Book Review: Mourning the Dream
Mourning the Dream: An Illustrated Mythopoetic Inquiry by Susanna Ruebsaat is a not the kind of book you skim while you wait for the dentist or doze over at the beach. This is a book you read slowly, taking lots of time along the way to chew on all the beauty and depth offered through this rich offering of philosophy, poetry, personal reflection, drawing, and photography. As a self-described partially-sighted person, Ruebsaat offers a deeply personal exploration into the symbolic meaning of shadow, darkness, and learning to see.
Take your time with this one, friends. It is rich, and you don’t want to miss any of the beauty.
Link-Love:
Susanna Ruebsaat’s Website
Canada Citizens Forum interview with the author on YouTube
#MourningTheDream
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: The Buddha and the Bard
The Buddha and the Bard: Where Shakespeare’s Stage Meets Buddhist Scriptures by Lauren Shufran really brought me back to my undergrad days as an English major when I really fell in love with studying Shakespeare. I really enjoyed this exploration of the teachings of Buddha through the lens of Christian-influenced Shakespearean literature.
If you’re looking for a fresh view of Buddhism or have an affinity for the Bard, you will not be disappointed in this book!
Link-Love:
Lauren Shufran’s Website
Lauren Shufran on Instagram
#TheBuddhaAndTheBard
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus
Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus: The Hidden Teachings on Life and Death by Neil Douglas-Klotz is a fresh look at the teachings of Jesus through an ancient Aramaic language-informed study of the words Yeshua chose. Douglas-Klotz brings a depth and breadth of meaning to the familiar lines in the gospels by exploring the multiple meanings Aramaic words hold and expanding our understanding.
I was really impressed by the blend of scholarship and contemplative reflection Douglas-Klotz offers in this book, which opened up my understanding of so many familiar passages to make room for mining the depths. I know I will be returning to this book and deepening into the reflections offered again and again.
Link-Love:
Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus Website
Neil Douglas-Klotz’s Website
Neil Douglas-Klotz on Facebook
Abwoon Network Website
#RevelationsOfTheAramaicJesus
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: You’ve Got the Power!
You’ve Got the Power! Four Paths to Awaken Your Body’s Archetypal Energies by Lavinia Plonka is a fantastic invitation into working with the archetypes of Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and Visionary. By chapter three I was already recommending this book to others who are interested in embodied living.
As a proponent of holistic body theology, this book is right up my alley. If you’re interested enough in body theology to be a visitor to this website, then you’ll want to pick up a copy for yourself.
Link-Love:
Lavinia Plonka’s Website
#YouveGotThePower
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: Lovers in the Wilderness
Lovers in the Wilderness: Awaken Mystical Unity and Create a Joyful Life with Mantra Prayer by Stephanie Rutt is a brief but complete invitation into the practice of mantra prayer. She covers everything from the desire to explore the practice to its history and benefits to practical guidance on creating and maintaining an individual practice unique to each reader. The book is easy to understand regardless of what you know (or don’t!) about mantra prayer, can be digested in one sitting, and can be returned to again and again to support a mantra for each new season in the reader’s life.
I’ve been curious about mantra prayer but have never fully invested in learning the practice, so I was excited to pick up Rutt’s book and delighted to find it exactly what I had hoped for––an accessible introduction and practical guide. Whether you’re dissatisfied with your current spiritual practice or just curious to try something new, Rutt’s guide to mantra prayer is a great resource.
This one may not make it to my bookshelf; I’ll likely be re-reading it too often!
Link-Love:
Stephanie Rutt’s Website
Tree of Life School on Facebook
Tree of Life School on Twitter
#LoversInTheWilderness
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: NIV Beautiful Word Bible
NIV Beautiful Word Bible: Updated Edition, published by Zondervan, is a hefty NIV Bible with a plethora of colorful hand-lettered verses featured throughout and on nearly every page. If you grew up memorizing Bible verses from the NIV like I did, then flipping through this Bible will take you back to those VBS and sword-drill days (if you know, you know).
Although this Bible offers wide margins with lines for taking notes, the paper is so thin that I’m not sure what pen you could write with that wouldn’t bleed through. It might hold up to colored pencils for readers who want to add their own illustrations, doodles, or hand-lettering. If you’re not planning to write your own notes on every page or aren’t bothered by seeing the back side if your writing through the pages, then there is definitely plenty of room to add your thoughts.
This Bible might make a nice gift for an artistic, NIV-loving woman in your life.
Link-Love:
NIV Beautiful Word Bible Website
NIV Beautiful Word Bible on YouTube
#NIVBeautifulWordBible
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: Learning to Be
Learning to Be: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out by Juanita Campbell Rasmus is the true story of the journey from depression to a life-giving way of living. Part memoir and part devotional guide, Rasmus shares hard-learned truths from what she calls the “homeschool of God” about how to care for oneself and know the unconditional and limitless love of God. She brings her readers along on her journey from doing to being through reflections inspired by daily events and Bible stories. She offers guided instruction for spiritual practices that help support a reshaping of the framework for a lifestyle that allows for more presence and grace.
If you’re someone steeped in the Christian tradition and interested in spiritual practices, then you’ll find this book to be a wonderful window into a new way of living that, in Rasmus’ words, is “grounded in the ground of all being.”
Link-Love:
Juanita Campbell Rasmus’ Website
#LearningToBe
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: White Knuckle Love
White Knuckle Love: A Memoir of Holding by April Stace is achingly beautiful. Among the shattering moments Stace shares, both in her own life and those she witnesses while companioning others, I found space to touch my own moments of grief, doubt, and pain––and hope. What I love most about memoir is this ability to connect our lives with others however seemingly different from our own.
If you have ever asked the big questions, found your belief system shifting underneath you, been hurt or hurt someone, had your life turn out differently than you planned, suffered a loss, or a million other things––this book is for you. This book is for all of us.
I will be returning to this one again, and soon.
Link-Love:
April Stace’s Website
#WhiteKnuckleLove
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: Life Compass Living
Life Compass Living: A guide for growing up and growing old together by George H. Fuller, Jr. is a step-by-step guide to approaching both everyday life and life’s challenges and transitions with intentionality as well grace and preparedness. The book moves with energy and despite its thickness is a quick read.
I found the overall intention of the book to be inspiring and likely to be especially valuable for those preparing for or experiencing transitioning to caregiving roles for aging parents. Although the content is intended to have a broader application, caring for aging parents or dealing with the unexpected serious illness of a family member is probably the most useful setting for these steps.
I suspect that a book is not the best vehicle for this content and that it would be more useful redesigned as a workbook to accompany a multi-day workshop or class to guide people through the practical application of each phase in their real-life situations. Despite that, I expect this book will be a valuable resource to return to in the future and will be adding it to my bookshelf.
Link-Love:
George Fuller’s Website
#LifeCompassLiving
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Book Review: The Hidden Gospel of Thomas
The Hidden Gospel of Thomas: Commentaries on the Non-Dual Sayings of Jesus by William G. Duffy is an intriguing intellectual deep-dive into the ancient collection of Jesus sayings that some scholars call “the fifth gospel.”
Reading Duffy’s book brought back memories of my days as a seminary student reading and editing fellow students’ dissertations. I found his systematic approach both fascinating and illuminating, and I now have a better understanding of non-dualism both as a philosophy in itself and as it informs and is expressed within the Gospel of Thomas. I look forward to what comes out of future scholarly efforts building on the foundation of Duffy’s commentary.
If you’re into academic works or looking for a scholarly resource for understanding the meaning of the Gospel of Thomas, then I highly recommend this book!
Link-Love:
William G Duffy’s Website
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Holistic Body Theology 