The discovery of wonder
Julie Leibrich
The book
'To feel safe and sacred in this world, I need to treasure the sanctuary within me …'
Sanctuary: The discovery of wonder is an engaging and moving book full of spiritual insight, wisdom and warmth. It is the result of a decade of exploration and contemplation of the concept of sanctuary by Julie Leibrich, a poet and writer, formerly a research psychologist and Mental Health Commissioner.
Sanctuary is written in a way that happily combines reason and imagination, poetry and critical thinking, knowledge and originality, producing a highly readable and rewarding book.
Sanctuary cuts across genres: at once a spiritual memoir; a collection of personal journal entries and brief discourses; and a window into the views of influential writers, thinkers and poets, and of the author's friends and acquaintances. Julie Leibrich's life journey has led her to discover through 'wondering, wandering and wonderment' the elements of the world and self that are most sacred.
It is truly wonderful … the reading experience in itself became a sanctuary. – Judi Clements, CEO, NZ Mental Health Foundation
Leibrich's experience may well be signalling an important 'change of heart' in the whole field of spirituality and mental health. – Professor Phil Barker, www.psychminded.co.uk
It touches and moves me with its language and insight … [offering] such energy and hope. – Linden Lynn, author/artist, England
The author
JULIE LEIBRICH is the author of 11 books – four poetry collections, four children's books and three non-fiction works on mental health, and on crime. She has been awarded several grants and prizes, including the Todd New Writer's Bursary, the Joy Cowley Award and the Legal Research Foundation Special Book Award. Her poetry has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals, and she has given invited talks in several countries. Born in England in 1947, Julie came to New Zealand in 1974. She worked for 20 years as a research psychologist before becoming one of New Zealand's first Mental Health Commissioners.
Publication details
Paperback, 200 x 200 mm, 228 pages, full colour, ISBN 978 1 877578 96 0, $40
2015