In this lovely meditation on ikebana - the Japanese art of flower arranging - Joan Stamm shows us how her twin paths of Buddhist practice and artistic endeavor converge and indeed become thoroughly intertwined. Stamm's lush, elegant voice weaves childhood memories of her mother's joy at a just-bloomed morning glory with meditations on the symbolic importance of bamboo, of pine, of the lily. She takes us with her on her travels to Japan as she learns the essential principles of ikebana, and lets us join her as she teaches flower arranging to women in a nursing home who, though they won't recall tomorrow the rules of arrangement or even the flowers' names, nonetheless partake in the joy and love that celebrates all living things, however briefly they endure. And, when Joan shows us the natural symmetry of a blossom, we find that we too have regained our balance. Includes 16 full-color photographs of the author's original ikebana.

Heaven's Flower is a story of faith. Although it is based on the tragic loss of Dawn Anna's daughter in the Columbine High School shootings, the story is told amongst the flowers of an old gardener who takes it upon herself to nurture a gentle seed which has settled in her garden. It is a story of celebration, of loss, of hope, but, most of all, of love. This is a book to be held and to be shared. After reading the final page, your heart will remember that love never dies.

Beloved artist Donald Zolan's images of kids at play in his popular Growing Up a Country Boy and Growing Up a Country Girl (more than 75,000 combined sales) inspired nostalgia and the spirit of home. In Angels Among the Roses, his sweet, charming angels will uplift readers on the wings of heavenly hope. Surrounded by breathtaking flowers and gardens, Zolan's cheerful angels play among encouraging quotes and verses for a celebration of the people and kindnesses that shower us with blessings. At times everyone needs a reminder of the joys and goodness of an inspired life. This collection of graceful words and paintings is perfect for every occasion and will delight friends, family members, those in need of divine comfort, and anyone who has been an angel to others.

'We Japanese', is a collection of answers to questions that the author as a hotel manager in Japan has answered for hotel guests over the years. He was the manager for over 28 years at the Fujiya Hotel at Miyanoshita. These are naturally questions concerning those things which are different in Japan from the countries from which the visitors come. First published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Have you wondered what a loved one is like in Heaven? Have you wondered whether you will actually enjoy life there? Do you wonder if your favorite pet will be there? There are many books telling what the Bible tells us about heaven and some books where the author claims to have been there. This book is a composite overview of details of heaven from fifty published eyewitness testimonies of heaven. All of these testimonies are combined with regard to many facets of heaven and are presented side by side to give a more complete picture of each detail of heaven than any single eyewitness account gives. As a result, this book's description of heaven is more direct, detailed, and extensive than that of any other book. Because so many testimonies are considered, the consistencies in these accounts give support for their authenticity. Since different people see things differently, this book gives a more accurate picture than any one person's experience can give. Prepare to be abundantly blessed and given a new perspective on this life in view of what is coming.

In 2020, as COVID-19 spread from Asia to North America, Zen Buddhist and ikebana practitioner Joan Stamm was forced to cancel her long-anticipated trip to Japan, where she had planned to research a flower temple pilgrimage and learn the deeper meaning of flowers known as “little Buddhas”. But with lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, Stamm, who lives on a mountain on an island in the Salish Sea, sequestered herself like a hermit and turned to her own flower garden for solace and meaning as the pandemic engulfed the world around her. The Language of Flowers in the Time of COVID tells the story of Stamm’s life and spiritual journey through these difficult times. Using traditional Japanese flowers as seasonal indicators, Stamm speaks the poetic language of flowers to explore ancient flower metaphor as it relates to the pandemic and the many manifestations of impermanence in one of the most tumultuous years in American history.

Marys flowers by Vincenzina Krymow Illustrated by A. Joseph Barrish, S.M. With Meditations by M. Jean FriskSince medieval times, flowers have taken their names from the virtues of Mary, or events in her life. Learn the legends that fostered such names, and their biblical origins. Spend time with the meditations they inspire.Marys Flowers: Gardens, Legends and Meditations is a treasury of botanical history and lore. Thirty beautiful illustrations based on medieval woodcuts bring each bloom to colorful life. Even if you don't plant a Mary garden of your own, you will find a virtual Eden within. Visit awhile with these pages and keep company with Mary.