Spirituality
Spirituality and lifestyle go together. Spiritually fills living with meaning and purpose; and living is a quest for meaning and purpose.
Yet there is no single form of authentic spirituality, and no religion can encompass the full mystery of God. And there is no single lifestyle that is better or less suited to the discovery of meaning and purpose, nor any culture that is more or less transparent to the divine. Spirituality is the intersection of the infinite and the finite (God's mystery and human yearning), which, in Christian tradition, is what we mean by "incarnation".
Talisman: Global Positioning for the Soul Second Edition
Mentoring is the primary vehicle for spiritual insight and holistic growth today, and Talisman is written from the perspective of a mentee reflecting on the teachings of his/her mentor. This second edition of the book is shorter, and the second section significantly revised. The first section updates the spiritual quest for God in the postmodern world.
The new second section introduces a methodology to reflect on one’s own position vis a vis the “eternal” in any particular “now”: Life-on-the-edge, life-in-between, and life-at-peace. Meditation on the “talisman” helps the spiritual traveler see where they have been, where they are now, and where they are going.
Talisman: Global Positioning for the Soul
This book is framed as a dialogue between mentor and mentee, reminiscent of ancient methods of nurturing spiritual growth and ascent to the divine. Each "mentoring moment" explores the ancient awe, and guides readers to learn how to discern their position in life with infinite perspective. Explore the multiple meanings of incarnation as the power and depth of being; and learn what it means to live a spiritual life. The book also provides coaching for the development of personal spiritual practices that can be shared with like-hearted people for mutual accountability.
There are two editions of this book. The first edition (2006 by Chalice Press) was more theoretical and traditionally Christian. The second edition (2017 by Wipf and Stock) is more practical and broadly spiritual. The first section of the book is an assessment of the spiritual quest for God in the postmodern world. The goal of spirituality is not to answer questions of existence, but to sustain the courage to be and provide reason to hope. The second section of the book introduces a methodology to reflect on one's position vis-à-vis the "eternal" in any particular "now", as spiritual travelers understand their quest as "Life-on-the-Edge", and "life-In-Between", and "Life-at-Peace". Meditation on the principles of Talisman helps the spiritual traveler see where they have been and discern where they are going.
For the bankrupt soul, the soul numbed, the soul withered in the drought of engineered existence, Tom Bandy's Talisman offers a wqay back. If you are ready to move beyond task and technique to the tending of your inner being, don't miss this book. The gasp of the heart - hearing what it already knows to be true - awaits. Sally Morgenthaller - Life Coach and Author
