Mark Westmoquette – författare

This is a guide to applying the teachings of mindfulness and Zen to the troublesome or challenging people in our lives. Perhaps you can see there’s often a pattern to your behaviour in relation to them and that it often causes pain – perhaps a great deal of pain. The only way we can grow is by facing this pain, acknowledging how we feel and how we’ve reacted, and making an intention or commitment to end this repeating pattern of suffering.In this book, Mark Westmoquette speaks from a place of profound personal experience. A Zen monk, he has endured two life-changing traumas caused by other people: his sexual abuse by his own father; and his stepfather’s death and mother’s very serious injury in a car crash due to the careless driving of an off-duty policeman. He stresses that by bringing awareness and kindness to these relationships, our initial stance of “I can’t stand this person, they need to change” will naturally shift into something much broader and more inclusive. The book makes playful use of Zen koans – apparently nonsensical phrases or stories – to help jar us out of habitual ways of perceiving the world and nudge us toward a new perspective of wisdom and compassion.

The perfect bedtime routine for families, this mindfulness book for kids gorgeously illustrates night sky scenes, with a stunning foiled cover. Discover 20 activities and stories that open young readers’ eyes to the awesomeness of the universe, give them helpful self-soothing techniques, help them get to sleep at bedtime and provide them with a sense of spirituality. Content includes:Mindful activities to connect children to nature and also explain scientific concepts, such as a grounding exercise focusing on gravity and a calming exercise involving listening to the sound of the wind.Traditional tales of the night sky, such as The Hare in the Moon or the story of the Seven Sisters constellation.Self-soothing activities, such as sending wishes of kindness to loved ones or considering the weather inside you.Awesome reflections: Mark guides children and their parents to think of Earth as a spaceship travelling through space or marvel at the uncountable number of stars in the sky.This is the only book for kids that combines amazing night sky facts and legends with calming and awe-inspiring activities.