The Twelve Gifts for Healing [Hardcover]

Charlene Costanzo (Author), Alexis Seabrook (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2004

A wonderful and compassionate illustrated gift book that will inspire readers to triumph over adversity of any kind.

The author of The 12 Gifts of Birth has produced another beautifully illustrated book that will uplift and inspire all who turn its pages. Everyone goes through some sort of loss in life, and in The Healing Place, Charlene Costanzo provides words of encouragement that will help readers triumph over adversity of any kind--whether it is cancer, job loss, divorce, or just a bad day. The book will give readers a renewed faith in themselves.

The Healing Place opens with a simple yet powerful story of a troubled woman searching for healing. The book then offers twelve healing aspirations that will reaffirm readers sense of peace and dignity, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and colorized photographs. The Healing Place is certain to become a cherished companion on life′s journey.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Costanzo provides another prettily illustrated self-help book with this slender follow up to 2001's The Twelve Gifts of Birth. Divided into two parts, the book opens with a short illustrated parable describing the journey of a sick young woman and the spiritual guide who helps her find the "healing place" within herself. The book's second half presents readers with 12 mantras, such as "May peace wash over you," that Costanzo used during her own seemingly hopeless battle with cancer. Each mantra is accompanied with a soothing pink and sepia toned photograph. Sweet, heartening and somewhat predictable, Costanza's work reminds one of a children's book or an extended Hallmark card. Nonetheless, the fluffy optimism of this message of self-empowerment may comfort those in need of some gentle encouragement.
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Review

This is a blessing, an inspiration, an act of beauty.--Joan Borysenko, author, Minding the Body, Mending the Mind (No Source )

“This is a magnificent gift. Let it heal your heart.”Christiane Northrup, M.D., author, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom (No Source )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperResource; 1 edition (February 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006621128X
• ISBN-13: 978-0066211282
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charlene Gorda Costanzo is an award-winning author, workshop facilitator, wife, mother of two adult daughters, and grandmother of twins. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Originally from New Jersey, she has resided in New York, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. During a one-year book tour to launch The Twelve Gifts of Birth, Charlene and her husband enjoyed living in an RV in 48 of the 50 states.
The Twelve Gifts series of fables began in 1987 when Charlene wrote The Twelve Gifts of Birth as a life message for her own, then teenage daughters. Twelve years later she published the book and discussed its message in schools, shelters, prisons, churches, and hospitals throughout the United States.

The Twelve Gifts for Healing was written while Charlene was in treatment for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2001. "Cancer led me to examine my convictions and look at these life gifts more deeply. Truly, they helped me heal," she says.

The Twelve Gifts in Marriage comes from the ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and hurts and healings that are a part of every long-term marriage.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Inspiring, November 22, 2004

By 

cary in texas "CD Tobolka" (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts for Healing (Hardcover)

While reading this book I actually was talking to myself , saying things about how nice but simple the whole presentation was, but then.....suddenly the complex and powerful, deep meaning had an overwhelming effect on me. I have Lymphoma and had just finished not so fun chemotherapy. My background as a college football player gave me the strength and courage to put up a strong fight and deal with the many side affects chemo creates. I knew I needed to have a very positive outlook to whip this thing and everyone felt I had it under control. Never missed a day of work, came in, in the afternoons, after treatments in the mornings. But the Twelve Gifts for Healing made me realize in order to heal I had to believe not just act. It made me realize I needed to release the bitterness and anger that I still harbored internally. I have a qoute that came to mind:
"Bitterness consumes the capsule that contains it" Twelve Gifts allowed me to release these feelings and actually forgive myself for becoming sick. Yes I felt giulty, must have deserved it somehow, I thought. This is truly a great book that delivers a powerful message and I hope many others are fortunate enought o experience it's healing inspiration.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comfort and Courage, November 25, 2004

By 

Diane K. (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts for Healing (Hardcover)

This is an exceptionally beautiful and touching book. My daughter is being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and The Twelve Gifts for Healing brought comfort and courage to her, my cancer patient friends and to me.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice gift book for a friend in need, November 5, 2006

By 

K. Scheurer (Lafayette, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Twelve Gifts for Healing (Hardcover)

Soothing words and pictures give encouragement to someone going through troubled times. Verses cause us to reflect on what is truly important in life. Would recommend without reservation.