February 2024 MBR The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Being Medicine
Juliet Trnka
Muse Literary
https://museliterary.com
9781960876317, $25.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$0.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Being-Medicine-Shamanic-Mystical-Manifestation/dp/19=
60876317

Being Medicine: A Shamanic Guide to Mystical Wealth + Manifestation is reco=
mmended for libraries and readers seeking books about spiritual and entrepr=
eneurial leadership processes; especially those collections strong in consc=
iousness and applications. Juliet Trnka discusses a range of subjects that =
are important to this process, from considering a life lived in surrender t=
o eschewing compulsory action and reaction in favor of deeper, more meaning=
ful excitement: "To live in surrender is to live a life of true audacity, b=
ecause most of humanity is still living out the stale routines and habits o=
f lack. Living in the frequency of surrender allows you to become truly gen=
erous, because you are tapped into the limitlessness of the Divine. The fou=
ndation of your life is no longer one of loneliness, struggle and anxiety. =
You are enfolded in the riches of this moment."

Although it embraces philosophy, psychology, and spirituality, Being Medici=
ne is not a book for those unwilling to also embark on the transformative j=
ourney of self-actualization. It accompanies its admonitions in the above a=
reas with practical applications that readers on a path to change will find=
 specific and useful: "By strengthening your skill and intimacy with receiv=
ing, you awaken and catalyze your inborn capacity to make ceremony anew, to=
 curate proper refuge. You contribute to the full metabolization of your li=
fe."

Poems pepper the passages on dreams, life-embracing possibilities, and dail=
y insights on manifesting a life more loved and vivid than the usual step-b=
y-step progression of followers who do not reflect: "Gradually you will all=
ow yourself the grief of recognition that others will not choose to live th=
is way. You will remember that you can love them anyway. You will remember =
that you can love you anyway. You will move like thunder across the land of=
 your life, and you will also become the thirsty soil sated by the rains th=
e storm brings."

The resulting reflections offer opportunity for not just debate and discuss=
ion among book club, psychology, and health and healing groups, but for tho=
se on personal journeys on the path to creating a better life. This is why =
Being Medicine is highly recommended for those looking to take a more activ=
e role and part in living their lives to the fullest -- and why it also sho=
uld be part of any general library seeing popularity with book group readin=
g and leadership efforts.

I Am Consciousness Incarnate
Matthew Pallamary
https://mattpallamary.com
Mystic Ink Publishing
https://mysticinkpublishing.com
9798988499800, $12.95, PB, 158pp

https://www.amazon.com/Am-Consciousness-Incarnate-Matthew-Pallamary/dp/B0CL=
9RTKVC

Synopsis: I am consciousness incarnate.

The fact that you just became conscious of me has made you more conscious t=
han you were a moment ago. Your recognition has brought you a heightened aw=
areness of my presence that constitutes an expansion of consciousness. In n=
o more than a few words, this reflection of my existence within you is alre=
ady bigger than that first moment of acknowledgment.

Now that you are paying attention, the energy you are giving me has caused =
me to grow both here where I am meeting you in one of my many forms, and in=
side of you where you embrace these myriad forms with the mirror of your ow=
n incarnate consciousness.

If you question what makes up their consciousness, you will come to the con=
clusion that your thoughts make up your consciousness, which leads to the q=
uestion, "Who is it that is aware that I am thinking?"

The answer is, "I am aware that I am thinking," but it isn't that simple. I=
f it is ourselves that is aware that we are thinking, that would mean that =
we are separate from ourselves in order to make that observation.

This is not the case, which leaves only one other option. Our individual co=
nsciousness has to be a part of something greater than itself; the proverbi=
al drop of water in an ocean of consciousness, which begs the question, whe=
re does the ocean start and the droplet end?

They don't.

I am you, you are me, I am everything, and everything is me, so you are eve=
rything, and everything is you by default.

If you are still with me, then I am growing on you, but the truth of it is =
that I have been here all along.

What is growing is your awareness of me.

The more you ponder me, the more you find yourself struggling to define som=
ething that is ubiquitous both inside and outside of anything you have ever=
 known or experienced. Like the infinite amount of drops of water in the oc=
ean, there have been many attempts to define just what I am, but the reason=
 I defy description is because I am definition itself.

Critique: A unique blend of cognitive psychology, New Age spirituality, per=
sonal transformation, and self-help guide, "I Am Consciousness Incarnate" b=
y Matthew Pallamary is an inherently fascinating, iconoclastic, and thought=
-provoking read from start to finish. While also available for personal rea=
ding lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99), "I Am Consciousness In=
carnate" will prove to be an appreciated and idiosyncratic pick for persona=
l, professional, community, and college/university library Metaphysical Stu=
dies lists.

Editorial Note: Matthew J. Pallamary (https://mattpallamary.com/aboutmatt/a=
uthor) has had his works translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Norw=
egian, French, and German. His historical novel of first contact between sh=
amans and Jesuits in 18th century South America, was titled "Land Without E=
vil". It was also adapted into a full-length stage and sky show, co-written=
 with and directed by Agent Red and performed by Sky Candy, an Austin Texas=
 aerial group. The making of the show was the subject of a PBS series, Arts=
 in Context episode, which garnered an EMMY nomination.

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Midwest Book Review
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Midwest Book Review