Named one of the Best Books of 2014 by NPR As seen on The Today Show A hand-drawn path to inner peace! Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe will set you free on a visual journey of self-discovery. Set against a surreal backdrop of intricate ink illustrations, you will find nine metaphysical lessons with dreamlike instructions that require you to open your heart to unexplored inner landscapes. From setting fire to your anxieties to sharing a cup of tea with your inner demons, you will learn how to let go and truly connect with the world around you. Whether you need a little inspiration or a completely new life direction, Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe provides you with the necessary push to find your true path--and a whimsical adventure to enjoy on the way there.

Today's kids face grave issues and harder decisions than ever before. Gang warfare, violence, drugs, alcohol, smoking, pregnancy, depression and suicide have found their way into middle and elementary schools. Divorce splits apart families every day. These issues make kids feel as if they must understand and accept all the troubles of the world.

Press pause, step outside, and look up. There is so much to gain by simply watching the clouds go by. This take-anywhere guide invites you to tap into the calming power of nature through the contemplative practice of cloud-spotting. Discover different types of clouds, unique sky phenomena, and the many benefits that come from slowing down long enough to notice them. The petite 4 x 6" trim makes this book perfect for adventurers and nature-lovers (toss it in a backpack and bring it on your next trek!), while new and experienced meditators will appreciate the simple approach to mindfulness. Filled with remarkable tidbits and soothing practices, CLOUD-SPOTTING reminds us that the wonders of nature abound if we just take the time to look.

Despite the increase in meditation studies, the quality remains variable; many of them are trivial, and most remain unreplicated. Research on meditation has been plagued by insubstantial theorizing, global claims, and the substitution of belief systems for grounded hypotheses. Meditation punctures some of the myths about meditation, while retaining a place of value for mediation as a normal human function.

In each chapter includes discussion of the major questions addressed, followed by a detailed critique of important theoretical, clinical, and research issues. In several instances the reader may find that questions seem to beget questions: research bearing upon certain issues may be contradictory, or not yet of sufficient thoroughness. In these cases, the author suggests the specific future research necessary to resolve the questions posed, so that claims about meditation are justified, and which are not. The profession of psychology itself is, and has been, in a polarized debate between the "practitioners" and the "experimentalists." The latter accuse the former of being "soft, non-empirical, non-scientific," while practitioners accuse the experimentalists of conducting research which is essentially irrelevant to human concerns.

This approach provides a bridge between research and clinical practice. Meditation provides an encompassing survey of the topic--nearly forty tables and figures; sample questionnaires, evaluations and programs and a detailed overview of a controversial field. Shapiro separates self-regulation with self-delusion, to outline questions and possible answers.

Relax and unwind the creative way! Learn to use drawing as a pathway to relaxation with the creative art exercises and soothing meditations found inside this inspiring book. Anyone who has ever experienced a relaxed, calm state while doodling understands the powerful connection between hand and mind. From flowing one-line designs to calm-inducing repetitive patterns, drawing can put us into a state of flow. And, with this book, you'll return to that feeling repeatedly with the meditative exercises offered. Each exercise includes instructions, a pattern, and a practice area for drawing. Also included are guided meditations in the form of key words to ponder as you draw. Finally, inspirational quotes and short prompts help you put each lesson into practice. A more calm, present, and mindful moment is waiting. A pencil and this book are all that's needed!

A collection of meditations in the Stoic tradition. Meditations on Self-Discipline and Failure provides access to the ruminations, practices, and applications of ancient Stoic philosophy as deployed by a contemporary professional philosopher with twenty five years of experience teaching, researching, and publishing articles in academic journals. Each meditation is presented in the second person, encouraging the reader to examine their struggles and failures in the pursuit of self-improvement and enlightenment.

The practice of yoga, hypnosis, and the use of psychedelic drugs to alter psychological and physiological states is not unknown to the study of psychology. They have been called "soft" studies and labeled unimportant. This is mostly because they are difficult to study and understand, often focusing on unobservable internal states such as altered states of consciousness, Samadhi, or hypnotic states. This book, in its approach to thinking about this topic and method for analysis, focuses only on phenomena that can be observed, such as behavioral changes.

By centering on only those aspects of the psychological and physiological effects of yoga, hypnosis, and psychedelic drugs which can be measured and analyzed using this new method, Barber distinguishes this book from others in the field. He asks what overt behaviors and verbal reports are clearly observable when psychedelic drugs are taken, yoga is practiced, or hypnotic-induction procedures are administered. Instead of treating the phenomena traditionally associated with psychedelic drugs, yoga, or hypnosis as undifferentiated conglomerates, an attempt will be made to set apart and treat separately each of the many phenomena associated with each of these areas of inquiry.

This book does not set out to simply demonstrate the importance of psychedelics, yoga, and hypnosis, or to present substantive material pertaining to these topics. It also treats each topic as continuous with other known psychological phenomena and as an important piece to the puzzle of social psychology. It differs from most previous treatises in that it does not assume that psychedelics, yoga, and hypnosis can bring out unused mental or physical capacities in man, heighten awareness or give rise to enhanced creativity, or produce altered states of consciousness, suspension of conventional reality-orientation, changes in body-image, or changes in perception.

A pocket-sized book of thoughtful quotes curated to help you unplug from your devices, step away from your screen, and live a more present life. "Almost everything will work if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." --Anne Lamott With the constant barrage of news feeds, notifications, and social media demanding our attention almost every minute of our day, it has become critical for us to take a digital break and unplug. Stepping away from our screens, however, is proving to be increasingly more difficult in today's constant, hyperconnected, technological world. How can we mindfully connect to the present moment and allow ourselves to fully enter into the here and now? Dive into the insightful words of writers, thinkers, and seekers who grapple with the way media shapes our consciousness. Let these quotes act as a guide to reflect on and cherish everyday experiences without digital technology and bring critical awareness on how technology is overtaking our lives. Unplug mini book invites us to disconnect from the never-ending data stream inundating our lives so that we can reconnect with ourselves. 150 QUOTES: Open to any page for inspiration from writers and thinkers including Eckhart Tolle, Henry David Thoreau, Alan Watts, and Deepak Chopra POCKET SIZE: This compact mini book fits easily in a pocket or purse for easy access to wisdom and inspiration whenever it's needed CREATE COMFORT AND CALM: Each quote is an invitation for self-reflection that can help us move towards clarity, presence, and mindful being BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED: Lovely hand-drawn illustrations add a layer of beauty and joy to each quote COMPLETE THE SERIES COLLECTION: Deepen your mindfulness practice with Unplug: A Day and Night Journal for Cultivating Off-Screen Well-Being

Start living with more confidence, composure, and peace every day with these 150 easy guided meditations to shut down stress, worry, and anxiety. Stress and anxiety can weigh heavily on our minds. Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you understand your stress, release your fears and tension, and shift your thoughts and emotions into a more grounded and peaceful pattern. In My Pocket Meditations for Anxiety, you will learn to manage your stress levels by cultivating mindfulness through 150 guided meditations. Now you can find your calm, control your thoughts, manage your fears, and release your worries-no matter where you are!