To feel safe and sacred in this world, I need to treasure the sanctuary within me … Sanctuary: The discovery of wonder is an engaging and moving book full of spiritual insight, wisdom and warmth. It is the result of a decade of exploration and contemplation of the concept of sanctuary by Julie Leibrich, a poet and writer, formerly a research psychologist and Mental Health Commissioner. Sanctuary is written in a way that happily combines reason and imagination, poetry and critical thinking, knowledge and originality, producing a highly readable and rewarding book. Sanctuary cuts across genres: at once a spiritual memoir; a collection of personal journal entries and brief discourses; and a window into the views of influential writers, thinkers and poets, and of the author’s friends and acquaintances. Julie Leibrich’s life journey has led her to discover through ‘wondering, wandering and wonderment’ the elements of the world and self that are most sacred. It is truly wonderful … the reading experience in itself became a sanctuary. – Judi Clements, CEO, NZ Mental Health Foundation Leibrich’s experience may well be signalling an important ‘change of heart’ in the whole field of spirituality and mental health. – Professor Phil Barker, www.psychminded.co.uk It touches and moves me with its language and insight … [offering] such energy and hope. – Linden Lynn, author/artist, England