The Wakeful World

Over the past few hundred years, animism has been dismissed as a primitive, naive and irrational perspective, relevant perhaps amongst tribal peoples but not within the intellectual arenas of the civilized West. In this book, the author argues that this is based on the misrepresentation that each tree and stone has its own immortal soul.

Over the past few hundred years, animism has been dismissed as a primitive, naïve and irrational perspective, irrelevant within the civilised West. In The Wakeful World, Emma Restall Orr argues that this is based on the misrepresentation, drawn in crayon, that each tree and stone has its own Christian-like immortal soul. Taking the reader on a philosophical adventure, Restall Orr explores the heritage of Western thought with precision, enthusiasm and sensitivity, considering how soul, spirit, mind and consciousness have been understood through millennia. Challenging the prevailing worldviews of materialism and dualism, she presents animism as a radically different, yet mature and coherent philosophy. Providing deep green ethics with a wholly rational metaphysical foundation, The Wakeful World is a compelling view of the nature of existence and the experience of reality, giving solid ground for the now necessary journey to a sustainable world. This original and lively book brings back animism - a most useful range of ideas which reductivists have somewhat wildly abandoned during the last century - into focus once more just when it is badly needed to cure current confusions about mind and body - Dr Mary Midgley, Moral Philosopher

Spirituality & Practice "Best Books of 2021" Award Winner A highly practical and approachable guide to somatic meditation with easy practices for accessing the body's inherent mindfulness, from an expert in somatic meditation. Tap into the wisdom of the body with down-to-earth practices like "Surrendering to the Breath" and "Befriending Feelings" that allow the body to become the source of mindfulness. Willa Blythe Baker introduces meditation practice as the cultivation of a way of being, rather than a way of doing. It is a way of being that is self-aware, self-compassionate, and embodied. This way of being is not limited to practice on the cushion or on the yoga mat--somatic mindfulness is available at any moment, activated by attention to the body's wisdom and its teachings. Discover the three layers of embodiment, from the earth body of flesh and blood, the subtle body of sensory experience and emotion, and the awareness body of consciousness. The three parts of this book explore these layers through turning attention to the physical, energetic, and mental dimensions of human experience. By diving deep into the body, readers will find that they already have what they need. Concentration, wisdom, compassion, kindness, and joy are waiting there.

A captivating picture of a climate-changed future viewed from two starkly different cultural perspectives, The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide to New New England & Beyond follows the paths of a runaway aristocrat, a Luddite tyrant, a spy seeking retribution, and a wandering historian unicycling north along the crumbling Boston Post Road.Marto Boxter is an optimistic journalist with a head full of implants. When we meet him, he is planning a ride into the interconnected tribes of the Northeast from his town of Reverside-on-Hudson. He plans to document his ride by posting his thoughts in real-time to his post-human followers. Before he can leave on his tour however, a runaway named Helen arrives with secret information that throws Marto's placid world into turmoil.Meanwhile, Barnabas Yoniver IV, the leader of a Luddite town to the south launches a plot to disrupt the life of all upgraded humans and bring them back to the traditional economy of markets and governments. Aware of Yoniver's plans, rival Luddite families scheme to prevent Barnabas from grabbing too much power for himself.

How have human cultures engaged with and thought about animals, plants, rocks, clouds, and other elements in their natural surroundings? Do animals and other natural objects have a spirit or soul? What is their relationship to humans? In this new study, Graham Harvey explores current and past animistic beliefs and practices of Native Americans, Maori, Aboriginal Australians, and eco-pagans. He considers the varieties of animism found in these cultures as well as their shared desire to live respectfully within larger natural communities. Drawing on his extensive casework, Harvey also considers the linguistic, performative, ecological, and activist implications of these different animisms.

Vedas are the most ancient scriptures known to us today. They are not just religious texts but are storehouses of vast knowledge, both worldly as well as spiritual. However, these voluminous texts are shrouded in mystery that seem to be unresolvable. This book tries to unravel some of these mysteries and throws lot of light on often misunderstood aspects of these scriptures. This is the second part of the series “Unsolved mysteries”. Table of Contents Chapter 1. One God or many Gods? The word God is a misnomer! Do you know God? Chapter 2. Upanishadic version of ultimate reality Samkhya’s interpretation of Upanishadic genesis story Buddha’s views on Upanishadic narratives Gaudapada’s interpretation of Upanishadic reality Shankara’s views on Upanishadic reality Chapter 3. Do Upanishads view the world as illusion? Strange story of ‘one’ becoming ‘many’ Saying it all in just twelve sentences! Is this life like a movie show?! Don’t entangle yourself in a web of contradictions Chapter 4. Advaita sans Maya The drama of life! Isn’t it cruel to say that this life is just a drama? Does Advaita sans Maya clarify the paradoxes? Chapter 5. What is the message of the Upanishads? Don’t be on a wild goose chase! No amount of wealth can make you happy forever! Just bottle up the unruly genie! urrender to the boss! Epilogue

Gloriously illustrated, this journal guides readers to explore the darkness, unknown, and miraculousness of a cancer diagnosis to discover an awakening.Nicole Skibola was 32 and a lawyer working in the New York start-up world when she received a diagnosis for a rare endometrial cancer. That surreal moment marked the beginning of a race to save eggs, to operate, and to mourn the loss of her reproductive organs. Echoing the urgency of diagnosis and treatment were the messages from everyone to move on, be grateful, resettle into the person she was "before." Loss begat losses: her boyfriend left her, her start-up failed, and Nicole found herself in her childhood home, alone, and for the first time was allowed to explore her grief. She joined a group of writers and artists, many of whom were making art that dealt explicitly with grief and loss. It was a revelation.After documenting her own story-and with some inspiration from The Artist's Way'-Nicole developed a framework that supports people, especially those with cancer, to face, feel, and express their own reality by connecting to their inner artist.

Brian O'Shaughnessy presents a theory of consciousness, one of the most fascinating but puzzling aspects of human existence. He investigates what consciousness is and how it engages, through perception, with the world.