Some back story …
In trying to turn Maison d’Evangeline into something, I came across a quote that pretty much summed up the purpose of it:
A house extends skyward. Like a tiny but proud cathedral, it wishes to generate the highest and the best in its inhabitants.
— John Truby
So, here’s the best I can explain it.
Its essence …
It’s a place for exploring life’s big questions and for practicing mindful, wholehearted living.
It’s a mashup of …
- Simple Abundance,
- Richard Rohr,
- Matthew Kelly,
- Brother Lawrence,
- Thomas Merton,
- Utopia for Realists,
- A Course in Miracles,
- Twyla Tharp (and The Creative Habit),
- Soul Pancake and Soul Boom (and Rainn Wilson),
- Liturgy of the Ordinary,
- Rumi (lots of Rumi),
- The Shift (and Wayne Dyer),
- Soul Keeping,
- The Year of Magical Thinking (and Joan Didion),
- Affirmators (and “interpersonal wisdom that lasts a day”).
The vibe is (hopefully) …
- Welcoming,
- Inviting,
- Non-judgy,
- Like your best good friend’s house,
- Like The Turquoise Table,
- Like church (the good kind).
You’re in the right place if …
- You want to find greater peace and contentment.
- You want to cultivate an inner, spiritual life.
- You want to live on purpose and with purpose.
- You want to show up―deliberately―and live out your highest and best life and potential.
- You want to stay in alignment with that greater force/Source (whatever it means for you) and not be blown around by daily frustrations, temptations, and self-sabotaging tendencies.
- You want to create more meaningful relationships and/or do more meaningful work.
- You’re a seeker, soul-keeper, intuitive, empath, or HSP. Philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and self-help junkies are a good fit, too, as are book nerds, the constantly curious, and people who ❤️ libraries.
The goal is …
Greater knowledge and self-awareness,
Greater compassion and understanding,
Greater communication and collaboration,
Greater creativity,
An integrated life (what's on the inside is what's on the outside),
In the words of Wayne Dyer, shifting from ambition to meaning,
In the words of Joan Didion (and Elizabeth Gilbert), magical thinking and living.
The underlying philosophy is …
Imperfection. Brokenness. Beauty.
Understanding. Grace. Kindness. Compassion.
But … Truth also.
Relationship. Friendship.
Suffering (and also Joy).
Vulnerability.
We’re all weird (and probably a little crazy), which is okay because …
We’re all figuring it out, and …
We learn nothing (in the words of Tim Kreider).
So … constant practice.
And humility (plus all of #2 again).
And, finally (for now), it’s all bittersweet, both/and, the uncomfortable tension of opposites.
The study and practice comes through ...
Bibliotherapy (aka, book therapy).
The content bounces around ...
Fields of study
Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology
Politics
History
Spirituality
Humanity (lots of that, specifically)
Values & feelings* (aims)
Happiness & contentment
Love
Purpose & passion
Wisdom
Humor & joy
Freedom
Creativity
Romance & whimsy
Physical world* (aims)
Abundance
Simplicity
Livelihood
Health
Relationships
Harmony
Beauty
Order
Self-knowledge
Serenity
Meaning
More specific physical* (aims)
- Wealth
- Prosperity
- To love my/your/our work
- To be inspired
- To be creative
- Perspective
- Good work
- Communication
- Connection
*Aspirations. See Playing the Matrix by Mike Dooley.
So that’s what we’ll be doing at Maison d’Evangeline, studying all that and more through bibliotherapy.
Oh, and don't miss the clubs ...
There are two for now, the Bibliotherapy club and the INFJ writers club.
And that's Maison d'Evangeline. (At least to start.)
I hope you’ll join the clubs and that you'll like it here!
xo,
Amber
Shopkeeper, reader, writer, & wobbly guide
P.S. Be sure to subscribe below.
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Read along with Maison d'Evangeline's (mostly nonfiction) book selections and be your own bibliotherapist!