Greetings from Spirituality and Inspiration FEATURED IN THIS EMAIL: * "The Illustrated Discovery Journal" by Sarah Ban Breathnach * "Voices of Insight," edited by Sharon Salzberg * "Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation" by Parker J. Palmer * "Sacred America: The Emerging Spirit of the People" by Roger Housden * "Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure" by Daniel Quinn * Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century "The Illustrated Discovery Journal: Creating a Visual Autobiography of Your Authentic Self" by Sarah Ban Breathnach http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446521442/entertainmentsit This spiral-bound journal, conceived by Sarah Ban Breathnach, is designed to encourage writers to explore their life stories and unleash dormant creativity. Every two-page spread is exquisitely bordered by a wood print leaf pattern and includes a sage little quote to set the mood or beckon the muse (such as "People who keep journals have life twice." --Jessamyn West). The large format (11.25 by 9.75 inches) gives writers plenty of room to scrawl down their thoughts and even offers ample space for adding personal artwork or gluing in cut-out images. Several pocket folders are bound into the back for carrying clippings, postcards, or dry leaves--whatever whimsy dictates. Because it is spiral-bound (with a sturdy wraparound cover), writers can lay the book flat while at work--a major convenience. "Voices of Insight" edited by Sharon Salzberg http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1570623988/entertainmentsit You don't have to be a practicing Buddhist to thoroughly appreciate these informative and engaging essays written by members of the Insight Meditation Society. Like a carefully prepared cup of green tea, each of these pieces is quieting to the psyche while energizing to the soul. The teachings of IMS revolve around Theraveda Buddhism, which in the West translates into a commitment to insight, moral integrity, and compassion. As a result, these themes resonate throughout. For example, Steven Smith speaks about the insight he gained from the death of a friend--it helped him grasp the sacredness of friendship. In another essay, Michele McDonald-Smith talks about accidentally locking her car keys and her other sandal in her car. From this anecdote she begins to ponder what it would be like "to live like a guesthouse"--always ready to receive the unexpected guests and situations that come to us in everyday life. It is the use of personal stories that make these Buddhist gleanings so satisfying and accessible. As editor Susan Salzberg explains in her introduction, "We are unfolding a tradition that speaks of current challenges, our own triumphs, and our unique lessons.... It is a significant step in the transmission of a living truth." "Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation" by Parker J. Palmer http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0787947350/entertainmentsit The old Quaker adage, "Let your life speak," spoke to author Parker J. Palmer when he was in his early 30s. It summoned him to a higher purpose, so he decided that henceforth he would live a nobler life. "I lined up the most elevated ideals I could find and set out to achieve them," he writes. "The results were rarely admirable, often laughable, and sometimes grotesque.... I had simply found a 'noble' way of living a life that was not my own, a life spent imitating heroes instead of listening to my heart." Thirty years later, Palmer now understands that learning to let his life speak means "living the life that wants to live in me." It involves creating the kind of quiet, trusting conditions that allow a soul to speak its truth. It also means tuning out the noisy preconceived ideas about what a vocation should and shouldn't be so that we can better hear the call of our wild souls. There are no how-to formulas in this extremely unpretentious and well-written book, just fireside wisdom from an elder who is willing to share his mistakes and stories as he has learned to live a life worth speaking about. "Sacred America: The Emerging Spirit of the People" by Roger Housden http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684848384/entertainmentsit Roger Housden was researching a book on the survival of the sacred in India when a floating thought settled smack in front of his third eye. "India for all its living spiritual wisdom, is not the land that holds the seal of the sacred for the next millennium," he realized. "That country is America." From then on, Housden, a native of Britain, began his quest to document the spiritual breadth and depth of America. Some of his fascinating destinations include a native Sun Dance at the Crow Fair powwow in Montana, a Rosh Hashanah retreat in the Catskill Mountains of New York, and a Catholic Easter celebration in Old New Mexico. Rather than dryly cataloging all the spiritual diversity that America hosts, Housden allows himself to truly spend time with the people and places he visits. As a result, his reflections carry the substance of a wise man who dwells with people and ideas, asking penetrating questions and listening attentively. As a result, this is armchair pilgrimage at its best--offering keen insight and rich storytelling to grasp "one of the most spiritually vibrant cultures on earth." "Beyond Civilization: Humanity's Next Great Adventure" by Daniel Quinn http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609604902/entertainmentsit Futurist Daniel Quinn ("Ishmael") dares to imagine a new approach to saving the world that involves deconstructing civilization. Quinn asks the radical yet fundamental questions about humanity such as, Why does civilization grow food, lock it up, and then make people earn money to buy it back? Why not progress "beyond civilization" and abandon the hierarchical lifestyles that cause many of our social problems? He challenges the "old mind" thinking that believes problems should be fixed with social programs. "Old minds think: How do we stop these bad things from happening?" Quinn writes. "New minds think: How do we make things the way we want them to be?" Whether he is discussing Amish farming, homelessness, "tribal business," or holy work, Quinn's manifesto is highly digestible. Instead of writing dense, weighty chapters filled with self-important prose, he's assembled a series of brief one-page essays. His language is down to earth, his metaphors easy to grasp. As a result, readers can read about and ponder "Beyond Civilization" at a blissfully civilized pace. --Gail Hudson is the author of "Quarreling." Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous national publications, including Utne Reader, New Age Journal, and Child. AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY ******************************************* As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100 years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles. Books of the century ****** Give the Perfect Gift -- Get the Perfect Gift Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the unwanted gift. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=subst/wishlist/wishlist-portal.html Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas? Send him an e-card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire. http://cards.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/cards/browse-cards/-/228225/1 ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Religion & Spirituality section at Religion & Spirituality
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