Religion

You are important. You are unique. You are a wonder of creation!This is Pope Francis' message to you today. It is the departure point for your birth or rebirth, whatever form that may take; it is the glowing centre that sustains life, whatever your age. You are a wonder of creation!Even when your face is lined with worries or fatigue, remember that you are always a light that shines through the night. This is the greatest gift you've ever received, and no one can take it away from you. Dream on! Never stop dreaming. Believe! Believe in even greater and more beautiful truths. Let yourself be surprised by love. This is what it means to Live Well. This is the greatest and most beautiful wish we can extend to each other. Always.Joy - the wholesome and concrete kind, the joy we have all been searching for since birth - will be the natural outcome. It won't be an easy path; life's difficulties and the pervasive pessimism and cynicism of our era will periodically make it difficult to recognize and welcome grace into our life. But the Pope guarantees us that is precisely when we open our hearts to providence and allow tenderness and mercy to enter that life becomes beautiful. It's comforting to know that we can always begin again, that God can rebuild a story within us from the fragments. By letting ourselves be inspired by Pope Francis' 15 Rules for a Good Life, we can revel in the wondrous creations that we are, and savour the experience of what it means to live authentically. And so, joy will spread, bringing goodness to all those who welcome and share its gift.

Why you don't have a self-and why that's a good thingIn Losing Ourselves, Jay Garfield, a leading expert on Buddhist philosophy, offers a brief and radically clear account of an idea that at first might seem frightening but that promises to liberate us and improve our lives, our relationships, and the world. Drawing on Indian and East Asian Buddhism, Daoism, Western philosophy, and cognitive neuroscience, Garfield shows why it is perfectly natural to think you have a self-and why it actually makes no sense at all and is even dangerous. Most importantly, he explains why shedding the illusion that you have a self can make you a better person.Examining a wide range of arguments for and against the existence of the self, Losing Ourselves makes the case that there are not only good philosophical and scientific reasons to deny the reality of the self, but that we can lead healthier social and moral lives if we understand that we are selfless persons. The book describes why the Buddhist idea of no-self is so powerful and why it has immense practical benefits, helping us to abandon egoism, act more morally and ethically, be more spontaneous, perform more expertly, and navigate ordinary life more skillfully. Getting over the self-illusion also means escaping the isolation of self-identity and becoming a person who participates with others in the shared enterprise of life.The result is a transformative book about why we have nothing to lose-and everything to gain-by losing our selves.

The word 'chastity', at first sight, may seem intimidating, something to be dismissed out of hand. It is, however, something very different to celibacy.At a time when religion is in decline in the Western world and when it often seems that the senses have run riot, Erik Varden shows that chastity, the single minded direction of the senses, is a loveable quality and one that affects and beautifies humankind.The terms sexuality and wholeness indicate that to be sexual is to exist in a state of incompleteness longing to be restored. Wholeness points to a healing embrace that we desire so greatly. In Biblical language, chastity is a function of simplicity of sight. We are no longer torn apart by our passions and our desires, indeed they may reach their fulfilment. Body and spirit, male and female, order and disorder, passion and death can move from creative tension to a new kind of wholeness.Varden's text is enriched by a wide range of references to scripture, literature, music, painting and sculpture.

"Tara, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, can manifest within all of us. In this accessible, illustrated introduction to Tara's twenty-one forms, respected female Buddhist teacher and practitioner Dorje Lopèon Chandra Easton guides you to activate your own power and healing by inviting Tara's awakened energy to come alive in yourself. Embodying Tara is a practical guide to core Buddhist concepts and teachings, featuring meditations, mantra recitations, and journal exercises to connect with Tara and your innate wisdom. The relatable stories from Buddhist history and the author's personal reflections will give you the tools to live a more compassionate life, befriend your fears, and overcome everyday challenges. The book lends a fresh approach and down-to-earth connection to one of Buddhism's most popular deities through stories of important women in modern history, like Jane Goodall, Nawal El Saadawi, Dipa Ma, Oprah Winfrey, and Yandana Shiva, and broader movements started by women, like Black Lives Matter and Me Too, that embody the qualities and enlightened activities of Tara. They demonstrate real-world compassion and generosity, as well as the capacity to transform anger into wisdom, harness joy to overcome adversity, and protect others from fear and danger. Their stories will inspire you to bring these aspects of Tara into the world in creative and socially conscious ways for the benefit of all"--

A magickal guide to working with runes and plant allies for manifestation, healing, and spellwork

Connects the magical practice of theurgy to the time of Homer.

For those who have been disappointed when the 'good life' let them down or discouraged by life's struggles, the goodness of God is trustworthy, life-giving, and everlasting. Jesus wants to lead you on a healing path to redeem your story and to make you whole.

What is the world's fundamental reality? Ideas are the fundamental realities, according to the great philosopher and thinker Plato.Plato claims that there is a different world of thoughts, also called "The World" of ideas. Our reason can understand it, but the existence of this world of ideas is not reliant on us. By asserting that there are some universal laws present in human reason that serve as the basis for knowing, Plato thus lays the groundwork for rationalism. Plato, supports Objective Idealism by highlighting the fact that concepts do not depend on humans for their existence.But how did the world of ideas become the real world?In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, a group of prisoners are confined in a cave since birth, with their heads fixed so they can only see the wall in front of them. Behind them is a fire, and between the fire and the prisoners, objects are moved, casting shadows on the wall that the prisoners believe are reality. One of the prisoners is freed and sees the world outside the cave, realizing the truth. When he returns to the cave to tell the others, they do not believe him and remain in ignorance. The allegory represents the idea that humans may mistake what they see and hear for reality and need to seek knowledge beyond their perceptions. The Universal Sigils are being used as the standard symbolic means of manifestation and connection between our world and the world of ideas. A Magickal teller between realities. They can be used to represent ideas in the physical world and carry the corresponding energies through from other planes of existence in order to manifest in our realm of existence.These sigils can be used in spellwork, rituals, meditation, divination etc.

Pray Without Ceasing is a timeless classic on the subject of prayer by the renowned Christian author and teacher Zacharias Tanee Fomum. In this book, he shares powerful insights and practical advice on how to develop a vibrant and effective prayer life. Drawing from his extensive biblical knowledge and personal experience, he shows how prayer can be a dynamic force that transforms both the praying person and the world around them.Through five thought-provoking chapters, the author explores various aspects of prayer, including the importance of fasting, the need for self-sacrifice, the necessity of removing sin, and the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer. He challenges believers to embrace a lifestyle of prayer, characterized by intimacy with God and a willingness to serve Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.Whether you are a seasoned prayer minister or a newcomer to the faith, this book will inspire and equip you to pray without ceasing and experience the power of God in your life.Open your heart and mind, and let the Holy Spirit guide you on a journey that will revolutionize your prayer life and deepen your relationship with the Almighty.

In Get Past Your Past, licensed therapist and popular online content creator Jason VanRuler offers understanding, empathy, grace, and a hand to hold as he shares from his own places of brokenness and his learnings as a therapist to help readers embark upon their own journeys toward healing from the hardships, pitfalls, and missteps of life.

Cunning Words: a Grimoire of Tales and Magic is a book of witchcraft in three parts. Part I is a collection of stories that connect the seeker to folklore and tales inspired by witchery and lessons written within. Part II is a collection of rhymes that teach specific acts of witchcraft as well as recipes and petitions. Part III is a working guide on using the information provided to build upon your own personal practice as well as charms, rites, and curses extrapolated from the cunning tales.This book is for the most cunning and has been written for the beginner and adept alike. The tales within will introduce you to spirits old and new, the Three Mothers, the Three Wise Healers, The Seven Holy Siblings, and so much more.

The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus; abbreviated Ecclus.) is a Jewish work, originally in Hebrew, of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 BCE, written by the Judahite scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira.In Egypt, it was translated into Greek by the author's unnamed grandson, who added a prologue. This prologue is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text is the subject of intense scrutiny. The book itself is the largest wisdom book from antiquity to have survived. Although excluded from the Jewish canon, Sirach was read and quoted as authoritative from the beginning of the rabbinic period. There are numerous citations to Sirach in the Talmud and works of rabbinic literature (as "ספר בן סירא", e.g., Hagigah 13a, Niddah 16b; Ber. 11b). Some of those (Sanhedrin 100b) record an unresolved debate between R'Joseph and Abaye as to whether it is forbidden to read the book of Sirach, wherein Abaye repeatedly draws parallels between statements in Sirach cited by R'Joseph as objectionable and similar statements appearing in canonical books.Sirach may have been used as a basis for two important parts of the Jewish liturgy. In the Mahzor (High Holiday prayer book), a medieval Jewish poet may have used Sirach as the basis for a poem, Mar'e Kohen, in the Yom Kippur musaf ("additional") service for the High Holidays. Yosef Tabori questioned whether this passage in Sirach is referring at all to Yom Kippur, and thus argued it cannot form the basis of this poem. Some early 20th-century scholars also argued that the vocabulary and framework used by Sirach formed the basis of the most important of all Jewish prayers, the Amidah, but that conclusion is disputed as well.Current scholarship takes a more conservative approach. On one hand, scholars find that "Ben Sira links Torah and wisdom with prayer in a manner that calls to mind the later views of the Rabbis", and that the Jewish liturgy echoes Sirach in the "use of hymns of praise, supplicatory prayers and benedictions, as well as the occurrence of [Biblical] words and phrases [that] take on special forms and meanings." However, they stop short of concluding a direct relationship existed; rather, what "seems likely is that the Rabbis ultimately borrowed extensively from the kinds of circles which produced Ben Sira and the Dead Sea Scrolls ...." Some Christians regard the catalogue of famous men in Sirach as containing several messianic references. The first occurs during the verses on David. Sirach 47:11 reads "The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel." This references the covenant of 2 Samuel 7, which pointed toward the Messiah. "Power" (Hebrew qeren) is literally translated as 'horn'. This word is often used in a messianic and Davidic sense (e.g. Ezekiel 29:21, Psalms 132:17, Zechariah 6:12, Jeremiah 33:15). It is also used in the Benedictus to refer to Jesus ("and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David").Another verse (47:22) that Christians interpret messianically begins by again referencing 2 Samuel 7. This verse speaks of Solomon and goes on to say that David's line will continue forever. The verse ends stating that "he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David a root of his stock." This references Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots"; and "In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek..." (Isaiah 11:1, 10). (wikipedia.org)

The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus ; abbreviated Ecclus.) is a Jewish work, originally in Hebrew, of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 BCE, written by the Judahite scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira.In Egypt, it was translated into Greek by the author's unnamed grandson, who added a prologue. This prologue is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text is the subject of intense scrutiny. The book itself is the largest wisdom book from antiquity to have survived. Although excluded from the Jewish canon, Sirach was read and quoted as authoritative from the beginning of the rabbinic period. There are numerous citations to Sirach in the Talmud and works of rabbinic literature (as "¿¿¿ ¿¿ ¿¿¿¿", e.g., Hagigah 13a, Niddah 16b; Ber. 11b). Some of those (Sanhedrin 100b) record an unresolved debate between R'Joseph and Abaye as to whether it is forbidden to read the book of Sirach, wherein Abaye repeatedly draws parallels between statements in Sirach cited by R'Joseph as objectionable and similar statements appearing in canonical books.Sirach may have been used as a basis for two important parts of the Jewish liturgy. In the Mahzor (High Holiday prayer book), a medieval Jewish poet may have used Sirach as the basis for a poem, Mar'e Kohen, in the Yom Kippur musaf ("additional") service for the High Holidays. Yosef Tabori questioned whether this passage in Sirach is referring at all to Yom Kippur, and thus argued it cannot form the basis of this poem. Some early 20th-century scholars also argued that the vocabulary and framework used by Sirach formed the basis of the most important of all Jewish prayers, the Amidah, but that conclusion is disputed as well.Current scholarship takes a more conservative approach. On one hand, scholars find that "Ben Sira links Torah and wisdom with prayer in a manner that calls to mind the later views of the Rabbis", and that the Jewish liturgy echoes Sirach in the "use of hymns of praise, supplicatory prayers and benedictions, as well as the occurrence of [Biblical] words and phrases [that] take on special forms and meanings." However, they stop short of concluding a direct relationship existed; rather, what "seems likely is that the Rabbis ultimately borrowed extensively from the kinds of circles which produced Ben Sira and the Dead Sea Scrolls ...." Some Christians regard the catalogue of famous men in Sirach as containing several messianic references. The first occurs during the verses on David. Sirach 47:11 reads "The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel." This references the covenant of 2 Samuel 7, which pointed toward the Messiah. "Power" (Hebrew qeren) is literally translated as 'horn'. This word is often used in a messianic and Davidic sense (e.g. Ezekiel 29:21, Psalms 132:17, Zechariah 6:12, Jeremiah 33:15). It is also used in the Benedictus to refer to Jesus ("and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David").Another verse (47:22) that Christians interpret messianically begins by again referencing 2 Samuel 7. This verse speaks of Solomon and goes on to say that David's line will continue forever. The verse ends stating that "he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David a root of his stock." This references Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots"; and "In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek..." (Isaiah 11:1, 10). (wikipedia.org)

The Witches' Almanac is a sophisticated publication appealing to general readers as well as hard-core Wiccans. At one level, it is a pop reference that will fascinate anyone interested in folklore, mythology and culture, but at another, it is the most sophisticated annual guide available today for the mystic enthusiast. Founded in 1971 by Elizabeth Pepper, the art director of Gourmet magazine for many years, The Witches' Almanac is a witty, literate, and sophisticated publication that appeals to general reads as well as hard-core Wiccans. At one level, it is a pop reference that will fascinate anyone interested in folklore, mythology and culture, but at another, it is the most sophisticated and wide-ranging annual guide available today for the mystic enthusiast. Modeled after the Old Farmers' Almanac, it includes information related to the annual Moon Calendar (weather, forecasts, and horoscopes), as well as legends, rituals, herbal secrets, mystic incantations, interviews, and many a curious tale of good and evil. Although it is an annual publication, much of the content is both current and timeless--not specific to the date range of each issue. The theme of Issue 43 (Spring 2024 - Spring 2025) is Fire -- Forging Freedom. Also included are articles on: Geomancy The Lunar Nodes Azorean Folklore Kitchen Magic - Soul Cakes The Trickiest Toad The Orisha Obatala and much more.

A smart black bonded leather Bible, with easy-to-read NIV text.

A family is an important unit in our life. In building this institution, marriage becomes a susceptible foundation that holds the family together. This comes with rights and responsibilities that we often neglect and take for granted.In Our Family Our Legacy, Dr Yasir Qadhi analyses the topic of a family institution by dissecting it into two dichotomous parts, which are spouses and children. In today's world where family and marriage institutions are becoming less and less favourable, the author highlights the significance of keeping them steady, by suggesting tips and ways in understanding your spouses and children, as a way to make them understand you as well. He also reiterates the rights and responsibilities that we all should take note of and adhere to for a sakinah, mawaddah and raḥmah marriage in which children will bloom.

This sticker book features more than 400 beautiful and colorful Wiccan-themed artworks--both vintage and vintage-inspired. There are six categories of stickers--celestial sphere, mystical terra, witch's toolkit, symbols and sabbats, familiars and other creatures, and holistic witchery--each introduced by a poetic thematic quote. The stickers are perfect for decorating everything from stationery to scrapbooks, and they can be used to embellish notebooks, planners, gift boxes, and laptops, or to create artistic collages. And, the book itself can be enjoyed on its own as a beautiful objet d'art.

An accessible and easy-to-use men's devotional offering a year of scripture, prayers and wisdom.As a main supporter of their families, dads are pillars of strength. But sometimes they can get overwhelmed and stressed and require self-care. Men’s Devotional for Dads by authors and renowned Christian counselors Chris and Jamie Bailey, helps all dads lean on God for strength and wisdom for the journey of fatherhood and beyond.Men’s Devotional for Dads features:52 WEEKS OF PRAYERS AND DEVOTION:  A selection of powerful scripture and God’s truths makes sure that dad is spiritually covered for the whole year. Anecdotes and cases of real dads provide guidance on refocusing on God. Each devotion offers a prayer for God’s strength, wisdom, and healing for all seasons of fatherhood.UPLIFTING AND INSPIRATIONAL AFFIRMATIONS: Each devotion starts with an affirmation that also serves as the devotional theme that reflects God’s truth   PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELORS: Chris and Jamie Bailey have been married for more than 28 years and are renowned in their community for helping Christian marriages thrive. Their clients include fathers, and they have helped many dads find their best selves through the grace of God.  They both have their Master’s in Professional Counseling.

A daily companion for exploring your spiritual path with weekly lessons in herbalism, divination, magic, and Witchcraft.Enrich your spiritual and magical journey with The Practical Witch's Almanac. This almanac provides more than Moon phases, Sabbats, and astronomical and astrological information. Every week you'll explore lessons in herbalism, magic, divination, and more.This practical guide gives you recipes, DIY projects, tips, and advice to keep you motivated and engaged as you grow your craft. You'll explore tarot cards, runes, tea leaves, and other forms of divination. The herbal studies mentor you through basic teas, tinctures, foods, ointments, incense, and lotions while emphasizing the synergistic union of science and magic. The magic lessons help you hone your spell casting, and the spiritual studies assist you in exploring your beliefs.Weekly bonus material is available at http: //PracticalWitch.com/My2024. The Practical Witch Talk podcast expands on each week's lessons.Missed the Kickstarter? Rewards and add-ons are still available on our PledgeManager page!

No one has ever seen God. In fact, the Bible says it's impossible. And yet, to live the Christian life, you must see God. If we can see God, the very sight of Him will fuel and motivate all the other aspects of our lives. So how do we do it?John Davis delves into the ways that we can see God. We see God in His Word; we see Him in the person of Jesus Christ; we even see Him reflected in one another. Although God remains unseen, He has revealed Himself in a whole host of ways. Our hearts perceive Him in the beauty of creation, and in moments of wonder and transcendence. Davis also gives helpful counsel for when we feel like we can't see God, or don't want to see Him. When we behold God's glory it changes everything about us. In keeping our sight fixed on Him,we reflect Him more and more. John Davis invites us to join him in fixing our eyes on the One who is invisible and look forward to the day when we will see Him face to face.