Return to The Sacred: Ancient Pathways to Spiritual Awakening

by Jonathan H. Ellerby Ph.D.

Overview

Are you looking for inner peace? Do you seek a deeper understanding of yourself and the spiritual world? Have you followed the popular prescriptions for enlightenment and still found yourself unsatisfied? Return to The Sacred is a fascinating guide that will help you understand the importance of spiritual practice and the great diversity of paths that are available to you.

This is a book that does more than provide philosophy and inspiration; it gives you the freedom to find a path that works for you and the knowledge to experience the answers for yourself. You’ll learn about the time-tested tools of spiritual growth that will help you discover extraordinary depths of wisdom, power, and peace. Return to The Sacred will introduce you to the 12 Master Paths and Practices that have transformed the lives of countless saints, mystics, masters, and sages since the beginning of history. In this book, you’ll find what you need to discover your spiritual personality and choose the path that will lead you toward the realization of boundless joy and a lifelong journey of meaning.

Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D., weaves threads of personal growth and comparative religion into captivating true tales of spiritual adventures with teachers and healers around the world. Through colorful stories and clear reflections, he presents a perspective that reveals the rewards of spiritual practice, and a realistic understanding of the deep commitments and challenging steps along the way. Return to The Sacred is an inspiring journey around the globe and into the furthest reaches of Spirit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401921569
Publisher:	Hay House Inc.
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	9.02(w) x 6.06(h) x 0.85(d)

About the Author

Jonathan Ellerby, Ph.D., has spent more than 20 years dedicated to the personal, professional, and academic exploration of spirituality, healing, and consciousness. Throughout his journey, he has traveled the world meeting and studying with spiritual teachers from more than 40 cultural traditions. Jonathan has a doctoral degree in comparative religion and an ordination as an interfaith minister. He has worked as a healer, teacher, and consultant with individuals and groups in settings as diverse as hospitals, major corporations, prisons, community groups, conferences, and some of the world’s leading holistic health resorts. His work and training have taken him deeply into the worlds of Indigenous healing, corporate culture, and integrative medicine. Currently, Jonathan is the Spiritual Program Director for the acclaimed Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Introduction xvii

Part I Understanding Spirituality

Chapter 1 Spirituality is Not Religion 3

Chapter 2 The Healing Power of Spirituality: Why a Spiritual Practice Matters 27

Chapter 3 The Master Paths: 12 Roads to Spiritual Awakening 49

Part II Body-Centered Practices

Chapter 4 The Path of Ceremony and Ritual 77

Chapter 5 The Path of Sacred Movement 85

Chapter 6 The Path of Sacred Sound and Music 93

Part III Mind-Centered Practices

Chapter 7 The Path of Prayer 105

Chapter 8 The Path of Meditation 115

Chapter 9 The Path of Sacred Study 129

Part IV Heart-Centered Practices

Chapter 10 The Path of Devotion 143

Chapter 11 The Path of Sacred Service 153

Chapter 12 The Guru-Guided Path: The Master Teacher 163

Part V Soul-Centered Practices

Chapter 13 Ascetic Practices 185

Chapter 14 The Death Practice 197

Chapter 15 The Life Path 213

Part VI Living Balance, Lasting Peace

Chapter 16 Everything is Sacred 227

Afterword 243

Acknowledgments 249

Resources 253

About the Author 259

Editorial Reviews

"Return to The Sacred reads like an invitation directly from the spirit to come explore the many expressions of the Divine. Ellerby is a masterful storyteller in addition to being a fine scholar, and the result is a must-read book.”
— Caroline Myss, the best-selling author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Defy Gravity

“Very rarely does a book appear with the power to stir the soul; to remind you of what you know in your bones; to inspire you to connect with Spirit in its many forms. Return to The Sacred is such a book. An authentic spiritual adventure, it is lyrically beautiful, stunningly real, and at the same time, resolutely practical. This is a book to read and to cherish. I’m going to buy a carton for my family and friends.”
— Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., the best-selling author of Your Soul’s Compass and It's Not the End of the World

“People everywhere are experiencing a spiritual hunger as never before. Return to The Sacred is a magnificent way of answering this need. This is an elegant, enchanting book. Jonathan Ellerby’s spiritual path has taken him inside many of the world’s great spiritual traditions, which he now shares. If you are ready for growth and trans-formation in your spiritual life, this book is for you.”
— Larry Dossey, M.D., the best-selling author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions

“Jonathan is one of those extraordinary people who makes an impact everywhere he goes. Not only is he an accomplished, well-credentialed, and knowledgeable expert on seemingly all things spiritual, but he has proven himself to be a master healer and someone who lives what he teaches. We at Canyon Ranch have been blessed to have chosen Jonathan Ellerby as our Spiritual Program Director.
“Return to The Sacred is a reflection of Jonathan’s rare gifts: it is warm-hearted, engaging, and sure to challenge and enhance the way you see yourself and the world. If you are seeking wellness and peace, it’s got what you are look-ing for. This book offers an invaluable perspective that will enrich your life.”
— Mel Zuckerman, founder of Canyon Ranch Health Resorts


“Return to The Sacred is a beautiful book that will certainly take you to the next level of your spiritual growth. Transform your life now and discover your true spiritual identity with Dr. Ellerby’s book. You’ll love it.”
— Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., the best-selling author of The End of Karma and Meditation as Medicine

“If you are one of the 90 million Americans who considers themselves ‘spiritual but not religious,’ this book is a must-read. With his accessible and original voice, Jonathan Ellerby eloquently describes his own mystical experiences while shining a bright light onto the path to follow if you wish to have your own.”
— Arielle Ford, the best-selling author of The Soulmate Secret: Manifest the Love of Your Life with the Law of Attraction and co-founder of the Spiritual Cinema Circle

“Sometimes an individual will come along who senses that the quiet voice within is the one that speaks. In that quiet voice, you will be revealed unto yourself. Jonathan is such a person. If anyone should take the time to meet with his teachings, they would be the wiser, and will benefit. He is a traveler, a kind man, and in service to all. He is a steward of Mother Earth, and I know where he walks there is honor. I am proud to call him brother and friend.”
— Don Lorenzo Archuleta, Yaqui healer, founder of Windspirit Teachings

“Return to The Sacred is an extraordinary book that will bring you to a deep understanding of your spiritual nature, while connecting you with the richness of the world’s cultures and traditions. Dr. Ellerby has the rare ability to take you inside the experience of the mystic and the shaman, while helping you understand how to get there yourself—if you are willing to commit to the journey of a lifetime!”
— Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D., the best-selling author of Yoga, Power, and Spirit and Courageous Dreaming

“Dr. Ellerby’s Return to The Sacred: Ancient Pathways to Spiritual Awakening is a book we have been waiting for. It surveys the spiritual-practice landscape in a way that is entertaining, inviting, and truly informative. All of the spiritual paths highlighted in this book are done so with clarity and feeling and are marked by the authenticity of Dr. Ellerby’s personal stories of his encounters with spiritual teachers and practices. What a blessed journey! Dr. Ellerby demystifies ancient cultural systems and inspires us to journey down the path that is calling to us. We give thanks for the fact that Dr. Ellerby has been true to his own internal muse and, in so doing, has delivered to us a gift that will nourish generations to come.”
— Kamau Kokayi, M.D., integrative physician and the host of Pacifica Radio’s Global Medicine Review

From the Publisher