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Honor Your Body as the Instrument of Your Soul
This book is an attempt to undo the damage we've sustained living in a culture that thrives on our self-hatred. It is a sanctification of our human bodies, a consecration of ourselves as hosts to the Great Beloved. It is a journey of awe and reverence through the sacred terrain of foot and hand, back and breast, heart and brain. The path to peace is the pathway through ourselves, starting with the inward step, the brave, gentle step toward the Divine within.
—from the Introduction
Our view of the human body is always evolving. From the goddess-worship of civilizations millennia ago, to the strict social rules of Victorian England, to the modern feminist movement, the human body—particularly the feminine body—has always been a point of interest, mystery and contention.
Discover an entirely new way to look at your body—as a pathway to the Divine. Award-winner Jan Phillips takes you on an energizing journey through your physical self, drawing connections between the bone, muscle and sinew of your body and the spiritual teachings of various faith traditions, modern scientific research and her own experiences. You will find yourself empowered to work to transform the world around you and overcome self-defeating thoughts through positive, practical exercises and meditations that show you how to climb back into your body and honor it as the temple of God that it is.
"Potent insight, profound information, spirited practices, all wrapped up in sumptuous prose make this work a gift that will keep on giving. The author has traveled deep into the hidden countries of body and mind and returns with wisdom to awaken the world and time. Each page sings the truth of ourselves as embodied spirit."
—Jean Houston, PhD, author of A Passion for the Possible
"If you have ever wondered how the human body went from being a 'temple of God' to being 'dirty,' read this book. Richly researched, embodied in full, this book befriends our bodies and souls."
—Rev. Donna Schaper, author of Sacred Speech: A Practical Guide for Keeping Spirit in Your Speech
“A wonderful meditation on the body as the temple of God, from our feet to our brains. The exercises are excellent and help us understand the roles each part plays in manifesting the sacred within.”
—Ana Hernández, author of The Sacred Art of Chant: Preparing to Practice, and member of HARC
Introduction Ix
1. A Deep Step into God Feet 1
2. Love of the Dance Legs 14
3. The Whole World in Our Hands Hands 30
4. No Holding Back Back 48
5. Sexuality and the Sacred Generative Organs 67
6. The Hourglass Dress Belly 90
7. The Heart of the Matter Heart 112
8. Praising Our Own Geography Breasts 132
9. Claiming Our Voice Throat 149
10. Let's Hear It for the Ears Ears 164
11. Seeing Our Way Clear Eyes 185
12. A Cell in the Right Brain of God Brain 201
Notes 230
Acknowledgments 235