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In Focus #3
In Focus Meditation: Your Personal Guide
In Focus Meditation—a guide through the history, branches, and techniques of meditation—will help you delve deep within yourself to untangle the stresses of everyday life, complete with a set of 7 meditation reference cards.
With our lives a hectic combination of running to and from work, planning events, fulfilling family responsibilities, and building personal relationships, we are on overdrive for the better part of each day. Add in the impossible task of keeping up in our social media lives, it's no wonder we are stressed out and yearning for spiritual meaning.
In Focus Meditation begins with an introduction to meditation, followed by details about meditation equipment and the history of meditation. A wide breadth of meditation topics are covered: spiritual guide and angelic, emotional or psychological, spirit and totem animals, mindfulness, visualization, and reincarnation, among others.
Packaged inside the book are a set of seven meditation reference cards (front and back), to give you quick and easy meditation exercises to gain clarity and relaxation.
The In Focus series applies a modern approach to teaching the classic body, mind, and spirit subjects, using expert authors in their respective fields and featuring relevant visual material to smartly and purposely illustrate key topics within each subject. As a bonus, each book is packaged with index cards and/or a poster, to give readers a quick, go-to reference guide containing the most important information on the subject, for easy practice and retention.
With our lives a hectic combination of running to and from work, planning events, fulfilling family responsibilities, and building personal relationships, we are on overdrive for the better part of each day. Add in the impossible task of keeping up in our social media lives, it's no wonder we are stressed out and yearning for spiritual meaning.
In Focus Meditation begins with an introduction to meditation, followed by details about meditation equipment and the history of meditation. A wide breadth of meditation topics are covered: spiritual guide and angelic, emotional or psychological, spirit and totem animals, mindfulness, visualization, and reincarnation, among others.
Packaged inside the book are a set of seven meditation reference cards (front and back), to give you quick and easy meditation exercises to gain clarity and relaxation.
The In Focus series applies a modern approach to teaching the classic body, mind, and spirit subjects, using expert authors in their respective fields and featuring relevant visual material to smartly and purposely illustrate key topics within each subject. As a bonus, each book is packaged with index cards and/or a poster, to give readers a quick, go-to reference guide containing the most important information on the subject, for easy practice and retention.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published July 31, 2018
33 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
September 28, 2018
'In Focus Meditation' is the perfect guide on how to ease the stresses of our busy modern lives, and although this will be particularly beneficial for beginners, it also has some interesting, in-depth information for those more experienced in the art of meditation. It's simple and accessible with easily understandable concepts that most people will gain a lot from. Not only does it cover the basics such as how to meditate, in what position and why meditation can make a difference to both an individuals physical and mental health, it also looks at the various meditation techniques, its history and links to religion, the use of music or scent to help get into a meditative state and chakras.
There are also tips on how to avoid being distracted which can often be something many novices struggle with, and I know when I first started this was one of the main issues for me, so I am pleased there is guidance given here on how to minimise the potential for that to occur. The design of the book is excellent with the accompanying illustrations very much complementing the information. I cannot recommend this highly enough for people who are looking towards a more spiritual existence.
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
There are also tips on how to avoid being distracted which can often be something many novices struggle with, and I know when I first started this was one of the main issues for me, so I am pleased there is guidance given here on how to minimise the potential for that to occur. The design of the book is excellent with the accompanying illustrations very much complementing the information. I cannot recommend this highly enough for people who are looking towards a more spiritual existence.
Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 6, 2018
This concise book provides information about the background and origins of meditation, how to approach meditation, which music to play and which incense to diffuse. Chapters on different forms of meditation, e.g. for relaxation, for knowledge, angel meditation, or to find your spirit guide, introduce different meditation techniques and traditions.
This is probably best for people who are new to meditation and want to try out different forms to find the one that suits them most.
This is probably best for people who are new to meditation and want to try out different forms to find the one that suits them most.
June 24, 2019
This comprehensive guide gives a thorough look at meditation’s history, types and techniques and includes a set of seven helpful reference cards. Although some of the concepts were way out of my comfort zone, the design was beautiful and easy to follow. 4 of 5 Stars
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#InFocusMeditation #NetGalley. Pub Date 31 Jul 2018.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
#InFocusMeditation #NetGalley. Pub Date 31 Jul 2018.
August 29, 2018
2,5/5. Part of a collection I recently discover (first read astrology and palm reading) this one cover the meditation. This was by far the subject I already knew much about before reading the book, and I was a bit disappointed. It was a bit too spiritual for my taste, including the animal totem, the chakras, and more stuff like that. But at the same time it offer a wide variety of meditation with explanation and way to practice them. If your looking for different types of meditation, to change your or explore new one, this might be a interesting book, but that the only reason I would recommend it for.
September 29, 2018
In Focus Meditation is a short book with a brief but interesting description of the history of meditation and how different world religions make use of it. I would have liked this to be written in more detail.
What follows is based on the authors’ own methods of using meditation. There are several step by step meditations for you to use for different purposes. I think it would be useful to read and record these for your personal use, or read them out in a group meditation which the author recommends.
Some of the uses for meditation, such as making contact with your spirit guides and how to develop your skills as a medium, are not something that I am personally interested in.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review. #InFocusMeditation
What follows is based on the authors’ own methods of using meditation. There are several step by step meditations for you to use for different purposes. I think it would be useful to read and record these for your personal use, or read them out in a group meditation which the author recommends.
Some of the uses for meditation, such as making contact with your spirit guides and how to develop your skills as a medium, are not something that I am personally interested in.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an unbiased review. #InFocusMeditation
August 2, 2019
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I love learning different techiques to meditation. This book gave me a better feeling for how to perfect my meditation routine and focus on my inner and spiritual path. It was enough to get back on track and it made me feeling better having discovered this book.
July 7, 2018
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am an atheist witch. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need for a deity. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 12 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts nearly 400,000 views.
Along with the other books I have reviewed in this series the publisher has produced a sturdy and well made book. So many try to change the covers with specialized paper types or make the pages uneven to add some sort of character to the book. To me, the best book has a solid spine, a strong cover and well aligned pages. This books meets all those requirements and more. Like the other offerings in this series the book comes with several large meditation cards stored in the back of the book.
The author takes us on a journey through meditation with stops along way to enlighten and even introduce new ways that meditation can and is used in various ways. Sprinkled throughout the book are an assortment of quotes. From Bill Gates to Buddha you'll find something that resonates with your perspective here. The author covers Mindfulness, Transcendental Meditation and Qi Gong just to name a few. Mindfulness is my personal favorite.
The author covers several tools that can be used for meditation over several chapters including sounds, and meditative music as well as scents int he form of sprays, candles and essential oils. Opening up the mind for determination and confidence for example is achieved by adding cedar wood to the room. Use lemon for clarity and bergamot as an antidepressant.
Chapter five takes us through the Chakras with focus on opening, closing, cleansing and balancing. Taking the time to work with each chakra focusing on what the feeling should be as you refresh your approach to dealing with the world around you by centering and becoming present. The author takes us through each step and provides a quick reference guide on what we should feel as we pass through each level.
One of the best known impacts of meditation is stress relief. On page 71 the author tells us about creating a circle of confidence. Creating this space to go back to when we need to refresh our view. For many years (and still today) I use a visualization called "Circle of Control" when I begin to feel anxious about something. I see my circle of control, inside this circle are all the things in my life that I can control. I look at what the source of my anxiety is and see if it fits within that circle. If it does not, I have to let it go. I cannot focus on or attempt to control something that is outside the circle. I have found this to be a great way to focus only on those things that I can actually change and let the rest reside outside the circle and have less of an impact on my day to day life.
My favorite part of this book is chapter 12. Psychic Techniques. I am a reader. I use my gift to provide answers to my clients about their health or personal relationships. In a sense being a conduit for discovering what is hidden from their view. Meditation, separating yourself from the static noise of the modern world, allows these messages to come through more clearly. The author gives several types of techniques for the reader to try including psychometric, ribbon reading and flower reading. My reading (Psychometry) of photos tends to take others by surprise at my accuracy and even the ability to spot when I'm being tested. Once you hone your skill at reading you'll find that you're able to connect pretty easily and meditation only adds fuel to the proverbial fire.
Overall this is a well written, easy to read book. The author does a great job explaining the subject matter and the quotes are interesting. I had not seen a book that takes meditation into the metaphysical world quite so directly and I think that any reader would benefit from sitting down with a nice cup of tea and diving right in.
Along with the other books I have reviewed in this series the publisher has produced a sturdy and well made book. So many try to change the covers with specialized paper types or make the pages uneven to add some sort of character to the book. To me, the best book has a solid spine, a strong cover and well aligned pages. This books meets all those requirements and more. Like the other offerings in this series the book comes with several large meditation cards stored in the back of the book.
The author takes us on a journey through meditation with stops along way to enlighten and even introduce new ways that meditation can and is used in various ways. Sprinkled throughout the book are an assortment of quotes. From Bill Gates to Buddha you'll find something that resonates with your perspective here. The author covers Mindfulness, Transcendental Meditation and Qi Gong just to name a few. Mindfulness is my personal favorite.
The author covers several tools that can be used for meditation over several chapters including sounds, and meditative music as well as scents int he form of sprays, candles and essential oils. Opening up the mind for determination and confidence for example is achieved by adding cedar wood to the room. Use lemon for clarity and bergamot as an antidepressant.
Chapter five takes us through the Chakras with focus on opening, closing, cleansing and balancing. Taking the time to work with each chakra focusing on what the feeling should be as you refresh your approach to dealing with the world around you by centering and becoming present. The author takes us through each step and provides a quick reference guide on what we should feel as we pass through each level.
One of the best known impacts of meditation is stress relief. On page 71 the author tells us about creating a circle of confidence. Creating this space to go back to when we need to refresh our view. For many years (and still today) I use a visualization called "Circle of Control" when I begin to feel anxious about something. I see my circle of control, inside this circle are all the things in my life that I can control. I look at what the source of my anxiety is and see if it fits within that circle. If it does not, I have to let it go. I cannot focus on or attempt to control something that is outside the circle. I have found this to be a great way to focus only on those things that I can actually change and let the rest reside outside the circle and have less of an impact on my day to day life.
My favorite part of this book is chapter 12. Psychic Techniques. I am a reader. I use my gift to provide answers to my clients about their health or personal relationships. In a sense being a conduit for discovering what is hidden from their view. Meditation, separating yourself from the static noise of the modern world, allows these messages to come through more clearly. The author gives several types of techniques for the reader to try including psychometric, ribbon reading and flower reading. My reading (Psychometry) of photos tends to take others by surprise at my accuracy and even the ability to spot when I'm being tested. Once you hone your skill at reading you'll find that you're able to connect pretty easily and meditation only adds fuel to the proverbial fire.
Overall this is a well written, easy to read book. The author does a great job explaining the subject matter and the quotes are interesting. I had not seen a book that takes meditation into the metaphysical world quite so directly and I think that any reader would benefit from sitting down with a nice cup of tea and diving right in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2023
This book wasn’t for me. I really should’ve looked at it more closely before buying it. It may very well be a great book for others, but there was far too much about Wiccan practice, medium practice and connecting to the spirit world, reincarnation, and psychic practices. I thought it was going to be more focused on mindfulness and Buddhist-based meditations and techniques.
I was a mash-up of a lot of different types of meditation from all walks of life, but it barely touched the surface of each before sliding on to the next one. There was no deep dive into any one type of meditation.
The author also said she would provide meditations for certain areas of focus, but her “meditations” were a very limited set of bullet points.
I really feel that the author is leaning more toward the Wiccan, psychic, medium, and psychic world realm of meditation, which is not for me at all. I felt like the bulk of this book was focused on those things, and I ended up skipping over those sections, as I honestly don’t want any kind of attachment to them. However, I know there are people out there who do have an interest in those things, so this book would be a great intro for them.
I was a mash-up of a lot of different types of meditation from all walks of life, but it barely touched the surface of each before sliding on to the next one. There was no deep dive into any one type of meditation.
The author also said she would provide meditations for certain areas of focus, but her “meditations” were a very limited set of bullet points.
I really feel that the author is leaning more toward the Wiccan, psychic, medium, and psychic world realm of meditation, which is not for me at all. I felt like the bulk of this book was focused on those things, and I ended up skipping over those sections, as I honestly don’t want any kind of attachment to them. However, I know there are people out there who do have an interest in those things, so this book would be a great intro for them.
September 10, 2018
In focus Meditation by Jacqueline Towers
Interested in meditation and unsure where to begin? This might be the book for you since it gives not only the history and equipment one might need but provides a wide variety of meditation ideas/examples that are varied and plentiful. Some of the topics include: seeking knowledge, finding ones spiritual guide or guardian angel, animal totems, chakras, reincarnation, spirits, mindfulness and more. One of the new things to me was the idea of bringing in positive and visualizing the color gold then pushing the gold throughout the body to improve positive energy. Usually I have read that one breathes in positive and exhales negative so this was a tidbit I enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Interested in meditation and unsure where to begin? This might be the book for you since it gives not only the history and equipment one might need but provides a wide variety of meditation ideas/examples that are varied and plentiful. Some of the topics include: seeking knowledge, finding ones spiritual guide or guardian angel, animal totems, chakras, reincarnation, spirits, mindfulness and more. One of the new things to me was the idea of bringing in positive and visualizing the color gold then pushing the gold throughout the body to improve positive energy. Usually I have read that one breathes in positive and exhales negative so this was a tidbit I enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Read
February 16, 2023So- this book was not what I was expecting… I really like mindfulness practice and using meditation as a part of that is great. The back cover of this book suggests this is a book that teaches about mediation and gives some suggestions for some guided meditations. Which… I suppose it does do those things. But it also spends a lot of time focused on the metaphysical/psychic aspects which is not what I was here for… I know a lot of people who refuse to try meditation because they think it’s all chakras and astral projection and incense chanting. And that’s how this book felt… There is definitely an audience for this material, but that audience was not me. And, even beyond the content, I didn’t find the book to be particularly well written. #alas
Sometimes the library display books are phenomenal and others they are… not :p🤷♀️
Sometimes the library display books are phenomenal and others they are… not :p🤷♀️
August 24, 2021
Great book for beginners! I was hoping for something a little deeper, a little more spiritual maybe, but i still gave it 4 stars because the contents of the book are exactly as advertised: A Personal Guide. Something broad spectrum that can be fine tuned to each individuals needs. It goes over the basics and is very easy to read, understand, practice, and follow. Its a nice thing to keep on your nightstand for nights (or days) when you are having trouble getting into a meditative state on your own. I didnt learn too much from it, but it is nice to have around, and i will definitely be passing along to anyone new in the practice of meditation. 🧘♀️
October 29, 2018
I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is part of the In Focus series which talks about a series of spiritual/new-age topics that I am curious about, however meditation is the one subject that I know more about since I practice meditation.
While I was hoping for more history based in facts about meditation, this book talks a lot about the spiritual aspect and a lot of... let's just say is nowhere close to MBSR or any types of meditation that I am familiar with, nor does it present arguments good enough to convince me to give it a chance.
This book is part of the In Focus series which talks about a series of spiritual/new-age topics that I am curious about, however meditation is the one subject that I know more about since I practice meditation.
While I was hoping for more history based in facts about meditation, this book talks a lot about the spiritual aspect and a lot of... let's just say is nowhere close to MBSR or any types of meditation that I am familiar with, nor does it present arguments good enough to convince me to give it a chance.
February 17, 2022
This is a 4.5. I think this is a really great introduction to the world of meditation and other spiritual practices. I enjoyed that the author took other examples from her friends and colleagues, although some of them were similar in certain chapters and felt slightly repetitive. I really like that there’s little snippets of the author’s experiences, as well as a but of more advances practices that could get the reader started once they reach that point in their journey. I’m so glad to have read this and to have it for future reference!
September 14, 2018
This book takes the time to break down meditation in a very simple yet pretty in depth way. It not only goes into how different religions and practices use meditation, it also provides examples. This is also great for someone who wants to create their own meditations, as it provides examples not only of words to use but environments that are best for what you want to achieve.
July 4, 2021
It’s an easy, meditation guide book for beginners. It includes information on chakras and different types of meditation and the benefits. I recommend to anyone who wants to become spiritual or even just learn a bit about how to have less stress.
August 4, 2021
A very good place to start for beginners to meditation! I found it very informative. It is like a taste test to many different styles of meditation and it’s uses that allows you to see what works for you so you can further research, well worth the buy.
November 21, 2022
A super good guide to either read from cover to cover or just pick the bits that you’re interested in. There’s so much covered in this book that it became a little overwhelming and a couple things that I personally didn’t feel like they needed to be in it.
July 6, 2023
bought this book on a whim & loved every second of it. doesn’t just teach you how to meditate but also teaches you the history of meditation and why different cultures and religions do / don’t do it.
May 13, 2024
A great book for those who want a quick way to find a meditation technique to try out. I would give it 5 stars if they removed a couple of very similar meditations and formatted the bullet points a bit better. Can't wait to try the meditation cards!
January 20, 2020
Great introduction to meditation and practical use guide to begin your new routine!
January 19, 2021
This was a super helpful guide! I really appreciated the huge variety of suggestions and activities to try.
March 22, 2021
A decent guide on meditation--the history, potential benefits, and several suggested mediations for reference. I'd recommend this!
September 8, 2021
Very informative for people who are new to meditation (like myself)
January 4, 2022
Very good!! So much reference material :) I can't wait to dig into meditation as a tool to get to know myself and my practice better.
February 11, 2023
This is a nice introduction to what meditation is, and gives a nice variety of different meditation techniques.
December 27, 2024
Solid Barnes & Noble-core intro to something that, like other healthy habits, changes my life for the better when I actually do it.
November 15, 2023
A wonderful book for beginners! Lots of information but not overwhelming to read!
November 23, 2021
Found it a bit repetitive, which is fair due to there not being a whole lot you can talk about when it comes to meditation without repeating yourself.
Was interesting enough just could of been better.
Was interesting enough just could of been better.
September 1, 2018
In Focus Meditation is a great book for those interested in meditation. I, personally have used meditation for many years. This book explains what meditation is. It is more than sitting on the floor and going om, but is it fine to do that if it works for you. It delves into the different positions you can use (whatever works for you), how long you should meditate and why. There are too many to count. I use it to relax, but I know many who use it for other health problems in conjunction with their regular medical care. The history is explored. The different religions who use meditations are discussed. I learned so much more than I already knew and am eager to use what I have learned. I received this book from Net Galley and Quarto Publishing Group for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.
September 12, 2018
Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for the ARC!
We live in a very stressful world. Every day, we face new challenges and situations that can really leave us drained. Lately, I've been feeling very into meditation.
I watched a few videos on youtube, I downloaded some apps, but honestly, nothing helped me as much as this book. "In Focus Meditation" is a very complete guide, not only telling us what to do, but also explaining the meaning behind every action. The 7 cards are very helpful. The graphic work is absolutely beautiful. The author did a great job making everything easy to understand, even if you're not much experienced in the subject.
I'm still a beginner, but I already feel much better. Thank you!
We live in a very stressful world. Every day, we face new challenges and situations that can really leave us drained. Lately, I've been feeling very into meditation.
I watched a few videos on youtube, I downloaded some apps, but honestly, nothing helped me as much as this book. "In Focus Meditation" is a very complete guide, not only telling us what to do, but also explaining the meaning behind every action. The 7 cards are very helpful. The graphic work is absolutely beautiful. The author did a great job making everything easy to understand, even if you're not much experienced in the subject.
I'm still a beginner, but I already feel much better. Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews