Create Your Personal Sacred Text: Develop and Celebrate Your Spiritual Life

Having survived a dramatic betrayal and ensuing suicide attempt, author Bobbi Parrish knows how important it is to have a spiritual foundation. When she began her path toward emotional recovery, she naturally found herself hungry for spiritual guidance. But once she became a seeker, she also found herself trying to shape her spiritual beliefs to match the scriptures of a particular religion. Unfortunately, not one text or scripture seemed to address the highly personal form of spirituality that dwelled in her heart and soul. So instead, Parish took a creative leap, deciding to reverse the process--writing and gathering text that reflected her unique beliefs. Before long she created her "Personal Sacred Text."

Since contemporary spirituality seems to echo this longing to follow individual paths, many readers may find themselves in the same predicament as Parish once did. This guidebook is highly instructional, showing readers how they can assemble and study their own sacred text. Fear not: This is not a weighty, academic exercise in theology. Readers don't even have to consider themselves researchers, writers, or poets. In fact, Parish shows readers that everyone possesses the necessary tools. Chapters include, "What You Need Before You Start" (such as a commitment to integrity, a few writing supplies, etc.), "Making Selections From Existing Material" (with an extensive list of resources), and "Writing Your Own Scripture" (with specific writing exercises). --Gail Hudson