Viele Steine bilden einen Weg

On the Path to a Holistic, Earth-Centered Spirituality

Even as a child, Judy Grathwohl feels a peculiar connection to nature: family walks always lead out into the invigorating expanse of fields and hills; the claws of a squirrel darting across her young arm leave impressions that etch deeply into her being. Her Catholic parents nurture her spiritual musicality, and in 1963, Judy becomes Franciscan Sister Marya, soon working as a teacher – yet she never feels truly at home with herself and her calling.

When her order sends her to Montana to teach English to children of the indigenous Crow tribe, a spiritual journey begins for Marya that will completely transform her life, her understanding of the world, and her self-concept. In the clash of Catholic and indigenous spirituality, she undergoes a transformation that is not without pain but ultimately opens her consciousness. She realizes that the two worldviews do not contradict each other; rather, they are, in fact, variations of a whole. She understands: God's love is present in everything, we are all interconnected – all people, animals, plants – the entire nature. Therefore, for Sister Marya, there is only one possible consequence: she must commit herself to the preservation of nature.

In this compelling and honest memoir, Marya Grathwohl recounts her spiritual journey: how she first discovers the unifying power of different spiritualities and ultimately arrives at a worldview that is deeply infused with love for our home planet. It is truly eye-opening for any modern person who senses that nature is genuinely divine.