Though I've experienced firsthand the tangible health benefits of yoga and meditation, there are times when I've gone to the doctor for the "nuclear option": a dose of Western medicine when the body's own pharmaceutical panoply is unable to contend with the ailment at hand. Of course, I'd prefer not to resort to such extreme measures, but sometimes it seems unavoidable.

A recently released book of essays holds a big promise in its title: Healing The Heart of The World: Harnessing the Power of Intention to Change Your Life and Your Planet. Not a bad way to start the new year. Though many of the usual spiritual suspects are contributors––intuitive Caroline Myss, Dean Ornish the holistic cardiologist, genderologist John Gray––there are some heavier hitters including Andrew Harvey, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Prince Charles.