Made doubly marginal by their gender and by their religion, American nuns have rarely been granted serious scholarly attention. Instead, their lives and achievements have been obscured by myths or distorted by stereotypes. Placing nuns into the mainstream of American religious and women's history for the first time, Spirited Lives reveals their critical impact on the development of Catholic culture and, ultimately, the building of American society. Focusing on the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, one of the largest and most diverse American sisterhoods, Carol Coburn and Martha Smith explore how nuns directly influenced the lives of millions of Americans, both Catholic and non-Catholic, through their work in schools, hospitals, orphanages, and other social service institutions. Far from functioning as passive handmaidens for Catholic clergy and parishes, nuns created, financed, and administered these institutions, struggling with, and at times resisting, male secular and clerical authority. A rich and multifaceted narrative, Spirited Lives illuminates the intersection of gender, religion, and power in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century America.

Made doubly marginal by their gender and by their religion, American nuns have rarely been granted serious scholarly attention. Instead, their lives and achievements have been obscured by myths or distorted by stereotypes. Placing nuns into the mainstream

The Secret meets Skinny Bitch in Spirited, the fresh, hip new book by popular psychic medium Rebecca Rosen. A prescriptive program that has worked for celebrity clients including Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox Arquette, Spirited empowers readers to heighten their intuition, connect with deceased loved ones, and surpass the psychological roadblocks holding them back. Fans of James Von Praagh and John Edwards, as well as television’s The Ghost Whisperer, will find direct, down-to-earth advice on how to draw on the power of their intuitive gifts to connect with spirit energy—loved ones who have passed—to provide the clarity necessary to master real-life issues, including relationships, job fulfillment, finances, and body image.

This landmark book combines the voices of Native Americans and non-Indians, anthropologists and others, in an exploration of gender and sexuality issues as they relate to lesbian, gay, transgendered, and other "marked" Native Americans. Focusing on the concept of two-spirit people--individuals not necessarily gay or lesbian, transvestite or bisexual, but whose behaviors or beliefs may sometimes be interpreted by others as uncharacteristic of their sex--this book is the first to provide an intimate look at how many two-spirit people feel about themselves, how other Native Americans treat them, and how anthropologists and other scholars interpret them and their cultures. 1997 Winner of the Ruth Benedict Prize for an edited book given by the Society of Lesbian and Gay Anthropologists.

First published a decade ago, A Writer's Book of Days has become the ideal writing coach for thousands of writers. Newly revised, with new prompts, up-to-date Web resources, and more useful information than ever, this invaluable guide offers something for everyone looking to put pen to paper — a treasure trove of practical suggestions, expert advice, and powerful inspiration. Judy Reeves meets you wherever you may be on a given day with: • get-going prompts and exercises • insight into writing blocks • tips and techniques for finding time and creating space • ways to find images and inspiration • advice on working in writing groups • suggestions, quips, and trivia from accomplished practitioners Reeves's holistic approach addresses every aspect of what makes creativity possible (and joyful) — the physical, emotional, and spiritual. And like a smart, empathetic inner mentor, she will help you make every day a writing day.

The state of today’s modern world is triggering a deep, unavoidable desire to regain central balance within the hearts of many. Every day, we’re challenged with the questions: Who am I in this current world? What do I stand for? What is my purpose within it all? Many are seeking to understand our true natures and our purposes and we’re trying to embody that truth. Author Danielle Van de Velde is one of those people searching for answers. In Spirited, she shares her insights, observations and practices from her many years of teaching meditation and holding thousands of intuitive healing sessions. She speaks to those who are ready to claim their own natural spirituality, offering an upload of different perspectives for modern spirited living—ones that open access to our innate spiritual design and how to work with it. Spirited address three facets: • spirit self: an expanded perspective on the visible and invisible aspects of the self; • spirit dynamics: an expanded perspective on the nature of life and our engagement within it; and • spirit skills: an expanded perspective on meditation and working with your energy body. Van de Velde reframes meditation as an intentional practice to transform from reactive, to responsive, to expansive,and ultimately to creative living. She helps you remember who and what you really are, to live in active cohesion and cocreation with life and to operate creatively and intuitively in a state of flow. To remember this, is when we heal and come back to our true nature and design. This is being spirited.

A Spirited Life is a must for any dog lover. Spirit walks you through his life. If you ever feel like life has given you a raw deal this is the book for you. This dog was given a hand of the worst cards possible, and he turned them into something quite grand with the help of his mom, Mary Oquendo. His antics will make you laugh, cry, and occasionally spit your drink. Spirit, my blind husky, was an integral part of my journey in the pet industry. He was a colleague, a travel buddy, and my friend. Everyone who met him loved him. He graces many a wedding photo album with people he met that day, as well as in, too many to count, cell phone photo libraries. This is Spirit's life told from his perspective.