Recommended Reading

 

 

 

October 10th, 2021 is World Mental Health Day and the formal release  of Brenda's book Interior Consciousness: Healing From The Inside Out.  Copies will be available to order on-line from the publisher  Austin Macauley , Amazon , Barnes and Noble, Chapters/Indigo, and can be ordered through all favourite local book stores.  You may also order through Brenda directly and each copy will be personalized. 

 

Both memoir and guidebook, Interior Consciousness: Healing From The Inside Out.   reveals how you can heal from many of life's traumatic events be they physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.  Brenda was born into a home of violence, abuse and addictions and yet with resilience, self compassion and perseverence, she excelled beyond expectations.  Just when life seemed to deliver great peace and promise, Brenda experienced a devasting event: her new home blew up, and she was in it.  Brenda details her recovery that included a traumatic brain injury, the prognosis of early onset dementia, anxiety and severe cognitive impairments.  After surviving the propane explosion, Murphy  candidly speaks to the struggles on her journey to wholeness in mind, body and spirit.  Her style is accessible and deeply honest, which makes the content much more impactful.  This is a must read for anyone willing to put the work in, to facilitate their own healing, from the inside out. 

 

 

The Healing Self is from Deepak Chopra that is very timely. It is "a quantum leap forward in the integration of science, medicine, wisdom and health. As Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi powerfully show, our first line of healing lies inside us, and the choices we make today are crucial to lifelong wellness." Arianna Huffington.

 

 

 The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle is a brilliant book for anyone looking to deepen self awareness and connect with the Self.  With over 2 million copies sold, it is a spiritual tool that never loses relevancy.  Whether a seasoned yogi or a new spiritual aspirant, this book is accessible and inspiring.

 

 

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle is a guide towards a state of higher consciousness. He examines how our mental and emotional states impact our lives, and reminds us that when the ego is in control, we do not live from our highest place.  By choosing to elevate our awareness, we are choosing to be enriched more deeply in our daily lives.

 

The Tao of Physics is a cosmic journey between ancient Yogic wisdom and contemporary science.  For anyone that loves science and the interplay with traditional Yogic teachings, this will entertain and fascinate.

 

 

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer, offers contemporary wisdom by reminding us how to connect deeper spiritually, by examining our thoughts and emotions in a generous and loving way. This is a nice entry point into mindfulness, with wellness strategies that all seekers will enjoy.  A comfortable, inspiring bridge between east and west.

 

 

 The Daily Stoic includes ancient philosophers, including Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus.  This is not a heavy, laborious read, but one that motivates us to improve every day, on every level. 

 

 Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl, should be examined by everyone.  The account of Frankl's story of survival from a Nazi death camp, is hard to imagine, and hard to ignore.  Human beings are far more resilient, kind and loving than we believe, and Frankl demonstrates just this.  

 

 

  Marcus Aurelius Meditationshas been on my shelf for years.  Sometimes we just want a little inspiration.  Succinct wisdom on love, success, strife, peace, and friendship weave throughout this book.  A short passage everyday can change your outlook, and makes it safe to look a little deeper.  This book is a great way to include a daily contemplative meditation....read a passage, close your eyes and dive deep into your higher consciousness.

 

 

 Being Peace by revered Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, is a wonderful conversation on love, kindness, interconnectedness and peace.  The book is practical and inspiring while challenging us to be peace within and without.  He shows us how to make change that is lasting and empowering.

 

 The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a favourite read by spiritual seekers.  An easy read, this book highlights four simple internal agreements that keep the reader/seeker aligned to a higher seat of awareness and ecourages us to maintain a mindfulness practice.  I re-read this once a year at least.

 

 

 

The Mindfulness in Plain English Collection by Bhante Gunaratana, is a wonderful way to establish a deeper meditation and mindfulness practice.  Easy to follow, with concrete techniques of shifting our thought patterns to be more aligned to a higher seat of consciousness.  We learn to be still, cultivate awareness, less reactivity and more kindness.

 

 

 

 The Bhagavad Gita is one of the classic yogic texts.  This version is my favourite in its accessibility and wisdom.  I have read it many times and it will always have a place on my shelf. "It stands out from the many other versions with its assersion that the Bhagavad Gita is at heart a universal guide to navigating the battle of life required of each and every one of us."  The Bhagavad Gita, Ravi Ravindra.

 

 

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda is another classic text.  For anyone that wants to be inspired by a true master, this memoir offers true insight into this great human.  It is entertaining, full of wisdom and timeless.  

 

 

 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali with commentary and translation by Sri Swami Satchidananda,  a modern day master.  "The Yoga Sutras are a complete manual for the study and practice of Yoga...Sri Swami Satchidananda shares his practical, down-to-earth advice on mastering the mind and achieving physical, mental and emotional harmony in life."  Integral Yoga

 

 

This is That by Anand Mehrota is a "radical interpretation of the clues found in Padas 1 and 2 of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.  A guide to the practice, the state and the experience of Yoga, it leads the practitioner toward uncovering their own true nature while continuing their self realization." From This is That.  I have read and re-read many times and I like to use in conjuction with the study of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras for greater depth.

 

 The Key Poses of Yoga is a brilliant examination of the body from the musculo-skeletal perspective through the lens of asana's.  Fantastic for any enthusiastic yogini and a must for yoga teachers, this book tells us the why's and how's of a properly executed asana.

 

 

The Human Body Atlas is a comprehensive text.  The coloured diagrams reveal bone, muscle, tendons, nerves, veins and cellular networks.  

 

Foods That Harm, Foods that Heal offers a comprehensive look at food and which foods can promote greater health.  Foods are examined individually for the nutritional content, their health benefits, what they heal, and if they harm.  It also examines diseases like ulcers, Parkinson's, cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and migraines for example and directs us towards foods that are proven to have healing effects.

 

 

   How Not to Die. This is a deep dive into the science of nutrition, great for science geeks and healthy nutritional aspirants. "The news that a plant-based diet is the healthiest way to eat is spreading.  Dr.Michael Greger presents the groundbreaking science on how simple plant-based food choices help us live healthier and happier lives." Brian Wendel, president Forks over Knives.