Collection: Spirituality & Religion

"A fierce and voluble refutation of the patriarchy and its soul-crushing oppression of female power. These writers make clear that as witches, femmes, and queers, they will use their own strength, ingenious rituals, beauty routines, and spells to rise above and beyond the limits of racism/classism and objectifications set by a male-dominated society. While bound by a thread of magic, these are inspiring feminist writings for readers of feminist literature, however identified." --Library Journal

Edgy and often deeply personal, the twenty-one essays collected here come from a wide variety of writers. Some identify as witches, others identify as writers, musicians, game developers, or artists. What they have in common is that they've created personal rituals to summon their own power in a world that would prefer them powerless. Here, they share the rituals they use to resist self-doubt, grief, and depression in the face of sexism, slut shaming, racism, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.

Contents

Introduction
Notes from the Editors
Content Warning

1. Unfuckable--Cara Ellison
2. Trash-Magic: Signs & Rituals for the Unwanted--Maranda Elizabeth
3. Uncensoring My Ugliness--Laura Mandanas
4. Femme as in Fuck You: Fucking with the Patriarchy One Lipstick Application at a Time--Catherine Hernandez
5. Before I Was a Woman, I Was a Witch--Avery Edison
6. Undressing My Heart--Gabriela Herstik
7. Garden--Marguerite Bennett
8. Reddit, Retin-A, and Resistance: An Alchemist's Guide to Skincare--Sam Maggs
9. The Future is Coming for You--Deb Chachra
10. My Witch's Sabbath of Short Skirts, Long Kisses, and BDSM--Mey Rude
11. Buzzcut Season--Larissa Pham
12. The Harpy--Meredith Yayanos
13. Fingertips--merritt
14. Red Glitter--Sophie Saint Thomas
15. Touching Pennies, Painting Nails--Sim Bajwa
16. Ritual in Darkness--Kim Boekbinder
17. Gayuma--Sara David
18. Pushing Beauty Up Through the Cracks--Katelan Foisy
19. Ritualising My Humanity--J. A. Micheline
20. Simulating Control--Nora Khan
21. I Am, Myself, a Body of Water--Leigh Alexander

Contributors
Acknowledgements

A Marine with a budding career as an F/A-18 fighter pilot, David Trombly received the shocking news that he had a rare terminal cancer, a Primary Lymphoma of Bone, from which there had never been a military survivor. With this knowledge, he and his wife, Megan, embarked upon the difficult research of alternative treatments. This propelled them into not only a battle for David's life but also his military career.

Journey with them through ambushes, EMCON, and reconnaissance missions all the way to Washington D.C.'s highest military medical court in the exciting, true story of courage and peace as told in the pages of Grounded and Cured.

Over 125 poetic companions, from Basho to Billy Collins, Saigyo to Shakespeare.

The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy received the Spirituality & Practice Book Award for 50 Best Spiritual Books in 2017 by Spirituality and Practice Website.

The poems expertly gathered here offer all that one might hope for in spiritual companionship: wisdom, compassion, peacefulness, good humor, and the ability to both absorb and express the deepest human emotions of grief and joy. The book includes a short essay on "Mindful Reading" and a meditation on sound from editor John Brehm--helping readers approach the poems from an experiential, non-analytical perspective and enter into the mindful reading of poetry as a kind of meditation.

The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy offers a wide-ranging collection of 129 ancient and modern poems unlike any other anthology on bookshelves today. It uniquely places Buddhist poets like Han Shan, Tu Fu, Saigyo, Ryokan, Basho, Issa, and others alongside modern Western poets one would not expect to find in such a collection--poets like Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, William Stafford, Denise Levertov, Jack Gilbert, Ellen Bass, Billy Collins, and more. What these poems have in common, no matter whether they are explicitly Buddhist, is that all reflect the essential truths the Buddha articulated 2,500 years ago.

The book provides an important poetic complement to the many prose books on mindfulness practice--the poems here both reflect and embody the dharma in ways that can't be matched by other modes of writing. Its unique features include an introduction that discusses the themes of impermanence, mindfulness, and joy and explores the relationship between them. Biographical notes place the poets in historical context and offer quotes and anecdotes to help readers learn about the poets' lives.

A 5-step energy detox program from renowned energy healing expert, Oliver Nino that removes the crippling blocks from your energetic field that stand between you and abundance, purpose, and happiness.

Renowned energy healer and spiritual activation expert, Oliver Nino shares his 5-step energy reset that eliminates the toxins that hold you back from being in your healthiest state.

In this book, Oliver explains how energetic blocks lodge themselves in your system as negative beliefs, emotions, and sometimes even physical conditions. Traumas, ancestral roots, or environmental factors create feelings of fear, guilt, anger, betrayal, uselessness, hurt, and inadequacy that can flow through you like dangerous, free radicals. These create walls in your energetic field, which can cause physical disease, relationship issues, feeling "stuck," a lack of abundance, a lack of purpose, a lack of confidence, anxiety, depression, or a general feeling of unhappiness.

Writes Oliver, "I find that when you cleanse, or remove, the blocks that weigh people down using my healing techniques, it not only detoxes their energetic fields--thus, healing various aspects of wellness--but also allows them to tap into a higher power and activate their own gifts, so that they can pursue their purpose on earth. Every one of us is naturally wired to clear our energy fields. Our souls arrived here in a clear, energetic state, and so it's possible to return to our natural way of being."

In The Ikigai Journey, authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles take their international bestseller Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life a step further by showing you how to find your own ikigai through practical exercises, such as employing new habits and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Ikigai is the place where our passion (what we love), mission (what we hope to contribute), vocation (the gifts we have to offer the world) and profession (how our passions and talents can become a livelihood) converge, giving us a personal sense of meaning. This book helps you bring together all of these elements so that you can enjoy a balanced life.

Our ikigai is very similar to change: it is a constant that transforms depending on which phase of life we are in. Our "reason for being" is not the same at 15 as it is at 70. Through three sections, this book helps you to accept and embrace that--acting as a tool to revolutionize your future by helping you to understand the past, so you can enjoy your present.

• Section 1: Journey Through the Future: Tokyo (a symbol of modernity and innovation)
• Section 2: Journey Through the Past: Kyoto (an ancient capital moored in tradition)
• Section 3: Journey Through the Present: Ise (an ancient shrine that is destroyed and rebuilt every twenty years)

Japan has one of the longest life spans in the world, and the greatest number of centenarians--many of whom cite their strong sense of ikigai as the basis for their happiness and longevity. Unlike many "self-care" practices, which require setting aside time in an increasingly busy world, the ikigai method helps you find peace and fulfillment in your busy life.

In the ancient world there were three medicine kingdoms: animal, vegetable, and mineral. Following her previous acclaimed volumes on animal (The Illustrated Bestiary) and vegetable (The Illustrated Herbiary), Maia Toll fulfills the call for mineral with The Illustrated Crystallary, exploring the mystical qualities of 36 fascinating crystals and minerals, including amethyst, hematite, mica, smokey quartz, emerald, ruby, and more. Combining bits of ancient wisdom with her own insights, Toll illuminates the aspects and energy of each stone and, through rituals and reflections, the life guidance it might offer contemporary readers. Obsidian's shiny surface and sharp edges reflect the shadowy corners of the self and serve as the tool for cutting them loose. The sky-like color of earthly turquoise provides balance between opposing forces. Stunning illustrations by Kate O'Hara magnify the symbolism of each crystal and are also featured on 36 bonus cards included in an envelope bound in the back of the book.

Also available: The Illustrated Herbiary and The Illustrated Bestiary

A gorgeously illustrated herbal from the witchy experts at Tamed Wild, this handy guidebook introduces readers to the most common and powerful healing herbs and the wisdom gained over centuries of use. Ideal for green witches and budding herbalists!

Inspired by Tamed Wild's best-selling herb decks, this handbook covers more than 60 magickal herbs--a must-have for anyone interested in the power of herbal healing.

A lovely hand-painted watercolor introduces each herb, offering an artist's look at the identifying characteristics. The accompanying text offers the key information every herbalist needs to know:

• A visual and botanical description of every plant
• An explanation of the plant's historical medicinal uses
• A look at the lore associated with the herb, drawing on the wisdom handed down from generations past
• A potion, ritual, or recipe idea for each herb

• Practical tips for how to harness every herb's wild, earth-given medicine

Beautifully produced, this charming and informative guide is a must for everyone interested in the healing and magickal properties of herbs.

An interactive touch and feel book for babies introducing children to animals from the Gospel. Tactile elements and delightful imagery will encourage the development of motor skills and early learning.

Baby Touch and Feel: Bible Animals is an interactive and fun way to help your child learn about the Gospal, and meet a few cute farmyard friends along the way. Bold, bright pictures and colorful illustrations will be more than enough to keep your baby's attention. This adorable picture book is a perfect first book for preschoolers and makes for an ideal baby gift.

Not too big and not too small, this sturdy, padded sensory book is just the right size for little hands to hold. No need for Mom and Dad to turn the pages! Babies and toddlers can turn the tough bible board book pages themselves, which helps to develop their fine motor skills while building an early language foundation.

This charming board book for babies includes:

- An amazing range of different textures to explore
- Clearly labeled pictures and a simple, easy to follow design
- Easy to read text to encourage early vocabulary building
- A texture or eye-catching area on every page
- Rounded edges and chunky pages, protecting babies and their growing teeth

Learning to read should always be this fun, and the same goes for learning about Christ. Kids will get hours of play from this sturdy board book for babies and toddlers, from making the noises and reading the names of the baby animals to feeling the different textures. Packed full of shiny objects and some bumps and grooves, this educational book will engage small children and stimulate early childhood development in different ways. This touchy feely book, with its strong, baby-safe jacket, makes for an ideal Easter baby gift.

Complete the Series

This delightful book is part of the Baby Touch and Feel range of board books for babies and toddlers from DK Books and includes titles like Baby Touch and Feel Animals, Baby Touch and Feel Bedtime, Baby Touch and Feel Colors and Shapes, and more for your little one to enjoy!

Craft your own magic with this comprehensive guide to creating, customizing, and casting unique spells, charms, and potions.

Make your own magic! Spellcrafting is a step-by-step guide to writing your own spells and timing them for the best effect. As a spellcrafter, you may know how to create spells but you're ready to learn more. From different types of spells to the intentions and powers of different ingredients, you will have everything you need to create unique magic that works best for you.

Spellcrafting goes beyond basic spell books to explore how and why your magic works, what you can do to improve and strengthen it, and how to troubleshoot when things don't go as planned. Now you can take your magic into your own hands and create a completely personalized spell for wherever life may take you.

For centuries, the strange and beautiful Tarot cards have been an endless source of fascination. Now one of the foremost authorities in the field reveals the intricacies of this ancient art.

With detailed reproductions and explanations, Eden Gray offers explicit advice about the three different methods of reading the cards and using the Tarot for divination and meditation. Both beginning students and advanced devotees will find in this book insights into the ancient lore of the Tarot.

"The Tarot is a symbolic record of human experience. Through deeply rooted mystic powers, the cards accomplish miracles of psychological insight, wise counsel and accurate divination."--from A Complete Guide to the Tarot

Attain the love you've always dreamed of with this powerful collection of love spells. This enchanting mini volume (2-1/2" x 3") includes 60 spells that use practical magic to infuse your life with love and passion, using readily available ingredients such as candles, flowers, and essential oils. Accompanied by charming illustrations throughout, it's the perfect pocket-sized reference for spell casters of all levels.

A practical, hands-on guide to Mexican-American folk magic.

American Brujeria is about the fascinating blend of American and Mexican folk magic currently practiced by those living in the US but whose roots are steeped in Mexican culture. The author, who has named this tradition "American brujeria," explores this magical system, while also offering practical advice on using it. American brujeria is a living, vital tradition that -- while it shares things in common with other folk magic traditions, such as American Conjure--also features its own unique traditions, as well as familiar ones, such as the veneration of saints, both canonized, such as Guadalupe, and folk saints like Santa Muerte.

American Brujeria includes stories from Mexico (folk saints, the story of Guadalupe), the influence of Catholicism, the art of limpias (spiritual cleansings), spell casting, oil crafting, praying the rosary (in English and Spanish), making an altar to Guadalupe, using novena candle magic, crafting protective charms from saints' medals, and more.

An Invitation to the Practice of Mindfulness

We may long for wholeness, suggests Jon Kabat-Zinn, but the truth is that it is already here and already ours. The practice of mindfulness holds the possibility of not just a fleeting sense of contentment, but a true embracing of a deeper unity that envelops and permeates our lives. With Mindfulness for Beginners you are invited to learn how to transform your relationship to the way you think, feel, love, work, and play--and thereby awaken to and embody more completely who you really are.

Here, the teacher, scientist, and clinician who first demonstrated the benefits of mindfulness within mainstream Western medicine offers a book that you can use in three unique ways: as a collection of reflections and practices to be opened and explored at random; as an illuminating and engaging start-to-finish read; or as an unfolding "lesson-a-day" primer on mindfulness practice.
Beginning and long-time meditators alike will discover in these pages a valuable distillation of the key attitudes and essential practices that Jon Kabat-Zinn has found most useful with his students, including:

- Why heartfulness is synonymous with true mindfulness
- The value of coming back to our bodies and to our senses over and over again
- How our thoughts "self-liberate" when touched by awareness
- Moving beyond our "story" into direct experience
- Stabilizing our attention and presence amidst daily activities
- Three fundamental mental factors that cause suffering
- How mindfulness heals, even after the fact
-Reclaiming our wholeness, and more

The prescription for living a more mindful life seems simple enough: return your awareness again and again to whatever is going on. But if you've tried it, you know that here is where all the questions and challenges really begin. Mindfulness for Beginners provides welcome answers, insights, and instruction to help us make that shift, moment by moment, into a more spacious, clear, reliable, and loving connection with ourselves and the world.

Includes digital access to five guided mindfulness meditations by Jon Kabat-Zinn, selected from the audio program that inspired this book.

For the past twenty-five years, the people along the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border have known about the Bridgewater Triangle and the odd things that occur there. But for centuries before that, the Triangle has been a haven for the unexplained, with sightings of weird animals, UFOs, ghosts, and unmarked, strange government vehicles. Now, for the first time, the full light of research is brought to this understudied aspect of the Triangle, including the examination of classic hauntings as well as urban legends told for years as true stories. Learn about the ghosts of Profile and Anawan Rocks in Freetown, the spirits haunting the hospital of the insane in Taunton, the eerie cemeteries in Fairhaven, Attleboro, and Fall River, and many more scary sites. Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island can finally be exposed as one of the most haunted areas of New England.

Read your future in tea leaves with this miniature guide to the ancient art of tea leaf reading. Every aspect is made easy, with instructions for picking out the correct utensils, dividing your cup, and even an in-depth glossary of symbols. This Miniature Edition is perfect for finding all the secrets at the bottom of your teacup.

A bestselling and award-winning artist presents a fun, illustrated approach to yoga to help you loosen up with a smile on your face!

Marion Deuchars has practiced yoga for many years and knows well the benefits it brings. Now she invites you to join her stiff bird in a selection of classic poses, stretches, and breathing exercises that are guaranteed to revive and energize.

Yoga for Stiff Birds rejects the clichés of studio photography in favor of a friendlier illustrated look. With a few strokes of her brush, Deuchars helps Bob into every position from downward-facing dog to tree--and you'll want to follow suit. With 60 poses and sequences (all carefully checked by yoga professionals) presented in a lay-flat binding, the book is both practical and inspiring. The full-color art will raise a smile, whether you're a regular practitioner or a yoga novice, and will encourage even the creakiest beginner to breathe, stretch, and bend like they never have before.

Already a bestseller in the UK and internationally, Yoga for Stiff Birds is a truly unique book: once seen, never forgotten.