The San Mateo County Times gently profiled Sacred Paths Bookstore in San Mateo, Calif., founded by Susie Ughe and Nancy Connolly, which opened last year (Shelf Awareness, September 14, 2005)
In the story, Ughe described Sacred Paths as "a safe place" for
customers to make spiritual searches. "They don't have to change their
religion, they don't have to be different. It doesn't have to stop them
from going to church."
In November, some 44% of Americans bought religious and spiritual
items, including devotional books, sacred texts, jewelry and greeting
cards, according to a Baylor University Religion Survey quoted by the
paper. Of the 44%, 16% "claim no religious affiliation."
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The current Baltimore Jewish Times has a cover story about Susan L.
Weis, proprietress of breathe books, Baltimore, Md., who continues to
be "perhaps the most energetic, enthusiastic new bookseller" in the business, as we put
it more than a year ago (Shelf Awareness, September 27, 2005).
The Times notes that Weis aims to expand her already extensive
schedule of classes, workshops, meetings, meditation gatherings and
more with "retreats and events outside of the area,
such as a tour of sacred sites in Great Britain next June, and she
doesn't rule out the possibility of opening other breathe stores in the
future. She also is considering buying a house on the Greek island of
Santorini as a retreat center where 'I'll provide the teachers--for
angels workshops, chakra workshops, stuff like that.' "
Talking about the store, she commented: "It feels like a dream. I knew
that people wanted to learn and delve deeper into who they are. I can't
believe how many awesome, amazing people come into my store every day.
It's like the bookstore is my living room. I've never done anything so
amazing. The store is me."
Weis strongly recommended six books:
- Ask And It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks (Hay House)
- How to Be Happy All the Time by Paramhansa Yogananda (Crystal Clarity)
- Meditate: Happiness Lies Within You by Swami Muktananda (Siddha Yoga)
- After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path by Jack Kornfield (Bantam)
- The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope (Bantam)
- Life After Death: The Burden of Proof by Deepak Chopra (Harmony)