Collection: Spirituality & Religion

"Sit" = "Meditate." Clear, simple directions for anyone wanting to explore mindfulness meditation.

The first book in The Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.

In short, single-paragraph chapters, Nhat Hanh shares detailed instructions, guided breathing exercises and visualizations, as well as his own personal stories and insights. This pocket-sized book is perfect for those brand new to sitting meditation as well as for those looking to deepen their spiritual practice.

With sumi-ink drawings by Jason DeAntonis.

Find peace and serenity through the mindful art of stone stacking. This calming desktop kit includes:

• 9 hematite stones
• Beechwood tray
• Bag of sand
• 32-page book on the art of stone stacking
  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in the so-called "burned-over district" of upstate New York, which was producing seers and prophets daily. Most of the new creeds flamed out; Smith's would endure, becoming the most significant homegrown religion in American history. How Mormonism succeeded is the story told by historian Benjamin E. Park in American Zion.

Drawing on sources that have become available only in the last two decades, Park presents a fresh, sweeping account of the Latter-day Saints: from the flight to Utah Territory in 1847 to the public renunciation of polygamy in 1890; from the Mormon leadership's forging of an alliance with the Republican Party in the wake of the New Deal to the "Mormon moment" of 2012, which saw the premiere of The Book of Mormon musical and the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney; and beyond. In the twentieth century, Park shows, Mormons began to move ever closer to the center of American life, shaping culture, politics, and law along the way.

But Park's epic isn't rooted in triumphalism. It turns out that the image of complete obedience to a single, earthly prophet--an image spread by Mormons and non-Mormons alike--is misleading. In fact, Mormonism has always been defined by internal conflict. Joseph Smith's wife, Emma, inaugurated a legacy of feminist agitation over gender roles. Black believers petitioned for belonging even after a racial policy was instituted in the 1850s that barred them from priesthood ordination and temple ordinances (a restriction that remained in place until 1978). Indigenous and Hispanic saints--the latter represent a large portion of new converts today--have likewise labored to exist within a community that long called them "Lamanites," a term that reflected White-centered theologies. Today, battles over sexuality and gender have riven the Church anew, as gay and trans saints have launched their own fight for acceptance.

A definitive, character-driven work of history, American Zion is essential to any understanding of the Mormon past, present, and future. But its lessons extend beyond the faith: as Park puts it, the Mormon story is the American story.

DEVELOPED UNDER THE SHADOWS of the Egyptian temples, Hellenistic astrology is an ancient form of divination inherited from Mesopotamian wisdom traditions. Distilled in Gr co-Roman antiquity, and refined in the fires of philosophy and astronomy, it forms the bedrock of traditional western astrology (while also bearing profound similarities to Jyotish or Vedic astrology). Drawing on a body of Greek texts that have remained largely untranslated for almost two-thousand years, Demetra George brings the contemporary practice of astrology back to its ancient roots. Scholar, translator, and practitioner, her work reveals the potent cosmological veins that bear the lifeblood of traditional astrology.

Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice is, in essence, a training manual for the study and practice of Hellenistic astrology. In two volumes, it provides the complete foundations and detailed dynamics of ancient chart-reading techniques. Each volume and each technique is richly illustrated with diagrams, example charts, and practical exercises.

Volume 1: Assessing Planetary Condition

In ancient cosmology, the planetary divinities symbolised the hierarchy of forces that shape our lives in the sublunary world. Not all planets are created equal in a given nativity, however, and so the first step of the practicing astrologer is to assess the condition of each planet in a chart in order to determine its effectiveness (or lack thereof) in the native's life. To this end, this volume provides a series of rigorous methods for evaluating the condition of each planet in a birth chart through the lenses of classification (sect, gender, benefic/malefic), signs and rulerships (residences, reception, exaltation, trigons, bounds), the solar phase cycle (speed, direction, visibility, phase, phasis), lunar considerations (course, phases, bonding, nodes, bending, eclipses, prenatal lunation), and aspects (configurations, witnessing, testimony, bonification, maltreatment, adherence, overcoming, rays). Finally, it brings all of these factors together in a powerful synthesis that unlocks the layers of a chart with unrivaled precision.

A rich, poetic, and socially relevant version of the great spiritual-philosophical classic of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching--from a legendary literary icon

Most people know Ursula K. Le Guin for her extraordinary science fiction and fantasy. Fewer know just how pervasive Taoist themes are to so much of her work. And in Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching, we are treated to Le Guin's unique take on Taoist philosophy's founding classic.

Le Guin presents Lao Tzu's time-honored and astonishingly powerful philosophy like never before. Drawing on a lifetime of contemplation and including extensive personal commentary throughout, she offers an unparalleled window into the text's awe-inspiring, immediately relatable teachings and their inestimable value for our troubled world.

Jargon-free but still faithful to the poetic beauty of the original work, Le Guin's unique translation is sure to be welcomed by longtime readers of the Tao Te Ching as well as those discovering the text for the first time.

A portable collection of short inspirational readings by "one of the world's wisest women"--the American Buddhist teacher and author of When Things Fall Apart (O, the Oprah Magazine)

Pema Chödrön, beloved Buddhist nun and best-selling author, offers this treasury of 108 short selections from her more than four decades of study and writings. Here she presents teachings on breaking free of destructive patterns; developing patience, kindness, and joy amid our everyday struggles; becoming fearless; and unlocking our natural warmth, intelligence, and goodness. Designed for on-the-go inspiration, this is a perfect guide to Buddhist principles and the foundations of meditation and mindfulness.

The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

If you love Winnie the Pooh and seek to bring more kindness, peace, and quietness into your life . . . this book is for you.
A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh offers life lessons grounded in the simple act of slowing down, observing what is around us, and being present in our lives moment by moment. The benefits of mindfulness are well recognized: greater peace of mind, less stress, and the opportunity to work through and transform thoughts, memories, and worries. It also fosters equanimity, helping us accept the changes and challenges life brings.
In our frantic world, who better to guide readers through this transformative practice than a long-beloved bear who has perfected the art of simply being? "Just two things to do to truly be Pooh--just be present and kind," he says.
And, not coincidentally, he lives in the woods. There is a growing acknowledgment of the benefits of deeply experiencing nature. The calming quality of sounds like running water and rustling leaves, the soothing properties of smells like lavender and chamomile, and the emotional comfort of beautiful natural vistas are well known.
A Walk in the Wood is both inspiring and instructive. Simple stories with clearly stated goals and easy-to-follow exercises provide all the tools you'll need to take the first step, or continue on your journey, toward a quieter and calmer way of living.
Discover along with Pooh that mindfully exploring and experiencing the simple joys of nature is an ideal path for working on your own habits, attitudes, and emotions, while cultivating more meaningful relationships with others.

Become an excellent first-time dad and a supportive partner with this go-to-guide to fatherhood!

Being a great dad doesn't mean being perfect; it means participating in the experience with empathy and confidence. From the basics of pregnancy, to designing a birthing plan to tips on being helpful and supportive for your partner, We're Pregnant! provides all the need-to-know information on how to be a fully prepared parent.

Featuring must-ask questions for the doctor, milestone trackers, and more, this funny and friendly standout among dad pregnancy books also takes you beyond the due date, offering a helping hand on how to plan and perfect your own style of childcare.

Focus on one month at a time -- Organized by each month in each trimester, this baby book for dad explains what to expect, when and which milestones are coming up for your new baby.

Find insight on issues big & small -- Learn how to thrive as new parents with useful tips on everything from bottle temperature to bonding with your new baby.

Look forward to your growing family -- Keep your relationship positive and healthy by setting family goals like creating a fun pregnancy announcement or planning a relaxing trip.

Be a pro parent with this relatable new dad book that covers everything the expectant father needs to know.

A revolution is underway. For the first time in human history, we are at the cusp of experiencing contact with nonhuman life-forms of all kinds due to technological innovations and research into the experiences of people at the forefront of this development.

In Encounters, author D.W. Pasulka takes readers to the forefront of this revolution, sharing the work of experts across a spectrum of fields who are working to connect humanity with unknown life-forms.

Most of us have visions of nonhuman encounters that are shaped far more by Hollywood than they are informed by the current research. Encounters rewrites our visions of nonhuman species by featuring the work and stories of contemporary innovators who are rethinking our most basic assumptions about life and its manifestations beyond our experience.

The author of American Cosmic, D.W. Pasulka is a professor of religion at UNC, Wilmington; her work as a scholar has given her the tools to systematically examine data that exceeds rational categories--exactly the skillset needed to parse the world of UFOs, angels, AI, dreams, and other dimensions, which exist at the edges of human understanding. Encounters is a riveting exploration of the leading science of nonhuman life and a bold glimpse of the future of humanity in a universe where we are far from alone.

On September 4, 2020, I decided to detail my daily conversation with God as guided and inspired by His angels. I will relate to you in real time, each day, how God's angels revealed Him to me. I hope that after our one month together, you will have an ongoing daily experience of God through His angels that will build on each other, increasing your love for Him by loving one another and more fully embracing His creation.

In troubled times, there is an urgency to understand ourselves and our world. We have so many questions, and they tug at us night and day, consciously and unconsciously. In this important volume Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh----one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world today----reveals an art of living in mindfulness that helps us answer life's deepest questions and experience the happiness and freedom we desire.

Thich Nhat Hanh presents, for the first time, seven transformative meditations that open up new perspectives on our lives, our relationships and our interconnectedness with the world around us. Based on the last full talks before his sudden hospitalization, and drawing on intimate examples from his own life, Thich Nhat Hanh shows us how these seven meditations can free us to live a happy, peaceful and active life, and face ageing and dying with curiosity and joy and without fear.

Containing the essence of the Buddha's teachings and Thich Nhat Hanh's poignant, timeless, and clarifying prose, The Art of Living provides a spiritual dimension to our lives. This is not an effort to escape life or to dwell in a place of bliss outside of this world. Instead, this path will allow us to discover where we come from and where we are going. And most of all, it will generate happiness, understanding, and love, so we can live deeply in each moment of our life, right where we are.

The story of one of the most influential civil rights activist of our time.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote, desegregation, and other basic civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened, King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until his death--from an assassin's bullet--in 1968. With clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and 80 black-and-white illustrations, this Who Was? celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man.

Deliver me from the Watchers who bear slaughtering knives, and who have cruel fingers.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an ancient collection of spells, prayers and incantations designed to guide the departed through the perils of the underworld, ultimately ensuring eternal life. Written as part of funeral rites, these scrolls were often left in the sarcophagus of the deceased and now offer fascinating insight into Egyptian culture.

This beautifully illustrated edition contains images from the exquisite Papyrus of Ani, an ancient Egyptian scroll narrating the journey of Theban scribe Ani through the underworld. Its accompanying hieroglyphic text has been translated by acclaimed Egyptologist E.A Wallis Budge, and includes spells addressed to ferryman, gods and kings to aid Ani on his way to the afterlife.

This silk-bound hardback contains magnificent illustrations from Persian manuscripts that complement the text and bring out its timeless beauty.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Silkbound Classics series brings together deluxe gift editions of literary classics, presented with luxurious silk binding, striking embossed cover designs and full-color illustrations.

Reach true clarity and insight by looking deeply, minimizing misperceptions, and having the courage to see things as they really are.

The seventh book in the bestselling Mindfulness Essentials series, a back-to-basics collection from world-renowned Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that introduces everyone to the essentials of mindfulness practice.

Profound and always approachable, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us the art of looking deeply--in to our knee-jerk assumptions and runaway thoughts--so we can recognize the true meaning and essence of our lives. How to See teases apart the act of seeing-both inside and outside of ourselves, and points the way to developing true clarity.

Written with his signature warmth, these pithy meditations are accompanied by playful sumi-ink drawings by California artist Jason DeAntonis.

It's like meditation with a pen--with the colors set down you begin to make lines, lines that calm you, lines that inspire you, lines that absorb you, until the world, and your thoughts, fall away and all that's left is a perfect flow of attention and concentration. It hardly matters what you make. It's the act of making that liberates you from distraction and busyness.

Each of the first two Reverse Coloring books--with over 205,000 copies in print in just a year--frees the imagination and encourages the user to be calm and creative. But Mindful Journeys takes it one step further with 50 new and original watercolors created specifically to promote mindfulness. Abstract compositions in calming blues and greens. A shower of circles that suggests the infinity of the sky. Swirls of flowery patterns that evoke mandalas. Spiritual symbols, like a yin-yang, a hamsa hand, a flaming heart. Watery waves, and a curling peacock feather.

The possibilities are endless. Trace, sketch, doodle, shade, cover with dots or make a world of images. And lose yourself in time and space. Images in the book are printed on sturdy paper that's single-sided and perforated. All you need is your favorite pen.

Named one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century (Spirituality & Practice)

A 50th Anniversary edition of the bestselling Zen classic on meditation, maintaining a curious and open mind, and living with simplicity.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."

So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. It is an instant teaching on the first page--and that's just the beginning.

In the fifty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern spiritual classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics--from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality--in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page.