Spiritual RX: Prescriptions for Living a Meaningful Life

by Frederick Brussat, Mary Ann Brussat

Overview

Now available in paperback and from the authors of the bestselling Spiritual Literacy comes "a marvelous guide that translates 'feeling spiritual' into 'being spiritual'" (Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine).

In their bestselling book Spiritual Literacy, the Brussats introduced an alphabet of spiritual practices, from Attention and Beauty through Imagination and Play. Now, in Spiritual Rx, the Brussats describe the best ways to explore 37 essential practices, including identifying key teachers, recommending books to read, art works and videos to view, tapes to hear, plus much much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786886487
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	08/22/2001
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	5.19(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat are media editors for Spirituality & Health magazine. Hundreds of their reviews of recent books, feature films, videos, and audios, discussion guides to books and movies, are available at their website (www.spiritualrx.com). Their bestselling book Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life has been developed into a 26-part television series. The Brussats are also the authors of 100 Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive and 100 More Ways to Keep Your Soul Alive. They live in New York City.

Table of Contents

	Gratitudes	vii
	Introduction: The Path of Practice	3
	Finding Your Prescription of Practices	13
	The Practices
	Attention	29
	Beauty	36
	Being Present	43
	Compassion	51
	Connections	58
	Devotion	65
	Enthusiasm	73
	Faith	81
	Forgiveness	88
	Grace	96
	Gratitude	103
	Hope	110
	Hospitality	118
	Imagination	125
	Joy	132
	Justice	140
	Kindness	148
	Listening	156
	Love	164
	Meaning	172
	Nurturing	179
	Openness	187
	Peace	194
	Play	201
	Questing	209
	Reverence	216
	Shadow	224
	Silence	231
	Teachers	238
	Transformation	246
	Unity	254
	Vision	261
	Wonder	268
	X--The Mystery	275
	Yearning	283
	You	290
	Zeal	298
	Resources and Sources
	Passages in Spiritual Literacy	307
	The Spiritual Rx Resource Collection	325
	About the Authors	349

What People are Saying About This

Shaun McNiff

Shaun McNiff, author of Trust the Process and Art as Medicine

Spiritual Rx offers bounteous and splendid seeds for a more complete life, each one containing worlds to be cultivated through contemplation. Informed by years of research and their unique database documenting the landscape of spiritual disciplines, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat present an expansive and accessible compendium while always displaying their trademark quality and enthusiasm for every detail of practice.

Maggie Orman

Maggie Orman, editor of Prayers for Healing

If you're tired of inner-development books that are long on abstractions but short on practicalities, Spiritual Rx is the perfect antidote . . . a treasure chest chock-full of soul medicine.

Margaret Kornfield

Margaret Kornfeld, D. Min., President of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and author of Cultivating Wholeness

Spiritual Rx splendidly defines and illustrates the essential practices of daily spiritual life. It is a sourcebook of practical wisdom from all the world's spiritual traditions, and can be a guide to those just embarking on the path as well as those already on the journey. Without offering a "quick fix" to solve all problems, it is literate, gentle, and inspiring as it prescribes the possibilities of wholeness in our daily life.

Edward Hays

Edward Hays, author of The Gospel of Gabriel and The Ladder

The Brussats' new , like their Spiritual Literacy, is another Treasure Chest book—only this time it is a Medicine Chest. Here's a book to cure spiritual sluggishness with insightful quotes from a wide range of spiritual writers, along with a rich array of suggested practices, rituals, and celebrations. A MUST book for any spiritual seeker.

Debra K. Farrington

Debra K. Farrington, author of Romancing the Holy

Spiritual Rx is not only medicine for what ails you, it is great preventative medicine as well. Read this book, but more than that, experiment with the practices, teachers, and resources you find here. Your life and your connection to the Sacred will be all the healthier for your efforts.

Macrina Wiederkehr

Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB, retreat guide and author of A Tree Full of Angels

This book is a gift! A delightful resource! Creative, practical and wise! The 37 practices offered here will serve as valuable guides for anyone intent on the spiritual path.

Diarmuid O'Murchu

Diarmuid O'Murchu, author of Reclaiming Spirituality

Spiritual Rx is a useful spiritual resource that can be followed systematically or sampled at random for its gems of wisdom and insight. People of any faith, or none, will find its message inspiring and reassuring. A timely contribution to the spiritual awakening that characterizes the times in which we live.

Larry Dossey

Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Reinventing Medicine

Having a spiritual urge isn't enough; we need practical tools and guidelines on how to apply our insights in our daily life. Spiritual Rx fills this need. It is a marvelous guide that translates "feeling spiritual" into "being spiritual."

Belleruth Naparstek

Belleruth Naparstek, author of Your Sixth Sense and creator of the Health Journeys guided imagery audio series

The ingenious Brussats once again display their astonishing range and depth of knowledge in this inviting yet erudite collection of eminently do-able spiritual practices, designed for seamless integration into daily life. Drawn from a remarkably eclectic array of sources, from the great religious source texts to the films and music of pop culture, their "alphabet" of practices is an exuberantly generous, delicious feast that will nourish any reader's mind, body and spirit.

D. Patrick Miller

D. Patrick Miller, author ofThe Book of Practical Faith

Forget the gurus. In today's spiritual supermarket, all you really need is a good pharmacist. Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat do a bang-up job in Spiritual Rx. Simply organized yet richly textured, this book is full of salutary reminders that when the student is willing, teachers are everywhere.

Drew Leder

Drew Leder, M.D.,author of Games for the Soul and Spiritual Passages

The Brussats have done it again: given us an invaluable guide to spiritual practices and resources. Spiritual Rx is as comprehensive as it is light-hearted. It presents age-old wisdom in contemporary garb, through the best of modern movies, writings, music, and meditations. Thanks to the Brussats for sharing with us, so usefully and playfully, their expertise.

Marcus Borg

Marcus Borg, author of Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time and The God We Never Knew

Spiritual Rx is an extremely illuminating, helpful, and practical guide to living the spiritual life. I was impressed.

Editorial Reviews

In their 1996 book Spiritual Literacy, the Brussats gave readers a spiritual alphabet--37 practices, from Attention to Zeal, that are hallmarks of the spiritual life. Here, they offer prescriptions for implementing those practices in everyday life, recommending relevant books, videos and other resources. They suggest journal exercises, quote from beloved teachers and introduce readers to prayers and mantras to enhance spiritual awareness. They draw from sources as diverse as the films Dead Man Walking and What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and the writings of Terry Tempest Williams and Wendell Berry. In the entry on love, the Brussats observe that love doesn't just happen--it is something that requires practice. Lovers are enjoined to ask themselves each morning whom they will let into their hearts that day and to reflect again at night on those they have loved. For those wanting to develop compassion, the authors recommend meditating on a mantra based on Luke 6:36: "Be compassionate as God is compassionate." The Brussats offer a useful compendium of rich readings, provocative prayers and other resources for spiritual seekers. (Jan.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly