Books & Literature

Book Review: A Single Flower, by Philip M. Berk

POETRY: A Single Flower is an inspirational collection of simple yet profound teachings on spirituality.

Berk’s poetry speaks to the core.
4

In an era where it certainly feels like the prelapsarian times are over, this book is refreshing.

Author Philip M Berk is a spirituality scholar, counsellor, and Reiki Master. Inspired by poets such as Rumi, he has sought to heal others with teachings of love and consciousness through prose. His poetry is his strength.

The design of the book is simple, with a black cover and single flower emblem on the front page. There are no illustrations throughout, and the book is divided into three nonsequential parts. There is not a lot of text on each individual page, yet this succinctness should not be mistaken for lack of depth.

The first section is comprised of quotes and takes up more than half the book’s pages. These quotes cover topics such as enlightening the soul, love and relationships, inner truths, and the cosmos. Each quote is printed within a square frame with a heading guiding you to its content, giving you the ability to decide your teachings for that day.

I found this first section a bit tiresome. Although the meditation quotes were valid and inspiring, it felt like I could have obtained a similar teaching using an internet search. I also felt that I couldn’t wait to keep reading them through until they were finished. Perhaps this is as I wanted to finish the book, whereas the first part is designed for spontaneous feelings. The upside of this part is that the book would be a perfect gift to someone experiencing life’s challenges, and far more desirable than handing them a bunch of quotes you have printed off the internet!

The second part of the book was my favourite part. Although only 23 pages long, it was full of beautiful poetry, the wisdom of each, one can really feel within their soul. As I am not normally a poetry devotee, I feel that if I connected with this section, this part of the book would have to connect with a wide audience.

Finally, in part three, there are a series of learnings on the truth of oneness. In roman numeral order, he reflects upon how ego, ideas of ownership, separateness, consumerism, ignorance, and one’s perception, can affect your ability to love and heal. I mention how he used roman numerals to order the teachings simply because it is how he has illustrated the integration of ancient wisdoms and modern thought.

A Single Flower is a fantastic coffee table book for your collection, or a thoughtful gift.

Reviewed by Rebecca Wu

Distributed by: Heart Wisdom Press
Released: October 2020
RRP: $39.95

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