Would you define writing as a spiritual practice? Well, almost. Because I think writing is really hard. So the way I would couch it is to say that my commitment to spiritual practice—to the breath work, to the healing, to the practicing of awareness—is what gives me the stamina to do the very hard work of writing. My spiritual work is how I build up my core, and from that I am able to find the stamina to get another day’s writing done. What about writing groups? I started teaching at this bookstore when my son, Sam, was an infant, and one thing that came out of it were writing groups. As God is my witness, two groups have been together for over 30 years. One has four people, and they meet every two weeks at the bookstore Book Passage for wine or for a cup of coffee or tea and a pastry, which they might share. And the deal is you have to have gotten everybody your new pages a couple days before you meet so that they can pour over it with suggestions, with critique, with edits, or maybe just, “God, I love this! I think you’re onto something.” And now Sam creates writing groups … Yes, among other things. He also organizes writing conferences in Santa Fe with people like me and the great Julia Cameron and the marvelously wild Sark, and also online. What about you new book Somehow: Thoughts on Love? I started this book because I’m so sad about the environmental future that my son and my grandson face. We know it’s gonna be very, very rough for our young ones. So the book is kind of a P.S.— some thoughts and pieces on things I hadn’t ever gotten around to writing. These are things that have always worked and will always work no matter how dire the situation. One is what Martin Luther King talks about as “beloved community.” That has worked for me seven decades now, and it will work for them. I also wanted to write about music and the love of music that gets deeper inside of us, to our deepest being-ness self. Music has worked for me since I was a very, very small girl: Burl Ives in the 50s, and Pete Seeger and Joan Baez and then Peter, Paul and Mary. And the love of service. When I first got sober, which was in 1986, this very cool, wealthy guy who was doing great in the world said to me: “I came into recovery as a big shot. And the people here helped me work my way up to a servant.” I have lived by that. We all start out thinking that if we get more, if we find the right person, if we put aside this or upgrade that, then we’ll feel fulfilled or our insights will settle and we’ll have more presence here. But for me, it’s all about being of service to other people—service to God, and God and I have a deal: that I take care of her other kids and she takes care of me. Those are three examples about love that I really wanted to write about. What doing this book gave me was the chance to get very serious about love, because love will work. Love isn’t always so lovely looking. But if you look around, if you get outside, if you pick up the 200- pound phone, if you pray, if you lie down next to the dog and cuddle, you’ll find love again. And once you find love again, you’re home. Stephen Kiesling is Editor in Chief of S+H. Sharing Her Gift for Writing To get your writing unblocked, Anne Lamott has created a free, 30-minute video lesson in which she provides her favorite writing prompts and guides viewers through using them in four simple steps: 1. Collect your favorite writing materials and find a comfortable seat. 2. Watch the video lesson. 3. Pause the video and follow Annie’s instructions with each prompt. 4. Repeat the lesson whenever you feel dull, stuck, or afraid while writing! You’ll find the video at awritingroom.com. You’ll also find information on her new writing app, her upcoming writing retreat in May 2024, and you’ll be able to pre-order her new book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, which will be published by Random House in April, 2024. Bookshelf Yelena Bryksenkova yelenabryksenkova.com november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 49
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2023 Inspiring and Unique Gifts
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52 spiritualityhealth.com/gift-guide 2023 Holiday Gift Guide ABCs of Life Art Print Our most cherished and best-selling print At the heart of Little Truths Studio is a shared journey. To be better humans. To make the world more beautiful with our actions and intentions. To declare our values into being. Our art reflects our deepest hopes for the world and is designed to stir your heart toward a sense of kinship, belonging and gratitude. LittleTruthsStudio.com The Simply Self-Wonderful Inner Workout Book Celebrating the Gifts of Being Uniquely You The Simply Self-Wonderful Card Deck and guidebook contain definitions, encouragement, and the gifts of 33 Self-Wonderfuls, and 32 Self-Woundings. The companion Inner Workout Book adds a mandala to color, affirmations, quotes, and activities in 5 focus areas known as MEPSS. Get 10% off bundle with code “S&H25”. simplyselfwonderful.com Inner Reflections 2024 Engagement Calendar This award-winning engagement calendar features 54 breathtaking images from the world’s top nature photographers, artfully matched with inspired insights from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Each page of this calendar provides a refreshing personal getaway and mini-retreat — a beautiful gift for others or yourself! See website for previews. www.IRcalendar.org A Girl Called Rumi “A world of mystical delights,” —Deepak Chopra, MD Ari Honarvar’s award-winning novel, rooted in her war-torn childhood, unveils a realm where the senses awaken and imagination blazes to life. With an exploration of the seven valleys of love, the author unpacks the bitter realities of modern-day Iran while guiding readers on an extraordinary inner journey reminiscent of mythical tales revered by mystics themselves. rumiwithaview.com/novel-a-girl-called-rumi/
spiritualityhealth.com/gift-guide 53 2023 Holiday Gift Guide Let the seasons be your guide Creative and spiritual practices in flow with the rhythms of nature Grab a sketchbook or journal and follow along with the progression of the seasons. A Year in Practice by poet and teacher, Jacqueline Suskin, is a yearlong guide to crafting space for deep self-reflection through creativity prompts, holistic rituals and illuminating meditations. jacquelinesuskin.com/a-year-in-practice Now Available: The We’Moon Tarot Use code Spirit24 for 15% off! From the creators of the best-selling moon calendar, this is a deck of 78 tarot cards with an engaging, full-color 130-page guidebook, all packed into its own hard-shell box. The We’Moon Tarot Card Deck is made up of cards featuring art published in the We’Moon datebook over the course of 40 years. wemoon.ws/products/tarot-card-deck Wake Up Grateful by Kristi Nelson The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted In times of uncertainty and suffering, finding joy and gratefulness in daily life is challenging. Wake Up Grateful, which Jon Kabat-Zinn calls “hugely inspiring,” provides a practical and inspiring roadmap to making grateful living a daily practice, with guiding principles, questions, and affirmations. Exploring areas where many people need support, Nelson opens readers to the greater possibilities and abundance of life in every moment. storey.com Finding Your Calm Twelve Methods to Release Anxiety, Relieve Stress and Restore Peace Twelve of Llewellyn’s top authors introduce you to a dozen New Age relaxation techniques that can positively impact all areas of your life. These simple practices, including aromatherapy, meditation, ASMR, astrology, chakras, and visualization, will help you achieve a state of calm. https://www.llewellyn.com/product. php?ean=9780738774657
54 spiritualityhealth.com/gift-guide 2023 Holiday Gift Guide The River A stunning deck from New York Times bestselling author Nick Bantock Featuring 48 surrealistic cards that feed your imagination and personal mythology, The River teaches you to think intuitively with images rather than words. https://www.llewellyn.com/product. php?ean=9780738775760 Natural Home Wheel of the Year Crafting, Cooking, Decorating & Magic for Every Sabbat With color photos and an eco-friendly emphasis on found and foraged materials, Raechel Henderson teaches a nature-based approach to the sabbats. Choose from more than 160 low-cost activities, food recipes, decoration ideas, altar inspirations, journal prompts, and more for the entire wheel of the year. https://www.llewellyn.com/product. php?ean=9780738773698 Give the Gift of Healthy Hair Use code SPIRIT to save 15% on your first purchase* Take the stress out of shopping and share the universal gift of clean hair care. These value and gift sets from Innersense Organic Beauty feature consciously made, Certified Organic ingredient-rich formulas for all hair types and textures. Innersense Organic Beauty’s products encourage ceremonial self care and mind-body wellness, so whether you’re browsing for the jet setter, clean beauty lover, busy bee, or yourself, by gifting Innersense, you are giving more than just hair care. * Promotional savings excludes boxed gift sets. innersensebeauty.com Gift 21 Days of Modern Spiritual Practices 100+ Ideas for a New Year Drawing from ancient wisdom and pop culture, S&H columnist Sarah Bowen offers inspired activities and resources to help anyone deepen their spiritual perspective. “A lighthearted, upbeat take on questions that have churned within human minds for millennia.”–Spirituality & Health Book Review, A S&H “100 Books We Love” pick, and Nautilus Book Award winner. spiritual-rebel.com/sh
spiritualityhealth.com/gift-guide 55 2023 Holiday Gift Guide Wellness Witchery Hundreds of Herbal Formulas and Recipes for Health, Wealth, and Love Discover more than 100 herbal formulas, over 80 essential oil blends, and nearly 30 kitchen witchery recipes. These magical baths, food and beverage recipes, and other herbal applications will make you happier, healthier, and more magical. https://www.llewellyn.com/product. php?ean=9780738775340 Wisdom of the Shadow & Divine Feminine Oracle Decks Tools for inquiry and transformation These critically-acclaimed 44-card and guidebook sets are potent invitations to return home to your whole self, embracing all layers of both shadow and light. The intuitive artwork of Jenny Hahn is blended with the energy alchemy of Jessica Ricchetti to support embodied transformation, soulful wisdom, and heart-centered living. Use code WISDOM for free US shipping. www.intuitiveartandalchemy.com The Rainbow Connection: Introducing Kiki and CoCo Interactive Metaphysical Children’s Book Join Mystical Travelers Kiki and CoCo on adventures with magical friends as they learn about life, love and acceptance. An inspired book for inner children of all ages, full of sacred imagery, positive surprises and joyful folklore from all over the world. Ride the Rainbow and then you’ll know, also a hit YouTube show! www.Niji.World We’Moon 2024: Luminations Use code Spirit24 for 15% off! This best-selling moon calendar overflows with insight and beauty— hosting 30+ informative articles, daily astrological info, lunar phases and signs, along with brilliant art features, poems, and prose. This astrological planner offers daily inspiration and imbues our lives with blessings the whole year through! wemoon.ws/products/moon-calendar-datebook
T his year’s International Herb Symposium gathered legendary healers and seekers from as far away as Pakistan for classes ranging from male reproductive health to Slavic folklore to psilocybin mushrooms—not to mention a kava-fueled costume ball. While covering the symposium, our lead digital editor and herbalist Brenna Lilly met a S+H reader who was looking for a guide to start her herbal journey. And that led to this story of finding a calling—and creating a guide to becoming an herbalist. Herbarium Yelena Bryksenkova yelenabryksenkova.com FIND YOUR CALLING become an herbalist BY BRENNA LILLY 56 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
M y path to becoming an herbalist has been surprising and winding. Even though I grew up on a hobby farm in the gorgeous woods of New England, I had no interest in studying plants as a child. I found them rather boring and spent much of my time indoors. A childhood bout of Lyme disease had me afraid of the outdoors, period. However, my mother’s best friend Rebecca, who was like a second mother to me, was a deeply outdoorsy equestrian dedicated to holistic, mindful horsemanship. She used herbal remedies on the horses to heal their digestion and soothe skin ailments and also used other remedies on herself. When Rebecca passed away suddenly in 2016, I felt a surprising, deep pull to “pick up the trowel” and follow in her footsteps. I began with self-study: What herbal teas help me recover from a cold quicker? What helps my nervous digestion? I started slowly and experimented on myself, reading whatever books interested me. Through an ad at a local health food store, I discovered my main herbal teacher, Jessica Labrie of Blackbird’s Daughter Botanicals in Barrington, New Hampshire. Her business card read “By appointment or by fate,” and when I reached out to her in 2020, it seemed the latter. She took me under her wing and I completed her three-year apprenticeship program in Sacred Gaian Herbalism, a tradition that emphasizes herbalism as the people’s medicine and one’s birthright and fosters a spiritual relationship with the plants through the lens of social justice. Jessica’s wisdom inspires me daily and is woven into this article. During my time apprenticing with Jessica, I spent one afternoon a week in deep study and sometimes helped out on weekends. During the warmer months, these days would be spent either around her sacred Grandmother Oak, learning about the energetics of herbs (warming vs. cooling, dry vs. damp) and how to identify and categorize them, or tending the plants in the teaching gardens and discussing how to best work with them and care for them. We also had in-person demonstrations on how to make tinctures (alcohol extracts), hydrosols (steam and water distillations), and infused oils. In the colder months, classes moved online, and we dove into spiritual studies, contemplation, and more academic learning, depending on the semester. WHAT MAKES AN HERBALIST? Merriam-Webster defines an herbalist as “a person who practices healing by the use of herbs,” or “a person who collects or grows herbs.” So if you are a gardener who infuses her afternoon tea with mint leaves from her own yard, you’re technically an herbalist—and you can call yourself one. In the US, anyone can call themselves an herbalist. There is no In my opinion, herbalism is best used as a form of preventative medicine— immunity and digestion being two of the main health concerns suited to herbal practice. Green Thumb Yelena Bryksenkova yelenabryksenkova.com 58 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
one program that can certify someone as an herbalist in America, and the routes to becoming an herbalist vary widely. I started calling myself an herbalist after completing my three-year apprenticeship, and I now sell herbal teas and spend much of my time thinking about plants, but I still feel nervous calling myself an herbalist, especially around herbal elders who have done the work for 30, 40, or 50 years. In my opinion, herbalism is best used as a form of preventative medicine—immunity and digestion being two of the main health concerns suited to herbal practice. Herbalism is often used wisely as a complement to mainstream medicine in times of emergency, and some skilled herbalists work with particularly potent herbs and fungi to help assist more conventional approaches to chronic and terminal illness. The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) offers registration for qualified practitioners, though it is not an accrediting body. Rather, it is a registering body that verifies a high level of training: 800 hours of education or independent study, 400 hours of clinical experience, a record of 80 clients seen within two years of practice, working knowledge of at least 150 herbs, three case studies, two letters of recommendation, connections with three local healthcare practitioners, and 10 working textbook sources. Most herbalists I know are not Registered Herbalists (RH’s) through AHG, but have rather come to claim the title of “herbalist” through a CHOOSING YOUR PATH The fact that there is no one way to become an herbalist (at least in America) can be both intimidating and deeply liberating. Here are the three main paths: SELF-STUDY: THE DIY ROUTE Self-study is a great option for people who want to learn about herbalism but don’t have the budget and/ or time for a school or apprenticeship. Self-study takes a lot of self-discipline and patience, but a library card and access to YouTube can take you a long way. Check out free YouTube courses from accounts like the Herbal Jedi, Herbal Academy, and the School of Evolutionary Herbalism; Facebook pages for herbalists like Linda Black Elk and 7Song; and your own lived experiences. What herbs did you grow up with? What plants can you find just outside your door? Is anyone in your family an herbal healer? Be mindful that the sources you’re choosing to learn from are original and emphasize sustainable relationships with plants instead of overharvesting them. ONLINE CLASSES: THE LONG-DISTANCE ROUTE Online courses are more structured than self-study and a bit costlier, but they often have flexible options for folks who have stricter schedules and still provide some accountability and community. After the height of COVID-19, many local herbalists (including my own teacher) have at least partially transitioned their programs online to accommodate distant learners. Many popular herbal teachers have also started offering programs online that can be accessed by anyone with Wi-Fi and a computer. Educational centers like the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and The Ayurvedic Institute often offer both online and hybrid (partially in-person) courses. You can even find recorded lectures from this year’s Symposium online at internationalherbsymposium.com. IN-PERSON APPRENTICING: THE HANDS-ON ROUTE Apprenticeship is the traditional way of studying herbalism. Jessica suggests finding someone in your community who is an herbalist and humbly making yourself useful. Says Jessica, “There are a lot of people who are way better at being herbalists than they are at getting the word out that they even exist, so word of mouth is really important. See if you can find the elders in your community who are practicing herbalism. Once they retire or are gone, their knowledge will be gone as well.” Many herbalists offer six-month, 12-month, or even multiple-year apprenticeship programs that involve both academic book learning and hands-on garden time with a certificate at the end. In-person apprenticeships are a great option for people who want less screen time and who are able to dedicate time monthly or even weekly to visiting their teacher and working with herbs hands-on. Many teachers offer work-exchange programs where you can assist them with tasks in exchange for some or all of the cost of your apprenticeship. Don’t feel that you have to travel cross-country to study with the “best herbalist you can find.” While those teachers have likely blazed trails and made advancements in the world of herbalism, there are also herbalists and elders in nearly every community who may be willing to teach you what they know in exchange for some help. Remember: There is no need or requirement to take a formal, academic apprenticeship. That is a great option for people with the budget and the desire, but others are more suited to casual, experiential, slow-paced learning. november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 59
JESSICA LABRIE OF BLACKBIRD’S DAUGHTER BOTANICALS combination of apprenticeship with a senior teacher, work with their community, and self-study. Some people feel comfortable self-identifying as an herbalist early on in their herbal journey. Others are hesitant to call themselves one even after decades of work with plants. So unless someone is a Registered Herbalist through AHG or has attained certification in another country, it’s wise to research teachers and healers before attending their programs or working with them. Where did they study, or for how long? Can you find reviews from clients and students? My own teacher, Jessica, feels that it’s good that herbalists are not strictly regulated here in the US because herbal cultural traditions that aren’t mainstream could be unfairly targeted. A WORLD OF CHOICES Herbalism is not limited to one tradition or another. There are healers who work with plants in every culture in the world and probably every culture that ever was. So, no matter your background, you have herbal healers in your lineage. And if you work skilfully, it’s certainly possible to learn herbalism from a tradition that’s not your own. Some of the most widely-practiced herbal traditions in America are: • Western Herbalism (rooted in European traditions and Native American knowledge) • Traditional Chinese Medicine • Ayurveda (ancient Indian herbal medicine and healing arts) • Curanderismo (Latin American folk healing) Keep in mind that no herbalist has to follow one single path. Peering into your own ancestry (if you can trace it) may provide connection and guidance for your herbal journey. If your ancestors are not from the place in which you currently dwell, consider studying your ancestral practices as well as learning from teachers who are indigenous to the place you now live. I found studying seaweed to be a wonderful connection to my Irish ancestors, but I also deeply value the wisdom I have absorbed from teachers indigenous to Turtle Island (now called North America). You can learn a great deal about other traditions from healers in your community who are willing to share knowledge in exchange for help around the garden. You may also explore a spiritual inflection to your herbal journey. As a Pagan and animist, I work with the herbs as a way to connect with the earth, my ancestors, and my gods. I have chosen to take up the trowel and honor the old ways while still incorporating modern knowledge. I also believe that each plant is imbued with spirit and life force, and that incorporating the healing spirit of plants can enhance the power of rituals and ceremony, especially those involving the cycles of birth, death, coming of age, and marriage. As herbal healing has been present in every culture since time immemorial, your religious or spiritual tradition very likely has herbal connections. Catholics may find connection with Saint Hildegard of Bingen, one of history’s most famous herbalists. Herbalist Deatra Cohen and author Adam Siegel have written about the rich history of Ashkenazi Jewish herbalism. Tibetan Buddhism has connections to Tibetan herbal medicine. Perhaps you have no interest in the spiritual side of herbalism, but rather are curious about practical alternatives and complements to conventional medicine. Many teachers focus on what’s called clinical herbalism (a more medical, scientific approach to herbalism) instead of folk herbalism (which is more magico-religious in nature). Find an avenue (or avenues) of herbal medicine that feels authentic and real to you. Keep in mind that there is no one path to the title of “herbalist.” Work earnestly, find what calls to you, and most importantly, let the plants be your greatest teachers. S+H BRENNA LILLY 60 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
about us Our core certificate programs train End-of-Life Doulas and Conscious Dying Coaches all over the world. These programs prepare caregivers from all disciplines and care settings to befriend death, surrender and trust deeply in each moment and restore death to its sacred place in the beauty, mystery and celebration of life. It builds communities of care and healing, benefiting everyone involved in care at end-of-life. By entering this innovative course of study with us, you will be supported by faculty-led live Zooms and teaching assistants. You will be immersed in a new body of training in End-of-Life Literacy and experience transformative, nurturing and deep inner-work. ARE YOU CALLED TO THIS WORK? Our students come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from community members, health care professionals, and healing arts facilitators to individuals who fear death, or have experienced their own loss and are called to support others in their final life transition. What unites us all is our desire for a personal exploration of the mysteries of death and dying in order to better support, share and advance awakening through the conscious dying process. We aim to make this heart-centered work available to EVERYONE through our “global campus” via online programing and multiple offerings year-round. PROGRAM SCHEDULE Conscious Dying Coach & Sacred Passage Doula Programs January 2024 Cohort Begins January 11th April 2024 Cohort Begins April 9th June 2024 Cohort Begins June 5th TUITION Varies by program. Please visit our website for more information about tuition, scholarships and payment plans. FIND YOUR CALLING The training offers a depth of richness for everyone, no matter your background. I participated in the Sacred Passage Doula Program already having worked in end-of-life care, yet I still grew both personally and professionally. The curriculum offers a broad scope that includes the details of death and dying, and the introspective tools that help grow the individuals that are supporting the dying. I highly recommend this course to anyone considering end-of-life work.” —Robyn Augusta Fehnel, M.Div, Chaplain & Hospice Consultant S+H readers: pay in full and receive a $100 discount. Use code S+HFRIENDS100 Conscious Dying Collective 303-440-8018 www.consciousdyingcollective.com Learn more and apply online: november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 61
TUITION Tuition varies per program APPLICATION Rolling admissions—Apply Online at www.pacifica.edu COURSE SCHEDULE Hybrid Programs (Low Residential / Distance Learning) Residential Programs (3–4 days on campus once per month) Pacifica Graduate Institute Lambert Campus 249 Lambert Road, Carpinteria, CA, 93013 Ladera Campus 801 Ladera Lane, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108 805.969.3626 www.pacifica.edu overview of programs • M.A. Counseling Psychology • Psy.D. Counseling Psychology • M.A./Ph.D. Clinical Psychology • Ph.D. Integrative Therapy and Healing Practices Specialization • M.A./Ph.D. Jungian and Archetypal Studies Specialization • M.A./Ph.D. Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies Specialization • M.A./Ph.D. Mythological Studies • M.A. Depth Psychology and Creativity with Emphasis in the Arts and Humanities program at a glance Pacifica Graduate Institute is an accredited graduate school offering degrees in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Humanities, and Mythological Studies. All of the degree programs are taught in the tradition of Depth Psychology informed by the teachings of C.G. Jung, Joseph Campbell, Marion Woodman, James Hillman, and others. The Institute has two beautiful campuses nestled between the foothills and the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara. Pacifica’s degree programs are offered through low-residential learning sessions that take into account vocational and life commitments. Coming to Pacifica has been an amazing experience-tending to my academic as well as soul needs. From a very young age, I have been sensitive to call of “service” and Pacifica has turned out to be very experience needed to materialize my presence in the world (to be of service) in a conscious and effective way.” —Depth Psychology with Specialization in Community, Liberation, Indigenous, and Eco-Psychologies Alum FIND YOUR CALLING Our educational environment nourishes respect for cultural diversity and individual differences, all while providing our students with access to an impressive array of educational resources. Pacifica’s faculty bring a passion for depth psychology, education, and a wealth of real-world experience in the classroom. Many of our faculty are licensed psychotherapists, clinicians, MFT’s, Certified Jungian Analysts. To learn more about Pacifica, join us for one of our upcoming information days, and learn about our various degree programs. Pacifica is currently accepting applications for Spring and Fall, apply online at www.pacifica.edu. 62 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” — Buddha Divya Chandegra (Chit Ltd) London, UK (resources and courses are accessible online) divya-chandegra.com [email protected] program overview Discover your true power, passion and Soul purpose. If you’re constantly searching outside of yourself for something to help you live a more fulfilling life, this course focuses on bringing you to an awareness of Self. You’ll begin to reframe your mindset, enhance your decision-making process, balance your emotional wellbeing and develop a deep connection with your Self. Aligning with your Soul and finding your purpose, starts with identifying your own needs first. Are you the type of person who… • always puts the needs of others before your own? • struggles to maintain focus? • repeats unwanted behavior patterns? • keeps coming up against obstacles? • is concerned that your limiting beliefs are impacting the lives of your children? • feels like something is missing? • finds it challenging to balance your energy? FIND YOUR CALLING PROGRAM SCHEDULE THE 7 DAY RELEASE & REPROGRAM COURSE: one-time payment of £1,339.00* with a 25% pre-applied discount – sign up to learn more about the course and this incredible offer now! *Payment plan available. LEARN MORE: divya-chandegra.com/ release-and-reprogram-subscribe Learn more about freeing yourself and your family from your limiting subconscious beliefs by fast-tracking your selfmastery with the 7 Day Release & Reprogram online course. The 7 Day Release & Reprogram online course is specifically created for busy professionals and parents. It’s designed and structured to be completed in a few hours a day over a week, or a long weekend and includes video lessons and exercises guiding you through the 3-step A.I.R framework, plus you get all of the bonuses! Watch your life transform, as you begin to live with awareness. To get you started on your journey to self-mastery through self-love and conscious living, subscribe for free access to the following: • 11 tips for Setting Healthy Boundaries cheat sheet • Unblock your Self masterclass • Understanding your Inner Child mini-course divya-chandegra.com/subscribe november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 63
FIND YOUR CALLING Saybrook University 55 Eureka Street Pasadena, CA 91103 saybrook.edu Choose Hope. Take Action. Saybrook University prepares students to challenge conventional thinking around social structures, mental and physical health, the business environment, and more. Our graduates leave well-prepared to create systematic change in communities around the world. program overview COLLEGE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES Many of our students recognize the health care system as broken. They wish to change it from within through integrative healthcare programs and from the outside by offering alternatives to traditional medicine. The College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs that focus on mind-body, nutritional, and lifestyle-based approaches that are increasingly becoming an essential part of conventional health care. Treating the mind, body, and spirit of their clients, graduates find career advancement opportunities in fields such as health coaching, organizational consultation, education, research, and corporate wellness. PROGRAMS • M.S. in Integrative & Functional Nutrition • Ph.D. in Integrative & Functional Nutrition • M.S. in Psychophysiology • Ph.D. in Applied Psychophysiology • M.S. in Mind-Body Medicine • Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine • Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work PROGRAM SCHEDULE Starts Spring, Summer, and Fall. 15-week courses in Spring and Fall and 8- or 12-week courses in Summer. APPLICATION PROCESS Accepting applications for Spring 2024. Spring 2024 semester starts January 8, 2024. Deadline to apply is December 20, 2023. Scan QR Code to Apply Now. TUITION M.S. Programs: $ 1,334 per credit Ph.D. Programs: $ 1,416 per credit I’ve witnessed the benefits of mind-body medicine and welcome the opportunity to help expose others to its power.” —Beth Haggett, Faculty, Mind-Body Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine & Health Sciences Learn more and apply online: 64 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
I honed my muscle with curiosity and my ability to live in the questions.” —Graduate from Va. The Haden Institute PO Box 8039, Asheville, NC 28814 828-693-9292 HadenInstitute.com We teach Spiritual Direction & Dream Work, offering our participants a space for developing a robust relationship with their unconscious. Lectures, small group work, creative embodiment practices all lead to accessing the rich wisdom within each individual. LOCATION: In-Person or Always Online. Kanuga Conference Center in Beautiful NC Blue Ridge Mountains FIND YOUR CALLING course overview Spiritual Direction Training • Study mystical and contemplative practices of Christianity and other religious and spiritual traditions • Learn seminal ideas from Carl Jung’s teachings, and their application to the personal and spiritual growth process • Gain experience and skill in spiritual direction through practice and case study presentations • Be introduced to dream work, including the function of dreams, and how to use dream work with both individuals and groups • Develop tools for self-discovery and transformation such as Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram • Deepen spiritual literacy, interfaith awareness, and the use of contemplative practices as tools for personal discernment • Learn how creative expression and embodiment exercises facilitate spiritual growth and understanding Dream Work Training • Learn Jungian concepts such as archetype, complex, individuation, personality typology, and the psychology of dreaming & dream work • Deepen inner awareness with regular personal dream work practices and through work with a dream counselor • Develop understanding of symbology of dreams through amplification, poetry, dream theater, active imagination, role play and myth • Learn to work with individuals to translate their dream messages into conscious meaning • Gain skills in dream work through facilitated and self-led practica • Experience meditation, active imagination, journaling, poetry, guided imagery, creative expression, and embodiment practices • Explore nature of dream work within/across cultures & religious traditions TWO-YEAR CERTIFICATION COURSES: Spiritual Direction Training & Dream Work Training IN-PERSON: Small Group Cohort with Mentor, Six 4-Day Weekend Intensives over two years, Distance Learn ALWAYS ONLINE: Small Group Cohort meets every other week, 22 weeks a year for two years, Faculty Discussions of Video Content, Mentors. ENTRY DATES FOR IN-PERSON: Fall and Spring annually ENTRY DATES FOR ON-LINE: Fall annually. DATES & TUITION: See website november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 65
TOOLBOX THE GIFT OF TIME The holiday season is the perfect time to nourish our mind, body, and soul with the gift of quality time for ourselves. When we take time to de-stress, regenerate, and maintain our inner peace, we’re more likely to bring authentic happiness and harmony to others, be it in stores, traveling, or during gatherings. As the year comes to an end, we can carve out time to appreciate the moment, as it’s happening, while putting forth guideposts to support calmness the whole year through! CURATED BY HUNTER LIGUORE Calm Cool Collected Take a recess break with this flavorful sparkling water infused with magnesium and adaptogens to calm the mind and lift the mood. Add it to your holiday drink list to help guests unwind. Prices vary, takearecess.com Calm in the Chaos A very old herb, mucuna helps the body adapt to stress. An added support during the holiday season, it contains L-dopa, which is said to balance mood and offset anxiety. Organic. $41, shamansarket.com NEW YEAR’S EVE RETREAT Join Tara Mulay and Devin Berry this New Year’s Eve for an online retreat aimed at “sharing aspirations to cultivate mindfulness to nourish our heart and care for our world.” Includes guided meditations and lovingkindness practice. A great way to bring in the next year. Donation $15-30, ms.dharma.org/courses/ new-years-eve-retreat-2023 DAILY REFLECTION Carve out time with this year-long daily reflection guided journal. Written by Zen priest Bonnie Myotai Treace, it offers 52 weeks of insightful prompts that inspire self-exploration and mindfulness to help you live a happier, more fulfilling life. $15, monasterystore.org 66 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
LIVE SEASONALLY The Japanese Art of Living Seasonally is a beautiful guide that unlocks the secrets of Japan’s seasonal culture to help you increase your personal harmony, creativity, and happiness all year through. Includes seasonal sweets and festivals to celebrate. $22, penguinrandomhouse.com TRAVEL LIGHT When traveling this holiday season, carry this silver amulet for added protection against stress and negativity. Each talisman contains a seed blessed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Amulet size, 0.75” W x 1”L. $30, dharmacrafts.com MIRACLE OF MEDITATION This delightful children’s guided meditation offers powerfully effective imagery and relaxation techniques for kids, ages 3-10, and is especially helpful during the holidays for boosting confidence and restful sleep. CD or download, $7–15, hayhouse.com Mystic Adaptogen Bring support to the holiday season with OM Hot Chocolate Blend. A medley of superfood mushrooms and ashwagandha that act together to offer a calming effect and deeper focus. Pairs well with marshmallows! $22, ommushrooms.com NATURAL COMFORT Winona LaDuke’s Toasted Hemp Tea is made with CBD-rich hemp plants that may promote sleep, reduce anxiety, alleviate chronic pain, and support heart health. Organically grown by co-op farmers. Supports Indigenous, women-led regenerative economy that’s kind to the Earth. $25, winonashemp.com Peace of Mind Overcome the feeling of anxiety around others and comfort your mind with the help of Bach Red Chestnut. This powerful flower essence encourages the positive potential of peace of mind, while also promoting our ability to care for others with compassion but without the worry. $17, bachremedies.com GETTYIMAGES.COM / NATALIA KHIMICH november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 67
holiday traditions gives us everything we need to turn her wish into a reality. Reading The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas is similar, in some ways, to entering a room filled with a breathtaking array of the many different sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season. There’s the tree, the gifts, the evergreen wreaths, and the holly garlands. There’s music and laughter, the wassail bowl, and mistletoe. There’s Christmas pudding, roasted turkey, and cranberry sauce. Stories behind each of these traditions—and many more—unfold throughout the book. Readers are also given clear directions on how to carry these traditions forward in their own holiday celebrations. The book includes “A Primer on Herbal Preparation,” as well as over 60 easy-to-follow recipes for holiday food and drinks, and directions for other holiday-related projects. Some of the recipes may surprise you, like Thomas Jefferson’s recipe for vanilla ice cream and a recipe for making Four Thieves Vinegar. The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas doesn’t just share traditions: It’s also a gift in itself. This gift comes with the promise of adding a special sparkle to the varied winter holidays. —RUTH WILSON STRENGTHEN YOUR ROOTS Wise ways to heal the past and bring more joy and peace into the future. The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas Remedies, Recipes, Magic, and Brews for the Winter Season By Ellen Evert Hopman DESTINY BOOKS LIKE A PERFECT HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas offers exactly what you were hoping for, plus many delightful surprises. Stunning images at the beginning of the book provide a glimpse of the wonder you will experience as you travel through time and cultures into the meaning of the most magical season of the year. The intent of the book, as articulated by author, herbalist, homeopath, and druid Ellen Evert Hopman, is to deepen “our understanding of the past so that we can carry it forward with purpose, respect, and joy.” The rich and thorough way in which Hopman describes the origins and meanings of wintertime REVIE books W // S music //film 68 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
Why Can’t We Be More Like Trees? The Ancient Masters of Cooperation, Kindness, and Healing by Judith Polich BEAR & COMPANY A KOAN: How do you describe a system that is unknowable? How do trees communicate? How do they know when to drop their leaves, and how to share nutrients? Science has answers, but even more speculation. Lawyer and environmentalist Judith Polich’s book Why Can’t We Be More Like Trees? weaves this research with wide-ranging environmental activism and persuasive discussion about the devastation wrought by modern human culture. But prodding us to be more like trees is just a gambit: We are called to get back to more holistic behaviors. We must honor reciprocity and interconnected relationships. We must “green” ourselves. “If we understand, even in a small way, the web of life we are a part of, we will make thoughtful choices,” Polich hopes. Many of our best choices are laid out: regenerative agriculture, wiser forest management, more plant-based diets. This book is a long-range forecast of what we need to commit to if we are to reverse the current trend. Polich supposes that the invention of agriculture led to drastic evolutionary and neurological changes in our perception of reality, compartmentalizing our brains into linear thinking. This dualistic, rational mode of thinking led to major societal advances and progress—and, damagingly, we took pride in this. We became anthropocentric. Enter modern science, architecture, medicine, engineering, finance, and modern warfare; cultural evolution leaping forward “at an unquestioned and unchecked, frantic speed.” If industrialized thinking led us to the brink of the abyss, what if our lived experience on the earth is what will snap us out of our delusion? Throughout reading this book, consider putting it down: Go barefoot, contemplate the majesty of the sky, admire the trees that shade your street, and start to reclaim your essential nature with action, all senses alive. —ROCHELLE BOURGAULT The Language of Breath Discover Better Emotional and Physical Health through Breathing and Self-Awareness by Jesse Coomer NORTH ATLANTIC BOOKS BREATHING IS A PROCESS we take for granted much of the time. But what if we could use the inhalation and exhalation of air as a mindful mode of communication that signals our body and mind to engage in healthy sleeping, waking, and eating cycles? Breathwork expert Jesse Coomer uses simple exercises backed by science to do just that in The Language of Breath. For most of Coomer’s life, he has been a selfdescribed “mess of anxiety and stress.” In 2014, he began studying with neuroscientists and breathwork experts from various traditions to connect the dots between physiology and psychology and discover how we can control both with conscious breathwork. His first book, 2020’s A Practical Guide to Breathwork, explains these principles and serves as the foundation for this most recent book of powerful breathwork exercises, designed to help the user engage with their breath as a language that regulates body and mind. Mastering this language of breath is an interesting twist on the self-awareness that can lead to a better understanding of, and control over, the stress and anxiety that is inherent in daily life, as well as helping to manage and heal chronic illness. This book provides dozens of science-based exercises and tips designed to tap into mental and physical energy, increase concentration, and more. The “language lab” wrap-ups at the end of most chapters are helpful in connecting some of the exercises in the chapter while showing how to incorporate them into your daily life. If you’re looking for bio-hacks to complement your meditation practice, or you’re simply interested in experimenting with the benefits of breathwork for reducing anxiety and stress, this book is a worthwhile read. —JENNIFER HAUPT more books >> Many of our best choices are laid out: regenerative agriculture, wiser forest management, more plant-based diets. november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 69
REVIEWS // books REVIEWS //film When Religion Hurts You Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion by Laura E. Anderson, PhD BRAZOS PRESS The process of identifying trauma and healing from it has changed since World War I, when post-traumatic stress disorder was called “shell shock,” writes trauma therapist Laura Anderson in her new book, When Religion Hurts You: Healing from Religious Trauma and the Impact of High-Control Religion. As the title suggests, Anderson believes that trauma isn’t limited to singular events such as natural disasters or sexual violence, but can also be caused by ongoing experiences that occur in the context of what she calls “high-control” religious communities—those that tend to have rigid understandings of God and dictate what members can and can’t think or do. “Religious trauma is trauma,” Anderson explains, noting that all too often, those who suffer from it have to convince others that their distress is real. She approaches trauma research and treatment from her own painful experience growing up in a controlling religious community, and now engages with her faith from a place of healing. She offers readers a flexible framework for healing, noting that for many years her own efforts were too focused on a specific result, a kind of salvation “like the religious system in which I had grown up,” and proposes that a more effective way of working with trauma is an ongoing, process- and body-based path that includes “small moments of change and awareness.” Anderson’s basic message? If she can heal from religious trauma, so can her readers. “This book is meant to show you what life can be like after being in high-control churches, groups, and relationships … after living a life of fundamentalist rules that dictated every aspect of your identity and that had far-reaching consequences,” she concludes. — KATE MADDEN-YEE Here. Is. Better. Directed by Jack Youngelson GREENWICH ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR JACK YOUNGELSON’S documentary Here. Is. Better. is peppered with sobering statistics: 13 million Americans are diagnosed with PTSD each year; 22 veterans end their lives each day. Yet despite such grim figures, Here. Is. Better. offers hope by shining a light on four veterans tackling PTSD through therapy. Jason was a shining star in the Democratic Party before he withdrew to tackle his PTSD and save his marriage. Teresa is unable to move past the horror of seeing her now-husband’s life changed by an IED explosion. John is still haunted by his experiences in Vietnam. Tabitha’s pride at being one of only five female metalworkers stationed in Iraq was destroyed when she was sexually assaulted by a group of male colleagues, none of whom have faced any punishment. The subjects have experienced a variety of traumatic situations, and the film is resolute in declaring their experiences equally valid. The subjects, however, don’t see it this way. Jason, for example, runs an outreach program for homeless veterans and wonders whether he has “earned” his PTSD by comparison. Regardless of their specific experiences, the vets portrayed here are in desperate need of help. That aid comes, chiefly, in the form of talk therapy. Having recounted a terrifying incident to his therapist multiple times, Jason claims he’s bored with the story. “That’s the goal,” says his therapist. The ultimate aim is to remove the power that trauma holds over its victims, but it’s a long journey to recover. Watching Tabitha flee a hockey match after suffering flashbacks brought on by the noise of the rowdy event, we’re reminded that seemingly everyday distractions can trigger those with PTSD. Youngelson’s dramatic editing of this moment feels somewhat exploitative, a single misstep in a film that is otherwise a sensitive study of four people determined to avoid becoming statistics. —ERIC HILLIS 70 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
Unconditional Directed by Richard Lui PRISCA PROJECT IN 2016, Richard Lui’s life was changed when his octogenarian father, Stephen, reached the point with his Alzheimer’s where he required constant attention. Richard switched his work schedule and flew cross-country weekly to help his mother, Rose, look after Stephen. Meeting with other family caregivers, Richard realized he was but one of millions of Americans living a similar life and decided to document his own experiences and those of two other families. Richard describes the sadness of seeing his father slowly become a stranger, but the situation allowed Richard to reconnect with his mother. According to Richard, his parents were never prone to outward displays of emotion, but watching his mother devote so much care to her husband left Richard certain of the enduring strength of their mutual love. Unconditional makes the point that, in their own way, caregivers need as much assistance as those they aid. We meet Amy Bushatz, whose career was hindered when her husband Luke returned from service in Afghanistan with severe PTSD and a brain injury. Amy puts on a brave face, but viewers can sense her need for emotional support. The same might be said for Shane Thomas, whose wife, Kate, is in her final years of battling cancer. Like Amy, Shane is a loving and committed partner, but he worries about how he and his young son will carry on when Kate eventually passes. The stark reality is that all of these families have been severely impacted on a financial level. One of the most heartbreaking themes of the film is the stress caretakers and their loved ones constantly experience over how to stay afloat. Unconditional tells the story of three strong families, but the film suggests that the emotional strength of these individuals needs to be backed up by stronger federal assistance. —EH 365 DAYS TO BALANCE AND PEACE OF MIND AVA IL ABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE MIND-BODY PEACE JOURNAL “This beautiful ournal has some wonderful prompts and reflections . . . to help dig deeper and access our inner wisdom and strength, especially when times are tough.” SHIVANI HAWKINS, founder of LIVING SANSKRIT november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 71
REVIEWS //music Come With Fierce Grace Alabaster DePlume INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM RECORDING COMPANY ALABASTER DEPLUME moves through the world with a sense of compassionate curiosity. The poet-singer-saxophonist, whose given name is Gus Fairbairn, says, “Curiosity is one antidote to fear.” Come With Fierce Grace was recorded without rehearsals by creating spontaneous jazz songs through deep listening and authentic communication. It’s a companion to his 2022 double-album GOLD. Come With Fierce Grace is invigorating and calming, what DePlume calls, “a nice combination.” The artist was born in Manchester, England and now makes his home in London. DePlume approaches music as a form of play, based in mindful improvisation. He told S+H, “I love the challenge. It requires an acceptance that I don’t know what we’re doing! But we’ll find out by doing it. When somebody plays a certain thing that’s not necessarily what I would have chosen, I respond to it. I accept it and greet it.” Some of his earlier recordings offer poignant social-political insights with a great sense of humor. On the song “Don’t Forget You’re Precious,” Alabaster points out that loving yourself isn’t just a more pleasant way to live, but it’s also a political action. “I can laugh genuinely with compassion at myself. Which leaves room for the listener to go, ‘Yeah, I feel that way as well.’” DePlume adds, “Now and then, I fail to remember that I’m worthwhile in this world. As the song says, ‘They can’t beat us. They can’t use us on one another, if we don’t forget we’re precious.’” —JOHN MALKIN DePlume approaches music as a form of play, based in mindful improvisation. CHRIS ALMEIDA New Standards Volume 1 Terri Lyne Carrington CANDID RECORDS TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON’S latest album New Standards Volume 1 is an exquisite collection of eleven jazz tunes composed by women and steeped in social justice. The album is a companion to Carrington’s book New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers (Hal Leonard, 2022), a project inspired by her realization that the go-to book for jazz musicians—the Jazz Real Book—contained only one composition by a woman. She told S+H that it feels great to be moving jazz forward; “We’re part of a new canon in jazz.” Carrington received her third Grammy this year when New Standards Volume 1 won Best Instrumental Jazz Album. The double LP (4 CDs) features Carrington (drums and percussion), Kris Davis (piano), Linda May Han Oh (bass), Matthew Stevens (guitar), Nicholas Payton (trumpet), and special 72 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
guests like vocalist Melanie Charles and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. The acclaimed drummer is founder and Artistic Director of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice and heads the Music for Abolition Project at the Institute for Arts and Sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz. She recently performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival and participated in a discussion with Angela Davis on visualizing the abolition of police and prisons. Carrington says, “It’s important to envision abolition because it will never happen if it’s not envisioned. Many people are invested in us not having that vision. Like the for-profit aspect of prison systems.” Carrington is a practicing Buddhist and told S+H, “It’s all connected. If you believe the human race is one family, then there’s some kind of spiritual connection. And it’s this belief that makes you fight for your brother or sister.” She adds, “I want to make my contribution to the world, and make it meaningful. We’re all hoping that things evolve, and the world is left better in some ways.” —JM MICHAEL GOLDMAN United States Postal Service Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation 1. Publication Title 2. Publication Number 3. Filing Date 4. Issue Frequency 5. Number of Issues Published Annually 6. Annual Subscription Price 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not printer) (Street, city, county, state, and ZIP+4) Contact Person Telephone 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not printer) 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor (Do not leave blank) Publisher (Name and complete mailing address) Editor (Name and complete mailing address) Managing Editor (Name and complete mailing address) 10. Owner (Do not leave blank. 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PS Form 3526, July 2014 (Page 3 of 4) 16,221 14,746 98.2% 97.7% Electronic Copy Circulation Average No. Copies Each Issue No. Copies of Single Issue During Preceding 12 Months Published Nearest to Filing Date 895 800 15,936 14,411 STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 73
OUR WALK IN THE WORLD MARK NEPO BRIAN BANKSTON There is an abundance of such images. Let me name a few from literature: William Stafford’s thread that we hold on to no matter what, Carl Jung’s view of the poet as a lightning rod for the Unconscious, the Hindu notion that we are called to keep lifting the veils of illusion, Oscar Wilde’s melting down of the sorrow that endures forever so it can be transformed into the peace that abides in every moment, and Ghalib’s image that joy for the raindrop is entering the lake. And here are a few images from nature: the heart as our gill through which we extract what is essential, the self as the banks of a river that are shaped by the water of Spirit it carries, the diamond of wisdom that is compressed from the coal of experience, and the mind as a tree in which thoughts come and go like colorful birds. But where do we store these life-giving teachers? Often in books. This brings us to the practice of reading. In our modern age, the art of reading has been truncated and compromised. Today, a skilled reader is judged as someone who reads rapidly, who can scan the skeleton of any piece of writing and abstract its silhouette of information. This is like taking an X-ray of a person and thinking you now have met the whole person. The word read comes from the German raten which originally meant “to guess.” So reading is always a guess at what matters, a leaning in to all that is beyond THE TIMELESS ROLE of art has always been to educate the heart. The Greek word pedagogue means “to walk beside, to accompany to learning.” It originally referred to an adult walking a child to school. Since the school is the world, we are asked to walk beside each other as we learn from life. The Hindu word upaguru means “the teacher that is next to you in this moment.” And so, images that educate the heart are upagurus. Once discovered, these images become teachers who walk beside us. IMAGES THAT EDUCATE THE HEART In November, December, and January, MARK will be teaching in person at Santa Sabina in San Rafael CA, St. Andrews Church in Jackson, MS, and for Global Journeys in Costa Rica (see www.MarkNepo.com). 74 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
• Experiment with your intuitive reading of many books at once. Pull at least five books from your shelves and place them about you. Begin by writing down a question that is working you. Now pick up one book at a time and read a paragraph or a poem. Write the passages you have read down. Then read them all in order. Now meditate on what this newly assembled set of voices is saying. In your journal, explore your reaction, your feelings, and your questions. Then, weave your reflections and the readings into one draft. Finally, read through the draft, journaling one more time from one QUESTIONS TO WALK WITH passage to another. Put what you’ve written away for a day and then reread what you’ve written freshly. Respond to it one more time. • Experiment with holding a poetry evening as described above. Gather some friends and place at least fifteen books in your living room. Then, one by one, have each person select a book and read a passage. After everyone has had a turn, discuss the terrain of stories and questions that have filled the room. Finally, have each of you share one image that has arisen that educates your heart. words, a bow to all that gives rise to words. I have always been a slow reader, not because I struggle with comprehending what I read, but because when challenged or moved by what I read, I slow down in an attempt to absorb what I’m taking in. Inherent in immersing ourselves in books is the call to enter time and not just move through it. Understanding reading in this way, books become thresholds to living in moments beyond our own. There is a story in the Talmud in which students notice that their rabbi has been quietly reading the same passage over and over for several days. Concerned, one of the students approaches his teacher to see if he is alright. The rabbi smiles and says, “When I come upon a small window into Eternity, why should I go anywhere else?” The truth is that each book has its own way and feel, no one better than another. So, I encourage you to open a book where you will and read a paragraph or sentence and carry it with you. Don’t worry about the sequence of reading a whole book in order. Just treat it as a friendly shore near a vast and unseeable ocean. Wander and pick up a shell here and there and hold it to your ear and see what happens. Reading requires us to slow down enough for our heart to fully receive the page before us. Then that page becomes a window we can step through. In this way, reading is a profound way for us to educate the heart. For it is better to read one word over and over until it opens its treasure, than to scan a thousand words in search of gold. Better to climb one mountain and stand on its summit until you are kissed by the sky, than to scale all the high peaks in search of the top of the world. Better to love one person so thoroughly that you drink from the well of all who have ever loved, than to love another and another in hopes of filling your emptiness. The images that educate the heart are abundant, and need to be loved into view before they will spill their honey. When committed to reading, listening, and writing, we are worker bees intent on making that honey. S+H This excerpt is from Mark’s new book Falling Down and Getting Up, just published by St. Martins’ Essentials. vuperbly organized, lovingly directed, highly recommended.8 —Betty Costa Rica Celebrating 24 years of pilgrimage leadership Illuminated Journeys Outer Action—Inner Meaning www.illuminatedjourneys.com 720.489.8073, Toll free 877.489.8500 [email protected] April 9 – 19, 2024 A Walk/Ride journey on the Camino Frances in Spain June 5 – 19, 2025 Ancient Landscapes: A Pilgrimage to the Republic of Georgia September 12 – 26, 2025 Contemplative Ireland: A Celtic Pilgrimage Sept 30 – Oct 11, 2025 Celebrate Northern Spain: Spirit, Culture and Cuisine For more information, visit IlluminatedJourneys.com experience a life-changing pilgrimage in 2024-25! november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 75
THE HEART OF HAPPINESS PAUL SUTHERLAND One morning I got a call at my office. Amy was hemorrhaging at 26 weeks of pregnancy, and the paramedics were taking her to the local hospital. Within an hour, we were being transferred by air ambulance to Oahu, where Amy would ultimately spend eight weeks in intensive care. From the ambulance, I called some school friends to pick up our little boys from school, asking if they could watch them until my in-laws flew in from Michigan. “No problem! Our son loves sleepovers,” was their reply. The first full day in the hospital, the pastor of the church called me. She asked about Amy and if she could do anything to help. I told her my parents-in-law were flying out to watch the boys, and a family from school was caring for them until my in-laws arrived. I asked how she knew we were now on Oahu, and she said a parishioner saw us at the local hospital. Of course, the pastor said we would be in their prayers. When Amy was stable enough for me to return to Maui, I thanked my in-laws for taking care of the kids, but when I mentioned cooking, my mother-in-law stopped me and said, “We didn’t have to cook much.” She smiled. “Nearly every day, the Waldorf families and your church brought us dinners, baked bread, desserts, salads.” Our school parents and church group seemed instinctively wired to scan for people in need. They knew we “mainlanders” had few roots on the island. They helped us because we showed up. Some people would not like that Maui church because of its all-inclusive stance of welcoming everyone. Others wouldn’t even consider going because they consider all Christians to be hypocrites, bigots, and/or WHILE ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE for my financial company, we lived on Maui—heaven on earth—for a few years. We enrolled our kids in the local Steiner Waldorf school and joined a small local church. We were consistent churchgoers, and both Amy and I became Sunday school teachers. Maybe it was our commitment to the community and volunteering that made for such a lovely, connected experience. Or maybe it was the loving community that accepted us and embraced us because we showed up. Either way, the connection and feeling of belonging was meaningful for my family. THE SACRED SPACE BETWEEN US PAUL SUTHERLAND is a Professor at Nelson Mandela University and Chairman of Utopia Foundation & STEPi, which works to create a world where every child and every adult can go to bed feeling happy, well fed, safe, and optimistic about tomorrow. 76 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
anti-LGBTQ. Many others would rather sleep in, go to the beach, or take a walk than go to any church. But I think people who don’t have a church are missing something important. The church not only accepted us “mainlanders;” they fed my kids. They also, I imagine, would accept and provide food for those that normally sleep in, go to the beach, or take a walk. They just have to show up. After living on Maui, we moved to various places around the world. We joined a few dozen people in a Quaker meeting house, as well as a few thousand people under a Zambian church tent. The Quakers never mentioned that I just sat in silence. In Zambia, no one seemed to care that I did not sing, sway, or get enraptured by the holy spirit—and none of them asked me to define God, religion, or my own beliefs, or tested me on scripture. Local parishioners just seemed happy we were there, sharing the experience of connection. Wherever we have lived, we have joined some form of church, and acceptance seemed to be there, too. I often think about how I might broaden this acceptance and connection that I cherish and that I try to champion. How do I get to see each person as my “partner in life?” I’m sure that connection is not about looking for the otherness that we are told now defines people, families, school groups, tribes, sports teams, and religious groups. Sure, it can be easy to connect people against a negative, a threat, either real or perceived. What I am looking for is the positive connection. I also think that connection is not in us. It is between us: the + in 1+1. The way to get beyond seeing the otherness and open ourselves to this real connection is to embrace the ugly in our own inconsistencies; to learn to laugh at our personal hypocrisies; to realize that we all constantly rationalize our own indifference, laziness, and bigotries: “I have met the hypocrite, and it is me.” Knowing and lovingly accepting our own “humanness” allows us to accept others as we accept ourselves. And from recognizing that one simple truth, we can move forward to realize another: Thinking something is not doing something. Thinking we are virtuous or accepting or colorblind builds no houses—nor does it feed anybody, nor cure loneliness. Our actions are what define us. We connect by showing up—to find that we share so many threads to bind us together in relationships and connections. We see the similarities and build on them. I think it really helps to join some sort of church, sangha, or meeting house. I also love the wisdom of the Muslim scholar Ibn Arabi: Do not praise your own faith exclusively so that you disbelieve all the rest. If you do this you will miss much good. Nay, you will miss the whole truth of the matter. God, the Omniscient and the Omnipresent, cannot be confined to any one creed, for He says in the Quran, wheresoever ye turn, there is the face of Allah. Everybody praises what he knows. His God is his own creature, and in praising it, he praises himself. Which he would not do if he were just, for his dislike is based on ignorance. So, I invite you to try a new church and explore what you have in common. Maybe try the 10 closest churches to you just for the fun, adventure, and exploration of it. Sit next to the family with noisy kids shifting around in the seats or playing tic-tac-toe on the donation envelopes. Feel the love and acceptance of just sharing a space. Maybe you will be sitting next to my family. S+H Paul would love to hear your church, sangha, or meeting house stories. Contact him at paul@ paulhsutherland.com. GETTYIMAGES.COM / CIENPIES New Card Decks for Spiritual Guidance $24.00 978-1-58270-903-1 $29.95 978-1-58270-898-0 www.beyondword.com $24.00 978-1-58270-910-9 november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 77
CREATURELY REFLECTIONS SARAH BOWEN Each day, the generous Sikh community feeds participants a free vegetarian lunch in a massive tent strewn with floor rugs. Indigenous peoples keep a sacred fire lit. African drums beat, bagpipes blare, Chinese dragons travel through the air, and pagans swirl in brightly colored merriment. People discuss critical issues, including their opinions of and efforts to impact climate policy, improve racial justice, fortify women’s roles, and tackle poverty. Amongst this swirl of people and ideas, I share tips for grieving a beloved dog, provide resources for mitigating conflicts with local wildlife, and educate others on the challenges facing exploited animals. Each person visiting me leaves with a small plushie animal to remind them to contemplate the more-than-human world. In return, they educate me—wombats poop cubes, a narwhal’s horn develops from a tooth, and the Vietnamese word for lion is Sư tử. A MONK’S PERSPECTIVE On the fourth day, I attended a presentation about the Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery, where “tree frogs, eagles, squirrels, and wild boars are allowed to wander freely amongst the Monastery’s buildings. The nuns and monks, the animals, and the natural environment depict a kind of harmony in coexistence and interdependence.” Squirrels? I was in! “WOMBATS POOP IN CUBES!” she informs me. Amazed, I look down at the plushie creature I hold, the one I suggested looks a bit like a wombat. “Well, I now admire the species even more!” I respond. She takes the tiny creature, attaches it to her backpack, and heads out into the sea of saffron monk robes, clerical collars, and wizard apparel. For over four days, I’ve been sequestered in a 10-by-10-foot exhibit hall booth, walking among 7,000 spiritual seekers and religious adherents from over 95 countries. We are all gathered here for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, representing over 200 wisdom traditions, attempting to navigate an overwhelming 800 presentations, ceremonies, and observances. THE MONK AND THE ANTS SARAH BOWEN is the author of Sacred Sendoffs: An Animal Chaplain’s Advice For Surviving Animal Loss, Making Life Meaningful, & Healing The Planet. Sacredsendoffs.com 78 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
Sitting attentively, I viewed a short film, then listened to Rita Chen translate Master Xian Yue Shih’s vivid descriptions of mountain monastery life, including how founder and Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao is so tuned into the ant colonies that he can identify which group an ant is from even when it is away from its home. He also feeds them biscuits—or what we would refer to as cookies here in the US—and reports that specific ants prefer different types. As a result, the staff stocks five kinds. Xian Yue Shih shared that the master’s attentiveness to ants caught on with other monks. Then one day, the Venerable had to correct one person’s feeding style. Not because he didn’t want others feeding ants, nor because it was the wrong biscuit type, but because the monk was feeding the ants too close to the road, and Hsin Tao was concerned for their future safety. CONSIDERING TINY BEINGS Is the monk overly sensitive to his environment? Or is he on to something? Turns out, the Ling Jiou Mountain Monastery is not alone in their admiration of ants. Other wisdom traditions contemplate insects as well. In Proverbs 6, the biblical writers recommend we look to ants and learn from them: “Consider her ways and be wise!” A Hopi story suggests that during the destruction of the First World, it was the Ant People who sheltered humans safely underground. In Hindu traditions, dismantling an anthill is bad luck. Instead, some people perform puja and leave food. Jains finding ants entering their home will go so far as to attempt to steer the tiny creatures back to their own homes. Science has plenty to add to our contemplation: Insects make up about two-thirds of all life on this planet. Yet, their abundance has plunged dramatically in the last quarter century. There can be no doubt that the widespread use of pesticides and insecticides is a significant factor. Insects are essential to ecosystems, and their demise affects habitats and humans who rely on them. Indeed, ants have important jobs to do and a positive impact on the Earth. ADDRESSING CONFLICTS Take a minute to think about your relationship with the tiny beings in your habitat. How do you handle conflicts when one shows up somewhere you’d prefer them not to be? Admittedly, most of us are not going to start feeding the ants we find on our kitchen counter special biscuits. I realize I’m treading into territory that may seem strange or unreasonable. But I do this because I think the topic is a worthy one for people who value compassion and live on an interdependent planet. What would it mean to attend to ants with compassionate concern? The first step would be to try to mitigate the situation without poison and encourage ants to leave your homes for habitats more naturally suitable for them. For example, you can seal cracks and crevices (which will help out with your heating bills, too!). You can also use natural deterrents, such as bay leaves or peppermint oil, where you see ants entering your home. My go-to deterrent is a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water sprayed on baseboards and pantry shelves. Prevention is key. Don’t leave tempting food out on your counter. Most ants will move out once you remove whatever is attracting them (like that sticky sugar container next to your teapot). And make sure branches aren’t touching your home (because they easily become superhighways for insects). There may be times when your situation becomes unmanageable and beyond these measures. You may find yourself resorting to an action that seems out of line with your values. If this happens, use the experience as an opportunity to up your preventive measures to avoid future conflicts. Learning to live nonviolently is a complex process. And, as writer Lafcadio Hearn once reflected, “All good work is done the way ants do things: Little by little.” S+H In Proverbs 6, the biblical writers recommend we look to ants and learn from them: “Consider her ways and be wise!” GETTYIMAGES.COM / VVOEVALE november / december 2023 spiritualityhealth.com 79
ONE MORE THING LIKE A TREE BY SADAGAT ALIYEVA instagram.com/madebysadagat 80 spiritualityhealth.com november / december 2023
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