Create Your Personal Sacred Text: Develop and Celebrate Your Spiritual Life [Paperback]

Bobbi Parish (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 1999

A step-by-step guide to writing your own scripture using selections from major sacred texts, secular sources and your own words.

Create Your Personal Sacred Text is a unique step-by-step guide to selecting and writing your own scripture.  Bobbi Parish has developed and used this process both personally and professionally with clients over the course of a decade and has found its transformative powers to be universal.  With a comprehensive resource guide to the world's major sacred texts and a selection of secular texts, the book covers:

What you need before you start
Selection guidelines
Writing your own scripture
Text assembly
Prayer, meditation, and other methods of seeking inspiration
Ideas for using your text individually or communally
And much more

The process of creating a personal sacred text will enrich your spiritual life, and your finished text will be a source of wisdom and inspiration for many years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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

From Library Journal

Parish, a marriage and family therapist, has created a curious and affecting handbook for spiritual renewal. She believes this can be assisted by creating one's own sacred textAby selecting from existing texts of almost any kind, or writing one's own scripture in any genre. Part therapeutic manual, part memoir, part reading list, Parish's book may find a positive response from the extrainstitutional religious. For larger collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (November 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767903684
• ISBN-13: 978-0767903684
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one excited me!, July 26, 2000

By 

Satia Renee "Satia Renee" (Altanta GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Create Your Personal Sacred Text: Develop and Celebrate Your Spiritual Life (Paperback)

I picked this book up on a whim. I wasn't planning on buying anything but this book caught my eye and the next thing I knew, I was bringing it home with me.

I devoured it. I marked it with sticky notes. I made notations in my journal of ideas and resources. Then I scoured my bookshelves for potential inspiration.

As an avid journal keeper, I was thrilled to find a book that would afford me a new and stimulating way to incorporate a spiritual aspect into my journaling. I found myself rejoicing in the synchronicity of finding this book and wanting to explore my faith more. What I appreciate most is that the book is flexible and can be used for all denominational faiths, even "pagan." No one definition of faith, etc., is promoted so anyone could benefit from exploring this book for a little insight into their own spiritual growth.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!!!, July 22, 2003

By 

"spluuugirl" (Olathe, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Create Your Personal Sacred Text: Develop and Celebrate Your Spiritual Life (Paperback)

I picked this book up on a fluke... I now practice writing my own sacred text...I use the ideas and thoughts and themes of this book everyday since I read it. I read it cover to cover in one day!
I have shared my copy with friends, who have in turn bought their own copies and are writing their sacred text.
I recommend it to the high schoolers I teach at church camp every year too!
Excellent idea. It helps me go beyond the normal "journaling" which I got bored with.
Highly recommend this book!