Religion

The untold story of how one tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic has shaped the world for centuries.

Erik Varden published The Shattering of Loneliness in 2018. Now, with the world in the throes of uncertainty and turbulence, he helps us interpret the signs of the times, convinced that the perennial experience of monks and nuns has much to teach us. The principles of monasticism have become attractive to many, awakened as we are to the importance of integrity, the pursuit of peace, asceticism as a path to freedom, hospitality and contemplative seeing. After a deeply personal introduction, Varden invites us to consider what makes a monk. He then takes us on a pilgrimage through the Church's year, drawing on Scripture, tradition and literary and religious figures of our time. Varden lets the reader discover the generous breadth and depth of a monk's outlook on life. In so doing he provides inspiration, enjoyment and enlightenment in equal measure.

A groundbreaking, accessible presentation of Tibetan Buddhism from Chögyam Trungpa, renowned twentieth-century master and teacher.Based on a series of talks given by Chögyam Trungpa during the first session of what was to become Naropa University, Cynicism and Magic introduces key Tibetan Buddhist concepts, including karma, the structure of ego, the paramitas, and the bodhisattva. Employing a unique and intimate teaching style, Trungpa Rinpoche presents these concepts in a larger framework of questions we all have: What is authentic spirituality? Can I find enlightenment and freedom? How should I approach life, death, suffering, and boredom? How can I develop some discipline, patience, and sanity? Through these accessible teachings, this book will guide you toward experiencing a living dharma intelligently, with a sense of openness and wonder.

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment contains a wide range of short, evocative verses which we can use as meditations as we go about our daily affairs. Each verse is accompanied by a commentary, and the themes that are explored include: smiling at you anger; opening the window; getting dressed; serving food; greeting someone; washing vegetables; watering the garden and driving the car. Thich Nhat Hanh provides a perfect aid to mediation whatever you are during the day.

Many laypeople have attempted to read the great spiritual classic, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, but have been frustrated in attempting to apply the lessons of this monastic text to their everyday lives in the world. In Thirty Steps to Heaven, Archimandrite Vassilios interprets the Ladder for the ordinary Christian without sacrificing any of its beauty and power. Now you too can accept the challenge offered by St. John Climacus to ascend closer to God with each passing day.

An award-winning book of channeled messages from Mary Magdalene. Mary illuminates the path of living from the heart, covering topics rarely addressed in the spiritual world - uniting the Feminine and Masculine, emotional mastery, healing body shame, and the sacredness of sexuality. Clarifying commentary from author Mercedes Kirkel takes us even deeper into Mary's truths. 10 illustrations.This long-hidden instruction reveals Mary as a tower of Feminine leadership, in complete union with her beloved male partner (Yeshua). Whether you're new to Mary Magdalene or a longtime admirer of hers, MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS is a gift to your soul. "e;MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS offers helpful insights for creating balance and harmony between the Masculine and Feminine within all of us. "e; -John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus"e;One of the most profound books of our day."e; --Flo Aeveia Magdalena, author of "e;I Remember Union."e;"e;If you want to hear the real voice of Mary Magdalene, buy this book."e; -Stuart Wilson and Joanna Prentis, authors of "e;Power of the Magdalene"e; and "e;The Magdalene Version"e;"e;An uplifting guide to finding our hope and redemption throughout our lives, MARY MAGDALENE BECKONS has a strong and positive message, highly recommended."e;-Midwest Book Review"e;Mercedes gives us an intelligent and 'feelingful' Magdalene who can guide us through transformative processes into greater light and deeper love."e;-Joan Norton, author of "e;The Mary Magdalene Within"e; and (with Margaret Starbird) "e;14 Steps to Awaken the Sacred Feminine"e; "e;An incredible gift to help those who are going through difficult times. . . . A great deal of insight into ... spiritual beliefs."e; -Seattle Post-Intelligencer Book Review"e;An outstanding spiritual, self-help book. . . . [Reading the book,] I felt love, surrender, forgiveness, and an acceptance of myself such as I have never experienced. A must-read for everybody."e; -Readers' Favorite Book Review

"Through the Smoke Hole, we will find beauty in the wild. Through the Smoke Hole, we will escape the gaze of the Spyglass and find ourselves. Assailed by seductive promises and controlled by social media, we are losing our sense of direction. We are losing ourselves. We have networks, not communities. At a time when we are all confronted by not one, but many crossroads in our lives - identity, technology, trust, love, politics and global pandemic, celebrated mythologist and wilderness guide Martin Shaw delivers Smoke Hole: three metaphors for the modern world - a commons of imagination. Let us journey together, and these stories be your ally - hold them in your pocket, breathe deeper, feel steadier and become acquainted with rapture. Praise for Martin Shaw 'I can still remember the first time I heard Martin Shaw tell a story. The tale that emerged was like a living thing, bounding around, throwing itself at us there listening. I had never heard anything like it before.' - Paul Kingsnorth, Booker shortlisted author of The Wake 'Martin Shaw's work is so very beautiful. A new animal. His love of images is deep and contagious.' - Coleman Barks, author of The Essential Rumi 'Shaw has so much wisdom and knowledge about the old stories, it emanates from his pores.' - John Densmore, The Doors"--

Have you ever wondered about the "dark" side of life? Perhaps you''ve gotten over your fear of occult matters just enough to become curious?Or are you an aspiring Wiccan or occultist who has no idea where to start your journey? This book will take you by the hand and tell you everything you need to know about Wicca so that you can dive into your practice with confidence.In this book, you will:Learn the history of the occult and discover the culprits responsible for all the lies and misinformation surrounding it.Discover the wonderful world of Wicca and how you can get started on this path right away.Find out if you''re a natural witch.Learn basic witchcraft terminology that you need to know.Understand what to expect from a coven.Get eye-opening information on the "tools of the craft" and how you can use them.Discover the amazing value in the Book of Shadows and Grimoires and how to start, keep, and take care of yours.Learn how to use the potent magic locked in crystals.Unearth the truth about waking your psychic powers.Learn how to craft your very own spells, just like an experienced Wiccan would.And so much more...With this book as your starting point, you will find the most wondrous things in life that lie just outside the scope of the physical world. Get this book now to learn to work with nature and the divine to craft a world that works for you through the blessed path of Wicca.

Filled with spells, recipes, and crafts, this book helps you discover the magical rhythms of the natural world. Join Anna Franklin, bestselling author of The Hearth Witch's Compendium, as she shares time-honored recipes and step-by-step instructions for bringing enchantment and joy into your life.

A searing, gritty debut crime novel with a resourceful and unforgettable heroine who must make her way in a man's world

Light Magic for Dark Times offers inspired, easy-to-do spells to cast when your world is descending into chaos and darkness-or, to help prevent the dark from creeping in.

This Very Short Introduction looks at the importance accorded to the Bible by different communities and cultures and attempts to explain why it has generated such a rich variety of uses and interpretations. It explores how the Bible was written, the development of the canon, the role of Biblical criticism, the appropriation of the Bible in high and popular culture, and its use for political ends.

Be challenged to become more Christlike from the inside out with this special 20th Anniversary edition of Renovation of the Heart, with contributions from John Mark Comer and Natasha Robinson.

A beautiful book that explores the spiritual meaning of marriage - ideal as an engagement or wedding gift - from New York Times bestselling authors Tim and Kathy Keller

About the author: Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker (1846-1920) has become one of the most well-known and much beloved Orthodox Christian saints of the contemporary age since his saintly glorification in 1961. Born in Selymbria in the Ottoman Empire, he was educated in Constantinople and in Athens. At the age of 30, he was tonsured a monk and given the name ''Nektarios'' on the island of Chios and then ordained as a deacon three years later. It was during his years as a deacon and student of theology in Athens that Saint Nektarios first honed his skills as a preacher, for which he would later be renowned. The ten homilies compiled in the present book were delivered towards the end of this period, during and around Saint Nektarios''s final Great Lent as a deacon. With topics ranging from the free will of man, repentance, confession, and the Holy Eucharist, these sermons bring to light the emerging brilliance of the saint as a young man. Not only do they demonstrate his deep knowledge for the Holy Scriptures and an understanding of the human person, which can only come from a grace-filled spiritual life and devotion to God, but his sharp intellect and familiarity with subjects outside of scripture and patristics, as he draws examples from history, literature, and the Greek and Latin philosophers with great ease, bringing everything together to craft practical pastoral exhortations. These sermons were, without a doubt, immeasurably beneficial to the souls who heard him in person, as they will be to anyone who reads these words today.

A prominent evangelical pastor shows that the Enneagram, when applied to the Christian life, can provide new visionary landscapes for reimagining discipleship and spiritual practices.

Have you ever closed your Bible and thought, What did I just read? In an easy-to-understand way, popular podcaster of The Bible Recap Tara-Leigh Cobble walks readers through a one-year chronological Bible reading plan, explaining each day's passage to help you both understand the entire narrative of the Scriptures and fortify your faith.

This is the first account of one of the world's most pressing humanitarian catastrophes. Revealing how China has used the US-led War on Terror as cover for its increasingly brutal suppression of the Uyghur people, it provides a lucid and far-reaching analysis of a cultural genocide, while allowing the voices of those caught up in the human tragedy to be heard for the first time. -- .

Guidebook to walking Japan's Kumano Kodo, a network of ancient pilgrimage trails on the Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka. Covering the Nakahechi, Kohechi and Iseji trails, as well as Koyasan and the Choishimichi route, the guide has all the practical information needed, along with notes on the routes' rich history and culture.