The Poetry Pharmacy

Oct 22, 2024 11:28 AM

Author:William Sieghart

The Poetry Pharmacy

'Truly a marvellous collection ... There is balm for the soul, fire for the belly, a cooling compress for the fevered brow, solace for the wounded, an arm around the lonely shoulder - the whole collection is a matchless compound of hug, tonic and kiss' Stephen Fry

As heard on BBC Radio 4, the essential prescriptions from William Sieghart's poetic dispensary

Sometimes only a poem will do. These poetic prescriptions and wise words of advice offer comfort, delight and inspiration for all; a space for reflection, and a chance to realize - I'm not the only one who feels like this.

In the years since he first had the idea of prescribing short, powerful poems for all manner of spiritual ailments, William Sieghart has taken his Poetry Pharmacy around the length and breadth of Britain, into the pages of the Guardian, onto BBC Radio 4 and onto the television, honing his prescriptions all the time. This pocket-sized book presents the most essential poems in his dispensary: those which, again and again, have really shown themselves to work. Whether you are suffering from loneliness, lack of courage, heartbreak, hopelessness, or even from an excess of ego, there is something here to ease your pain.

'The book is delightful; it rightly resituates poetryin relation to its biggest and most serious task: helping us to live and diewell' Alain de Botton

Reviews

Filled with though-provoking learnings, the evolution of hygge in its many forms

—— Interiors and Living Magazine

Best [book] for the philosophy of hygge

—— You Magazine

...a philosophy for mindful living

—— The Guardian

Her book is a thing of beauty

—— Irish Examiner

Deepak Chopra and Rudy Tanzi once again effectively harness their scientific training and passionate commitment to advancing well-being in this accessible, life-changing compendium of cutting-edge tools that will extend your health span and improve your sense of meaning, connection, and flourishing. As inspiring as it is informative, The Healing Self shows us how to use our minds to open our awareness and create daily routines to improve our physical and mental health.

—— Daniel J. Siegel, Clinical Professor, UCLA School of Medicine

Jack Kornfield is a wonderful storyteller and a great teacher

—— THICH NHAT HANH

Jack Kornfield wonderfully evokes the spaciousness, the ease, and the radiance of a free heart and mind. Even more important—he clearly lays out a path whereby any one of us can move from distant admiration of the idea to actually living it day by day

—— SHARON SALZBERG, author of Real Love

A consommé of goodness, heart, laughter, tears, and breath, nourishing and delicious. Rich in hope and deep wisdom for these revved up, rattling times

—— ANNE LAMMOTT, author of Grace (Eventually)

With its incomparable blend of deep wisdom, evocative stories, and powerful meditations, No Time Like the Present is the fruit of a lifetime of spiritual teaching. Jack Kornfield’s message is, we don’t have to wait. Love, peace, freedom . . . it’s all available right here, in this very heart

—— TARA BRACH, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge

'Only in the darkness can you see the stars,' said Martin Luther King, in days that were almost as dark as our own. Like a brilliant star to guide us in these days of darkness Jack Kornfield’s new book appears just at the right moment. It reminds us that there is No Time Like the Present—no matter how dark—to rescue threatened values—freedom, love, joy—within us and in the world around us. Like Rabbi Hillel, Jack challenges us: 'If not now, when?

—— BROTHER DAVID STEINDL-RAST, BENEDICTINE MONK, co-founder of Gratefulness.org

This book is a treasure of useful insights and practical ways of coping with our egoic and false-self search for satisfactions that lead nowhere, except to needless suffering. His charming and sympathetic suggestions for healing fill this book with encouragement and compassion for ourselves and others

—— FR. THOMAS KEATING, founding member and the spiritual guide of Contemplative Outreach, LTD

‘Any reader of this work will find a compassionate, light-hearted and humorous teacher who leads readers to grapple with difficult emotions’

—— Publishers Weekly

I love it. Lots of my friends are getting sent one now!!!

—— Deborah Meaden

This woman is a warm hug in human form - just thinking about her makes me smile. Dawn spreads joy in abundance. She is dazzling

—— Lorraine Kelly

Brilliant, hypnotic, compelling. A great book.

—— Talk Radio

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