Shadows Of The Sacred

"A brilliant and groundbreaking exploration of the promises and pitfalls of the spiritual path written by one of the pioneers of transpersonal psychology. A must for every serious spiritual seeker, students of consciousness, and all those concerned about the future of our planet." -Stanislav Grof, M.D. "Regardless of one's religious preferences, this pioneering classic eloquently and objectively addressees the spiritual issues of our time." -Angeles Arrien "Here, presented with clarity and courage, are the foundations for a transpersonal psychotherapy that respects the multileveled richness of the human psyche." -Ram Dass

Memoir of a young American woman living in a rural community in northern Ivory Coast, West Africa. A New York Times Notable Book in 1989. Back in print.

When her German hometown becomes part of Poland after World War I, Lena, a young German Jew, struggles to come to terms with the anti-Semitism and anti-German hatred that seems to be growing around her.

How might life look if we lived as though eternity is now? Many of us have fallen into a trap, thinking that God and His kingdom are “up there somewhere” as if He and His dwelling place are distant in reach and in time. But, Jesus came teaching a very different reality. To every physical aspect of creation, there is a spiritual counterpart. When God created the world, He called it very good. He declared it to be sacred by placing His own image in the world through humanity. He charged humanity to fill the earth, to take dominion, to declare who God is. So, the here and now, this present reality…this is sacred. The tangible is not evil; it is a gift from God. And yet, it’s not the end all be all. It is just the beginning, a glimpse, a shadow of the greater reality. Here we live in the sacred shadow, but one day, when we pass through the veil of perception which blurs our present reality, when we step over the thread of time which is a boundary for now, but won’t be a boundary forever and certainly isn’t a boundary for God, we will step out of the sacred shadow and into the sacred substance. In Courtney Cohen’s latest book, The Sacred Shadow, explore what reality truly is, encounter the near presence of God, challenge your perception of eternity, and discover the sacredness that exists now during our brief time spent in this shadow-land. What Leaders Are Saying About The Sacred Shadow… “The Sacred Shadow is the perfect book to read when trying to make sense of the world we live in. It invites us to discover and understand that eternity is our real home, and we are just passing through earth, pilgrims headed to our glorious promised land. I urge you to read on. And, if you’re like me and you get excited at the thought of the supernatural heaven, the spirit world, and holy mysteries being revealed, you will likely call The Sacred Shadow one of your favorites.” Christine D’Clario International Worship Leader & Award-Winning Artist Author of Prodigal Heart “How does an infinite God go about communicating eternal spiritual Truth to the limited hearts and minds of the people He loves? How does a wise father teach young children his ways? In The Sacred Shadow, Courtney Cohen has put her finger on the method of God: hiding every secret and each mystery like Easter Eggs in tufts of grass – barely hidden in the shadows, where they can be found by those who seek them. Every shadow is cast by a great light shining upon a solid reality, and Cohen insightfully redirects our eyes from each shadow to the solid Truth it represents – and to the Great Light that shines behind each of them. Prepare yourself to gather treasures, because Cohen is leading us on the hunt, and there is wisdom to share for those who seek it.” Pastor Zach Neese Worship Pastor, Gateway Church Author of How to Worship a King

Magus leaves circle by the doorway, goes to Postulant, and says, "Since there is no other brother here, I must be thy sponsor, as well as priest. I am about to give you a warning. If you are still of the same mind, answer it with these words: 'Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.'" Placing the point of the sword to the Postulant's breast, he says, "O thou who standeth on the threshold between the pleasant world of men and the domains of the Dread Lords of the Outer Spaces, hast thou the courage to make the Assay? For I tell thee verily, it were better to rush on my weapon and perish miserably than to make the attempt with fear in thy heart." Postulant: "I have two Passwords: Perfect Love and Perfect Trust." Magus drops the sword point, saying, "All who approach with perfect love and perfect trust are doubly welcome." Going around behind her, he blindfolds her, then putting his left arm around her waist and his right arm around her neck, he pulls her head back, says, "I give you the 3rd password, a Kiss to pass through this dread Door," and pushes her forward with his body, through the doorway and into the circle. Once inside, he releases her saying, "This is the way all are first brought into the circle." Magus closes the doorway by drawing the point of the sword across it three times, joining all three circles, saying, "Agla, Azoth, Adonai," then drawing three pentacles to seal it. Magus guides Postulant to south of altar, and whispers, "Now there is the Ordeal." Taking a short piece of cord from the altar, he ties it around her right ankle, saying, "Feet neither bound nor free." Taking a longer cord, he ties her hands together behind her back, then pulls them up, so that the arms form a triangle, and ties the cord around her neck, leaving the end dangling down in front as a Cable Tow. With the Cable Tow in his left hand and the sword in his right hand, the Magus leads her sunwise around the circle to the east, where he salutes with the sword and proclaims, "Take heed, O Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, (name), properly prepared, will be made a Priestess and a Witch." Magus leads her similarly to the south, west, and north, making the proclamation at each quarter. , clasping Postulant around the waist with his left arm, and holding the sword erect in his right hand, he makes her circumambulate three times around the circle with a half-running, half-dancing step. He halts her at the south of the altar, and strikes eleven knells on the bell.

Shadow and Substance is the first book to present a sustained examination of the relationship between Eucharistic controversy and English drama across the Reformation divide. In this compelling interdisciplinary study, Jay Zysk contends that the Eucharist is not just a devotional object or doctrinal crux, it also shapes a way of thinking about physical embodiment and textual interpretation in theological and dramatic contexts. Regardless of one’s specific religious identity, to speak of the Eucharist during that time was to speak of dynamic interactions between body and sign. In crossing periodic boundaries and revising familiar historical narratives, Shadow and Substance challenges the idea that the Protestant Reformation brings about a decisive shift from the flesh to the word, the theological to the poetic, and the sacred to the secular. The book also adds to studies of English drama and Reformation history by providing an account of how Eucharistic discourse informs understandings of semiotic representation in broader cultural domains. This bold study offers fresh, imaginative readings of theology, sermons, devotional books, and dramatic texts from a range of historical, literary, and religious perspectives. Each of the book’s chapters creates a dialogue between different strands of Eucharistic theology and different varieties of English drama. Spanning England’s long reformation, these plays—some religious in subject matter, others far more secular—reimagine semiotic struggles that stem from the controversies over Christ’s body at a time when these very concepts were undergoing significant rethinking in both religious and literary contexts. Shadow and Substance will have a wide appeal, especially to those interested in medieval and early modern drama and performance, literary theory, Reformation history, and literature and religion.

Noted psychologist Jacquelyn Small helps us break the cycle of addictive behavior, destructive relationships and self-harm by teaching that we are not human beings learning to be spiritual, we are spiritual beings learning to be human. Jacquelyn Small's 12 Principles of Wholeness, developed in her 30-year clinical practice, provide a one-year process of psychospiritual "inner work." Blending ancient wisdom and modern science, this process has led client after client to the personal transformation of addictive living that precedes spiritual awakening. The readings, exercises and guided imageries in this book will help you access blocked emotions and modify the basic patterns buried within you that are holding unwanted behaviors in place. You will learn how to: Release stuck emotions through "inner work" designed to heal your past. Identify pseudo-personalities that masquerade as your true self. Create the inner space required for a spiritual awakening to occur naturally.

Since Phyllis Currot first published Book of Shadows, the story of her spiritual journey and initiation as a High Priestess in the Wiccan community, Witchcraft has captured America's imagination as a theme for fiction, television shows, and films. Now America's highest-profile Witch returns to dispel more myths and misrepresentations of her faith, and to share a practical guide to the beautiful spiritual rituals and philosophies behind Wiccan tradition. Rich with enchanting stories from Currot's own experiences and detailed advice for creating potions, working with Nature, and finding the Divine within, Witch Crafting is much more than just another superficial recipe book. Curott's unique guidebook integrates the inspiration of religious wisdom with sound, practical information. Witch Crafting reveals how to: incorporate Wiccan practices into your daily life; master the secret arts of effective spell casting; create sacred space and personal rituals; perform divinations for insight and success; and tap the magical power of altered states, such as dreaming meditation, prayer, and trance. Perfect for beginners or seasoned practitioners, Witch Crafting is the ideal handbook for anyone seeking to unlock the divine power that makes real magic happen, and to experience the power and gifts of the universe more fully.