtheow and Vanadisdottir’s veneration of the Great Mother and the ancient magic of the early Nordic people as practiced by the sei?r workers, seers, and spirit travelers, the shamans of the time. These practices include divination through the goddess Freyr, contacting Bear spirits, and spirit journeying to various realms. As we experience our own time of transition and turmoil much like that of Beowulf’s time, Nicholas Brink reveals how the original magic of our ancestors, as practiced by Queen Wealhtheow, provides a blueprint for our emergence from the warlike nature of the past into a time of peace and compassion for our Great Mother Earth.
The Book of Mastery: The Mastery Trilogy: Book I, by Paul Selig (Tarcher/Penguin) — The first book in channeler Paul Selig’s widely anticipated Mastery Trilogy leads you into an unprecedented journey of self-development, at once building your personal excellence and your ability to improve life for others. The channeled literature of Paul Selig — who receives clairaudient dictation from unseen intellects called the Guides — has quickly become the most important and celebrated expression of channeling since A Course In Miracles rose to prominence in the 1970s. Selig’s three previous books — I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, and The Book of Knowing and Worth — have won a growing following around the world for their depth, intimacy, and psychological insight. Now, Selig embarks upon an extraordinary new trilogy on the “Teachings of Mastery” with his inaugural volume: The Book of Mastery. The Book of Mastery provides a deeply practical prescription for heightening your abilities, aptitudes, and sense of personal excellence. The Guides’ teachings go much further, however, instructing you how to improve life for others and, ultimately, for global humanity. As the Guides themselves put it: “We will tell you this: No one who reads these books will be left unchanged. They will be like molecular systems that reinvigorate and realign and reclaim the reader to themselves in their worth, in their identity and, beyond that, in their physical realm. Underline physical realm if you like. Because the physical realm that we teach in is about to go back to the stone ages unless you all get it together.”
Break the Norms: Questioning Everything You Think You Know About God and Truth, Life and Death, Love and Sex, by Chandresh Bhardwaj (Sounds True) — Have you ever felt like you’re living out a script written for you by others–in your work, your relationships, or spirituality? “To break through the norms we’ve been conditioned to believe is an act of rebellion,” writes Chandresh Bhardwaj. “We must be prepared to be brutally honest. We must overturn our assumptions and unlearn our suffering. We must be willing to discover our real reasons for being alive.” In Break the Norms, Chandresh illuminates the unconscious beliefs we carry about matters of sex, death, love, ego, God, and gurus–then offers penetrating questions and self-inquiry practices to help us separate our own truth from the products of the status quo. Join him to explore: Your Inner Truth–how to set aside your conditioned, ego-based perspective and bring forth your authentic wisdom; Spiritual Practice–where you can get stuck practicing meditation and yoga, and how to keep moving toward a deeper experience of God; Mastering the Ego–developing a healthy approach for dealing with anger, fear, and desire; Seeking Your Guru–dispelling the myths about gurus and finding the right teacher to hold up a mirror to your soul; Love, Sex, and Spirit–how we can the integrate the physical world and the transcendent through the path of devotion; and Mortality and Morality–overcoming our fear of death and our resistance to creating heaven on earth. There are no “right answers” in spirituality, but asking the right questions can help us discover who we are and what we are becoming. “Authenticity is inherent each of our souls,” writes Chandresh. “When we start to be authentic, we start to get back in touch with our divine source.” Break the Norms is the first book from a compelling new teacher–and a clarion call to embrace our own spiritual authority.
Don’t Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dogen, Japan’s Greatest Zen Master – A Radical but Reverent Paraphrasing of Dogen’s Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, by Brad Warner (New World Library) — The Shobogenzo (The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye) is a revered eight-hundred-year-old Zen Buddhism classic written by the Japanese monk Eihei Dogen. Despite the timeless wisdom of his teachings, many consider the book difficult to understand and daunting to read. In Don’t Be a Jerk, Zen priest and bestselling author Brad Warner, through accessible paraphrasing and incisive commentary, applies Dogen’s teachings to modern times. While entertaining and sometimes irreverent, Warner is also an astute scholar who sees in Dogen very modern psychological concepts, as well as insights on such topics as feminism and reincarnation. Warner even shows that Dogen offered a “Middle Way” in the currently raging debate between science and religion. For curious readers worried that Dogen’s teachings are too philosophically opaque, Don’t Be a Jerk is hilarious, understandable, and wise.
Easy Breezy Prosperity: The Five Foundations for a More Joyful, Abundant Life, by Emmanuel Dagher (Rodale) — Easy Breezy Prosperity is a holistic guide to discover and nurture prosperity and align your life with your spiritual core. Author Emmanuel Dagher redefines what real prosperity means and offers you tactics to expand and enrich yourself well beyond financial goals. By examining how and why we treat money the way we do, Dagher shows you how to realize the success you have already created and cultivate the clarity needed to attract more of it in your daily life. Each chapter is designed to empower you, leaving you feeling optimistic not only about their working lives and finances, but also your entire life’s path. Dagher shares his own story and those of his clients and fans who have turned their lives around using his meditations, rituals, and exercises. He also includes a 28-day plan with simple yet effective daily practices you can use, such as: Expressing gratitude each morning for all that you have; Cultivating a healthy relationship with money through “money healing” practices; Seeking out opportunities to be of service through your time, energy, gifts, or abilities; and De-cluttering your space and mind to allow positivity to enter. Easy Breezy Prosperity is a powerfully motivating plan to take action, strengthen self-confidence, and enjoy a more joyful and abundant life.
The Energies of Love: Invisible Keys to a Fulfilling Partnership, by Donna Eden & David Feinstein (Tarcher/Penguin) — The bestselling authors of Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women present a complete program for using energy medicine to heal and strengthen romantic relationships. A relationship begins with the meeting of two unique energies. This union of energies, though invisible, determines the way you communicate, fight, love, and want to be loved. In this groundbreaking book, the bestselling authors of Energy Medicine draw on the real-life experiences of couples who have attended their popular “Energies of Love” workshops, as well as their own experience as husband and wife, to show how an understanding of your energy system and that of your partner can help you build a more harmonious and loving bond. We all have different ways of making sense of the world around us, but when faced with conflict, especially with those we care most about, we tend to revert to one of four “Energetic Stress Styles.” According to the authors, the strongest relationships are those in which the two parties feel that they are partners on a shared spiritual journey. By helping you better understand your own unique energy system, as well as that of your partner, you will be able to recognize your strengths as a couple-¬and avoid the pitfalls. The Energies of Love serves as a powerful resource for anyone who wishes to build a rich partnership while maintaining the spark that keeps a relationship exciting.
The Evolutionary Testament of Co-creation: The Promise Will Be Kept, by Barbara Marx Hubbard (Muse Harbor Publishing) — Barbara Marx Hubbard’s extraordinary new book offers an evolutionary, future-oriented perspective to the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Barbara reveals that many of the miracles Jesus performed are actually similar to those acts that we currently aspire to achieve today, but so often without consciousness of Christ love. This book builds on the great themes in the New Testament, such as Jesus’ statement: “You will do the works that I do, and greater works will you do in the fullness of time…” and St. Paul: “Behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, we shall all be changed….” These statements are coming true. The Promise is being kept. We are all being changed. We do have the power of what we called gods. We can destroy the world and we also can restore the Earth, evolve ourselves and all of society. This is the last trump, and the trumpet is sounding for our generation. The Evolutionary Testament of Co-Creation invites us to form Evolutionary Bible Study Groups to join together to consider and deepen the guidance for the meaning of our new Christ like powers to be used for a positive future for all Earth life.
Expect the Unexpected: Bringing Peace, Healing, and Hope from the Other Side, by Bill Philipps (New World Library) — Part memoir, part spiritual exploration, part inspiring stories, Expect the Unexpected provides knowledge and support for tapping into spiritual realms we do not fully understand. Bill Philipps had the kind of childhood that seems too tragic to be true — drug-addicted parents, parental kidnapping, homelessness. At fourteen, he watched his mother die. Two days later she appeared to him, letting him know she was spiritually alive. From then on, spirits “knocked on his door.” He tried to ignore them. He wanted to be “normal.” But as he pursued his singing gift at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, his psychic gift pressed for a hearing. As Philipps gave readings as a psychic medium, witnessing the comfort the spirits offered, he came to accept and honor his abilities. With testimonies from many people, Expect the Unexpected is an honest firsthand account of how spirits communicate with Philipps, why he believes they chose him to do this, and how he works with them to ultimately convey their messages. He offers insight and suggestions to help ask for and receive signs with or without a medium and shows why he is convinced that readings always contain the possibility for love, peace, healing, and hope.
The Healing Frequency, by Jiulio Consiglio (Limitless Publishing) — Pain, Depression, Loss…We’ve all experienced it to some degree. Life in a downward spiral can keep you stuck or you can choose to let it bring you to a place of stillness. Spiritual teacher Jiulio Consiglio offers his own path of personal suffering that led him to make the quantum leap into the vastness of stillness and discover The Healing Frequency…The next evolutionary step in spiritual teachings. What the book offers: A demonstration of the wisdom, power and clarity of consciousness; The transformative potential of inner stillness in its truest form; The power of consciousness and the potential to transform and heal through awakening; The strength of the human spirit and the potential within to heal and transcend; A powerful spiritual guide that shows you how to reach for your highest potential. The Healing Frequency is a compelling and much needed book that every spiritual seeker should include in their personal library. “The Healing Frequency is an inspiring demonstration of how one can make the shift from the unconscious to conscious, from darkness to light, with personal examples of the power of the Mind to make this important shift in service to healing and spiritual growth. We highly recommend this book to any spiritual seeker on the path to spiritual awakening.” — Gary R. Renard, best-selling author of “The Disappearance of the Universe,” and Cindy Lora-Renard, MA in Spiritual Psychology
How to Talk to an Alien, by Nancy du Tertre (New Page Books) — In 1972, American astronomer and ufologist J. Allen Hynek first coined the term “close encounter.” He also identified three types of close encounters with UFOs. Since then, several more types of encounters have been proposed. A close encounter of the fourth kind is an alien abduction. A closer encounter of the fifth kind is voluntary, bilateral contact with an alien species. We are no longer just looking at strange flying objects in the skies; now we are beginning to interact with the actual pilots, crew, and passengers! Do aliens exist? In 2013, one poll showed that nearly half of all Americans (48 percent) believe UFOs may be a sign of extraterrestrial visitation; another found that 10 percent of Americans claim to have actually witnessed an actual UFO; and yet another showed that 2.9 million Americans believe they had actually been abducted by aliens. If aliens exist and are visiting us, we need to talk! Who will speak to them on behalf of planet Earth? Who can translate their intentions–good or evil–toward the human race? How can we learn about their advanced technologies? Can aliens speak human languages? These and even more fascinating questions are all addressed in How to Talk to an Alien.
The Journey Within, by Imre Vallyon (Sounding-Light) — The Journey Within is a print-only compilation of ebooks from the Spiritual Path series by Imre Vallyon. It offers the spiritual seeker an accessible yet comprehensive introduction to the Universal Spiritual Teaching, stressing the need for right understanding while walking the Spiritual Path in today’s world. The Journey Within covers topics such as the search for true happiness and how to reconnect to the Higher Self; the importance of choosing the right path to follow; the true purpose of meditation; what happens after death; developing love and wisdom as the real meaning of life; the feminine aspect of Deity; and the understanding of karma, evil, compassion and the power of thought. Living a more spiritual life is a challenge in a world so focused on material things, but this book offers a system of guidance and right knowledge from the perception of Higher Consciousness so that the reader may be inspired and prepared for the Inner Journey.
Meditations on Intention and Being: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga, Mindfulness, and Compassion,by Rolf Gates (Anchor Books) — Yoga has never been more popular. Throughout the United States, people are turning to this ancient practice as a response to the pressures of today’s hectic world. In Meditations on Intention and Being, acclaimed yoga teacher Rolf Gates draws on twenty years of teaching experience to explore and explain how to take the mindfulness of yoga off the mat and integrate it into every aspect of life. Presented in the form of 365 inspirational daily reflections, Gates helps readers–from experienced yogis to novices seeking a little tranquility–to fundamentally reconsider their relationships with their minds, bodies, and the universe around them through self-reflection. Over the course of seven chapters, he explores Effortlessness, Nonviolence, The Spirit of Practice, Mindfulness, Compassion and Loving-kindness, Equanimity and Joy, and Intention and Being, giving readers the tools they need to effect positive changes in their lives.
Miraculous Silence: A Journey to Illumination and Healing Through Prayer, by Mitra Rahbar (Tarcher/Penguin) — Regardless of where you are in life–whether you’re celebrating new beginnings, mourning a loss, weathering a hardship, or seeking inspiration–you will find this book of prayers to be the perfect companion. At 17, Mitra Rahbar left her homeland due to political unrest. However, she would soon find her way in an unfamiliar land through an ever-deepening prayer life that led her to her soul’s core. Turning outward, she pursued a life of service–first as a social worker and then as a spiritual teacher, healer, and guide. Having worked with students from many walks of life for more than thirty years, Rahbar has a deep understanding of what spiritual seekers long to learn and how best to teach them. In Miraculous Silence, she takes us on a journey into the sacred space of prayer and spiritual healing, providing practical guidance on how to pray and meditate, as well as many of her own prayers to inspire and encourage us. Rahbar also suggests images to visualize and meditate on, mantras to recite in every situation, and stones to aid in the healing process. In these practices, prayers, and inspirations, you will find comfort, illumination, and renewal.
Oneness — The Pearls: A Treasury of Divine Wisdom, by Rasha (Earthstar Press) — Rich with profound spiritual understandings and catalysts for change, these core teachings from Oneness (the Divine Presence many refer to as “God.”) take us to the outer reaches of our own humanness and to the depths of the Divinity within. The words are loving and personal, and convey a sense of sacredness that touches the heart. This exquisite collection of spiritual pearls, culled from the Divine wisdom of Oneness, empowers us to take a quantum leap into our own inner depths and totally transform our lives — and our world. A modern-day spiritual messenger, Rasha has worked as a courier of Divine guidance for over twenty years. In February 1998, she began a profound dialogue with the universal presence, “Oneness” — the Divinity we all share. Word for word, Rasha transcribed the principles that give us a new level of understanding of the mystery we call “life.” These teachings empower us to take a quantum leap into our own inner depths and totally transform our lives — and our world.
The Power of Forgiveness: Forgiving as a Path to Freedom, by Joan Gattuso (Tarcher/Penguin) — How can we forgive someone who has caused us pain? Must we forgive and forget? How does forgiveness help us move forward in life? How can we forgive ourselves and move forward in life? Joan Gattuso, bestselling author of A Course in Love, brings her wisdom to a topic that affects everyone–how to forgive when forgiveness seems impossible. Gattuso’s practical and inspiring teaching serves as a compass to the spiritual principles that can transform bitterness into beauty and anger into peace. The road to forgiveness is the path to freedom. It is this freedom, she writes, that allows us to move forward, so that we can live a happy and joy-filled life. In The Power of Forgiveness, discover: The ten principles of power over guilt, blame, and resentment; Practical ways to experience peace of mind; How to forgive authentically and let go of the past; and The path to overcoming blocks.
Real Things: 6 Ways to Embrace Life, by Brigitte Cutshall (Gemini Media) — Focusing on the real things will help you get the most out of life. So what is the definition of focusing on real things? It doesn’t matter who you are with or what you’re doing, you will always find an inner beauty among things. This inspirational book will help guide you on 6 Ways to Embrace Life: The Best Things in Life Aren’t Things; Do Things That Make You Happy; Keep Things Simple; Try Things You’re Afraid Of; Get to Know Real Food; Real Influences: and Connect with the Right Ones. Brigitte Cutshall is a Media Solutions Consultant and a Certified Health Coach. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer twice and living with a benign brain tumor. One of her doctor’s told her she was a zebra among horses…she’ll take that as a compliment. After her first cancer diagnosis, she became interested in how diet and overall lifestyle affects your well-being. Brigitte obtained her Health Coach Certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, which is based in New York, and is currently pursuing an International Certification.
Secret Medicines from Your Garden: Plants for Healing, Spirituality, and Magic, by Ellen Evert Hopman (Healing Arts Press) — Weaving together ancient wisdom, mystical folklore, and modern plant research, master herbalist Ellen Evert Hopman explores the many uses of flowers, trees, common weeds, and ornamental plants for food, medicine, spiritual growth, and magical rituals. She reveals the herbal lore surrounding each plant, drawing on traditional knowledge and remedies from around the world, including Native American, Celtic, and Egyptian traditions. She includes recipes throughout so you can make medicines from wild and domesticated plants easily found in yards, forests, meadows, and hedgerows, and she discusses what to plant to ensure you have leaves, berries, and flowers all year. The author reveals how to quickly intuit an unknown plant’s properties using the signatures of plants–universal indications and contraindications based on the form, color, and location of a plant. She includes an in-depth section on honey and Bee Medicine, allowing you to appreciate the labors of these plant-dependent insects. Exploring the magical role of herbs in ancient ritual, Hopman provides recipes for Egyptian temple incense and their sacred medicine known as “Kyphi” or “Kaphet,” used to purify the body, banish insomnia, and promote vivid dreaming. She explores shamanic Plant Spirit and Animal Spirit Medicine as well as herbal astrology. She also explains the “triangle” formula-making system of her herbal mentor William LeSassier to help you develop custom herbal remedies tailored to a person’s unique strengths and weaknesses. Showing how to easily incorporate wild plants into your life to receive their healing benefits throughout the seasons, Hopman reveals the power of the bounty that Mother Nature has provided right at our doorstep.
The Soul Searcher’s Handbook: A Modern Girl’s Guide to the New Age World, by Emma Mildon (Beyond Words/Atria Books) — From aromatherapy and numerology to healing crystals and meditation, this fun and sassy guide to everything body-mind-spirit defines New Age practices for a new generation. What type of crystal should I put in my car for a road trip? Should I Feng Shui my smart phone screen? In this illuminating introduction for the modern-day soul searcher, Emma Mildon shines light on everything your mom didn’t teach you about neo-New Age practices. With something for every type of spiritual seeker, The Soul Searcher’s Handbook offers easy tips, tricks, and how-tos for incorporating everything from dreamology and astrology to mysticism and alternative healing into your everyday life. This handbook is your #1 go-to guide–handy, accessible, entertaining, and packed with all the wisdom you need in one place. Your destiny, gifted to you at birth, is waiting. So plug into the universe, dig your toes into the soil of Mother Earth, and open your soul to your full potential. Regardless of what you’re seeking, The Soul Searcher’s Handbook is your awakening to a more fulfilling and soulful life.
Stone Medicine: A Chinese Medical Guide to Healing with Gems and Minerals, by Leslie J. Franks (Healing Arts Press) — In addition to herbalism and acupuncture, Chinese Medicine has a rich tradition of using stones as medicine, passed from generation to generation for thousands of years. In this comprehensive guide and extensive Materia Medica, Leslie J. Franks presents the Stone Medicine teachings of Dr. Jeffrey C. Yuen, an 88th generation Taoist priest from the ancient lineage of the Jade Purity School, which dates to the Han dynasty, 206 BCE. Detailing the therapeutic properties of 200 gems, stones, minerals, and crystals, Franks begins with an extensive look at 15 different forms of quartz, followed by chapters on transformative stones, protective stones, nourishing stones, source energy stones, and alchemical stones. She explains the physical, emotional, and spiritual conditions each stone can treat and how their color, form, hardness, and energetic qualities affect us according to Chinese Medicine. She discusses how to make stone and crystal elixirs for internal and topical use, how to charge quartz with the healing properties of other stones, how to cleanse and recharge a stone after use, and how to combine stones to create healing formulas for individual conditions. She explains different techniques of wearing stones as healing jewelry and how to use them in massage and energy work. She examines the chemistry and sacred geometry of crystal structure, revealing how the minerals contained in the stones affect our physiology by supporting our Jing (Essence); by nourishing Qi (energy), blood, and fluids; and by clearing Wind, Cold, Damp, and Heat conditions that can lead to disease. Including a thorough primer on Traditional Chinese Medicine and backed by modern scientific research, this book explains how stones access our deepest layers, vibrating ever so slowly, to initiate deep lasting change.
The Tao of Happiness: Stories from Chuang Tzu for Your Spiritual Journey, by Derek Li (Tarcher/Penguin) — If you have not encountered Chuang Tzu before, prepare yourself for a treat. He was the sage who stood apart from all others in Chinese history. He was a unique presence, a great mind like no one before or since. Chuang Tzu quickly distinguished himself and became well known for his deep understanding and sense of humor. His mastery was such that he could explain the Tao with simple stories, and his humor was such that he could see the joy in ordinary things. He taught his students about “carefree wandering”–the path of moving through life with a free and happy heart, regardless of how turbulent the journey might be.
It is time for modern readers to join in on the fun. Chuang Tzu’s wisdom is not just for Eastern culture, but for all of humanity. We may not have the instability or the clash of massive armies indicative of Chuang Tzu’s time, but we have a lot of stress and tension in our modern world. Many of us find ourselves fighting little battles on the personal front just to get through the day. We can benefit greatly from Chuang Tzu’s teachings. These parables are presented throughout this book and juxtaposed with the charming and intelligent prose of modern-day Taoist teacher and author Derek Lin. Together, Chuang Tzu and Lin will present you with simple lessons that will have a lasting impact on your life.
The Union of Isis and Thoth: Magic and Initiatory Practices of Ancient Egypt, by Normandi Ellis & Nicki Scully (Bear & Co.) — Deep within each of us lives a primal memory of a time when the natural world was recognized as divine and our temples were built from sacred materials enlivened through magic. Temples were not places you visited once a week; they were centers of community, divine work, healing, and wisdom, places where Heaven and Earth meet. This union of Heaven and Earth–the sacred temple–is also a union of Thoth and Isis: the Egyptian god of wisdom and the creative cosmic force and the Egyptian goddess of civilizing knowledge. Their relationship established the celestial teachings on Earth, for Thoth taught Isis all the mysteries and magic she knows and Isis acted as Thoth’s instrument to deliver the teachings in a form humanity could use. In this initiatic guide to temple building on the spiritual and physical planes, Normandi Ellis and Nicki Scully explain how to create a communal spiritual structure for connecting with the ancient Egyptian pantheon as well as how to consecrate yourself and become a vessel suitable for divine wisdom and a home for your personal gods. The authors detail the construction, shamanic visioning, and ritual consecration of a Moon Temple dedicated to Thoth. They explore teachings that help you develop relationships with the Egyptian neteru and realize your place within the family of the Egyptian pantheon. They guide you as you create your inner heart temple, the adytum, a safe place in which to receive guidance and access your higher spiritual bodies and oracular gifts. They provide shamanic journeys and initiations on ascension, shamanic death and renewal, soul retrieval and healing, multidimensional realities, and more. By creating a sacred temple within and without, we each can take part in the union of Isis and Thoth and restore the magic of the Egyptian mysteries to our time.
Vital Signs: Discovering and Sustaining Your Passion for Life, by Gregg Levoy (Tarcher/Penguin) — Rediscover–or discover for the first time–the things that make you passionate in life. Vital Signs is about what inspires passion and what defeats it. How we lose it and how we get it back. And ultimately it’s about the endless yet endlessly fruitful tug-of-war between freedom and domestication, the wild in us and the tame, our natural selves and our conditioned selves. Each chapter in Vital Signs will contain a core sample, an intimate biography of one of the strategies we employ to gain or regain our passion. The book also affirms the importance of courageous inquiry into dispassion–where we’re numb, depressed, stuck, bored–so the reader can recognize and change these tendencies in themselves. “This magnificent work brimming with gorgeous prose and life enhancing stories and insights reveals how the cultivation of passion is key to the energy, love, creativity, health, and just about everything else that is good and true in our existence. Levoy offers us a thrilling new map to the vital core of all our becomings. To read this book and follow its principles is to stop boring God!”–Jean Houston, Ph.D, author of The Possible Human and The Wizard of Us, and Consultant to the United Nations in human and social development
Whatever Arises, Love That: A Love Revolution That Begins with You, by Matt Kahn (Sounds True) — There are four simple words that point the way toward liberation and fulfillment: whatever arises, love that. This is the life-changing teaching that Matt Kahn has been sharing with millions of YouTube viewers around the world. Whatever Arises, Love That offers a collection of powerful teachings by this highly regarded teacher, providing you with a series of deeply healing insights and practices to ignite the spark of your highest potential. Topics include: Discovering the first step in finding inner peace; Reclaiming the passion, joy, and inspiration of your true innocent nature; Exploring the essential role of surrender throughout the spiritual journey; Unraveling the patterns of ego with compassion and ease; Mastering the vital skill of conscious communication to uplift every relationship and encounter; and Reuniting the mind and heart as a doorway into greater spiritual evolution. As Matt often says, “The deepest invitation in any moment is to heal the root of human suffering and celebrate the Spirit in all by opening your heart to its absolute potential. In a universe of endless questions, love is the only answer.” Whatever Arises, Love That is the blueprint for a new spiritual paradigm and your companion in exploring spiritual evolution in the most heart-centered way.
What’s in the Way Is the Way: A Practical Guide for Waking Up to Life, by Mary O’Malley (Sounds True) — Imagine for a moment that you had no pressures in your life–no problems to fix, no deadlines to meet, no struggles to overcome. Do you feel that sense of spacious relief? It’s not an illusion, teaches Mary O’Malley. It really is possible to live with that profound openness all the time, even while tending to your everyday tasks and obligations. In What’s in the Way Is the Way, Mary offers practical guidance for meeting all of your experience with an abiding sense of ease, trust, and peace of mind. This accessible book is divided into ten phases, featuring inspiring wisdom and step-by-step exercises to heal the core beliefs that keep you stuck. With each chapter, Mary invites you to come into the present and see yourself and your circumstances in a different way–unclouded by preconceptions, struggle, or fear. Join her on this illuminating journey to discover: How fear controls our lives–untangling the conditioning that keeps us from trusting our complete experience; The healing power of curiosity–a natural way to meet our lives without needing to change or judge anything; Trusting what happens even when we feel threatened, ashamed, or afraid; Why we become more active, engaged, and effective when we stop “doing” life and start being fully present for our lives; and Remembering exercises–simple, powerful practices for reconnecting with our natural state of curiosity, trust and love. “No object, person, or experience will ever bring you the deep and lasting peace that comes from simply being open to life,” writes Mary. With What’s in the Way Is the Way, this renowned teacher brings you a powerful guide for turning your obstacles into your greatest allies and teachers–and showing up for your life with all your vulnerability, passion, and magnificent perfection.
The Whole Health Diet: A Transformational Approach to Weight Loss, by Mark Mincolla (Tarcher/Penguin) — In his first book Whole Health, award-winning author and natural health practitioner Dr. Mark Mincolla introduced the world to his holistic methodology–the Whole Health Healing System–a unique plan combining energy medicine, food energy, and Chinese holistic medicine. In his follow-up work–The Whole Health Diet–Dr. Mincolla tailors the Whole Health Healing System to focus on the problems of obesity and food-related poor health. The Whole Health Diet is the anti-dieting diet plan. It’s not just about state-of-the-art, optimal nutrition, but it’s also about arriving at your ideal weight as the natural result of attaining and maintaining your holistic balance. The Whole Health Diet escorts readers through a profound shift in consciousness. By connecting all the dots–metabolic, dietary, nutritional, physiological, and spiritual–this book provides the reader with a path to attain true holistic balance and wellness. In so doing, The Whole Health Diet provides a true solution to the problem of obesity–you fix the mind and spirit, and you in turn fix the body. Among so much more, this book contains: Deep insights into the why of overeating; Powerful affirmations for simple mindset shifts; Holistic, clear, and transformational steps to take towards weight loss; and Delicious recipes.
Wired to Connect: The Surprising Link Between Brain Science and Strong, Healthy Relationships, by Amy Banks & Leigh Ann Hirschman (Tarcher/Penguin) — Research shows that people cannot reach their full potential unless they are in healthy connection with others. Dr. Amy Banks teaches us how to rewire our brains for healthier relationships and happier, more fulfilling lives. We all experience moments when we feel isolated and alone. A 2006 Purdue University study found that twenty-five percent of Americans cannot name a single person they feel close to. Yet every single one of us is hardwired for close relationships. The key to more satisfying relationships–be it with a significant other, a family member, or a colleague–is to strengthen the neural pathways in our brains that encourage closeness and connection. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Banks give us a road map for developing the four distinct neural pathways in the brain that underlie the four most important ingredients for close relationships: calmness, acceptance, emotional resonance, and energy. Wired to Connect gives you the tools you need to strengthen the parts of your brain that encourage connection and to heal the neural damage that disconnection can cause.
World’s Healthiest Foods, 2nd Edition: The Force For Change To Health-Promoting Foods and New Nutrient-Rich Cooking, by George Mateljan (GMF Publishing) — The World’s Healthiest Foods, 2nd Edition is the most comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date book on healthy eating and cooking you can find. The Smart Menu illustrates how you can combine the World’s Healthiest Foods with Nutrient-Rich Cooking in a remarkable menu that provides you with 100% of the nutrients you need each day and also tastes great! And no need to develop a shopping list or calculate the nutritional benefits; that is all done for you. The breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks exemplify how you too can create menus that fulfill your nutritional needs and satisfy your taste buds to put you on the path to a slimmer, healthier and more energetic you. You will enjoy 10 chapters on new World’s Healthiest Foods as well as chapters on six new herbs and spices. Each chapter provides information about the best way to select, store, prepare, and cook each of the foods as well as sections on identifying the different types of each food, and updated nutritional charts for each. The chapters have been revised and expanded to reflect the findings from 10,000 published studies. Scientific studies continue to find that the best source of nutrients is from the food you eat. This second edition is a wealth of health-promoting information right at your fingertips. It is your ultimate guide for healthy eating and cooking. You will learn how to prepare health-promoting vegetables that you never thought you could enjoy using recipes most of which take 5 minutes or less to prepare. This exciting second edition of the World’s Healthiest Foods is waiting for you to explore.
