January Book of the Month: The Joy of Ritual by Barbara Biziou

In the spirit of new beginnings, Cosimo is thrilled to offer The Joy of Ritual by Barbara Biziou as our January 2016 Book of the Month. 

Rituals are fundamental elements to this time of year, and help to bring substance, meaning, and cheer to our lives. Rituals can enhance daily routines, enrich milestones, and guide us through difficult transitions. They help to release fear, bring deeper meaning to a family or community gathering, and bring greater enjoyment to an an important event. 

In this wonderful book, Barbara Biziou, one of America's foremost ritual experts, teaches us how to restore ritual to its rightful place---as food for the soul---through practical, easy-to-use recipes that are inspiring and enjoyable.

If you need some help embracing 2016, be sure to read Barbara's posts on 12 Simple Rituals To Help You Release 2015 and ’Tis The Season For Rituals!

About the Author
Barbara Biziou is an interfaith minister, motivational speaker, and a life-strategy coach. She is the author of The Joy of Ritual & The Joy of Family Rituals, as well as a Huffington Post blogger, executive consultant, dynamic public speaker, and national TV personality. Biziou has a deep commitment to integrating practical spirituality into people's lives, both personally and professionally. She is a frequent guest on radio and television and has appeared in the New York Times, Body and Soul, Harper's Bazaar and Parent's Magazine.

Cosimo offers this title in paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon, and also as an eBook.

Happy New Year from all of us at Cosimo!

New Cover for Perennial Book on Transcendental Meditation

This new year continues with making old things new again. One of our books,  Everything You Need to Know about TM (Paraview Special Editions, 2004) by John White has received positive feedback from its readers for years, for example:

"This little book is the best book on Transcendental Meditation (TM) have ever read."
- Jusuf Hariman on Amazon

"This book is unique in that unlike most books telling readers how great TM is, White gives the pros and cons of TM from every view point."
- Andrew Ling on Amazon.

We at Cosimo felt this book of perennial value deserved a refreshed cover and we are excited to show this new cover to you, our old and new readers. We believe this cover reflects the appealing character of this book in line with this second decade of the 21st century and we hope you like it. Let us know what you think of this new cover.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) --- extremely popular in the 1970s and '80s --- continues to be one of the most accessible forms of Eastern spiritual practice in the West. However, while TM has many supporters, it is often subject to criticism and skepticism. In this book, consciousness researcher, John White takes on both critics and cheerleaders to give a full evaluation of this practice. Offering explanations for all elements of Transcendental Meditation, a glossary of TM terms, and a "how-to" lesson for those interested in trying it themselves, White gives the ultimate assessment.

About the Author:
John White, M.A.T. is an internationally-known author and educator in the fields of consciousness research and higher human development. He was Director of Education for the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a research organization dedicated to studying human potential for personal and planetary transformation. He is the author of The Meeting of Science and Spirit; A Practical Guide to Death and Dying; American, Freedom and Enlightenment; and a children's book, The Christmas Mice. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reader's Digest, Omni, Esquire, and Woman's Day. Visit John White at americanspiritpress.com.

Cosimo is proud to offer this title in paperback at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble and Amazon and in eBook at Kindle, Kobo, and Nook.

Bringing in the New Year with Barbara Biziou

As 2015 begins and January resolutions and new beginnings abound, author Barbara Biziou writes on MindBodyGreen a few easy rituals for everyone to follow as well as how and why these rituals will inspire and encourage you to have a fantastic new year.

In "12 Spiritually Uplifting Rituals To Try," Barbara details a few simple ways to bring playfulness and gratitude into your life. Ideas include creating an inspiration tree, taking time for yourself, and taking a digital detox.

In "12 Rituals To Do In 12 Days To Guarantee 12 Months Of Love & Prosperity," the author explains the importance of the first 12 days of January and how to give thoughtful attention to each day to symbolize the coming year. 

Click on the above video to watch Barbara discus rituals to bring prosperity and love in 2015.


Follow Biziou on Twitter at @barbarabiziou for spiritual reflections and suggestions, or visit her website for more information.


Barbara Biziou is an interfaith minister, motivational speaker, and a life-strategy coach. She is the author of The Joy of Ritual and The Joy of Family Rituals, as well as a Huffington Post blogger, executive consultant, dynamic public speaker, and national TV personality. 

Cosimo's Book of the Month: The Joy of Ritual

As the arid heat of the summer changes into the cooler winds of autumn, it's a good time to take stock of all the other changes happening in our lives. Even something as simple as a seasonal change can affect our bodies, moods, and spirits, which is why September's Book of the Month is Barbara Biziou's The Joy of Ritual: Spiritual Recipes to Celebrate Milestones, Ease Transitions, and Make Every Day Sacred.

The Joy of Ritual is a recipe book unlike any other, providing recipes not for fortifying the body, but for fortifying the soul. Biziou believes that rituals and spiritual practices can help us cope with all of life's changes and transitions—both big and small—because they remind us that "we have the power to design our lives."

This empowering collection provides the reader with a recipe book of rituals they can utilize to navigate a wide range of situations, from mourning a loved one (“Dealing With Grief”) to celebrating a move to a new house or apartment (“A New Home”). Biziou illustrates how rituals—even ones that take mere seconds—can bring stability to our lives, integrate the sacred into our daily routines, and transform the ordinary into moments of reflection and connection within ourselves.

This wonderful book is currently available as an e-book (now at a special rate at the ReKiosk digital marketplace) or in paperback. Fans of Biziou's work can also purchase The Joy of Family Rituals. 

Follow Biziou on Twitter at @barbarabiziou for spiritual reflections and suggestions or visit her website for more information.