WINNER OF THE NAUTILUS BOOK AWARD Blending psychological insights with spiritual wisdom, this “brilliant and visionary” guide deconstructs the myth of the ‘selfish’ ego to provide a blueprint for fostering peace (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance) Why have we failed to create the happy, peaceful world that we all want? And what can we do about it? For more than three decades, Jalaja Bonheim has explored these questions in her work with women leaders, activists, and spiritual seekers from around the world. In The Sacred Ego, she tackles one of the core myths of popular spiritual culture—the myth of the ego, supposedly responsible for our greed, selfishness, and violence. In contrast, Bonheim approaches the ego as a sacred function worthy of honor and gratitude. With riveting stories from her work, she guides us into the depths of our collective psyche to pinpoint the real sources of our problems and illuminate our path to wholeness. Firmly grounded in a lifetime of practical experience, The Sacred Ego is a visionary, uplifting book that explains why our world is in crisis and how we can support the unprecedented transformational process that’s underway.
This reading of Milton juxtaposes the poet's theology and Freud's account of the Oedipus complex in ways that yield both new understanding of Milton and a model for psychoanalytic interpretation of literature. The book ranges widely through the art and life of Milton, including extensive discussions of his theological irregularities and the significance, medical and symbolic, he assigned to his blindness. Kerrigan analyzes the oedipal aspect of Milton's religion; examines the nature of the Miltonic godhead; studies Milton's analogies linking human, angelic, and cosmic bodies; and explores Milton's symbolism of home. In a commanding demonstration, Kerrigan delineates how the great epic and the psyche of its author bestow meaning on each other.
Beyond Your Ego is an exploration of the mind, the ego, and the formation of personality in the light of the Torah. It goes far beyond the limitations of conventional psychology, drawing its guidelines from the source of the true meaning of life. The model of Torah psychology presented in this book has been developed by the world-renowned Dr. Shalom Srebrenik, one of the founders of Arachim. The richness of Dr. Srebrenik's own background, both as a trained scientist and as a dedicated Torah scholar, manifests itself in the clarity of his teachings on Torah-inspired mental health and emotional well-being. Dr. Judith Mishell, who wrote this work based on Dr. Srebrenik's teachings, is a prominent psychologist who has found in the Torah an enrichment of her own life and her ability to help patients. She writes with conviction, erudition, clarity, and wit. Dr. Mishell brings superb credentials to the task of writing this important book. After completing her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Rutgers University Graduate School she established and served as director of Psychological Services for Douglass College and was an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers Medical School. She also had a busy private practice and was a psychological consultant to Emek Hebrew Academy. She lectured widely on both Jewish and psychological issues all across the country. She now lives in Jerusalem where she taught at Neve Yerushalayim Seminary and has a private practice. Beyond Your Ego has been much acclaimed by leading rabbanim and roshei yeshivah, who graciously permitted their glowing testimonials and approbations to accompany this seminal work.
What if you got a wrong memo about what God wants of you, and ran with (or against) it for years? Raffa helps you find and take joy in healing painful divides this could cause in yourself and relationships, and between values like masculine/feminine and spiritual/unspiritual in your world. She presents this process as an authentic spiritual practice--from a seasoned, progressive Christian Jungian perspective--to become wisely open-minded and open-hearted.
Circlework is a practice taught by Jalaja Bonheim, PhD, that uses circle gatherings to heal and empower individuals and communities. The Circlework Training manual covers all practical aspects of Circlework, from how to initiate and organize a circle to how to deal with challenges that arise.
Time to Stand Up retells the story of the historical Buddha, one of the greatest sacred activists of all time, as a practical human being whose teachings of freedom from suffering are more relevant than ever in this time of global peril. Evolving onward from the patriarchal template of spiritual warriors and their quests, former nun Thanissara explores awakening from within a feminine view where the archetypes of lover and nurturer are placed as central and essential for a sustainable world. Vital is an investigation into the pinnacle of Buddhist practice, the realization of the "liberated heart." Thanissara questions the narrative of "transcendence" and invites us into the lived reality of our deepest heart as it guides our journey of healing, reclamation, and redemption. As the book unfolds, the author examines traditional Buddhism--often fraught with gender discrimination--and asks the important question, "Can Buddhist schools, overly attached to hierarchal power structures, and often divorced from the radical and free inquiry exemplified by the Buddha, truly offer the ground for maturing awakening without undertaking a fundamental review of their own shadows?" Chapter by chapter, the book relates Siddhartha Gautama's awakening to the sea-change occurring on Earth in present time as we as a civilization become aware of the ethical bankruptcy of the nuclear and fossil fuel industry and the psychopathic corporate and military abuse of power currently terrorizing our planet. Thanissara relates the Buddha's story to real-life individuals who are living through these transitional times, such as Iraq war veterans, First Nation People, and the Dalai Lama. Time to Stand Up gives examples of the Buddha's activism, such as challenging a racist caste system and violence against animals, stopping war, transforming a serial killer, and laying down a nonhierarchical structure of community governance, actions that would seem radical even today. Thanissara explores ways forward, deepening our understanding of meditation and mindfulness, probing its use to pacify ourselves as the cogs in the corporate world by helping people be more functional in a dysfunctional systems--and shows how these core Buddhist practices can inspire a wake-up call for action for our sick and suffering planet Earth. About the Sacred Activism series When the joy of compassionate service is combined with the pragmatic drive to transform all existing economic, social, and political institutions, a radical divine force is born: Sacred Activism. The Sacred Activism Series, published by North Atlantic Books, presents leading voices that embody the tenets of Sacred Activism--compassion, service, and sacred consciousness--while addressing the crucial issues of our time and inspiring radical action.
Discover an Ancient Path to Power, Wisdom & Magick What do you think of when you hear the word witch? Through centuries of persecution, our society has been indoctrinated into thinking that witches are evil villains. Author and proud witch Danielle Dulsky debunks this interpretation and reveals the true nature of Witchcraft: an ancient spiritual path that rejects religious dogma in favor of female empowerment and a deep reverence for the Earth. In a collaborative, conversational tone, Woman Most Wild reclaims the Earth-centered power of aligning with our wildest, freest selves to create an inclusive world for all. The three keys to liberating your inner witch and owning your power are: • Wild Rhythm: aligning yourself with the cycles of nature • Wild Ritual: understanding the importance of ritual and ceremony • Wild Circle: bonding with like-minded seekers Dulsky’s tools for embracing and experiencing the power of these keys, including moon rituals, healing meditations, yoga postures, circle work, and Goddess encounters, will guide you toward joining the cosmic dance befitting the divine, limitless woman you are.
