Much of our faith and practice is about words—preaching, teaching, talking with others. Yet all of these words are not enough to take us into the real presence of God. This book is an invitation to meet God deeply and fully through solitude and silence. This expanded edition includes a guide for groups to use for both discussion and practice.
Undoing the Silence offers guidance to help both citizens and professionals influence democratic process through letters, articles, reports and public testimony. Louise Dunlap, PhD, began her career as an activist writing instructor during the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s. She learned that listening and gaining a feel for audience are just as important to social transformation as the outspoken words of student leaders atop police cars. "Free speech is a first step, but real communication matches speech with listening and understanding. That is when thinking shifts and change happens." Dunlap felt compelled to go where the silences were deepest because her work aimed not just at teaching but also at healing both individual voices and an ailing collective voice. Her tales of those adventures and what she knows about the culture of silence -- how gender, race, education, class, and family work to quiet dissent -- are interwoven with practical methods for people to put their most challenging ideas into words. Louise Dunlap gives writing workshops around the country for universities and social justice, environmental, and peace organizations that help reluctant writers get past their internal censors to find their powerful voice. Her insight strengthens strategic thinking and her "You can do it!" approach makes social-action writing achievable for everyone.
Can't sleep because your thoughts won't switch off? Ever walked into a room to get something, only to realise you've forgotten what you were looking for? Does a constant stream of unnecessary chatter run through your head? Do you wish you could stop that mental noise whenever you wanted to? Australian bestseller SILENCE YOUR MIND offers a completely new approach to meditation - the experience of mental silence - that will help recharge your mental batteries and leave you feeling more positive, dynamic and wholly engaged with the world. It clearly explains how just 10 to 15 minutes of simple meditation practice each day can turn off that unnecessary mental chatter, thereby awakening your hidden abilities in work, sport, studies and creative pursuits. Scientifically based, this is fundamentally different from any meditation book you may have read before. Australian Dr Ramesh Manocha is leading the world in research into the positive impacts of the mental silence experience. His findings show that authentic meditation is easy, enjoyable, health-giving and life-changing. SILENCE YOUR MIND has sold over 10 000 copies in Australia. Royalties from its sale are directed to further research and educational activities in the field of meditation.
Silence is long-established as a spiritual discipline amongst people of faith. However, its examination tends to focus on depictions within texts emerging from religious life and the development of its practices. Latterly, feminist theologians have also highlighted the silencing of women within Christian history. Consequently, silence is often portrayed as a solitary discipline based in norms of male monastic experience or a tool of women’s subjugation. In contrast, this book investigates chosen practices of silence in the lives of Christian women today, evidencing its potential for enabling profound relationality and empowerment within their spiritual journeys. Opening with an exploration of Christianity’s reclamation of practices of silence in the twentieth century, this contemporary ethnographic study engages with wider academic conversations about silence. Its substantive theological and empirical exploration of women’s practices of silence demonstrates that, for some, silence-based prayer is a valued space for encounter and transformation in relationships with God, with themselves and with others. Utilising a methodology that proposes focusing on silence throughout the qualitative research process, this study also illustrates a new model for depicting relational change. Finally, the book urges practical and feminist theologians to re-examine silence’s potential for facilitating the development of more authentic and responsible relationality within people’s lives. This is a unique study that provides new perspectives on practices of silence within Christianity, particularly amongst women. It will, therefore, be of significant interest to academics, practitioners and students in theology and religious studies with a focus on contemporary religion, spirituality, feminism, gender and research methods.
Ilya Kaminsky’s astonishing parable in poems asks us, What is silence? Deaf Republic opens in an occupied country in a time of political unrest. When soldiers breaking up a protest kill a deaf boy, Petya, the gunshot becomes the last thing the citizens hear—they all have gone deaf, and their dissent becomes coordinated by sign language. The story follows the private lives of townspeople encircled by public violence: a newly married couple, Alfonso and Sonya, expecting a child; the brash Momma Galya, instigating the insurgency from her puppet theater; and Galya’s girls, heroically teaching signing by day and by night luring soldiers one by one to their deaths behind the curtain. At once a love story, an elegy, and an urgent plea, Ilya Kaminsky’s long-awaited Deaf Republic confronts our time’s vicious atrocities and our collective silence in the face of them.
In "Strengthened Silence: A Journey Of Resilience And Advocacy Inspired By Hydeia Broadbent," embark on a transformative journey alongside Maya, a young girl whose world is forever changed when she discovers a long-held secret about her health. Born with HIV/AIDS, Maya's life is veiled in secrecy and shame, but with the guidance of a trusted mentor and the inspiration of real-life advocate Hydeia Broadbent, Maya finds the courage to reclaim her voice and challenge the stigma that surrounds her. As Maya navigates the complexities of her diagnosis and the societal barriers that seek to silence her, she discovers the transformative power of resilience, community, and the unwavering belief in the possibility of change. Through her advocacy efforts and unwavering commitment to the cause, Maya sparks a movement that reverberates far beyond the confines of her community, igniting hope in the hearts of those who have long been silenced by shame and fear. In this book, you'll get: Inspiration: Gain insight into the real-life experiences of individuals living with HIV/AIDS and the transformative power of advocacy and resilience. Empowerment: Discover how Maya's journey empowers readers to confront their own challenges and find their voices in the face of adversity. Education: Learn about the realities of living with HIV/AIDS and the importance of compassion, understanding, and empathy in combating stigma and discrimination. Community: Find solace in the knowledge that you are not alone in your struggles, and discover the strength that comes from uniting with others in solidarity and support. Hope: Experience the uplifting power of hope as Maya's journey demonstrates the possibility of creating positive change even in the darkest of times. Join Maya on her journey of resilience and advocacy. Let "Strengthened Silence" inspire you to find your voice, challenge the status quo, and become an agent of change in your own life and community. Together, we can break the silence, shatter stigma, and build a world where everyone is free to live their truth without fear or shame. Get your copy today and join the movement for a brighter tomorrow!
Introduces the techniques and strategies of practicing silence as a spiritual discipline. Covers a wide range of methods including sitting meditations such as psalm repetition and breath counting; visual meditations; mental prayer; and kinetic meditations such as cloister walking and the stations of the cross.
In this expanded edition of her spiritual formation classic, Ruth Haley Barton invites us to an honest exploration of what happens when spiritual leaders lose track of their souls. Weaving together contemporary illustrations with penetrating insight from the life of Moses, Barton explores topics such as facing the loneliness of leadership, leading from your authentic self, reenvisioning the promised land and more.
