5 comments about Spirituality For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality)).

1. I found this a good read in better understanding of the subject. It is a good beginning.
   
   BUT the CD is worthless. The music is an insult to all the wonderful types of music that could have been included to support the search for a more spiritual life. Where is Mozart, Japanese flute, or Tibetan, etc.?



2. After years of wondering what the meaning of life was, and what my purpose here on earth is, I found this book! It helped me uncover the world of spirituality, which in turn helped me answer some of these most fundamental questions!
   
   The book is such an easy read, and the author has a brilliant sense of humor. I often reference the book over and over, for information on certain specific subjects, which is very easy to do in the "Dummies" format. It is also written to embrace all religions, non-religions, races, genders, etc. It truly is a book for everyone!
   
   I recommend this book to anyone seeking to grow spiritually, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did (and still do)!



3. This book is a great introduction to spiritual concepts which has helped me begin a spiritual journey. The book presents a different way of looking at the world, which is helpful to me since I was raised in a traditional Christian environment.
   
   This book has given me enough background information to understand more complicated texts, which is exactly why I bought it.
   
   The author does a great job of incorporating traditions and sayings from many different religions. It is well written and easy to understand - even humorous!



4. Sharon is humorous as well as informative and wise...definitely this book is a keeper. That's all I have to say for the spitiual seekers out there.



5. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3JMU9VK6C4IDM

5 comments about You're Born an Original, Don't Die a Copy.

1. This book is full of wonderful self affirming statements. It has passages from scriptures mixed in. A very uplifting piece of work. Lot's of wisdom to live by.



2. that can really help you change as a person if you want to. I enjoyed the fact that it was a simple easy read. John Mason gets the information across in a clear manner. He doesn't waste a lot of words.



3. It's wise, it's great, it's complete and a very big boost for self-assurance!
   
   Sad thing is seeing STUPID OBNOXIOUS Gorillaz fans who think the phrase from the title of this wonderful book is a quote from Murdoc Niccals. What a bunch of losers.
   
   John Mason, congratulations for your brilliant work!!!



4. I was going through a terrible time in my life when a friend handed this book to me - I read it over and over - it was my source for reassurance everytime I questioned my decisions. I have given this book to several people that I thought needed the same help - it was amazing how such small thoughts could have such a dramatic effect on someone



5. A must read. One of my favorite books of all time. very uplifting, and full of everyday wisdom. Helped me alot in many aspects of my life. And he's a christian author.

5 comments about The Good Book and the Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (Bridge Builders Edition).

1. There's a whole new rush to find out what early A.A.'s did with the Bible. I'm a Christian and a Bible student. And I'm delighted to see the trend. I've read Dick' book; and it think it meets the growing need for information that's been missing in 12 Step movements for many years now.



2. Buddhists have 4 noble truths based upon natural human suffering, being powerless over it, etc., and 8 paths to enlightenment that essentially say "you must change your life." AA historians are often people in the AA program, mostly who've been around for years, who collect old writings and documents, many of which were never kept very accurately in the early days of AA, and claim to know the "secret" of AA. But, given the 12 steps' strong correlation to Buddhists principles, maybe something Bill and Bob never got honest about was where they truly got the 12 steps from. After, all 4+8=12.



3. Every so often I find a literary treasure that bears reading more than once. This book by Dick B. is one of those books. I dug into it more times than I can remember, as I kept getting more out of it each time I opened it. This book made me into a sponge, soaking up everything within it. Not only are the words written the truth, but I found that the words enabled me to experience a more solid foundation for my own recovered existence. Trying to recover without this book is like trying to see yourself without a mirror- it is just as important to include this as essential reading. God gave us the Bible, Dr. Bob and Bill W. gave us the Big Book, and Dick B. has put it all together so we can be empowered through both. I include this as required reading for my sponsees, as it is vital they get this information so they can achieve a happy and lasting sobriety.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Rev. Stephen J. Murray, MCRC / NICD Director www.nicd.us



4. From the very beginning of his research as an active, recovered member of the A.A. fellowship, Dick had his eye on the Bible and its relationship to the fellowship he had joined. For a long time, he didn't see the relationship, nor hear about it. Then a young friend in our Bible fellowship, who was also an AA, told Dick there was information about the Bible roots in the A.A. book - DR BOB and the Good Oldtimers. Dick read it and then began his systematic, detailed, walk through the historical people and events the A.A. book had mentioned. Before he got to this title, he had examined Dr. Bob's library and found the thesis corroborated. Then he examined Anne Smith's Journal and found the same result. Then the Oxford Group and all of its books and verses that talked about the Bible. Then the real Akron story--The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. And finally it was time to dive into the Bible itself and also the Big Book which contained A.A.'s basic text. And dive he did. He left no stone unturned to detail the many different ways in which A.A.'s Bible roots could be found embedded in its Big Book, Twelve Steps, Slogans, Traditions, and Fellowship. And because of this, the book became a favorite with Christians who wanted to know just how much the Bible had to do with A.A.. It also became a favorite with AAs who were beginning to wake up to the fact that a major part of their history had never before made it to the history books. The reasons are many. And six years ago, I tackled this book and briefly reviewed it. Meanwhile, it has gone through several editions, several printings, and thousands of hands. And it is the most important starting place today for a real understanding of what A.A. was before it became diluted through the ignorance of its current leaders as to the vital Biblical history and roots. Today, this book is part of Dick's 30 published titles, which includes 25 reference books that flesh out the picture, from many standpoints. I recommend this foundational book today with just as much enthusiasm as I did when I first heard of it and read it.



5. I'm a Bible student and belong to a Bible fellowship. I'm familiar with alcoholics, alcoholism, and A.A. from several viewpoints. And I've attended A.A. meetings. Though it is little if ever discussed in today's meetings, the Bible springs to your attention. You hear the Lord's Prayer recited at the close of most meetings. You hear Bible expressions like Thy will be done; love thy neighbor as thyself; faith without works is dead, Creator, Maker, Father, Spirit. Then you see them in A.A.'s basic text--the Big Book. If you dip more deeply, you see Dr. Bob's last major address to AAs when he spoke of the absolutely essential importance of the Book of James, the Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 to the early program. You find out that early AAs made a mandatory decision for Christ; they confessed faults in a manner covered by James 5:16; and there is talk of God's guidance. For this reason, this book has had great recognition. A police sergeant in Miami was using it to help alcoholics; and a former judge bought 12,000 copies to be distributed widely. Christian Book Distributors twice distributed large numbers. An oldtimer in Tennessee flew Dick to Nashville to tell people about the Bible roots; and he remarked that a copy of this book should be on every pastor's desk. A Roman Catholic priest who held a Ph.D. degree said the information helped fill the lacuna that existed as to A.A. history. Alcoholics Victorious and Overcomers Outreach, Inc. regularly featured the book at conventions and in catalogues. The faith-based NET Addiction Training Institute in Florida uses the book in its agenda. This has by all accounts made The Good Book and The Big Book the most popular and widely used A.A. history book that Dick B. has written. I distribute it as widely as I can. I give it away free to interested Christians. I support Dick's efforts to let alcoholics and addicts learn the Biblical roots and successes of early A.A.

3 comments about The Yoga of the Nine Emotions: The Tantric Practice of Rasa Sadhana.

1. This is a great book that introduces the spiritual practice known as Rasa Sadhana, or the Yoga of the Emotions. Rasa Sadhana is a practice which names the Nine Key Emotions in two categories: agreeable and disagreeable. The premise is to reduce one's need or involvement with the less agreeable emotions of anger, disgust, sadness and fear, and enhance the agreeable emotions of wonder, calmness, love, courage and joy.
   
   Peter Marchand brings this practice to life with practical examples and suggestions to reduce or enhance these emotions. Of course reading the book isn't enough, it takes courage (one of the agreeable emotions) to begin to integrate these practices on a daily basis and reap the very positive and tangible results. However reading about them is the first step, it cultivates awareness and actually I felt remarkable peaceful after reading the chapter on CALM. This book is a must for anyone hoping to bring yogic awareness into one's emotional life, it will save you $$$ on psychotherapy and be an invaluable tool for mastering your emotions within interpersonal relationships, at home, at work and at play.



2. Some good observations which have been seen in many places before.Perhaps,however, Mr. Marchand's way of stating it may be just the way someone needs, but for me it was old material rehashed.



3. This book changes the way you view the world. However, it's also very practical. It gives you advice on how to make changes to improve your daily life. The bookcover looks mysterious, but most of it is not about religion, so no matter your faith you can get a lot out of it. I highly recommend it!

3 comments about Here We All Are.

1. This audio-CD contains a more than 2 h. long lecture from Ram Dass (aka dr. Richard Albert), just returned from India and sharing his newfound enthusiasm for meditation and service with an appreciative audience. And telling the story of his life from succesful young professor over his psychedelic days with Timothy Leary and others to his meeting with his guru Neem Karoli Baba. More importantly he also gives a comprehensive view over the different spiritual paths, showing his deep understanding of Indian/Eastern ways.
   
   Unlike many others from the sixties Ram Dass has stayed true his whole life to his insights and his guru, standing like George Harrison or Stanislav Grof as symbols of the enduring influence of the East and of a succesful combination of meditation and psychedelics.
   
   As always Ram Dass' lecture is both witty and profound, but there's not really much new here, nothing he hasn't told somewhere else in his varied work as writer.
   
   The bonus-CD contains mantras and songs (kirtan) from his "Be Here Now"-tour, obviously directly transfered from a rather worn-out LP-copy. But it's moving and beautiful, complete with coughing, campfire guitar and crying babies, and touching the heart. But a very far cry indeed from todays musically challenging kirtan and mantrapop releases, by artists like Krishna Das, Jai Uttal (both also Neem karoli-disciples), Deva Premal, Rasa, Snatam Kaur to name just a few of the more artistically and commercially succesful.
   
   I'm grateful this release came my way, and can recommend it to everyone interested in eastern spirituality and in psychedelics, and as an introduction to the beautiful world of Ram Dass. But I doubt it's something I will hear very often.



2. This is a CD-format copy of a live talk (talks?) by Ram Dass previously available on audio cassette. The quality of the sound is erratic but the content still comes across clearly. Worth listening to over and over again.



3. This book (in a way) explains the author's journey to spirituality, I am not sure if this is the correct word to use because it mostly describes his journey through years of LSD use. It appears that he think that LSD opens the door to some sort of spiritual pinnacle. Not once is three any real caution of what these kind of affects that these drugs can have on health. Through this rather wandering monologue he finds a teacher in India. But there is never the Ah, Ah moment that is what he achieved. I also got the impression that to him that LSD was the entry into some kind of deeper personal peace. I still do not understand what he learned. Other than he let LSD take over his life and lost everything including his Harvard professorship.

5 comments about Courage and Contentment: A Collection of Talks on the Spiritual Life.

1. I've been reading spiritual books for over 25 years and I can't think of another book that addresses the Spiritual Journey more directly or more profoundly. I relished reading this book. With "courage and contentment," our life is truly rewarding.

   This book's insights are not only profound, but also inspiring. They motivated me and, yes, even empowered me to go deeper. My practices are stronger as a result of reading this powerful little book. What more could I ask? Thank you, Gurumayi!




2. I actually heard Gurumayi give the talk that is the title of this book and for the longest time I couldn't put courage and contentment together in a way that I understood, but I know that since hearing her talk and from reading the book and thinking about courage and contentment in all the many ways that the book discusses, I have come to a deeper understanding of courage and contentment. I would say that I am defintely a more contented person, because developing contentment is a priority now. And in many ways I am less fearful. I am in touch with my own courage. It's inside me for sure.

   Definitely, reading the book and taking in what Gurumayi says and thinking about it and trying to live as she suggests, has made a tremendous difference for me.

   What is remarkable, that I've just realized, is that "Courage and Contentment" really addresses fear and greed, which have run rampant in my life and, from what I can tell, are pretty much the causes of a lot of what's happening in the world today. So I think that Gurumayi, even though she comes from a very old tradition with roots in antiquity, is extremely contemporary and important, especially now.

   This is a great book and she's a great writer and speaker.




3. What's really cool about this book in particular is that it has both "long" chapters and "very short" chapters where Gurumayi Chidvilasananda addresses a crucial Teaching in just a few words -- this makes this book very "user-friendly". With this book, I know that I ALWAYS have time to read something no matter how much time I actually have in front of me. Every chapter is life changing, especially the one "This Path is for the Courageous" where she addresses the fears and doubts that spiritual seekers may encounter in the course of their journey of disciplined Yogic practices. I have been studying Religion and Philosophy for quite a number of years now, and I must admit that having read almost all of Gurumayi's books and Muktananda's, I really understand why they are said to be amongst the most authentic and powerful Indian meditation masters of the century (cf. "Encylopedie des Religions, Bayard, Paris). Any sincere seeker should read this book.



4. I have easily read Courage and Contentment over 10 times since I bought it in 2002. Everytime I open this book, I find EXACTLY what it is that I need to learn at that given moment. When a seeker is tuned into the Heart and is truly searching for the Truth within, Gurumayi's words are just the bridge that is needed to take one across the ocean of wordly life into Heaven on Earth. This may sound like an awful lot of praise for a simple book; however, this is not merely a 'simple book'. Although the ideas appear to be simple and the words used are easily understood by all, the writings reveal a deeper level of meaning upon each reading.
   
   I cannot express in words what a gift this book is. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for the Bliss of the Heart; for the innate joy within their very own being. Courage and Contentment is a blessing of a book, and regardless of what faith (or lack thereof) or religious background, I guarantee the reader will benefit from Gurumayi's simple, yet poignant message.
   
   Blessings.



5. I just ordered another copy of Courage and Contentment because I keep giving mine away. I've read this book cover to cover several times, flipped open to a page or read a chapter that is pertinent to what's going on in my life at the moment. The beauty of it is that Gurumayi's words have never failed to help me change my inner state from negative to peaceful almost instantly. The book is a treasure.

5 comments about Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (Aequus).

1. The author, Mary Baker Eddy, was far ahead of her time in what she not only understood about God and mankind, but what she accomplished as a woman over 100 years ago. Other authors have attempted to discuss such ideas as what is real, what is illusion, what is God, Life, Truth, evil, good, etc. but have fallen short in the consistancy of their reasoning and conclusions. I find no contradictions here, only inspired thinking. I have actually had healings as a result of reading this book, and I recommend it to others regardless of religious affiliation.



2. (...) Using words on a page in a book to describe completely un-material ideas about spiritual existence to you and me is a difficult thing for anyone to do. Couple that with the fact that the book's author is trying to essentially show the reader how to wake up to an unseen reality--to show, in the context of primitive Christianity (and not what might be called centuries of classical churchy dogma), that spiritual existence is real, and the material is not, and what that really means to you and me right now and always--and you begin to see how difficult writing a book like Science And Health must have been, or would be for anybody. It's quite a Big topic requiring much thought to understand and "use". A seeming repetition (with intelligent variations) in this book is vital. If you're trying to say "God, good, is All, and man and universe reflect him completely", and you're trying to teach this and show this to the matter-bound reader, you're gonna need more than that one sentence to make that challenging point. I'd say you'd need as many thought-provoking ways as possible, so if your eyes slide off some of the statements, others will perhaps be more understandable to you, and as you read you start to GET it. (...) read Science And Health for yourself and make up your own mind; read it on its own terms, because it has many things to say that you won't find anywhere else, and it says them quite articulately. If you find yourself glued to Dr. Dave on Oprah and reading Deepak, you might want to go deeper to the book that is acknowledged as starting the whole "healing" movement of the twentieth century that we are only now in the last few years seeing bubble up on TV. This one is the real deal and is here to stay.



3. This is one of those books that seems to have a life of its own. As part of my quest for deeper spiritual insight, I have been reading Science and Health for about 8 years, and every single time I open it, there is something new in there! For the reader unfamiliar with Christian Science, Eddy lays out a method for healing the way that Jesus healed--through oneness of mind with our Father, God. For those wondering what the difference is between Christian Science and other Christian denominations or New Age religions, the great divide between CS and all other systems is the idea that the entire universe was created by God, Spirit, and is therefore totally spiritual, not material. All other theologies, including atheism, make the universe either totally material, or a mixture of spirit and matter. While many people (including me) have been healed of ailments while reading this book as their thought is adjusted to be more in line with the laws of Spirit, I have found the primary effect to be one of complete transformation of character--I am more my Father's girl than ever.



4. There are several things unique about the Aequus edition that are not apparent on their face. First, the editors of this edition sought to restore, as closely as possible, the last edition approved by the original author, Mary Baker Eddy, in her life time. In doing this, among other things, Aequus restore the drawing of Mrs. Eddy that was in that edition. Also, Aequus restored two testimonies, subsequently removed and replaced after Eddy's passing in 1910. Just as the Book started on a note of the coming of light into human thought, so also the last testimony was deliberatly approved by Eddy to end the entire book with the same theme of light. In fact, with the last testimony restored, the last word IS "light," which is exactly as Eddy intended it. She also intended that the last page be a full page. David Keyston and Aequus are to be commended for this courageous and noble undertaking in true Christian education. My hat goes off to them!!



5. Christian Science is a bible based religion that believes that the things Jesus did were not miracles. He taught his followers to do what he did, and we believe that Christian Science is the explanation of the science, the demonstrable provable methods, that are available to anyone. Anyone can learn to do likewise, and to follow Jesus' example. This is the Christian Science textbook. If you are sincerely seeking answers, this is the best place to go. You'll want a copy of the King James Bible as well, because you'll be referred back to it frequently.

5 comments about Invoking Mary Magdalene: Accessing the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine.

1. This book contains some very solid, practical ways of starting up a spiritual practice devoted to the Magdalene. Unfortunately I could not get past the whole "let's throw Kali, Sekhmet, Hecate, and the Magdalene into a blender!" concept that she tries to sell. None of these goddesses have a thing in common with the Magdalene except maybe their gender. I would've loved to have seen some genuine cross comparisons and rituals between her and very similar goddesses who are equally as popular, and would've made far more sense to include: Isis, Astarte, Aphrodite, Ishtar, and Inanna are just a few I can rattle off the top of my head. I think that she is trying to market this book for the type of person who would be much happier picking up a book on Teen Wicca. Nonetheless, this book has a lot of excellent ideas in it and I found that the information included was just what I was looking for--when I ignored all of the "dark godddess" nonsense, that is.



2. Invoking Mary Magdalene: Accessing The Wisdom Of The Divine Feminine is a spiritual book and audio CD guide to invoking the sacredness of Mary Magdalene, who is mentioned in the New Testament more than any other woman. Chapters include a Magdalene litany for turning oneself over to become a vessel for Divine Feminine grace, teachings on enlightenment Jesus is said to have imparted to Magdalene alone, a guide to creating one's personal shrine to Mary Magdalene, and much more. Written by a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Invoking Mary Magdalene is a profound, reverent, and respectful guide to expressing faith and paying homage. The sessions on the accompanying CD are Guided Visualization to the Cave of Baume (11:45), The Holy Gnostic Rosary (31:37), Union with the Holy Bride (13:00), Magdalene as Grail Guardian and Queen of Shadows Meditation (9:47), and Prayer of Archangelic Protection (0:52).



3. I can't help but feel, after reading this, that there must be a fair number of people, particularly women, who feel alienated by or at least out of sync with traditional religion. That is probably unsurprising since most of the more traditional religions, particularly the three key relatives: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are very paternalistic, male dominated, almost outright misogynistic, and exclusivist. I'm not quite sure a make-a-religion kit is quite the answer, however, and that is what my impression of the book was.
   
   "Invoking Mary Magdalene" presents the reader with an introduction that is very tantalizing, because it presents the theme that literary texts and traditions associated with Jesus and Mary Magdalene have been suppressed through time by the powers-that-be in the Roman Catholic Church and also by the more jealous of the disciples of Jesus. This is very topical now, since the book and film "The De Vinci Code," which dealt with this same topic, appeared on the scene to raise public consciousness about alternative religion.
   
   Unfortunately, Ms Houston does not stick to the literary documents and information about the subject but wanders from these facts into discussions about the divine feminine, Hecate, Sekhmet, Isis, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Aphrodite, etc. It struck me as a feminist's attempt to creat a religon by for and managed by women. But with this she has gone beyond the concept of the historic relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene to an archaic pantheon that is well past its shelf date and was ultimately passed over by the ancients themselves as unfulfilling.
   
   I was particularly put off by the borrowed and rewritten prayers and meditations, like the Lord's Prayer and the Nicean Creed among others. Prayers and meditations arise from the spirituality of the writer and the community the reader feels with that spirituality. If it doesn't matter where they come from, one might as well recite King Akhenaton's Hymn to the Aton or solar disk.
   
   While I could believe that a mystery religion of the type Ms Houston suggests may well have existed at the time of Christ, I'm not sure that resurrecting it will in any way improve ones spiritual life today. Certainly there were a number of mystery religions that arose to fill the needs of the civilized world during the period of the 1st century BC and that of the 1 century AD: The rituals of Demeter and Persephone for women, of Artemis of Ephesus probably also for women, those of Mithraism for military men, of Zorothustra for both genders, and probably others of which I am not even aware. All of these and Christianity as well, arose as the growth of civilization--and of education--spread more widely and left the individual of the time with a sense that both the pantheon of deities and the large body of philosophical traditions failed to meet the psychological and emotional needs--let alone the quest for answers to eternal questions like "why are we here," and "what is the meaning of life"--at the time. As one of my classics professors once said, it was a time where, if a man named Jesus Christ had not existed, a man like Jesus Christ would have arisen. The time was just right.
   
   Maybe this could be said of Mary Magdalene and our own time, but I don't think that inner peace or answers to philosophical questions can occur just by saying the right formula of words or performing a set of rituals selected ad hoc from a book. It takes reading and contemplation, probably things the author has herself done in order to write the book. But so far as I'm aware, there is no way to achieve spirituality but by hard work and personal growth. If this book helps you do that, fine, go for it. It didn't do anything for me.



4. This book is an excellent guide for everyone, from the intellectually curious and to the serious spiritual practitioner. Houston gives us the background on Magdalene and then takes us step by step through many techniques and practices to strengthen our own life and consciousness.



5. I loved this book! I found it accessible and based on good scholarship (the author graduated from Harvard Divinity School). In my view, the book is an open-hearted meditation on different aspects of Mary Magdalene in history, legend, and myth. Each chapter covers a different aspect, such as Magdalene as healer, the Gnostic Magdalene, relating to the Magdalene as the Beloved/Friend, and Magdalene as the Dark Goddess (including possible connections to the European Black Madonnas). Houston is very clear that she is offering ideas and possibilities for readers to use and modify for their own practices. She also concludes that any relationship with the Magdalene and (indeed the Divine in general) is best self-defined. While she talks about her spiritual relationship to Mary Magdalene, she never prescribes a certain way for others to approach the Magdalene. No doctrine, no dogma, no proscribed rituals, no clergy, no authorities to submit to.
   The book is very consciously written for both men and women. In fact, Houston specifically addresses her readers as "women and men." Just because the subject of the book is the Magdalene and the divine feminine does not automatically exclude men, a fact that the author takes care to note.
   As for the "rewritten" prayers, the fact is that many prayers and epithets of the divine descend to us from ancient times, and often have pagan roots. For example, many titles of the Virgin Mary derive from names for pagan goddesses; the Virgin Mary is often called "Stella Maris" (Star of the Sea), a title originally given to the Egyptian goddess Isis. The only "rewritten" prayer in the book is the Gnostic Rosary (the rosary, by the way, also has pagan origins). Some people will enjoy this Gnostic take on the rosary, and of course, some will not. The author lays out a wide variety of ways to relate to Magdalene--she is well aware that not all the practices will fit everyone.
   As far as the author's discussion of Magdalene's possible connections to goddess of other cultures, she does so on two levels. First, she looks at the cultural and spiritual significance of the early European legends about Magdalene in light of the pre-existent pagan goddess worship. While Houston doesn't make an historical pronouncements, since good documentation doesn't exist at this time, she points out that Roman colonists established temples to Cybele and Diana (and other gods/goddesses) in England and France, and in addition, the indigenous pagan cultures (for example, the Celts) venerated goddesses of their own. Discussing Magdalene's legendary presence in France and England, and how these legends interacted with the pre-existent goddess worship is a fascinating and completely reasonable subject. Also, much scholarly debate abounds in regard to the Black Madonna statues in Roman Catholic churches, and their possible connection to Roman and Near Eastern goddesses like Isis. Since a high number of these mysterious Black Virgin statues are in regions of France where Magdalene was and still is fervently venerated, talking about Magdalene's connection to these statues is logical.
   Secondly, Houston talks about Magdalene on an archetypal and mythological level. This conversation is not meant to be historical, as Houston clearly notes. It falls in the area of depth psychology and cross-cultural anthropology, such as when Houston mentions possible resonances with goddesses of other cultures.
   I found this book a great resource and a springboard that helps me think about Mary Magdalene in new ways. My spiritual practice has deepened and I feel a connection with what Houston refers to as "the Magdalene Path," the spontaneous grassroots movement that is demanding the re-inclusion of the divine feminine in the West!

1 comments about Let Go of Whatever Makes You Stop.

1. I found this book at a used book sale, and really found a gold mine. I would recommend this book to all my friends and relatives. I makes you look beyond yourself.

No comments about Return to The Sacred: Ancient Pathways to Spiritual Awakening.