Books and CDs
Material Media is John Philip Newell’s preferred distributor of books and CDs in the United States.
Please contact Elizabeth Cauthorn (elizabeth@materialmedia.net) or visit http://materialmedia.net.
The Great Search
HarperOne (US) August 20, 2024
Wild Goose (UK) mid-August, 2024
Learn More About the Book Launch
In the great tradition of authors who leave church but remain spiritual—such as Barbara Brown Taylor, Rob Bell—the author of Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul forges a new path toward a true spiritual home, embracing a deep connection to the natural world.
The story of Adam and Eve’s fall from innocence in the Garden of Eden is a mythical account of humanity’s broken relationship with the divine, with Earth, and with themselves.
In contrast, Celtic wisdom is built on a strong bond with Earth. In the prophetic figures that Newell draws from, the Garden of Eden represents the inner garden of our souls and the outer garden of Earth, which are seen as essentially one. To live in relation to what is deepest in us is to live in relation to the ground from which we and all things have come. Where are we today, in relation to our true selves and the sacredness of Earth? And how are we to find our way home again?
Sacred Earth Sacred Soul
Gold Winner of the Nautilus Book Award for Spirituality and the Religious Thought of the West
HarperOne (July 2021)
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At a time in which our world so desperately needs healing and hope, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul offers us a way forward. Newell inspires us towards the sacred in ourselves, in each other and in Earth.
‘Many of us have been indebted to John Philip Newell’s writings for years but in this book he reaches new depths in his vision of the earth and the human journey. We need this Celtic wisdom urgently.’
(Richard Rohr, Author, The Universal Christ)
Sounds of the Eternal:
A Celtic Psalter
New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint (2002)
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At the heart of both Jewish and Celtic spirituality is the belief that we are made in the image of God. These prayers eloquently and movingly recall us to the sacred essence of our being, in body and in soul.
‘A treasure. This is a beautiful book that captures for me every day the simplicity of prayer.’
(A Reader’s Review)
A companion CD featuring sung chant and spoken prayer is also available:
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The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings
Skylight Paths (2014)
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For many years now the Celtic poet and scholar John Philip Newell has been writing about the sacredness at the heart of all life. In this work he asks what the world in general—and Christianity in particular—would look like if the true depths of our being were to come forth again.
‘Wow. This book will move you with fresh insight for the rebirth of everything. What a writer, what a book!’
(Rob Bell, Author, Love Wins)
A New Ancient Harmony
New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint (2011)
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As never before in the history of humanity, we are becoming aware of the interrelatedness of life. The question, asks Newell, is whether we will translate this emerging consciousness into transformative action so that we and the world may be healed.
‘With a book like this, religious history looks less bleak and spirituality much closer to home.’
(Matthew Fox, Author, Original Blessing)
Chanting for Peace: Meditative Chants and Prayers
New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint (2011)
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These beautiful meditative chants, for personal or group use, are based on words from the Quran, the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Christian Gospels. The CD is a companion to John Philip Newell’s prayer book, Praying with the Earth, an expression of the prophetic vision for peace that is deep in these three religious traditions.
The full list of John Philip Newell’s published works:
Spirituality
Sacred Earth Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World (Harper One, San Francisco, 2021)
The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings (Skylight Paths, Burlington, 2014)
A New Harmony: the Spirt, the Earth, & the Human Soul (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2011) also published in the UK (St Andrews Press, 2012). Republished as A New Ancient Harmony: A Celtic Vision for the Journey into Wholeness (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2019)
Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2008) also published in the UK (Wild Goose Publications, 2009) and Korea (The Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2013)
Shakespeare and the Human Mystery (Paulist Press, Mahwah NJ, 2003) also published in the UK (SPCK, 2003) and Australia (St Pauls Publications, 2003)
Echo of the Soul: The Sacredness of the Human Body (Morehouse, Harrisburg, 2000) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2000)
The Book of Creation: The Practice of Celtic Spirituality (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1999) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 1999)
Promptings from Paradise (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1998) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1998) and the Netherlands (Meinema,1999)
One Foot in Eden (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1998) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1998), the Netherlands (Meinema, 1999) and Germany (Herder, 2004)
Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1997) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1997) and Korea (The Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2001)
Prayer and Meditation
Great Creating Spirit: A Celtic Earth Mass (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2015)
Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2011) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2011) and Germany (Herder, 2014)
Ground of All Being: The Prayer of Jesus (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2008)
Celtic Treasure: Daily Scripture & Prayer (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2005) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2005) and the Netherlands (Uitgeverij Kok, 2007)
Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2002) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury 2002) and a Spanish translation Sonidos de lo Eterno (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2009)
Celtic Benediction: Morning & Night Prayer (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2000) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury 2000)
An Earthful of Glory: Prayers, Liturgies, Meditations (SPCK, London, 1996)
Celtic Prayers from Iona (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1997) also published in the UK (Wild Goose, 1994), Germany (Alektor, 2003), Finland (Verbum, 2004), Sweden (Verbum, 2005) and Switzerland (Labor et Fides, 2010)
The Iona Community Worship Book, Editor (Wild Goose Publications, Scotland, 1991)
Audiobooks and CDs
Sacred Earth Sacred Soul (Audiobook, 2021)
A New Harmony: the Spirt, the Earth, & the Human Soul (Audible.Co.UK, 2012).
Chanting for Peace: Meditative Chants and Prayers (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2011)
Christ of the Celts: Audiobook (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2008)
A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth Lyrics by John Philip Newell (Guarnaccia, Vermont, 2008)
Sounds of the Eternal: Meditative Chants and Prayers (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2005)