Having already covered food, music & remedies in our 'How to Keep your Head' winter series, we move toward the more cerebral and asked our favourite author & journalist to compile a short book list that feeds the brain and nourishes the soul. Take it away AC!
1) AFTER THE ECSTACY, THE LAUNDRY by Jack Kornfield
I have only recently, in the last few years, got into meditation. I found it funny that I can find myself zen-ed out one moment post-meditation but riled up seconds later because eg one of my kids hasn’t flushed the toilet AGAIN. This book is about exactly that.
2) BRAIDING SWEETGRASS by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
I have waited my whole life for someone to use the right words to describe the frothing, unrestrained joy I feel in nature. Robin writes poetically, from the soul, about our deep, cellular connection with nature.
3) THE SUMMER BOOK by Tove Jansson
I missed my family (parents, siblings, nieces, nephews), who live in Germany a lot during the first lockdown. Suddenly the reality of seeing them, of swimming in lakes with them seemed far away. Reading Tove’s Summer book brought family and the long days of summer closer, I could almost touch them. This book is about that open-hearted way we walk through life when we are kids, when entire worlds are waiting to be discovered under every rock. When nature and imagination are all you need to see you through the summer.
My lockdown tip has been drawing a sketch every day, eg things I am grateful for, my brain activity, silly things the kids said. No rubbers allowed. Just ink pen and watercolour. Whatever emerges, emerges. And somehow it feels good!