spirituality at its most radiant
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Julian of Norwich is among the greatest Christian mystics and theologians of all time, so a book covering her life, times, and thought has much splendid material to work with. (Well, the times weren't so hot but the rest is incredible.) With a thorough an insightful a study as this, I wish I could give it six or seven stars.

Rolf covers the social, political and religious ambiance in the first half of the book to put Julian's visions and reflections in context. The town of Norwich in her time really comes to life with its mercers (the most likely social level of Julian, the preachers, the actors of the mystery plays and much else. The fourteenth century was a hard century with harsh weather in Norfolk and several devastating waves of plague. Rolf builds a plausible case for Julian being a married woman, probably widowed, with at least two children, maybe more. This is based on the likely events for a woman in her station and also helped by hints in the "Revelations of Divine Love."

The social turmoil and plagues and instability in the church due to the papal schism, not to speak of Julian's own over-sensitive emotional makeup make it clear that the ringing affirmations in her book are not hollow or flippant. They are words of Christ's comfort offered in the midst of greatest pain.

Rolf's analysis of Julian's thought in the second part of the book is blinding in its insights into God's glory and love. What is so amazing about the book is that, contrary to so much preaching in the cathedral and the streets, Julian is assured of the totally unchanging, unconditional love of God for all creatures and the peremptory forgiveness of even the gravest of sins. It isn't that Julian sloughs off sin. She is highly sensitive to her own sinfulness and says late in the book that committing sin is the greatest of all pains. But Julian is assured in her visions that God delights in her, even thanks her for being, and that Jesus was glad to suffer the pains on the cross revealed in the visions for her and all creatures. The parable of the fallen servant is discussed in detail and Rolf shows how it is the basis for an atonement theology that is non-punitive. There is no sense that the father is wrathful & needs the punishment of anyone. In fact, Julian sees NO wrath in God whatsoever. Not the slightest. Hard to imagine, given all the wrath in human experience. Indeed, the parable of the fallen servant shows how hard it is for humans to turn to God enough to realize how deep God's love is. Julian was assured that all manner of thing shall be well. Julian had a hard time believing it. We have a hard time believing it. This book immerses us so deeply into Julian's visions that we just might suspect that these assurances really are true.
3481986
`A Passage to Eternity' endorses and transports the reader into the transcendental realms of the `Real World', as articulated in the esoteric interpretation of the scriptures of all faiths, a world to which all souls will one day journey back! The most enthralling communiqu she brings back, however, is that there is an `inner voice' in us all that should be contemplated and acted upon in order to be receptive of that `everlasting peace' that awaits all souls in the hereafter. Thus, dwindling down the earthly visits of the soul! The most consoling certainty she confirms is that obstacles in life are in reality a phase of `audition' in endurance and patience, a test of faith and convictions, which persuades us to search `within' for guidance. The lives of all the Prophets and great saints bear testimony to this reality. Alas, the obstacles are a `blessing in disguise', for this world is a `playing field' to conceive a harmony of peace with each other in order to be peaceful with oneself and hence, God Willing, be receptive of that `blessing' which is the essence manifested in all faiths, namely; the `Oneness with God'. The book, no doubt, invigorates the journey of souls into Eternity. But more so, it brings to light the remedies to polish the Diamond that is within us all, in order to reflect the Divine Light in all its Majesty! I therefore look at this book as `A Passage to Eternity; a Recourse to Ponder'.

If by chance this book comes across as a work of fiction, then it is the most brilliantly articulated unsurpassed piece of solaced fiction in the realm of imagination! But the stunning clarity, the flow of the thought and the language engaged, betrays it to be a fiction. The testimony for it is manifested in the inspirational wisdom resourced to articulate the `passage' as a chronicle record, shimmering the esoteric wisdom. This can only be from the world beyond!
2907319
the little book that could and does enlight the soul with abundance and wisdom
4948693
"When Jesus is the Guru" is a rare, modern-day account of one woman's complete spiritual transformation.  The reader is carried into the inner life of one confident, tough, professional counselor with a penchant for partying, whose life is unexpectedly turned upside down, while visiting a shrine at Lourdes at the age of forty.  Thus, began a decade of traveling the world searching for Truth.

This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the mystical journey of a wayward Christian through her pain, suffering, crucifixion (death to self-will), and ultimately, her joyous resurrection as a fully awakened child of God.  I highly recommend this book for all spiritual seekers, who are not satisfied to know about God, but rather long deeply to know the mystery that is God.
4327497
Paul Avgerinos' Phos Hilaron is stunning.  It is music that is not only heard by the ear, but by one's soul.  The entire CD is an experience of centering and calming and reassuring the listener that there is a place of great beauty and sacredness within him/herself and it is a place where one can go anytime.

  Although based on a very early Christian hymn, this music transcends those roots to speak to all people of all spiritual paths.
4633969
This book shows us that spirituality has it's roots in the very nature of our being, no matter where the 'story' began.
2422671
A spiritual masterpiece for all Christians,  Introduction to the Devout Life is rich with spritiual reflections and excercises.  It mandates a slow, reflective read.  The book focuses the reader on their past and  present life rallying them to purge themselves of past sin and affection  for present sins.  St. Francis recommends spiritual exercises to avoid  future spiritual decline, and unites the reader's future devotion with GOD.  Introduction to the Devout Life is a "life" changer.
833138
The title says it all - heavenly. A spiritual experience.
3287774
In this magnum opus Roger Buck brilliantly describes the manner in which the New Age movement has insinuated false spiritual values into popular culture, and contrasts this usurpation of authentic spirituality with the perennial efficacy of Divine grace, effectively mediated through traditional Catholic liturgical rites and popular devotions.
  While those interested in gaining an understanding of the pernicious influence of so called New Age Spirituality on Western society will find rewarding reading in this work, they may be less interested in the section on the Catholic Church. Similarly, those wishing to deepen their appreciation of the manner in which traditional Catholic liturgical forms effectively channel Divine grace into our lives and thus into society, may not find the New Age section of similar interest. However, the writer emphasises that his work is an organic whole, and the reader who approaches the book with this in mind, will better appreciate the insights and perspective the book offers.
  This work is the record of a long and painful spiritual journey from vague notions about the meaning of human life to the true Faith. The writer describes the historical, social and religious forces whose winds have battered the barque of his soul, and brought him far from the truth which he longed for. In describing his sojourn with the New Age movement, he traces its development from the 1960s, and the manner in which it substitutes ephemeral for lasting values. He and his wife entered the Catholic Church at a time when the Barque of Peter too was struggling with conflicting ideologies, operating under the guise of reform and renewal. Not satisfied with their initial understanding of the Catholic faith and liturgy, their search lead them to the Latin Mass, and to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The manner in which the older form of the Mass is worthy of its role in re-presenting the Sacrifice of Calvary, and the relevance of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord for the contemporary world, are described in convincing terms.
  Western Europe provides the cultural milieu wherein the author pursued his spiritual search, but it is in Ireland that he finds the Catholic faith surviving in the hearts of many, in spite of intense bombardment by atheistic cultural forces. He admires the innate sensitivity to the spiritual world among the Irish people, and credits this with their cultural and national revival during the early part of the last century. As the atheistic secular culture relentlessly batters their remaining Catholic sensibilities, the writer is amazed at the degree of resistance which the Faith maintains in the hearts and lives of the population of the island where he has chosen to live.
  One cannot but be impressed by the breath of the authors study, and the depth of his insight. But it is his appreciation of their Catholic faith, and he and his wifes heroic perseverance in their search for Truth, which will leave a lasting impression on the reader.
1703533
The Light and Sound of God, and the sacred love of the Spiritual Teacher / student bond, are found in this wonderful book.
2519620
Most of us who have come to cherish our eclectic spirituality have done so by turning away from the status quo to the bright white light of Neo Paganism in whatever form we choose.  This then is the story of one such journey that in its simple truths is a beacon to all those who feel that they are alone in their quest for the divine.  Mark Townsend shows us what our wings are for without ever breaking the bond that connects us all as brothers and sisters.
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It is hard to do justice to this spiritual adventure story. Words seem totally inadequate.

That we have depleted and vandalized the Earth's resources in over a few decennia is a well known fact, as we grapple with issues like greenhouse gases and global warming. However, there are other facets of our lovely planet that we haven't yet been made aware of, at a global level. The 'Serpent of Light' is one such. Simply put, it is the Spirit of the Earth. Legend has it that it moves every 13,000 years from its resting place to another. The area that the Serpent rests in, gives birth to great schoars and thinkers because of the heightened energies. The movement of the Serpent, according to this book, appears to have taken place recently, (in accordance with the dawning of the Aquarian Age) as it moved from its latest home, high up in the Himalayas to its present resting place, somewhere between Peru and Chile. This shift in the Earth's energy was predicted by the Mayans about 13,000 years ago. Anchoring this energy properly in its present home has involved a concerted effort worldwide at different levels of consciousness. In this book, Drunvalo Melchizedek talks of the work in which he himself has played a major part.

For the first time in my reading, I find a spiritual action story. Coincidences take place so often that one is surprised that one can be surprised at all, that one has not got hardened to the rapid turn of events. Where, for instance, people whom you don't know at all, but are supposed to meet, turn up out of the blue, where you happen to be, to participate in a complex ceremony that required their presence. Where a group of people, drawn from all over the globe, come together to perform intricate rites, and the joy and exhilaration they generate together, as these ancient rituals are conducted, as the consciousness of native American tribes who have been wiped out, are resurrected from the Nether Worlds. The sense of an unceasing party, full of wonderful surprises comes through very vividly in this book.

Drunvalo mentions, also in some detail, his role in awakening and balancing the Goddess Consciousness in the late 1980's. In this, as in all his other ventures, he is mentored by Thoth and the angels. The book concludes with the story of his ongoing interaction with the Maori from New Zealand.

The author attributes his success in getting across to the ancient tribes of the world, to his own heart based perception, heightened after years of doing the Mer Ka Ba meditation. He mentions a time during one of the ceremonies which focused on healing the heart chakra, with a globally drawn group of participants, when one of them said that she sensed (at the end of the ceremony) that 'the Tower of Babel was shattered to splinters'.

This book has moved me as very few have. It contains many nuggets of badly needed esoteric wisdom within its 270 odd pages, pages that bear testimony to a way of life, devoted to living in the eternal Now with total trust of being provided for. It is not meant to be analyzed or understood, for it speaks directly to the part of us that knows all things and holds its wisdom in silence, the human heart. For those of us who are acquainted with Drunvalo, this book is some sort of an extension and elaboration of his earlier books, 'Ancient Secrets of the Flower of Life' (Vol. I and II) and 'Living in the Heart'., and written in his characteristically humorous, self effacing style. All in all: Advanced Wisdom, very readable, and highly recommended for all, especially during these times of uncertainty, confusion aand doubt.
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With eager breath, Ostriker's collection of poetry comes to life with much to convey. These sensuous poems weave a breath-taking tapestry about the feminine and the holy surrounding us in our lives, often hidden but just beneath the surface. Her knowledge of the Old Testament is clear here, and it more than enhances these poems. It gives them an added grace and strength. These poems are almost like a discussion with holy aspects of the universe, grappling toward a glorious knowing. The energy and imagery brought to mind Anita Diamant's "The Red Tent" and other feminist works, and "The Volcano Sequence" inspires just as strongly.
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Many readers of Barrios' Ami trilogy claim it as a life-changing read.  This book shares a similar tone and message. God speaks directly to the reader about love as the overarching principle governing interactions among all beings and with the divine: "If any path to God does not preach the unity of humanity, the union of the paths toward God, justice for the poor, and respect for nature, it does not lead to God Love."  Numbered stanzas are grouped into chapters with broad themes, like death, peace, and oneness.  The reader's mood is likely to determine whether chapters are transcendent or insipid. The beauty of the images ["I extend my jewels in the firmament of the night"] and the lyrical prose provide well-disposed readers with an instantaneous sense of tranquility and wellbeing and carry them deep into another dimension. Like the Book of Psalms, this can be read in one sitting, but alternately, one might let the book fall open where it will, or meditate on a single stanza for the day. Professing "love as the supreme law and there is no other," the mystical panentheism here will enchant the spiritually inclined.  Warmly recommended for bookstores and public libraries where spiritual themes are popular.
2649856
Barbara's book,Messages of Universal Wisdom is an amazing  journey  . The Image Keys within are breathtaking and deeply spiritual. I  felt my soul soar as I viewed those pages. The wisdom and beauty within this book make it invaluable tool for anyone interested in Sacred Geometry, Crystal Energies and Spiritual  Growth.
I am flooded with peace and joy as I journeyed through Messages of Universal Wisdom . My spiritual path is illuminated by her insight. Judith
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I cant say that Ive ever considered myself a progressive Christian, in fact I cant even say that I had heard of the term. But perhaps that doesnt matter. In fact perhaps labels themselves don't help and don't matter after all.
Could it even be that faith, at its best and fullest, is more a case of believing that God is up to something in this world (Living the Questions, page 59) and less about people believing in extraordinary things than it is about living in renewed restorative relationships not only with the divine, but with those others (especially those distinctly other) we share, and sometimes discover, our lifes journey and personal destiny.
The biggest obstacle to this kind of faith is certainty  the certainty based more on presumption than knowledge, on arrogance more than humility, and, perhaps above, adherence to creed over compassion and experience. Certainty is where faith stops and persecution and barren legalism begin.
Living faith is, by definition, unfinished. Living faith is restorative, welcoming and ever-growing.
But what of the most elemental theistic belief of all  Gods omnipotence?
If God is all-powerful, should He be held responsible for all natural (and personal) catastrophes? Are divine intentions behind disasters?
Few people of faith really believe this, but too many of us have absorbed the certainty of belief without the wisdom and depth that any real faith is based on.
But real faith is the opposite of certainty, it is a journey into the unknowable, the mystery of our origins and our eternal destinies. Real faith is inherently, immediately, and personally transformative.
But most of us fear few things more than transformation, in fact we are inclined to mistake homogeneity for holiness, (page 160) and conformity for Christianity.
But mystery is all we have, and know, for sure. And our encounters with truth and reality beyond our reach or definition are what makes our faith both real and an honest reflection of our Creator.
Creation stands as the literal expression of the ultimate Creator. And when we see this fully, we also know that there is only an arbitrary, human distinction between the sacred and the spiritual, the spiritual and the material.
This book closes with a quote from Albert Einstein. And if this is progressive Christianity, sign me up.
The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical.  It is the sower of all true science.  He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.
393438
Fr Martin has an uncanny way of capturing you.  The way he works his own spirituality into the lives of the saints is absolutely remarkable. There is nothing dry or mundane about this book (let's face it--reading lives of saints might not directly appeal to a person), except this book does.

Without sounding too personal I did find many avenues to enhance and enliven my own spirituality. For this I am eternally (I guess so!) grateful.