We Read online

  Australia

  Australian Women’s Health Network (AWHN), www.awhn.org.au.

  Emily’s List, www.emilyslist.org.au.

  National Council of Women of Australia, www.ncwa.org.au.

  World Issues

  There comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness . . . that time is now.

  —WANGARI MAATHAI (1940–2011), Kenyan-born environmentalist and activist

  Our world is in trouble. It would have been impossible to mention all its myriad issues, but if while reading this book one or two struck a chord with you, here is a shortlist of just some of the many organizations and societies that you may want to get in contact with:

  International

  Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org.

  Fund for Global Human Rights, www.globalhumanrights.org.

  Giving What We Can, www.givingwhatwecan.org/trust.

  Global Fund for Women, www.globalfundforwomen.org.

  Greenpeace, www.greenpeace.org.

  HelpAge International, www.helpage.org.

  Human Rights Watch (HRW), www.hrw.org.

  International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), www.ippf.org.

  Liberty, www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk.

  Save the Children, www.savethechildren.net.

  The Life You Can Save, www.thelifeyoucansave.org.

  World Bank, www.worldbank.org.

  World Wildlife Fund (WWF), www.wwf.panda.org.

  US

  American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), www.aclu.org.

  Earthjustice (formerly the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund), www.earthjustice.org.

  Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), www.edf.org.

  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), www.naacp.org.

  National Audubon Society, www.audubon.org.

  Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), www.nrdc.org.

  PovertyUSA, www.povertyusa.org.

  Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), www.splcenter.org.

  US Human Rights Network (USHR), www.ushrnetwork.org.

  Canada

  Dalit Freedom Network Canada, www.dalitfreedom.ca.

  Food for the Hungry, www.fhcanada.org.

  UK

  Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), www.cpag.org.uk.

  Show Racism the Red Card, www.srtrc.org.

  Australia

  Anti-Poverty Week, www.antipovertyweek.org.au.

  Eco-shout (grassroots and environmental groups directory), www.ecoshout.org.au.

  Gecko–Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council Association, www.gecko.org.au.

  GetUp!, www.getup.org.au.

  Giving

  There are many valuable causes and charities wanting your support and donations—far too many to include in this book—but if you are looking for inspiration for daily acts of kindness then the following websites might be helpful:

  Action for Happiness, www.actionforhappiness.org.

  Helping Network, https://helping.network.

  Love This City, www.lovethiscity.org.

  Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, www.randomactsofkindness.org.

  Menopause

  National Women’s Health Resource Center, http://www.healthywomen.org.

  The North American Menopause Society, http://www.menopause.org/for-women.

  Office on Women’s Health, https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause.

  Yoga

  You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.

  —SHARON GANNON, cofounder of Jivamukti

  Yoga is a whole-body exercise with the power to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Flexibility increases, stress reduces, breath work teaches physical techniques to soothe worry and bring you back to a point of calm. It can help you to release the difficult emotions that get trapped in your body. The more you do, the more you learn to connect with what’s happening right now. You’ll find you sleep more deeply and feel generally better. For us, it has led to a more balanced life and a way to access deep peace and harmony.

  There are many types of yoga. What we outline below is just a start. Ask people you know, research online, try different options, see what works best for you. You may find initial “taster” classes are free, and many places offer low-cost classes. Cost-effective ways to practice include shopping around for studio offers. You can also learn by yourself at home, via a book or DVD or internet video, although it’s good to take a few lessons with a teacher at first.

  Hatha

  Gentle, often slower, focusing on the most traditional poses.

  Iyengar

  Focuses on precision positions and alignments, with use of props (belts, blocks, bolsters) to ensure correct posture.

  Ashtanga

  Vigorous, quick moving, athletic. The whole class is one succession of moves flowing into another.

  Mysore Style

  Ashtanga yoga taught one-on-one in a group setting where you set your own pace.

  Vinyasa Flow

  Another fast-paced workout style with minimal talk from the teacher.

  Bikram

  Set poses (twenty-six of them) done in special heated rooms; lots of sweating and flushing out of toxins.

  Kirtan Chanting

  A form of yoga that uses sound.

  Kundalini

  Designed to increase spinal energy. Classes involve breathing, chanting, and meditation as well as physical exercises. Kundalini yoga can fuse with meditation to create an all-body practice, tailored to help with specific issues (stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and so on), and is best done with a teacher.

  Yin

  Quieter, seated poses held for up to ten minutes. A way to increase flexibility, release tension, and learn the basics of meditation.

  Restorative

  Like yin yoga, but with less focus on flexibility and more on healing and relaxing.

  Meditation

  Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.

  —MA JAYA SATI BHAGAVATI

  All you need to meditate is a time and place to sit quietly by yourself. Even five minutes in the bathroom is good. If you’re looking for a more structured practice, we list a few major traditions below. You’ll find plenty more online or by asking around.

  In essence, there are two types of meditation: structured and open. Structured meditation is built around a single thing for your mind to focus on while you meditate. This could be one word (often called a mantra), or a prayer or spiritual text. Open meditation simply invites you to sit (or lie or stand) quietly, relax, and observe what your body and mind are up to. The following may employ either approach:

  Mindfulness

  This Western, nonreligious technique can employ breath awareness (focusing your attention on inhaling and exhaling) and body scanning (focusing your attention on your physical body, starting from your toes and heading up).

  Zen (also known as Zazen)

  This technique comes from Buddhism but can be useful to non-Buddhists. The focus is on sitting still in one position, observing your breath and mind. It sometimes involves ruminating on Buddhist teachings and is often practiced with a teacher.

  Transcendental Meditation (TM)

  Practitioners are given a mantra (a word or sound) by a teacher to focus on during their meditation. You can also find mantras online.

  Faith

  Religion is for people who are scared to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.

  —BONNIE RAITT, Grammy Award–winning singer-musician

  Some of us find a faith through conventional religion; others, through less formal faith-based paths and even secular or atheist groups that remove divinity but retain a sense of connection to an underlying truth.

  Buddhism

  More of a philosophy than a conventional religion, Buddhism focuses on personal spiritual development and uncovering deep tru
ths about the nature of reality.

  Christianity

  Based on the teachings of Jesus, Christianity teaches we should follow his life story, believe in his divinity, and emulate his self-sacrifice and service to humanity. It’s split into three major traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant.

  Islam

  Islam means “submission to the will of God.” Believers are called Muslims and follow the teachings of the Koran as revealed to the prophet Muḥammad, who also venerated Abraham, Moses, and Jesus as prophets. It has three major traditions: Sunni, Shi’ite, and Sufism.

  Judaism

  One of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. Jews believe they must follow a wide range of laws set for them by God governing almost every aspect of life.

  Hinduism

  A group of faiths based around many different Indian beliefs and scriptures, which may be the oldest religion in the world.

  Taoism

  An ancient Chinese religious and philosophical tradition with worldwide popularity due to its manifestations in the Tao Te Ching, Tai Chi, I Ching, and Qigong.

  Unitarianism

  An open, inclusive, and tolerant approach to religion, developing out of Protestantism and incorporating teachings from many different faiths. Individuals are asked to create their own practice and answers.

  Humanism

  Religion without a god: an approach to life centered on human action and behavior and looking to science rather than religion.

  Paganism

  Recognizes the rich diversity of spiritual traditions and is typically a polytheistic or pantheistic, nature-worshipping religion.

  Atheism

  Lack, or an absence, of belief in deities.

  Contemporary Female Spiritual Teachers

  The Living Spiritual Teachers Project is an ongoing charitable project that provides biographical details of some of the most eminent spiritual teachers alive today. Here you can find biographical details, contact information, and useful links, as well as a list of their publications: www.spiritualityandpractice.com.

  Starting WE Communities

  This is a WE, not a me, way of living. The more support you can gather around you, the easier you will find it to grow, heal, and stay on the path. Look for others who are making the same journey or are keen to talk about the things that really matter. Gather them around you. Try working through the chapters in this book with others; share your experiences, your challenges, and your insights. Together you will have support when you need it and have maximum impact when you take action. Find ways to become an active part of the movement away from me and toward WE. Here are some ideas. Come up with your own and let us know how you get on:

  • Start a WE community by meeting in person regularly at a local school, church, or community center. Support one another in using the Principles in your daily lives.

  • Start a WE community online—break down the walls of geography by connecting with women across the globe.

  • Start a fund-raising drive or other action for one of your chosen charities and invite people in the WE community to donate or join you.

  • Look online to find other members of the WE community who might want help or encouragement.

  • Look out for sister-travellers in your community who might have health or age-related issues that keep them housebound or could do with a visit over a cup of tea.

  • Find creative and fun ways to take WE’s simple manifesto of compassion out into the world.

  • Wherever you spot suffering in the world, if you team up with others you’ll find it easier to be the love that you know is at your core.

  Further Reading

  The wisdom in this book comes from many teachers, texts, and sources. If you want to go deeper and further into the wisdom and ideas behind WE’s Principles, these are some of the books we’ve found helpful along the way:

  Principle 1, Honesty: Getting Real

  Brown, B. The Gifts of Imperfection. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2010.

  Ferrucci, P. What We May Be. New York: J. P. Tarcher, 1982.

  Hay, L. You Can Heal Your Life. San Diego: Hay House, 1984.

  Lamott, A., and S. Lamott. Some Assembly Required. New York: Penguin, 2014.

  Rosen, T. Recovery 2.0. London: Hay House, 2014.

  Wolf, N. The Beauty Myth. New York: Harper Perennial, 2002.

  Principle 2, Acceptance: Making Friends with What Is

  Fruehwirth, G. Words for Silence. Massachusetts: Parachute Press, 2008.

  Harris, T. I’m OK—You’re OK. New York: Harper Perennial, 2004.

  Kipp, M. Daily Love. London: Hay House, 2014.

  Kurtz, E., and K. Ketcham. The Spirituality of Imperfection. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.

  Linn, D. Four Acts of Personal Power. London: Hay House, 2007.

  Moore, T. Care of the Soul. New York: Harper Perennial, 1995.

  Sogyal, R., P. Gaffney, and A. Harvey. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2012.

  Principle 3, Courage: Ending the Victim Trap

  Bernstein, G. May Cause Miracles. New York: Harmony, 2014.

  Cantacuzino, M. The Forgiveness Project. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2015.

  Myss, C. Anatomy of the Spirit. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1996.

  Penny, L. Unspeakable Things. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014.

  Principle 4, Trust: Living Without Fear

  Carlson, R. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and It’s All Small Stuff. New York: Hachette Books, 1996.

  Jeffers, S. Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. New York: Ballentine Books, 2006.

  Lerner, R. Living in the Comfort Zone. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1995.

  Principle 5, Humility: Unmasking Our Ego

  Bill, P., and W. Todd. Drop the Rock. Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2005.

  Epstein, M. Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart. New York: Broadway Books, 1998.

  Scott Peck, M. Further Along the Road Less Traveled. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.

  Silverton, S. The Mindfulness Breakthrough. London: Watkins Publishing, 2012.

  Principle 6, Peace: Ending the Conflict Within

  Barks, C., trans. The Essential Rumi. London: Penguin, 1995.

  De Mello, A. Sadhana, A Way to God. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1978.

  Hawkins, D. Transcending the Levels of Consciousness. West Sedona, AZ: Veritas, 2006.

  Holden, M. Boundless Love. London: Rider, 2002.

  Hyde, L. The Gift. New York: Vintage Books, 2007.

  Idliby, R., S. Oliver, and P. Warner. The Faith Club. New York: Atria, 2006.

  Johnston, W. The Cloud of Unknowing and the Book of Privy Counseling. New York: Doubleday Image, 1973.

  Keating, T. Intimacy with God. New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1996.

  Myss, C. Entering the Castle. New York: Atria Books, 2008.

  Nhâ´t Ha.nh, T. Happiness. Berkeley, CA: Parallax Press, 2009.

  ———. Peace Is Every Step. New York: Bantam, 1991.

  Tolle, E. The Power of Now. Novato, CA: New World Library, 1999.

  Principle 7, Love: Transforming Relationships

  Augustine Fellowship. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (San Antonio: Augustine Fellowship, 1986.

  Co-Dependents Anonymous. Co-dependents Anonymous. Dallas: Co-Dependents Anonymous, 1995.

  Hendrix, H. Getting the Love You Want. London: Simon & Schuster, 2005.

  Jackson, L. The Light Between Us. New York: Spiegel and Grau, 2016.

  Mellody, P., A. Miller, and K. Miller. Facing Love Addiction. San Francisco: HarperOne, 1992.

  Norwood, R. Women Who Love Too Much. New York: Pocket Books, 2008.

  Olds, S. Stag’s Leap. New York: Knopf, 2012.

  Richo, D. How to Be an Adult in Relationships. Boston: Shambhala, 2002.

  Yalom, I. Love’s Executioner. New York: Basic Books, 2012.

  Principle 8, Joy: Living Fully

  Cameron, J. The Artist’s
Way. New York: J. P. Tarcher, 1992.

  Campbell, R. Light Is the New Black. London: Hay House, 2015.

  Csikszentmihalyi, M. Flow: The Psychology of Happiness. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2008.

  De Mello, A., and G. Galache, Walking on Water. Dublin: Columba Press, 1998.

  Donius, W. Thought Revolution. New York: Atria Books, 2014.

  Ferrucci, P. Inevitable Grace. New York: J. P. Tarcher, 1990.

  Huffington, A. Thrive. New York: Harmony, 2015.

  Kingston, K. Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. New York: Harmony, 2016.

  Lamott, A. Plan B. New York: Riverhead Books, 2006.

  Muzyka, Z. Life by the Cup. New York: Atria Books, 2015.

  Olds, S. One Secret Thing. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.