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I’ve had a couple treasures cross my desk recently that I thought I should share during the holiday seasons. As fun approaches to the spiritual paths of many traditions, they seem useful for reminding us — amidst the coming gift giving — what our many holidays are really all about. In short, they can help to remind of spirit. by EDDIE and DEBBIE SHAPIRO Godsfield Press $19.95 (pack)
From a "Just-Being Meditation" to "Insight Meditation," from forgiving and healing on to mantras, appreciation, peace, and more, The Meditation Book tells of a fantastic variety that is available to anyone going inside for work and improvement. But there’s hardly any use in this if the reader only watches others improve, so this book offers over a dozen practice pages to get the reader jumping right in. And then? We add to this the visualization cards. The thirty included cards actually double their use: one side of each offers a natural setting to rather breathe in and just sit with; these could be used for releasing the mind from words, for seeking an inner peace. The other side of each offers the same picture, less vivid, and jotted on with words for the day’s reflection. Topics range from mindfulness and simplicity to patience, love, truth, and 25 more. Cards and book together, simple and beautiful themselves, help one to start on this even more simple and beautiful inner path. Pathway to the Soul by EDWARD HOFFMAN Chronicle Books $19.95 (pack)
Finishing with the letters, Mr. Hoffman then speaks on the ten Sefirot of the Tree of Life — glyph to the teachings of Kabbalah. He gives again two pages to each of these, briefing the reader on what the Sefirot represent in divine descent through the stages of creation. Hokhmah (Wisdom), for example, "encompasses the realm of innovation, creativity, and the bursting forth of new ideas and forms. Such energy is crucial for accomplishing our goals in life," says Hoffman. It is also linked to imagination. "In mainstream society today, it’s a trait often disparaged as trivial and inconsequential, but for Jewish mystics, our imaginal capacity is among our loftiest and is a true pathway to the divine…Many Kabbalistic practices involve strengthening our imaginative ability by means of specific exercises, such as those involving the Hebrew alphabet and the ten Sefirot." Accordingly, Hoffman has not merely left us with words to consider; he provides a deck of cards depicting this alphabet and these Sefirot. And if you wonder how studying these can lead to self-growth, remember the ancient teaching: "As above, so below." If the Sefirot are the Divine in descent, for example, then they also correspond to different aspects of the human being — in fact, it is the unity of these that make up the Adam Kadmon: the Divine Human. The cards are then a focus for meditation, to be used alone or together as words (giving the opportunity to see how various truths in the letters combine to form the collective truth behind a word). The book, in fact, offers 25 different ways to use the cards, giving daily, weekly, and monthly meditations; finding a birthday message; discovering your spiritual name; enhancing relationships; preparing to travel; and more. There are many jewels to discover in this card and book set, and if you or any other is looking to Kabbalah or Hebrew for your spiritual growth — or would like to begin — then I strongly recommend The Kabbalah Deck. |
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Over time, I’ve found frequent references to meditation as a particular technique for quieting the mind, for insight, or for other purposes. I like this little package deal first of all because it does not point to meditation as a certain kind of practice, but as a whole field of inner work with many approaches. Throughout its pages, The Meditation Book talks about "How and When to Practice," "Meditation Posture," "Creative Practices," "Lifestyle Changes," and more items relevant to the meditative life. All of these help make the book complete for those just starting along the path of meditation. But rather than focusing here, these seem to support the overall effort of the book, which is a presentation of the many available techniques and uses of meditation.
A biased favorite reaching my desk this year is The Kabbalah Deck. With my long love of the Hebrew alphabet, and my more recent fascination with Kabbalah, this card and book pack caught my interest straightaway. There is so much for reflection in the Hebrew language, and in the letters that build it up. Consider the author’s words: "The Kabbalah is filled with references to mysterious Aleph, the first Hebrew letter. It’s the only letter that makes no sound of its own in a word — and yet from it arises the entire alphabet of sounds and infinite meanings. The sages regard Aleph as signifying that everything each of us accomplishes, however important in daily life, first emanates from stillness and silence." There are two pages of such interesting considerations on every letter, and 22 letters in the alphabet, and that’s just for starters.