Discover an authentic and ancient Irish tradition of magical sound energy, and how to incorporate it into your life. Within us all is the ability to hear the magic of sound, to use music and words to create a new reality. In Irish traditions this is known as Draíocht Ceoil - 'music magic' - an ancient art deeply rooted in Ireland’s mythology and culture, used for generations to harness the power of sound for connecting to natural magical energy. This is the first book of its kind to examine the tradition of Draíocht Ceoil, its ancient roots in the poetic tradition of Old Ireland, and its evolution into a vital part of Irish folk magic practices. From its early times, Irish society has elevated the roles of poet and musician to facilitators of magic, which has evolved into a rich tradition of both domestic and political magic, surviving throughout Ireland into the modern era, adapting to the needs of its generations. No musical or literary expertise is needed, only a love of sound and creativity, for Draíocht Ceoil to add depth to your magical practice. Its application to meditation and journeying will make it a perfect addition to your spiritual path.

A 34-year-old man fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit is on an artificial respirator for over a month. Could it be that his chance of getting off the respirator is not how much his nurses know, but rather how much they care? A 75-year-old woman is heroically saved by a major trauma center only to be discharged and fatally struck by a car while walking home from the hospital. Could a lack of compassion from the hospital staff have been a factor in her death? Compelling new research shows that health care is in the midst of a compassion crisis. But the pivotal question is Does compassion really matter? In The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference, physician scientists Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli uncover the eye-opening data that compassion could be a wonder drug for the 21st century. Now, for the first time ever, a rigorous review of the science - coupled with captivating stories from the front lines of medicine - demonstrates that human connection in health care matters in astonishing ways. Never before has all the evidence been synthesized together in one place. You will see compelling evidence - Compassion has vast benefits for patients across a wide variety of conditions - Missed opportunities for compassion can have devastating health effects - Compassion can help reverse the cost crisis in health care - Compassion can be an antidote for burnout among health care providers - 40 seconds of compassion can save a life After seeing all the evidence, the answer is crystal Compassion matters...in not only meaningful but measurable ways.

A designer, educator, and play expert calls for adults to add more fun, exploration, and imagination to their livesWe’re all born playful. But when we grow up, we learn to suppress this critical, hardwired instinct and our lives become ruled by “getting things done.”  As world-famous designer Cas Holman explains, this disconnection from our playful selves is hazardous to everything from our emotional wellbeing to our ability to problem solve and innovate. The emerging science of play shows that it sparks joy, wonder, creativity, and insight at any age. It is through play that we shape our identities and continue to evolve at every stage of our lives.We think we’re making room for play we join a pickup sports game, catch a new movie, or go out to dinner for fun. But here, Holman advocates for a deeper level of “free play” through open-ended, unstructured activities that we become absorbed in with no obvious goal or purpose.  The ways we can play are endless and what recharges us most is unique to each of whether it’s a piece of art we create, an entertaining conversation with a stranger, or an experiment to shake up a task we take for granted. Holman shows us how to adopt a playful mindset and incorporate everyday moments of play into all areas of our lives so that we can destress, recharge, connect with each other, and grow as creative individuals. The power of play can buffer us in bleak times, and it can make our working lives far more fulfilling, helping us explore without fear of failure and consider new ways of thinking.Playful draws on psychology, history, art, and design thinking to make a powerful case for the vital importance of play for grown-ups in a world obsessed with productivity.   Provocative, wise, and full of spirit, it will inspire you to (re) learn how to play.

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark . . . but she hasn’t seen it in a while, either. Balancing work at her beloved Lunar Books with protecting it from her toxic boss, who’s running it into the ground, and all the while concealing her witchcraft from the non-wicches around her – Belle is burnt out. Perfecting the potential of her magic is the last thing on her mind. But when her 30th birthday brings a summons from her coven, and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic forever. With the month of October to fix things, and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get – from the women in her life, from an unlikely mentor figure, and even an (infuriatingly handsome) watchman who’s sworn to protect her . . . With found family, slow burn romance and an uplifting message about self-love, this is the cosy, autumnal read that you've been waiting for.

In this spellbinding fantasy debut set in a future where language magic reigns, a young Hawaiian woman must solve a murder to clear her name. Kea Petrova is dealing with more than her fair share of trouble. At just twenty-five years old, she’s the youngest of five Hawaiian clan leaders living on the Homestead in outer Los Angeles. Nearly 200 years ago, when a catastrophic flood submerged the Hawaiian islands and unleashed magic into the world, these clans forged a treaty with the city, establishing a new Hawaiian homeland. But that treaty is about to expire. Kea struggles to keep her small clan afloat, scraping together rent each month through odd jobs and selling her own crafted Hawaiian language spells. While her talent for language magic is her saving grace, she feels like a shadow of those who came before her. Just when she thinks things can’t get any more complicated, the murder of Angelo Reyes—LA’s most prominent Filipino activist—turns her world upside-down. Angelo was killed by a death spell—something that, due to the properties of each school of language magic, can only exist in Hawaiian. With independent spellsmithing being technically illegal, Kea quickly becomes the prime suspect, known for her spellwork on the Homestead. To clear her name, she must unravel the mystery behind Angelo’s murder and confront LA’s most powerful (and dangerous) players, each wielding their own type of magic. The clock is ticking—can Kea save herself, her clan, and the Homestead before it’s too late?