Climbing the Sacred Ladder: Your Path to Love, Joy, Peace and Purpose

This book is based on the Kabbalistic idea, which holds, we live simultaneously in four different realities, while being aware of only one. In this world view, what is most important is concealed beneath the surface of apparent reality. Nothing is, as it seems to be. Rather, there is always something beyond what “meets the eye. This applies to such various areas as visual and auditory perception, inter-personal relationships, religious-text study, dreams, and even material reality. The aim of Kabbalah is to infuse each person with a higher consciousness, a less strident ego, and a stronger soul, so each person can consciously choose those deeds, feelings, and thoughts, which accelerate spiritual redemption. The Sacred Ladder, based on the biblical story of Jacob’s dream, symbolizes the principle of spiritual ascension from earth to heaven, in order to attain higher consciousness. Each rung or step up this symbolic ladder brings a new realm of spiritual experience from a different dimension of life. Each realm has its own distinct spiritual task, challenge, and skills to be acquired. “. . . a very practical and effective way to gain soul strength. If you work with it, it works for you.” —Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of Aleph and Spiritual Leader of the Jewish Renewal Movement “Climbing the Sacred Ladder is a comprehensive, wise, helpful, imaginative, and practical manual for our evolution. . . . This is a lush and creative contribution.” —Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, author of more than a score of books on Jewish spirituality and Kabbalah “An inspired prescription for healing the human soul . . . this book is a concise and practical manual to anyone seeking remedy for the pain and alienation from the sacred which marks our society. [It is] for anyone who is ready to begin (or continue!) this sacred task.” —Trica Hellman Gibbs, MD, co-founder San Francisco Free Clinic

Shulamit Sofia, MSW, a psychology graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has a master's degree in psychiatric social work from Columbia University, and a post master level certification from the National Institute of Mental Health, in community consultation and child development.

Her background in mental health has contributed to her helping thousands of people in crisis, needing support, solace, and soul strength. During her long career, she has worked as a social worker, college professor, clinical therapist, program developer, founder of two nonprofit agencies (Parent's Place and Caring For Children), educator, seminar leader, international speaker, and writer. Using psychospiritual growth principles with people of all ages, she has demonstrated ways of expanding one's sense of well-being and a better understanding of how to meet their circumstances, with grace and equanimity.

A popular speaker at national (Child Welfare League of America) and international (World Federation of Mental Health) conferences, Shulamit Sofia also speaks to a wide variety of groups around the San Francisco Bay Area, where she makes her home. In addition, she teaches workshops and seminars to a wide variety of faith based and secular audiences.

Under the auspices of Caring For Children, a nonprofit she founded and led for 28 years, Shulamit Sofia, developed a set of eight training manuals for use by child welfare professionals, such as police officers, detectives, homeless shelter and family court personnel, etc. She has also written two manuals for parents, How to Raise a Non-Violent Child and Parent Preparation Manual: Parenting in Difficult Times. Shulamit Sofia has also written an art therapy book for children, Color Your Feelings, and a small book of soothing psalms, for comfort in times of crisis, entitled Psalms For a Sunny Day.

Shulamit Sofia, a spiritual pilgrim from birth, has journeyed toward soul strength as her life's purpose. She has been a serious spiritual seeker for nearly three decades, studying directly with the leading teachers of Jewish Mysticism. Founder of The Sacred Ladder and Soul Strength Seminars, Shulamit Sofia teaches practical applications of Jewish mystical principles, to solve challenging situations in everyday life. In addition, she provides individual spiritual counseling to people of all religions and/or denominations.