num_pages: 224
description: Ter Kuile cohost of the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text demonstrates in his thoughtful debut how the nonreligious can liberate the gifts of tradition to foster greater spiritual connection in their lives. He argues that while formal religious affiliation may be waning spiritual practices remain relevant because they can cultivate bonds to the self others the natural world and the transcendent. Ter Kuile explains the significance of a variety of religious practices including pilgrimage prayer and meditation and proposes ways to capture their significance through everyday activities (anything can become a spiritual practice--gardening painting singing snuggling sitting) by focusing on intention attention and repetition. This approach leads to inventive explorations of social trends; for instance the famously cultish appeal of the Crossfit fitness program is explained in terms of vulnerability and community. In ter Kuile's understanding religious traditions are inherently creative and therefore good starting points for considering personalized meaningful spiritual practices.
language: None
title: The Power of Ritual: How to Create Meaning and Connection in Everything You Do
publisher: HarperOne