The Book Report by Rebecca Traver - Our Online Bookshop Curator

“When you look into a still lake, you see yourself. You’re not really there, but that’s what you see. You see the reflection of yourself. When you look into life, into every single person, into every single event, what you really see is yourself.”

‍~Michael Singer

Navigate a Course from Adversity to Peace

Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain shows us how a bittersweet state of mind is the quiet force that helps us to recognize and transcend our personal and collective pain. If we don’t acknowledge our own heartache, she writes, we can end up inflicting it on others. But if we realize that all humans know (or will know) loss and suffering, then we can turn toward one another with compassion and empathy. At a time of profound discord, division, and personal anxiety, Bittersweet unites us in deep and unexpected ways. 

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In The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life author Dr. Mark Epstein draws on his experiences as a psychotherapist and practicing Buddhist to weave together the wisdom of both disciplines to form a model of therapy as a spiritual relationship. He emphasizes how therapy, as an element of Western medicine, can in fact be considered a two-person meditation - one in which each approach can support our willingness to face life’s difficulties with courage and presence.

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Mindfulness: Relax, De-Stress, and Focus Your Mind for a Healthier, Happier You by Domyo Sater Burk and Lani Muelrath is a practical guide to using simple to advanced meditations and exercises to help us be more present and at peace with what we find there.

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The Gift of Forgiveness: Inspiring Stories from Those Who Have Overcome the Unforgivable by Katherine Schwarznegger Pratt shows us what we can learn from those who have struggled with forgiveness (some still struggling) and others who have found a path to forgiveness. 

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If you’re in need of a balm for the troubles of the world, look no further than Self Love Poetry: For Thinkers & Feelers by Melody Godfred. Here, we find an exploration of concepts like authenticity, surrender, resilience, gratitude, believing in yourself, and of course, love, through 100 pairs of poems. On the left side of the book are ‘thinker’ poems that light up the analytical, more literal, left side of the brain, and on the right side are companion ‘feeler’ poems that speak to the creative, more emotional right side of the brain. Dearest reader, isn’t that just flat out brilliant?

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The Healing Power of the Natural World

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The Wolves of Yellowstone: A Rewilding Story by Catherine Barr is a fascinating account of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone Park with stunning, lifelike illustrations. I love this book and how it inspires trust in the wisdom and resilience of Nature.

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Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet by Thomas E. Lovejoy and John W. Reid address the biggest challenges the largest forests of our planet currently face with practical solutions toward moving forward into balance and health for all of Life.

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Kings of a Lonely Kingdom: Earth Day Essays, Poems, and Musings on Nature by David C. Mahood is a collection of inspiring insights and information about the sanctity of preserving Nature. Throughout the book, the author shares compelling examples of a world in need of greater care in order to bring attention to the unfavorable, long-term consequences of climate change and the loss of biodiversity. 

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Tools for Self-Growth & Empowerment

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The Altar Within: A Radical Devotional Guide to Liberate the Divine Self by Juliet Diaz provides an approach to Magic, spirituality, and healing like no other and takes readers through the deep work of decolonizing their spirituality. Diaz explores a series of practices, exercises, and inquiries, including self-worship, self-discovery, and self-activism. 

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For the magically inclined yogini, may I suggest adding Yoga for Witches by Sarah Robinson to your resource library? This is an exploration of the connection of two compelling spiritual disciplines, illuminating the best in both and offering a unique path forward into personal power and wellness.

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Woodland Gardens from Jessica Roux is a gorgeously illustrated oracle deck and guidebook whose themes are sourced in mythology, folklore, and literature, with each card featuring an animal + plant pairing accompanied by a distinct and thoughtful message; for example the Hare and the Oak, the Finch and the Peach, and the Hawk and the Thistle. 

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Astrological Guidance & Counsel

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Astro Poets: Your Guides to the Zodiac by Dorothea Lasky and Alex Dimitrov is full of insight, advice, and humor for every sign of the zodiac. In these pages the Astro Poets help you see what’s written in the stars and planets and use it to navigate your friendships, career, and what may very well be a complicated love life. You’re welcome!

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The Junior Astrologer's Handbook: A Kid's Guide to Astrological Signs, the Zodiac, and More by Nikki Van De Car with illustrations by Uta Krogmann is a wonderful companion to their earlier work, The Junior Witch's Handbook: A Kid's Guide to White Magic, Spells, and Rituals. Both books are intended for readers between the ages of eight and twelve and offer much practical and accessible introductory guidance for young minds curious about the esoteric arts.

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If you’re in the mood for a deck to add to your astrological resources, may I suggest The Astrology Deck: Your Guide to the Meanings and Myths of the Cosmos by Lisa Stardust. This luminous 70-card deck is filled with fascinating information on zodiac signs, planets, asteroids, eclipses, and more.

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Another beautiful deck option is Black Moon Astrology Cards by Susan Sheppard, illustrated by Jane Marin. Drawing on the ancient discipline of divining the messages of the night sky, this deck has much to offer for novice and skilled practitioner alike.

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Inspiration for the Young and Young at Heart

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The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky by Jihyun Kim is a beautifully rendered wordless picture book telling the story of a young boy’s discovery of the wonders of the natural world. 

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The Garden We Share by Zoe Tucker with illustrations by Julianna Swaney celebrates the friendship between a young girl and an elderly woman as they plant seeds in a community garden alongside neighbors and friends, waiting for the seeds to flower. This is a story full of hope and the power of collaboration.

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Jenny Torres Sanchez brings us Con Mucho Amor, the Spanish-language edition of With Lots of Love, with illustrations by André Ceolin. This is the story of a young girl who moves from her home in Central America to the United States, leaving behind a world of connection, especially with her beloved Abuela. I love how this story captures the longing of a child and the wisdom of her family.

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"you are slowly growing
but you are still growing
and that is enough."

~Dhiman

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Please visit our online Bookshop to see our full selection of lists and titles. 
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May you be inspired, supported, and delighted by what you find here.

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