Cygnus Review Spring 2017

Spring 2017, Issue 1

www.cygnusreview.com

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

New beginnings

Articles and books to light your path through our changing world

❖ EDITOR’S PICKS

Commit to the Truth by Mooji We Don’t Need to “Fix” Everything by Maria Tucker Embracing Unconditional Love by Blake D. Bauer

Plus!

❖ Cygnus Community News ❖ Directory of Cygnus Cafés

A WELCOME FROM ADAM GORDON

We have to make an effort to appreciate the beauty in our own lives as often as possible

I

live in the city, but I long for the countryside. I love being on the grass, and in places where the sky is big. Then it’ll start to get dark, and I pine for the security of the city where a solitary toad laboriously crossing the road is precious and the glimpse of a fox darting behind a parked car is a flash of inspiration.

Cygnus is now part in the city and part in the deepest countryside.

Not one thing or the other, it will go wherever it is allowed to go by its members, in a spirit of openness and kindness, of looking for the spiritual, that warm glow of “other”.

There’s that proverb that no one can actually trace to its origins: and “May you live in interesting times”.

People call it a curse but I see it as a challenge. Well, I doubt that anyone can deny that these are now interesting times. They are difficult times for many: norms are being overturned and progress once thought positive is being reversed. However in the spirit of openness, we have also to accept that there will be companions on the path who will be welcoming of

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many of the changes.

Many people though will be in pain. In which case, wherever we live, we have to look for that spark, that hint of beauty, whenever we see it: in a grove of trees or the eyes of a grazing horse, or perhaps in a beautiful line of brickwork on an old urban warehouse or the daily struggles of the haggard pigeon on the ledge outside our window, just trying to get by.

We have to make an effort to appreciate that beauty in our own lives as often as possible, and to be that beauty to the people around us, to our friends who might be finding things tough or the harassed worker serving us our lunch at the till.

The spiritual is always there. It never goes away but waits to be rediscovered. It will come back into the light, in a stronger way. It might take years, or decades even, but it will return. We know what we must do – be instruments for that revolution.

So we present you with this selection in the spirit of the New Year, of fresh starts, and making ourselves stronger. We were moved to keep including the work of Joseph

Campbell. We have included two of the three great works that transformed him from a college teacher into a major cultural figure (the other being Star Wars, which he inspired). These are his magnum opus “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” and the TV series that came out after his death “The Power of Myth”. Like Alan Watts, life changed him into a hero, iconic to millions of people. Spirit comes through, from behind the academic research, and a humble human life became more. We need to get out of the way, and fittingly that too is a major aspect of the Hero’s Journey.

As Hamlet said to Horatio: “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy”. This is a key Cygnus principle. We hope to showcase many voices, of people we know and others we don’t, talking of everyday experiences that don’t conform to tired expectations, but which are real.

We believe in hope and in beauty and we believe that life is good. Things become tough, but the next day a new thought might emerge in your head or a situation which seemed bleak suddenly feels easier, and then something shifts and the Journey can begin again.

Adam

MEET THE TEAM Publisher

Etan Ilfeld

Editor-at-large

Geoff Napier

Editor

Adam Gordon

Design

Karen Smith

Customer Care

Jordan Mitchell

Customer Care

Laurence Capone

& Advertising Marketing

Vicky Hartley

CYGNUS BOOK CLUB 355 Goswell Road London EC1V 7JL

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MOOJI - GO ALL THE WAY

T

he ego doesn’t really exist, even though, like everything else, it may appear to exist.

“But why pick only on the ego?” you may ask. “Ego, non-ego, being, and non-being are all illusory. Isn’t everything only an appearance in the mind and Self?” Well, yes, but as long as we believe ourselves to be the ego-mind, “everything else” takes on an intensified sense of reality.

Ultimately there is only the Supreme, Brahman, and we are ever That, which is all-encompassing. Rare indeed, however, are they who truly know this with their entire being and not just with intellectual conviction.

Everyone wants to be happy, but not everyone has the same idea of how to be happy. We may still feel that there are ways to be happy other than by transcending ego. We may still cherish a conviction that we can be happy and free as ego.

Others already know that freedom is not freedom as ego, but freedom from ego.

Many people say, “I want to be free!” So, I say, okay, let’s look at what exactly it is that stops you from being free. But the closer they come, the more excuses they make. People seem to like the idea of being free more than actually being free – or so they may think.

Resistance to Freedom Once, a man came to my house to talk with me. We sat down together, and he said, “I really want to be free.”

We were talking for a while, and just as we came to a beautiful, subtle point in the inquiry, he said, “Um, my throat is very dry. Can I have a glass of water?”

So I went and got him a glass of water. He drank and said, “Yes, okay.

Thank you. So, where were we?”

“I was talking about your real position as the one perceiving all this. What is that awareness? From where are you observing — and as who or what?”

Then he exhaled heavily and said, “It’s a little hot in here. Can I open the door to the garden a bit?”

‘Rare are they who abandon themselves for the sake of Truth’ MOOJI

“Ah, okay. I’ll open the door to the garden. Okay, now can we look? Are you aware of — ” “Ah, just one second. Can I go to the bathroom?” he asked.

So then I said, “Listen, we don’t have to do any of this at all, you know, and if you just want to go, you may go. My house is not a prison.”

He said, “To tell you the truth, my mind really wants to run away because it feels something that is VASTER THAN SKY, GREATER THAN SPACE By Mooji

making it very uncomfortable.”

I said, “But you can go. It won’t offend me.”

He insisted, “No, no. Please can we try again?” With this he made a higher choice not to go with the mind’s resistance. As we sat and looked together again, his mind opened up and finally settled inside his Being.

Something inside of us has invested considerable energy into untruth. It is indeed easy to say, “I’m searching for Truth,” but when we come right up to the moment of truth, that’s when I’m likely to hear, “Just one moment! I’ll be back in ten minutes, okay? Hold on, don’t go away, I’m coming!” Such a one will not be coming back, not in ten minutes, ten hours, or ten days — and maybe not even for ten years, if at all — because something inside of them is afraid to face the Real. It is so easy to say, “I want Truth,” but rare are they who abandon themselves for the sake of Truth.

The true seeker must inquire into the attitudes that underlie and motivate their approach to life and to the very search for Truth.

Reprinted with permission from “Vaster than Sky, Greater than Space” soundstrue.com © 2016, Mooji Media Limited

Essential spring reading

This is a beautifully put-together introduction to Mooji’s life and teaching. Mooji has become one of the most popular spiritual teachers in the world. I was lucky enough to attend his sold-out event last year at St James’s Church in London and he had the audience hanging off his every word. He spoke for nearly three hours and even that wasn’t enough! Born in Jamaica and brought up in London, he met his master Papaji in India in 1993 and since then has become one of the most beloved teachers of Advaita or non-duality.

This wonderful collection of teachings and stories will give rest to most troubled souls. I have no doubt of this.

260pp, 132 x 200 mm, Paperback, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270136 Our price: £7.99

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WENDY ERLICK - CASE NOTES OF AN ANGEL CHANNELLER

I

t’s December 2014 and I am in the consulting room of a high street optician’s in Edgware, London. I am being fitted for new contact lenses. The optician is grave & competent. And young…only in his twenties. There are just the two of us in the consulting room.

Actually it’s not just the two of us.

In one corner of the room I can see and hear (telepathically) the spirit of a small elderly Indian woman in a sari.

She is standing with her arms folded.

She is full of pride at the optician, but also resolute: “Tell my grandson that he is abandoning the old ways. He is neglecting his religion. He must go to the temple more often.”

I intuited that there had been/ was a deep bond between them and that this grandmother cared deeply for him. She had especially enjoyed cooking for him.

My spirits drop at this conversation. It is not always easy to pass a message across the veil and I struggle with it. I earn my living through transformative life coaching, from angel channelling, and also energy healing. I am also a writer. I am sometimes clairvoyant, but it’s not something I offer openly as a service. I am more focused upon writing about spiritual ethics and how we integrate spirituality into our everyday lives.

But, back to the consulting room.

This message put me in a dilemma.

First of all I was in the middle of having my eyes tested. I did not know the optician, or his beliefs. And I did not want to startle him. Also his trade is a professional one. Surely he would feel intruded upon if he knew that his grandmother in spirit was in his consulting room chiding him for not going to the temple often enough.

But on the other hand, might he not gain comfort from knowing that his grandmother still cared for him from beyond death? That love has no limits and is eternal? Who was I to deny him this?

So I worked out that there was no harm and indeed a duty to deliver this message. How then was I to do it? There are the issues concerning the ethics of delivering a message

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‘There is more to this world than meets the eye’ WENDY ERLICK AUTHOR

out of the blue, when it has not been knowingly sought. Working with clients in the field of metaphysics I would carefully set down the ground rules before we begin. So that they should not feel invaded, I ask my clients to use their gut feeling to determine whether or not my intuitions & messages are correct:i n short I work to empower my clients to reach their potential. And I always seek their permission to do this.

Now I was in a situation with no permissions: just myself, the optician and a resolute grandmother in spirit.

Standing with her arms folded, impressing upon me her will, that her grandson needed to know that she knew he was neglecting his duty to attend the temple.

In the end, it was not so hard. The optician asked me about my work; I explained that I had just finished writing a book. From this point in the conversation, I was able to mention that I sometimes received clairvoyant messages and asked him how he felt about them. If there was a message for him, would he like to receive it?

Luckily, he was open to this. Yes his

paternal grandmother was in spirit, he confirmed that she had lived with him as he was growing up and that they had a close bond: she did indeed cook for him. And he loved her dearly. Yes it was correct. Although he considered himself religious, his attendance at the temple had dropped off a bit. He would go back more often. The room filled with love at this statement and his grandmother smiled, nodded and left the room. I blinked back tears and so did he. At the end of the session, I handed him my business card. He told me that he might be in touch one day but I never heard from him again.

Two weeks later, my contact lenses arrived in the post.

Wendy Erlick is a Transformative Life Coach, Angel Channeller, Energy Healer and Author. Wendy may be contacted on: wendyjaneerlick@gmail. com or 07922 038059. Wendy works from Watkins Books in London every Tuesday between 10.30-6.30. Her blog is celestialhealing.wordpress.com GIFT OF AN ANGEL

By Wendy Jane Erlick

I had the good fortune to meet Wendy socially and thought it would be nice if she wrote a short piece for us. Consequently we are featuring her wonderful book again.

There’s a great quotation from Cilla Conway on the cover, and this sums up my feelings as well: “I don’t normally read books on angels as I find many of them too saccharine, but I found it direct, authentic and sometimes very moving”. Her story is well-told and compelling but the account becomes incredibly useful in the second half of the book, when she shows us how we too can get in touch with invisible beings. She discusses the angels and what they specialize in and how we can work with them, but in a refreshingly non-ethereal way.

182pp, 140 x 220 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 260225 Our price: £5.99

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The Life of Spirit — BOOK REVIEWS SOUL SURVIVOR

By Bruce and Andrea Leininger

Anyone who struggles to believe in reincarnation will be severely challenged by this intriguing story. A two-year-old boy starts having night terrors about being trapped in a burning plane. At first his rational parents dismiss it as bad dreams, but as more facts are revealed they set out to track down the WW2 fighter pilot whose life and death their son is re-living.

Here they tell their story in an open way that allows us to get to know them, share the challenges they faced and follow their search. It is a very honest and readable account of a true story that seems almost unbelievable. But the details mount up, the truth becomes impossible to ignore, and the events recorded here are recognised as one of the most important stories in the field of research into past life memory.

A fascinating read.

304pp, 130 x 197 mm, Paperback, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270114 Our price: £5.99

LIFE BEYOND DEATH

By David Fontana

SAVE

For anyone curious about the 55% other side or who has recently lost a loved one, this book arrives as a great comfort. The easy writing style coupled with the intelligent evidence creates a sense of calm understanding. David explains the basic connections between Matter and Energy and relates them to the function and relationship between the Mind and the Brain. His direct and clear approach gives a profound sense of edging closer to the key enigmatic question, whilst offering relief and not leaving the reader with unanswered questions. This is definitely a must for anyone seeking the answers to the afterlife enigma.

224pp, 140 x 220 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ CODE: 190130 Our Price £4.99

KUNDALINI MEDITATION

By Kathryn McCusker

Yoga teacher and opera star Kathryn McCusker has written a very straightforward introduction on how to cultivate the power of Kundalini through various exercises and meditations. The book is full-colour throughout and richly illustrated. Kundalini is also known as the serpent power and according to tradition resides at the base of your spine. When it is activated it rises up through your opened Chakras and its potential for revitalization and inspirational positivity is immense. You need an experienced teacher and Kathryn is one. There is such a great body of teaching on this phenomenon, which you can move on to in due course, but this makes for an excellent starting place.

160pp, 162 x 234 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ CODE: 270152 Our Price £5.99

YOGA FOR GRIEF AND LOSS

By Karla Helbert

Grief is not a process that we are supposed to by-pass or to get over in super-quick time. It has to be felt fully and sometimes it never leaves you becoming instead part of a new way of living.

Consequently it’s extremely demanding and this book gives a comprehensive approach to dealing with it. It’s important to stress that the section on Hatha Yoga (the movements and position commonly called just “yoga”) takes up only part of the text. Also covered are Jnana, Bhakti, Tantra, Karma and Raja Yogas, and thus the techniques involve mudra, meditation, breathwork and self-inquiry, as well as physical exercises. It’s a multi-faceted and whole-body approach to a challenging emotion.

320pp,173 x 246mm, Paperback, RRP £15.00

❖ Code: 270125 Our price: £6.99

KEEPERS OF THE LIGHT ORACLE CARDS By Kyle Gray

Our struggling world needs all the help it can get and here is a collection of powerful enlightened beings offering us a bridge between Earth and Heaven, with ancient wisdom to guide us on our way. The Keepers of Light represented here are drawn from different traditions: some lived on Earth, others in angelic realms or even myth, but all have the ability to strongly connect us with universal intelligence. The gold edged cards show original portraits by visionary artist Lily Moses and are rich in symbolism. By connecting with the souls they depict we can ask these Keepers of Light for spiritual guidance for ourselves or others. The accompanying booklet recommends ways to connect and how to read the cards with an explanation of the message associated with each one. The cards are the gift of Kyle Gray, an exciting young voice who is fast becoming a sought-after speaker on ancient spiritual knowledge.

110pp, 45 cards, Book and card set, RRP £13,99

❖ Code: 270115 Our price: £9.99

YOUR SOUL CONTRACT DECODED

By Nicolas David Ngan

In 1990 Nicolas David Ngan experienced a life-changing reading with metaphysical teacher Frank Alper, and is now the custodian of the Soul Contract knowledge that Alper first brought into the world. In this book are all the secrets of how to conduct a Soul Contract reading, which you can use to access to your purpose and enable you to overcome any challenges that might lie in your way. The blueprint for your life is actually contained within the name you were given at birth. Sample readings within the book give you all the practical guidance you need for interpreting that material and applying it to your life.

352pp, 135 x 215 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ CODE: 230411 Our Price £5.99

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HILARY FRANKLIN - ONE BREATH, ONE VOICE

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t wasn’t until my early forties that I truly woke up. After being diagnosed with a crippling disease for which the doctors told me there was no cure, I was reduced to hobbling about on two sticks.

I knew that if I wanted to see my teenage children grow up, I needed to take charge of my own health and well being. After a year of healing Shiatsu massage, regular swimming and a modified diet, my health and mobility had improved, but the revelation that was to banish that crippling disease and change my life forever and was yet to come.

Singing has always been a part of my life and when a friend recommended a weekend Naked Voice workshop with Chloe Goodchild, I was intrigued. On the second morning, after silent meditation and some Japanese Shintaido movement work, Chloe invited each of the 40 men and women present to walk individually across a large hall emitting a sound.

We could choose either the sound we had made as we greeted life on this planet, or the sound we would make as we greeted our creator.

I decided on the latter, but felt a great sense of unease. However, as an integral part of the workshop process, I couldn’t exactly refuse.

What might these sounds reveal about our innermost selves?

‘My heart was being reshaped, repositioned and liberated’ HILARY FRANKLIN

After drawing a huge breath, I found myself uttering an almighty sound redolent with pain and sorrow.

As a stream of unstoppable tears poured forth, Chloe encouraged me to sing through the feelings.

Vocalising the accumulation of anguish deep within lifted me out of the victimhood of tears into a full and complete connection with my soul.

PEELING AWAY THE MASK By Hilary Franklin

At the age of forty, the author was confronted with a debilitating illness. Her SAVE doctors told her there was no cure. She was determined to find the root 40% cause of her own dis-ease. This book charts her journeys within, as she peeled away the layers of conditioning that she had accumulated through her life. By peeling away masks that fitted the demands of work, family life and religious beliefs, she released the patterns of behaviour that changed her outer world. She opened up to wider perspectives for healing her emotions, and gradually her disease fell away to reveal more of her authentic self. Her inner pilgrimage is reflected in an outer one to Chartres and other centres.

Hilary shares with us how she continues her spiritual path by enrolling and becoming an interfaith minister.

It was a miraculous experience and the beginning of what is now a lifelong practice for me and my clients. Moreover, as I rested in my room later I felt a sensation of energy moving in my heart - as if a digger was tearing away at a piece of armour. It felt as if my heart was being reshaped, repositioned and liberated. Those unguarded sounds had produced a unity of heart, mind, body and spirit which enabled me to begin to ask the questions “Who Am I really?” and “Why am I here?”

Finding my ‘true voice’ was one of the major processes by which I then peeled away the mask of social conditioning that I had been wearing since I was a teenager. A mask that had enabled me to ‘fit in’ to family, school, and work, but that had also obliterated the real me so that I was unable to live in my truth. This mask had disguised and suppressed a lifetime of emotions, and had been at the very root of my illness.

As the Naked Voice process, coupled with Shintaido Movement disciplines liberated an outdated store of emotions, the disease began to fall away, my body rejuvenated itself, and I found a new way in which to move and dance to the tune of my true voice. While the confidence which ensued set me free to be who I really am and to fulfil my spiritual purpose.

Now, as a Naked Voice facilitator, I am thrilled to serve others by helping them find their true voice.

And since walking the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral which inspired me to become ordained as a OneSpirit interfaith minister, I counsel for, help plan, and celebrate marriages, births, rites of passage, and end of life services.

I am eternally grateful to the work of Chloe Goodchild, and to myself in having had the courage to step out and surrender to my inner voice, which enabled me to grow and flourish into the person I am today.

174pp, 138 x 215 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.00

❖ Code: 270112 Our price: £5.99

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Personal Development — BOOK REVIEWS 21 RITUALS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE By Theresa Cheung

Bestselling author Theresa Cheung’s message in 21 Rituals To Change Your Life is simple yet extremely powerful: only you possess the ability to truly change your life. Split into 7 for the morning, 7 for the afternoon and 7 for the evening, these rituals take only a few minutes to practise but are sure to redefine your sense of personal awareness forever. Enlightening and uplifting, this book provides an eyeopening insight into the practical benefits of embracing mindfulness in order to give long-lasting meaning to everyday actions and thereby attract positive changes to your life. By weaving together science and spirituality, Cheung’s easily accessible, step-by-step guide will take its readers on a meaningful journey and is the perfect read for anyone wishing to lead a happier life.

194pp, 124 x 185 mm, Paperback, RRP £7.99

❖ CODE: 270143 Our Price £3.99

THE FIVE SIDE EFFECTS OF KINDNESS By David R Hamilton

Who hasn’t heard of the phrase “the selfish gene” and assumed that we must all be naturally selfish? David Hamilton reports however, that the latest research shows we are actually genetically wired to be kind. Furthermore, some new remarkable experiments demonstrate that kindness strengthens the heart and immune system, slows down ageing and improves relationships. What pharmaceutical product can boast such side effects?

When we’re kind, we feel happier and our bodies are healthiest.Groundbreaking experiments show kindness to be contagious in life saving ways. David fills this book with suggestions and examples to help you along.

A CEREMONY CALLED LIFE

By Tehya Sky

We tend to reserve ceremonies for big important events like weddings, but this book encourages us to find ceremonial moments in all areas of our daily life.

Merging self with spirituality means finding the sacred in unthought-of places, perhaps a traffic jam or a pile of dirty dishes, so life becomes a joyous procession of sacred moments. We are not separated from the Divine, and yet we often choose a narrative of separation, so we easily slip into shame, sadness and self-destructive habits. Being in the moment, letting life flow, these are ways of being and thinking that can bring unimagined surprises and a realisation that everything is a sacred ceremony to be celebrated. Want to try it? Let the themes of this book inspire you.

224pp, 132 x 200 mm, Paperback, RRP £16.50

❖ Code: 270138 Our price: £8.99

WHY WON’T YOU APOLOGIZE?

By Harriet Lerner

It sounds strange to write a whole book about saying “sorry”, and yet getting things wrong – and attempting to put them right – is something that comes up for all of us on a regular basis. It is a skill that can be worked on and improved, as many of the anecdotes here show. Written by a respected psychotherapist who is an expert on relationships we discover there are those who never apologize and those who never stop saying sorry, and in between the rest of us who can probably all benefit from the healing and restorative effects of feeling sorry and expressing it. “If you want to know why Harriet Lerner is one of my great heroes, Why Won’t You Apologize? is the answer.” Brene Brown, author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Daring Greatly and Rising Strong

208pp, 140 x 216 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

208pp, 140 x 215 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

THE POWER OF OFF

By Nancy Colier

MAKING LIFE EASY

By Christiane Northrup

228pp, 150x 226 mm, Paperback, RRP £16.50

272pp, 155 x 230 mm, Hardback, RRP £20.00

❖ Code: 270116 Our price: £5.99

With our dependency on our mobiles, the 21st century is fast becoming the Century of NOW, as people sleep with their phones and use them to manage their social lives. Nancy Colier puts together a great case for the justification of time: what is the most important thing you have to do, and after that what is the most important thing that actually matters? She brings back the need for rest and to understand that there are times at which it is practical to reply to work emails or sit down to read all the saved items on whatever social media platform you favour. This book gives you the ability to prioritise your tasks and the dos and don’ts of when to say NO! ❖ CODE: 270137 Our Price £8.99

❖ Code: 270111 Our price: £6.99

SAVE 55%

The author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom shows us that truly feeling your best is about far more than physical health; it’s also about having a healthy emotional life and a robust spiritual life.

When you acknowledge the deep connection between your beliefs and your biology and start to tune in to the Divine part of yourself, it’s a whole new ball game. Dr Northrup offers a simple test to help us distinguish between the voices of the ego and the Divine within.

The voice of the ego is filled with fear, doubt, self-loathing, judgement, shame or guilt. Divine guidance never contains these qualities and she suggests a way to dismantle the ego is through love and trust in the Divine. ❖ Code: 270117 Our price: £8.99

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MARIA TUCKER - TOTAL SURRENDER

A

skating accident that left me in a wheelchair for 2 years forced me to leave an apparently successful corporate career in 1992. I was then faced with the huge decision of what to do with the rest of my life.

I began a journey of self discovery and training to find a new way of living, as I was certain I didn’t want to return to the torment of the life I had been living before my accident. In order to succeed in the corporate world, I had slipped into becoming a person I really didn’t like. The accident came as a blessing in disguise I suppose.

While I searched for my true purpose in life I trained as a Reiki Master. (I felt really uncomfortable about the word Master as that gave the impression I was above other people and, even at that early stage of my journey, I knew within me it was not right.) Once I could do Reiki, I thought my life’s purpose would be to help others get well again and meanwhile I could be earning money at the same time. (Something was not sitting right with that whole concept though.)

I then trained as a counsellor so that I could help “fix” people’s problems.

I also trained as a life coach thinking I could “fix” people’s broken lives. I obtained certificates in Swedish and Indian head massage, in the hope that all this would help me create a business.

Finally, laughter therapy was added to my pile of qualifications, and again I was thinking that it could bring joy back into people’s lives.

All this time I was thinking my purpose was to fix others. However, LIFE ON EARTH By Mike Dooley

‘Home was not a place I had to go to, but a place already within me’ MARIA TUCKER

nothing in my life seemed to flourish.

I read many books, and saw many clairvoyants looking for answers. For 14 years I tried to make money from using those skills but my debts grew larger and my heart became very heavy. Why was nothing working? Why was every door of opportunity closing on me?

I would find peace for a while, whenever I found a little clue as to what was really going on, and then get depressed again as I continued to struggle with my so called “normal life”.

During those years there were many thoughts of suicide, when I would feel

This comes recommended by Caroline Myss and it’s a rollercoaster of a ride through metaphysical thought. Demanding but not overwhelming, it’s as if the author has bowed to popular demand and said “Yes, here it is, the world in all its aspects, the key to how to live without illusion”. He asks the questions, the answers come and they add up. Everything is covered – all the big ones – like “What about Karma?” “Is there life after death?” and “What of fate? Destiny?

Angel help?” You might agree, and that means there’s a lifetime of material to chew upon. You might disagree, but you are left with plenty of stimulating stuff. It’s a bracing ride!

224pp, 150 x 230 mm, Hardback, RRP £20.00

❖ CODE: 270113 Our Price £8.99

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SAVE 55%

the need to leave and “go home”.

Then in the spring of 2016 I was stopped in my tracks when I was rushed to hospital for an operation to remove an unexplained growth in my stomach.

Following the removal of what turned out to be a benign mass, I was not able to function normally and remained in hospital for a very long time. I could not sit up, read, listen to music or watch the TV. I simply had to be in my surroundings and totally surrender to what was happening. I felt myself go deeper and deeper into another space and I knew I could stay or leave.

I surrendered totally and just asked for the Highest Good to prevail. For the first time I realised what total surrender was. It was a peaceful acceptance that, whatever happened, everything would be ok.

I know that my beautiful friends held this space and worked with me helping me to see the Light and to Be the Light.

I am eternally grateful to one particular friend for her precious gift of stepping into my stuff, being willing to walk into my arena of turmoil and chaos and then analysing it for me. At that moment of total surrender I really understood that there is no difference between my work and my spiritual life, or my relationships and having fun in life, as it is all one, we are all one, there is no separation in anything. Home was not a place I had to go to, but a place already within me!

I now have a wonderful job helping others navigate through the sense of overwhelm that so many are experiencing. It uses all my skills, but most of all it allows me to just “be” and not to “fix”. I even get paid a regular income. Every day is a spiritual experience as I surrender to whatever is. All I need to do is shine my light in whatever I do, with whomever I meet and in whatever situation I find myself. This is being in the moment of just being who I am. Whereas before I saw myself as different from what was happening around me, I now see there is no separation between my experiences, and who I am.

By totally surrendering to what is, I can experience each moment in full awareness and trust. www.oneofmany.co.uk

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

Health Through Nutrition — BOOK REVIEWS SAVE 54%

SAVE 55% THE GOOD SKIN SOLUTION

By Shann Nix Jones

Shann relates the incredible story of how she discovered a chemical-free method to help treat various skin conditions, during her struggle to heal her son’s eczema and save her husband from a life-threatening MRSA superbug infection.

Shann’s staggering discovery is that eczema is not actually a skin condition - it’s an autoimmune disorder. Your skin is simply a map of your gut. In order to heal the skin, you must first heal the gut. She explains why skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acne are often accompanied by hay fever, asthma, IBS and food allergies.

By adopting the kefir-based Good Skin Solution you can help to treat both the symptoms and the causes of your skin condition.

MIDLIFE

By Dr Muir Gray

Sir Muir Gray is one of Britain’s most experienced doctors. He wrote this in conjunction with other experts in support of the NHS One You programme, a major Public Health England initiative. It’s a perfect pick-me-up for those of us who are finding the whole ageing thing a bit demoralizing. The main chapters cover sleep, stress, nutrition, exercise and everyday health. As he writes in his introduction, “Midlife is the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end”. Here is the perfect manual that will help us take back control. So if you want to introduce simple effective lifestyle changes that will have a real impact on your health and wellbeing, this is a must-read.

264pp, 135 x 216mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270118 Our price: £4.99

208pp,152 x 234 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270130 Our price: £7.99

MEDICAL MEDIUM LIFE-CHANGING FOODS

By Anthony William

If you liked the New York Times bestselling Medical Medium, you will really appreciate this follow-up title, in which Anthony gives even more guidance on how to live a healthy life via a rich variety of fruits and vegetables. He delivers crucial information on the factors behind illness and how to protect yourself and your family. There are also details of how to repair your organism and how to nuance your food preparation to make those fruits and vegetables as effective as possible for your particular needs. It’s also packed full of colour photographs and many inspiring recipes.

352pp,198 x 234 mm,Hardback, RRP £22.99

❖ Code: 270119 Our price: £9.99

EAT DIRT

By Dr Josh Axe

So here it is – the book that you never quite thought would come, where the author just comes right out and says it: we need to eat more dirt! The book is full of scientific information about the digestive system and how it works, combined with tips, advice and even recipes on how to improve gut health. For, as Dr Axe explains, 70% of our immune system is located in the gut, and when it’s under attack, our health suffers. With the prevalence of processed food, overburdened with chemicals, we can tend to develop microscopic tears in our intestinal walls, leading to what’s known as “leaky gut syndrome”.

This is not glossy and full colour, but it’s written by an expert and comes across clearly and comprehensibly.

352pp, 152 x 234 mm, Paperback, RRP £14.99

❖ CODE: 270129 Our Price £7.99

Author in the spotlight

THE ACID WATCHER DIET

By Dr Jonathan Aviv

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is packed full of simple exercises and suggestions on how to cope with and diminish the effects of excess acid in the stomach and oesophagus. It’s written by a world-renowned physician who pioneered a technique for examining the digestive system. If you suffer from abdominal bloating or acid reflux, this book is for you. But there are also other symptoms such as a chronic cough or shortness of breath that can indicate serious acid problems.

The techniques he suggests for healing are not hugely demanding. His 28-day programme is clearly explained and will deal with that discomfort in the stomach and throat that so many of us suffer from.

304pp, 152 x 229 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270120 Our price: £5.99

MEDICAL MEDIUM

By Anthony William

With the release of his book on nutrition, we are featuring Anthony William’s initial bestseller again. Anthony was born with the unique ability to converse with a high-level spirit who provides him with extraordinarily accurate health information that’s often far ahead of its time. He has helped tens of thousands of people to heal from ailments and diseases that have been misdiagnosed or deemed to be untreatable. In this exhaustive but user-friendly guidebook, he tells us the root causes of many ailments that the medical establishment has trouble understanding and goes on to suggest all-natural solutions and healing plans that will help us return to health.

392pp, 152 x 229 mm, Paperback, £12.99

BUY BOTH FOR £18.48

❖ Code: 260111 Our price: £8.99

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

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BOOK REVIEWS — Mindfulness MINDFULNESS FOR PARENTS By Amber Hatch

SAVE 50%

Mindfulness, which has come out of Buddhism, is one of the most powerful tools for finding peace of mind and coming into some kind of selfrealization. It seems extremely appropriate to apply its techniques and principles to giving birth and parenthood, which are among the most demanding tasks we face in life. Amber Hatch is a parent and a Buddhist practitioner and she applies mindful techniques and simple Buddhist principles to various aspects of the parenting journey. It’s a kind and wise book and offers great comfort and simple guidance to those who want to embark on the parenting process in greater depth and with increased sensibility. You will learn how to stay calm in a crisis, feel more connected to your children and all the while maintain your meditation practice.

256pp, 137 x 216mm, Paperback, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270144 Our price: £4.99

THE MINDFULNESS IN KNITTING

By Rachael Matthews

Don’t be mistaken – this book is not a “how to knit” guide. In fact, there are no instructions on the actual method of knitting; it assumes throughout that you know how to and have been doing so for a while. This is instead a self-help guide on how to explore one’s feelings and emotions, with knitting as its central focus. It includes reflective and proactive exercises throughout as well as taking you through the author’s story and history. It illuminates how to appreciate your craft on another level so that what you create will no longer be viewed simply as decoration, but as a transformation of yourself, your mind and your heart.

144pp, 150 x 208 mm, Hardback, RRP £8.99

COLOUR YOURSELF TO HAPPINESS POSTCARD BOOK

By Clare Youngs

This is a brilliant idea: twenty patterns to colour in and send if you wish to a beloved friend or family member, or to keep for yourself as an object for contemplation or decoration. Small enough to carry around and colour where you choose to, they are also printed on thick card and are easily detachable, which makes them into practical postcards that won’t suffer within the postal system. This particular book shows delightful animals that will cheer your heart. It’s good value and will also make a wonderful gift. The animals include frogs, lemurs and kangaroos.

20pp, 120 x 165 mm, Paperback, RRP £6.99

❖ Code: 270107 Our price: £3.99

COLOUR YOURSELF TO INNER PEACE POSTCARD BOOK

By Sue Coccia

And in the other book of postcards we have “winged animals”. Thus we have birds, butterflies, moths and dragonflies, plus even the humble horsefly. They are however elaborately illustrated which gives plenty of opportunity for making your images as psychedelic or as elaborate as you wish. The birds include kingfishers, flamingos and owls. Birds are renowned as auspicious omens and harbingers, so your finished postcards will make especially appropriate gifts to spiritual friends. After all the colouring books we have had recently, this is an gratifyingly original new idea for satisfying your creativity.

20pp, 120 x 165 mm, Paperback, RRP £6.99

❖ Code: 270108 Our price: £3.99

I MET A MONK By Rose Elliot

MINDFUL EATING

By Rachel Bartholomew and Mandy Pearson

224pp,150 x 206 mm,Paperback, RRP £10.99

144pp, 190 x 235 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ CODE: 270128 Our Price £4.99

So many of you were drawn to Rose’s Every Breath You Take, we thought we would showcase her previous title again.

There are many worthwhile books on Buddhism and its principles, but this one shines out amongst them because it sets a stimulating goal – eight weeks to love, happiness and freedom – and shows you how to fulfil it. With simple and sincere profundity, Rose explains mindfulness meditation and Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, illumining their appeal to 21st century life with engaging insights into her personal history. The book is written anecdotally and conversationally, and it immerses you into Buddhist practice. ❖ Code: 250110 Our price: £5.99

10

SAVE 46%

So often we scoff down our food, not really tasting it, not really appreciating it. But eating should be about much more than simply satiating hunger or an unnecessary desire.

Mindfulness can be incorporated anywhere, so why not make the act of eating a mindful activity too? By listening to what your body really needs and enjoys, you can easily increase your well-being and even help with weight loss. It’s simple, and easy, and this book can get you on the right track. It’s beautifully designed, with every page gorgeously illustrated, which makes following this simple guide so much more pleasing. It also includes delicious recipes throughout to engage even the most reluctant chef. If you want to change your eating habits, this is a great place to start. ❖ CODE: 270109 Our Price £6.99

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

GEOFF WELCOME NAPIER

w

I

’ve just been out for a walk this rather dark wintery afternoon.

It is the last day of January and I’ve seen the first courageous primrose daring to show itself. The snowdrops are only now beginning to break through the dark soil that has been protecting them all winter which is slowly receding to make way for spring. As the nights begin to shorten and give way to longer hours of daylight, I am reminded of the peace and trust that I hold in my heart. For just as I know the last days of winter can seem the darkest and coldest, I also know that the darkness in the world is losing its grip and the Light is returning.

We are all part of this wonderful process. As we each allow the light within us to shine brighter each day - so we transform our world in the same ratio.

The dark events that were already happening before behind closed doors are at last being forced out into the open for all to see and that which has seemingly ruled for so long is on the wane.

But we who trust, who know what lies ahead in the grand scheme of things - know that their strength is ebbing away from them, each mighty effort of resistance to the Light only saps their core strength more rapidly.

Once the longest night has passed, who can turn back the progress towards the spring?

The important point now is, in what way will we react to the news that threatens to overwhelm us each day?

Are we reacting from our egos or do we respond in harmony with the Light? When we see the destruction in Syria, the corruption in yet another industry, sport or government unfold in our own living rooms, do we turn away in anger, fear and despair or do we feel compassion and love well up spontaneously from our hearts for our fellow beings?

When we react out of anger, fear, despair or disillusion (all expressions of the ego) we are buying into the assumption that the dark around us is real. However if

we respond from a compassionate space instead, then we resonate strongly with the power of the Light of the Universe. We automatically act as lightning rods into this world and help speed up the process of dissolving this shared nightmare humanity has been creating together during this long dark winter while we continue to believe we have been separated from the Light.

It was never so, but as long as we continue to believe and live as if it were so, it is so - for us.

The fact we often forget, is that we humans have the power of creation, and we actually can’t help it.

So when some of us collectively believe in something together we make it so, which creates confusion and chaos while we remain unplugged from our own direct connection to the Divine, our intuition.

The apparent strength of what lurks in the shadows, is like the figure in the Wizard of Oz. When the curtains are finally pulled aside only little figures like us will be found - the rest was shadows and mirrors.

Remember too, the amazing spontaneous acts of compassion for refugees that have been drawn out of so many. They have not waited for the state to act on their behalf. Many others also reject the received wisdom that the world’s problems are too big for us to make a difference. What each of us does inwardly, does make a difference in this world.

Start where you are, take the most difficult step first, have compassion for yourself. When you can do that, your compassion will flow effortlessly for others too.

Take time to notice that love, light and trust have a deep foothold all around you, and they cannot now be overturned.

Welcome to the Cygnus Community news pages

With love

Geoff

What each of us does inwardly, does make a difference in this world ORDER & CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE ❖ Phone: 02078 594 375 Email: advertising@cygnus-books.co.uk ❖ Website: www.cygnusreview.com

11

FIND YOUR LOCAL CYGNUS CAFÉS CORNWALL, Truro Jane Goodall 07967 201 929 janegoodall@live.co.uk

GLOS, Nailsworth Patsy Freeman 01453 839 303 freeman.49@btinternet.com

CUMBRIA, Penrith Jackie Lewis 07799 884452 jackie.lewis@lewissurveying.com

HANTS, Aldershot Hazel Cornwall 07947 344 140 hazel__cornwell@hotmail.com

DERBY/NOTTINGHAM, David Steare 01332 661 102 david.steare@ntlworld.com

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

DERBYSHIRE, Chesterfield Phoebe Alonso 07966 561 445 info@pddevelopment.co.uk

ISLE OF WIGHT, Shanklin Kate Stuart 07957 909 566 redfox_1@btinternet.com

DEVON, Barnstable Mrs Viv Easton 01271 375 303 easton866@btinternet.com

KENT, Ashford Sylvia Nichols 01233 626 206 viastjames@icloud.com

★ NEW DEVON, Totnes Marian Davies 07791 263 840 maridavi100@gmail.com

KENT, Sevenoaks Liz Wright 07808 184 458 e_lizwright@hotmail.com

DORSET, Bournemouth Georgie Fox 07759 724 008 blessgeorgie123@gmail.com

★ NEW LANCS, Chorley Janet Crosby 01257 792 697 j.heartcentre@googlemail.com

DORSET, Sherborne Niki Cassar 01963 371 695 mail@nikicassar.com

LANCS, Lancaster Catherine Hunt 07957 861 408 info@therelaxationroom.co.uk

CARDIGAN, Llangrannog Amanda Painting 01239 654 699 amandapainting@gmail.com

★ NEW DORSET, Poole Anna Russell 01202 769 859 allthemore97@yahoo.co.uk

LANCS, Lytham, St Ann's Simone Qualter & Andy Cowgill 07928 632 976 simonequalter@yahoo.co.uk

CARMARTHEN Dorothy Morris 01267 267 652 dorothy_morris@hotmail.com

★ NEW E AYRSHIRE, Kilmarnock Anita Neilson 07778 923 380 anitaneilson61@gmail.com

LEICS, Coalville Cheryl Colpman 01530 831 798 cheryl@cherylcolpman.co.uk

BERKS, Bracknell Ms Debbie Lewis 01344 455 394 BERKS, Upper Basildon Lynne Mitchell 07770 278 080 lpmtll@gmail.com BIRMINGHAM, Tamworth Jo Greaves 07738 216 429 jo.greaves@talktalk.net 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

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

E SUSSEX, Bexhill on Sea Carol Sargent 01424 217 630 mail@youniquewellbeing.co.uk E SUSSEX, Eastbourne Valerie Abl 01323 726 652 valerie@talentshift.co.uk E SUSSEX, Hove Simon 01273 220 159 info@tolcentre.com

LEICS, Hinckley Ann Booth 01455 444 518 withane.anne@googlemail.com LONDON, Ealing Christina Tett 0208 998 5131 guinevere006@yahoo.co.uk MANCHESTER, Sale Rosemary Plunkett 0161 962 4123 rosieglow3@icloud.com

CORNWALL, Port Isaac Ann Fanstone 01208 880 300 fanstone@phonecoop.coop

ESSEX, Southend Pauline Poole 01702 535 324 papoole36@gmail.com

MERSEYSIDE, Liverpool, Thornton Sue Massey 0151 924 6240 suemassey60@yahoo.com

CORNWALL, Penzance Anthea Tounsend 01736 719 606

ESSEX, Wickford Jan Westall 01268 734 274 jan.westall@btconnect.com

MERSEYSIDE, Liverpool, Woolton Pamela Langley 0151 421 1772 pamelalangley@hotmail.com

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★ NEW MIDLOTHIAN, Edinburgh Tabora Green 01835 268546 trueharmony@hotmail.co.uk ★ NEW NORFOLK, Kings Lynn Amanda Rowe 07786 066 761 info@hectorsbarn.co.uk N GWYNEDD, Brynrefail, Caernarforn Maria Lamburn 01286 872 115 galeritonic@googlemail.com 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 01665 721 568 antheajackson@hotmail.co.uk OXON, Witney Cindy Gumm 07525 267 817 cinjken420@hotmail.com RHONDDA, Pontyprith Louisa Mills cygnuscaferct@aol.co.uk.

ROSS SHIRE, 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 SOMERSET, Taunton Robin Littman 01278 671 679 Robin@resource-me.com SOMERSET, Yeovil Suzy Langdon 07762 314 319 suzysoo62@hotmail.co.uk

S GLOS, Thornbury Mrs Maggie Jeffery 01454 413 535 maggiejeffery2@hotmail.co.uk S YORKS, Doncaster Sandra Edwards 07773 173 919 sandra579@btinternet.com STAFFS, Stoke-on-Trent Nathan Smallman 07724 189 988 nathan.smallman@btinternet.com ★ NEW SUFFOLK, Sudbury Katie Rossi 07886 373 282 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 Sarah Orchard 01926 420 809 longman.sarah@googlemail.com WARKS, Leamington Spa, Lillington Maria Reece 07795 202 168 maria@mariareece.co.uk WARKS,, Stratford Upon ★ NEW WARKS Avon Gaynor Godiva 07966 182 546 gaynor_godiva@hotmail.com

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

❖ Dates & times are on our website: www.cygnusreview.com/pages/cygnus-community-cafes ❖ Contact: Geoff Napier on 01285 762 982 or geoff@cygnus-books.co.uk for more information W MIDLANDS, Stourbridge, Kinver Suzanne Taylor 01384 936 227 suzanne@auraveda.co.uk 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

Letters & poetry from Cygnus members A Dog Moves On I always thought I would know when it was time for my dog to ‘go’, but as the time drew nearer the decision was by no means as clear cut as I had thought it would be.

So I trusted that the universal flow would help me to take him to the vet at the right time and asked for this to happen. Then he suddenly had a day when he was in extreme pain and the pain killers didn’t seem to help him. I took him to the vet because I couldn’t stand watching him pacing my kitchen floor any more.

After careful examination the vet, not very convincingly, decided I was right and that his time had come. I was immediately full of concern. Was this me and my stuff?

Would he be better tomorrow? Was I being too hasty and so on...?

★ NEW W YORKS, Dewsbury Dean Hall 07522 436 522 hellodean@gmx.co.uk

As the vet injected him he sank gracefully to the ground in two seconds. He looked so peaceful. The vet commented, “Gosh.

He had no fight left. He was definitely ready to go.”

I felt a little better.

Having ascertained that he was dead the vet informed me that his muscles might twitch a little. I watched anxiously. To my amazement his tail slowly lifted from its lowered position until it was raised high in its normal waggy position. I nearly shouted for joy. I knew he was saying, “Thank you, I’m out of pain now. I’m happy. Whew!”

Shortly after his funeral, I tuned in for the last time. He felt so happy. His joy was tangible and I knew he and I had done what we needed to do and he could move on.

And so could I! Helen.

W YORKS, Holmfirth Leanne Ainley 01484 680 126 info@holmevalleywellbeing.com ★ NEW WILTS, Devizes Hilary Franklin 01380 699 259 hilary.franklin1@btinternet.com WILTS, Salisbury Jane Wainwright 01722 413 902 janesnowflake@gmail.com WIRRAL, Merseyside Carol Carter 07807 077 966 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

What are Cygnus Cafés for?

The intention behind the Cygnus Café meetings is to provide safe spaces for Cygnus members and their friends to have regular heart to heart gatherings. There is no agenda or structure, rather we trust the universal flow of life to teach us what we need to learn on the day. We all come together with the shared intention of allowing the highest good to manifest.

So what actually happens? We introduce ourselves around the circle and often before we’ve finished, the sharing begins. We are here to listen to each other with our hearts and in turn allow our hearts to respond to each other’s needs. These meetings can become spaces where we are safe to find our authentic selves instead of projecting a persona that we judge others will find OK. Each group finds its own organic path of development. Above all, we keep it simple and real.

If you are finding the spiritual path a solitary affair and would like to share or even spur on your inner life/growth with others, consider searching out a nearby Cygnus café. Later you may want to start one in you own neighbourhood. If so, just contact Geoff Napier who will help you.

Oh, and we meet in homes, gardens or any other safe spaces we can find - even in a quiet room in a café!

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

13

BOOK REVIEWS — Consciousness & Activism

Essential Spring reading

HOW SOON IS NOW?

By Daniel Pinchbeck

Please don’t buy this book if you like things gentle and comforting.

Buy it, though, if you want someone to help you articulate the ways in which the world is being carelessly exploited, but who will also give you crystal-clear suggestions on how you can make things better. It’s liberating and crucially important. Daniel Pinchbeck is a bestselling author, social activist and cultural entrepreneur. As author John Perkins says, his life has been like “the hero’s journey”: he has travelled, he has had amazing encounters and he has met the people who count. If anyone can give the answers, he can. This is a constructive path away from despair and impotence, and into activism and planetary healing.

YOU ARE THE UNIVERSE

By Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos

Are we another product and development of the Universe, and maybe another step towards it being able to understand itself? From before the Big Bang to the moment when the Universe reached its critical expansion and started to slow down, are we the desired evolution, part of the blueprint, which was created at its conception?

Bestselling author Deepak Chopra and leading physicist Menas Kafatos present an excellently written and easy to understand guide to how and why we are so closely entwined with the Giant Cosmic bubble in which we are held and nurtured. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the universe better, but above all it relates to consciousness and, dare I say, spirit.

288pp, 160 x 240 mm, Hardback, RRP £14.99

288pp, 152 x 234 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

THE ECOLOGY OF THE SOUL,

By Aidan Walker

THE MIND ILLUMINATED

By Culadasa and Matthew Immergut

❖ Code: 270145 Our price: £6.99

Based on experiences from the author’s personal journey through selftransformation, this is an easy to follow guide for anyone who feels ready to make profound shifts in mental habits and spiritual processes. It draws strongly on things that have influenced the author, especially yoga and the Brahma Kumaris tradition. It is organised on a clear framework to appeal to those who respond well to having a plan to follow. Seven powers are identified: Nature, Creativity, Endurance, Love, Communication, Focus and Connection. Each has its own chapter, broken down into specific topics for study and meditation. A great book to dip into when you need to just focus on a single thought such as optimism or sharing.

320pp, 140 x 210 mm, Paperback, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270127 Our price: £7.99

RE-ENCHANTING THE ACTIVIST

By Keith Hebden

❖ Code: 270131 Our price: £8.99

Written by a meditation master with over four decades’ experience in the Theravadin and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, this book covers everything you might need to know about the basics of meditation. It’s a comprehensive manual that is intended to go beyond the gentle “mindfulness” theme in contemporary publishing, but it also includes all the latest research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

It will become a trusted companion that will take you from first sitting on the cushion to a familiarity with all sorts of deep states and transformative experiences. We at Cygnus know that meditation holds many of the keys to life-long peace of mind; in that respect this book could be all you need on a path that could turn your life around. It’s a life’s journey.

512pp, 188 x 234 mm, Paperback, RRP £16.99

❖ Code: 270121 Our price: £7.99

DANCING WU LI MASTERS

By Gary Zukav

Keith Hebden is a priest from Leicester who is involved in social activism. Much of his storytelling is told from a Christian angle, but will be of interest to anyone spiritual. It’s for those of us who want to become more involved in social causes and learn more about the experience, or who are already involved and want encouragement on the path. When so many can be threatened by burnout, he gives us signposts on how to cope. His account is warm and humble, and richly leavened with personal stories and the stories of others on the path

A Cygnus Classic. In the 1970s two books came out which started to open up the territory where physics met spirituality. The first was Fritjof Capra’s Tao of Physics and this was followed by Gary Zukav’s first book, which we would like to reintroduce to you now. The relationship between the spiritual/the metaphysical and quantum physics is well-established now but much of the encouragement for this came from these two books. Any book which helps us better understand the universe and its working has to be a useful thing and we have found this one to be well-written and concise. May this be the start of years of exploration!

176pp, 138 x 204mm, Paperback, RRP £8.99

352pp, 133 x 216 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270126 Our price: £4.99

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❖ CODE: 270132 Our Price £8.99

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Health — BOOK REVIEWS KICK THE DRINK... EASILY!

By Jason Vale

Jason Vale is now best-known as the Juice Master and as one of the leading advocates of juicing and smoothiemaking, but before that he worked at the Allen Carr Clinic, helping with its anti-addiction work. This was the first book Jason wrote but until recently it hasn’t been widely available. It’s been highly recommended by our members so we thought we’d feature it here. It’s intended to help people with addiction issues give up drinking completely. It can also be used to stop drinking on a shorter-term basis. This book has helped tens of thousands of people, it’s a hard-hitting and straightforward manifesto, full of glowing testimonials.

314pp, 130 x 178 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ CODE: 270110 Our Price £7.99

ARTHRITIS By Lynne McTaggart

As we have come to expect from What Doctors Don’t Tell You, this book challenges the advice patients receive from their medical practitioners about their arthritis. They draw on 27 years of research into this condition, which it is estimated 9 out of 10 people will suffer from at some time, especially after the age of 60. They challenge some conventional treatments, which they claim can have disastrous side effects.

Instead they look at other factors such as allergens and the state of the gut.

They then suggest alternative treatments, supplements and changes to diet. This book is well worth a read for any arthritis sufferer who wants to explore drug free alternatives and make their own informed decisions.

240pp, 130 x 198 mm, Paperback, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270122 Our price: £4.99

SUPER GENES

By Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E Tanzi

HOW TO OVERCOME PAIN

By Leon Chaitow

Anyone with experience of chronic pain knows how crushing and how life limiting it can be, and they will find this book a good friend. Respected osteopath and naturopath Leon Chaitow believes the more we understand about the causes and mechanism of pain the better we can handle it and even eliminate it. So this book is an education. Starting with a detailed explanation of what pain is and how it occurs, the first essential tool he recommends to deal with it is a positive attitude, followed by physical work with the body, complementary therapies and a good diet. There are lots of exercises to try, many focused on breathing and relaxation, and bite-sized pieces of good advice. A directory section explores some of the body’s worst trouble spots such as the neck and back, and even includes a section on pain in childbirth.

176pp, 137 x 198 mm, Paperback, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270146 Our price: £4.99

THE POWER OF BREATH

By Swami Saradananda

This author has brought together thousands of years of practical wisdom from several traditions into a clear, useful and well illustrated text. We learn how many aspects of our lives, including our emotions, can be made conscious through watching our breath. The life force, known as prana or chi, is also closely related to our breath and this changing of our breathing can have a detoxifying effect. The simple knowledge that with each breath we draw in spiritual energies is enough to transform our lives.

SAVE 54%

160pp, 160 x 236 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270147 Our price: £5.99

BREATHE By Belisa Vranich

When a trusted source such as Deepak Chopra smashes the conception that our genes are fixed at birth and tells us we can change our genetic make up, we sit up and take notice. In partnership with a global expert on genetics he tells us our genetic inheritance is in fact fluid and responds to everything we think and do. Our entire mind-body system is regulated by gene activity, so we can take control of the way the cells in our body talk to each other, putting a whole new spin on the nature/nurture debate. Solid science underlies the journey this book follows through the basics of life, none of which are irrevocably fixed at birth but remain adaptable if we embrace this bold new understanding of how we really function.

Clinical psychologist Belisa Vranich informs us that four out of five of us breathe ‘vertically’, which means we do so shallowly from only the very top of our lungs. This is important because it can lead to a host of symptoms including anxiety, stress, insomnia, pain, weight gain, digestion woes, high blood pressure, concentration and cognitive problems. So how you are breathing may be at the root of your health issues, or at least a major contributory factor.

Belisa's 14 day programme developed and fine-tuned over a decade, aims to revolutionalize your mental and physical health. This workbook is a really practical way to help you to eradicate the poor breathing habits of a lifetime.

336pp,126 x 198 mm, Paperback, RRP £8.99

240pp, 190 x 230 mm, Paperback RRP £12.99

❖ Code: 270133 Our price: £6.99

❖ CODE: 270123 Our Price £5.99

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BLAKE D BAUER - THE MEANING OF LIFE

A

s I watch my father dying, the meaning of life is very clear to me. Sadly, he will never enjoy his favourite meal again, drink fresh clean water, make love, create to his full capacity, walk freely, breathe fully, or experience many of the other gifts that come with being in a human body. I am personally trying not to take these miracles for granted each day, and I am very grateful for the blessing and lessons in this situation.

The meaning of life is actually very simple. We come here to enjoy life and love in a human body on this planet as fully as possible, while simultaneously bringing unconditional pure love into the world. We came here to master what it means to love ourselves unconditionally and thus be our true self fully in every situation and moment. The natural byproduct of this learning is that our words, thoughts, and actions become full of loving kindness, honesty and grace, which then become the energy with which we create and shape our lives.

We become fully aware and clear about the meaning of life by not taking the miracle of daily human life, or the miracle that we are, the miracle of our existence, for granted. As I am sure you can relate to, I have found that life will take away anything or anyone we do not appreciate, which includes our health and our loved ones. For me the only path to living in a way that honours the meaning of life and also allows me to feel this deeply each day, is to speak and act authentically and kindly in each moment, which means

‘We come here to enjoy life and love as fully as possible’ BLAKE D BAUER AUTHOR

I must remain as present as possible and as aware as possible of what I am feeling to be my inner truth. I have found that when we betray ourselves by not being honest in our words and actions daily, we hurt ourselves and cut ourselves off from both the source of what we’re seeking and the purpose of being alive. This dynamic also cuts us off from connecting genuinely with other people, which sabotages the possibility of deep loving intimacy both emotionally and physically.

To feel meaning in our life now we have to live in a way today, not

YOU WERE NOT BORN TO SUFFER By Blake D. Bauer

If you are searching for true happiness, this is the book you need to read. Inspiring, educational and thought-provoking, Blake D Bauer offers both a valuable insight into the importance of establishing a true sense of inner happiness and a practical guide to finding it. Through posing simple yet effective questions and tasks, Blake’s teachings will help you transform your present anxieties and insecurities into the strength and courage you need to lead a happy and fulfilling life. The emphasis is firmly on self-love, gratitude and inner wealth, which we all have within us and which are available if we choose to accept and develop them. You Were Not Born To Suffer is a book that actively engages its readers and is sure to leave a long lasting impression.

288pp, 150 x 210 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99 ❖ Code: 270148 Our price: £5.99

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SAVE 45%

tomorrow, where we engage in work and relationships that are personally meaningful and completely honest to our values and our heart. Rather than allowing our fear or insecurity to stop us from being true to ourselves, we need to relate to life daily in courageous ways that respect our deeper essence, nature, and being.

Often we self-destructively seek meaning through losing ourselves to the needs of others, or by distracting ourselves from ourselves, in an endless attempt to please other people or make them happy. We unconsciously believe this will help us remain safe and also connected to the feeling of meaning we crave. But this always leaves an underlying dissatisfaction and selfharm in place, which in my experience is the root cause for most forms of suffering, depression and physical disease.

No human being wants to be alive or in a body where we hide our true self from others or to live a lie, which is why a heart not cared for becomes a body that does not feel good to be in, nor worthy of loving care. If our true feelings, needs and vision do not matter to us because we do not view them as meaningful, then our body and life will feel empty, meaningless and unworthy of healthy maintenance.

This is black and white. For me the most liberating view is to see all of this as self-created and intended to teach us about what really matters. It’s designed to teach us how to stop rejecting our true self–our true feelings and our true calling—so over time we awaken fully and embody our amazing creative potential as an expression of universal intelligence, or God in human form.

This meaning in our lives can never be felt, experienced or seen clearly through thoughts or ideas about the future. Likewise, true meaning cannot be tasted through concepts or theories on the meaning of life. It can only be our vivid felt experience, which words will never do justice in expressing, by speaking, acting and embodying the loving honest truth within us now, today, each moment and each day.

Blake D. Bauer is an author, speaker and teacher

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Being Present with Nature — BOOK REVIEWS

THE WISDOM OF TREES

By Max Adams

We came across this book accidentally and couldn’t put it down. On the face of it, it is not a Cygnus title…yet Max Adams who manages woodland in County Durham, shares with us his deep knowledge of trees in such an easy readable fashion. He explores both their amazing biology and humanity’s long and fruitful relationships with wood, trees and forests across the centuries. Each chapter deals with a different relationship between humanity and a different tree. Did you know, for instance, that before the age of iron and steel, almost all intricate mechanical parts were made from different parts of different trees?

256pp, 188 x 188 mm, hardback, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270124 Our price: £8.99

SONG OF INCREASE

By Jacqueline Freeman

This couldn’t be more relevant or have come at a better time. In recent years, especially since the tech boom of the 90s, we have become more disconnected from nature and the smaller organisms of this planet. Fast forward to the end of 2016 and bees have even been placed on the endangered list. If we look at how our planet is covered by an ever-growing number of humans, we too from a distance could be described as a hive with social media acting like our hive-mind. The song of increase is the sound of a healthy hive. These issues are mused upon in a meditative way and the author’s warmth really comes through in a way which connects you and the bees.

288pp,152 x 226 mm, Paperback, RRP £16.50

❖ Code: 270139 Our price: £8.99

THE PERMACULTURE BOOK OF DIY

By John Adams

Permaculture is a low cost, environmental and creative approach to living. We are offered 20 easy projects to inspire us, and some will cost nothing at all. Transform pallets into furniture or a self watering raised bed and if you have a bit of space in your garden, create a natural swimming pool that cleans itself and looks like a pond. The main problem you will have is to choose which project to begin with. Will it be the pizza stove or converting your bike into an electric one? This book revolutionises the way we see discarded materials and our abilities to engage creatively with our immediate environment.

176pp, 168 x 240 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.95

❖ Code: 270135 Our price: £7.99

www.cygnusreview.com

Autumn 2016, Issue 3

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

STOCKISTS NEEDED

Would your visitors, customers or clients be interested in what Cygnus has to offer?

If you think they might then please contact Geoff to discuss becoming one of the growing number of holistic centres, retreats, healers and businesses where copies of the Cygnus Review are available. ❖ Contact: Geoff Napier on 01285 762 982 or geoff@cygnus-books.co.uk for more information

Special 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Winter 2016, Issue

4

Cygnus Rev ie w

Members and staff share their memories and favourite books

www.cygnusrevi ew.com

HEAL YOUR BODY ❖ FEED YOUR SOUL ❖ FREE YOUR MIND ❖ LOVE YOUR PLAN ET

A Peaceful Joyful Christmas toanEvder yone www.cygnusreview.com And a prosperous Ne w Year in every

Spring 2017, Issue 5

❖ EDITOR’S PICKS Learn to Grow Your Spiritual Capital by Pam Grout

Cygnus Review

Coping With Being HighlySensitive in anBODY Insensitive WorldSOUL ❖ HEAL YOUR ❖ FEED YOUR

way

EDITOR’S PIC

❖ YOUR MIND ❖ LOVE YOUR PLANET FREE

KS We pay tribu te on her Ninetiethto Louise Hay Birthday William Bloom on of the mos Abundance and the New Important Proj t Articles and books to light your path ects in his Life Paradigm by Maddy Harland through our changing world A Wake-Up to The Beauty of Being No One Living from Jeff Foste r Special by Simon Austin Inspired by Ilse Sand

New beginnings

Advice to Speed You on Your Inward Journey by Louisa Crisp

Plus!

❖ NEW Candlelight Cinema Film New Perspect ives ❖ Cygnus Community on Weight Loss News ❖ Directory of Cygnus Cafes

by Kim Arnold

Plus! ❖ Cygnus Community New s ❖ Directory

of Cygnus Cafe

s

❖ EDITOR’S PICKS

Commit to the Truth by Mooji Totally Surrender to Being Here Now by Maria Tucker Embracing Unconditional Love by Blake D. Bauer

Plus!

❖ Cygnus Community News ❖ Directory of Cygnus Cafes

Cygnus-Spring 2017_P1-10_FINAL.indd 1

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3/02/17 3:38 pm

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PACKED BY BECKY ALEXANDER & MICHELLE LAKE PACKED

By Becky Alexander and Michelle Lake

A beautifully presented and pleasing recipe book that will transform your packed lunches from mundane to magnificent. It includes inspirational lunch hacks that will trump the boring standard of soup and a sandwich. The recipes are fun and easily sourced, as well as easy to make with minimal fuss.

They range from tasty morning smoothies to salads and slaws, from filling meals to tasty treats and snacks. It also includes great tips for serving and keeping. It’s a perfect gift for any 9-5er looking for something different to give their midday break a boost.

192pp, 152 x 206 mm, Paperback, RRP £12.99

❖ CODE: 270149 Our Price £6.99

Essential Spring Title

Tomato & Butterbean Soup Perfect for any day when you know you will need something warming and nutritious to eat at lunchtime. Kids love this too, so it’s a great meal for a packed school lunch in a food flask. Serve with crusty bread to dip in. The butter beans are a good source of protein, making this surprisingly filling. ❖ 1 tbsp rapeseed/canola oil ❖ 1 small red onion, chopped ❖ 1 celery stalk, sliced ❖ 1 carrot, chopped ❖ 1 tsp frozen chopped garlic or 1 garlic clove, chopped ❖ 400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes ❖ 400g/14oz can butter beans, rinsed and drained ❖ sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1

Heat the oil in a large saucepan.

Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Cover and cook for 10 minutes until softened.

2

Add the tomatoes and butter beans, and 200ml/7fl oz/scant 1 cup boiling water. Stir well, and bring back to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

3

Whizz the soup using a blender or food processor until smooth.

Season with salt and plenty of black pepper.

4

Divide the soup among four freezerproof containers, then cool and freeze for up to 3 months any that you don’t want to eat soon.

Defrost overnight in the fridge.

Reheat a portion before you go to work and transfer to a vacuum food flask – or reheat it at work.

From Packed by Becky Alexander and Michelle Lake © Nourish Books 2017, commissioned photography by Haarala Hamilton.

MAKES 4 LUNCHES

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Perennial Wisdom — BOOK REVIEWS THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES By Joseph Campbell

We have wanted to feature this book at Cygnus for a long time but were waiting for it to go into paperback and become cheaper. Well, we just don’t think that’s going to happen, so suffice to say we are offering it at as low a price as we can manage. People have suggested it’s the most important book of the 20th century and George Lucas called it a “revelation”.

It’s full of references and illustrations, all of which point to the “Hero’s Journey”, which is so important in stories like the Grail myth and in cultural studies but also as guidance in our daily lives.

We can see both success and setbacks as part of the process and treat stories from world culture as teaching stories. Well-written and richly illustrated, it’s a vital addition to any serious library.

432pp, 152 x 224 mm, Hardback, RRP £18.99

❖ Code: 270140 Our price: £9.99

POWER OF MYTH (DVD)

By Joseph Campbell

This two-disc dvd set includes all six episodes (plus extras) of the groundbreaking television series where Joseph Campbell was interviewed by journalist Bill Moyers and was allowed to discourse compellingly on the subject of myth, his life’s work. Sadly it only came out the year after his death in 1987, but it made him a posthumous superstar. Of course, the world has changed immensely and the presentation feels dated, but the truths expressed are eternal. Bill Moyers sums up the key one, describing myth as “the transcendental link between the human and the divine”. Across the nearly six hours of footage, we get an intimate insight into the all the ways this truth manifests in art and culture around the world. Truly inspiring!

342mins, 2 discs, DVD, RRP £9.99

❖ Code: 270142 Our price: £7.99

THE SNOW LEOPARD

By Peter Matthiessen

A Cygnus Classic – this is one of the most important books in my life. It’s the story of a naturalist’s expedition into Nepal in 1973. George Schaller decided to take along his friend the writer Peter Matthiessen. Matthiessen’s wife had just died the year before and of course his account is influenced by this and by their deep involvement in Zen Buddhism. The expedition is to research the elusive snow leopard and takes them to a remote Himalayan valley. All along the way, Matthiessen reflects on life and death in all their aspects. It’s one of the richest books I have ever read and, having read it first on the backpacker trail in Asia, I have gone on to revisit it on three further occasions.

336pp,128 x 198 mm, Paperback, RRP £9.99

❖ CODE: 270134 Our Price £6.99

LOST MASTERS

By Linda Johnsen

In the West we tend to believe “thinking” arrived with the Greeks and ideas such as karma and reincarnation reached us comparatively recently from the East.

Now in-depth historical study reveals a different story. This book produces a wealth of evidence to show that Western sages brought a spiritual heritage from India and the East a long time ago. We know Pythagoras as a mathematician, but now we learn his students said that he “cures souls”. Democritus was the son of a Magus who studied in depth with the Egyptians and Chaldeans, while Plotinus trekked to India. All these great thinkers, including Plato and Socrates, have stories to tell, the history of our spiritual tradition is fascinating and this book is a treasure chest of long-forgotten facts. By getting to know those sages who acted as a conduit between East and West we may begin to connect back to the roots of our spiritual heritage.

256pp,140 x 212 mm, Paperback, RRP £15.50

❖ Code: 270141 Our price: £8.99

THE TAO TE CHING

By Lao Tzu

SAVE 50%

In the Watkins “Sacred Texts” series, which also includes “The Gnostic Gospels” in our previous Review, here is the world’s second most translated book (after the Bible) in a wonderful and resilient hardback edition, which is small enough to fit in your pocket. It’s a universally applicable and deeply insightful text which people have used as practical and spiritual guidance for centuries. Taoism – the school of thought which arose out of this legendary text – affirms that every human is a reflection of the whole universe, and what applies to the macrocosm also applies to the microcosm. Thus the whole of creation becomes a wonderful and colourful teaching manual.

224pp, 110 x 158 mm, Hardback, RRP £7.99

❖ Code: 270150 Our price: £3.99

THE SPIRIT OF ZEN

By Solala Towler

We use the term “Zen” quite lazily when describing architecture and design, to embody a certain sense of cool and minimal elegance. However this is only a relatively minor aspect of Zen Buddhism, and what’s more characteristic of it is its use of paradox, fun and sudden insight via teaching stories to enable the student to break through into enlightenment. The author has previously done the same for the Tao but in this new book he gathers together more than fifty stories, which both illustrate and encapsulate the radical and exciting spirit of Zen. Includes elegant black and white photographs.

176pp,160 x 240 mm, Hardback, RRP £16.99

❖ CODE: 270151 Our Price £7.99

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BOOK REVIEWS — Extra special offers!

SACRED SITES ORACLE CARDS By Barbara MeiklejohnFree and Flavia Kate Peters

I AM/YOU ARE

By Rosemary Gallagher

This uplifting little gift book is the perfect pick-me-up for yourself or for someone close to you, whether you want a self-affirmation you can repeat as your daily mantra or you just want someone to remind you that ‘You Are Amazing’. It’s not a deep book but that’s not its intention, instead you can dip in whenever you want or when you need to be reminded just how fantastic you are - handy to keep SAVE in your handbag, next to your bed or next to your mirror.

50%

224pp, 95 x 95 mm, Paperback, RRP £4.99

❖ Code: 270101 Our price: £2.49

PRAYER FOR THE DAY ON PEACE

By BBC Radio 4

As we hurry through our often demanding lives, we long for stillness, for tranquillity, for social harmony. Yet in today's troubled world, peace can seem far away indeed. This inspiring collection of 40 meditations and prayers, drawn from the multi-faith BBC Radio 4 series Prayer for the Day, makes clear that true peace begins with an inner quiet in which we may know our own thoughts. This is a timely collection from a wide range of faith traditions, offering hope, reassurance and SAVE a vision for the future.

50%

176pp, 127 x 163 mm, Hardback, RRP £8.99

❖ Code: 270102 Our price: £4.49

WAKE UP AND SOAR

By Chris Nelson

So much of what is wrong with our health and wellbeing stems from our escalating busyness and the disconnect we have between our mind, body and soul as we frantically try to keep our heads above water. This personal and practical book offers three simple changes we can make that will allow us to take responsibility for our holistic wellbeing. That in turn will improve our health, grant us clarity of SAVE purpose and bring our lives back under our control.

50%

330pp, 145 x 200 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270103 Our price: £5.49

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This is a stunning and unique oracle card system, with beautiful illustrations from Yuri Leitch. It is aesthetically as well as spiritually appealing. The cards tap into some of the world’s most powerful sites, harnessing their energy and wisdom, so that you grow, learn and develop as you use them. Whilst the cards are easy to interpret this is not a beginner’s deck but if you are looking for more depth in your oracles then SAVE these are the cards for you.

50%

52 cards, 125 x 170 x 42 mm, Deck, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270104 Our price: £7.49

HIDDEN STONEHENGE

By Gordon Freeman

Hidden Stonehenge uncovers the mystery of Canada's Stonehenge in the remote plains of southern Alberta, abandoned centuries ago and largely forgotten ever since. At the heart of the book is a detailed comparison between this Sun Temple and Stonehenge, including how 5,000 years ago Britons and Plains Indians made precise astronomical observations at these two sites halfway around the world from each another at nearly the same latitude.

These similarities make us think again about the supposedly 'primitive' nature SAVE of prehistoric peoples' understanding of the cosmos.

50%

384pp, 170 x 246 mm, Paperback, RRP £14.99

❖ Code: 270105 Our price: £7.49

THE OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE

By Anthony Peake

What is an out-of-body (OOB) experience? Where do people go when they experience them? How are they scientifically possible?

These are just some of the questions that Anthony Peake attempts to answer in this book, covering the full gamut from OOB’s to lucid dreaming and astral projection.

Peake looks at both the human experience of these phenomena as well as explaining the science behind them. This accessible book showcases the findings of Peake’s own research, and it will leave you with SAVE both answers and your own questions to explore.

50%

240pp, 135 x 216 mm, Paperback, RRP £10.99

❖ Code: 270106 Our price: £5.49

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KINDREDSPIRIT Sharing spiritual wisdom for over 25 years

Subscribe online and get the next 7 issues of Kindred Spirit delivered to your door for just £22

www.kindredspirit.co.uk

The healing power of acupuncture in a gel.

The power of acupuncture lies in the activation of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in the skin.This unique blend of caesium salts and homeopathics achieves the same effect without needles.

The Gel is ideal for daily skin rejuvenation, revitalization or repair.

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T +44 (0)20 7224 2332

IRENE - ‘BEAUTY FROM WITHIN’

When it comes to Royal Jelly - Nothing else compares Irene Stein is not your average 77 year old. She is fit, healthy, energetic and, when not working on her business, she is out playing a game of tennis or two and enjoying life to the fullest. Not only this, her flawless complexion has many second guessing her age and not an inch of grey can be found in her full head of hair. Even more interesting is the photo of her mother at 82 years who also managed to get rid of her Arthritis by taking the formula. Is this not impressive!

This miraculous formulation, created by Irene herself in conjunction with a Master in Complex Homeopathy and another Master in plant/herbal knowledge, is an excellent blend of Royal Jelly which is naturally preserved in honey with Ginseng, Echinacea and herbs and has been used in the treatment of at least 75 different health conditions. From allergies, digestive problems, diabetes, menopause and migraines right through to heart conditions, blood pressure, cancer, chemotherapy and prostate problems, Royal Jelly can significantly reduce symptoms and in many cases eliminate the condition completely.

Irene’s first encounter with Royal Jelly was when she was around 40 years of age. After suffering from a retroverted uterus which was causing her a great deal of pain, Irene went through a hysterectomy.

She was advised that she would need to take hormone replacement tablets and would go into early menopause. As well as the inevitable hot flushes,

night sweats and other hormonal imbalance symptoms she was also advised she would be out of action for at least 6 months.

Strong willed and determined to avoid medication; Irene refused to take the tablets and instead took Royal Jelly. Astonishingly, she did not go into early menopause and instead made a full recovery and was back at her desk just one week later!

Not only did this incredible formula relieve Irene of her symptoms, it completely removed her migraines - from which she had suffered from at an early age - and dramatically improved her immune system, meaning she never suffers from coughs, colds or flu.

“I was born to a mother ahead of her time and brought up on black molasses, cider vinegar, and told about the importance of breathing” Irene comments, “These early introductions worked for me and became my own belief, and when I discovered Royal Jelly in 1974 through a Greek Bee Keeper, my mother knew all about it, even though it wasn’t readily available.

“I think it is true to say that I don’t actually resemble my 77 years. Things like memory, retention, absorption, clarity, focus, agility, and I still seem to be firing on all cylinders. During the early part of my experiences with Royal Jelly, I was fascinated by the way in which my mother’s arthritis disappeared completely in her late 70’s and I watched her greying hair turned back to its natural colour.

“Incidentally my tennis is getting better and better. I am amazed how I am able to outplay players that I believe are much stronger than myself.

I am also amazed that many younger tennis partners are puffing and blowing by the time that we finish and I’ve still got energy to go on!”

Around 30,000 people worldwide have incorporated Royal Jelly into their daily diet including professional athletes, showbiz celebrities and members of the British Royal Family with famous faces including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip, Princess Diana and Cliff Richard .

Irene’s formula is 10 times more potent than Royal Jelly in other forms, thanks to the homeopathic potentisation Echinacea and other herbs. Ingredients such as amino acid and glutamic acid are known to delay aging, while the pantothenic acid helps to prevent premature grey. In addition, elements such as inositol, lysine, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur are responsible for maintaining the skin, nails and hair, leaving them in peak condition and the ginseng, iron, thiamine (B l) and cyanocobalamin (Vit B 12) provide an abundant source of natural energy.

“In the 40+ years, I have been involved with this remarkable substance and my unique formulation,” explained Irene, “there have never been harmful side-effects or contra-indications in any way, shape or form, including diabetics who are actually able to lower their units of insulin they take. Many people who believe they are allergic to Ginseng or any other ingredient, find that does not apply to this formulation . I also give it to babies before birth.

“I have as many people making this a-way-of-life as taking it just for a specific condition, since it is cumulative and there are many ongoing benefits. I have always had a number of Practitioners sharing my vision and recommending the product to their patients as well as the biggest growth being the recommendation from 1 person to another. “ “From this amazing learning experience,” she concluded, “I still continue to astonish myself with the results that I see and hear about. I am still passionate and thrilled to bits with the way in which my unique formulation changes peoples’ lives, and have no intention of retiring.

Why would I give up my magnificent obsession!”

Irene believes Royal Jelly is something that needs to be discussed before use, and therefore does not feel it should be sitting on the shelves of supermarkets.

She is more than happy to provide more information to those who are interested and discuss their conditions and needs to provide the best plan to suit them.

Contact Irene now on: +44 (0)7831 641199, email: ireneroyaljelly@gmail.com or visit the website at: www.irenesteinrj.com

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 DRAWING WITH CONFIDENCE - see through artists eyes.

Michelle Baker de Roeck, U3A tutor . March 31 - April 2.

Course, accommodation, vegetarian meals. £225.

Claridge House, Surrey. RH7 6QH. 01342 832150 www.claridgehousequaker.org.uk CREATIVE WRITING AND ART - meeting with trees.

Rebecca Hubbard, experienced tutor & published author.

April 21 - 23. Course, accommodation, vegetarian meals. £240. Claridge House, Surrey. RH7 6QH. 01342 832150 www.claridgehousequaker.org.uk TAI CHI - gentle form of exercise for everyone.

Andrei Illes, Chen style teacher. April 25 - 27 Course, accommodation, vegetarian meals. £240.

Claridge House, RH7 6QH. 01342 832150 www.claridgehousequaker.org.uk

HEA

HEALING, COACHING AND READINGS

ANGELIC GUIDANCE WITH MICHAEL – Welcome positive change into your life. Please telephone Eastbourne 01323 365751 for further details. mikeallone@talktalk.net

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: info@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 HEALING RETREAT WEEKEND FOR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT in the beautiful Pennines of West Yorkshire, search online www.trusthousefarms.co.uk or call 01422 822 820 07759 619 043

ACCOMMODATION TO RENT FLATSHARE / TEMP LODGING, NORTH LONDON, 2mins Cockfosters Tube, Trent Park Green Belt, 10mins M25.

Light south facing flat. Free parking. Good refs needed.

Nigel 07940001394, long time Cygnus Supporter.

IDYLLIC OFF-GRID HOLIDAY COTTAGE in spectacular lakeside location in rural mid-Wales. No phones or TV, just peace and fresh air. Unplug and re-discover your creativity.

Sleeps 9. 01544-318414. www.dalarwen.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 THE BEST READING I’VE EVER HAD. ‘You get straight to the point with helpful, meaningful messages.’ ‘I totally agree with everything, I couldn’t be happier.’ ‘Spectacular—it’s all true.’ Channelled readings and mediumship by phone.

Corinne Jeffrey T: 01594 829491 www.lovebeingyou.co.uk 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 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

22

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

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

NOTICEBOARD

COLOUR THERAPY www.colourtherapytoday.com June McLeod author of the best seller ‘Colours of the Soul’

EMF AWARE SUSSEX PRESENTS

‘THE HIDDEN COST OF CONVENIENCE’ Revealing the detrimental effects of pulsed microwave radiation (Cellphone, Masts and WI-FI etc) on health, wellbeing and states of mind, wildlife and the environment. Dr. Olle Johansson Neuroscientist, Dr. Erica Mallery-Blythe MD, Brian Stein CBE and Jenny Fry Memorial Lecture.

Venue: All Saints Community Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes, BN7 2LE. 11th June 12.00pm.

For information about tickets contact Bob 01273 726401 brighton.bobby@gmail.com or Peter Gane 01935 423 002

The Isbourne College & Holistic Centre

Creating Positive Lives Through Holistic Learning

Workshops Classes Accredited and Quality Endorsed courses Guest Speakers Open Days Talks Holistic Fringe Festival Taster Weeks Wellbeing for Business Rooms for Hire

01242 254321 / 254322

www.isbourne.org / www.isbournecollege.org

Isbourne House, Wolseley Terrace, Oriel Rd, Cheltenham GL50 1TH

... in the heart of Covent Garden

Holistic Holidays In Greece Dance, Yoga, Tai Chi Creative Writing Nonduality Satsang Healing & Creative Art Raw Food Detox

www.kalikalos.com

Byron Katie Work™ August Family Weeks Living-in-Community Walking in the Pelion Vipassana Meditation

020-8816-8533

Natural Crystals, Buddhas, Meditation and Relaxation CD’s, Spiritual Books, Singing bowls, Oracle cards, Incense, smudge sticks, Gifts, Music, Crystal Jewellery and much more.

Downstairs at Buddha on a Bicycle : Readings, Treatments, Healings, Therapies, Workshops, Yoga, Meditation and much more.

Drop in and see us at: 27 ENDEL STREET, COVENT GARDEN WC2 : 0207 836 8000 ww www.buddhaonabicycle.com

WONDERFUL NEW WORKSHOP PROGRAMME Glastonbury Spring 2017 * Endorphin Effect • Spiritual Fuel Life Purpose • The Five Initiations Inner Leadership • Teach Meditation Graceful Death • Psychics & Empaths * Visit *

www.williambloom.com

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

23

Pioneer of Sound Healing & Family & Ancestral Healing

Weekends & Week Intensives

Jill Purce HEALING VOICE

Magic of the Voice, Overtone Chanting, Mantra, Sacred Chants & Living Mandala Ceremonies.

Areas of Transformation

HEALTH • WEALTH • RELATIONSHIPS • SPIRITUALITY

CAN THIS MAN EMPOWER YOU TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

A journey of two Near Death Experiences gifted Mas Sajady extraordinarily potent abilities to open any area of your life at the core frequency level to 360° of Abundance.

Abundan

UK

27th Apr to 7th May

PARIS

Weekends Feb 18-19, May 20-21, Jun 3-4, Jul 1-2, Oct 28-29, Dec 2-3

HEALING FAMILY & ANCESTORS

RESONANT FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS Find the keys which set you and your family free.

Turn clamorous ancestors into powerful guides.

8th to 10th May

LEBANON

11th to 13th May

Register at

MASSAJADY.COM

Week’nd Feb 11-12, Mar 18-19, Apr 8-9, Sep 23-24, Nov 18-19, Dec 9-10 Week intensives Somerset Apr 28, Jun 16 & London Oct 28

healingvoice.com 0207 435 2467 info@healingvoice.com

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