"Whatever happens to seed affects the web of life" —Vandana Shiva Essays by: His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, H. H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Pir Zia Inayat-Khan, Swami Veda Bharati, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Chief Tamale Bwoya, Essential to survival, seeds have profound spiritual implications. For centuries the planting of the seed in the earth not only nourished humanity, but, also, symbolised the mystery of life and the journey of the soul. In our current supermarket lifestyle of pre-packaged products, far removed from the cycles of planting, we have nearly forgotten this mystery. Now as the integrity of the seed is threatened, so is its primal meaning. Inspired by physicist and environmental leader, Dr. Vandana Shiva, each essay draws on the wisdom of ancient and modern traditions. Mystics, shamans, monks and priests remind us of the profound sacredness of the seed - how in its purity, it is the source and renewal of all of life. Tenderly created of original writings and vibrant photos, this book bears witness that the Earth is alive and establishes that only by working together with the Earth - with its wonder and mystery - can we help in its healing and regeneration and once again bring meaning back into the world.