Cygnus Review Autumn 2017

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Autumn 2017, Issue 3

Cygnus Review HEAL YOUR BODY ❖ FEED YOUR SOUL ❖ FREE YOUR MIND ❖ LOVE YOUR PLANET

The Peaceful Warrior Returns An extract from Dan Millman’s new book ❖ EDITOR’S PICKS The Mysterious Stones in the Italian Countryside by Cilla Conway

Spirituality and our Children by William Bloom How the Glastonbury Festival can be an inspiration to us all A Focus on Shamanism

Plus!

❖ NEW WRITING by Wendy Erlick, Craig Hassed & Michael James ❖ Directory of Cygnus Cafés ❖ How to start a Cygnus Café


WHY GLASTONBURY MATTERS

I am lucky and have been to the Glastonbury Festival many times over recent years. It’s one of the greatest events in the whole world. No exaggeration. Most people have the time of their lives. They get angry sometimes but not that often. I have never seen a fight there. People come from all over the world and they are overwhelmingly friendly and kind. Of course this positivity can be attributed to the music, the friendship, the sunshine, the drink and the general excess. People are capable of wonderful things when everyday stresses are taken away. However I often catch sight of Glastonbury Tor sitting discreetly on the near horizon and I then know the festival is more than those things. Glastonbury is an important centre for these islands and the love and care devoted by people to that spot, and the energy that’s there that’s also been cultivated patiently over the centuries and which runs through the soil itself – I know, and many others do, that this flows into the festival goers and is felt by them and contributes to their joy and well-being. There are other places like this, although to me Glastonbury is one of the most powerful. We can draw strength from them and we can give

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our energy back to them too. I won’t go into the ways: there are many, and it’s up to us to find the ways that suit us best. We can though all make this world a better place, by working on our own patch of ground, keeping it strong and keeping it healthy. There is the famous Legends slot on the last afternoon of the festival, the Sunday. It’s become “a thing” now, a cultural event in this nation’s calendar. It’s great that a much-loved performer has their glorious day in the sun. They get the chance to show their love and feel much more love in return. Everyone there and watching on tv has the opportunity to sing along with some great songs from their youth. It’s more than that though. It’s the communal experience; it’s people together sharing; it’s a feeling of love between a lot of people, all different, who are sharing the same place and appreciating the same things. This year I remember looking at the crowd there at the Pyramid Stage – not over my shoulder but ironically right in front of me on the big screen as the camera panned across

the assembled masses all around me, singing along, some with flags, some on friends’ shoulders. There were men dressed as women, women in bikini tops, men in bikini tops, children, middle aged and old people, in make up, in fancy dress or in hardly anything at all, and I thought and still think that this is what we stand for: human beings expressing themselves joyfully and with love, in whatever way we choose, as long as it’s not causing harm to anyone else. Let me qualify that: As long as it wasn’t causing harm to beautiful, non-judgmental blessed humanity. If this causes offence to the forces of puritanism, of fundamentalism and of narrow-minded judgmentalism, well, that’s ok with me, because I stand for joy, kindness and love of my fellow human beings. I might not always get that right – I might snap at someone from time to time, judge them or grasp on to things that aren’t really mine – but I will then pull myself together and redouble my efforts, and that’s what I will go on doing. It’s such an important lesson for me.

Adam

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THE HIDDEN SCHOOL BY DAN MILLMAN

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or the dead, no attachments remain. There’s nothing left to do, to accomplish, to grasp. I recalled the yoga practice of shavasana, the corpse pose, to complete asana practice. It was meant to be more than a relaxation exercise. But what does it mean to let go of all that is life? What must I relinquish in order to die? Such questions had become seeds that, when planted deep within, began to grow and bear fruit. Soon I fell into a spontaneous meditation. Unlike the usual sitting practice, this was filled with revelation. It came in a flood that took form only when I later wrote it all down. It begins by exhaling darkness and inhaling light, until my physical form fills with a sparkling blue-white light. Next comes a profound willingness to surrender, returning to what I was before I was conceived, to die while I live, to let go completely, to relinquish everything and enter the experience and process of dying, starting with... No more time. Past and future vanish as I surrender all memory and imagination. Only the present remains. No more objects. All possessions vanish: toys, tools, keepsakes, clothing. All I own, all I’ve earned, collected, or purchased. I will leave the world as I arrived. Naked. No more relations. I bid farewell to every human and animal I know or have ever known: family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, childhood pets... All those I love, and who love me, vanish. From this point I’m alone. No more action. I release the ability to move, to speak, to do, to influence, to accomplish... no more duties or responsibilities... no task to complete or business to finish as my body turns as immobile as wood. No more emotion. The colors of feeling fade into gray... no joy or sorrow, fear or courage, anger or serenity, passion, melancholy or elation, as the heart and whole body turn to stone.

then there’s nothing more to focus upon... the beauty of nature’s landscapes, the colors of sunrise or sunset, the sensual shapes of the world, the colors and textures, the light and shadow – all fade into darkness. No more sound. The capacity to hear music and voices, the songs of birds, a rustle of leaves or silk, wind chimes, laughter, and thunder, the sounds of city life – all slip into silence, even the thrum of my blood while it still flows in my veins.

‘Finding the Center of the Paradox’ DAN MILLMAN

Now the senses depart, one by one: No more savoring. The power of taste vanishes... no more food, drink, or lover’s lips to stimulate tongue or palate with sweetness or spice. No more smell. The end of all scents and fragrances... of food and flowers... gone are aromas of those I love, of home and hearth, of the natural world. No more sight. Images lose focus,

No more sensation. The end of pain or pleasure, warmth or cold... never again feeling the skin-to-skin touch of a loved one as nerve endings grow numb. Without time, objects, relations, actions, emotions, or the senses of taste, smell, sight, hearing, or touch, only darkness and silence remain. No more self. No sense of being or having a body... the last remaining thread or experience of an inner self is cut... Finding the center of the paradox, letting go of what never truly existed. Fading, growing transparent, weightless, vanishing. Only Consciousness remains. And the world goes on exactly as it was, without me. ❖ Extract from The Hidden School by Dan Millman, courtesy of Hay House, 2017

THE HIDDEN SCHOOL by Dan Millman

Essential Autumn reading

Dan Millman has done it again. The author of Way of The Peaceful Warrior and many other bestsellers recounts another powerful story of self-transformation through adventure. It’s set in a time after Peaceful Warrior when Dan is trying to track down a mysterious book partially written by his enigmatic and mischievous teacher Socrates. Most of the action takes place in the desert of the American Southwest and an isolated training centre in remote China. As ever, the gripping and vivid narrative is a powerful way of putting across some illuminating truths and vital spiritual lessons. Dan is a master storyteller. 304pp, 197 x 130mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270338 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

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SAVE 38%

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THE ANCIENT GUARDIANS OF THE LANDSCAPE BY CILLA CONWAY

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ost of us are familiar with the neolithic stone circles in the UK, but the stele found in Lunigiana, northwest Tuscany, are unique and particularly intriguing with their distinctively shaped heads.

THE BYZANTINE TAROT by John Matthews and Cilla Conway

Now that we are featuring this fascinating article by Cilla, it’s a perfect opportunity to carry for the first time through Cygnus one of our favourite tarot decks. The first tarot deck inspired by the Byzantine Empire, this sumptuous package will appeal to those tarot fans, who are intoxicated by ancient civilization and the intense opulence of the mysterious Byzantine world. The text has been written by tarot expert John Matthews, one of Britain’s greatest esoteric authorities. And Cilla’s images capture perfectly the beauty and mystery of Orthodox Christian icon art, which will fire up many people’s imagination. Contains 78 cards and a paperback guidebook. 160pp, 78 cards, 234 x 147 mm, Boxed Set, 2015, RRP £21.99

❖ Code: 270349 ❖ Cygnus Price: £14.99

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Nothing is known about the people who sculpted these stone beings but, seen up close, they are profoundly affecting. Carved out of sandstone, one of the most attractive attributes of the stele are that they represent both male and female figures, neither seemingly more important than the other. Archaeologists still debate the purpose of the figures, although if we look at the map of their distribution, it appears that they were placed at strategic points. My own feeling, when I encountered them, was that they were placed as guardian spirits of the land. There are 80 stele currently discovered and beautifully displayed in the Museum of the Stele in Pontremoli, though it is possible more will be found – indeed, one of the last was discovered only twelve years ago. The earliest stele are dated about 5 or 6 thousand years ago – around the same time as Ötzi (the Iceman), was walking in the Tyrolean Alps. Later on, between 3400 and 23002000 BCE, the stele became slightly more realistic, with necks and the distinctive head shape. The most recent stele was found on what has become my property in Reusa… a masculine figure, this one has arrows, a much more defined

face, feet, and what looks to be a belt. I’m uncertain about the item over his heart – a hammer? He seems less warrior than hunter. There seems to have been a gap in production of the stele between the middle of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Iron Age, but there was a kind of renaissance in their production from the end of 7th to the end of the 6th century BC, with prehistoric stele being remodelled and new statues carved. This presumably indicates some continuity of belief, although by the end of that time the indigenous peoples of the Magra were coming in contact with the Etruscan world. Thereafter, of course, the Romans started their inexorable march towards empire, and the stelemakers stopped production. The stele are by no means the only remaining prehistoric menhirs in Europe. They are, however, at least to me, the most distinctive, with their defined sexual attributes and subtle facial indications. Photographs of the stele give no warning of the impact of an encounter with the statues themselves. I came away feeling they held a message for me personally, which I still have not fully deciphered. Those ancient peoples carving their diverse menhirs around Europe had a feeling for life that we have forgotten. We deem ourselves advanced, but their physical presence, their simplicity, and their understated symbolism still engages us across the millennia. If, as I said earlier, my own feelings are correct – that the stele are the guardians of the land, or at least have become so – then how can we work with them to keep the land sacred? We are at least a little more aware of the value of the stele now – too many have been broken up for building materials – but the more subtle values underlying their creation (their concepts of life, a deep acceptance we might call religious) we can only intuit. Still, if you take the time to encounter the stele in Pontremoli, you may well find that, like me, their impact remains with you for a long time.

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Health & Healing — BOOK REVIEWS CORE LIGHT HEALING by Barbara Ann Brennan

Barbara Brennan’s groundbreaking Hands of Light was a must-read for healers in the late 1980s and has remained a classic text on the subject. Since then thousands have trained with her school and there will be many people worldwide who are eagerly waiting to embrace her new book, the third from this author. Hands of Light was originally created as a textbook for her teaching, now she offers healers a more personal approach to developing perception and clearing energy blocks. The book also includes some of her personal experiences on a life journey that began as a research scientist at NASA and developed through exploring psychotherapy to the study of human energy fields. 232pp, 280 x 215 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £20.00

❖ Code: 270311 ❖ Cygnus Price: £13.99

FAT FOR FUEL by Dr. Joseph Mercola

Dr Mercola states that nearly all diseases are caused by ‘defective metabolic processes’, meaning that the key to combatting illness is through nutrition. During his medical school training, he found that he was taught how to treat symptoms of chronic illness, rather than addressing the root cause. After continued research, he believes that he has found a way to attack that root cause, through the use of food as SAVE medicine. He says that the correct diet 32% will help to prevent chronic disease, manage cancer and optimize health. He believes a ketogenic diet – one that is low in carbohydrates and high in fat – is the way to optimize biochemical pathways to suppress most diseases; it also increases brain power and energy, as well as helping you lose weight. 368pp, 229 x 157 mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £21.99

❖ Code: 270312 ❖ Cygnus Price: £14.99

WELL NOURISHED by Andrea Lieberstein

Every time we at Cygnus decide not to cover any more mindfulness books, another good one comes along to shake that intention. Rick Hanson – clinical psychologist and author of Buddha’s Brain – calls it “a jewel from a gem of a teacher”. Andrea is a registered dietician nutritionist and a mindfulness instructor, and she teaches us how to balance the food we eat plus the cravings for different kinds of nutrition. The colour-coded text is divided into the eight different bodies that need feeding and fulfillment. There are also many practices to heal our relationship with food, be it relatively harmonious or challenging.

THE MINDBODY SELF by Mario Martinez

Christiane Northrup calls this an “absolute masterwork” and there’s praise on the cover from Gregg Braden and Robert Holden. Inside, Dr Mario Martinez builds on the work he did in his previous book, The Mindbody Code, to explain further how awareness of the essential oneness of cognition and biology can help us reshape our lives drastically. He writes with great scientific experience but his language isn’t daunting. It’s an exciting promise that we can reshape our lives and become more effective co-creators of our own health. 320pp, 235 x 160mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £20.00

❖ Code: 270339 ❖ Cygnus Price: £13.99

THE KEY TO THE CHAKRAS by Vicki Howie

This beginner’s guide is a clear and simple introduction to the seven chakra system. It would be particularly useful for anyone who enjoys yoga but is unsure about the concept of energy centres they encounter in a yoga class. Each of the chakras is introduced with descriptions of its characteristics and energy currents and then the book moves on to ways to assess the condition of your chakras by looking at personality, physical and character traits and by using a pendulum and kinesiology. Finally there are ways to heal through the chakras using various tools: essential oils, crystals and yoga postures are methods to unblock energy pathways and balance the chakras. This is a solid, good-looking book and an excellent entry point into the extensive philosophy of energy points. 192pp, 235 x 178 mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270326 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

THE NATURAL MENOPAUSE PLAN by Maryon Stewart

Menopause is a word that’s so often used in hushed tones and with cold shudders. We all know it’s not an enjoyable time in a woman’s life, but it is something that must be suffered eventually. But is it necessary to actually suffer? Apparently not so! The plan outlined in this book will allow the reader SAVE to elevate the symptoms of menopause 38% in a 100% natural way through a phytoestrogen-rich diet, with recommended supplements, moderate exercise and relaxation. It is a safe and effective alternative to HRT treatment (hormone replacement therapy), which has been known to increase the risk of serious medical conditions. It’s full of great advice and tempting recipes as well as explanations of the menopause process itself. 160pp, 216 x 183 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270321 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

208pp, 230 x 169 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270334 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

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YOUR DAILY BATH IN PARADISE BY WILLIAM BLOOM

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r to put it another way what would you have liked when you were a child? This question was triggered for me when I recently helped develop a personal and social health education programme (PSHE) for a large secondary school. I started to think about what I had received and not received from my parents and schooling. There were some good things but there was also an awful gap. Starting with the good things, my parents definitely gave me a sense of ethics, of what is right and wrong, of social justice. They gave me a sense of valuing every individual. From school I also learned about fairness and the unacceptability of bullying. There was a general ethic too that our work lives and careers should in some way benefit society. Good guidance. But then there was the gap. Spiritually there was nothing. We had some Bible study at school, with dismal hymn singing and a shallow look at world religions. At home there was atheism and a suspicion of anything religious. There was not a single person in my childhood who shared with me their sense of the sheer wonder, energy and beauty of nature and all existence. And that is the very heart of spirituality, isn’t it? Our natural experience – by whatever name you call it – of the beauty and awesome benevolent wonder of life. Like many children I had a sense of this wonder. Watching clouds changing shape. Standing next to big trees. Sensing there was something deeply special

‘What kind of spiritual education do children deserve?’ WILLIAM BLOOM

about Jesus beyond the church pomp. But no adult, parent or teacher ever affirmed this spiritual dimension to me. Like most of us I had to develop it alone. Today many years later I work as a spiritual companion and mentor. Probably the most important thing I ever do for people is this: I reassure and affirm that the spiritual dimension is real and true. On top of that I encourage and challenge people to develop a spiritual life style in which day by day they consistently connect with and fully experience the wonder,

THE POWER OF MODERN SPIRITUALITY by William Bloom This is one of Cygnus’s bestselling books and is the core text of William’s new spirituality qualification. It describes in easy accessible language exactly how to start your practice, to discover your own best way of doing it and how to deepen it. He structures his book around the key areas of connection, reflection and service, showing us how to recognise and develop these aspects of ourselves in the context of today’s challenges and crises so that we gain greater meaning and purpose in our lives. Written in his lively, intelligent and inspiring style, it will help you to go more deeply into yourself and develop a greater sense of personal integrity, service and inner strength. 288pp, 230 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2011, RRP £13.99

❖ Code: 210701 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

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energy and benevolence of life. This spiritual connection I advocate is our only truly reliable fuel, support and nurture. One colleague recently called it her ‘daily bath in paradise.’ So thinking again of our childhoods I wonder if it would be useful if parents or teachers said to children: Look. Feel. Sense. Notice how wonderful and awesome life is. The spiritual dimension is true, real and good. Being reassured of that would surely be beneficial. It is the appropriate balance to the crude demands of materialism. It points to what really matters. There is then a next step. We then need to take regular time actually to experience our spiritual connection. Don’t just dip your toe in the water. Swim. Here we meet the challenge. I have supported many people in starting their daily spiritual practice. It is like a New Year’s resolution. The intention is clear. The fulfilment and self-discipline are unreliable. People find it difficult to maintain a practice on their own. As a solution some people join a religious group for a group rhythm of worship or meditation. This can be very useful but also has risks such as fundamentalism and emotional harm. So Yes I do want a companion, parent or teacher to point out and affirm the spiritual dimension of life. But I also want a realistic awareness of the self-discipline we need to develop a daily spiritual practice in which we consistently connect with the beauty and wonder of life. It is a balance of beauty and purpose. I do not want to force spiritual discipline on anyone. That would be abusive. But daily practice requires a clear purposeful decision, an act of will. Some people might bandy back that human beings are already too wilful and we just need to surrender to a divine will greater than ours. To this I respond: look at the spiritual teachers who inspire us — are they weak and without self-discipline and purpose? Spirituality is not just air and water. It is also earth and fire. ❖ www.williambloom.com

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Personal Growth & Guidence — BOOK REVIEWS GETTING GRIT by Caroline Adams Miller

REINVENT ME by Camilla Sacre-Dallerup

280pp, 229 x 152mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £16.50

176pp, 168 x 127mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £8.99

ANXIETY FOR BEGINNERS by Eleanor Morgan

A MANUAL FOR HEARTACHE by Cathy Rentzenbrink

At Cygnus we tend to focus on the “gentler” approaches to personal growth, which originate from within, but it’s important also to cultivate a certain resolution that’s outward-looking and more pragmatic. I only heard of “grit” fairly recently, but when this book landed I was excited to read it and it hasn’t disappointed. I think what’s important with this approach is evidence, and there’s plenty here. Caroline, who is a Positive Psychology expert, writes succinctly and purposefully on how to unearth our own grit, which will enable us to resist all the many distractions of this modern world and hone in on our own self-realization. ❖ Code: 270305 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

Anxiety for Beginners is exactly as the name suggests, the book for people working their way through suffering from anxiety, or those who know someone who does. It is sometimes funny, but always very frank and honest with the realities of the condition. The best thing about it is that the author has really lived through it, and unlike some other books on the subject, Anxiety for Beginners is not afraid to present the truth of anxiety, warts and all. This is the book for you if wondering ‘what if x happens’ is stopping you from living your life to the fullest. 320pp, 197 x 130 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270330 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

COME CLOSER by Ilse Sand

This is the fourth book to be translated into English from the Danish pastor and psychotherapist Ilse Sand, author of the Cygnus bestseller Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World. Written in the same clear and lucid way, it asks why – when we crave loving relationships – we put up so many self-protection strategies, which lead to us avoiding not only closeness with other people, but also closeness to our Inner Self. It’s full of case studies clarifying her points and the whole text is wise and easy to read. More importantly, Ilse shows us how to understand these strategies and thus disarm them. 104pp, 216 x 140 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270350 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

Ready to reinvent yourself? Camilla is passionately dedicated to helping you transform your life and fulfil your dreams, using powerful methods that really work. If you feel stuck and disenchanted, she can show you how to refocus, unfold your potential and pursue a new path that nurtures who you truly are. Former Strictly SAVE winner and celebrity, Camilla changed 33% course to become a life coach. She uses progressive methods such as mindfulness, affirmation, meditation and visualisation to launch her clients into success, plus a special magic of her own. It sparkles through her clear, simple, accessible, delightfully concise 8-step motivational programme, and manifests as a wonderfully caring and supportive inspirational gift from her to her readers. ❖ Code: 270303 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

Cathy wrote The Last Act of Love, about her brother getting hit by a car and remaining in a “persistent vegetative state” for a further eight years until he properly left this life. I found that book such a challenging and emotional read, but so worth it in the end. This is the book she wished she’d had at the time. It’s about heartache, pain and then how to find hope and joy out of all that. It’s not too long. It’s beautifully written, comforting and it’s full of deep truths. It’s an absolute godsend in these difficult times.

SAVE 30%

160PP, 197 x 130 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £10.00

❖ Code: 270330 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

GETTING GRIEF RIGHT by Patrick O’Malley

Psychotherapist Patrick O’Malley suffered the loss of his infant child and it makes him well-placed to offer us an account of grief and how it works. What bothered him and his wife was the urging to “move on” without the recognition that grief maintains a connection to the person or people we have lost. This deeply autobiographical book is full of wise stories about the rich depths of grief, which inspire us to live life more fully and not run away from what challenges us. We don’t have to be in deep grief to appreciate this book, just willing to open our hearts and see love running like a thread through all our interactions. 232pp, 201 x 130mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £15.99

❖ Code: 270304 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

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CASE NOTES OF AN ANGEL CHANNELLER BY WENDY ERLICK

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o these are Case Notes on how I was most beautifully realigned (or put back in my place) and received verification (from Spirit), all at the same time. And to put the whole episode into even more context I should mention that I am currently writing a new book, which is exploring the concept of gratitude and synchronicity within a divinely responsive universe. Interestingly, since I embarked on this project, I have observed episodes of synchronicity nearly every day, many of which have been ironically funny and clever. But the one that I have written about below is the most pointed so far. The evening before my 57th birthday I watched Spirited Away (written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki). It is a most beautiful and unsettling film. Perhaps this was where my mood of negativity and lack started. Or perhaps it was the birthday looming: 57 suddenly felt old. Or the fact that a small piece of enamel broke away from my tooth. It was one small piece of enamel, hardly the size of a crumb, yet in my mind it was a messenger heralding the disintegration of my whole mouth. But then again it was my birthday: how could I resist conducting my own past life review? From a place of joy compassion and love though? Not really. From a place of lack, selfcriticism and judgment? Yes. I am sure that you are getting the picture!

‘I was given the Gift of Realignment’ WENDY ERLICK

My sadness continued into the next day. And then deepened because, despite lovely birthday messages sent by lovely friends, I did not hear anything from the person I most hoped to hear from. That same birthday evening I travelled to London from Totnes for my work as an Angel Channeler at Watkins Bookshop. I arrived at Waterloo Station at 11.15 pm. Then I walked out of the station into the chaos of the night to catch the 172

THE WISDOM OF TREES ORACLE by Jane Struthers

SAVE

Very few decks cover the power and wisdom 40% of trees, which feels like a major oversight. Trees are used as focal points for worship all over the world and by many cultures throughout history. It is this power that has inspired the creation of this deck - it contains 40 beautifully illustrated cards depicting 40 of the world’s most serene and majestic trees. It is rich with insights from spiritual traditions around the globe, and will help you gain new and profound levels of awareness about yourself, your relationships and where you are headed, all by drawing from the wisdom of the trees. 80pp, 40 colour cards, 175 x 124 mm, Boxed Set, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270319 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

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to my bed for the night. But within the chaos lay a synchronicity. I sat at the front of the bus. Lots of people came on behind me but I was in such a bad mood and my energy shield was so hostile that no one dared sit next to me. Then a man clambered on. He was joyous & exuberant. He lurched with difficulty down the bus, partly because he had been drinking, but also because he was in a poor condition. His hair & beard were scraggy and uncut, and his bones sharp through his face. I judged him to be a ‘gentleman of the road’, aged around 65 or 70. The man sat down behind me and began speaking to his fellow passenger. He said “Today is my birthday. Yes I was born on the 24th of April 1976”. There was a tenderness in his voice as he said it. I could hear that his mother had loved him, but I could not believe his age. He was only 41. He looked like he would not last out the year. Then there was the (so-called) coincidence that we shared birthdays. That felt pretty weird. He continued: “My niece sent me £50 as a present; I put £10.00 on my Oyster card; usually I have to walk home. It takes me 3 hours”. He was completely matter of fact. Not one trace of self-pity; selfjudgment or lack. Despite myself I could feel my heart opening and warmth and love returning to my body. Then I heard him say “Oh F**k It ... I am on the wrong bus. Never mind, I might as well sleep here”. This made me smile: had I not just spent the day thinking that “It’s my birthday & I am on the wrong bus?” When I left the bus just before midnight he was sleeping like a baby, head thrown back. There was an aura around him; he looked innocent and holy, like a Rabbi or a Saint. Or an Angel perhaps? The whole episode was so staged, so perfect. I could not help but wonder. So this is how, at the edge of my new year, three minutes before the end of my birthday, I was given the gift of realignment. I came back to myself. And back to joy.

Wendy Jane Erlick works as as Angel Channeller, Energy Healer & an Intuitive Coach. She practises from Watkins Books, Cecil Court, London and privately. Wendyjaneerlick@gmail.com. Mobile: 07922 038059 https://celestialhealing.wordpress.com


Esoteric Teachings — BOOK REVIEWS

LOVE HAS SEVEN COLORS by Jack Angelo

This is a book for pilgrims, for those on a quest to discover heartcenteredness. Known as the Inner Circle Teachings, the information and activities use a journey through seven colours to achieve healing and wholeness. This vast subject is skilfully covered in a compact and comprehensive way taking the reader step by step, encouraging the seeker to work at a steady pace, ideally with the support of a fellow pilgrim. Conscious breathing opens up the light body or energy field, allowing access the heart centre. From here the seven colours associated with seven main energy centres in the body are each examined with wise thoughts relevant to the particular centre and guidance for meditative actions. 160pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270322 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

CRYSTAL PRESCRIPTIONS VOL 6 by Judy Hall

At last! Here is a book by a highly esteemed and trusted crystal healing expert that gives precise prescriptions for karmic clearing, soul integration and healing the family tree, so all that inherited baggage can finally be dealt with! Miraculously, some extraordinary new crystals have appeared which help us to quickly and easily clear repetitive toxic ancestral patterns. With the assistance of these crystals, and some old favourites, it is possible to heal far back into the genealogical line and our own karmic past. The healing is then projected forward into the future so that generations to come can have the benefit of garnered soul and ancestral wisdom without inheriting accumulated trauma. 416pp, 189 x 131 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £13.99

❖ Code: 270341 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

THE MASONIC MAGICIAN by Philippa Faulks and Robert Cooper

Many will know something about Cagliostro, the world explorer and philosopher. Most people, even now, still invariably believe him to be a charlatan, but this book aims to show the positive sides to Cagliostro, a man who has long been denounced as a mere imposter. By pulling together credible historical sources, this book successfully explores the other side of Cagliostro, the man continually painted as an ignorant charlatan with no real spiritual insight or experience. It instead finds him to be grossly misjudged and a man with considerable occult knowledge. It specifically explores his spiritual work, and his unique Ritual of Egyptian Freemasonry. A very interesting read. 368pp, 236 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

MANDALA STONES by Natasha Alexander

What a great book! It’s full colour and a nice fairly big format. Basically find your stone (larger than a pebble would be great), ask permission (check the local regulations and check with the stone!) then paint a simple but beautiful design on it and place it on display, or on your altar. You are given guidance on all the materials and tools required: the author then offers us 50 designs with plans on how to approach creating them. For example there’s Lightburst and Fibonacci Glow – they are not as intricate as Buddhist mandalas, but they are all basically circular and very pleasing on the eye. 128pp, 230 x 180 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270353 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

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THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF WATER by Dr Paolo Consigli

Water makes up 70% of the world, and 70% of our human bodies; it is vital but seldom explored. This book dives into the functionality and importance of water in many different ways, and across many different cultures. As there is no discipline, scientific or not, for which water is not somehow relevant, this book investigates water through a series of lenses: from chemistry, biology, physics and medicine, to anthropology, psychology, philosophy and mysticism. It is an in-depth journey of discovery into the life-generating forces inherent in water; if you’ve ever been curious about the clear liquid, this will tell you all you could wish to know. 400pp, 234 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270318 ❖ Cygnus Price: £12.99

THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT

Welcome to one of the greatest mysteries in the western world: an early 15th century manuscript, written in a script that no one can understand or even get close to deciphering, and full of strange and beautiful illustrations. It seems to imply magic and alchemy, or maybe it’s partly a herbology. Here is every page of the manuscript, wonderfully reproduced for your contemplation, with notes and whatever explanations are possible. It includes a foreword by Dr Stephen Skinner, a leading esotericist, and an introduction by two experts on manuscripts, the Voynich above all. 288pp, 267 x 188mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £19.99

❖ Code: 270306 ❖ Cygnus Price: £13.99

❖ Code: 270320 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

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BOOK REVIEWS — All that lies beyond 10 MESSAGES YOUR ANGELS WANT YOU TO KNOW by Doreen Virtue

As one of the best-known names working in this field, Doreen Virtue has already produced a prolific body of work on this subject. And yet she says she still learnt a lot in her role of ‘Heavenly Secretary’ receiving these new messages. Is there more to say? Even the messengers themselves admit that they are repeating the wisdom that has been transmitted time and again. But the value of a book like this is that it brings together all the things we have learnt and forgotten, everything we heard and disregarded. Turn a page and experience an ‘Ah Yes!’ moment. Whether you believe in angels or not, the messages are common sense truths that speak to everyone. 144pp, 221 x 145mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP: £13.99

❖ Code: 270315 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

THE ARCHANGEL GUIDE TO THE ANIMAL WORLD by Diana Cooper

Guinea pigs are from Venus, rats are from Neptune. Animal lovers don’t need telling that everything from a pet dog to a mosquito has a purpose, but here we delve much deeper and learn in detail about the soul mission which these beings undertake when they incarnate in animal form. From a leading writer on esoteric subjects we learn that these souls come from distant stars and planets, even other universes, and they choose an animal that embraces the message they have to offer. Goats roam free and have a sense of balance, foxes learn and teach about family life and, ants learn and teach sacred geometry. Each section of this book offers a message to humans and also a visualisation to help connect with the animal world and the angels who work with them. 304pp, 216 x 135 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270332 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

EARTH ANGEL by Ross Bartlett

This very personal story is written by a young man who comes over as a gentle and caring communicator. Ross tells how he clearly remembers his first contact with spirit when he was just five years old. Later on his mother took him to a spiritualist church hoping to contact her mother, but what came through the medium was that Ross would one day be doing this work. He received a lot of encouragement to explore his talent and on his 16th birthday decided to become a professional medium. Ross tells stories of the people he has helped and supported with his reputation for producing hard evidence about those he contacts in spirit. A delightful and very readable book. 224pp, 226 x 150 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £11.99

❖ Code: 270307 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED by Bill Philipps

Bill is a gifted young medium and this is a truly delightful selection of accounts of encounters he has had with the spirits of people who have passed on. He clearly understands why people might be skeptical, but his honesty and integrity shine through and many of the quotes on the cover testify to this sincerity. The stories are well told and reading them makes us trust more in life. He also gives us tips and basic techniques on how to develop our own abilities. Books like this bring love, hope and positivity to the world and for this they must be valued. 214pp, 216 x 140 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270352 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

THE BOY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH by Cathy Byrd

Cathy Bird was a Christian who didn’t believe in reincarnation. But when her young son started talking insistently about how he had once been a tall baseball player she had to investigate. In this strange and compelling story, recounted by Cathy, her child showed an early passion for baseball and was recognised as a prodigy at the age of three, attracting media attention when he made the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium, the youngest ever to do this. He told his mother things he could not possibly have known and, when shown a photograph of a team from the 1930s, he pointed to Lou Gehrig and said “that’s me”. As the evidence mounted up and she followed her own journey of spiritual exploration she could not longer doubt what he was saying. 256pp, 218 x 142mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £15.99

❖ Code: 270316 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

WORDS AT THE THRESHOLD by Lisa Smartt

This uplifting, sensitively crafted and impeccably researched book studies the words spoken across a spectrum of ordinary people – many with no spiritual beliefs – as their lives end. And yet, time and again, Lisa Smartt discovered that their words convey beautiful spiritual meaning. She charts how the dying use eerily familiar symbols, metaphors, time-loops, gestures and linguistic depictions to express an expanding vision of a transcendent reality. It seems that the human soul at its most sublime often manifests itself through words spoken at the threshold of death. Never before studied, these authentic garnerings of words spoken at the end of life are profoundly moving and impossible to dismiss. They lift the process of death from extinction into one of everdeepening meaning, revelation and wonder. 225pp, 213 x 137mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270314 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

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THE FREEDOM TRAP BY DR CRAIG HASSED “If we are lucky, and we don’t settle for a life of quiet desperation, we may ask ourselves a number of fundamental questions about happiness and freedom.” It would be easy to think that a book called The Freedom Trap is in some way anti-freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth. This book is unequivocally, unapologetically, unhesitatingly, unambiguously, unflinchingly and unashamedly pro-freedom. It would also be easy to think that if a book raises concerns about the direction in which society is progressing then it must be anti-progress. That is also far from the truth. Progress there must be. Time and the world move forward; the decision lies as to which direction actually leads towards lasting freedom and happiness. Rising rates of mental illness, addiction, social isolation, conflict, inequity and endemic corruption suggest that we are missing something. Do we have the wrong idea about what freedom is? Are we barking up the wrong tree? Where are the answers going to come from? Hopefully from ourselves, but why not also ask the few wise people who promoted freedom in the wider world and also made a useful contribution to the wellbeing of others. People, for example, who were just in the face of injustice, truthful in the face of deception, compassionate in the face of hatred, and wise in the face of ignorance. What have they got to say about freedom? Perhaps the adversity they faced taught them a thing or two about it. Mind you, the answers wisdom gives are not always the ones we want to hear, which might explain why so many wise people have been criticized, put in prison and even executed. If we are lucky, and we don’t settle for a life of quiet desperation, we may ask ourselves a number of fundamental questions about happiness and freedom. For example, with regard to freedom, which is more important — what is going on around us, or what is going on within us? Are our greatest problems in our circumstances or in our minds? Can

‘Do we have the wrong idea about what freedom is?’

theme of the book, The Freedom Trap. It is an exploration of what freedom means politically, psychologically, legally, ethically and philosophically. The aim of the book is not to provide dogmatic or simplistic answers to complex modern issues but rather to ask questions that encourage us to think again and more deeply about what it means to be free and the implications for a happy, cohesive and just society. It challenges many widely held but rarely questioned assumptions hopefully in order to foster respectful and thoughtful debate and discussion. In so doing it may raise possibilities as to how we can foster greater freedom and wellbeing in our own life, within our family and in society at large. Perhaps, in the process, we might stay free of those historical freedom traps into which we might otherwise fall.

DR CRAIG HASSED

❖ Associate Professor Craig Hassed

a person walk the street without any external hindrance and yet not be free? Can a person be in a prison cell and be free at the same time? If we weren’t attached to things would we be both happy and free? Is it really true that truth is whatever we think it is and that one person’s opinion about freedom and happiness is as valid as anybody else’s? By not knowing ourselves can we be oblivious to what is conducive to our wellbeing? These and related issues are the

works at the Department of General Practice and is coordinator of mindfulness programs at Monash University. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulnessbased stress management, mind–body medicine, meditation, health promotion, integrative medicine and medical ethics. He writes regularly for medical journals and has published eleven books including; The Mindful Home (Exisle 2015), Illuminating Wisdom (Exisle 2017) and Mindful Learning (Exisle 2014), as well as featuring in the documentary The Connection. Craig has a long-term interest in philosophy and the world’s great wisdom traditions.

THE FREEDOM TRAP by Craig Hassed

Essential Autumn reading

So much in spirituality and “self-help” psychology is based on staying in the light, as it were, but at the same time mental health problems are off the chart and there’s the bigger picture of psychological dysfunction and of things falling apart. Mindfulness authority Dr Craig Hassed has shown a lot of courage in looking face-on at the bigger picture and dealing with subjects that make many of us feel queasy. It’s a demanding but bracing read. We feel better though for looking at the “full catastrophe” and understanding some of the larger concepts a bit better. 272pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, £10.99

❖ Code: 270340 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

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FIND YOUR LOCAL CYGNUS CAFÉS HANTS, Aldershot Hazel Cornwall 07947 344 140 hazel__cornwell@hotmail.com

★ NEW NORFOLK, Kings Lynn Amanda Rowe 07980 770 893 klholton@live.co.uk

SOMERSET, Taunton Robin Littman 01278 671 679 Robin@resource-me.com

HEREFORDSHIRE, Mordiford Averil Clother 07875 665 015 averilann68@gmail.com

N GWYNEDD, Brynrefail, Caernarforn Maria Lamburn 01286 872 115 galeritonic@googlemail.com

S GLOS, Thornbury Mrs Maggie Jeffery 01454 413 535 maggiejeffery2@hotmail.co.uk

BERKS, Bracknell Ms Debbie Lewis 01344 455 394

CORNWALL, Penzance Anthea Tounsend 01736 719 606

BERKS, Upper Basildon Lynne Mitchell 07770 278 080 lpmtll@gmail.com

CORNWALL, Truro Jane Goodall 07967 201 929 janegoodall@live.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM, Tamworth Jo Greaves 07738 216 429 jo.greaves2017@gmail.com

CUMBRIA, Penrith ISLE OF WIGHT, Shanklin Jackie Lewis Kate Stuart 07799 884452 jackie.lewis@lewissurveying.com 07957 909 566 redfox_1@btinternet.com DERBY/NOTTINGHAM, KENT, Ashford David Steare Sylvia Nichols 01332 661 102 01233 626 206 david.steare@ntlworld.com viastjames@icloud.com DERBYSHIRE, Chesterfield KENT, Sevenoaks Phoebe Alonso Liz Wright 07966 561 445 07808 184 458 info@pddevelopment.co.uk e_lizwright@hotmail.com DEVON, Barnstable ★ NEW LANCS, Chorely Mrs Viv Easton Janet Crosby 01271 375 303 01257 792 697 easton866@btinternet.com j.heartcentre@googlemail.com ★ NEW DEVON, Totness LANCS, Lancaster Marian Davies Catherine Hunt 07791 263 840 07957 861 408 maridavi100@gmail.com info@therelaxationroom.co.uk DORSET, Bournemouth LANCS, Lytham, St Ann’s Georgie Fox Simone Qualter & Andy Cowgill 07759 724 008 07928 632 976 blessgeorgie123@gmail.com simonequalter@yahoo.co.uk ★ NEW DEVON, Poole LEICS, Coalville Anna Russell Cheryl Colpman 01202 769 859 01530 831 798 allthemore97@yahoo.co.uk cheryl@cherylcolpman.co.uk E SUSSEX, Bexhill on Sea LEICS, Hinckley Carol Sargent Ann Booth 01424 217 630 mail@youniquewellbeing.co.uk 01455 444 518 withane.anne@googlemail.com E SUSSEX, Eastbourne MANCHESTER, Sale Valerie Abl Rosemary Plunkett 01323 726 652 0161 962 4123 valerie@talentshift.co.uk rosieglow3@icloud.com E SUSSEX, Hove MERSEYSIDE, Liverpool, Woolton Simon Pamela Langley 01273 220 159 0151 421 1772 info@tolcentre.com pamelalangley@hotmail.com ESSEX, Southend MERSEYSIDE, Liverpool, Pauline Poole Thornton 01702 535 324 Sue Massey papoole36@gmail.com 0151 924 6240 suemassey60@yahoo.com ESSEX, Wickford Jan Westall ★ NEW MIDLOTHIAN, 01268 734 274 Edinburgh jan.westall@btconnect.com Tabora Green 01835 268546 GLOS, Nailsworth trueharmony@hotmail.co.uk Patsy Freeman 01453 839 303 freeman.49@btinternet.com

BRISTOL, Bishopston Jane Stott 07788 418 078 janestott070@gmail.com BUCKS, Milton Keynes Nikki Brown 07972 257 004 nikki-nutrimed@hotmail.co.uk ★ NEW BUCKS, Milton Keynes Tess Price 01908 647 837 teresaaangelico@outlook.com CAMBRIDGE Penny Brown 01223 467 672 penelopebsnell@gmail.com ★ NEW CAMBRIDGESHIRE, Peterborough Rosemary Steel 01733 563 971 rosemarysteel39@gmail.com CARDIGAN, Llangrannog Amanda Painting 01239 654 699 amandapainting@gmail.com CARMARTHEN Dorothy Morris 01267 267 652 dorothy_morris@hotmail.com CHESHIRE, Chester Lynn Alexander 01244 951 753 lynnalexander@talktalk.net ★ NEW CHESHIRE, Sandbach Karl Grey 07450 499 284 karlgrey@hotmail.co.uk CLEVELAND, Saltburn Kathryn Luczakiewicz 01287 204 400 info@saltburnwellbeingcentre. co.uk CORNWALL, Port Isaac Ann Fanstone 01208 880 300 fanstone@phonecoop.coop

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N YORKS, Scarborough Helen Marriott 01723 381 118 info@fountainscourt.com N YORKS, Selby Val Turner 01757 701 571 valdert@btinternet.com N YORKS, Whitby Daphne Wright 01947 602 425 daphnewright05@gmail.com ★ NEW NORTHANTS, Irchester Karen Holton 07980 770 893 klholton@live.co.uk NORTHUMB’D, Seahouses Anthea Jackson 07794 944796 antheajackson@hotmail.co.uk ★ NEW NORTHUMB’D, Hexham Carolan Evans 07578 385158 salka.spirit@googlemail.com ★ NEW NORTHUMB’D, Hexham Johanna Sheehan 07951 081794 johanna@soundtouchforlife. com OXON, Witney Cindy Gumm 07525 267 817 cinjken420@hotmail.com RHONDDA, Pontyprith Louisa Mills cygnuscaferct@aol.co.uk. ROSSHIRE, Conon Bridge Shenagh Leiper 07721 656 668 leipershenagh@gmail.com SHROPSHIRE, Ironbridge Romella Jones 01952 881 151 cariadtherapies@outlook.com SOMERSET, Bath Mari Batholomew 01225 840 889 mari@sulis-health.co.uk

S YORKS, Doncaster Sandra Edwards 07773 173 919 sandra579@btinternet.com STAFFS, Kinver, Stourbridge Suzanne Taylor 01384 936 227 suzanne@auraveda.co.uk STAFFS, Stoke-on-Trent Nathan Smallman 07724 189 988 nathan.smallman@btinternet.com ★ NEW SUFFOLK, Sudbury Linda Gregory 07799 656 397 katie.rossi@icpkp.co.uk SURREY, Caterham John Sleeman 01883 340 025 jjsleeman@aol.com SURREY, Cobham Mary Hartnett 07866 574 104 maryhaertnett@live.com SURREY, Croydon Valerie Williams 0208 654 0615 angelicgreetings2u@yahoo.com SURREY, Guildford, Shere Linda Sewell 07850 839 472 lindasewell@hotmail.co.uk SWANSEA Matthew Rayner 07779 887 150 2humphreystreet@gmail.com TYNE & WEAR, Cullercoats Rachel Robson 07540 151 207 christinepeek23@gmail.com TYNE & WEAR, Sunderland Angela Cousins 07423 120 760 angelacousins7@gmail.com WARKS, Leamington Spa, Lillington Maria Reece 07795 202 168 maria@mariareece.co.uk

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❖ Dates & times are on our website: www.cygnusreview.com/pages/cygnus-community-cafes ❖ Contact: vicky@cygnus-books.co.uk for more information ★ NEW WARKS, Stratford Upon Avon Gaynor Godiva 07966 182 546 gaynor_godiva@hotmail.com W MIDLANDS, Wolverhampton Jas Bassi 07830 019 513 Info@jasbassi.com W SUSSEX, Bosham Kathryn Bingham 01243 572 109 office@thehamblinvision.org.uk W SUSSEX, Littlehampton Annette Seaman 07977 737 038 annetteseaman@gmail.com W SUSSEX, Whiteman’s Green Judy Sharp 01444 459 433 judysharp123@gmail.com W YORKS, Boston Spa Chris Taylor 07948 550 546 chrisltaylor63@yahoo.co.uk ★ NEW W YORKS, Dewesbury Dean Hall 07522 436 522 hellodean@gmx.co.uk W YORKS, Holmfirth Leanne Ainley 01484 680 126 info@holmevalleywellbeing.com WILTS, Salisbury Jane Wainwright 01722 413 902 janesnowflake@gmail.com WIRRAL, Merseyside Carol Carter 0151 334 6617 carolcarter100@btinternet.com WORCS, Evesham Elizabeth Payne 07906 091 022 elizabethann.payne@tiscali. co.uk WORCS, Malvern June Walters 01684 568 192 mpower4you@gmail.com WORCS, Tenbury Wells Hilary Foxwell 01584 819 010

A Guide to Starting a Cygnus Cafe

W

e know that we have many members who are interested in starting Cygnus Café’s in their community, and that they have questions, both about how to get started and also how they want their group to run. Below is a mini-guide to running a Cygnus Café to give you a taste of what you can expect – if you would like to start your own Café please do get in touch. ❖ The starting point for setting up a group is the purpose of a Cygnus Cafe, and that is creating a space for you to meet people of like mind in your own locality. Nowadays it is often the case that you might find you can only get so far by yourself using a book. Sometimes it can be a great help on your spiritual journey to share issues that feel unresolved, with others of like heart. ❖ Most of our groups run in what we would call an unstructured way, they have no agenda and allow the magic of the moment to provide the topics spontaneously, depending on who wishes to share their recently experienced insights or share their current concerns of the heart. ❖ When getting down to practicalities the first thing you need is a space, generally meetings are held in members’ homes or quiet rooms in cafés or community spaces. Any room hire costs etc. are shared by the participants on a donation basis. We advise avoiding noisy venues or spaces that have no door helps a great deal. You need a safe space where you know you will not be interrupted. ❖ When thinking about when and how often to hold your meetings, consider the needs of the group deciding when is best for (most of) you. Some groups choose mornings, others evenings, some even choose a weekend. Larger groups sometimes choose to have two meetings in a month, once in the evening and once in the morning, to match the different lifestyles. Most meeting last for around 2 hours and our advice is to stick to the same day every month, week or fortnight to allow people to organise their diaries. ❖ Many groups take a little while to gain momentum, and this is normal. I suggest you avoid the temptation of trying to find a perfect arrangement. ❖ Setting up for the meeting we suggest that the host prepares the room in the most appropriate way, arranging the seating so that everyone has eye-to-eye contact. Meetings generally begin with everyone taking turns to say their name and where they are from and, if they wish, a mention about something they may want to talk about later. ❖ Many groups have found it very helpful to keep the level of the meeting at a higher level by setting the intention of the group to the highest good at the beginning of the meeting. So that, whatever happens, the highest good may come out of it. ❖ Gradually most groups begin to observe how Cygnus Cafes can grow in depth as participants feel more comfortable and they can share their vulnerabilities and “soft spots”. This gives others the confidence to share their concerns or doubts. ❖ For support of meetings you can contact Vicky Hartley at Cygnus on

vicky@cygnus-books.co.uk ORDER & CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE ❖ Phone: 02078 594 375 Email: advertising@cygnus-books.co.uk ❖ Website: www.cygnusreview.com

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BOOK REVIEWS — Intuition & Inspiration

Author in the spotlight

CHAKRA WISDOM ORACLE: HOW TO READ THE CARDS FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS by Tori Hartman

This book is designed to accompany the Chakra Wisdom Oracle cards – already a success with Cygnus – rather than be a stand-alone teaching on chakras. A comprehensive guide is needed when learning to use the pack as the 49 cards are linked to the seven chakras. This is the book to learn about doing readings with the cards. The first part of the book covers ways to interpret the cards, with complex examinations of the many aspects they cover. The second part describes each card in detail with its buzzword to coax the brain into releasing blocks to full comprehension. 224pp, 201 x 145 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270341 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

CHAKRA WISDOM ORACLE CARDS by Tori Hartman

Here’s the original toolkit of self-discovery, the cards themselves, which guide you over 52 weeks in opening up your intuition, removing blockages from your life, and realising your highest potential. Each fable is associated with a major chakra and has its own shade of colour and a symbolic fairy-tale illustration. There are five days of activity per week, each requiring just 10 - 20 minutes. On Monday, you read the fable and set your intention for the week, following different paths of selfdevelopment through to Friday, when the week’s work of inner development and discovery culminates in a guided meditation. 96pp, 49 cards, 175 x 124 mm, Boxed Set, 2014, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 240610 ❖ Cygnus Price £8.99

CHAKRA WISDOM ORACLE TOOLKIT by Tori Hartman

In 52 weeks of self-discovery, The Chakra Wisdom Oracle Toolkit guides you in opening up your intuition, removing blockages from your life, improving your relationships and realizing your highest potential. Here is the full text of the fables that were revealed by angels to the popular intuitive Tori Hartman and then lost for two decades. Week by week, you will explore the 49 fables, beginning with Renewal the fable of Geranium, which promises a new beginning. This is the year-long course with the Chakra Wisdom Oracle Cards, the detailed textbook for your inner journey. 224pp, 198 x 145 mm, Paperback, 2014, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 260120 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

FIND AND FOLLOW YOUR INNER COMPASS By Barbara Berger

How can we be certain that we are truly listening to the voice of intuition? Or are we in fact being pressured by unrecognised influences to follow paths that don’t honour who we really are? Barbara Berger has the answer. She reveals the magic and infallibility of our inner compass that knows and nurtures our deepest inner needs and aspirations. Barbara explains how to read its signals, how our emotions help convey the messages, and how to use it in daily life. She advises on what to do when our connection with it is sabotaged, and when it points in a direction that others might not like. This internal guidance system will help you navigate wisely and powerfully through life, SAVE avoiding dead-ends, pitfalls and stuck situations. 120pp, 217 x 138 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £8.99

45%

❖ Code: 270342 ❖ Cygnus Price: £4.99

INTUITION ON DEMAND by Lisa K

Intuition on Demand claims to be a straightforward and understandable way to tune into your intuition, as opposed to the more “woo-woo” style of other books and methods. Using the Intuition on Demand technique you will be able to hone your skills and teach yourself (after some practice) how to engage your intuition when you want to, rather than at random. It is a well-researched, scientific approach to intuition; once you can read the signs you will feel far more in charge in all kinds of demanding situations. 176pp, 226 x 155 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £11.99

❖ Code: 270343 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

MY YEAR IN SMALL DRAWINGS by Matilda Tristram

My Year in Small Drawings is a beautiful, creative little package that would make a great gift for any avid doodler. It encourages you to draw a series of small drawings on a particular subject, arranged by season. I particularly like how the author talks about embracing imperfection, and taking the pressure off a drawing being perfect by doing lots of small drawings – it will allow people who think they could never draw the opportunity to try, enjoy it, and improve. I’m particularly looking forward to drawing things like “people looking at their phones” or “lost or discarded things”. 240pp, 165 x 135 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270328 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

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Spiritual Perspectives — BOOK REVIEWS

THE TABLETS OF LIGHT by Danielle Rama Hoffman

Thoth is the Egyptian scribe god, the keeper of the Akashic Records. These are his teachings on our soul’s purpose and we can use them to find out our Divine Light Mission, as transmitted by Danielle Rama Hoffman. This is a perfect book for those who appreciate the cosmic teachings as passed on to us by Barbara Hand Clow and Barbara Marciniak – it’s a classic Bear & Co title. I can’t encapsulate the teachings here in all their richness and variety, but they are wide-ranging and cosmic. Please check them out online and come back and order the book! 320pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £16.99

❖ Code: 270333 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

THE DHARMA OF DOGS edited by Tami Simon

If you’re a dog lover, this is definitely a title for you. It is a beautiful collection of 31 reflections and essays, with photos, from spiritual teachers, such as Eckhart Tolle and Lama Surya Das, who have had their lives altered by their furry companions. So often we tell our dogs when to sit and when to eat, and spend hours teaching and training them, but how often do we stop to consider what they can actually teach us? They are so much more than something to cuddle up to. They are our friends, family and fundamental comfort in times of great need. This book is a celebration of the love of dogs and how they can change our lives. 224pp, 222 x 190 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £16.99

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❖ Code: 270325 ❖ Cygnus Price: £11.99

THE TIME CATCHER by Ysanne Lewis

Ysanne is an astrologer but this book tackles way more than that – it covers timing in all its aspects: the moon, tides, planetary cycles, subjective cycles in the ebb and flow of our own lives. If we are more in touch with these, we will also be more effective in the decisions we make in every aspect of our daily lives. There’s numerology too, and proportion of course, including the Fibonacci Series. Headings include Bach the Alchemist, The Mathematics of Beauty and The Value of Backward Movement. Cycles and rhythms are everywhere in our lives and this entertaining book teaches us how to use them to our best advantage.

SOUL AWAKENING PRACTICE by James O’Dea

James O’Dea has been an activist and mystic for many years and he applies all that experience to this beautifully packaged hardback book. He gives a short six line prayer that we might use as a daily practice. Each line is then expanded into a wider set of reflections and finally he invites a well-trusted colleague, friend or spiritual ally to comment on the subject. These include Ervin Laszlo, Anodea Judith and Michael Singer, author of The Untethered Soul. What starts as a prayer becomes a way of living. Also includes a foreword by Lynne McTaggart. 256pp, 170 x 137 mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £8.99

190pp, 210 x 148 mm, Paperback, 2016, RRP £10.00

❖ Code: 270337 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

❖ Code: 270323 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

ANNA GRANDMOTHER OF JESUS by Claire Heartsong

MEMORIES, DREAMS, REFLECTIONS by C.G. Jung

320pp, 215 x 135mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

448pp, 198 x 129 mm, Paperback, 1963, RRP £10.99

Approach this book with an open mind and you will be fascinated by the amount of detail contained in its lengthy account of the holy family as told by Anna, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. We learn about Mary growing up, the arrival of Jesus, the travels undertaken by the family and the challenges they had to overcome. The narrative includes various apocryphal stories, which are accepted in many circles as being as valid as the gospels, such as Jesus visiting India and Britain and his marriage to Mary Magdalene. Wisdom and messages are woven throughout the stories, which were all received telepathically by Claire Heartsong. For those wanting to know more in this field it is an engrossing read. ❖ Code: 270310 ❖ Cygnus Code: £7.99

SAVE 33%

We are pleased to offer you one of the foundational texts of the whole consciousness movement. Carl Jung did as much as anyone to lay the foundations for what has been called the New Age and here is his most popular and accessible book. He started it in 1957, four years before his death, and what began as his autobiography soon turned into an unfolding of all his deepest secrets and personal stories. It’s inspirational as we read how he turned his life into a wondrous demonstration of creativity and vivid self-realization, and it’s reassuring to us, if we are novices on the path, to glimpse what the journey might offer and know that strange events take place in every fully-lived life. ❖ Code: 270313 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

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HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR EMOTIONAL STORMS BY MICHAEL JAMES

Y

ou know those intense emotional moments - like when you are feeling anxious or afraid about something, or pessimistic about the news, or dealing with a relationship issue where so many of the self help books just don’t help you? Well, that’s why I wrote my new book Lighthouse.

Three easy steps to a better life? Be happy. Visualise what you want (not what you don’t want). Love yourself. Forgive everyone. “Just let go”. It all sounds good in theory, but these one-liners don’t help when you are in the middle of dealing with emotional storms. Trying to follow those “three steps” to create your life is challenging at the best of times, but when swept up in a storm of difficult emotions and overthinking, it’s near impossible. On top of this, when you find yourself unable to follow those ideas you’ve read about, you pile on the self-hatred because “you can’t even do what the books say”. In my own life, self development had become just another battering ram to use on myself as a way to say that “I’m just not good enough”. I felt bad… and then these books made me feel bad about feeling bad, warning me that if I didn’t feel good quickly then I’d manifest more unpleasantness. The Evolution of Life These questionable teachings that say that you “shouldn’t be negative” only make people more negative, because what you resist, persists. Just like resistance training at the gym - the negative tension of thought does in fact have many benefits. In the theory

‘It’s about what to do when you’re in a storm of mind chatter’ MICHAEL JAMES

of evolution, a species evolves through challenges. If you get rid of the challenge, you get rid of the potential for improvement. It’s the same with life. And so it’s less about trying to avoid the negative thinking or feeling states - which doesn’t work anyway and more about working with them. It’s more about gaining the benefits they are bringing to you. You’re not the only one who has been struggling with applying the self-help theory you’ve read about. After facilitating well over 600 groups and workshops at venues as diverse as Mind Body Spirit Festival, HMP

LIGHTHOUSE by Michael James

Its subtitle is “Navigate the Emotional Storms of Life and Discover the Power Within You”. It’s a manual of living with greater ease. It’s self-published and it’s not super slick but it’s real. Michael James does talks at events and conferences all around the country and what he teaches here he has learned in face-to-face situations. He teaches various techniques including mantra, breathing exercises and specific meditations. As he writes, “Lighthouses can be a sad and lonely sight when their light is off, but once they shine, they become attractive and powerful”. 100pp, 204 x 142 mm, Paperback, 2016, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270344 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

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Brixton and The Healing Trust, and meeting thousands of people from all walks of life there, I can tell you that the same struggles go on with person after person - and many of those steps don’t even work for the authors of those books. So you can be easier on yourself. Relax. And read on. Relaxing out of mind chatter - and into your ideal life You can’t think your way to what you want, despite how many times certain books say that you can. All the good in life comes when you sweep your mind clear of thoughts. That’s when the miracles of life start to happen. That’s when you can begin to discover the power within you. My approach in this book is how to not think; how to relax, because thinking, I’ve found, is not the route to solutions, but the problem itself. Thoughts evolve us, yes, but then we want to find a way to step aside from thoughts, which become the biggest adversary we face. It’s about what to do when you’re in a storm of mind chatter… and then how to step aside from this. What to do depends on your current mood What you do, right now, depends on what mood you are in. For example trying to visualise a dream life doesn’t make you feel good and doesn’t have power, when you are mired in unhappiness. In my book, there are 3 sections: Feeling Low, Feeling Uninspired and Feeling Good. It’s an open-at-random practical section specifically designed to soothe you no matter where you are, what’s going on or how you are feeling - and it works. People who have attended my events (a weekly group in London’s Covent Garden that has been going for eight years, and numerous workshops around the country) have found a way to improve the quality of their lives using the easy-to-use techniques you will read about here. And perhaps best of all, people have found a way to more often let loose of that “inner critic” mind chatter and discover that sense of inner peace within, fully enjoying life at a whole new level. ❖ www.michaeljames.be

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Eastern Religions — BOOK REVIEWS MEDITATION SAVED MY LIFE by Phakyab Rinpoche

THE ZEN OF YOU AND ME by Diane Musho Hamilton

This elegant book is fairly rare in that it is a self-help book that’s written from the Buddhist tradition. Diane’s previous book was about conflict resolution; here though she takes a more positive stance and employs autobiographical anecdotes and stories and verses from Zen to illustrate how to mediate in the tricky and demanding world of personal relationships. Every chapter also carries a short exercise, again drawing on mindfulness and other Buddhist techniques. In the end it comes down to – in her son’s words – that “We all look different, and we all look just like our own parents”. 208pp, 173 x 109 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £10.99

SAVE 25%

REAL LOVE by Sharon Salzberg

DREAMING THROUGH DARKNESS by Charlie Morley

288pp, 216 x 135mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

SAVE 38%

❖ Code: 270308 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

272pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270329 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

Life bombards us with messages. Some enter our conscious awareness but many slip into our unconscious where they can sit and cause all sorts of difficulties. As an expert in meditation, Sharon Salzberg encourages self-love and compassion as ways to retrain the nervous system away from such negative influences. Just sitting quietly and breathing is the simple starting point, after which there is guidance, exercises and examples to support a journey on a path to greater mindfulness. Out of this she demonstrates how, when the inner voice criticises or when exterior problems arise, there are techniques to recognise that these are layers of negative habits and obstacles. Through direct experience it is possible to develop ways to move into healing, compassion and real love. 400pp, 234 x 153 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270324 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

HEARTWORK by Radhule Weininger

It speaks volumes for this new book that it carries endorsements from Tara Brach, Joanna Macy and Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul. It also includes a foreword by Jack Kornfield. It is grounded deep in the Buddhist tradition, in its techniques and in the author’s many years of teaching and practising around the world. We feel compassion for other beings but when we practise compassion for ourselves the benefits for all life can be incalculable. It’s a book to be savoured and appreciated, full of exercises that have been tried and tested for hundreds of years, and stories that will become inspirational.

272pp, 213 x 140 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270317 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

❖ Code: 270354 ❖ Cygnus Price: £7.99

Charlie’s main tradition is Tibetan Buddhism but this book includes shamanic techniques, lessons from creative writing and classic psychological approaches for tackling our shadow. It’s a glorious grab-bag of exercises which can’t fail to inspire all its readers. Especially powerful are those lessons from lucid dreaming, which is a fundamental field of expertise in Tibetan Buddhism. It inspires us to run towards and face our fears, and gives us courage and positive energy. It’s a long time since I’ve seen a book with such a variety of exercises from many different traditions, plus illuminating stories and anecdotes. It’s a book I couldn’t wait to delve into.

Tibetan Buddhist lama Phakyab Rinpoche was admitted to an emergency clinic in Manhattan in 2003, with gangrene in his shattered right ankle, as the result of torture by the Chinese authorities occupying his home country. The staff told him he had to have his leg amputated below the knee or face lingering death. Yet an inner voice told the young Tibetan to cure himself through meditation, and over the next six years that’s what he went on to do. This account of his efforts is an inspiration to choose compassion over hatred and mind over matter, and shows the immense healing energies, which reside within us all.

THE ESSENCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT by James Swartz

SAVE 33%

Non-duality from the Indian spiritual tradition is making steady inroads into Western culture. Earlier, in the 20th century, great teachers like Ramana Maharshi and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj led the way, and their work is continued today by popular teachers like Mooji. Here James Swartz lays out the background to these teachings, which lie in the Indian philosophy of Vedanta. He demystifies the whole concept of enlightenment, freeing it as it were from the effects of the enthusiasm of the 1960s, and lays out clearly and patiently the whole landscape behind the science of self-inquiry. 275pp, 225 x 150 mm, Paperback, 2016, RRP £12.95

❖ Code: 270347 ❖ Cygnus Price: £9.99

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HERBS – AUTUMN RECIPE HERBS by Judith Hann

Former President of the Herb Society, and former TV presenter, Judith Hann shares her life experience of growing and cooking with herbs in this lavish, full-colour hardback. Mostly it’s a tribute to herbs – their attributes, their qualities and the subtleties of their taste – but it contains invaluable growing tips and some wonderfully tasty recipes, 120 in all. These will serve as inspiration to go further with herbs, to develop new recipes and combinations. While the book doesn’t include herbs as healing remedies, it does pay tribute to the therapeutic value of cultivating herbs, be it in your garden or in a window box. 240pp, 252 x 194 mm, Hardcover, 2017, RRP £20.00

❖ Code: 270345 ❖ Cygnus Price: £13.99 Please note: This book is published on August 20th.

Beetroot baked with Oregano, Garlic & Goats Cheese This makes a good first course or lunch when beetroots are small and juicy. For lunch, you can serve it with salami slices and soda bread, or it is also good served with ricotta instead of adding goats’ cheese. Use small raw beetroot of a similar size, so they cook evenly ❖ 20 small beetroot ❖ 75ml/2½fl oz/5 tbsp olive oil ❖ 8 whole, unpeeled garlic cloves ❖ 2 tbsp chopped oregano ❖ 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar ❖ 2 rounds of goats’ cheese, about 100g/3½oz each, quartered ❖ sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ❖ slices of salami, to serve (optional) Preparation: 35 mins | Cooking: 55 mins | SERVES 4

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1

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/ Gas 5. Leave the skins on the beetroot/beets but wash them well and remove all but 2.5cm/1in of the stalks and all the leaves. Leave the roots intact at this stage. (You can use any young leaves you have removed in salads.) Drizzle them with 1 tablespoon of the oil and wrap in a parcel of foil. Cook in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes until the skins rub away easily.

2

Remove the beetroot/beets from the foil, removing the skins as you go, and put them in an ovenproof dish with the remaining oil, the garlic, chopped oregano and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Return to the oven to bake for 15 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, turn the beetroot/beet over again in the juices and add the goats’ cheese quarters. Cook for another 10 minutes or so until the beetroot/beet is soft to the point of a knife. Serve with slices of salami, if you like.

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❖ From Herbs: Delicious Recipes and Growing Tips to Transform Your Food by Judith Hann © Nourish Books 2017, commissioned photography by Tamin Jones. £20.

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Shamanistic Tradtions — BOOK REVIEWS CALLING US HOME by Chris Luttichau

Of all the books on shamanism in this Review, this one is the most low-key, in a way. It’s not terribly autobiographical: sure, it has many anecdotes, but the author seems more to want to stay out of the limelight. The material is almost all Native American but Chris lives in Cornwall, so the teachings are all lit by the bracing fresh light of westernmost Britain. Shamanism is the fundamental teaching behind it all, but the text is very much focused on making our own lives better in simple ways, which don’t require walking the shaman’s path. It’s serious, yes, but it truly repays close reading. 384pp, 210 x 130 mm, Hardback, 2017, RRP £16.99

❖ Code: 270351 ❖ Cygnus Price: £10.99

GODDESS WISDOM by Tanishka

Tanishka doesn’t hold back in describing what brought her to Goddess work. A tomboy who grew up to be a pole dancer and stripper, one day she reached the point where enough was enough and she cried out for help. The answer came in the form of a Goddess workshop in a remote area of Australia. Now she uses her tough forthright approach to show how the Goddess is rising again, how she is appealing to women to recognise their intrinsic value and intuitive wisdom through the stages of the feminine journey. Today’s women who wish to begin exploring their sacred feminine will find this a useful handbook. Tanishka works through many ancient teachings and practices in a clear and concise way, describing symbols and ceremonies of the three spiral paths. 256pp, 198 x 129 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270335 ❖ Cygnus Price: £5.99

JAGUAR IN THE BODY BUTTERFLY IN THE HEART by Ya’acov Darling Khan

SAVE 40%

Ya’acov has travelled the world, met extraordinary teachers and experienced the wisdom of the shamans from the Arctic and South America to Wales. This detailed and honest account of the pathway he followed shines a light on an unconventional life. Few of us would have the vision and courage to enter the challenging world of shamanism and the reader has a sense of privilege in being invited to learn of his battles with fear, the confrontations with darkness and light and his own self. It’s a thoroughly compelling account, and an amazing adventure of a life that can inspire us all to adopt a more benign human presence.

THE ART OF LOSING CONTROL by Jules Evans

Jules Evans is a journalist and research fellow at Queen Mary University in London and he is interested in emotions and how people seek ecstatic experiences. This is an entertaining account of the ways people seek ecstasy in what has become a post-religious culture. He goes from a psychedelic conference to a 5Rhythms event in Tufnell Park to the transhumanists in Silicon Valley, observing the positives and the pitfalls of getting “out of it” in its myriad forms. It caused me to look at my own yearnings to escape but also the fears I have experienced when the sense of losing control hasn’t felt so comfortable. It’s a rewarding journey with a very sympathetic guide. 352pp, 234 x 153 mm, Hardcover, RRP £16.99

❖ Code: 270348 ❖ Cygnus Price: £11.99

THE ACCIDENTAL SHAMAN by Howard Charing

SAVE 30%

British-born shaman and teacher Howard Charing tells an amazing story of the development and growth of his consciousness and healing power over a thirty-year period. It starts with a mysterious encounter with an Italian psychic in Verona; one week later he survives a terrible lift accident after which his life is transformed utterly. It’s an entertaining account of an exceptional life, but he also includes techniques we too can use to enhance our own powers and expand our range of consciousness. He describes his fieldwork in the South American jungles as well as his training in Filipino psychic surgery. 232pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270327 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

YOGA, POWER & SPIRIT by Alberto Villoldo

Alberto Villoldo has studied with many of the high shamans of the Americas and in this elegantly repackaged reissue he draws parallels between their teachings and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, that classic 2,000 year-old foundational text of the Hindu tradition. At its core this is a poetic retelling of the Yoga Sutras, not highly academic but wonderful to read, but the icing on the cake is the gloss by Villoldo and his honouring of the deep and unexplored connections between the traditions of the Andes and the traditions of the Ganges. 200pp, 130 x 115 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270336 ❖ Cygnus Price: £6.99

304pp, 229 x 152 mm, Paperback, 2017, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270309 ❖ Cygnus Price: £8.99

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BOOK REVIEWS — Extra special offers! SAVE 55%

Enquiring explorations into MBS topics

As the worlds of science and spiritually merge we all need expert, authentic guidance into the knowledge that underpins emerging and longstanding practices. This new series is written by some of the UK’s leading practitioners, teachers and authorities on the areas it covers, helping us understand the history, the science and the application of these practices.

WHAT IS SOUND HEALING by Lyz Cooper

WHAT IS NUMEROLOGY by Sonia Ducie

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2016, Paperback, £7.99

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2016, Paperback, £7.99

WHAT IS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE by Dr Penny Sartori

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS by Dr Tamara Russell

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2016, Paperback, £7.99

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2017, Paperback, £7.99

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS by Tom Fortes Mayer

WHAT IS POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH by Miriam Akhtar

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2016, Paperback, £7.99

144pp, 117 x 165mm, 2017, Paperback, £7.99

Cast your mind back to the last time a sound affected you. Perhaps birdsong set a positive tone for your day or a favourite song lifted your mood. Sound certainly has the power to send our spirits soaring but how exactly does it do this and can it go beyond this to enhance our wellbeing and even help us ‘heal’ ourselves? Recent research has proven that it absolutely can and that sound healing can therefore help us achieve all kinds of personal transformation. ❖ Cygnus Code 260444 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

Death is the only certainty in life yet many people shy away from thinking about it until something traumatic happens, which can throw us into turmoil. Yet, paradoxically, contemplating death and the frequently experienced phenomenon of near-death experiences (NDEs) can help alter our relationship with death, release us from the fear that often surrounds it and enhance our life in all kinds of unexpected ways. ❖ Cygnus Code 270250 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

Many people tend to think of hypnosis as something mysterious and manipulative, done only on stage, for entertainment. Join us in this vibrant, accessible guide as we debunk such myths to reveal it as the practical and deeply empowering tool that it is. By using hypnosis to harness the extraordinary power of the human mind, we can transform not only how we think and feel for the better, but also how we behave, leading to all-round more fulfilled, more contented lives. ❖ Cygnus Code 270302 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

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The fascinating science, psychology and philosophy of numbers known as Numerology empowers us to observe, connect with and intuitively interpret the numbers 1 to 9 as they appear in all kinds of ways in our lives. Given that each of these numbers has its own set of associations that can influence us on every level physical, emotional and spiritual becoming more attuned to their energies can really help us make the most of life. ❖ Cygnus Code 270301 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

As the health benefits of mindfulness have been increasingly recognised, and the practice has moved from spiritual and new age to secular realms, misconceptions have multiplied. So what is the reality? In this incisive guide, neuroscientist, clinical psychologist, martial artist and mindfulness teacher Dr Tamara Russell demystifies the confusions that often get in the way of mindfulness training by addressing the most frequently asked questions. ❖ Cygnus Code 270222 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to affect around 1 in 3 people who go through a traumatic event. While awareness of the debilitating impact of trauma has grown in recent years, what’s not so well known is that traumatic experiences can also be the catalyst for significant personal growth and transformation. The combination of the Q&A approach, real-life case studies and a range of practical resilience-building strategies guides you gently on the journey from adversity to growth. ❖ Cygnus Code 270202 ❖ Our Price: £3.49

BOOK YOUR AD TODAY ❖ Phone: 02078 594 375 ❖ Email: advertising@cygnus-books.co.uk More information: www.cygnusreview.com/pages/advertising



NOTICEBOARD EVENTS, COURSES & WORKSHOPS SIMON & SUE LILLY offer practitioner courses on crystals, colour, essences, nutrition (KF approved), CPD e-course on personal energy management (FHT accredited) and two levels of A&P. See www.mcscourses.co.uk. Our essences, sprays, books, healing tools are also available on www.greenmanshop.co.uk CRYSTAL-CLEAR REIKI - Treatment & Training Receive transformational Reiki Treatments, Teaching and Attunements with Dr Yulinda Jong, qualified Reiki Master. Shamanic, Crystal and Soul Retrieval treatment also available. All Reiki Degrees taught, to Mastery Level. Enquiries: yulindajong@gmail.com Tel: 07775 758 354 ECKHART TOLLE BASED EVENTS IN YORKSHIRE. Weekly Stillness Group, Day and Weekend Retreats. Eckhart’s merchandise at competitive prices. www.peacenowhere.com tel. 07884332644 Find your local Eckhart Tolle group on www. eckharttollecontactsuk.org EPIGENETIC HEALING CYCLES AND STRESS RELEASE MADE EASY - examples of one and two day workshops available from the International College of Professional Kinesiology Practice (ICPKP). For courses and trainings in your area, go to www.icpkp.co.uk HEA

HEALING, COACHING AND READINGS CHANNELLED READINGS AND MEDIUMSHIP: Phone sessions densely packed with clear, accurate, waffle-free information, pointers to your growth and development, healing messages from family, pets, loved ones. Corinne Jeffrey 01594 829491/ +44 1594 829491 www.lovebeingyou.co.uk ASTROLOGICAL CHILD PROFILE – UNIQUE GIFT Beautifully presented in a luxury silver hardback cover, this detailed 45 plus page report will help all parents to understand their children better. Tel: 01540 661828 CLAIRVOYANT, PAUL offers spiritually guided consultations in Brighton & Eastbourne and also by telephone. My work always helps those ready for change. Please telephone Brighton 01273 602929 for further details. REMOTE SOUL HEALING - Realign your soul to its optimum purpose. Past life blockages, negativity, spirit attachment, removed from you and your property. Enjoy an Akashic Record Reading. Contact Gill 07900 300 828 gill@light2life.co.uk ANGELIC GUIDANCE WITH MICHAEL – Welcome positive change into your life. Please telephone Eastbourne 01323 365751 for further details. mikeallone@talktalk.net SOURCE ENERGY HEALING(R) Profound yet gentle new healing for the mind body spirit. Hands-on or Distant Healing and Practitioner training. Amazing results. Clients and Practitioners worldwide. Jillian Stott 07989 676 648 www.SourceEnergyHealingUK.com

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EVER FELT YOUR ISSUE ISN’T ACTUALLY YOURS? Nikki Wyatt, The Karma Coach, helps release ancestral imprinting with karmic flower and crystal essences. Learn your gifts with a FREE soul flower reading & remote personal attunement discount available at: www.spiritoftransformation.com

RETREATS SEA, SUN & COMMUNITY IN GREECE. Kalikalos’ summer programme of holistic workshops, retreats and living-incommunity guest weeks from £250/week, includes vegetarian meals + shared accommodation. Gorgeous beaches, spectacular hill walks, Healing & Creative Arts, Self Enquiry, Yoga, Dance, plus August family weeks. www.kalikalos.com Email: managers@kalikalos.com, Tel 020 8816 8533 PERSONAL RETREATS, FRANCE Space to reflect and be still. Beautiful retreat house in Auvergne offers supportive environment for individual retreats. Daily rhythm: meditation; silence; contemplative/artistic activities. Organic vegetarian. www.retreathouseauvergne.com THE CRYSTAL ENLIGHTENMENT RETREAT 2017 Sunday 24th September - Thursday 28th September. Touchstones School of Crystal Therapy and AristiA invite you to immerse yourself in crystalline energies during this unique residential Retreat at Earthspirit near Glastonbury. Relax, recharge and be inspired. 01983 721060 www.crystalretreat.rocks HEALING RETREAT FOR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT in the beautiful Pennines of West Yorkshire, search online www. thursthousefarms.co.uk or call 01422 822 820 07759 619 043 ANAM CARA RETREAT CENTRE, Scottish Highlands, Inverness. Residential workshops and retreats in Shamanism, Buddhism, Meditation, Yoga Training, Healing Arts, Creative Ecology & Working Retreats. To request a brochure, tel. 01463 711702 email: welcome@anamcara.org visit: ww.anamcara.org

FOR SALE ESTABLISHED IN 1998 YOGA AND WELLNESS CENTRE set up for sale in Casperia Italy near Rome , ideal for a person or couple who would like to have their own Yoga / wellness retreat centre in beautiful Italy. Purchase includes, 2 x properties including 40ms studio , minibus, equipment, property rentals and large clientele base with link to your Yoga/wellness brand for 3 years. Price/ 345,000GBP negotiable. Contact Lucy 0039 3331893092, or Uk 01273 782196 for photos of location please visit https://www.sunflowerretreats. com/yoga-holidays-in-italy-casperia/ AURA PROGEN 6000 BIO FEEDBACK CAMERA FOR SALE. Used in perfect working order with film and warranty, backdrop and banner.For further information, Contact Jude 07443050126.

PERSONAL AD DAN, KIND HEARTED VERY SPIRITUAL GUY, 32. Into Reiki, Spiritual Growth and Meditation for the last 12 years. Seeks Special Female Soulmate. Call or Text 07725404351

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NOTICEBOARD

The Gel An essential for everyone’s health and beauty By Jayne Beaumont

The Gel is one of those rare health and his discovery even more powerful and beauty secrets that have been passed The Gel was developed. by ‘word of mouth’ since its inception In the mid 80’s Beth moved to in the 1980’s. London and soon after Leslie Kenton, It is a product of Eastern wisdom the then Beauty Editor of Harpers and Western science with its magical Queen and latterly a health guru and mix of ingredients that work wonders writer, discovered The Gel and spread on the skin whether repairing scar the word. Thirty years later, it has a tissue, burns and bruising or simply long and devoted client list including improving the skin’s condition and many well-known personalities here tone. and around the world. Developed by an American There are many extraordinary health practitioner, Beth Gagnon testimonials on the Gagnon in her home in Los Angeles after Essentials’ website written by becoming aware of the findings individual users as well as doctors of research completed in 1975 by a and other health practitioners. Chinese doctor in a Beijing hospital I have been using this product who wanted to understand how for years as well as sharing it with my acupuncture worked. He found that friends and family and can personally acupuncture triggered the activity of vouch for its healing properties. the enzyme, Acetyl cholinesterase, Along with many other users, I think heightening ‘aliveness’ in the nervous The Gel should be in every household’s system. He then looked for a natural medical cabinet and amongst the substance to create the same effect daily creams of everyone who cares and he found it in Caesium salts. about their skin. Little did he know it would have such powerful implications for healing and The Gel comes in two sizes: a 60ml glass jar rejuvenating skin tissue! for £35 and a 125ml plastic bottle for £67 plus postage. www.gagnonessentials.com or Beth combined these findings Ad-OneSpirit90x130mm_Jan2016_NetworkIreland with traditional homeopathy to make 020 7224 2332 to place an order.22-01-16 15:30 Pagina 1

Living Spirituality Who am I? What gives my life meaning?

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