The Shared Heart: Relationship Initiations and Celebrations

This book is intended as a guide for those who desire personal relationships. But more than this, it is a guide for those of us who want our relationships to serve as vehicles for our spiritual awakening. This book is for those of us with the sincerity and courage to look at our desires, fears, anger-our full human condition. For as we accept our humanity with love and compassion, so will we also open our hearts to that which is more than human in us. As we embrace, rather than hate, our limitations, we find ourselves embracing our perfection as well. This book is for those of us who are learning the beauty and power of the monogamous or committed relationship. For the deeper we go with one other person, the more we learn about ourselves. In addition, the less we hide in ourselves, the more our heart is available to others, and the deeper our capacity for joy. Through this book we offer you the fruits of nineteen years of loving each other and ten years of guiding couples through their own initiations. We hope these thoughts, feelings and stories awaken your hearts to your own inner knowledge, and the ideal of the love relationship. As we all strive to be pure love, to become all we are intended to be, we are helping to spread the light of consciousness and serve humanity. May your heart be opened to the truth within you.

Rami Vissell wrote and illustrated this book during her eleventh year of life. It tells of her inner joys as well as her struggles as she faces the world. It tells of a child's grief over the death of her unborn sister, and the subsequent victory of more deeply understanding the meaning of death...and therefore life. It tells of learning to take risks and of finding the hidden blessing in seeming misfortunes.

Rami's stories and refreshing artwork reveal a child's closeness to the angels, nature spirits, animals and all of creation. With a child's simple and direct language, she offers a profound way of looking at life. She shares the lessons that come directly out of her own life experience, lessons which we all need to learn, however old we are. It is our greatest hope that adults as well as children will celebrate the magical inner child which brings us ever closer to the heart of love.