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In Soulful Sanctuaries, cultivating a garden becomes both a practice and a metaphor for life, making the book unique by integrating spiritual exploration into the gardening experience.
“Gardening has always been essential for me, a place where I can listen, reflect, and grow both outwardly and inwardly,” says Janaki. “I wrote Soulful Sanctuaries as an invitation to slow down and reconnect—with the earth, with ourselves, and with something deeper that often gets lost in the rush of daily life My hope is that readers will discover that their gardens—no matter the size—can become spaces of peace, healing, and meaning, and that by tending their garden, they are also tending to their own hearts.”
Janaki is the spiritual name given to her by her friend and beloved spiritual teacher, Ram Dass, with whom she collaborated on the book Polishing the Mirror, How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart. She
brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to the intersection of mindfulness and everyday life within the pages of Soulful Sanctuaries.
This book is an especially meaningful generational collaboration with her daughter, Rebecca Gaal, whose photography and creative vision helped bring the project vividly to life, creating a rich and immersive reading experience rooted in both family and spirituality.
“This book would not exist if it weren’t for the devotion and capabilities of my daughter, Rebecca Gaal. Becky offered to be my project manager, and her creativity and talent as a photographer brought a unique beauty to these pages. She has been part of this garden since before she was born and helping to make this book a reality feels like the completion of a beautiful circle of a lifetime.”
Drawing on decades of experience as a celebrated garden designer and consulting rosarian, Janaki shares expert insights on organic gardening, sustainable practices, and year-round cultivation. From spring planting to autumn harvests and even the quiet introspection of winter gardens, the book encourages readers to engage with nature in every season.
Janaki makes spirituality accessible and personal, encouraging readers to discover what resonates most deeply for them, even guiding them in creating garden altars that reflect their intentions and beliefs. “The inner spirit feeds life in the world. The garden and everything you do becomes an expression of your inner work.”
Soulful Sanctuaries is the perfect gift for gardeners, spiritual seekers, and anyone looking to create a more intentional and restorative living space. It is both an inspiring guide and a keepsake volume—one that readers will return to season after season.
Janaki Sandy Gaal is an author, educator, gardener, and longtime student of Ram Dass. Her reflections explore the connection between spirituality, nature, and everyday living. She knew from a young age that she wanted to relieve suffering, first as an ICU nurse and later by opening her garden to the public. She is an Organic gardener, Garden Designer and Consulting Rosarian. She learned that helping others connect with the beauty of nature inspired an irreplaceable kind of joy. Through her writing and teaching, Janaki encourages readers to cultivate reflection, presence, and healing through simple daily practices, including gardening, cooking, and connecting with the natural world. She lives on the island of Maui in Hawaii surrounded by Ohana.
Rebecca Gaal is a creative strategist and visual storyteller with a background in environmental science, public health, and visual communication. A Fujifilm X Photographer, her work has been exhibited and published internationally in outlets including The Nature Conservancy, The American Scholar, Harvard University Center for the Environment, Adobe, and the National Institutes of Health. Rebecca serves as Director of Partnerships at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network and as Executive Producer of Wild Rescue, an IMAX 3D film exploring the intersections of wildlife and human worlds. She partners with organizations, publications, and brands to create imagery and campaigns that translate complex environmental ideas into compelling visual stories. Gaal lives in Ventura, California.
The Collective Book Studio is a woman-owned, full-service publishing studio that works with authors, brands, and companies to create, develop, and publish high-quality books. With a focus on innovative content and striking design, The Collective Book Studio offers a unique approach to the publishing process, providing clients with expertise and collaborative support from concept to creation.
The Collective Book Studio, based in Oakland, CA, publishes high-quality lifestyle, gift, and children’s books. Their books are distributed by Simon & Schuster, a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages. For more information, visit www.simonandschuster.com
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