Jacqueline Towers

If you're new to meditation, and want a basic, unbiased primer - this is likely the book I'd recommend.

Does it give in-depth reviews of anything? Nope. It is meant to? Nope. Expecting this would be folly, although admittedly some of the explanations are maybe one paragraph long.

I still found In Focus Meditation to be thorough and comprehensive, if brief. I loved the different variations of meditations provided in the last half of the book. Unfortunately, most are guided meditations, which is exceptionally difficult to do in book format. I'd recommend an audio companion to the book, or an audio version.

There's nothing negative to share about this book, and I enjoyed it as well as found a few new ideas to try within my daily meditative practice. There wasn't a "wow" factor however, and much of the information is more suited to a young, inexperienced reader than someone seeking to further their meditation practice.… (meer)

In Focus: Meditation by Jacqueline Towers is a comprehensive overview of meditation that serves as a perfect introduction to the subject. It looks at what meditation actually is, how different religious and spiritual practises view it, and the various tools of common meditation practises. I appreciate that the author stresses that no tools or equipment are actually necessary, only that you sit in a comfortable position, where you are unlikely to fall asleep. And that it is okay if you do fall asleep the first few times when just beginning to learn or occasionally, with an established practise. She puts emphasis on not letting this destressing tool become a source of stress, and to remember there are many ways to achieve a meditative state. Several forms of meditation are introduced. There is a chapter for 'master key’ meditations that serve as a prep for deeper forms. These master key meditations help open the chakra channel, wash away dense energy or set up protections and strength. There's an entire chapter devoted to the chakra system, and meditations to open, close, and cleanse blockages from them. Other chapters have meditations to access inner knowledge, meet spirit guides or angels, help with specific emotional and psychological issues, and working with totem animals. There's a chapter devoted to spellwork as meditation, in order to solve problems or draw things to you. Another chapter goes over psychic techniques

The archaeologist in me was quite pleased that the author used the abbreviations BCE and CE, instead of BC and AD. The chapter devoted to psychic techniques, while interesting, seemed quite out of place in a meditation book. I felt the same about the reincarnation chapter, though that one had a neat journeywork meditation. Overall, this was a great introduction to meditation, offering plenty of different types. Recommended for any with an interest in meditation, be they established practitioners or those new to the practise.

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (meer)