| I love this book. Sometimes books just seem to fall | | | | Ellerby is not dogmatic about how that practice |
| into our hands as we most need a message. That | | | | should look. He simply advises that we choose a path |
| happened to me with this one. Not accepting | | | | that is right for us. Permission to choose is |
| traditional religions or any organized group or one set | | | | comforting and part of a practical spirituality that |
| of beliefs/rituals, I prayed/meditated/communed with | | | | deviates from traditional dogma. This flexibility does |
| my Creator in any number of unorganized ways. | | | | not justify lack of action, but allows us to define our |
| While this book didn't make me want to change any | | | | own way to the Sacred. |
| of that, it provided a framework for me to be more | | | | Finally, Dr. Ellerby presents 12 Master Paths, or |
| comfortable with my current choices and opened up | | | | different types of spiritual practices. He doesn't just |
| new possibilities. | | | | tell us we need to have a spiritual practice; he |
| First, Dr. Ellerby defines Spirituality, and I love his line, | | | | provides all of the possible roads we might choose. |
| "We are spiritual beings having a human experience - | | | | Each one has an ancient past, and most are known |
| not the other way around" (38). This is one of my | | | | to us in some form. |
| favorite new lines. | | | | Ceremony and ritual, sacred movement, music and |
| He also explains that "Spirituality isn't a quick fix or a | | | | sound, prayer, meditation, and sacred study are six |
| magical escape. But it can teach you how to meet | | | | possible paths. The next group consists of devotion, |
| life's choice and challenges with clarity and intention" | | | | sacred service, guru, aesthetic practice, death |
| (42). A good reminder for us all. Becoming spiritual | | | | practice, and a life path. A discussion of these will |
| does not mean the end of problems, but a higher | | | | follow in a second ezine article. |
| outlook provides a better way to handle and view | | | | Fear is our greatest barrier to any spiritual practice. |
| our dilemmas. | | | | We are often afraid to trust anything beyond the |
| Second, Dr. Ellerby is very clear that we all need a | | | | realm of science or reason. Trust becomes the key |
| spiritual practice. I agree. "Spiritual practice is essential | | | | ingredient in choosing, and then following, a spiritual |
| to spiritual growth" (23), and "The mind can only take | | | | practice. |
| us so far into the world of spirit" (17). | | | | Spiritual growth requires spiritual practice, and this |
| In his insistence that we have a spiritual practice, Dr. | | | | book provides direction and answers. |