Ora Nadrich’s experience as a mindfulness coach, as well as the founder of the Institute for Transformational Thinking, makes her automatically a trustworthy influence with the release of her new book – Mindfulness & Mysticism: Connecting Present Moment Awareness with Higher States of Consciousness. The book is an extensive, A to Z exploration of what Nadrich christens mindfulness techniques, but it takes a decidedly left turn for the average consumer into out-and-out mysticism exploration. However Nadrich has too much style to let that categorical element go unchecked. She is quick to stress the idea of having what she calls a ‘mystical’ experience is unique to the experiencer themselves, and within that the experiencer’s own opinions and beliefs.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: https://www.oranadrich.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/oranadrich/?hl=en
That means the wonder an exemplary Jane Goodall has when venturing into the natural world holds as much water as a literal, decidedly otherworldly or ‘holy’ awakening. Because of this wide-ranging generality, the book doesn’t exclude anyone – be they a believer, a skeptic, or just a gentleman on the street. It’s a worthy approach, the kind of universality that will make the book appeal to arguably the most important kind of audience base. Those who don’t necessarily believe in words like ‘mystical’, ‘awakening’, or otherwise. That is when you see the signs of a truly capable writer, when the book’s target audience can be as narratively satisfied as its decidedly non-target audience. Nadrich shows good writing is simply that – good writing.
“In Zen Buddhism, there is something called ‘the Keisaku,’ which is a flat, wooden stick that is used during meditation…” She goes on to elaborate on this analogy: “This may sound like mental calisthenics, and it is, of sorts, but if you’re not wanting to take control of your mind and make sure it’s in tip-top shape…then, unfortunately, your awareness can diminish. You then run the risk of falling into the ‘not awake enough’ category, and experiencing higher states of consciousness is not going to happen…You can, as poet John Milton said, ‘Trip the light fantastic’ when you’re in a heightened state of consciousness, and that means ‘to dance, in an imaginative or fantastic manner.’ This is the absolute beauty of being in a state of heightened awareness. You are the arbiter of the levels of your consciousness, and walk that lovely, delicate line of orchestrating your union with reality, dipping into oneness whenever you feel like it.”
BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mindfulness-and-mysticism-ora-nadrich/1140350713
Quoting fellow mystical teachers and influencers is one thing. But esteemed poets like John Milton? Add to the mix extensive and varied quotes from the likes of Aldous Huxley, Albert Einstein, even the Bard of Avon himself – William Shakespeare – and it’s hard not to feel the book Mindfulness & Mysticism obviously stands out on many levels. Also, each of the quotes is wisely relevant to the topicality of each book’s chapter, as well as the book’s focal points as a whole. Nadrich dips her toes both within the magnitudes of her own, experiential world, and that of those not necessarily affiliated with the holistic and spiritualistic communities. It’s a smart literary move, and most importantly serves to Nadrich’s distinct advantage. I’d recommend this book to anyone – but especially to the topical naysayers.
Kendall Townsend
