Shared Heart: Relationship Initiations and Celebrations [Paperback]

Barry Vissell (Author), Joyce Vissell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...(they) speak with one voice as ready to admit ego trips as it is willing to sacrifice them for the highest ideal of love known." -- The Movement Newspaper, Los Angeles

"...a beautifully written book about the journey of committed relationship, it is joyful and moving, an experience to be savored..." -- The Common Boundary, Maryland

"...full to overflowing with immeasurable guidelines on using our relationships as tools in our awakening." -- Science of Thought Review, England

"...the universality within their personal account makes the book both moving and instructive." -- Association for Transpersonal Psychology

"Through your gentle intermingling of tend

breath of fresh air, teaching us about our innocence and the simplicity of loving ourselves and others." -- Gerald Jampolsky, M.D. and Diane Cirincione

"We have been taught for a long time that the entrance to God's presence is through the eyes of the child. Rami flings wide that delicious door of perception. Thank you Rami!" -- Rev. Stan Hampson, President, Association of Unity Churches

"While this book is mostly about love in the couple, it goes beyond the couple...it celebrates, in all its aspects, love." -- Newport This Week

From the Author

This book is intended as a guide for those who desire personal relationships. But more than this, it is a guide for those of us who want our relationships to serve as vehicles for our spiritual awakening. This book is for those of us with the sincerity and courage to look at our desires, fears, anger-our full human condition. For as we accept our humanity with love and compassion, so will we also open our hearts to that which is more than human in us. As we embrace, rather than hate, our limitations, we find ourselves embracing our perfection as well.

This book is for those of us who are learning the beauty and power of the monogamous or committed relationship. For the deeper we go with one other person, the more we learn about ourselves. In addition, the less we hide in ourselves, the more our heart is available to others, and the deeper our capacity for joy.

Through this book we offer you the fruits of nineteen years of loving each other and ten years of guiding couples through their own initiations. We hope these thoughts, feelings and stories awaken your hearts to your own inner knowledge, and the ideal of the love relationship. As we all strive to be pure love, to become all we are intended to be, we are helping to spread the light of consciousness and serve humanity. May your heart be opened to the truth within you.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Ramira Pub; 2nd edition (June 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961272007
• ISBN-13: 978-0961272005
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Relationships > Interpersonal Relations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet insightful book. Great for growing couples., November 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Shared Heart: Relationship Initiations and Celebrations (Paperback)

Joyce and Barry Vissel's is a celebration of shared love. The Vissel's use their own experiences as poignant examples of the trials and triumphs encountered on the couples path. The authors present a spiritual perspective which encourages growth and constant refreshing of the relationship rather than a simple "getting-by". This is a book for soulmates on a spiritual path together.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on committed relationship, September 5, 2005

By 

all love based paths lead to God "loveisthekey" (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shared Heart: Relationship Initiations and Celebrations (Paperback)

Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, you will find this book to be perhaps the deepest, most profound and spiritual book on committed relationships out there. It is NOT based on any particular religion, but encompasses deep spiritual concepts based on love, committment, communication, and forgiveness. I think this book should be given as a wedding gift to every couple - it just might save some marriages! Barry and Joyce have a very warm and engaging style of writing, and they bare their souls in this book. Their marriage was not all peachy, but they learned from their mistakes and grew closer. The reverance they show towards sacred marriage is just beautiful. This book is priceless! They have several books, all of them wonderful, but this is definitely their best.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST investment for your relationship and yourself, April 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Shared Heart: Relationship Initiations and Celebrations (Paperback)

This book is by far the most impactful book on relationships I have ever read. It goes straight to the heart, beyond the excuses, patterns and clever tactics of the mind and rests you in what is truly important and real - Love. It is a remarkably touching, candid and inspiring book, full of wonderful anecdotes, spiritual truisms and great exercises. I can't recommend this book enough. Barry and Joyce truly invest so much of their own love into this book and it is infectious in its inspiration of the heart. Their message is simply love yourself and love another. Also, if you ever get a chance to do a workshop with them it is a transforming and a joyous event.