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The Power of Ritual by Casper Ter Kuile x-book

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The Power of Ritual

Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date
23 June 2020
Run Time
5 hours 54 minutes
Format
x-book®

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What to expect

‘The rare book that really might change your life. It has certainly changed mine.’ – John Green, Author of The Fault in Our Stars

Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices―yoga, reading, walking the dog―into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose.

“After half a decade of research and hundreds of conversations with people around the country, I am convinced we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. That what used to hold us in community no longer works, and that the spiritual offerings of yesteryear no longer help us thrive.”
–Casper ter Kuile

What do Soul Cycle, gratitude journals, and tech breaks have in common? For ter Kuile they offer rituals that create the foundation for our modern spiritual lives.

We are in crisis today. Our modern technological society has left too many of us―no matter our ages―feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Previous frameworks for building community and finding meaning no longer support us. Yet ter Kuile reveals a hopeful new message: we might not be religious, but that doesn’t mean we are any less spiritual.
Instead, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in which we seek belonging and meaning in secular practices. Today, we find connection in:

· CrossFit and SoulCycle, which offer a sense of belonging rooted in accountability and support much like church groups
· Harry Potter and other beloved books that offer universal lessons
· Gratitude journals, which have replaced traditional prayer
· Tech breaks, which provide mindful moments of calm

In The Power of Ritual, ter Kuile invites us to deepen these ordinary practices as intentional rituals that nurture connection and wellbeing. With wisdom and endearing wit, ter Kuile’s call for ritual is ultimately a call to heal our loss of connection to ourselves, to others, and to our spiritual identities.

The Power of Ritual reminds us that what we already do every day matters―and has the potential to become a powerful experience of reflection, sanctuary, and meaning.

Critics Review

  • ‘The Power of Ritual is essential reading for anyone interested in how to find meaning in our strange, new world. Bursting with wisdom and compassion, this is the rare book that really might change your life. It has certainly changed mine.’ – John Green, Author of The Fault in Our Stars
  • ‘Casper ter Kuile continues to have his pulse on this generation's search for meaning. Building on the incredible work of How We Gather, The Power of Ritual offers a radical proposition: we decide what's sacred.’
    - Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering
  • ‘Casper ter Kuile's book is genuinely wise and utterly useful: it offers you the opportunity to remake your life in small but vital ways that will leave you happier, calmer, and more able to do the work that must be done on this planet. A classic the day it is published!’ – Bill McKibben, author of Radio Free Vermont
  • ‘If you are passionate about community building or simply seeking what feels good in life and how to get more of it…consider this book your new bible.’ – Cleo Wade, Author of Heart Talk and Where to Begin
See more reviews
  • ‘Human beings are made to experience the transcendent, for worship and, though this might surprise many people, for ritual as well. Casper ter Kuile invites our increasingly secular world to discover the sacred in the midst of the everyday and turn our days into rituals of joy, praise and gratitude.’ – James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage
  • ‘As we reimagine our relationships, with self, one another and nature, The Power of Ritual provides deep insight into traditions both new and old. Brilliant.’ – Elizabeth Cutler, Co-Founder of Soul Cycle
  • ‘The Power of Ritual has a startling message: feeling better isn’t about adding new things, but rather about seeing what we have through new eyes.’ Evan Sharp, Co-Founder of Pinterest
  • ‘A thoughtful debut. Those who are beginning to explore spirituality will find many rich ideas.’ – Publishers Weekly

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Details

Author
Casper Ter Kuile
Narrator
Casper Ter Kuile
Duration
5 hours 54 minutes
Release Date
23 June 2020
ISBN
9780008389925
Format
x-book®
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Genre
Social services and welfare, criminology, Religion and beliefs

Synopsis

‘The rare book that really might change your life. It has certainly changed mine.’ – John Green, Author of The Fault in Our Stars Casper ter Kuile, a Harvard Divinity School fellow and cohost of the popular Harry Potter and the Sacred Text podcast, explores how we can nourish our souls by transforming common, everyday practices―yoga, reading, walking the dog―into sacred rituals that can heal our crisis of social isolation and struggle to find purpose. “After half a decade of research and hundreds of conversations with people around the country, I am convinced we are in the midst of a paradigm shift. That what used to hold us in community no longer works, and that the spiritual offerings of yesteryear no longer help us thrive.”–Casper ter Kuile What do Soul Cycle, gratitude journals, and tech breaks have in common? For ter Kuile they offer rituals that create the foundation for our modern spiritual lives. We are in crisis today. Our modern technological society has left too many of us―no matter our ages―feeling isolated and bereft of purpose. Previous frameworks for building community and finding meaning no longer support us. Yet ter Kuile reveals a hopeful new message: we might not be religious, but that doesn’t mean we are any less spiritual.Instead, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift in which we seek belonging and meaning in secular practices. Today, we find connection in: · CrossFit and SoulCycle, which offer a sense of belonging rooted in accountability and support much like church groups· Harry Potter and other beloved books that offer universal lessons· Gratitude journals, which have replaced traditional prayer· Tech breaks, which provide mindful moments of calm In The Power of Ritual, ter Kuile invites us to deepen these ordinary practices as intentional rituals that nurture connection and wellbeing. With wisdom and endearing wit, ter Kuile’s call for ritual is ultimately a call to heal our loss of connection to ourselves, to others, and to our spiritual identities. The Power of Ritual reminds us that what we already do every day matters―and has the potential to become a powerful experience of reflection, sanctuary, and meaning.

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