Painted by experiences in her life and past lives, Catherine Steinberg—mother, artist, licensed marriage and family therapist, shamanic practitioner, and author—has much to share in her new book, Eating Chocolate and Watching the Moon — Spiritual Awakening through Loss and Karmic Resolution.

The Guilford author’s story of her spiritual journey is meant to to inspire and guide those who are dealing with challenges and losses in their lives. It’s a story which her editor, Cynthia F. Davidson, calls “...good medicine.” The community is invited to come and learn more during a special book launch and reading by Catherine on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Guilford Free Library on 67 Park Street.

In her book, Catherine discusses her own challenges and those experienced with her late husband during four heartbreaking miscarriages. The couple finally experienced the joyous arrival of their son when Catherine was 40 and her husband was 54.

“The reason I wrote the book was because there were so many miraculous things that happened that we were able to finally have him without any big intervention. It was a small window of time that it worked. But the path doesn’t always end that way for a lot of people,” she says.

Through her book, Catherine helps those experiencing such challenges to find ways and opportunities to express love and maternal energy.

Looking back at her own experience leading to the birth of her son, Catherine says it helped her to recognize that “...invisible forces are always helping and supporting us.” It was this realization which helped put Catherine on her own spiritual path leading to karmic resolution. The practice is believed to allow the opportunity for people from past and present lives to intertwine on the path to correcting or completing disruptive issues.

In her book, Catherine shares a significant past life experience which took place when she was trying to understand the repeated losses she was experiencing. Catherine underwent the karmic resolution experience while working with a trainer at Omega Institute in New York. She traveled there with her late husband, who was a psychologist.

“I didn’t know much about karmic resolution at all, but the trainer followed where I was going in this kind of hypnotic state I was in,” says Catherine.

Catherine says that she ultimately experienced an ancient life in Latin America, where her sacrificial baby was removed from her body by a high priest, causing her death. Catherine says that, during the experience, the trainer was able to guide her to recognize that the high priest was her husband in a past life. Both she and her husband were incredibly moved—and healed—by the experience, says Catherine.

“He was able to be married, have our son, and give us life, rather than take our lives away, as he did in a past life,” says Catherine. “It’s an amazing story. It really opened my eyes to what is there and what needed to be healed. That’s one of the reasons why I write about it in the book. It’s the completion of cycles.”

The book also shares Catherine’s travels in South America and the cultural significance of cacao/chocolate, as well her perspectives on the constancy of the moon, the relevance of its phases, and the many lessons she learned in her relationships with family members.

Catherine says that those who knew some of her remarkable story encouraged her to write it all down, but many of her Guilford neighbors may not be aware of the karmic piece of it.

Some on the shoreline may be more familiar with Catherine’s ongoing exhibit, The Mary Paintings, at Mercy by the Sea in Madison. The artist’s set of 13 paintings depict aspects of the divine feminine.

“I have had so many comments come in from people,” says Catherine of the exhibit. “They use these paintings as prompts for writing and meditation. They’ve taken on a life of their own. I birthed them, and they’re out in the world, and they’re making a difference for a lot of people.”

Catherine says that the paintings came through her almost as a mission she felt she had to finish. The experience taught her to help others to pay attention to that inner voice they hear and to follow those clues on their path.

Catherine also teaches shamanic process painting, which involves aspects of meditation combined with rhythmic drumming.

“It’s a different way of healing. It gets you out of your left brain, and it’s one of the things I enjoy doing most because people are so surprised with what they come up with,” says Catherine.

As a psychotherapist, Catherine works with others “...in helping them know themselves and find the affirmations and permissions to follow their hearts’ truths,” according to a press release about her book. The release also notes that her book delves into complexities such as “...how to balance love-based relationships with one’s individual needs and desires.”

In addition to her Nov. 2 book launch and reading at the Guilford Free Library, Catherine will be signing her book during the “Authors in the Shop” event on Saturday, Nov. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Guilford Art Center on 411 Church Street. Her book is also available at the Guilford Art Center.

Eating Chocolate and Watching the Moon — Spiritual Awakening through Loss and Karmic Resolution by Catherine Steinberg is available at barnesandnoble.com, 3chairspublishing.com, and amazon.com For more information, visit catherinensteinberg.com.