Rise to the Sun: 7 Footsteps and 7 Prayers for Getting Out of Hell plays with travel and journey in two senses - forward on a physical road and into the heart of the self. This book on spiritual healing is a voyage to freedom set in the context of our times. A timely and necessary work, Rise to the Sun illustrates how humankind must seek to heal its own innate suffering before it can hope to succeed in healing the various external crises affecting our planet. The 7 Footsteps and 7 Prayers unlock a kinder, gentler, and long-lasting engine for transformation. As we leave hell behind, we unlock and unchain all that prevents us from being worthy of love.

This gentle book guides us to feel safe in the face of change - to actualize new ways of seeing life and gaining freedom. The art of living is learning to be good to ourselves. The author, along with the brave women and men who open up their stories and teachings, are our living teachers.

The Prayers by C.L. Sulzberger; Padraig O Tuama; Hermann Hesse; Nancy B. Black, MD, colonel, US Army, retired; the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee Confederacy; the Mother (Mirra Alfassa); Annie Besant; and Richard J. Marks give us something to do: They guide us actively toward seeing what needs to be released, surrendered, completed, forgiven, and cherished. They also bring us into the heart.

With gratitude to Tom Vendetti for providing the soul-stirring music track “Processions” by Keola Beamer, from the concept album Himalayan Sessions, recorded in Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

Cover design by Gjorgji Pejkovski. Audio editing by Marko Mrdja and Uros Stojni.