Collection: Spirituality & Religion

A practical and compassionate guide to physically, emotionally, and spiritually caring for the dying

- Shares practices for emotional soothing, breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and pain, ways to reduce stress during the active dying process, and techniques to physically care for the dying, including methods to assist bedridden individuals

- Explores ceremony and energetic boundary guidelines, Reiki and ancestral support techniques, and herbal care for nourishing and healing on a spirit level

- Presents self-care methods for moving with grief, ideas for "things to do" when there is nothing to do, mindfulness practices for contemplating your own mortality, as well as guidance for talking with children about death and dying

- Winner of a 2020 Independent Publisher "IPPY" award

Just as we might prepare a nest for one about to give birth, so can we lovingly prepare a nest for one who is dying.

In this practical and compassionate guide, death doula educator Anne-Marie Keppel incorporates ancient and modern techniques, mindfulness practices, and herbal support to show how anyone can care for the dying, whether at home, in hospice, or even in the ICU. She demystifies the dying process by explaining what the body goes through during end of life and presents practices for emotional soothing and other ways to reduce stress and anxiety during the active dying process. The author provides techniques to physically care for the dying, including methods to assist bedridden individuals. She shares ceremony and energetic boundary guidelines, Reiki and ancestral support techniques, and herbal care for nourishing and healing on a spirit level.

Providing support for caregivers and loved ones as well, Anne-Marie explores self-care methods for moving with grief, ideas for "things to do" when there is nothing to do, and mindfulness practices for contemplating your own mortality. She also offers visualizations and techniques for talking with children about death and dying.

Sharing glimpses into the world of spirit to reveal the poignancy of the dying process, the author shows that death is a sacred rite of passage we all experience.

Taoist Esoteric Yoga is an ancient system of physical, psychological and spiritual development encompassing meditative and internal energy practices. This book reveals the Taoist secret of circulating Chi, the generative life force, through the acupuncture meridians of the body.

For more than a thousand years, a diverse range of peoples, from Ireland to India and from the Andes to Australia, have been labelled "Pagan" by the Christians who encountered them. Since the twentieth century new groups have emerged--wiccans, druids, neo-shamans, and heathens--who openly call themselves Pagans. But who are these Pagans and what do they believe? Which gods and goddesses do they revere? Do they worship nature? Do they practise divination and magic?

From sacred plants imbued with supernatural powers to hand-carved amulets that repel evil, and from mischievous spirits of nature to holy mountains, Pagans find divine value in the natural world and spiritual significance in the material universe. Delve within these pages and examine the myriad paintings and sculptures, shrines and ceremonial objects that reveal the stories, symbols, and rituals of Paganism.

In this "journey of spiritual transformation" (Publishers Weekly) award winning author Rabbi Alan Lew follows the practices and rituals of the Jewish High Holy Days and guides readers through heartbreak, contemplation, and re-birth.

There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis. These are the times when the solid ground we thought we stood on disappears beneath our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken, as we stumble back to our faith.

The Days of Awe encompass the weeks preceding Rosh Hashanah up to Yom Kippur, a period in which Jews take part in a series of rituals and prayers that reenact the journey of the soul through the world from birth to death. This is a period of contemplation and repentance, comparable to Lent and Ramadan. Yet, for Rabbi Alan Lew, the real purpose of this annual passage is for us to experience brokenheartedness and open our heart to God.

In This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared, Lew has marked out a journey of seven distinct stages, one that draws on these rituals to awaken our soul and wholly transform us. Weaving together Torah readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables and stories from his own life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this ancient Jewish passage. He reveals the path from terror to acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt to belief, and from complacency to awe.

In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared enables believers of all faiths to reconnect to their faith with a passion and intimacy that will resonate throughout the year.

"This is the clearest and most precise exposition of Buddhism I have ever read. If you're looking for enlightenment rather than just scholarly knowledge, you'd better read this."
--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

In Buddhism Plain and Simple, Zen priest and longtime teacher Steve Hagen presents the heart of Buddhist teachings, pared down to its essence and explained in simple, everyday language. This best-selling book is the perfect guide to Buddhism for beginners; the text has served international readers at all levels of study and practice since it was originally published over a decade ago.

More than 300,000 copies in various formats have sold to date, and now it's available in this brand new edition with a high-quality binding and paper, as well as elegant decorative illustrations scattered throughout.

Practiced by more than 1.2 million Americans and 2-3 million Europeans, Buddhism has become one of the West's largest religions. Whether you're simply interested in learning more about Buddhist philosophy, or hope to begin practicing but don't know where to start, Buddhism Plain and Simple will help you on your way.

"This is a book about awareness. Not awareness of something in particular, but awareness itself--being awake, alert and in touch with what is actually happening. It's about examining and exploring the most basic questions of life. It's about relying on the immediate experience of this present moment. It's about freedom of mind. It's not about belief, doctrine, formula, or tradition." --from the Introduction

Unicorns have captured imaginations for centuries, and now sophisticated colorists will be enchanted with more than 30 illustrations of these legendary creatures. Set in a variety of poses against intricately embellished natural backgrounds, these mythic scenes will foster a sense of creative serenity. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Unicorns and other Creative Haven(R) adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress.

Have you ever sensed that your life has a deeper, more meaningful purpose, but you don't know what it is? If so, you're not alone. To help you and the millions like you, psychic Ainslie MacLeod's spirit guides have given him a systematic approach to uncovering who you really are--and the life your soul has planned for. They call it The Instruction.

Now, for the first time, this unique teaching is offered as a step-by-step program for realizing personal fulfillment. The Instruction will take you through 10 doorways to unveil the life plan your soul created before you were even born, including:

Your Soul Age--Determining how it shapes your beliefs and behaviors
- Your Soul Type--Are you a Hunter? Thinker? Creator? What your Soul Type reveals about your true self
- Your Powers--Connecting fully and permanently with your spirit guides to create your destiny
- Your Talents--Using your past lives to enhance the present
By taking you on a journey beyond this plane, Ainslie MacLeod uses a groundbreaking system to help you unlock the secrets of your soul's purpose, and illuminate the path of your life with The Instruction.

Forty-six picturesque scenes celebrate the simple pleasures of country life: farms, roadside stands, pastures, mills, covered bridges, and more. Colorists can achieve realistic effects with the help of lightly printed numbers that correspond to a simple color key. Pages are perforated and printed on one side only for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Country Scenes Color by Number and other Creative Haven(R) adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment. Each title is also an effective and fun-filled way to relax and reduce stress.

Explore the occult from ancient times to the modern day with one of its most respected scholars and practitioners.
Take an enlightening journey through occult history, exploring 100 dramatic incidents, arcane knowledge, and key historical figures from around the world. John Michael Greer delves into two millennia of tradition, from the earliest alchemists to pagan rituals; from the Philosopher's Stone to Cabala, the first tarot, and the Knights Templar; and from the first horoscopes to fortune-telling trials and the birth of modern witchcraft, or Wicca. Each entry features a stunning image or intriguing item of ephemera.

Learn to communicate with the Angels and call upon them for healing energies. Zibu is an Angelic language expressed as symbols that can be used to assist you in your daily life. In Zibu: The Power of Angelic Symbology, author Debbie Z Almstedt shares her personal story of how she connected with the Divine and shows you how to use these powerful and graceful symbols in healing. Drawings of 88 symbols and the channeled messages are included, as well as personal healing stories from Debbie's clients. The symbols have many benefits which can be received by either viewing them or drawing them, and Debbie will show you how to best work with the symbols.

Taking as her starting point the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales, and folk culture, Dr. Sharon Blackie offers a set of practical and grounded tools for enchanting our lives and the places we live, so leading to a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world.

Enchantment. By Dr. Blackie's definition, a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world, a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life. Enchantment is a natural, spontaneous human tendency -- one we possess as children, but lose, through social and cultural pressures, as we grow older. It is an attitude of mind which can be cultivated: the enchanted life is possible for anyone. It is intuitive, embraces wonder, and fully engages the mythic imagination -- but it is also deeply embodied in ecology, grounded in place and community.

To live this way is to be challenged, to be awakened, to be gripped and shaken to the core by the extraordinary which lies at the heart of the ordinary.

The tarot classic that first promoted the practice of reading the cards not just for others but for one's own personal insight and self-transformation

"Tarot for Your Self was ground-breaking when this book was first published and is still radically significant today." --Benebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot

"Deciding to work with the Tarot is like embarking on a long, inward journey."--Mary K. Greer

This tarot classic by Mary K. Greer was the first book to promote reading the cards for your own insight, revolutionizing tarot through a combined emphasis on self-teaching techniques and personal growth. Tarot for Your Self uses meditations, rituals, spreads, mandalas, visualizations, dialogues, charts, affirmations, and other activities to help you establish your own relationship with the cards. All the information is presented using the best in traditional knowledge and know-how. This powerful breakthrough process will turn all your readings into truly transformative experiences.

Tarot for Your Self covers interpretations for the major and minor arcana, reversed card meanings for all 78 cards, and enlightening information on your shadow/teacher cards.

An in-depth spiritual journey through the truths and traumas of one's past to a rebirth and renewal of personal wholeness.

To the ancients, the goddess Hekate symbolized the inner journey back to the soul.

Indeed, ancient philosophers identified her as Anima Mundi, the "soul of the world." As such, she connects many archetypes associated with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. From her role as protector of roadways to her power as the bringer of death, she offers us keys for healing.

Incorporating her personal experiences with those of her students, Cyndi Brannen weaves a supporting circle around the reader as they start their path towards soulful living, culminating in rebirth.

Blending symbolism, transcendent experiences, dreams, and natural magic with sound psychological theories and practices, Entering Hekate's Cave guides the reader safely through the journey back to the soul.

Dr. Howard Thurman (1900-1981)--minister, educator, philosopher, and poet--explores five major dimensions of the spiritual life: commitment, growing in wisdom and stature, suffering, prayer, and reconciliation

Unraveling trauma in the body, brain and mind--a revolution in treatment. Now in 17 languages.

In this culmination of his life's work, Peter A. Levine draws on his broad experience as a clinician, a student of comparative brain research, a stress scientist and a keen observer of the naturalistic animal world to explain the nature and transformation of trauma in the body, brain and psyche. In an Unspoken Voice is based on the idea that trauma is neither a disease nor a disorder, but rather an injury caused by fright, helplessness and loss that can be healed by engaging our innate capacity to self-regulate high states of arousal and intense emotions. Enriched with a coherent theoretical framework and compelling case examples, the book elegantly blends the latest findings in biology, neuroscience and body-oriented psychotherapy to show that when we bring together animal instinct and reason, we can become more whole human beings.

Throughout the Americas, Native North American groups throughout the hemisphere have been avid watchers of the sky and have carefully noted the cyclic patterns of the Sun and Moon, the stars, and planets. In earlier years, they had to heed the teachings of celestial events in order to survive. One of the primary impediments to interpreting sky-related traditions is today's general lack of observational experience. Even many professional astronomers have little experience with naked eye observations. Yet naked eye observation allows one to construct a highly accurate calendar using the ordered patterns and motions of the celestial bodies. Native American groups also watched the motions of the planets, as well as other appearances including comets, meteor showers, and lunar and solar eclipses, in order to guide their lives. This book is concerned with regular celestial events that provided sacred order to the Lakota. The following pages summarize the primary stellar and solar features a naked eye observer would be able to follow and relate these observations to observational practices of Native North Americans.