MSI Press Blog

  excerpt from The Rose and the Sword (Bach & Hucknall) Introduction                  The popular ideal of finding one’s “soul mate” in a partner stems from the relationship between the two basic energies that exist, beyond gender and sexual identity, in each of us. We all possess a mix of these energies. When the inner feminine energy is weak and the inner masculine energy is dominant, a person loses his or her inner direction, for feminine energy is like a guiding system; without its guidance, actions can lead to unchecked aggression. When the inner masculine energy is undeveloped and the inner feminine energy is strong, swirls of inspired thought dissolve like mist, ungrounded in the action needed for manifestation. When these two energies are equally developed, the individual is richly endowed with inspiration and intuition (the feminine) as well as the ability to express these riches in the world (the masculine).              In The Rose and the Sword: How to Balance Your Fem

Commentary There is no ending to this story or to this book.  We could have wrapped it up like a nice neat package, but that would be totally unreal.  The underlying message of this book is that the integration of the positive masculine and feminine must begin first in each of us as individuals and then spread outward into our relationships and social structures, such as our organizations and communities and ultimately into our national and international relations.  If we look at the chaos that exists in our present world, we can only see the rising tide of conflict in the Middle East and in other corners of the planet where the social systems are still in the Dark Ages in terms of balance of the masculine and feminine.  In this country, we surely have a long way to go, but, at least, over the last century, we have seen movement.  If we look around the world, there are pockets of integration slowly emerging.      Clearly, the evolution of humanity into a futuristic world a

  Excerpt from The Rose and the Sword by Nanette Hucknall -- Tend the Light One of the positive qualities of the feminine is beauty in all its forms. The experience of beauty opens one’s heart, and also changes relationships with others. People often think of beauty in a superficial way and fail to appreciate its impact on their lives. The sheer numbers of people who frequent art museums always strikes us: although some may be drawn to a particular artist, or are knowledgeable about art, it is the beauty that draws, and beauty that is the magnet.             A similar experience can occur with all the arts: listening to a concert, watching dance, absorbing great writing – all can touch our hearts, as can, also, nature. Why are we so drawn to beautiful sunsets and sunrises? When nature paints glorious images on the sky canvas, are we not reborn in some way? The following tale illustrates the transformative power of beauty:   Robert sat at his desk with the bile of anger rising in him.

Dr. Bach, seated on the left, is a psychotherapist, writer and artist. She co-founded the Berkshire Center for Psychosynthesis in Massachusetts, and, later, the Psychosynthesis Institute of New York and for many years was a Psychosynthesis trainer, a therapeutic approach that recognizes and works with the creative and spiritual dimension of an individual. In addition to her long-time private practice and her work as a trainer, Dr. Bach has presented seminars in the United States, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.  She is the co-author, with Nanette Hucknall (seated on the right), of   The Rose and the Sword: Balancing Your Feminine and Masculine Energies . It is with sadness that we note that Judith Bach passed away March 3, 2019. Her co-author is alive and well and involved -- and we anticipate that readers will continue to enjoy The Rose and the Sword for years to come!

  It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side.  First book starts to sell again -- and outsells the second and third books (Rose and Sword  - no competitions or awards; How to Live from the Heart; not always the off effect - some second and third books have outsold earlier ones Earlier posts become more popular than current ones. (Greenebaum's older post same day as new post posted) Today's post addresses an interesting phenomenon in which subsequent publications improve the sales of previous publications, sometimes with previous publications outselling the new books. Books in Series It stands to reason that subsequent publications will bring in better sales for all books in a ser

  Today's blog post, "The Essence of Live: From the Personal to Unconditional," comes from Nanette Hucknall, co-author of  The Rose and the Sword  and author of  How to Live from Your Heart , who writes: In the intricate tapestry of human existence, one thread stands out with unparalleled significance – love. Not just the romantic kind, but the profound and overarching yearning to love and be loved. Love manifests in various forms: the love of a teacher, the warmth of companionship, the bonds of friendship, and the affection of family–both spiritual and biological. However, as with any powerful emotion, the pursuit of love can sometimes become excessive, leading individuals to prioritize it above all else–including their personal growth and spiritual development. Read the rest of the post HERE . Book Awards Book of the Year Award finalist Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award in Self-Help Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Book Excellence Award Readers' Favorite Book Award finali

Nanette is a psychotherapist, career therapist, writer, and artist. She is available for lectures and workshops and has designed and facilitated workshops on “Karma, Destiny and Your Career,”and “Living From Your Heart,” which she has presented in the United States and in Canada. Nanette has a BA from Cooper Union and is trained in Psychosynthesis. She is a co-founder of The Center for Peace Through Culture, and is the founder and President of Higher Self Yoga. She has published several books on yoga, karma, and better self-understanding. She co-authored the popular MSI book, The Rose and the Sword: How to Balance Your Feminine and Masculine Energies , with the late Dr. Judith Bach.  Her latest MSI Press release is   How to Live from Your Heart: Deepen Relationships, Develop Creativity, and Discover Inner Wisdom ,  This book has won many awards, including  Book of the Year finalist American Book Fest Best Book Award Book Excellence Awar d Pinnacle Book Achieve me

  The following post, appearing last year on Nanette Hucknall's blog, is timeless. The topic is joy -- as an antidote to a world filled with fear. Nanette writes: Joy is often portrayed as a grandiose and euphoric emotion, but a touch of joy can be uncovered in many simple, small encounters of our daily lives. Being enchanted by a piece of music, glimpsing a shifting sunset or catching the sound of children laughing as you pass them playing on the sidewalk –  to name a few. It is felt in any relationship where love, or even a gentle, respectful kinship is present. Joy abounds in nature – the hearty resilience of a stretching flower, a chilly breeze on your warm face or the scent of a nearby body of water and all its brisk beauty.  Read the rest of the post HERE . Nanette co-authored The Rose and the Sword . She also wrote How to Live from Your Heart . Book of the Year Award 2016 finalist Kops-Fetherling Legacy Award in Self-Help Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Book Excellence Award

"an exceptional piece of literature" "enlightening and entertaining" "one of my favorite books" "immensely inspired" "meaningful" Read more reviews from Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18654889-the-rose-and-the-sword

                             One of the fun things that a publisher (or at least, an acquisitions editor) gets to experience is meeting more than one member of a family -- as an author whose work we publish. Today, we introduce the Hucknall sisters, Janice and Nanette.  Janice Hucknall Snyder's book, Survival of the Caregiver , is an older book, but it is a good one, and one that does not really have a parallel for caregivers. The paperback edition is available at the MSI Press webstore on significant discount. Nanette's books have been published before and after Janice (Hucknall) Snyder's book. Nanette's books include The Rose and the Sword (co-authored with Judith Bach) and How to Live from Your Heart   (currently on deep discount on Amazon). How to Live from Your Heart has earned multiple awards:  Pinnacle Achievement Book Award Book of the Year Award finalist Best Books Award finalist Book Excellence Award Readers’ Favorite Book Award finalist Kops-Fetherling Le