The Answers by Neil Somerville. (ThorsonsElement, $16.95, Hardcover.)
The values of friendship are many, but one important essence of good f
riends is their readiness to offer support and advice. Using this book, you may come to regard it as a friend, always there to give a few useful and helpful words. To use it is easy, as it is based on one of the oldest divinatory systems, bibliomancy, which is picking a passage or line of text from a book at random and applying it to your situation. It is known that the ancient Greeks and Romans consulted the works of Homer and Virgil for divinatory purposes, and since then many have used the Bible, the I Ching and dictionaries, or drawn from books chosen by chance.
The Answers has been written and compiled specifically for the purpose of divining by text lines and throughout its pages are proverbs, maxims and advice that have been included for their value and insight. It makes this ancient divination system easy to use and understand.
From Science to God: A Physicist’s Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness by Peter Russell. (New World Library, $12.95, Paperback.)
What does the speed of light have to do with the Koran, St. John and 
Aldous Huxley? Where does quantum physics meet the psychology of meditation? And if “I think, therefore I am,” why can’t physics, chemistry or biology explain where human thought comes from?
From Science to God offers a crash course in the nature of reality. It is the story of Russell’s lifelong exploration into the nature of consciousness—how he went from being a strict atheist, studying mathematics and physics at Cambridge University, to realizing a profound personal synthesis of the mystical and scientific. Using his own tale of curiosity and exploration as the book’s backbone, Russell blends physics, psychology, and philosophy to reach a new worldview in which consciousness is a fundamental quality of creation. He shows how all the ingredients for this worldview are in place; nothing new needs to be discovered. We have only to put the pieces together and explore the new picture of reality that emerges.
For Goodness’ Sake: Supporting Children & Teens in Discovering Life’s Highest Values by Michael Nitai Deranja. (Crystal Clarity Publishers, $12.95, Paperback.)
Today’s children need more than academic education—they also need positive values for making the most of their education and their lives. Selfishness, greed, and moodiness are common, but treatable, burdens for many children.
Michael Nitai Deranja offers simple-to-use, effective activities to help children learn from their own experience that expressing virtue actually brings them more happiness. Ages 4 to 17 will have fun with these activities as they explore seventeen different values, including cooperation, concentration, integrity, willingness, and many others. As they learn through direct, personal experience, these positive values become part of their lives.
For Goodness’ Sake gives you tools to bring more depth of sharing into your home or classroom, and to help children experience the highest expression of themselves.
The Golden Builders: Alchemists, Rosicrucians, and the First Freemasons by Tobias Churton. (Weiser Books, $18.95, Paperback.)
In this work of detailed research, Tobias Churton reveals, without resorting 
to mythology or pseudo-history, the most up-to-date knowledge on the development of Gnostic alchemy, the true origins of pre-Grand Lodge Freemasonry, and the mysterious Fraternity of the Rosy Cross (the Rosicrucians). Following the Hermetic spiritual and philosophical stream through 1,600 years of esoteric history, Churton introduces readers to great men of magic and wisdom—spiritual heroes and masters like Paracelsus, Caspar Schwenckfeld, Johann Valentin Andrae, and Elias Ashmole. The Golden Builders is a valuable addition to any serious seeker’s library.
Debunking myths while revealing genuine mysteries, The Golden Builders is an enticing read that contains much spiritual wisdom. Explore the deeper meaning of magic and human existence, as revealed in the records and inspiring lives of the Golden Builders.
Not Afraid to Live With Dandelions: Everything Has a Purpose by Judy Williamson. (La Pointe Press, $14.95, Hardcover.)
If you believe that terrorism and economic uncertainty keep us from our 
purpose, you’ll think again when reading this how-to model for spiritual awakening, renewal, and moving barriers.
Judy Williamson depicts her spiritual journey in this heart-warming and inspirational book. Through stories that tell of her personal experiences with death, parenting, and changing relationships, she shares her belief that there is a glorious opportunity waiting to be discovered in every situation. With her nurturing spirit and gentle faith, she inspires and empowers you to look for the possibilities in your own life.
Stress Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Wellness by Edward A. Charlesworth, Ph.D. and Ronald G. Nathan, Ph.D. (Ballantine Books, $15.95, Paperback.)
We live in an age of anxiety, a century of stress, and an era of terrorism. 
Today, 95 million Americans suffer from stress. Stress Management helps you identify the specific areas of stress in our lives—familial, work-related, social, emotional—and offers proven techniques for dealing with every one of them. Originally published in 1985, this new edition features updated information on how men and women differ in response to stress, statistics on disorders and drugs, the ways that terrorism and the information age impact stress, and the key benefits of spirituality, alternative medicine, exercise, and nutrition.
Stress Management can help you: Test your personal responses to daily stress and chart your progress in controlling it. Learn specific techniques for relaxation. Discover how to deal with life’s critical moments without stress. Embark on a program to improve your physical health as a major step toward stress management. Discern which types of stress must be reduced and which kinds you can turn into positive motivation.
With this practical advice, you can immediately begin to reduce your level of stress and lead a more productive, healthy, and happy life.