Mandalas, Candles, and Prayer is a creative guide to a contemplative Advent practice. The author weaves together the four traditional themes of Advent with four prayer practices and contemplative coloring.

Color your way to a closer relationship with God. Praying with Mandalas blends the relaxing practice of coloring with ancient spiritual practices. The mandalas in this book (10 each of 4 designs) help you grow closer to God through lectio divina, intercessory prayer, centering prayer, and the Examen. Contemplative coloring is a simple, enjoyable, and tangible way to let go of your distractions and focus on God. Sharon Seyfarth Garner invites you to "be with God on purpose"to intentionally create space where you might hear God's holy whispers. Embrace the opportunity to nurture a deeper relationship with God through the colorful, contemplative practice of praying with mandalas.

As our world has become increasingly dependent on technology, and our Western societies have become woefully “Crackberried”— to use the title of a recent documentary on the emotional and social pitfalls of our too-wired ways—an intriguing phenomenon is occurring: There is an increasing amount of interest in returning to some of the simpler arts that were neglected or left behind with the onslaught of technology. Artisans and everyday crafters are finding a renewed satisfaction in making something with their own hands; some are even communicating about the inherent physical- and mental-health benefits found in handwork—and, even more than that, they are framing their handwork as meditation or spiritual practice. In today’s sophisticated and pluralistic society, people are more aware than ever that spiritual practice can be defined more expansively—and the popularity of books focusing on alternative spiritual practices demonstrate that readers are hungry for new (or ancient) ways of enhancing their inner lives. In Crafting Calm the author will explore these new forms of creative spiritual practice and the benefits they provide. The format of With Shannon's book will itself be creative, a rich “potpourri approach” that weaves together interviews, historical facts, projects for readers to do themselves, quotations, and suggested resources. Crafting Calm will serve as an inspirational resource guide to a broad assortment of spiritual practices gathered from the global arts-and-crafts communities, as well as from people who don’t consider themselves artists but who have adopted creatively expressive forms of spiritual practice. While there have been a few books published focusing on a particular form of creative spiritual practice (Skylight Paths, for example, has published books on beading as a spiritual practice; painting as a spiritual practice; and using clay as a spiritual practice), no one has yet explored the breadth of possibilities for creative spiritual practices contained in Crafting Calm.

In secular mainstream America, meditation has become as ubiquitous as yoga. But how does meditation fit into Christianity, and how does it differ from prayer? One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic's Guide to Christian Meditation reframes meditation for those who are skeptical because (1) they doubt their ability to be still and quiet and (2) they doubt the validity of meditation as a Christian spiritual practice. Using scripture, theology, and examples from the early church, this book challenges the prayer habits of Christians that leave little room for enough silence to experience and listen for God. Using five approaches—breath meditation, lectio divina, centering meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and devotional meditation—One Breath at a Time provides a practical, 40-day guide to beginning and sustaining a Christian meditation practice in an often chaotic world.

Using a series of letters, the author responds to questions that an older grandchild might ask a grandparent about little known stories in tracing the family history. Readers are encouraged to record their own family stories.

Collecting prayer practices from around the world, the author introduces readers to her favorites--fifty forms of prayer, worship, and meditation, with details about their history and roots in particular religious traditions. Original.

In these pages, Dr. Bernie S. Siegel offers 101 simple exercises for the soul, a divine plan for healing yourself and transforming your life. With his trademark humor and insight, he becomes your "workout coach," giving you this wonderful series of short and easy-to-apply exercises to help you achieve your potential and live a more peaceful, loving, and fulfilling life. As Bernie writes in the introduction, "Before you know it, you will begin to notice how your life has taken on more meaning and how much better you feel....The Force is with you. Believe me."