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Publishing and Media

Spirituality, Contemplation, & Transformation

In Spirituality, Contemplation, & Transformation, some of the leading practitioners of centering prayer—the contemporary expression of the Christian contemplative tradition as developed by the desert fathers and mothers and elaborated by mystics such as saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila—write about the many and varied benefits of this dynamic and intimate means of connecting with the Divine. Thomas Keating and David Frenette examine the sources of centering prayer; Justin Langille and Jennifer Michael explore different facets of the wisdom of silence; and Paul David Lawson, David G.R. Keller, and Tom Macfie explain the vital role centering prayer can play in fostering communities of faith. Cynthia Bourgeault explicates philosopher and spiritual practitioner Beatrice Bruteau’s study of the meaning of contemplation; Brian Taylor uncovers the positive mental changes that centering prayer can bring about; and Thomas Ward reflects on spirituality in the twenty-first century, as well as the inspiring experience of attending a centering prayer retreat.

Of interest to anyone involved with contemporary Christian life, these essays, originally published in the Sewanee Theological Review, contribute to the growing body of literature on centering prayer—its practice, theory, and applications—and offer valuable entry points for all those interested in deepening their spiritual practice and fostering a more profound relationship with the Divine.

Contents:

  1. “A Traditional Blend: The Contemplative Sources of Centering Prayer” by Thomas Keating, OCSO
  2. “Three Contemplative Waves” by David Frenette
  3. “There Is Nothing Between God and You: Awakening to the Wisdom of Contemplative Silence” by Justin Langille
  4. “Beatrice Bruteau’s ‘Prayer and Identity: An Introduction with Text and Commentary’” by Cynthia Bourgeault
  5. “Reading Living Water: The Integral Place of Contemplative Prayer in Christian Transformation” by David G. R. Keller
  6. “Binding Head and Heart: A Conversation Concerning Theological Education: The Contemplative Ministry Project” by David G. R. Keller
  7. “Centering Prayer and the Work of Clergy and Congregations: Prayer, Priests, and the Postmodern World” by Paul David Lawson
  8. “Seeking a Deeper Knowledge of God: Centering Prayer and the Life of a Parish” by Tom Macfie
  9. “Spirituality, Contemplation, and Transformation: An Opportunity for the Episcopal Church” by Thomas R. Ward, Jr.
  10. “Keep the Rest: Practicing Silence while Professing Poetry” by Jennifer Michael
  11. “Changing Your Mind: Contemplative Prayer and Personal Transformation” by Brian C. Taylor
  12. “Centering Prayer Retreats” by Thomas R. Ward, Jr.

The Longest Struggle

From the first hominids who hunted woolly mammoths to today’s factory farms and bio-engineering labs, The Longest Struggle: Animal Advocacy from Pythagoras to PETA tells the story of animal exploitation and the battle for animal justice. After describing the roots of animal rights in the ancient world, author Norm Phelps follows the development of animal protection through the Enlightenment, the anti-vivisection battles of the Victorian Era, and the birth of the modern animal rights movement with the publication of Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation.

In a brisk, readable narrative, The Longest Struggle traces the campaigns of animal rights pioneers like Henry Spira, Alex Hershaft, and Ingrid Newkirk, as well as leaders who have come more recently on the scene like Heidi Prescott, Karen Davis, and Bruce Friedrich.

Always grounding his story in its historical setting, Phelps describes the counterattack that the animal abuse industries launched in the 1990s and analyzes the controversies that have roiled the movement almost from the beginning, including “national groups vs. grass roots,” “abolitionists vs. new welfarists,” and activists who favor arson and intimidation vs. those who support only peaceful, legal forms of protest. The Longest Struggle concludes with an overview of current campaigns and tactics, and an assessment of the state of the movement as we enter a new century, including the threat represented by an overzealous “war on terror.”

Thoroughly researched and annotated, The Longest Struggle reflects its author’s two decades as an animal rights activist and his access to movement leaders who have shared with him their personal stories of campaigns that made animal rights history. At once an accessible history of animal protection thought and a revealing narrative of campaigns for animal rights, The Longest Struggle is must read material for everyone who wants to understand the most radical social justice movement of our time.

Aftershock

Aftershock is about the real war against terror—the struggle for a world in which nobody lives in fear of atrocities perpetrated by human beings. Every day, people who push against violence and injustice or pull for peace and freedom must face their own fears. Many activists also must struggle with “aftershock,” the physical and emotional reverberations of frightening, horrifying, or otherwise traumatizing experiences endured in the course of their activism.

This book is for aftershocked activists and their allies, as well as for people and organizations that practice high-risk activism. It includes practical tips for individuals, organizations, and communities, as well as information about how traumatic events affect our bodies and abilities.

Aftershock explores the culture of trauma that people have created through our violent exploitation of the Earth, other animals, and one another. As long as we continue to perpetrate such violations, we will never fully heal our own traumatic injuries. This book, therefore, is for survivors of all kinds of trauma, for therapists who treat trauma, and for anyone who hopes to reduce the amount of terror in the world.


“pattrice jones sets the stage to begin healing the trauma associated with not just resisting oppression and injustice, but having to experience it. She offers real steps toward recognizing and correcting the problems facing humans, our planet and our animal relations. This book is a light in the dark for those of us who have dared to challenge the status quo.”—Jeffrey “Free” Luers, Imprisoned Eco-Activist

“pattrice jones has her finger on the pulse of the real America . . . a country teeming with homeless shelters, alcohol and drug rehab centers, rape crisis hotlines, battered women’s shelters, prisons, law enforcement agents, and soldiers. Aftershock is a manual for the many wounded souls seeking to survive such trauma and to participate in the struggle for a more just society.”—Mickey Z., author of The Seven Deadly Spins and 50 American Revolutions You’re Not Supposed to Know

“Listen to pattrice. pattrice jones is one of the most important new voices in the animal liberation movement.”—Josh Harper, SHAC7

The Lifelong Activist

The Lifelong Activist is a guide to living a joyful and productive life that includes a strong progressive mission. It offers simple and clear instructions that help you figure out the form your authentic life should take, and live that life with a maximum of joy and productivity, and a minimum of fear, guilt, and shame.

The book’s sections are:
Managing Your Mission (figuring out your authentic mission)
– Managing Your Time (building a schedule that allows you to realize that mission)
– Managing Your Fears (beating perfectionism, procrastination, and blocks to success, so you can follow your schedule)
– Managing Your Relationships (leveraging your strengths with those of others)

The Lifelong Activist is for liberal activists, artists, campaign workers, labor organizers, volunteers, students, teachers, human services workers, and entrepreneurs, but anyone can use it and learn from it. It can act as a useful handbook for students and young people at the beginning of their careers; those contemplating a career or path change; and those at risk for burnout will find it particularly useful.

The Common Heart

For twenty years, a group of spiritual seekers from many religious traditions met in various places around the United States under the rubric of the Snowmass Conferences to engage in the deepest form of interreligious dialogue. The experience was intimate and trusting, transformative and inspiring. To encourage openness and honesty, no audio or visual recording was made of, and no articles were written about, the encounters.

When these encounters came to an end, it was agreed that reflections on what had happened emotionally, spiritually, philosophically, and theologically during the Snowmass dialogues should be written down. The result is The Common Heart.

Here is an extraordinary exploration of the wealth of the world’s spiritual traditions combined with dialogue from the heart about the differences and similarities between their paths of wisdom. Participants include Fr. Thomas Keating, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Swami Atmarupananda, Dr. Ibrahim Gamard, Imam Bilal Hyde, Pema Chodron, Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman, and many others. The foreword is by Ken Wilber.

Five Spirits

The Five Spirits are the Taoist map of the human psyche. The system provides a view of the nervous system and forms the basis of Chinese medical psychology. It also describes a precise and efficient technology for spiritual transformation, the process through which a human being rediscovers their essential wholeness and innate connection to the divine.

The Five Spirits themselves can be understood as the Taoist version of the chakra system of Vedic India. Like the chakras, the spirits exist as centers of consciousness in the subtle body rather than as structures in the physical body. Just as each chakra relates to a particular level of consciousness, each spirit relates to a particular aspect of human awareness, a particular vibration or frequency of psychic energy. An understanding of the Five Spirits is the key that opens the doorway to the mysteries of Taoist psycho-spiritual alchemy. By taking advantage of the discoveries of Western archetypal psychology and new discoveries about the mind and nervous system, we can decipher the Five Spirits and reorganize the system in a way that has proven to be clinically invaluable in treating psychosomatic, emotional, and psychospiritual distress.


“In her first book, Dechar aims to identify the essential tenets of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, melding the mythic practices with the philosophy and techniques taught to modern practitioners. Central to her practice, as illustrated here, is her notion of ‘Alchemical Acupuncture’—the blending of acupuncture, the Five Spirits of traditional Chinese medicine, and the psychosomatic healing of Taoist psychology. Dechar presents case studies throughout, illustrating principles from her practice. She strives not to translate Chinese medicine into a Western form of understanding but instead supports Western expansion of consciousness to allow for an understanding of this type of reality. Her depth of understanding is evident, and this impressive goal may best be placed into the hands of existing practitioners. Dechar’s book is admirable in its scope but difficult in its detail. The concepts are explained well, but the average consumer may find it all a bit overwhelming. Recommended for public libraries and alternative medicine collections and highly recommended for students in the field.”—Andy Wickens

The Vegan Family Cookbook

Now that you’ve become a vegan, you’re learning lots of ways to prepare tofu, but you or someone you love is really starting to miss macaroni and cheese, turkey dinners, pumpkin pie and birthday cake. Maybe you and your family feel self-conscious (and hungry) at holidays, picnics, and parties. Or maybe just one person in the family is vegan, but you need to create meals that everyone will eat.

Since the day Brian McCarthy and his wife, Karen, chose a vegan diet for their family ten years ago, Chef McCarthy has created over 400 simple vegan recipes with easy-to-find ingredients for traditional favorites like biscuits, corn bread, stews, pastas, pizzas, cakes, pies, and even egg(less) nog. All the recipes come from the McCarthy home kitchen and have passed the test of many family meals. For individuals or families who are concerned about animals, the environment, or their health, mealtimes just got a whole lot easier.

The Holocaust and the Henmaid’s Tale

In a thoughtful and thought-provoking contribution to the study of animals and the Holocaust, Karen Davis makes the case that significant parallels can—and must—be drawn between the Holocaust and the institutionalized abuse of billions of animals in factory farms.

Carefully setting forth the conditions that must be met when one instance of oppression is used metaphorically to illuminate another, Davis demonstrates the value of such comparisons in exploring the invisibility of the oppressed, historical and hidden suffering, the idea that some groups were “made” to serve others through suffering and sacrificial death, and other concepts that reveal powerful connections between animal and human experience—as well as human traditions and tendencies of which we all should be aware.


“Brilliant, devastating in its analysis and hopeful in its premise.”—Carol J. Adams, author, The Sexual Politics of Meat

“Compelling and convincing. . . . Not to think about, protest against, and learn from these twin atrocities—one completed in the middle of the last century, the other continuing every day—is to condone and support the fascist mentality that produced them. I thank Ms. Davis for writing this bold, brave book.”—Charles Patterson, author, Eternal Treblinka

Manifesting God

Manifesting God is about the principles of contemplative prayer—the retreat into the “inner room” mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 6:6, where the individual is able to meet God. In the inner room, the silent space in which God unloads the burdens and false selves that govern our individuality and our daily lives, God acts as a divine therapist, healing us and forcing us to recognize how many barriers we put up between ourselves and an authentic relationship with God. The process whereby this happens is the foundation of centering prayer—a technique of prayer that Keating and other contemporary mystics have revived out of the ancient mystical traditions of the Desert Fathers and the medieval mystics.

Abbot Keating explores in this book what it means to enter the inner room and the transformation that takes place there. It explains the guidelines of centering prayer and offers advice on how to develop the relationship more deeply.

Senior Fitness

The senior years don’t have to be filled with aches and pains. At age seventy, Ruth Heidrich has the bone mass density of a woman in her early thirties and a resting heart rate of forty-four. Since being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-seven, she has won more than nine hundred athletic trophies and medals and has been cancer-free for more than twenty years.

In Senior Fitness, the “other” Dr. Ruth shows how to maintain and even increase physical and sexual fitness at any age—and dramatically reduce the risk of prostate cancer, varicose veins, osteoporosis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other ailments and diseases. Full of detailed medical information, this inspiring handbook is the ideal resource for all those seeking to make life after fifty full of fun and dynamism.