Earth Energy Meditations

November 16, 2020
Meditation teacher Shumsky (Exploring Meditation) presents meditations meant to cultivate “an open, clear, and healthy root chakra” in this welcoming guide. Meditations, visualizations, prayers, and affirmations for protection, spiritual guidance, and boosting energy make up the bulk of the book. While many of the discussions center on Hindu and Buddhist traditions—specifically the root chakra—Shumsky incorporates a wide array of spiritual concepts, including references to the Bible, the astral plane, possession and exorcism, Judaism, and Native American culture. For example, a mantra to the Hindu god Ganesh is recommended for breaking through obstacles, while a prayer to the Great Spirit of the Lakota is utilized for humility and appreciation of the “divine order.” This creates a diverse well of information and rituals, though Shumsky’s cursory explanations of the cultures and religions that inspire her rituals will strike some readers as undercooked. Shumsky’s accessible exercises to “speed up your spiritual evolution and expand your awareness” will be of aid to beginners and seasoned meditation practitioners alike.

December 1, 2020

Drawing from the spiritual practices of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and North and South American Indigenous peoples, Shumsky (The Big Book of Chakras and Chakra Healing) provides a wide range of guided meditations, visualizations, and affirmations intended to reconnect and ground the reader in the healing properties of earth energy. Identifying Highly Sensitive Persons as those who are emotionally, spiritually, and even physically thrown off by our overly media-saturated world, Shumsky gears the meditations toward resolving specific issues that may cause suffering. Not intended to be literal cures, the meditations, physical movements, and breathing exercises cover physical and psychic protection; recovering health; developing wisdom; letting go of people, things, or beliefs that are no longer useful; manifesting wealth; and even dealing with astral entities (often referred to as ghosts) that are problematic. The meditations and visualizations are beautifully and poetically written, meant to be read aloud or into a personal device to be listened to repeatedly. VERDICT Meditators of all experience and skill level, metaphysical thinkers and seekers, and those who take issue with the distractions of media hype will find this collection of meditations to be both practical and inspiring.--Janet Tapper, formerly with Univ. of Western States Lib., Portland, OR

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.