Haiku - the Sacred Art A Spiritual Practice in Three Lines

This book introduces haiku as a simple and effective way of tapping into the sacred moments that permeate everyday living. Starting with examples and practices that lead to writing a first haiku and then on to an overview of haiku conventions, the author invites us on a path to respond to the holiness that lives and breathes in the world around us. By capturing and writing down images of what makes us aware of holiness - particular moments of deep feeling, moments that make us feel alive and whole - writing haiku becomes a way of relating to the sacred through the "now" of this moment, just as is. Lively examples and simple guided exercises - such as haiku as prayer, haiku inspired by sacred texts and haiku that reflects religious seasons or holidays - offer a unique spiritual practice for a variety of audiences: · Spiritual seekers of any faith who may not have written haiku (or any form of verse) before but are open to exploring wordplay as a new path of spiritual practice · People curious about haiku writing who are looking for a simple and meaningful way to begin · Writers experienced in haiku writing who are looking for new approaches · Groups, teachers and religious leaders who are seeking new and effective methods for group experience and sharing (the book includes suggestions and practices for group use) · Prose writers or visual artists who want to explore spiritual imagery they can integrate into their creative work