EVERYDAY AWAKENING

In this self-help book, integrative spiritual consultant Duncan explores how to find one’s own “awakening”—in whatever form that may take.

After a childhood bout with cancer at age 11, the author discovered a connection to prayer. A larger life change came decades later after she had a near-death experience and switched from a corporate advertising career to one as a hospice chaplain; she eventually opened her own practice as an integrative spiritual consultant in 2016. Her goal is to help people “awaken,” which, she explains, is “vital to our human spirit….Awakening is remembering our heart and soul and learning how to live more fully from them.” She outlines five steps toward achieving this: mindfully experiencing the present moment; connecting with something greater; building a sense of trust; embodying love for oneself and others; and making sure one is open to new experiences. Duncan’s guide to awakening doesn’t have a particular religious slant, and although she notes that some people call the idea of connecting with one’s own soul or energy “God,” she effectively encourages readers to call it whatever they want—or to call it nothing at all if they wish. This also goes for the author’s discussion of prayer, in which she emphasizes that one doesn’t need to be religious or spiritual to discuss their hopes and dreams out loud. Each section is broken up by anecdotes involving the author’s consultancy clients, and each contains a helpful, step-by-step summary and exercises such as the “Gratitude Meditation”: “Continue breathing in and breathing out. When you are ready, say: I breathe in love, feeling it come through my body, and breathe out any unrest. I feel warmth and gratitude in my heart. I am grateful for life.” Duncan’s warm voice and easily achievable steps make this a fine introduction to meditation and concepts surrounding life balance.

An approachable guide to spiritual concepts that’s likely to appeal to beginners.