The Enchanted Life - Sharon Blackie

 

Happy publication day to this beautiful book! I was so kindly sent a review copy of The Enchanted Life by September Publishing, an independent publisher based in Tewkesbury, and immediately fell in love with Blackie's writing style. The book is categorised as non-fiction - though Blackie has written fiction novels in the past which I will definitely be exploring - but could also come under the heading of what you might define as 'spiritual self-help'. In other words, this beautiful book is effectively a manual for enlightenment and forming a deep and meaningful relationship with the world around us.

Blackie begins by laying out what we, as a generation, have become: that is, perpetually preoccupied people who are either rushing from or to work, checking social media and email notifications mindlessly, or else thinking about our next move in the cycle of 'productivity' we so strive for. Even when we do take time for ourselves, whether that be sitting in the garden or strolling through the woods, we're so focused on tomorrow's to-do list or what we're going to make for dinner that we don't really stop to breathe, listen to the birds singing and really feel at one with our surroundings. I'm pretty sure that every person reading this can relate in some way.

The book aims to encourage participation in a set of practical tips and exercises which can guide you towards a greater sense of meaning through heightened awareness and appreciation of the natural world. Blackie likens some of the activities to childhood play, in which children are not afraid to use their imagination and even mimic nature around them. Perhaps we all need to release our inner child a little, and really let go of our inhibitions and the constraints of daily life in order to find a sense of playfulness. Children certainly possess the 'enchantment' detailed in this book, yet life seems to knock it out of us as we move through adolescence. 

The book contains excerpts from poems, anecdotes from Blackie's life as well as those who she's met on her journey, and practical lists which you can implement in your own life, such as journalling, reflective moments or finding your own personal 'sit space'. As well as a thought-provoking discussion about what it means to be enchanted by the world around us, the book draws on educational and sociological theory, to name just two, and puts this into context of our everyday lives, resulting in a challenging yet accessible text which could be of great benefit to anyone - no matter your belief system or occupation. This gorgeous book has provided a lot of food for thought and I will definitely be introducing Blackie's suggestions into my own life as well as striving to find my own sense of enchantment with the natural world.