What is the allure of spiritual transformation? Perhaps the gift at its core is the prospect of simply being. Spiritual practices and tools are powerful, but only as much so as our ability and willingness to embrace them. In this chapter, we’ll look at how to begin, by asking the big questions.

In this chapter, we’ll begin by taking an inventory of your views on spirituality … your point of departure. We’ll also look at the dimensions of health, and the role that the spiritual dimension plays in our lives.

This chapter continues our initial self-examination. We’ll look at the differences between religion and spirituality, the soul, our inner voice, as well as reviewing our spiritual journey so far … and how it has shaped out world view.

Time now for some exercises in reflection and discernment. We’ll take a look at the concept of paradox, and how our world view colors our perception of personal truth. We’ll also inventory our exemplars … the role models who epitomize the spiritual characteristics we yearn to emulate in our own lives.

Identifying a creating a place for your spiritual centering practice. What a sacred space is, where it is, and what purpose it can serve. Sacred space is safe space, where you can connect with the world around you, or to the Divine energetic within you.

If thoughts become things, then words surely do. We’ll evaluate the highly energetic vocabulary that just might change your world view in previously unimagined ways. To make this more personally meaningful, we’ll look at ways by which we can put the words we most resonate with into practice.

The transformative practice of gratitude, the things we take for granted, and an initial look at the benefits of quieting the mind, setting intentions, and being present in the moment. The dangers of becoming present to nothing, in our vain attempt to be present to everything.

The dangers of past and future thinking … dealing with expectations and ruminations. The stages of our life, the seasons of the soul … and what they mean on a deep personal level, as well as their importance on an inter-personal level. An invaluable practice.

Meditation. What it is, and why it benefits us in so many dimensions of our health. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular (and powerful) forms of this beautiful practice. We’ll also take a look at breathing … and how breathing techniques can return us to balance in our lives.

In this chapter, we’ll look at the foundations of mindfulness, and how it supports a live well-lived in the present moment. We’ll examine your opportunities to let go of what’s sabotaging you … making space for the present by releasing our preconceptions and judgments.

Compassion. How to bring more of it into your life … for yourself, and for others. Enriching relationships through better listening, and releasing our need to respond. Facing the shadow self … our greatest lifelong teacher. Compassion and spirituality in the face of grief and loss.

An overview of a variety of wonderful spiritual practices, including: random acts of kindness, Lectio Divina (reading as a contemplative practice), haiku, mudra, mantra, mandala, and others … including the powerful spiritual practice of forgiveness.

Here, we’ll look at the concept, drawn from the Hindu tradition, of karma … the sum total of every thought and action we take in our lives … which is believed to carry an effect, a consequence, on the world around us. You’ll look at how this notion of karma might affect your thoughts and actions.

The scientific underpinnings of meditation and other mindfulness practices, and why they work. The concept of self-directed neuroplasticity: our ability to literally re-wire our brains. An examination of what mode of looking out on the world predominates for you: “human being,” or “human doing.”

Taking your personal relationship with Mother Earth into discernment. How do you treat her? How do you communicate with her? How could it be better? How does it relate to your relationship with yourself? What path are you on? Do you live in head space, or heart space?