Our fast-paced lives are filled with distractions, frequently leaving us disillusioned and dissatisfied-with ourselves, with others, and even with God. Spiritual practices that used to sustain us fall short when life circumstances bring us to the limits of our self. After many years leading an international humanitarian organization, Phileena Heuertz experienced the deconstruction of her identity, worldview, and faith. Centering prayer, a Christian expression of mindfulness, was a crucial remedy for her fragmented condition, offering a more peace-filled and purposeful life. The hallmarks of contemplative spirituality-solitude, silence, and stillness-have never been more important for our society: In solitude, we develop the capacity to be present. In silence, we cultivate the ability to listen. In stillness, we acquire the skill of self-control. Contemplative prayer helps us discern the voice of God, uncover our true self, and live a life of meaning and purpose. Filled with insights and wisdom from personal experiences, Phileena introduces us to themes and teachers of contemplative spirituality, as well as several prayer practices, and invites us to greater healing and wholeness by learning to practice faith through prayer. This is an opportunity to go deeper with God-to experience the Divine and be transformed.

Psyche, Self and Soul is a many faceted exploration of the relationship of psychotherapy and spirituality. Introducing the term 'an everyday transcendence', Gargiulo studies the silent alone space of each individual and relates a psychoanalytic exploration to a spiritual journey. Calling on the thought of philosophers, theologians, scientists and analysts, the text gives a new framework for understanding psychoanalysis and spirituality grounded in the here and now as well as a psychoanalysis that respects mystery, justice and civility.

The clinical cases demonstrate how each patient's task must be understood as individualized, and consequently, how the analyst/therapist must creatively adapt clinical technique. D.W. Winnicott's thoughts are applied throughout the text and are given a comprehensive summary in the final chapters.

The psychological revolution that Krishnamurti refers to is not only in the conscious mind, but also in the unconscious. He states, This is one of our difficulties, perhaps our major difficulty: to be free of the whole content of the unconscious. This hidden part of our consciousness is the result of many thousands of years of mans endeavor; we are the sum total of his struggles, his hopes, his despairs, his everlasting search for something beyond, and this piling up of experience is still going on within us. To be aware of that conditioning, and to be free of it, demands a great deal of attention.

This book focuses on the work of Mircea Eliade, taking a methodological concern, but also focusing on a wider concern, trying to indicate the many facets and implications of Eliade's scholarship as a historian of religions. Chapters two and three are concerned with the work of Eliade as a historian of religions, whereas chapter four examines the theological aspects of his work. After an examination of the human situation and his understanding of God, the book goes on to discover that the key to understanding Eliade's theological reflections is the role of nostalgia. As well as the theological aspects of Eliade's work, this book looks at his participation and contribution to cross-cultural dialogue, his theory of myth, his theory of archaic ontology, his concept of power and his views on time from the perspective of his roles as both a historian of religions and a literary figure.

Using a seven-day/weekly guide format, a recovering person and a spiritual leader who is reaching out to addicted people reflect on the traditional weekly Bible reading. They bring strong spiritual support for daily living and recovery from addictions of all kinds: alcohol, drugs, eating, gambling and sex. A profound sense of the spirit soars through their words and brings all people in Twelve Step recovery programs home to a rich and spiritually enlightening tradition.

This book is not just for Jewish people. It s for all people who would gain strength to heal and insight from the Bible and the teachings of Jewish tradition.

With an introduction by Robert Plant Against an unflinching backdrop of 90s reservation life in the western Dakotas, Neither Wolf Nor Dog tells the story of two men, one white and one Native American Indian, connected by their own understandings of life yet struggling to find a common voice. As they journey together through small Native American Indian towns and down forgotten roads where the whisperings of the wind speak of ancestral voices, these two men will travel beyond myth and stereotype, revealing an America few people ever get to see.

This is the continuing story of Milarepa and his disciple Rechungpa, first encountered in volume 18 of the Complete Works. As portrayed in The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, Rechungpa is a promising disciple, but he has a lot to learn, being sometimes proud, distracted, anxious, desirous of comfort and praise, over-attached to book learning, stubborn, sulky and liable to go to extremes. In other words, he is very human, and surely recognizable to anyone who has embarked on the spiritual path. He all too often takes his teacher's advice the wrong way, or simply ignores it, and it takes all of Milarepa's skill, compassion and patience to keep their relationship intact and help his unruly disciple to stay on the path to Enlightenment. In the story that begins this volume, matters come to a head when Milarepa burns the books that Rechungpa went all the way to India to acquire, but by the end of the volume, Rechungpa is able to set out on his own mission to teach the Dharma. Much happens in between. Sangharakshita's commentary, based on seminars given in the late 1970s and early 1980s, draws from the stories of Milarepa and his wayward disciple much valuable advice for any would-be spiritual practitioner.

“I want to believe, I want to have hope, but…” Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel hears these words often and has asked them himself. We want to know God, feel his presence, and trust that he hears our prayers, but in the midst of great pain, we may wonder if he really cares about us. Even when we have both hope and hurt, sometimes it's the hurt that shouts the loudest. Can God be good when life is not

In Hope in the Dark, Groeschel explores the story of the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, saying, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” In the man's sincere plea, Jesus heard the tension in the man's battle-scarred heart. He healed not only the boy but the father too, driving out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. He can do the same for us today.

As Groeschel shares his pain surrounding the current health challenges of his daughter, he acknowledges the questions we may ask in our own deepest pain: “Where was God when I was being abused” “Why was my child born with a disability” “Why did the cancer come back” “Why are all my friends married and I'm alone” He invites us to wrestle with such questions as we ask God to honor our faith and heal our unbelief.

In the middle of your profound pain, you long for authentic words of understanding and hope. You long to know that even in overwhelming reality, you can still believe that God is good. Rediscover a faith in the character, power, and presence of God. Even in the questions. Even now.

When Women Rise is a timely, transformative, and inspiring guide for women who want to bring more joy, power, and peace into their lives. It invites every woman to nurture her inner wisdom and strength, transcend the prevailing fears of our time, and rise into her highest wellbeing. Dr. Michele Kambolis integrates the science of mind-body medicine and more than 20 years' experience working with women in clinical therapy to provide daily practices that will help women overcome the barriers that hinder their freedom and compromise their very essence. The result is a fresh and empowering guide for women to discover, together in spirit, a more awakened way of living and being.

Our deepest need is to live in conversation with God. To hear his voice. To follow him intimately. This is the most life-changing habit that we can adopt, because it brings us back to the source of life. Yet most Christians have never been taught how to have a conversation with the Creator. In this revised and updated study guide, bestselling author John Eldredge dives deeper into his personal journals to tell his stories about walking and talking with the Lord. By putting words to the things God has shown him through some amazing experiences, he will help you shed light on the miraculous truths that God is showing you right now. Packed with questions, stories, and discussion topics, this study guide features: Journaling Prompts: Questions to help you tell your own story of walking with God Relevant Passages: Scriptures to study and memorize to help you along the way Clarity Readings: Short notes to solidify certain key points in your mind Leader's Guide: A new leader's guide to help you guide groups through the material These stories and reflections will help you recall lessons you didn't know had been forgotten, open up new horizons, and help you tell and interpret your own story of your walk with God. Includes a new study to accompany the new chapter added to the trade book.

Religion is often cast in opposition to science. Yet both are deeply rooted in the inner workings of the human brain. With the advent of the modern cognitive neurosciences, the scientific study of religious and spiritual phenomena has become far more sophisticated and wide-ranging. What might brain scans of people in prayer, in meditation, or under the influence of psychoactive substances teach us about religious and spiritual beliefs? Are religion and spirituality reducible to neurological processes, or might there be aspects that, at least for now, transcend scientific claims? In this book, Andrew Newberg explores the latest findings of neurotheology, the multidisciplinary field linking neuroscience with religious and spiritual phenomena. He investigates some of the most controversial-and potentially transformative-implications of a neurotheological approach for the truth claims of religion and our understanding of minds and brains. Newberg leads readers on a tour through key intersections of neuroscience and theology, including the potential evolutionary basis of religion; the psychology of religion, including mental health and brain pathology; the neuroscience of myths, rituals, and mystical experiences; how studies of altered states of consciousness shed new light on the mind-brain relationship; and what neurotheology can tell us about free will. When brain science and religious experience are considered together in an integrated approach, Newberg shows, we might come closer to a fuller understanding of the deepest questions.

From Jewish to Christian, Mormon and Pagan, women's sacred circles are sprouting up everywhere, in astonishing variety providing a haven where essential female values can be discussed and embraced. This much-needed guide celebrates the rich diversity of women's spiritual lives and offers practical, step-by-step advice for those who want to create and sustain a spirituality group of their own.

Sacred Circle  shows us how we can use a group to explore our relationship to the sacred, and honor the divine in everyday life. The authors, drawing from their own group experiences as well as those of many diverse groups around the country, share the model they've developed, while offering wise advise on how and why groups work. They propose circle basics, such as listening without an agenda and rotating leadership, and also offer reflections on the power of personal storytelling and thoughts on reclaiming and reinventing ritual. Women longing for a powerful and supportive feminine community in which to thrive spiritually will find vital wisdom here.

Jinger Vuolo did not have what you'd call a typical childhood. The sixth child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's nineteen, she grew up with the bright lights of television crews in her home, filming the hit TLC show 19 Kids and Counting. Jinger has always been a fan favorite, and now she and her husband Jeremy are the breakout stars of the show's sequel, Counting On.

In The Hope We Hold, Jeremy and Jinger Vuolo share the highs and lows of their love story. They open up about the early days of getting to know one another, their long-distance relationship, and the many sleepless nights of their time as new parents. But throughout all their stories, just below the surface, weaving together every triumph and trial of their lives, is the silver thread of hope.

Though they don't pretend to have all the answers, they can promise that there is hope in Christ for every person in every walk of life. There is an inheritance of glory, a life richer than we can imagine, if we only walk with Him.

Ushering in a new era - where business is done on different terms - Raise Your SQ: How to use the Magic of Spiritual Intelligence to Unlock More Joy and Success will redefine what purpose and balance, at work and home, means to us all. Structured through goals, routines and exercises, Raise Your SQ will draw on Annie's own experience of how raising her spiritual intelligence transformed her work life, from scrimping and saving each month, to creating a six-figure business from scratch. We spend one third of our waking lives working, and with so many of us looking for more meaning at work, it's time we had a resource to turn to. Embodying a new way of living and working, this book will enable you to reach for your goals, help you find better balance, creative solutions and more joy. Raise Your SQ will help you unlock the potential of an intelligence you didn't know you possessed.

Warren Felt Evans (1817-1889) converted to Methodism while at Dartmouth College, became a minister, and spent his Methodist years as a spiritual seeker. His two extant journals, edited and annotated by Catherine L. Albanese, appear in print for the first time and reveal the inner journey of a leading American spiritual pilgrim at a critical period in his religious search. A voracious reader, he recorded accounts of intense religious experience in his journals. He moved from the Oberlin perfectionism he embraced early on, through the French quietism of Madame J. Guyon and Archbishop Fenelon, then into Swedenborgianism, spiritualism, and mind cure with distinct theosophical overtones. His carefully documented journey is suggestive of the similar journeys of the religious seekers who made their way into the burgeoning metaphysical movement at the end of the 19th century-and may shed light too on today's spirituality.

Seven hundred years ago, executioners led a Welsh rebel named William Cragh to a wintry hill to be hanged. They placed a noose around his neck, dropped him from the gallows, and later pronounced him dead. But was he dead? While no less than nine eyewitnesses attested to his demise, Cragh later proved to be very much alive, his resurrection attributed to the saintly entreaties of the defunct Bishop Thomas de Cantilupe.

"The Hanged Man" tells the story of this putative miracle--why it happened, what it meant, and how we know about it. The nine eyewitness accounts live on in the transcripts of de Cantilupe's canonization hearings, and these previously unexamined documents contribute not only to an enthralling mystery, but to an unprecedented glimpse into the day-to-day workings of medieval society.

While unraveling the haunting tale of the hanged man, Robert Bartlett leads us deeply into the world of lords, rebels, churchmen, papal inquisitors, and other individuals living at the time of conflict and conquest in Wales. In the process, he reconstructs voices that others have failed to find. We hear from the lady of the castle where the hanged man was imprisoned, the laborer who watched the execution, the French bishop charged with investigating the case, and scores of other members of the medieval citizenry. Brimming with the intrigue of a detective novel, "The Hanged Man" will appeal to both scholars of medieval history and general readers alike.

Can a simple concept shift your entire world? Bob Goff certainly thinks so. When it comes to loving your neighbors, instead of focusing on having the "right answers" or checking the "right boxes," what if you decide to simply do love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you-what would that look like? When Love Does, life gets interesting. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too. What do you need space for in your life? Bob quits something every Thursday. Where are you faking it? Bob hilariously posed in a wax museum. Have you experienced God's audacious love? Bob facilitated an over-the-top marriage proposal...for a stranger. What fears keep you from your big adventure? Bob navigated the 2000-mile Transpacific Yacht Race without knowing how to navigate. What big idea do you wish you could pursue? Bob's love for people led to building a school in Uganda. How can you become more available? Bob famously published his cell phone number, and answers every call! This is not the kind of love that stops at thoughts and feelings. Bob's love takes action, just like Jesus did. Bob believes Love Does. This study guide provides teaching notes, discussion questions, Bible study, between-session activities and a practical application called "Putting Love into Action," which gives you the opportunity to put the principles you have learned into practice. Sessions include: I'm With You Free to Fail Audacious Love Be Not Afraid Follow Me Designed for use with the Love Does Video Study (9781400206292), sold separately.