The Moon Reminded Me

by Ellen Grace O'Brian

In her luminous poems, Ellen Grace O’Brian manages to braid contemporary moments of everyday life with ancient spiritual teachings—the sight of a hummingbird’s red throat, bread on the table, a couple’s quarrel, a mother’s advice—become doorways into the divine mystical heart. e Moon Reminded Me, subtly laced with Sanskrit, gives us an insight into a poet who bridges two worlds eloquently enough to take us along with her. Sandhya, the numinous time for stepping into the temple, suddenly becomes this moment, now.

Genres: Poetry

110 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2017

About the author

Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian is a meditation teacher, poet, writer, and the spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment—a Kriya Yoga Meditation Center with headquarters in San Jose, California. She has taught Kriya Yoga nationally and internationally for more than three decades and has received several community service awards, including the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Award for the Promotion of Religious Pluralism from the American Hindu Foundation. Ordained to teach in 1982 by Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, her message is “engaged enlightenment” – an invitation to live an awakened, creatively inspired, and fulfilled life, now.

Along with her service as a meditation teacher and esteemed Yogacharya, Ellen Grace O’Brian is the Founder of Carry the Vision, a community nonviolence education project bringing meditation instruction to staff and children in schools, the prison population, and other segments of society. Her work on behalf of interfaith cooperation includes several years of service as Vice Chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and Chair of their Partner Cities Program, supporting global collaboration between interfaith groups in cities around the world. She is the founder and President of Meru Institute, providing healthy lifestyle education and leadership training in yoga studies, Ayurveda, and community service. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education, with an emphasis in Transpersonal Counseling.

Yogacharya O’Brian’s published works include Living the Eternal Way: Spiritual Meaning and Practice in Daily Life and Living for the Sake of the Soul, as well as three volumes of poetry including the award-winning 2017 release: The Moon Reminded Me. She is editor of Enlightenment Journal and host of The Yoga Hour, a weekly podcast with listeners in over 130 countries. Her latest book, The Jewel Abundance: Finding Prosperity through the Ancient Wisdom of Yoga, was recently published by New World Library.

For more information, visit:
Website: https://ellengraceobrian.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EllenGraceOB...

Reviews

[Khaled Hosseini · Rating 5 out of 5]

From one poem to the next, O'Brian's lens shrinks and widens without effort, to exhilarating, near vertiginous effect. Her images flit from the ordinary to the timeless, from the foam of a wave absorbed by sand, to the ancient longing of humans for the Eternal. Above all, she is aware, on every page, and beautifully, to the immovable presence of Love in the universe. Love unbridled and all-pervading, Love bursting with grace and beautiful madness, residing us all, waiting only to unfurl. What a gift this collection is.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of spiritual poems from a heart of love and wonderment.

[Shawne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of illuminating poems inspired me to listen more deeply to my own soul song.

[Chitra Dey Sarkar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book as it was recommended by a writer as fine as Khaled Hosseini. "Yogacharya" Ellen claims to be a preacher of "the riches of Indian Philosophy" which piqued my interest yet I was left underwhelmed. The poems were pieced together awkwardly and lacked any emotional or spiritual resonance whatsoever, nor did Yogacharya Ellen's writing have any overbearing charm that could keep me going, just random sentences pieced together with Sanskrit words like "prasad" or "sankalpa" and their translations following it. A far far cry from the depth of the "riches of Indian Philosophy" which felt like a bait once I finished
If you are looking for anything other than some shallow poetry I would stay away

[Mộc Bảo Hà mocbaoha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving it so far, this collection felt like a quiet conversation with the universe, gentle, luminous, and reflective. Some poems felt more abstract than others, making me pause rather than flow, but the overall sense of love and presence made it a beautiful experience. A book to sit with, return to, and let settle in the heart.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, soul inspiring poems. Ellen Grace O'Brian's words open the door of our hearts and allows for the light of Truth shine forth.