f poetry that explores how love is at the center of a queer minister's theology and her way of being in the world. The book contains three sections: one focused on loving our bodies as they are; one on connection with the divine feminine, and seeing ourselves in the holy and the holy in us; and one on social justice grounded in love. Through these poems, you can find the inspiration you need to embody love in the world.

Rev. Diana K. McLean is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a queer woman, a mother, and an activist. She lives in Minneapolis with her wife Rev. Shay MacKay, with whom she co-created the ministry of Sacred Depths (www.sacreddepths.com), with the mission of helping people deepen their connection with the divine within and beyond themselves through creativity and contemplation. They share their home with one dog, one cat, and many books.

We live in a world that often discourages curiosity and dismisses the redeeming power of love. "Love is the Why" is a beautiful subversive invitation to dive into our wonders and explore our own whys. Diana K. McLean gently guides the reader in exploring why and also how to love ourselves, our bodies, the divine, and justice for all creation. Love is the why and it is a gift to embrace and share with others.

- Rebecca Wilson, Poet & Storyteller at 10 Camels. Author of Unraveling: Coming Out and Back Together.

In her first book of poetry, Love is the Why, Diana McLean, claims herself to be a "Minister ...reclaiming poet and will work to earn activist" yet her activism and poetry radiate on each page and poem with raw emotion and a call to the action of Love. As we, and she, enters middle age, she calls us to Love our bodies while allowing the guilt of the past to soften rather than simply forcing it away. We are the Divine Feminine and McLean's realization of this in her words strikes deep into each of us as we feel her words calling us to Love each body part, each archetype, each finger and wrinkle and stretch mark. Using this Love of self to become the activist, McLean further calls us to Love all those whose lives we can help and heal; from the immigrant child to the ones lost to a needless, unending war, to the very Earth Herself.

- Kelly Christine, MFA