Sacred Seeds


Book Description

More than five hundred years after the fact, present-day writers still use hyperbolic adjectives to describe the “discovery” of the Americas. Columbus’s crossing of the Atlantic—and the age of exploration that ensued—dramatically and forever changed the early modern world. The societies, economies, cultures, arts, and burgeoning sciences of Europe were quickly transformed by the ongoing encounter with the New World. The meeting of the New and the Old Worlds, however, was more than a meeting of disparate civilizations. It was also a confluence of exciting and often surprising associations that continually created new interfaces between materials and knowledge. The Western and Eastern Hemispheres, brought together by sailing ships for the first time on a large scale, helped create the global landscape we take for granted today. Central to this formative moment in global history were New World plants. The agriculture of indigenous peoples mythically and materially shaped English society and, subsequently, its literature in new and startling ways. Sacred Seeds examines New World plants—tobacco, amaranth, guaiacum, and the prickly pear cactus—and their associated Native myths as they moved across the Atlantic and into English literature. Edward McLean Test reinstates the contributions of indigenous peoples to European society, charting an alternative cultural history that explores the associations and assemblages of transatlantic multiplicity rather than Eurocentric homogeny.




Sacred Seed


Book Description

"... More than an essay collection, this is a call for worldwide action." — Publishers Weekly Essential to survival, seeds have profound spiritual implications. For centuries the planting of seed in the earth not only nourished humanity, but also symbolized the mystery of life and the journey of the soul. In our current supermarket lifestyle of pre-packaged products, far removed from the cycles of planting, we have nearly forgotten this mystery. Now as the integrity of the seed is threatened, so is its primal meaning. Inspired by physicist and environmental leader Dr. Vandana Shiva, each essay draws on the wisdom of ancient and modern traditions. Mystics, shamans, monastics and priests remind us of the profound sacredness of the seed—how in its purity, it is the source and renewal of all of life. Tenderly composed of original writings and vibrant photos, this book bears witness that the Earth is alive, and establishes that only by working together with the Earth—with its wonder and mystery—can we help in its healing and regeneration and once again bring meaning back into the world. Edited and compiled by the Global Peace Initiative of Women, the book includes contributions from His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, H. H. the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Sister Joan Chittister, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, Swami Veda Bharati, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Chief Tamale Bwoya, Blu Greenberg & others. “The way we live and act is determined by the perceptual lenses that are shaped by our beliefs and values. Our belief that it is our right to use as we wish, any part of the biosphere—air, water, soil, other life forms—has created problem after problem. If life is sacred, then we cannot treat other organisms as if they are cars or computers, we must act with humility, respect and love. This book provides a powerful perspective to temper our unseemly rush to engineer everything within the biosphere.” —David Suzuki, author, The Sacred Balance There is no more beautiful gift from nature than the seed—and its protection is vital to our survival. Vandana Shiva, Navdanya, the Global Peace Initiative of Women, and the brilliant spiritual leaders who contributed their voices to this book are all elevating our dialogue about seeds, and the profound role they hold for the future of all humankind." —Alice Waters, chef, author, culinary visionary, and proprietor of Chez Panisse “Ever since I watched the women in Bangladeshi farm families carefully saving seed from one generation to the next, I’ve pondered on this greatest symbol of our connection through time to those who came before and those who will come after. This book is a rich storehouse of wisdom for all the springs to come.” —Bill McKibben, founder, 350.org “Preserving seed diversity—our vast and beautiful heritage of seeds—is one of the most pressing crises facing the human community. Our future depends on our courageous actions now. May these essays by great spiritual voices from around the world awaken us to value, care for, and stand up for the seeds that nature has gifted to us.” —Frances Moore Lappé, author, Diet for a Small Planet and EcoMind “This book is timely and timeless in its importance. The seeds that bring forth life and food for our planet and its people are indispensable for the continuity of all living things. Thus our care for seeds is one of the most vital things we can do amid our many challenges of the present. These articles light a luminous path forward.” —Mary Evelyn Tucker, co-director, Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale University and Emerging Earth Community; executive producer and co-writer, Journey of the Universe




Sacred Seeds of Redemption


Book Description

How often do we struggle to make sense of situations in life, wondering if, by some chance, we are just not following the right directions? Is there some secret life code that we were never taught? Suppose we all, inclusively, hold the tools but are merely unaware that we do? In Sacred Seeds of Redemption the author reveals her own journey toward understanding and, ultimately, acceptance of the ambiguities and challenges of ordinary life. As you read, you will catch glimpses of both the best and the worst of human behaviors and responses. Using your spiritual eyes and mind, you will also see the “under” story, the redemptive work of a vigilant and loving God---a God who wants His children to accept their intrinsic value and realize their infinite potential. You may laugh a little or shed a few tears. You may see yourself or someone you love in the various characters. Look closely for God’s fingerprints. They are all over these imperfect lives.




Seed of Knowledge, Stone of Plenty


Book Description

Burke and Halbert present the scientific evidence behind their startling, original theory: ancient peoples constructed temples, mounds, and megaliths to increase the fertility of crops. These peoples used an ancient technology, only now rediscovered.




The Sacred Seed


Book Description




The Cannabible


Book Description

A unique reference guide to the finest marijuana. Astounded by the lack of books dedicated to the wondrous variety of his favorite plant, author Jason King set out on a four-year mission to document the world's finest cannabis. Traveling around North America, Hawaii, and Europe, he captured over 1,500 strains on film (benevolently sampling a good number as well). Here in THE CANNABIBLE, images of the best 200 varieties are included alongside engaging and informative descriptions of their aromas, flavors, effects, and origins. Study this holy writ and figure out whether Purple Haze, Magic Kush, and the "P" is da kine or da shwag; learn which strains will give you the munchies or the wobbles; discover how appropriately named are Doc Kevorkian, Black Widow, and Cat Piss; and find out which strains are good for productivity, creativity, or just sitting on the couch, staring into space. With over 400 mind-blowing, full-color photographs of the world's most beautiful nugs, this book will have you on the floor, bowing to the mighty bud-dha.




The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic


Book Description

Martín Prechtel’s experiences growing up on a Pueblo Indian reservation, his years of apprenticing to a Guatemalan shaman, and his flight from Guatemala’s brutal civil war to life in the U.S. inform this lyrical blend of memoir, cultural commentary, and spiritual call to arms. The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic is both an epic story and a cry to the heart of humanity based on the author’s realization that human survival depends on keeping alive the seeds of our “original forgotten spiritual excellence.” Prechtel relates our current state of ecological crisis to the rapid disappearance of biodiversity, indigenous cultures, and shared human values. He demonstrates how real human culture is exterminated when real (not genetically modified) seeds are lost. Like plants that become extinct once their required conditions are no longer met, authentic, unmonetized human cultures can no longer survive in the modern world. To “keep the seeds alive”—both literally and metaphorically—they must be planted, harvested, and replanted, just as human culture must become truly engaging and meaningful to the soul, as necessary as food is to the body. The viable seeds of spirituality and culture that lie dormant within us need to “sprout” into broad daylight to create real sets of cultures welcome on Earth.




Organic Marijuana, Soma Style


Book Description

Soma has become synonymous with a mindful approach to cannabis gardening and an earth-friendly lifestyle. Soma's varieties of marijuana are considered legendary and have been big winners at the most reputable harvest festivals of Europe. Now for the first time, he shares the philosophy and methods that distinguish him as a world-class breeder of cannabis in one concise volume. Essays include detailed advice on organic approaches to growing the plant and address the specific needs of sophisticated connoisseurs and enthusiasts. Two full-color sections of Soma's lush photography reveal the colorful beauty and range of the cannabis plant. Perfectly suited to the home grower, Soma's advice is inspiring and informative, emphasizing the sublime qualities of marijuana's flavor and effects when grown in optimal conditions.




The Wanting Seed


Book Description

Set in the near future, The Wanting Seed is a Malthusian comedy about the strange world overpopulation will produce. Tristram Foxe and his wife, Beatrice-Joanna, live in their skyscraper world where official family limitation glorifies homosexuality. Eventually, their world is transformed into a chaos of cannibalistic dining-clubs, fantastic fertility rituals, and wars without anger. It is a novel both extravagantly funny and grimly serious.




Sacred Land


Book Description

Learn how to plan and plant your garden, create compost, save seeds, conserve water, connect with garden goddesses and incorporate planetary energy in your garden.




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