Zombie Road Series & Zen Meditation - #AtoZChallenge

Zombie Road Series
Terror on the Two-Lane (Zombie Road #5)
by David A. Simpson (Goodreads Author)


Book 5 of 5 in the Zombie Road Series.
The beautiful saga about surviving the zombie apocalypse that David Simpson created continues. This book focuses on the relationship between Jessie, The Disfigured Road Angel, and Scarlet, the daughter of the high priest of the Anubis cult. They are both damaged, young and have to bear a heavy burden for their age. Both have powers beyond human capacity. Both are the children and heirs to their fathers legacy and empires and they should be mortal enemies, not kinda sorta like each other...








Zen Meditiation


Top 3 Zen Meditation Techniques

• Observation of the breath

Meditators should assume a comfortable posture such as the Burmese, half-lotus or Seiza pose during zazen. It’s best to sit on a padded mat or cushion; sitting on a chair is also acceptable. Awareness is directed towards a certain object of meditation, generally observation of the breath and more specifically the way it moves in and out of the belly area. This method fosters an abiding sense of presence and alertness.

• Quiet awareness

This form of meditation does not repose on a focal point such as the breath. Here, meditators learn to allow thoughts to flow through their minds without judgment, grasping or rejection. The Japanese call this practice shikantaza, or “just sitting.” This Zen Buddhist meditation technique is practiced with no object of meditation, anchors or contents.
The teachings emphasize that there is no goal, per se. The meditator “just sits” and allows their mind to just be. It is important for practitioners to understand that zazen is not a means to an end: it is the end.

• Intensive group meditation

Serious meditators regularly practice rigorous group meditation in meditation centers or temples. The Japanese call this practice sesshin.  During this period of intensive meditation, practitioners devote most of their time to sitting meditation. Each session lasts about 30 to 50 minutes, alternated with walking meditation, short breaks and meals. Meals are taken in silence as part of the practice, usually with oryoki bowls. Brief periods of work are also performed mindfully. Today, such Zen meditation retreats are practiced in Taiwan, Japan and the West.

You Must Not Miss & Yoga - #AtoZChallenge

You Must Not Miss

by Katrina Leno (Goodreads Author)

Magpie Lewis started writing in her yellow notebook the day her family self-destructed. That was the night Eryn, Magpie's sister, skipped town and left her to fend for herself. That was the night of Brandon Phipp's party.

Now, Magpie is called a slut whenever she walks down the hallways of her high school, her former best friend won't speak to her, and she spends her lunch period with a group of misfits who've all been socially exiled like she has. And so, feeling trapped and forgotten, Magpie retreats to her notebook, dreaming up a place called Near.

Near is perfect--somewhere where her father never cheated, her mother never drank, and Magpie's own life never derailed so suddenly. She imagines Near so completely, so fully, that she writes it into existence, right in her own backyard. It's a place where she can have anything she wants...even revenge.

Yoga


Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. There is a broad variety of yoga schools, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The term "yoga" in the Western world often denotes a modern form of Hatha yoga, consisting largely of the postures called asanas.

XL & Liquid Mind X - #AtoZChallenge

XL
by Scott Brown (Goodreads Author), Robbie Daymond (Narrator)


Fiercely funny, honest, and poignant, this story of a growth spurt gone wrong is perfect for readers who love Becky Albertalli and Jesse Andrews.
Will Daughtry is a late bloomer--at least, that's what everyone tells him. On his sixteenth birthday, Will is just shy of five feet, and he is bitterly resigned to being tiny forever. His only comforts are his best friend and stepbrother, Drew (6'3"), and their pal Monica (5'10"), the girl Will's been quietly pining for since fifth grade. Everyone else literally overlooks him. But with them, he feels whole. That is, until things take an unexpected turn, and he realizes he's really and truly on his own.

That's when he starts to grow. And grow fast. Astonishingly fast. For the first time, Will's happy with his stature, and the world's at his feet (for a change). People see him differently; more important, he sees himself differently. But the highest heights come with some low, low lows, and his most precious relationships suffer excruciating growing pains. Will has to figure out what to do with himself--and all of this new "himself" he never expected to have.




Liquid Mind X


This ine was a reach, but at least I found something with the letter X in it.


Chuck Wild is a keyboardist, composer, producer, recording artist and Emmy Award-nominated songwriter best known for his series of relaxation music albums using the artist name and imprint Liquid Mind.

Will Hount You & Winds - #AtoZChallenge

Will Haunt You

by Brian Kirk (Goodreads Author)

You don't read the book. It reads you.

Rumors of a deadly book have been floating around the dark corners of the deep web. A disturbing tale about a mysterious figure who preys on those who read the book and subjects them to a world of personalized terror. Jesse Wheeler--former guitarist of the heavy metal group The Rising Dead--was quick to discount the ominous folklore associated with the book. It takes more than some urban legend to frighten him. Hell, reality is scary enough. Seven years ago his greatest responsibility was the nightly guitar solo. Then one night when Jesse was blackout drunk, he accidentally injured his son, leaving him permanently disabled. Dreams of being a rock star died when he destroyed his son's future. Now he cuts radio jingles and fights to stay clean. But Jesse is wrong.

The legend is real--and tonight he will become the protagonist in an elaborate scheme specifically tailored to prey on his fears and resurrect the ghosts from his past. Jesse is not the only one in danger, however.

By reading the book, you have volunteered to participate in the author's deadly game, with every page drawing you closer to your own personalized nightmare.

The real horror doesn't begin until you reach the end. That's when the evil comes for you.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Winds (Inner)

rLung (Tibetan Buddhism) means wind or breath.

The general description of rLung is that it is a subtle flow of energy and out of the five elements (air, fire, water, earth and space) it is most closely connected with air. However it is not simply the air which we breathe or the wind in our stomachs, it goes much deeper than that. rLung is like a horse and the mind is the rider, if there is something wrong with the horse the rider will not be able to ride properly. Its description is that it is rough, light, cool, thin, hard, movable. The general function of rLung is to help growth, movement of the body, exhalation and inhalation and to aid the function of mind, speech and body. rLung helps to separate in our stomachs what we eat into nutrients and waste products. However its most important function is to carry the movements of mind, speech and body. The nature of rLung is both hot and cold.

Virtually Yours & Vipassana - #AtoZChallenge

Virtually Yours

by Sarvenaz Tash (Goodreads Author)

Modern love plus online anonymity is a recipe for romantic disaster in this lighthearted new romance from the author of The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love.

How bad can one little virtual lie be?

NYU freshman Mariam Vakilian hasn’t dated anyone in five months, not since her high school sweetheart Caleb broke up with her. So, when she decides to take advantage of an expiring coupon and try out a new virtual reality dating service, it’s sort of a big deal.

It’s an even bigger deal when it chooses as one of her three matches none other than Caleb himself. That has to be a sign, right?

Except that her other match, Jeremy, just happens to be her new best friend IRL.

Mariam’s heart is telling her one thing, but the app is telling her another. So, which should she trust? Is all fair in modern love?

Vipassana

Vipassana can be translated as “Insight,” a clear awareness of exactly what is happening as it happens. Vipassana is the oldest of Buddhist meditation practices.

In Vipassana mediation, the meditator uses his concentration as a tool by which his awareness can chip away at the wall of illusion that cuts him off from the living light of reality. It is a gradual process of ever-increasing awareness into the inner workings of reality itself. It takes years, but one day the meditator chisels through that wall and tumbles into the presence of light. The transformation is complete. It’s called Liberation, and it’s permanent. Liberation is the goal of all Buddhist systems of practice. But the routes to the attainment of that end are quite diverse.

Unmortal & Upanshu - #AtoZChallenge

Unmortal (Redemption's Heir #3)

by Anne M. Pillsworth (Goodreads Author)

The thrilling conclusion of the Redemption's Heir series--a Lovecraftian adventure for teens.
Sean Wyndham begins his second summer of magical training with mentor Joseph Kokokoho, who guards the mysteries of long-deserted Dunwich. Mountains crowned with stone circles and dubious altars, whippoorwill-haunted glens that lead to transdimensional rifts, what could be cooler?

A new familiar, that's what, and a new shot at developing a better control over his own Magic. And, with Eddy and Daniel at nearby Miskatonic University for weekend hang-outs, Sean's expectations for this summer are high. Also at MU is a new magic student, Felicia Peralta, long and lean and impenetrably distant, until she takes a sudden interest in Sean.

Nor is Felicia the only one unusually curious about Sean. The undead witch Patience Orne has returned to Arkham, determined to meet her many-times-great-grandson at last--and meeting isn't the only thing on her mind...

Upanshu

Upanshu is a practice that involves quietly repeating a mantra or a deity's name. It is one of three types of japa, a Sanskrit word that means “muttering.” Upanshu is also a Sanskrit word and means “in a low voice” or “in a whisper.” In upanshu japa, the mantra is murmured so softly that only the yogi him/herself can hear it or distinguish what is being repeated.

Upanshu, in particular, and japa, in general, are practiced to focus the mind spiritually and lead to a deeper state of consciousness. Such practice is an essential aspect of many yoga practices. Japa yoga is a practice that specifically combines yoga with japa as a means to remove mental impurities.

The other two types of japa are:

• Baikhari, or vachika, which is chanting of a mantra aloud. This type of japa is the most common and is suitable for beginners as well as experienced yogis.
• Manasik, which is the silent chanting of a mantra only in the mind. It is also known as mental japa and is the most advanced form of japa.

Upanshu is an intermediary stage between the more basic baikhari/vachika and manasik japa. The yogi should practice upanshu only after mastering baikhari/vachika japa. The audible japa calms the mind, while upanshu further stills the mind to allow the level of concentration necessary to reach deeper levels. Upanshu is also appropriate when chanting aloud is not, as when other people are around or in an otherwise public area.

Teeth in the Mist & Tips - #AtoZChallenge

Teeth in the Mist

by Dawn Kurtagich (Goodreads Author)

A genre-bending epic horror-fantasy, inspired by the legend of Faust, that spans generations as an ancient evil is uncovered--perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Ransom Riggs.

Before the birth of time, a monk uncovers the Devil's Tongue and dares to speak it. The repercussions will be felt for generations...

Sixteen-year-old photography enthusiast Zoey has been fascinated by the haunted, burnt-out ruins of Medwyn Mill House for as long as she can remember--so she and her best friend, Poulton, run away from home to explore them. But are they really alone in the house? And who will know if something goes wrong?

In 1851, seventeen-year-old Roan arrives at the Mill House as a ward--one of three, all with something to hide from their new guardian. When Roan learns that she is connected to an ancient secret, she must escape the house before she is trapped forever.

1583. Hermione, a new young bride, accompanies her husband to the wilds of North Wales where he plans to build the largest water mill and mansion in the area. But rumors of unholy rituals lead to a tragic occurrence and she will need all her strength to defeat it.

Three women, centuries apart, drawn together by one Unholy Pact. A pact made by a man who, more than a thousand years later, may still be watching...

Tips - As "Did You Know" Tips

Suspicious Minds & Shikantaza & Self-Love - #AtoZChallenge

Suspicious Minds (Stranger Things #1)

by Gwenda Bond (Goodreads Author)

A mysterious lab. A sinister scientist. A secret history. If you think you know the truth behind Eleven’s mother, prepare to have your mind turned Upside Down in this thrilling prequel to the hit show Stranger Things.

It’s the summer of 1969, and the shock of conflict reverberates through the youth of America, both at home and abroad. As a student at a quiet college campus in the heartland of Indiana, Terry Ives couldn’t be further from the front lines of Vietnam or the incendiary protests in Washington.

But the world is changing, and Terry isn’t content to watch from the sidelines. When word gets around about an important government experiment in the small town of Hawkins, she signs on as a test subject for the project, codenamed MKUltra. Unmarked vans, a remote lab deep in the woods, mind-altering substances administered by tightlipped researchers . . . and a mystery the young and restless Terry is determined to uncover.

But behind the walls of Hawkins National Laboratory—and the piercing gaze of its director, Dr. Martin Brenner—lurks a conspiracy greater than she could have ever imagined. To face it, she’ll need the help of her fellow test subjects, including one so mysterious the world doesn’t know she exists—a young girl with unexplainable, superhuman powers and a number instead of a name: 008.

Amid the rising tensions of the new decade, Terry Ives and Martin Brenner have begun a different kind of war—one where the human mind is the battlefield.

Shikantaza Meditation

It literally means, "nothing but sitting", which places emphasis on emptying the mind.

An empty mind is:

• Aware—embracing the present moment and experience
• Peaceful—it doesn’t dwell on the same thoughts
• Intuitive—it’s receptive of input from higher sources
• Free—from judgment and worry
• Creative—allowing inspiration and new ideas to come in
• Relaxed—it releases stress and fosters wellbeing
• Energized—no effort is wasted on unwanted thoughts
   
  3 Simple ways to empty your mind
  You can take these actions any time you need to break the cycle of constant thinking and worrying.
   
  I. Meditation
  II. Free writing
  III. Physical movement

Romanov & Rejuvenation - #AtoZChallenge

Romanov

by Nadine Brandes (Goodreads Author)

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .

That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

Rejuvenation Meditation

This is a potent meditation for the glandular system. It is a “medical meditation.” Its effects are strong enough to help the system fight disease. It does not replace allopathic forms of medicine, but it does open the healing and preventative capacity of your body. The meditation focuses its effects on the glandular system, the guardians of your health. Be careful to start slowly with this pranayam. It can make you very spacey and dreamy. It is best to practice this before going to bed. If you master it, you will know why the yogis and sages always call breath the energy of life.

Sit in an Easy Pose, with a light jalandhar bandh.

Eyes: Focus the eyes past the tip of the nose toward the distant ground and beyond into the depths of the Earth.

Mudra: Relax the arms down along the sides. Bring the hands in front of the chest with the palms toward the torso. Keep the elbows snug against the side of the ribs. Join the hands along the sides of the palms and the sides of the little fingers. Spread the fingers and thumbs apart. Bend the wrists so the palms face up toward the sky.

Breath & Mantra: The breath must be precise. Inhale deeply and slowly through semi-puckered lips. Hold the breath in for 4 seconds (or the length of one mental cycle of the mantra). SAA TAA NAA MAA. Then exhale powerfully in 4 equal strokes through the nose. As you exhale mentally recite the mantra: SAA TAA NAA MAA

Then hold the breath out for 2 seconds or the length of one mental WHA-HAY GUROO.

Continue for 11 minutes and with practice, work your way up to 31 minutes.

Queen of Ruin & Qigong - #AtoZChallenge

Queen of Ruin (Grace and Fury #2)

by Tracy Banghart (Goodreads Author)

A fierce sequel full of sisterhood, heart pounding action, betrayal, and intrigue in the royal court in a series that "breathes new life into the feminist story of oppression and resistance" (Publisher's Weekly).

Banished by Asa at the end of Grace and Fury, Nomi and Malachi find themselves powerless and headed towards their all-but-certain deaths. Now that Asa sits on the throne, he will stop at nothing to make sure Malachi never sets foot in the palace again. Their only hope is to find Nomi's sister, Serina, on the prison island of Mount Ruin. But when Nomi and Malachi arrive, it is not the island of conquered, broken women that they expected. It is an island in the grip of revolution, and Serina--polite, submissive Serina--is its leader.

Betrayal, grief, and violence have changed both sisters, and the women of Mount Ruin have their sights set on revenge beyond the confines of their island prison. They plan to sweep across the entire kingdom, issuing in a new age of freedom for all. But first they'll have to get rid of Asa, and only Nomi knows how.

Separated once again, this time by choice, Nomi and Serina must forge their own paths as they aim to tear down the world they know, and build something better in its place.

The stakes are higher and the battles bolder in Tracy Banghart's unputdownable sequel to Grace and Fury.

Qigong

Is a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control related to tai chi.

Here is a Qi 101 video - enjoy!

The Plague Stones & Pranayama - #AtoZChallenge

The Plague Stones

by James Brogden (Goodreads Author)

From the critically acclaimed author of Hekla's Children comes a dark and haunting tale of our world and the next. Fleeing from a traumatic break-in, Londoners Paul and Tricia Feenan sell up to escape to the isolated Holiwell village where Tricia has inherited a property. Scattered throughout the settlement are centuries-old stones used during the Great Plague as boundary markers. No plague-sufferer was permitted to pass them and enter the village. The plague diminished, and the village survived unscathed, but since then each year the village trustees have insisted on an ancient ceremony to renew the village boundaries, until a misguided act by the Feenans' son then reminds the village that there is a reason traditions have been rigidly stuck to, and that all acts of betrayal, even those committed centuries ago, have consequences...

Pranayama

Pranayama is the formal practice of controlling the breath, which is the source of our prana, or vital life force.

Lets be honest, it looks ridiculous but it honestly helps, and I find it reduces my sinus issues and some of my minor headaches.

Once and Future & OM - #AtoZChallenge

Once & Future (Once & Future #1)

by Amy Rose Capetta, Cori McCarthy

I’ve been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I’ve always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur.

Now I’m done hiding.

My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.

When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind.

No pressure.

OM - Meditation

Nocturna & Nirvana - #AtoZChallenge

Nocturna (A Forgery of Magic #1)

by Maya Motayne (Goodreads Author)

The first in a sweeping and epic own voices debut fantasy trilogy—set in a stunning Latinx-inspired world—about a face-changing thief and a risk-taking prince who must team up to defeat a powerful evil they accidentally unleashed. Perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Leigh Bardugo, and V. E. Schwab.

To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.

As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.

After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.

But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.

Nirvana (not the band )

Achieving nirvana requires determination, and a whole lifetime of dedication.

The Buddha couldn't fully relate his new understanding of the universe, but he could spread the essential message of his enlightenment and guide people toward achieving the same understanding. He traveled from place to place teaching the four noble truths:

1. Life is suffering.
2. This suffering is caused by ignorance of the true nature of the universe.
3. You can only end this suffering by overcoming ignorance and attachment to earthly things.
4. You can overcome ignorance and attachment by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Mothlight & Meditation - #AtoZChallenge

Mothlight

by Adam Scovell

“The idea was lost but the memory was here.”

Phyllis Ewans, a prominent researcher in Lepidoptera and a keen walker, has died of old age. Thomas, a much younger fellow researcher of moths first met Phyllis when he was a child. He became her carer and companion, having rekindled her acquaintance in later life.

Increasingly possessed by thoughts that he somehow actually is Phyllis Ewans, and unable to rid himself of the feeling that she is haunting him, Thomas must discover her secrets through her many possessions and photographs, before he is lost permanently in a labyrinth of memories long past.

Steeped in dusty melancholy and analogue shadows, MOTHLIGHT is an uncanny story of grief, memory and the price of obsession.

Meditation

Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. Here is a video about body scanning...

But many meditation techniques exist — so how do you learn how to meditate? (click the highlight text or the picture to view a much larger picture to read text)

It’s extremely difficult for a beginner to sit for hours and think of nothing or have an “empty mind.” Here are a few tips to get you started: