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In The spirits of America, Burns relates that drinking was "the first national pastime," and shows how it shaped American politics and culture from the earliest colonial days. He details the transformation of alcohol from virtue to vice and back again and how it was thought of as both scourge and medicine. He tells us how "the great American thirst" developed over the centuries, and how reform movements and laws sprang up to combat it. Burns brings back to life such vivid characters as Carrie Nation and other crusaders against drink. He informs us that, in the final analysis, Prohibition, the culmination of the reformers' quest, had as much to do with politics and economics and geography as it did with spirituous beverage.
For the ancient Native Peoples, the place known to us as America's Stonehenge (Mystery Hill) was a sacred place. For 2500 years they came annually to hold ceremonies with the spirits. At first, they came on the summer solstice and then later they came for the winter solstice and spring equinox. They built ritual structures like stone chambers, cairns, drains, basins, enclosures, and standing stones as part of their ceremonial areas. As the ceremonies were altered and added to, new ceremonial structures were built to accommodate them. These structures were constructed for specific purposes, contained symbolism meaningful to their culture, and had distinct architectural styles. The result is an amazing archaeological record of the 2500 year cultural history of this sacred place.Americai's Stonehenge Deciphered explores the purpose of these structures, the ceremonies held at them, and the meaning behind the symbolism built into them. It traces how these cultural beliefs were passed from generation to generation and how they were added to and altered to meet the changing needs of their culture. What emerges from this is a profound respect for the intelligence, sophistication, and the depth of their spiritual worldview, culture, and their expertise with building stone structures.
Explores the rich history of angels in America from Spanish colonialism and Puritan culture to modern incarnations found on TV, in movies, in comic books, and on bumper stickers. Finds that Americans have constructed the "useful angel" as a servant of man rather than an agent of God.
Meditation day books are popular spiritual or inspirational guides, but none have been written quite like this one. Drawing from over 50 years of working and creating, teaching and nurturing students in theatre, the author uses quotes from plays as a basis for rumination and the exploration of life, making this particular volume part memoir, part life philosophy, and part mini theatre history vignettes. This volume is written to be read each day, with one writing for each of 366 days of a year. With a spiritual message at the heart of the work, the book will also appeal to theatre and arts lovers. The author has many years experience in teaching the Enneagram, the Arts as a transcendent adventure, and other wisdom subjects. This meditation collection is good for any spiritual seeker who brings a clear heart and an open mind to spiritual exploration. As the author says, “One of the extraordinary things about working in the theatre day in and day out is that the words of the script of the play I am creating soak through my clothing, permeate my skin, penetrate my brain, and saturate my life.” From these quotes, Sloan has created short reflections on life, arranged thematically for every day of the year. Plays, written by real people over the centuries, brim with the same sort of emotions and challenges, joys and fears that impact us today. The characters warn, rejoice, fuss, complain, doubt, advise, and cheer their fellows just as we do today. In this work, Sloan suggests that reading and watching plays can assist us as we review the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual natures of our own lives. From new beginnings in January to tying up loose ends in December, these meditations become a daily traveling partner for those who want to reflect on how art and literature influence and become a part of our lives.