Resources

Healing Words faces

We want to share with you resources we believe will be helpful as you journey on your spiritual path.

Relevant books on spirituality, books written by speakers we have brought to Louisville, poems written by participants of our programs, and resources we believe are relevant to the conversations Spirit of Sophia is engaged in are listed.

RACIAL JUSTICE:

https://www.breakdownwhiteness.org/subjects

Breaking down whiteness in a U.S. context starts with a focus on anti-Black racism, particularly given the historical construction of whiteness as opposition to indigenous people and enslaved Africans. The binary of white and Black is part of the historical legal reinforcement of white supremacy requiring people in the U.S. to be recognized as one of the two. 

Collected by a group of academics in religious studies, history, and ethics, the resources provided on the site lean heavily on anti-Black racism and may be seen as reinforcing the binary of white and Black to a certain degree. It is not our intention to reify the binary. Rather, we seek to show how the binary works as a necessary part of both sustaining and breaking down white supremacy. As we expand the scope of this conversation, we seek to add resources that attend to how structural racism historically and currently affects a wider diversity of racialized communities.” Rev. Dr. Shannon Criago-Snell was a part of this collection of studies.

Poem written by a participant of “Sacred Thresholds with Paula D’Arcy”

Women Are Walking
Mary Mac
June 29, 2020

We were actually sitting.
Yet each one is walking to, from, around, or through thresholds.
My love showed through quiet tears.
Words spoken early went through my ears.
Straight to my heart.
Her words have a way of doing that.
My arms hurting without anyone in them.
I touched her shoulder and placed a soft kiss.  She couldn’t have felt them.
Wi Fi isn’t that strong.
Through  zoom…
I had goosebumps from the love.
I had prepared the room.
Barefoot in the sacredness of the moment.
We lingered afterwards.
Just to be with each a little longer.
I couldn’t leave the room for hours.
I could sleep.
Then, I slept all through the night and most of the morning.
It’s time for another sacred event.
Nothing compares.
I no longer try.
I prepare my heart as I leave the room.
Never the same…
Thresholds are calling…
Tears are rolling….
Women are walking…

Poem written by a participant of  “Spaciousness of Trust” workshop

Spiritual Books recommended by women of Spirit of Sophia

Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature by Kathleen Moore
Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister
Radical Amazement by Judy Cannato
Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor
A Star in My Heart by Joyce Rupp
Dance of the Spirit by Maria Harris
The Inner Voice of Love by Henry Nouwen

Books written by International Authors/Retreat Leaders/Speakers hosted by Spirit of Sophia

Elizabeth Lesser

Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are The Storytellers, The Human Story Changes

Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow

Marrow: A Love Story

Dr. Beverly Lanzetta

Radical Wisdom: A Feminist Mystical Theology

Emerging Heart: Global Spirituality and the Sacred

The Monk Within: Embracing a Sacred Way of Life

The New Silence: Spiritual Practices and Formation for the Monk Within

Sister Helen Prejean

River of Fire: On Becoming an Activist

River of Fire: A Spiritual Journey

Dead Man Walking

Dr. Christine Page

The Handbook of Women’s Mysteries

Frontiers of Health

The Healing Power of the Sacred Woman: Healing, Creativity and Fertility of the Soul

The Mirror of Existence: Stepping Into Wholeness

Beyond the Obvious:  Bringing Intuition into Our Waking Consciousness

Paula D’Arcy

Winter of the Heart: Finding Your Way through the Mystery of Grief

When People Grieve

Seeking All My Heart

stars at night

Sacred Threshold

Song for Sarah

Gift of the Red Bird

The Divine Spark

Rivers of Sorrow, Currents of Hope

Waking Up to This Day

A New Set of Eyes

Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.

The Tao of Psychology, Synchronicity and the Self.

Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women’s Lives.

Gods in Everyman: Archetypes that Shape Men’s Lives.

Ring of Power: Symbols and Themes in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and in Us:

Crossing to Avalon: A Woman’s Midlife Quest for the Sacred Feminine.

Close to the Bone: Life-Threatening Illness and the Search for Meaning.

The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves and The World. The

Goddesses in Older Women: Archetypes in Women Over Fifty–Becoming a Juicy Crone.

Crones Don’t Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women.

Urgent Message From Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World.

Like a Tree: How Trees, Women, and Tree People Can Save the Planet.

Moving Toward the Millionth Circle: Energizing the Global Woman’s Movement.

Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman