"One of my favorite metaphors for representing the intricacy of psychological wholeness is the kaleidoscope....Every change in pattern and color happens as a result of a shift of pieces that already exist, that are already part of the whole. Pieces that were hidden suddenly come into view and add their quality to the overall pattern," writes marriage and family therapist Nancy J. Napier in Sacred Practices for Conscious Living. All the pieces are in place to find sacred meaning in our lives. We can, in the author's words, become co-creators with God by taking responsibility for what happens to us each and every day.
Napier begins with an exploration of what it means to live consciously by looking at the shadow, those parts of ourselves which we have repressed and disowned. She then examines the enriching potentials of nurturing our bodies, practicing mindfulness and equanimity, expressing compassion and lovingkindness, mining intuition and connections, and tapping our capacity for gratitude and generosity. Throughout the book, Napier includes questions, exercises, and guided meditations to enable readers to make the most of her transpersonal psychological advice.