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Rabbi Rami Guides: Buy Three, Get One Free

Our special offer for Rabbi Rami Shapiro's series of guidebooks! 

Buy now to receive Rabbi Rami Guide: Forgiveness, Rabbi Rami Guide: Psalm 23, and Rabbi Rami Guide: Parenting, with the fourth guide, Rabbi Rami Guide: God, for free!

About the author: Rami Shapiro holds a PhD in religious studies, and is the author of The Angelic Way, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness, and numerous other books. He is an award-winning poet, liturgist, and essayist.

Rabbi Rami Guides: Parenting

by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Kids ask lots of questions. Luckily, some are easy to answer with a speedy 'no!'—Can I buy that toy? Can I eat that candy? Can I have a pet alligator? Am I old enough for sex?

And then there are other questions that can't be answered at all: Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? What am I here to do? Why?

So what do we as parents do? Tell stories—some religious, some scientific, some generic, some personal, and all of them critical factors in whether our children will be curious and courageous or unimaginative and fearful.

One of theology's most original scholars and storytellers, Rabbi Rami Shapiro will help you recognize and create the honest-to-goodness stories that open hearts and engender love.

Take a peek! Click here to read this book's introduction. 

About the author: Rami Shapiro holds a PhD in religious studies, and is the author of The Angelic Way, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness, and numerous other books. He is an award-winning poet, liturgist, and essayist.

ISBN: 978-0-9837270-1-9

Rabbi Rami Guides: Psalm 23

by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

The Bible is filled with obscure references, shrouded insight, and wisdom interpreted and reinterpreted by numerous translators. Unfortunately, we'll never know just how far removed we are from the original spoken words. Instead, we rely on scholars to tease out the truth through intense research, contemplation, and prayer.

In this extraordinary celebration of the Bible's two most treasured passages, Rabbi Rami Shapiro offers some of theology's most provocative thinking to date. His understanding of Jewish context and Hebrew nuance uncovers newfound meaning with profound ramifications. In Psalm 23, we shall not want for a better reminder that God is near. And in the Two Great Commandments, Jesus shares with us the heart of his spiritual faith. With Rabbi Rami as a guide, these touchstones have never shined brighter.

Take a peek! Click here to read this book's introduction.

About the author: Rami Shapiro holds a PhD in religious studies, and is the author of The Angelic Way, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness, and numerous other books. He is an award-winning poet, liturgist, and essayist.

ISBN: 978-0-9837270-5-7

The Soul Body Connection

Your 2012 Guide to Spirituality & Health

Rabbi Rami Guides: God

by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

For many of us, the trusted word of priests, ministers, and rabbis—and even the official theologies of many religions—have not served to provide a clear vision of God, one we can know and love through the experience of a personal relationship. God is difficult to pin down.

As a personal exercise in truth-seeking, Rabbi Rami Shapiro set out to bring God into clearer focus. He tapped the collective wisdom of a favored group of perennial philosophers—mystics from many ages—and came to realize that humans are capable of directly experiencing God because we are all, and always have been, an expression of God. How does Rabbi Rami identify God? No less than the source and substance of all reality—both infinite potential and the tangible actualization of that potential.

Rabbi Rami Guides: God offers theory and a series of techniques to practice, for those who want to know about God and those who want to know God directly.

Take a peek! Click here to read this book's introduction.

About the author: Rami Shapiro holds a PhD in religious studies, and is the author of The Angelic Way, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness, and numerous other books. He is an award-winning poet, liturgist, and essayist.

ISBN: 978-0-9818708-4-7

Rabbi Rami Guides: Forgiveness

by Rabbi Rami Shapiro

Forgiveness is a wonderful idea, in theory. Forgive, forget, get on with your life. Tellingly, most books on ethics and morality view forgiveness as a way to escape suffering, as if anger or hatred were something to brush off with the breezy words, “I forgive you.”

Rabbi Rami sees forgiveness differently because he understands the trickster nature of the self. In his Guide to Forgiveness, he’ll help you stop identifying with the slights and grudges borne against you so that forgiveness can happen naturally.

About the author: Rami Shapiro holds a PhD in religious studies, and is the author of The Angelic Way, The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature, The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness, and numerous other books. He is an award-winning poet, liturgist, and essayist.

ISBN: 9780983727002

Into These Hands: Wisdom from Midwives

Edited by Geradine Simkins

Power, politics, and profit aside, how a nation cares for its mothers and newborns is a key indicator of the health of that society. Into These Hands: Wisdom from Midwives, an anthology of essays from 25 extraordinary midwives, speaks directly to what really matters to women: the right to have safe and satisfying births.

ISBN 978-0-9818708-5-4

About the editor: Geradine Simkins, DEM, CNM, MSN is an activist, midwife, author, and visionary. She started as a self-taught homebirth midwife and became a nurse-midwife, working in a bilingual clinic for Hispanic migrant farmworkers. She was a co-founder and midwife at a freestanding birth center, and worked as a women's health expert for American Indian organizations co-managing maternal and child healthcare programs. She is president of the Midwives Alliance of North America.

For more information on the women profiled in this book, please visit wisdomfrommidwives.com

Life's Greatest Teacher: Lessons for Living in Dying

by Karen Rushen

The dying have much to teach us about forgiveness and love. The greatest honor we can bestow on them is the knowledge that their hard-won insights are reaching receptive ears. As a hospital chaplain, Karen Rushen has looked death in the face many hundreds of times. In this uplifting guide to end-of-life care-giving and the journey of death, she writes of grief and denial, mystery, companionship, and the surprising persuasivenessof after-death communications.

ISBN 978-0-9818708-7-9

About the author: Karen Rushen has worked professional in spiritual care for more than 20 years. She has served as a hospital and hospice chaplain, and in hospital administration for more than a decade. A practicing artist and writer, with a doctor of ministry degree in spirituality, she's currently dedicated to women's spiritual empowerment and leadership.

Life is a Trip: The Transformative Magic of Travel

by Judith Fein

Very few travel writers seek out wildly exotic experiences such as burial practices on the remote Micronesian island of Mog Mog or the work habits of the good witches of central Mexico, and even fewer have the wherewithal to uncover profound life lessons along the way. But then, Judith Fein is anything but your average travel writer.

In Life is a Trip: The Transformative Magic of Travel, we follow Fein on 14 assignments—from North Vietnam to Turkey, Guatemala, Nova Scotia, and beyond. This remarkable collection of essays is positive proof that travel can transform, that inquisitiveness and openness to unplanned experiences is just as important as a passport.

"Judith Fein’s globetrotting adventures remind us that we travel to be changed, in big ways and small. This book is immensely readable, steeped in a spirit of connecting with place, with each other, and with our inner selves. Get a massage in Vietnam, travel the land of the witches, and meet the High Priest of the ancient Israelite Samaritans. You're in the hands of a writer who has a keen eye and a singular voice." — Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief, National Geographic Traveler

"From irreverence, to reverence. That’s the magic of Judith Fein’s writing. Her unconventional view of the world and her grand sense of curiosity open doors to new adventures and understanding, allowing us to look deeply into the differences that keep the world fascinating and the similarities that keep us unified. “Life Is a Trip” is a journey of the heart, soul and mind, and we are much the better for it." — Catharine M. Hamm, travel editor, Los Angeles Times

ISBN 978-0-918708-8-5

Watch the Life is a Trip book trailer:

About the author: Judith Fein is an award-winning international travel journalist who lives to leave. She resided for more than 10 years in Europe and North Africa and has a passion for adventures that are exotic, authentic, quirky, historic, and immersed in local culture. A longtime columnist for Spirituality & Health magazine and a contrubutor to nearly 100 publications over her writing career, in addition to acclaimed Hollywood screenplays, Fein's interest in travel has always been a fascination for what lies beneath the surface.

The Virtue of Wealth: Creating Life Success the Zenvesting Way

by Paul H. Sutherland

No, money can't make you happy, but it sure can make you blue. And while Paul Sutherland can't tell you how to create lasting happiness, he can tell you how to create lasting wealth.

The Virtue of Wealth: Creating Life Success the Zenvesting Way is a primer for all ages and economic groups. Rich with graphs, worksheets, resources, beautiful color graphics, and inspirational quotations, this book is a wonderful gift for college graduates, newlyweds, and future retirees.

"It takes courage to create a life in alignment with our unique values and dreams. Yet, as The Virtue of Wealth so richly describes, it is the only way we ever experience true happiness—and true wealth. This is a beautiful book filled with deep insights and inspiration coupled with practical tools and suggestions. It is a fascinating, soulful guide for ending victimhood and taking responsbility for our life and money choices. Read this book and you will see a new path towards greater meaning, service and abundance." — Megan Raphael, author of The Courage Code

ISBN: 978-0-9818708-0-9

About the author: Paul Sutherland has worked in the investment and financial advisory business since 1975. As a senior portfolio manager, he has been managing global total return investment portfolios (under the "investing without borders" style) for more than two decades. He has spoken to professional groups nationally and internationally on topics such as international investing, investment economics, and portfolio management.

Beyond his extensive investment experience, Sutherland is the author of other books on financial planning and money management, including Zenvesting: The Art of Abundance & Managing Money, 12 Steps to a Care-Free Retirement and the AMA Guide to Financial Planning. He is a regular columnist for Spirituality & Health magazine. Learn more at paulsutherland.com and fimg.net.

Going Out Green: One Man's Adventure Planning His Own Burial

by Bob Butz

Ever since reading about the strange last request of iconic environmental writer Edward Abbey, Bob Butz has quietly wondered about how he might like his own burial to one day play out. Abbey wanted no undertakers, no coffin, and no embalming fluid. "I want my body to help fertilize the growth of a cactus or cliff rose or sagebrush or tree," he wrote. In 1989, Abbey died at home surrounded by family and a handful of close friends who later wrapped his body in a blue sleeping bag, loaded it into the back of a pickup truck, and—after stopping for five cases of beer and a bottle of whiskey to pour on the grave—buried him in a secret place in the Arizona desert. This intriguing last chapter of a man seen as the father of modern environmental writing also serves as a model for an increasingly popular alternative to the expensive, environmentally unsustainable practices associated with conventional burials.

As an award-winning author and amateur naturalist, Butz is a man who's spent most of his career writing about the magic of woods, water, wildlife, the open air, and the soul-stirring goodness of a life lived close to the land. Yet, when it comes to living green, this pickup driving, diaper-changing, 30-something, stay-at-home father of two admits he's like most Americans—hardly a candidate for Environmentalist of the Year.

But these qualities make him the perfect, unbiased and down-to-earth guide through the natural burial process. From hand digging a grave to a vivid introduction on the art of death midwifery and what is required to care for a dead body at home, Butz offers a witty and detailed account of his adventure into the current trend of green burials. 

Going Out Green gives a sensitive, entertaining and honest account of the twists and turns one may encounter when planning a natural burial. Weighing in on the emotional and biodegradable benefits of being buried in a blanket, shroud, or hand-made coffin crafted from locally grown timber… trying to convince your spouse and immediate family that a green burial makes good sense… Butz plans his own natural burial and in the process instructs the reader how they might one day return naturally to the earth.

ISBN 978-0-9818708-1-6

About the author: Bob Butz is an award-winning book author and essayist and a regular radio commentator on eco-political topics for Interlochen Public Radio in Traverse City, Michigan. His byline has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, GQ, Land Rover Journal, National Wildlife, Outdoor Life, Men’s Journal, and Field and Stream. He now writes on a wide range of subjects ranging from adventure travel, nature, people profiles, the environment, and whacky outdoor news. In 2006, his book Beast of Never, Cat of God: The Search for the Eastern Puma received a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan.

Cooks' House: The Art & Soul of Local Sustainable Cuisine

by Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee

In their widely anticipated cookbook, Cooks' House, chefs Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee offer a yearlong series of menus and recipes drawing deeply from nature and a rich spiritual life. Partners in a small northern Michigan bistro, Patterson and Blakeslee believe that food preparation must embrace seasonal variety and ripeness without complication, which makes their book so much more than just a collection of recipes.

Cooks' House approaches cooking in the context of life and living. Cooking is more than putting a list of ingredients in a bowl and mixing. True cooking—and living—takes place when we follow the local seasons, listening in on their rhythms and following their leads toward that which sustains the earth, the farmer, the cook, the guest. Seasonal cooking also means coping with anticipation and loss as crops ripen, linger briefly, then fade from the table. 

Cooks' House is an extraordinary work: It is a cookbook, a meditation on life, a reverence of food, and a celebration of eating.

ISBN 978-0-9818708-2-3

"In their beautiful book Cooks' House, my pals Eric and Jennifer give me a hundred reasons to cook these simple and exquisite recipes. Fortunately for me, I can taste this magnificent food all summer long without getting up from the table, comfortably seated in the kitching dining room of their place, The Cooks' House." —Mario Batali, chef, author, and local food champion

About the authors: Eric Patterson is co-owner of The Cooks’ House restaurant in Traverse City. Patterson spent much of the past 15 years at Andre's, Las Vegas' Michelin-starred French restaurant, including a three-year apprenticeship under the legendary Andre Rochat. At the end of his Vegas tenure, Patterson was Andre's head chef. He currently lives in Traverse City with his wife, Theresa, and their three sons. Eric is a sub-deacon in the Greek Archdiocese.

Jennifer Blakeslee is co-owner of The Cooks’ House restaurant in Traverse City. She is a Traverse City native and culinary school graduate from the prestigious Johnson & Wales University. Blakeslee addressed her travel itch by taking chef positions in Italy and Mexico earlier in her career. She spent three years working at the Michelin-starred Las Vegas restaurant, Andre's, with Eric Patterson, her current business partner. She lives in Traverse City with her daughter Abbie.

Go Seek: Journaling to Spiritual Fulfillment

by Matt Sutherland

Writing is a rite, a ceremony, a way to stay in contact with your soul. Writing, above all, is seeing clearly, as author Peter Matthiessen said.

This is a book for spiritual seekers and those interested in a deeper understanding of life's great mysteries. A guided journaling program for those seeking assistance on their spiritual journey, Go Seek: Journaling to Spiritual Fulfillment motivates with insightful quotes and introspective exercises. Matt Sutherland offers guidance on this important journey, along a path where deeper meanings emerge. 

In eight week-long sections covering touchstone topics like Truth Seeking, Nature, Daily Practice, and Synchronicity, Go Seek takes seekers on a course of writing, introspection, questioning, and meditation. Author and scientist Carl Sagan made the point succinctly when he said, "We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers."

ISBN: 978-0-9818708-4-7

Kitchen Alchemy: Transform Yourself Through Food

by Ann Bowne-Jones & Phillippa Lee

At alchemy's core is transformation, with the transmutation of base into gold being a potent metaphor for enlightenment. Food is, essentially, transformed by cooking to render it more palatable and nutritious. It metamorphoses again when eaten and its individual components become part of our bodies. In Kitchen Alchemy: Transform Yourself Through Food, Ann Bowen-Jones and Phillippa Lee suggest that our consciousness can also be transformed through each and every interaction with food.

This book approaches shopping, cooking, and eating food in a way that celebrates life, creation, and beauty. It illuminates our relationships with food and demonstrate how food can heal every level of our being by restoring the influence of innate and cultural wisdom. Home cooks of every level will appreciate this refreshing approach to cooking and their relationship with food.

ISBN: 978-0-9818708-6-1

About the authors:

Phillippa Lee trained as a chef and then traveled all over Europe catering  for rock stars and their crews in tiny makeshift kitchens. Food and cooking took on a more holistic meaning while living and working in the Findhorn community. She then became a chef at a vegetarian organic hotel in the lake district and a cookery teacher.

Ann Bowen Jones' home is high above a beautiful estuary in Wales. Her interest in the symbolism and philosophy of food across different cultures grew through her studies in nutrition and biochemistry, her psychology PhD, and her yoga practices. Her coaching company, Awaken, works in the field of organizational transformation and her delight is exploring color and design as means of revealing spirit.