February 2024 MBR The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

What Makes You Bloom
Kelvin Miguel Garcia, author
Broadleaf Books
www.broadleafbooks.com
9781506493589, $25.99, HC, 218pp

https://www.amazon.com/What-Makes-You-Bloom-Cultivating/dp/1506493580

Synopsis: So many of us are leaving conservative faith traditions behind, r=
ightly saying goodbye to toxic theology, religious bigotry, and the harm th=
at derives from mind-sets. But in the process, we often lose our rhythm of =
gathering, prayer, and worship. We may even lose our sense of connection to=
 God. And we think it's our fault. But spiritual coach, speaker, and podcas=
ter Kevin Miguel Garcia is here with a reminder: "We don't need saving beca=
use we were never in danger. We don't need to get found because we've never=
 been lost. Everything we need to connect with the Divine is already inside=
 us."

"What Makes You Bloom: Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divi=
ne Self" is a guide to creating your new spiritual practice after your life=
 or faith has fallen apart. When going to church, praying, and reading your=
 Bible just doesn't cut it or outright disturbs you, "What Makes You Bloom"=
 will show you how to cultivate new, meaningful spiritual practices (like s=
tillness, presence, breath, and movement) that will help you overcome the p=
ain of your past and root yourself in the present.

Through stories, insights, and guided meditations, Garcia explains how the =
goal of every spiritual practice should be about the attainment of peace --=
 about finding what truly makes you bloom. Along the way, you will discover=
 that the smallest changes in your life can bring about the biggest transfo=
rmations, and that a feeling of bliss is only a few breaths away.

Critique: Inspired and inspiring from beginning to end, "What Makes You Blo=
om: Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divine Self" by Kevin M=
iguel Gardia is a life changing, life affirming, life enhancing, spirituall=
y restoring, faith preserving read. Also readily available in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $17.99), "What Makes You Bloom" is especially and unreser=
vedly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regard=
less of their denominational affiliation.

Editorial Note: Kevin Miguel Garcia (www.thekevingarcia.com) is a digital p=
astor, spiritual recovery coach, mystic theologian, sought-after speaker, a=
nd host of the podcast A Tiny Revolution. Garcia holds a master of practica=
l theology from Columbia Theological Seminary. They coach clients from arou=
nd the world through deconstruction, coming-out processes, and cultivating =
spiritual practices to promote resilience, solidarity, and self-compassion.=
 Garcia is the author of Bad Theology Kills and is based in Atlanta, Georgi=
a.

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