Charlotte Eulette, is a poet, writer, and cofounder of the Celebrant Foundation & Institute. She’s been a poet and a great lover of poetry most of her life, drawing zest and inspir…

Heidi Hutner is Director of Sustainability Studies and Director of Environmental Humanities at Stony Brook University, where she is a professor of ecofeminism and environmental jus…

The Beloved Lord's Secret Love Songby Graham M. SchweigOne of the world’s most important Scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita describes itself as “the supreme secret of yoga,” and this ne…

Ancient Advice for the Second Half of Lifeby William MartinLao Tzu, the teacher of the venerable sage Confucius, is thought to have written only 5,000 words in his lifetime, most o…

Poems for the Mind and SensesSelected by Christine San José and Bill Johnson, with illustrations by Melanie HallPoetry for children has to be the very best. It has to tickle the mi…

A Heart Exposed: Talking to God with Nothing to Hide (A Book of Prayers)by Steven JamesOne of the most beautiful gifts of Steven James’s book, A Heart Exposed, is that the prayer-p…

The Haiku of Basho, Buson, Issa, and ShikiBy Robert AitkenI have always found haiku, with its spare text and deeply penetrating insight, a perfect doorway to meditation. With scarc…

Edited by Philip Zaleski, with an Introduction by Jimmy CarterHoughton Mifflin, 2008, $14.00The topics in this tenth edition of the Best American Spiritual Writing series range wid…

Prajna Vieira and Ben LeinbachMANTRALOGY RECORDSPrajna Viera has honed her golden voice by singing devotional songs for Amma, the humanitarian “hugging saint” from India …

A Poet’s Journey through a Chinese PrisonBy Liao YiwuNew HarvestLong before he was imprisoned for writing and distributing a poem condemning the bloody government crackdown in Tian…

Marshall StylerStyler Music, BMIMarshall Styler is known for creating deeply moving melodies for piano and instrumental keyboard accompaniments; this gentle and romantic improvisat…

The Fourth LightNiyazSIX DEGREE RECORDS Led by vocalist Azam Ali and multi-instrumentalist Loga R. Torkian, the Iranian-American group Niyaz crafts an exquisite braid of tradition…

Tales from the Realm of theQueen of PentaclesSuzanne VegaAmanuensis ProductionsFans of Suzanne Vega can stop wondering when she’ll produce another album of thoughtful, understated,…

MbalimaouBoubacar LUSAFRICA  Boubacar TraorÉ was born in the city of Kayes in Mali in West Africa. It’s a country that traces its roots to the 12th-century Mandingo cult…

The ConversationA Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life CareBy Angelo E. Volandes, MD Bloomsbury USAIn the United States, end-of-life care is one of the least discussed aspects o…

Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs from AleppoNawaElectric Cowbell RecordsJust as Amazon rainforests, North Pole icebergs, and Ganges River dolphins have become en…

SanctuaryPhil HaynesCorner Store JazzCymbals, chimes, and drums. Sticks, fingers, and brushes. These are some of the raw materials that Phil Haynes beautifully crafts into rhythmic…

Keep Me SingingVan MorrisonCaroline InternationalKeep Me Singing is Van Morrison’s 36th studio album—his first since 2012—and the singer’s smooth voice and bluesy lyrics remain imm…

The SeerA Portrait of Wendell BerryLaura DunnTwo Birds FilmDirector Laura Dunn’s documentary portrait of the legendary environmentalist, writer, and farmer Wendell Berry owes as mu…

The Beautiful Not YetCarrie NewcomerAvailable Light RecordsCarrie Newcomer’s soothing vocals and inspiring music are grounded in social justice and authentic hope. “When you sing a…

You Want It DarkerLeonard CohenColumbiaJust before the winter settled in, Leonard Cohen passed away in his sleep on November 7, 2016. The singer was 82 years old. Less than a month…

Directed by Jon LongITM FILM AND THE EARTH NETWORK We’ve gotten lots of documentaries about surfing, skating, and other types of action sports over the years—from the Endles…

Kahlil Gibran’s The ProphetDirected by Roger AllersGKIDS There are few things in life more glorious than the sound of Liam Neeson reading lines from the great poet Gibran’s The Pr…

TremorsSohn4ADThe debut album from music producer Sohn is creative, emotionally honest, pop-flavored electronica with gentle male vocals. Tremors is a strong and balanced…

Canticle on Matthew 6 in Wartimeby Jennifer AtkinsConsider the missing lilies, the trees stripped of leaves and burnt, the grass trampled to dust.Consider the crows of the air, wha…

At Low Tide By Nancy Willard At low tide, when Water openedher workshop, her shining hands unrolleda fabric so light I saw straight downto the loom on which it was born -- long …

Why in the last of days does it feel the first—why is the rain always new, a ‘latter rain’?The baby’s name is Phoenix and her flameis better than the ash we visit andrevisit. Last …

COVER STORYCreate Your Own Holy Day by Rabbi Rami ShapiroFEATURESSharing the Inuit Vision OPENINGAmerica's Most Spiritual Spa 2010 by Stephen KieslingHeart of Brightness by James N…

Here is a complete listing of headlines from this edition. Only a handful of articles are available for free online -- just click the links to read them. To read all articles from …

Transitional Keys is a groundbreaking program that uses the elements and structure of ritual to ease people through whatever transition is occurring.

Where do poems come from? I believe they happen when several insights come together to make an explosion. For several months I’d been reading a wonderful new translation of Lao Tzu…

How often are you startled by afresh spiritual awareness — a simple and unexpected new metaphor for your life journey? Discover 'nested meditation’ and experience how wordplay can open your soul.

The psychologist Mary Pipher unites conservatives and liberals to defend Nebraska’s environment one small, sweet action at a time.

I will not die an unlived life.I will not live in fearof falling or catching fire.I choose to inhabit my days,to allow my living to open me,to make me less afraid,more accessible;t…

The poems of Naomi Shihab Nye have an uncanny way of showing up at exactly the right moment to summon you below the surface of your life. The child of a Palestinian father and an A…

The following poem, “Kindness,” is from Words Under the Words: Selected Poems by Naomi Shihab Nye, copyright © 1995. Reprinted with the permission of Far Corner Books, Portland, Or…

When Shakespeare’s Juliet asserted that “a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet,” she likely got it wrong. At least, that’s what the devotees who adopt spiritual names eve…

One Man’s Adventure Planning His Own Natural BurialOld Arctic Inuit hunters could supposedly sit for days, harpoon poised and ready to strike, just staring at a hole on an otherwis…

A Burned-out M.D. turns to her community she asked what they wanted in a health-care clinic, then built it — and was transformed. Here’s what the future of medicine could loo…

In a few months, God willing, my father will turn 100. He has always lived his role as a parent thoughtfully, as on the day he invited me—I was 12—to go with him to the country mor…

Couples who have celebrated their golden anniversary share tips for a marriage that goes the distance.

Our favorite book picks by the S&H Staff The Open Mind by Dawna MarkovaThe Open Mind taught me that an important discussion with my husband would yield better results if we talked…

“I never could connect with poetry,” Jan said. “I’m a math teacher!” She was sitting on my living room couch surrounded by piles of poetry books. On the coffee table was a stack of…

Erotic feelings can be natural and precious—and a source of great healing.

Author Matthew Fox is the popular and controversial theologian and author of more than 25 books that expose the corruption and patriarchal hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church an…

How to turn any ordinary tree into a poet-tree

1. Ask. As always, ask. Ask the universe, ask your higher self. Ask a divine power if you believe in one. Ask for help to get present. 2. Lay a daily foundation. Carve out three to…

Sponsored Content from Balboa Press

Writer Kim Rosen raises questions about Zen, openness, and the “desperation” of the creative process.

Recent studies confirm that a "half-empty" outlook is literally bad for your health.

One of the more ingenious tools we’ve found for reframing a tough situation—or simply having fun with words—is a process that psychologist Kevin Anderson calls nested meditation. I…

An Interview with David Rome

At San Quentin State Prison, environmental outreach is based on the principle that nothing should be carelessly thrown away—especially a human life.

Pratibha Parmar’s powerful new film, Beauty in Truth, recounts the historically rich story of the first African American woman writer to win a Pulitzer Prize. Walker has publish…

The author of The Magic of Hebrew Chant, Rabbi Shefa Gold is also a recording artist and the director of the Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice in New Mexico. She…

Author Barbara Brown Taylor talks about her new book Learning to Walk in the Dark.

The acclaimed poet reflects on prayer, desperation, and letting go of what can’t be said.

A look at how the Tao Te Ching may be used as a guide to spiritual practice.

Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler

“I’ve been thinking of a plan of action to remove myself from the situation without feeling like I just wasted 2 years.”Katie shared this in a recent blog post comment. We’ve all b…

Sponsored Content from The Celebrant Foundation & Institute

The acclaimed Native American artist, poet, and musician reflects on tapping into the creative source, bearing the pain of cultural appropriation, and learning to embrace fear.

An excerpt from SaraSwati Shakti's new book.

Author David Whyte on words, spirituality, and his idea of a "conversation."

Diagnosed with cancer almost 30 years ago, author Mark Nepo shares his transformative healing experience in his new book Inside the Miracle: Enduring Suffering, Approaching Wholene…

Can’t bear to put pen to paper? Start with a page that’s full of words instead of one that’s devoid of them.

A spiritual journey nourished by constant self-reflection and meditation mala beads.

Sponsored Content from Celebrant Institute

Stephen Sondheim and Steven Pinker talk about music and language at the Rubin Museum of Art

Through my stillness in asana class and in meditation, I learned that breathing slowly unleashed my inner poetry.

Collecting an imaginary album, where places in nature have made their mark.

There’s little room for wonder and real poetry in the mechanical metaphors we use to describe ourselves.

Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler

An excerpt from A Way to God by Matthew Fox

Excerpted from Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh by Matthew Fox

In the last two issues of S&H, I’ve written two articles. This is the one that was trying to get out…

Excerpt from Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver

As another year comes to a close and we look forward to new beginnings, this is the perfect time to reflect on what is working in our lives and what is not.

To come to know and to make sense of and to share our stories is not an act of selfishness, but an act of growth, healing, and ultimately, generosity. But what is a writer to do with a violent story she cannot narrate—when it’s her own?

Sponsored Content from The Celebrant Foundation & Institute

Beloved poet and natural world evangelist Mary Oliver pulls the curtain for a rare glimpse behind her writing and life. Her new book of prose, Upstream, filled with gorgeous essays…

Sponsored Content from Celebrant Foundation & Institute

What is the role of imagination in matters of ultimate concern? This is one of the top issues in the spiritual life and certainly in religion: many religious and even spiritual peo…

An excerpt from Kale & Caramel by Lily Diamond

A memoir beyond words. . .

Happiness is for takers. Meaning is for givers. Guess who feels better?

I’m always writing about depth—deep feelings, deep thoughts, deep relationships. But I know too well that when you focus too much on one quality, its opposite begins to stir, compl…

Cultivate presence by writing haiku poetry.

Here are 5 suggestions on how you might look to nature to enhance your own creativity.

Interspiritual wisdom to help you find your spiritual style, choose the grand questions that call you, and create your personal practice.

Sponsored Content from The Celebrant Foundation & Institute

In his new book, Blue Mind, author and evolutionary biologist Wallace J. Nichols examines how being in and around water affects our emotions and cognition.

10 Lessons from the 4th Century Desert Dwellers

Sacred spaces are reflections of us, our needs, our souls.

Lately, my mind has felt very crowded. There are so many thoughts bumping up against each other in my brain. You have sooooo much to do. Did you call this person? Pay that bill? R…

Mornings can be tough. Maybe you like to sleep in as long as you can, and end up getting ready for the day by running around your house like a crazed animal. Maybe you have a basi…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the ways in which my work as an artist and my work as a yoga teacher are really just exactly the same.I do think of teaching yoga as a form of…

Lately, I’m really into joy.That probably makes me sound like a jerk. I don’t mean the kind of joy that comes with huge life-changing events like winning the lottery or making a ba…

I have always found haiku, with its spare text and deeply penetrating insight, a perfect doorway to meditation. With scarce means—the haiku form allows a mere 17 syllables in…

Yesterday, I wore as much purple as I could muster. Even my eyeshadow was purple.October 20th is Spirit Day: a day of awareness for bullying and suicides in the LGBT community. Coi…

Our local meditation group had quite a few people for our 4-hour sitting yesterday and 8-10 people stayed afterward for tea and cheese and crackers and apples and various things pe…

If you had a time machine, would you speed forward into the future or relive the past?Someone asked me this once in a car on a road trip, and while my car-mates reminisced about ti…

If you didn’t know me as a person, and all you knew about me was that I was a yoga teacher and a poet, you would probably think I was pretty boring. You’d think of poems filled wit…

The truth will set you free! So they say. Lately I’ve been wondering—set you free from what, exactly? Satya, or truthfulness, is one of Patanjali’s five Yamas, or precepts for li…

by Elizabeth Phaire For those of us who follow the Gregorian calendar, the year is now coming to a close, and we look forward to the fresh start of a new year. In thinking about w…

Our local group didn’t meet on Christmas Day, so instead of talking about our discussion, I get to free-range-think! I’m thinking about the relationship between all art forms and m…

The lake-effect snow was lovely yesterday afternoon as we began a new year with our four-hour meditation. We had ten people, maybe seven at the end. We stayed long enough afterward…

By Amy Benedict We think of a pilgrimage as a journey of great spiritual or moral significance—yet our whole life’s course can be seen as a pilgrimage. A simple walk from yo…

Sanctuaries of Childhood: Nurturing a Child’s Spiritual Life By Shea Darian (Gilead Press) When Shea Darian’s first child was born, she immediately knew that “in receiving her li…

This is my arrangement of a transcription of the conversation/dharma talk with Zen priest Sokuzan Bob Brown last Sunday at our local meditation group. Bob began by describing the b…

It wasn’t quite so spring-like yesterday here in Northern Michigan, back to slightly more “normal” temperatures. It’s spring break week around here, which may account for a smaller…

As many of you already know, I am not what I would describe as a ‘sunshine and flowers’ yoga teacher. Listening to teachers talk about how wonderful all creation is and seeing insp…

As some of you already know, I am a spoken word poet, which means, generally speaking, that I talk about my feelings in front of half-drunk audiences on Monday nights at a neighbor…

Earth Day 2012 was just a few weeks ago, and I’ve been thinking about what that means to us now, as yogis and as human beings.Humans are a funny species: We love to shout “Save the…

It’s Spring 2012, and we just had a super full moon: The moon was closer to the earth than it’s been all year. Here in Vancouver, it’s just starting to get warm, though the cherry …

One of the reasons we practice yoga, in my opinion, is to become better translators.Our bodies have a complex language, and they are talking to us all the time. Our guts are receiv…

I have a mantra. I say it to myself daily, in many situations, and it helps me immensely in my life. It’s this: Why am I doing this? I don’t even think the answer to that question …

I was talking recently with a fellow yoga teacher about a student who takes three to four classes every day. He was a little worried about the effect that might be having on her bo…

There is so much to learn on this journey of spiritual activism and sacred service, and I have a stack of books on my nightstand to aid me on this path. And while I don’t believe t…

Yoga is a good thing to have in your pocket.I’m writing this from the hotel restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I’ve spent the past week at the National Poetry Slam comp…

By Sheri RedaWe’re savvy, right? We post our thoughts on blogs, our invitations on Evite, our ideas on Facebook and Pinterest. We text, tweet, and email until we’re surprised when …

Yoga has been banned in several countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and within sects of Christianity in America. Some of the bans have been lifted, others have not. This sou…

Samsara, a non-verbal, visually astounding documentary, is the second feature film by Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, the creators of 1992’s critically acclaimed Baraka. Filmed in 25…

I was on the hunt, seeking amrit, the nectar of immortality. I had to cross a river, so I found a boat made of ghost bones and stealthed to the opposite shore. I discovered a back …

Setting New Year intentions by the moon.

A couple of weeks ago, I adopted a dog from the animal shelter. His name is Finnegan, and he is the best ever: he is snoring belly-up beside me as I write this.I wanted a dog partl…

I taught my first kid’s yoga class last week, at the school where my mom works. “Just around 30 kids, Julie,” she said. “Grade 7. They can’t wait to meet you. You’ll love it.” I ha…

In honor of Mother’s Day and my own mother, who passed away of Lou Gehrig’s Disease, or ALS, eight years ago, I thought I would share the poem I wrote the morning she died. A Journ…

We know intuitively that our state of mind will affect our breath: it comes quick and jagged when we are agitated, and smooth and slow when we are relaxed. The yogis figured out p…

“Bellydance is a service,” my dance teacher was telling us. “We are offering something of ourselves to the audience, but we must be sure we are in control of how much we are offer…

Think back to how you played as a child. Remember how it felt to create your own stories and scenarios and games? In the middle of creative flow, there is a feeling of elation, and…

The most important instruction you’ll get in a yoga class may also sound like the most ridiculous one: “Engage your peeing muscles.” “Engage your vaginal walls like you were holdin…

Thoughtful reads, alternatives to blockbuster films, and music to move your soul. Here are our May/June 2015 reviews:BooksBrain Maker The Power of Gut Microbes to Heal and Protect …

If you are new to Spirituality & Health Magazine, welcome! And if, like me, you come here often, my hunch is that you’ve come to appreciate the wealth of wisdom, inspiration, authe…

When I was little, I believed in Santa Claus. It was part of my family’s annual Christmas ritual. Each year, the day after Thanksgiving, dad climbed into the attic and pulled down …

On September 10th, The International Association for Suicide Prevention will acknowledge World Suicide Prevention Day. It is an opportunity to bring global awareness to this devast…

A major aspect of my practice has always been about coming home to my body. We live in a culture that doesn’t always honor the body; we tend instead to objectify it as this thing t…

Journaling with your non-dominant hand (and answering with the other) is about tapping into your inner child, inner teen, and inner wisdom.

On crowded streets, I often wonder who among us found it very hard to leave his or her home that day, yet did it anyway.In other words, I wonder who is brave. Then I send silent gr…

I was 22 years old when I sat with my grandmother as she was dying. There were four generations of our family in the room, from my two year old nephew to my mom and her brothers, t…

Spirituality & Health's July/August 2017 issue is now available.Subscribe / Order this IssueFEATURESThe Swim of AwakeningIn the absence of data, we will always make up stories.…

You don’t need to be an expert in mindfulness meditation to experience its amazing stress-relieving benefits.

Here's a great opportunity in terms of practice to explore the different levels of perceiving and working with the universe.

Pure Comedy by Father John Misty is a striking blues album that’s funny and sad, insightful and philosophical. One of the wonderfully crafted tunes is titled “When the God of …

Books, services, education and products that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Here are examples of events that can be offered in your community with the help of a local celebrant.

Try these three steps to get you healthy, grounded, and empowered to create a compassion revolution and save the world.

Rabbi Rami answers your spiritual questions.

I was moved by our conversation last night. I understand how you feel the presence of suffering always in the background, juxtaposed against the peaceful times and moments of abund…

A lesson learned: be true to yourself and to be grateful for who you are.

More…

“In Buddhism, we often talk about enlightenment or awakening, but words like that feel far away to me. I speak about intimacy.”

A preview of the Nov/Dec 2017 issue.

I thought a lot about Gladys’s comment, secretly hoping I could avoid dying from the head down or the feet up…

Poetry from Nikki Giovanni's new book, A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter

A preview of the Jan/Feb 2018 issue.

Naomi Shihab Nye is the author and/or editor of more than thirty volumes of poetry. She has been a Lannan Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow and a Witter Bynner Fellow. Her numerous award…

An excerpt from Voices in the Air: Poems for Listeners by Naomi Shihab Nye.

Excerpt from the book More Beautiful Than Before: How Suffering Transforms Us.

i store my memories in a vault-like freezerwhere they’ll never thawthey’re all of meyet, somehowyou fit in like i’m the gloveand you’re the skin sheltering mecovering mefor every s…

On what poetry is all about

Nye talks about the ways poetry is a language without explanation.

Relax, rejuvenate, and nurture your imagination between the shelves.

A preview of the March/April 2018 issue.

An adapted excerpt from Journey Through Trauma by Gretchen Schmelzer, PhD

Identify and understand your strengths as a path toward self-discovery.

I watch him bob across the intersection, Squat legs bowed in black sweatpants. I watch him smile at nobody, at our traffic Stopped to accommodate his slow going. His arms chur…

Rabbi Rami answers your spiritual questions.

The art of “synchronizing yourself to the natural flow of the energy that surrounds you”

Spirituality & Health's May/June 2018 issue is now available.

Enjoy chocolate cake strewn with rose petals and a wisdom poem for Mother’s Day.

The keys to creating a kitchen that makes cooking into a beautiful, spiritual experience.

As one grows older,there should be fewerand fewer words to say. Each one a few lettersbut taken togethermeaning something large. Sea. Sun. Shell. I gathera little pile, burying,u…

Take a look inside our latest issue

…Even if you’re not outdoorsy.

Reconnect with yourself and feel more alive again.

More…

I had to give up on their remedies.They kept trying to make me less angry,but I refuse to surrender my rage. Because whole kingdoms have already spentmillennia trying to keep wome…

No matter your spirituality or background, it's possible to turn every day into a living, breathing ritual. Explore how one author transformed her life by doing so.

Take a look inside our latest issue.

Contributors to our September/October 2018 issue: Kevin Anderson PhD, Julia Cameron, Deborah Gordon MD, Alena Hennessy, Erik Sean Larson, Hal Robinson

Letters from our readers.

Alison McAlpine’s visually ravishing documentary takes us to the Atacama Desert in Chile, where various scientists and oddball locals contemplate the immense, crystal-clear night s…

Put your hand on your heart in youthere is power there are ideasno one has ever thought of there is the strength to love purely and intenselyand to be loved backthere is the power …

A look inside our 20th Anniversary Keepsake Issue

Suggestions for Living Memorials—gatherings for a person who is present and alive before death.

This book lyrically explores the emotions that we feel when we carry negative beliefs about ourselves.

Using altars to focus intention and connection in a space.

How do you stay present in an out-of-time time?

A devotional, mindful attendance to the body in death.

In the Presence of Death: Using ceremony to explore mindfulness in the journey of dying, death, and the years following, in this 9-part series

Ideas for commemorative events beyond traditional funerals.

the door no bother to searchfor the entrancenor the exitthe adventureis not in tryingit’s simply allowingopeningsclosingsandall the spacein between —Melissa Joseph…

The final resting place is where, for those who seek it, we come to sit, reflect, and share with someone who has died.

A preview of our latest issue.

People new to mourning are often surprised at how brutal the run-up to the first anniversary of the death can be.

While many focus on what to do in the new year, here are some powerful ways of being to herald in 2019.

Like an argument against keeping the more unshakable varieties of woundedness inside, where such things may best belong, he opened his eyes in the dark. Did you hear that, he…

The contemplative life of women mystics.

The poems and prose in Amanda Torroni's new book, Stargazing at Noon, unfold in moon phases, beginning with a fullness, then purging. This poem, Weathervanes & Paper Planes, is from the gibbous phase.

"In the poem, I set the vast scale of geological epochs against the quick movement of children. The poem encompasses both measures of time and holds them in suspension."

The poems and prose in Amanda Torroni's new book, Stargazing at Noon, unfold in moon phases, beginning with a fullness, then purging. This poem, Tell me How the World Ends, is from the crescent phase.

The poems and prose in Amanda Torroni's new book, Stargazing at Noon, unfold in moon phases, beginning with a fullness, then purging. This poem, Little Lion, Roaming the Cold Golden, is from the new moon phase.

The guidance Tyler Knott Gregson offers in his new book, Miracle in the Mundane, is for tapping into our creativity, purpose, and joy; because, "from time to time in this crazy and chaotic spin we call life, we need to pause, reflect, and truly begin again."

The guidance Tyler Knott Gregson offers in his new book, Miracle in the Mundane, is meant to help us tap into our creativity, purpose, and joy; because, "from time to time in this crazy and chaotic spin we call life, we need to pause, reflect, and truly begin again."

The guidance Tyler Knott Gregson offers in his new book, Miracle in the Mundane, is for tapping into our creativity, purpose, and joy; because, "from time to time in this crazy and chaotic spin we call life, we need to pause, reflect, and truly begin again."

The guidance Tyler Knott Gregson offers in his new book, Miracle in the Mundane, is for tapping into our creativity, purpose, and joy; because, "from time to time in this crazy and chaotic spin we call life, we need to pause, reflect, and truly begin again."

There is a sacredness that is found in the first moments of the morning. While it may feel overwhelming to change your entire morning routine in one day, consider slowly adding components to it that will set the tone for your day.

Deborah started writing poetry at the age of five. She fell in love with the mystics in her teens, and began a life of insatiable spiritual inquiry. She lives in Rome, Italy with h…

"It was already dropped / long ago. / You cannot venture out alone too far."

Poetry, for me, is synonymous with vulnerability. Sharing any poem of mine is like standing stripped before you, holding my naked, pounding, mystical heart in my bare hands. Offering it to you. Hoping you may find pieces of your own.

"Follow your fatigue. / It will lead you on a winding road / towards the truth you've been avoiding."

"When you find yourself in turbulent waters / tie a rope to your center / and loosen your hold.

Reading—it’s one of the first things we do in life, sitting on our loved ones’ laps and enjoying the soothing voice of a parent explaining the world through pictures and words. What begins as a jumble of marks, black against white, conjures colors, monsters and beasts, emotions, laughter, and tears. Eventually, the process of changing squiggles into words becomes as natural to us as breathing—and just as necessary.

The founder of SoulWork, Adi Shakti, on awakening and empowering the divine feminine.

Enjoy this poem from W.S. Merwin, who passed away in March of this year.

You may scream and weep / until your tears can no longer / extinguish the flames

The First Noble Truth of Buddhism (dukkha) is that we can’t avoid suffering. But suffering is a chance for connection.

Wilder is a creator and writer who dreams with her eyes wide open. She is the author of two poetry collections including, #1 Best Seller, Nocturnal ☾ and Wild Is She. In …

"she will fall for miles. / land on your face, / your shoulders, / your hands"

"i think i met you in a different / life. everything about you is / familiar, like a song i’ve heard before."

"celebrate / your survival. / find your arms / and hold on to hope,"

"but the color of moonrise / will visit at the same time / it did yesterday and make / constellations out of me."

Carmen Giménez Smith is the author of six books, including Milk and Filth, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in poetry, and Bring Down the Little Birds, winner …

“That you didn’t know her is your / misfortune: a hot planet’s core, / late summer’s best light.”

"but I want to recommend that we stop apologizing. / Today I counted and I said I’m sorry approximately 22 times."

"My daughter is now the pulse I toss into the wind with the seeds. Particles / of us pass over like whispers through the cosmos, upon the clatter"

"I leave behind dignity / so the angel inside me / stays behind me too"

Poetry can open us up to new perspectives, and allows us to be vulnerable.

Philosophy isn't just for professors. Embracing a philosophical attitude can make you healthier, happier, and (of course) wiser.

Ways to celebrate and savor the hazy, lazy days of the last month of summer.

Eugene Gloria’s previous poetry collections are My Favorite Warlord, winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, Hoodlum Birds, and Drivers at the Short-Time Motel (200…

"I must write her a note of glad tidings / with tidbits of nostalgia instead of our grief"

"But where he was welcome most / Was often where he was his worst."

"the apron aspires to stand before / sinners and saints and carve / verses on stone: Mon coeur mis à nu,"

"Thank you and sorry, thank you and well / thank you again for believing the possible all / like a little river in a hurry to arrive"

Dive in to our special section on 100+ books we love.

A noodle bar in Japan inspires the author to think of Edward Hopper's classic painting Nighthawks.

"Giving attention steers us back to Center. It opens the vitality of the Universe and brings us back into the stream of Oneness. Giving attention is connective."

Rose McLarney is the author of two poetry collections: Its Day Being Gone, selected by Robert Wrigley winner of the 2014 National Poetry Series, and The Always Broken Plates of Mou…

"Because it means you see what beauty is / here, and what she ought to have: / jewels in a complete set,"

This month's discussion column addresses a reader who questions: How can I nourish my spiritual side when living in a rural area—where connections are harder to find?

"let the water be weak / so our coffee is strong / so we can stay up late to dance."

Mehnaz Sahibzada was born in Pakistan and raised in Los Angeles.  She is a 2009 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellow in Poetry.  Her work has appeared in numerous publ…

"to turn the world inside out, this / delicate force that sometimes hugs / itself so tightly, the fears seem to break"

"You find / your optimism stuttering. / Sometimes you let yourself / pray then judge yourself"

"When clouds gather / in the aisle of my mind, / eyebrows withering into space,"

"Each time I turn a page, / my skin seems to shiver. / Each time I blink, / my lashes are spider legs."

“Hopeful as a pencil sharpened, / clear as one beam of light landing on the table’s far side.”

"if you nodded at him, or not, / chattering words to / a patience prayer, over and over."

“Subscribe to plants, animals, stars, / music, the baby who can’t walk yet”

“What does that say about holy? / How much power it doesn’t have— / Thou shalt not kill crumpled under our feet.”

Look to innovative thinkers like Walt Disney’s Imagineers to revitalize your spirit.

S&H editor Ben Nussbaum talked with this issue’s featured artist, Estée Preda, about winters in Québec, her past life filming snowboarding movies, and much more.

The word art comes from the Latin ars, which means craft or skill. But what kind of skill? If we look further, the word’s Indo-European root means to fit together. At the heart of …

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Naomi Shihab Nye is a celebrated poet, anthologist, and novelist. S&H speaks with her about her life, her work, and her faith.

The author was inspired by the removal of words from the dictionary to make more room for technology.

Want to recover creative flow? Adapt a service mentality.

NICOLE GULOTTA is the author of Wild Words: Rituals, Routines, and Rhythms for Braving the Writer’s Path and Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Ins…

“They say they are scared of us. / The nuclear bomb is scared of the cucumber.”

Nicole Gulotta is the author of Eat This Poem: A Literary Feast of Recipes Inspired by Poetry. As the founder of the Wild Words community, she helps fellow writers embrace the seas…

“Don’t I want hummingbirds to have flown safely away from nooses / of silk string collectors once hung from the necks of lilies?”

“Some things are best / enjoyed alone. Some things can only be / enjoyed alone.”

Thanks for the Dance is a quintessential mix of Leonard Cohen’s melancholy humor, sentimental insights, and lost-love laments, with a hint of social-political critique.

“With its frequently meandering melodies and wordy lyrics, Ghosteen is less an assembly of songs in the traditional sense than it is an unusually tuneful poetry reading.”

I suddenly knew I was looking at it from the wrong angle and I gave the cloth in my hand a quarter turn. Immediately I saw a beautiful and coherent golden pattern. ... In won…

The sand doesn’t change. It stays true to itself, and the ocean still comes back. / And kisses her over and over again.

S&H Editorial Director Kalia Kelmenson shares some highlights from 2019.

“I comb the shore for collectibles, / easily discarded things / to hang on my inspirational wall.”

“And love, just like rain, is all around us.”

“You want to love fully, yet at the same time / you have to keep a measure of love / for yourself.”

“You move with / spirit and grace, / and the stars / bow down”

Rachel Archelaus experiences life as a multidimensional being. She has seen and interacted with the nonphysical world since her childhood and continues to have a rich experien…

Hinemoa Pourewa/Simone Bennett grew up dynamic cultural and spiritual aspects of New Zealand/Aotearoa. She captivated the hearts of the young through her teachings as an ear…

Boosting your emotional wellbeing doesn’t always have to feature grand gestures and sweeping changes. Here are nine small adjustments you can make in your day-to-day life.

Black Girl Magic can’t protect us from everything. Here are nine online resources to help black women keep our cool when racism rears its ugly head.

Andrea Potos is the author of nine poetry collections, including Mothershell (Kelsay Books), A Stone to Carry Home (Salmon Poetry), and Arrows of Ligh…

Jane Hirshfield is the author of nine books of poetry and has edited and co-translated four books presenting the work of world poets from the past. Her books have received the…

“A diverse lineup of speakers and artists will explore the power of stories to transform, to inspire and to heal individuals and communities.”

"whatever makes us look everywhere / but in our core—this is the smoke / that drives us from the living."

"This being human is a series of / blindnesses that come and go. / But we can outlive our mistakes,"

“Loving yourself is like / feeding a clear bird / no one else can see.”

"The storm is not as important / as the path it opens."

"We try like birds awakened by / a tone of light to fly into each / other’s need. And always / wind throws us off."

"It is only by giving our all that we open our soul as a conduit to all of life. Whenever we do this, we’re sensitive enough for the unexpected utterance to flow through us."

"In doing the research for our book, Love in the Time of Chronic Illness: How to Fight the Sickness, Not Each Other, my co-author and I learned from the couples and experts we interviewed that there are discernable opportunities, challenges, and coping strategies that emerge when illness becomes the third partner."

Magnets attract you to a place and anchors keep you there. What are your magnets and anchors?

“As we practice caution and social distancing, let us not distance each other in our hearts. As we are forced to slow down and stop our busyness, let us feed more than our fear.”

Finding perspective on COVID-19.

Andrea Potos is the author of nine poetry collections, including Mothershell (Kelsay Books), A Stone to Carry Home (Salmon Poetry), Arrows of Light (Iris Press), An Ink Like Early …

“I stand here now, gathering shells / whenever they appear. I hold them up / to my ears.”

“she showed me what she knew— / how to settle alongside lamplight / and fill my lap with skeins”

“If days were colors / I would name this one pink, / a pale pink like the rose quartz / pendant I wear,”

“I want to just drowse, / eyelids witness / to curtains of gold swaying ”

“I kept turning to the horse, / erect in stillness and gravity / and a strange promise of balm,”

“Poems soften fear’s fixities and despair’s immobility, return the heart-mind to openness and the possibility for change that come with the knowledge of interconnection and shared fate.”

“How close to human / must the breathed-in air come / before it develops a sense of shame or humor?”

“It may be that poetry’s work is preparatory, like the work of the earthworms in garden soil.”

“A poem rummages the self and the tongue for this moment’s response.”

Where can you put your anxiety so that you can continue functioning?

Common ground can be found, and reverence realized, when we look to nature for inspiration.

Lisa Marie Basile is the author of Light Magic for Dark Times and the forthcoming The Magical Writing Grimoire. She is a poet-witch and founding creative director of Luna Luna maga…

“As I put roots into the ground, every step I take brings more roots up to accept and welcome me in—into my heritage and into the woman I am slowly becoming, even in this very moment.”

"on her face like / Renoir / might have painted"

If we dig deep, we can unearth wonder(ful) ways to survive and even thrive through this stressful time.

Inspired by Rumi’s poetry, deep curiosity, and a wish to learn more about Islam, Kate Green Tripp, a Santa Cruz-based editor and yoga teacher, traveled to Turkey.

This issue's poetry page.

Psychologist Rick Hanson shares how meditation changes the wiring in our brain, how to make your practice your own, and how science and contemplative practice are connected.

Scholar of Islam and Rumi lover Pouria Montazeri talks about the context that’s getting lost in translation.

Pouria Montazeri grew up with Rumi’s poetry and teachings. He draws from his 28 years of experience with Sufism, Advaita Vedanta, and other mystical and contemplative practices …

Never too old: Inspiration from centenarians Sarah, Ruby, and Sadie—“I did not have to accept limitations.”

Kevin Anderson shares a nested meditation.

S&H editor Ben Nussbaum spoke with Santa Fe-based artist Alexandra Eldridge about intuition, illustrating the tarot deck, and the importance of trusting yourself.

“Some love is like a light store / you slip inside only to escape”

On Look Long, Indigo Girls' May 22 album release, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers continue to strive for a more just world.

pausing in that moment of light between the steps of now and imagination swimming in the heartbeat of her words I hear the melody of another life…

“In terms of achievement, relaxing and ‘doing nothing’ can be extremely beneficial for nurturing creativity.”

The Way of Gratitude author and prominent Unitarian Universalist minister Galen Guengerich dives deep on faith, belonging, morality, and, of course, gratitude.

See what I see? It's natural to want to pass our vision of the world onto those close to us. But a better, and harder, approach is to try and share what worked on our personal journey to vision.

American poet, Billy Collins is the author of Sailing Alone Around the Room (2001), Nine Horses: Poems (2002), The Trouble with Poetry (2005), Ballistics (2008), Horoscopes for the Dead (2011), Aimless Love (2013), and The Rain in Portugal (2016).

I would like to be laid to rest in a big tomb topped by a stone figure of an angel, who appears to have landed there in order to sob forevermore, her face buried in her bent arm, …

Winter is a season for restoring ourselves by slipping into the dark.

An interview with Jaqueline Suskin, author, poet, and healer.

“I find comfort in my work, because when I walk into my office and close the door, I completely leave my own life. In some ways I’m shouldering the human condition, which is a lot of weight there, but when I’m writing, when it’s going well, I have completely forgotten myself.”

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What does it mean to be a poet? Why does poetry matter? And why it is important to feel the poet inside of ourselves, even if we do not consider ourselves to be writers? This week’s podcast guest answers.

“There is nothing as warm and wonderful as winter. Good books. A friendly dog. Homemade soup. How could I not love the idea of the coming season?”

Uncover the power of writing poetry as a way to discover the heart of your pain, and to heal from it in this excerpt from Jacqueline Suskin's Every Day is a Poem: Find Clarity, Feel Relief, and See Beauty in Every Moment.

You live inside your skin tone, your mental health situation, your flawed family. “Like Johnny and Moira, we don’t need to be stigmatized or made to feel less than fully human when we’re up a creek without a paddle.”

Searching for the heart of haiku through Allan Ginsberg and Basho.

Nathan Erwin is an educator, mindfulness practitioner, food sovereignty advocate, and rural poet. With a family tree rooted in the North and South, Alabama moonshiners and Vermont …

“Giovanni brings a voice of discernment and solidity to our disquiet times. She sees the pandemic as carving out a spiritual space within us.”

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What to keep in mind—and what to steer clear of when deciding on a retreat.

No matter your spiritual outlook, creating a place that is set apart will help you in countless ways. Create a holy altar at-home to bring spiritual peace and joy to your life as you balance all the other activities in your living spaces.

(Re)learn to read deeply. The mental stillness required for a long read allows your mind to formulate a moral position. This kind of bibliotherapy provides a healing place for the soul.

“I believe that spirituality and creativity are intertwined. I live alone, atop a mountain in Santa Fe. My companion is a tiny white dog that I walk daily along the trails near my …

“Creativity is an essential part of being human.” Artist Flora Bowley offers everyday ways to move past “creative wounds” and flex your creative muscles.

“A theopoetic approach to faith is diverse and communal. How you listen to God may differ from how I listen to God—because we’re different people with different experiences.”

Resilience is even more important when aging. Luckily, it’s a skill that can be strengthened.

Lyanda Lynn Haupt explores where science, poetry, mysticism, and the traditions of earth-based cultures intersect in her book “Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit.”

Creativity and play go hand in hand. Cultivating both of these natural instincts later in life is key to wellbeing.

“The poems in Marrow of Summer are my way of appreciating, honoring, and preserving: to remember Love in all its past and present forms.”

In a time of change and uncertainty, what can be done to ease the transition?

This One Wild and Precious Life: The Path Back to Connection in a Fractured WorldBy Sarah WilsonDEY STREET In her new book, This One Wild and Precious Life: The Path Back to Conne…

Paul Tillich is one of the greatest philosophical theologians you’ve probably never heard of.

Lyanda Lynn Haupt, eco-philosopher, naturalist, writer, educator, and author discusses the human connection to nature, the necessity of solitude, and shedding otherness.

Media task-switching is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and mental exhaustion. Try this simple, 30-second ritual to establish positive associations with tech breaks.

Dr. Alejandro Mandes’ book “Embracing the New Samaria: Opening Our Eyes to Our Multiethnic Future” has one ultimate goal: unity.

American novelist, poet, and artist, Tao Lin, explores nuclear radiation, religion, change and recovery, Çatalhöyük, Daoism, and more in his autobiographical novel, Leave Society.

You may find your calling at the place where your gifts intersect with other people’s needs.

Interspecies healing practices include prayer circles and shawls.

The full moon illuminates a time of heightened emotions and potent creativity.

Novelist Tao Lin discusses microdosing, Daoism, autism, death and “leaving society,” and much more.

Writing about love, romance, and sensuality can help magnetize the love life you desire.

Regard a poem as a talisman, a locket that contains a secret.

Katherine Factor is a writer, editor, and book coach. Her debut poetry book, "A Sybil Society," is forthcoming from the University of Nevada Press in January 2022.

This Halloween, elevate your celebration by gaining some new tools to divine answers to your questions!

Interested in modern Druid practices? Druidry begins with three paths that connect nature, creativity, and the divine.

Mixed-media artist, musician, and autism advocate Morgan Harper Nichols explores naming your fears and struggles, the artistic process, and navigating life and art with autism.

Rabbi Rami answers your most pressing questions on spirituality.

Ellen Vora, MD, is a psychiatrist, a yoga instructor, an acupuncturist, and a witch—and she’s on a mission to radically change the way we approach mental illness.

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“Cameron has not only nurtured her own creative life over decades, but she’s also sparked that of countless others through the use of down-to-earth tools.”

Cheryl Pallant, PhD, is an energy healer, professor, poet, somatics coach, and dancer. She is the author of several books in nonfiction and poetry, most recently Ecosomatics: Embod…

Acknowledge your grief and start to move past it with five lamentation practices.

Yoga, meditation, mysticism, and ritual are at the heart of Mara Branscombe’s Ritual as Remedy.

From the title, you might think Secrets From a Herbalist’s Garden is about gardening. From the subtitle, “A Magical Year of Plant Remedies,” you might think the book is about medic…

In his newest collection, beloved poet Billy Collins includes poems about spiders, Arizona, funerals, and how to eat a banana.

Research continues to show the benefits of journaling and writing as a means to self-exploration and healing.

Hope sustains believers across the spectrum, whether they follow the stars, Wakan Tanka, Jesus, Muhammad, or the Orishas. Here, we asked five great modern teachers to reflect on the meaning of hope in his or her tradition and to provide a practice.

Charlotte Eulette, is a poet, writer, and cofounder of the Celebrant Foundation & Institute. She’s been a poet and a great lover of poetry most of her life, drawing zest and inspir…

We are all poetry makers/creators. As our ancient ancestors’ wisdom reaffirms: Human beings are born with poet nature.

Having a wake at home for a lost loved one can help make the transition process more sacred.

A poem from the forthcoming book Real.Vibrant, poems for all that matters

How does one keep the practice of hoodoo accessible, simple, yet powerful? Hoodoo practitioner and author Sherry Shone shares.

How can we use spirituality to deepen our creativity, and vice versa? Author and artist Julia Cameron show us how with wit and poetry.

How do we move away from division and into a place of love? Poet, teacher, and Spirituality & Health columnist Mark Nepo shares some wisdom.

A psychotherapist offers some wisdom for a reader experiencing the loneliness and stress of divorce.

Our actions in this moment (and lifetime) can affect future lifetimes—explore how.

Imbolc is a holiday of hope, a celebration of the goddess Brigid, and the perfect time to honor your inner fire.

Honor the pagan festival of Imbolc with a simple ritual designed to release the heaviness of winter and invite in the healing fire of springtime.

The goddess Brigid—widely celebrated on February 1st—and the Star tarot card have much in common. Explore how these two figures represent resilience after collapse.

How can you get a sense of whether a therapist will be a soulful, healing presence in your life? Explore six things to watch for in your first few sessions.

People are finding their higher purpose by sharing their spiritual gifts, interests, and skills.

Poetry and improvisation are the passionate threads that weave through the new international album Pasado en claro (The Past is Clear). Jazz, classical, and folk music genres are b…

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Spiritual practice in need of an infusion of life? Try reading—and writing—nature poetry.

How can we become future ancestors and utilize the power of hope and ceremony to heal ourselves? Aboriginal teacher and healer Annabelle Sharman shares.

Mark Nepo shares a poem from his latest book, "The Half Life of Angels." Plus, a video of Mark reading!

Culturally, we are increasingly required to deliberately connect with nature—the “outdoors” has become an industry. How have we gotten so removed from the rhythms of the planet? En…

When a musical trio like boygenius comes together, it’s like the final pieces of a puzzle clicking decisively into place. The Record is their first full-length album and it continu…

When we fight to hold onto life’s greatest pleasures, they often seem to slip away. The ancient Vedic spiritual tradition offers wisdom on how to practice sensuality in a grounded way.

When self-judging thoughts arise, a healthy way to deal with them is to immerse ourselves in nature. Learn how nature can provide deep healing when self-love is challenging.

Connect with the energy of summertime and honor the longest day of the year with one (or all) of these druid summer solstice rituals.

Energy healer and somatics expert Cheryl Pallant, PhD, shares ways to connect our bodies, minds, and senses with the earth to heal ourselves and the world.

Explore ways to shift the self-judging questions you're asking yourself into more compassionate ones that can help support healing.

Kristoffer Hughes is the chief of the Anglesey Druid Order in Wales, and his mission—through his school of myths and workshops and books—is to provide everyone a bite from the cauldron of modern Druidry.

Explore how an artistic practice can support your wellbeing well into your golden years.

Norman E. Rosenthal is the world-renowned psychiatrist and bestselling author who first described seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pioneered the use of light therapy as a trea…

An acupuncturist and herbalist offers five potent rituals to connect us with the botanical world, no matter what our creativity level or spiritual path may be.