As we evolve, so do our prayers; as our prayers evolve, so do we. This is the evolution of illumination, the collective voice of the soul of the world.

"How Do You Pray?" was born from a vision in which Celeste Yacoboni was told to ask the world, "How Do You Pray?" She reached out to leading spiritual, shamanic, scientific teachers, guides, and activists and asked for their response. Culled from those responses is an original and deeply personal collection of essays. Talking intimately and candidly about how they pray, these personalities encourage the reader to contemplate the intention of prayer in their own life.

This collection speaks to the reader's heart and asks "What is your soul's expression? How do you dance in ecstasy, bare your soul to the divine? Bow in gratitude? Merge with nature? Cry out for guidance? How do you pray?"

This groundbreaking and moving book gathers responses from leaders of diverse spiritual and religious traditions ranging from Buddhism to Islam to Christianity, as well as those who do not claim one or any particular walk of faith. Contributors include Brother David Steindl-Rast, Matthew Fox, James O'Dea, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Tessa Bielecki, Lama Surya Das, Hank Wesselman, Father Bede Griffiths, Byron Katie, Joan Halifax, Normandi Ellis, Andrew Harvey, Dan Millman, Kristena Prater, Nicki Scully, Mirabai Starr, and more.

This book is a beautiful gift package with matte laminate cover and red ribbon.

On the day her first book came out-a new translation of Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross-Mirabai Starr's daughter, Jenny, was killed in a car accident. "My spiritual life began the day my daughter died," writes Mirabai. Even with decades of spiritual practice and a deep immersion in the greatest mystical texts, she found herself utterly unprepared for "my most powerful catalyst for transformation, my fiercest and most compassionate teacher." With Caravan of No Despair, Mirabai shares an irreverent, uplifting, and intimate memoir of her extraordinary life journey. Through the many twists and turns of her life-including a tangled relationship with a charlatan-guru, her unexpected connection with the great Christian mystics, and the loss of her daughter-Mirabai finds the courage to remain open and defenseless before the mystery of the divine. "Tragedy and trauma are not guarantees for a transformational spiritual experience," writes Mirabai Starr, "but they are opportunities. They are invitations to sit in the fire and allow it to transfigure us."

"The important thing is not to think much, but to love much, and so to do whatever best awakens us to love." -St. Teresa of Avila Journey to the 16th century to discover the fiery passion of Saint Teresa of Avila, one of Christianity's most inspiring saints. A tireless reformer and the mentor of Saint John of the Cross, Teresa's greatest legacy is her revelation of ecstatic love for God-a love so powerful that it pierces the heart like a burning sword. Through illness, hardship, and persecution by the Inquisition, this courageous mystic lit the way with her unquenchable spirit to an "interior castle," a place of unimaginable beauty and light where no darkness can touch us. Saint Teresa of Avila gives you a direct link to the living presence of this brave and gentle woman, to draw upon her strength in your own times of need.

The acclaimed modern translation of St. Teresa of Avila's classic book on spiritual awareness and guidance
Celebrated for almost five centuries as a master of spiritual literature, 16th-century saint Teresa of Avila is one of the most beloved religious figures in history. Overcome one day by a mystical vision of a crystal castle with seven chambers, each representing a different stage in spiritual development, Teresa immediately wrote The Interior Castle. Probably her most important and widely studied work, it guides the spiritual seeker through each stage of development until the soul's final union with the divine. Free of religious dogma, this modern translation renders St. Teresa's work a beautiful and practical set of teachings for seekers of all faiths in need of spiritual guidance. It also places this classic book on spirituality --"a gem of mystical literature made accessible and relevant to the modern spiritual seeker" -Sharon Salzberg--in a contemporary context, reasserting its literary importance even after more than 400 years.

Wild Mercy is essential reading for anyone ready to awaken the feminine mystic within and birth her loving, creative, and untamed power into the world.

We live in a world that has suffered the abuses of an unbalanced masculine rule for thousands of years―but the feminine is rising. "Seeds of feminine wisdom that have been quietly germinating underground are now breaking through the surface," writes Mirabai Starr. "Women everywhere are rising to the collective call to step up and repair our broken Earth. And we are activating a paradigm shift such as the world has never seen."

With Wild Mercy, Mirabai shares the subversive wisdom and fierce compassion of the feminine mystic across cultural boundaries and throughout history. From saints and sages, to goddesses and archetypal energies, to contemporary teachers and seekers―you’ll meet women who blazed a path that will illuminate your own.

Each chapter explores a different facet of feminine mysticism through a tapestry of teachings, reflections, and stories, along with a practice for integrating the chapter’s themes into your own life. As you journey through these pages, you’ll explore:

• Taking refuge in contemplative practice with St. Teresa of Avila and the Shekinah
• Longing, embodiment, and union as the heart of feminine spiritual practice with the Hindu poet Mirabai and Mary Magdalene
• Your relationship with the Earth, motherhood in all its forms, and a loving call to action alongside Gaia and Ix Chel
• Community and the web of life with Indra, the Beguines, and female prophets throughout history
• Wild, playful, and compassionate mercy with Tara and Kuan Yin
• Finding joy in creativity and the arts with Saraswati and Chiyo-ni
• More inspiration from archetypal goddesses and amazing women past and present―Julian of Norwich, the Sufi saint Rabia, Pachamama, Sophia, Old Spider Woman, Hildegard of Bingen, Demeter, Kali, and more

Wild Mercy provides a much-needed alternative to the models of religion and spirituality that have dominated history. Here, Mirabai invites you to welcome the wisdom of women back into the collective field where it may transform the human family, heal the ravaged Earth, and awaken the divine love in our hearts.

This is a fresh and contemporary rendering of one of the most loved and influential spiritual texts of all time. It brings alive the message and spirituality of this great 14th-century mystic to 21st century readers. At the age of 30, Julian of Norwich, a contemporary of Chaucer, was suffering a severe illness and believed she was on her deathbed. She had a series of intense visions of Jesus and recovered. Julian wrote down the narration of the visions shortly after they occurred and expanded on them 20 to 30 years later in what became the first book written in English by a woman. Her message remains strikingly relevant today: that failure is an opportunity to learn and grow that God's love has nothing to do with retribution and everything to do with compassion in spite of appearances, all is well.

God of Love is Mirabai Starr's passionate and personal exploration of the interconnected wisdom of the three Abrahamic faiths. She shares an overview of essential teachings, stories of saints and spiritual masters, prophetic calls for peace and justice, and for the first time in print, deeply engaging narratives from her own spiritual experiences. She guides readers to recognize the teachings and practices that unify rather then divide the three religions, and sheds light on the interspiritual perspective, which celebrates the Divine in all paths. It is Mirabai's hope that this book will serve as a reminder that a dedication to lovingkindness is the highest expression of faith for all three religions.

EARLY REVIEWS FOR "God of Love"
"Mirabai Starr takes us out dancing with the One. "God of Love" is a confluence of the currents of Judaism, Islam and Christianity all emptying into the great ocean of Love."
--Ram Dass, Author "Be Here Now"
"In a time of division between people, this book -- which is a masterful blend of research, storytelling, poetry, and memoir -- is like a sacred magnet, pulling on the spiritual heart of all seekers."
--Elizabeth Lesser, Cofounder, Omega Institute; Author, "Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow"
"Mirabai Starr writes of the divine from a luminous gene inherited by only a few. We hear The True Song in each word she attributes to the holy. It is more than just her song; it is the Melody of the Spheres translated by an astute musician. We are always touched by the genuine in her call to the reader to love and love well, to see with the sacred eye of beauty."
-Ondrea & Stephen Levine, Authors " Embracing the Beloved"
"Mirabai's book has brought me great consolation."
-Daniel Berrigan, S. J. activist-priest; Author, "No Gods but One"
"This book brilliantly reminds us that in the heart of the Abrahamic traditions there burns a singular divine flame."
-Rev. Robert V. Thompson, Author "A Voluptuous God"
"A wonderful and 'perfect' book. Highly recommended."
-Rabbi David A. Cooper, Author "God Is a Verb"
" "God of Love"] will expand your vision and inspire your search; I recommend it with great joy." -Andrew Harvey, Author "The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism"
"At home in the three great Abrahamic traditions, Mirabai Starr takes us on a deeply personal journey 'Toward the One, ' exploring aspects of the 'God of Love' as seen through the eyes of Jewish, Christian and Muslim mystics. This is a book which will delight the seeker of sacred connections between these traditions and those who look forward to a day when Jerusalem, the city shared by all these faiths, will be a house of prayer for all people."
-Reb Netanel Miles-Yepez, Co-Author " A Heart Afire: Stories and Teachings of the Early Hasidic Masters"

When a small village was plagued by a wild wolf, it is told that a humble friar named Francis came and met the predator with nothing but his gentle words-and turned the wolf from a menace to a welcome citizen. This graceful man, who spoke to each part of Creation as a sister or brother, has become one of the most beloved of all saints. In both joy and adversity, Saint Francis served as a bold example of how to live completely and authentically as a follower of Christ. From his survival as a prisoner of war to the series of awakenings that helped him to reform the Catholic Church, Francis drew his strength from his miraculous, loving union with the natural world. Saint Francis of Assisi is an essential devotional reader for building your personal connection to the spirit of this modest Italian sage. Through stories, prayers, and his own writings, you are invited to share in Francis's nourishing devotion to God, and in his profound compassion toward all living things.

Who is the Archangel Michael? Never unkind, but not always gentle, he embodies the essence of the ''spiritual warrior'' - courageous and strong in the face of injustice or illusion, a ceaseless devotee of truth. Saint Michael offers you the hand of this protective force through a collection of prayers, scripture, contemplations, and stories that span the ages and traditions in which this legendary figure has appeared. The name Michael means ''who is like God.'' By invoking Michael's power, we invite into our own lives the divine energy to lift us past obstacles. Saint Michael gives you a devotional treasure for calling on this archangel for protection in times of danger, for strength in taking action for the greater good, for compassion in defense of the innocent, and for grace as we embark on the journey that awaits at the end of our lives. THE ARCHANGEL appears in spiritual traditions across the globe, from Judaism to Christianity to Islam. His roles include the guardian angel of the children of Israel, the patron saint of warriors, and the transporter of souls.

When a small village was plagued by a wild wolf, it is told that a humble friar named Francis came and met the predator with nothing but his gentle words - and turned the wolf from a menace to a welcome citizen. This graceful man, who spoke to each part of Creation as a sister or brother, has become one of the most beloved of all saints. In both joy and adversity, Saint Francis served as a bold example of how to live completely and authentically as a follower of Christ. From his survival as a prisoner of war to the series of awakenings that helped him to reform the Catholic Church, Francis drew his strength from his miraculous, loving union with the natural world. Saint Francis of Assisi is an essential devotional reader for building your personal connection to the spirit of this modest Italian sage. Through stories, prayers, and his own writings, you are invited to share in Francis nourishing devotion to God, and in his profound compassion toward all living things.

Our Lady of Guadalupe takes you to a time when a modest Aztec peasant had a vision of a radiant woman "clothed in the sun." This divine presence began to emerge as a union between Mary of Christianity and the Mother Goddess of the native people. As her legend swept across the crumbling Aztec empire, she inspired millions of followers to peacefully embrace a changing world. Today, the beloved Lady of Guadalupe still acts as a benevolent, merciful force to help us rise above strife and violence. For those times when we are called to engage in compassionate yet decisive action, it is the force of the divine feminine embodied by Our Lady of Guadalupe that can guide our path. With poetry, prayers, and art gathered together by editor Mirabai Starr, Our Lady of Guadalupe gives you a powerful link to this blessed mother, and to the loving and righteous grace of her sacred energy.

When the humble friar Juan de Yepes felt despair creeping into his heart after months of imprisonment, he cried out to God: ''Where have you hidden, my Beloved?'' Today, we can hear the answer to his plea in his transcendent poetry and prose, which stand as eternal testaments to Saint John's faith, insight, and courage in dark times. His uplifting masterpieces, such as ''The Spiritual Canticle'' and Dark Night of the Soul, are revered by spiritual masters of every tradition. In Saint John of the Cross, you are invited to enter into the mind and heart of one of contemplative Christianity's greatest visionaries. Through his writing and poetry, John of the Cross shares his wisdom for how we can abide in pure presence, which paths we can follow to bring clarity and peace to our souls, and how we can nurture a love that can transform even our most painful trials into an ecstatic communion with God. Saint John of the Cross was a Spanish mystic and Carmelite friar who played a major role in the Catholic Reformation. He was the protege of Saint Teresa of Avila, and he is honored as the patron saint of Spanish literature for his timeless writings on Christian mysticism.

Some call Hildegard of Bingen the original ''rebel nun'' - a woman of stunning visionary gifts who rose above the restrictions of her time to shape the destiny of Christianity. In Hildegard of Bingen, you are invited to encounter this remarkable woman, who dared to speak out with such strength and purpose that even the twelfth-century Church had to respect her divinely inspired wisdom. Through her writings, musical and lyrical compositions, and compassionate bravery, Hildegard invites you today to a place of stillness where you can clearly hear the inner wisdom that is your birthright. Hildegard's life gives us a blueprint for taking charge of our own spiritual lives. From her brilliant and iconoclastic writings on the spiritual journey, women's health, and herbal medicine to her courage in urging world rulers to choose peace over war, this enduring heroine shines across the centuries as an example of how to live fearlessly our own limitless radiance...Hildegard of Bingen was a Medieval abbess and mystic who was also an accomplished artist, naturalist, poet, healer, alchemist, and composer of music. An extraordinarily gifted thinker and profound visionary, she was one of the most influential Catholic figures of her time.