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REVIEWS

countries and faith traditions, while “Islam remains my spirituality—one that transcends the confines of religious
choice, my frame of reference, and the way in which my sectarianism and insularity. Mindful of the inspiration the
soul and spirit flower” (135). Occupy movement provided for many around the world,
Therese Taylor-Stinson, one of the book’s coeditors, Bucko and Fox reflect on how this movement and a new
completes the collection with her aptly titled essay, “The spirituality might mutually inform and enrich the other.
Journey Home.” Highlighting the multigenerational and The American poet Walt Whitman first coined the term
multifaith influences in her life, including exploration of spiritual democracy (xxvi), and for Bucko and Fox this is
Buddhism, Islam, exploration of consciousness, and even based in Oneness and radical inclusivity. It is a marriage of
agnosticism, Taylor-Stinson states, “God has used this contemplation and action, mysticism and prophecy, and
journey home to put me on the path of servant leadership deep listening and deep acting, because, as community
… convening of the Spiritual Directors of activist Pancho Ramos-Stierle said, “It is
Color network … [serving] on the board time for the spiritual people to get active
of Shalem and the Coordinating Council and the activist people to get spiritual”
of Spiritual Directors International” (152). (xxvii).
I read this book through two different Structured as a dialogue between
lenses: first, as a Jewish spiritual director Bucko and Fox, chapters in Occupy
who completed a Catholic formation and Spirituality cover topics of relevance to
training program, and second, as a white the movement, such as the God of Life
person who moves through the world versus the God of Religion, intergenera-
with white privilege. Spiritual directors of tional cooperation, and “Birthing New
color will feel a sense of affirmation and Economics, New Communities, and
mirroring in reading this anthology, and New Monasticism.” Other chapters focus
white readers will acquire greater aware- on topics that might help the Occupy
ness and understanding of the authors’ Spirituality movement and other future
lived experiences and perspectives. ■ movements go forward from a deeper,
Karen Lee Erlichman, MSS, LCSW, lives in San Francisco, more integral place, such as “Radical Spirituality,” “What’s
California, USA, where she provides psychotherapy, spiritual Your Calling,” and “Spiritual Practice.” Additionally,
direction, supervision, and mentoring. She is a cofounder of Bucko and Fox each spend a chapter recalling their own
Practistry. Contact her at [email protected]. personal stories. At the beginning of most chapters,
numerous quotes from younger generations invite the
Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a reader to enter into the space of the chapter’s theme.
New Generation Spiritual directors will especially be interested in the
by Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox chapters on calling and spiritual practice. Bucko and Fox
Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2013 list and discuss numerous individual and communal spiri-
250 pages, CAD$20.95, GBP£15.99, tual practices: silence, contemplative prayer, lectio divina,
USD$17.95 yoga, psychotherapy, mentoring, chanting, deep solitude,
Reviewed by Reverend Monica McDowell and arts and sciences in meditation, among many oth-
Imagine a world where religious groups promoted ers, noting the importance of intention and mindfulness
healing, truth, and justice rather than hiding in shadows for transforming a human activity into a direct connec-
of abuse, greed, and power—where divergent religious tion with the Divine. Fox uses the four paths of creation
belief systems cooperated in peace rather than co-opting spirituality—Via Positiva, Via Negativa, Via Creativa, and
the values of violence and war. In Occupy Spirituality, Via Transformativa—as helpful tools for categorizing spiri-
Adam Bucko, a thirty-seven-year-old advocate for tual practices, while Bucko groups them as cool practices,
homeless youth, and Matthew Fox, a seventy-one-year-old warm practices, sacred body practices, prayer practices, and
theologian, offer hope and direction for a radically new shadow practices.

66 Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction