Jennifer Salima Holt's inspirational book, Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss: Freeing the Imprisoned Soul (Indigo Heart Publishing, 2009) is a deeply felt, loving testament to the power and beauty of the human spirit to survive and even thrive, regardless of the depths to which we may tumble. The book describes the breakthroughs Jennifer witnessed by leading grief and loss groups for women prisoners, as well as working with clients in her private practice as a transformational counselor. Many personal stories of miraculous change, love and light fill the book, as well as practical information about how each one of us can approach our grief and loss in sacred, loving ways.
Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss: Freeing the Imprisoned Soul has been recommended by a number of best-selling and/or spiritual authors including Joe Vitale, Michael Bernard Beckwith (author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential and spiritual teacher from The Secret), Paul and Layne Cutright,Katherine Woodward Thomas (co-creator of the phenomenal internet interview course, "Women on the Edge of Evolution" and author, Calling in "The One"), Rev. Joan Steadman, Brad Yates, and Charlotte Kasl (author, If the Buddha... series). (See below for endorsement blurbs.) If you are interested in ordering the book, please see Products and Services.
Click here to download "Water of Love," Chapter 8 from Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss: Freeing the Imprisoned Soul by Jennifer Salima Holt, Ph.D. This is completely free--no strings attached! Enjoy!
Click here to join Dr. Holt's email list and in return, you'll receive a link to "Ecstatic Voice," Chapter 5, from Sacred Gateway of Grief and Loss.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Katherine Woodward Thomas
Chapter One: The Journey into Healing…………......1
Chapter Two: Chains that Bind……..……….…..…15
Chapter Three: Regrowing Trust…...………………35
Chapter Four: Art of the Heart…………………......59
Chapter Five: Ecstatic Voice……..………..…………81
Chapter Six: Embodying Spirit through Psychodrama.….102
Chapter Seven: Forgiveness…………………….…127
Chapter Eight: Water of Love………………..……161
Chapter Nine: Paying It Forward………………….183
About the Author………………………….….……. 213
ENDORSEMENTS
“Reading Dr. Holt’s book is a healing experience in itself. Her compassionate wisdom teaches us how to keep opening our hearts wider and wider, without limits, which results in unconditional love and acceptance of oneself and others. Her ability to combine depth with humor, psychology with spirituality, empowers us to nurture our own heart-commitment to all beings.”Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation: Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential
"Inspiring, courageous, beautifully written. Jennifer Holt's heart-felt story of her volunteer work running grief and loss groups with women prisoners shows us that transformation is possible anywhere. Her book is testament to the amazing capacity we all have to change, grow, learn and feel joy, despite our challenges."Charlotte Sophia Kasl, Ph.D., author of Women, Sex, and Addiction: A Search for Love and Power; Finding Joy; If the Buddha Dated/Married/Got Stuck/Had Kids.
"In this book, Jennifer Salima Holt gives us the keys to set ourselves free from the pain of trauma, grief and victimhood. Jennifer speaks to the deep essence of our hearts and helps us connect with the higher purpose of our sorrows so that we can heal and be healed. Jennifer’s insights are wise and powerful and teach us the blessing of transcending the prison of our grief.”Dr. Joe Vitale, author of Zero Limits,
“Jennifer Salima Holt is a pioneer in the field of healing grief. With tremendous courage, inspiration and dedication, Jennifer’s shows us the path to healing our emotional wounds and setting ourselves free to truly fulfill our potential. In the darkest of places, Jennifer sees the Light and brings it forth for all of us.”Brad Yates, co-author of Freedom at Your Fingertips
“Jennifer Salima Holt offers us all a beautiful gift in this powerful book. Jennifer shares with us life-changing stories that open the heart and heal the soul. With a rare insight, wisdom and compassion, Jennifer shows us that we all have the capacity to set ourselves free from the wounds of the past, no matter how painful they may be.” Paul and Layne Cutright, authors of You're Never Upset for the Reason You Think
“In this remarkable book, Dr. Jennifer Salima Holt ushers us into our own hearts. With all-encompassing compassion and profound wisdom, she lifts the veil of suffering by lovingly guiding us through the valley of grief and loss to the mountaintop of unbounded joy. In short, she brings us home to ourselves.”Rev. Dr. Joan Steadman, Community Spiritual Leader, OaklandCenter for Spiritual Living
Foreward by Katherine Woodward Thomas, author of Calling in “The One”:
"It is one of life’s sweet joys to grow together over years with a friend, bearing witness to each other’s deep sufferings, celebrating each other’s successes, and simply showing up for all the smooth and blustery in-betweens. My first memories of Jennifer Salima Holt have her playing a violin like a wild woman, and singing in a voice sent straight from the gods. From the moment we met, I was captivated by Jennifer’s dynamic personality, her kind and generous heart, her passion for realizing higher states of consciousness and her intense talent.
"It does not surprise me at all that Jennifer’s first book would be an offering to alleviate suffering in the world, for she, unfortunately or fortunately depending upon your perspective, has had more than her fair share. Yet, she has used her own private pain as a way to understand and heal the pain of others. And it seems to me that this is the true meaning of a Spiritual Healer, a title which she has well earned in this lifetime.
"Watching Jennifer weave her various paths of mystical study together over the years inside of her intention to build bridges among the many spiritualities of the world, has been like witnessing the creation of a beautiful peace tapestry. But for almost as many years as I’ve known her (and we are coming up on 20 fairly soon), the truth is that she is an amazing spiritual teacher in and of herself. One might call her a mystic agitator actually—a wise woman whose devotion to speaking truth and standing for unconditional love in the world has not always engendered her the most popular person in the room. Yet, I have watched in awe as her uncommon dedication to be of service to others has led her to places where few have been willing to tread, such as behind concrete and bars to sit in the center of sorrows with broken-hearted prisoners, or keeping company with homeless men and women who are dying from AIDS and living out their last few days in a hospice.
"This particular work--the fruits of her labor, highlights the plight of prisoners as they struggle to come to terms with almost unbearable losses. In it, my dear friend shows us all how to spin straw into gold and make beauty of our suffering, no matter how dire the circumstances of our lives, or how bitter the consequences we face.
"I honor my sister for offering us a portion of her brilliance, as it reveals itself in this deeply wise and soulful guide to transforming the darkness of nights into the sweetest of dawns."
