Divining the Body: Reclaim the Holiness of Your Physical Self - Softcover

Jan Phillips

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594730806 ISBN 13: 9781594730801

Publisher: SkyLight Paths, 2005

Synopsis

Honor Your Body as the Instrument of Your Soul

This book is an attempt to undo the damage we've sustained living in a culture that thrives on our self-hatred. It is a sanctification of our human bodies, a consecration of ourselves as hosts to the Great Beloved. It is a journey of awe and reverence through the sacred terrain of foot and hand, back and breast, heart and brain. The path to peace is the pathway through ourselves, starting with the inward step, the brave, gentle step toward the Divine within.
―from the Introduction

Our view of the human body is always evolving. From the goddess-worship of civilizations millennia ago, to the strict social rules of Victorian England, to the modern feminist movement, the human body―particularly the feminine body―has always been a point of interest, mystery and contention.

Discover an entirely new way to look at your body―as a pathway to the Divine. Award-winner Jan Phillips takes you on an energizing journey through your physical self, drawing connections between the bone, muscle and sinew of your body and the spiritual teachings of various faith traditions, modern scientific research and her own experiences. You will find yourself empowered to work to transform the world around you and overcome self-defeating thoughts through positive, practical exercises and meditations that show you how to climb back into your body and honor it as the temple of God that it is.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

To find God, you only have to look inward.

What impact can your hands have on the world around you? How can you feel the energy of the earth in your back? What would God see if God saw through your eyes?

This joyful and liberating exploration of the human body allows you—whatever your religious background—to delve into the mystery and spirituality of your physical self. Award-winning author Jan Phillips examines the ways we view our bodies and helps you to unmask and embrace the holiness of your physical self, allowing you to walk confidently, speak with authority, and connect with the Divine in new and surprising ways.

Divining the Body takes a practical approach to the work of debunking years of societal and religious myths about the human body, leading you step by step through the major centers of the body and offering meditations, writing exercises, and suggestions for group activities along the way. At the end of this spiritual pilgrimage you will find yourself more in tune with your body and the people around you, for when we embrace the Divine within ourselves, it becomes natural to find and love the Divine in others.

About the Author:

Jan Phillips is an award-winning photographer, writer, multimedia artist and national workshop leader. She is cofounder of Syracuse Cultural Workers, publishers of artwork that inspires justice, diversity and global consciousness. She is the author of many books, including Marry Your Muse: Making a Lasting Commitment to Your Creativity (winner of the 1998 Ben Franklin Award) and God Is at Eye Level: Photography as a Healing Art. She lectures throughout the country, giving presentations that inspire creativity, community building and commitment in personal, social and corporate environments.

Jan Phillips is available to speak on the following topics:

• Evolutionary Creativity
• Spiritual Practice as a Creative Act
• Photography as a Healing Art
• Healing the Mind/Body
• The Word, the Image, the Story: Tools for Transformation

About this edition

• Publisher: SkyLight Paths
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1594730806
• ISBN 13: 9781594730801
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256