Banyen Books ~ Branches of Wisdom

​@BanyenBooksSound hosts Melody Beattie in conversation about her revised and updated #1 bestselling, modern classic, Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself.  Melody Beattie is one of America’s most beloved self-help authors and a household name in addiction and recovery circles. Millions of readers have trusted Melody’s words of wisdom and guidance because she knows firsthand what they’re going through. Her international bestselling book, Codependent No More, introduced the world to the term ’codependency’ in 1986. She is the author of many bestselling books—including The Language of Letting Go, Playing It by Heart, The Grief Club, Beyond Codependency, and The Codependent No More Workbook. She lives in Southern California and is at work on an inspirational memoir.

Join Danielle Blackwood, Archetypal Astrologer, for the @BanyenBooksSoundVancouver launch of her book 'A Lantern in The Dark'.  Danielle Blackwood is a professional astrologer with more than 30 years of experience and is certified in the principles and practice of Contemporary Psychological Astrology through world renowned astrologer and author, Erin Sullivan. Danielle is also a Registered Counseling Therapist (RCT) in private practice. Her therapeutic approach is transpersonal, archetypal, and person centered, and she holds a certificate in Jungian and Post Jungian Clinical Concepts through The Center of Applied Jungian Studies. Danielle has been a priestess and educator since 1994, facilitating workshops, retreats, classes and public ritual. She is the author of 'The Twelve Faces of The Goddess'. Danielle is a passionate lifelong student of folklore, mythology, and depth psychology, and helping others through their rites of passage when they find themselves in a dark wood, is at the heart of her work.

@BanyenBooksSoundVancouver  hosts Mahnaz Afkhami, leading women's rights advocate who served in the pre-1978 Cabinet of Iran, in conversation with CBC radio host Samira Mohyeddin in conversation on exile, protests, Iran, and the women's movement. Mahnaz Afkhami is the founder, president, and CEO of Women’s Learning Partnership and former Minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran (1976-1978) . Afkhami has been a leading advocate of women's rights for more than four decades, having founded and served as director and president of several international non-governmental organizations that focus on advancing women's status. Afkhami also serves on advisory boards and steering committees of a number of national and international organizations including the Freer/Sackler Galleries of The Smithsonian Institution, the Foundation for Iranian Studies, The Global Fund for Women, Women’s Learning Partnership, Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch, and the World Movement for Democracy. She is the author of several books that have been translated into numerous languages, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, and PBS and in numerous television and radio interviews on NPR, BBC Persian, VOA Persian and other international outlets.   Samira Mohyeddin is a multi-award-winning journalist, documentary maker, and producer at CBC Radio One’s The Current. She is the host of CBC's Unforked, a national radio program that picks apart the food we eat to reveal the culture and politics baked into it. Samira has a Master of Arts in Gender and modern Middle Eastern history from the University of Toronto. She is a trained Shakespearean actor and graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She also did genocide studies at the Zoryan Institute and is a graduate of Centennial College’s post graduate advanced journalism program. For more than 16 years, Samira has co-owned and operated Banu, a restaurant and market in Toronto's Queen West neighbourhood.

@BanyenBooks joins Valerie Mason-John (Vimalasara) for a conversation on her book, 'Afrikan Wisdom' — spiritual, political, and interdisciplinary anthology of wisdom stories from Black liberation leaders and teachers. Vimalasara is an accredited Life Coach and Addictions Coach. They are also one of the founding facilitators of Dr Gabor Mate’s Compassionate Inquiry CI course. They are trained in both CI and Internal Family Systems IFS, and work as a Mindfulness Coach to help liberate people from the prison of their minds. They are ordained into the Triratna Community, and have been practising Buddhism for over 30 years.

Join Dodie Graham McKay for a presentation of practices and wisdom from her new book, 'Earth Magic: Elements of Witchcraft'.  Dodie Graham McKay (Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, Canada) is an initiated Witch and independent filmmaker. Since the 1980s, she has been involved in magic, music, and other forms of media. Dodie is the founder of Moongazey Films Inc, has written for The Wild Hunt, and is active in her local art and magic communities.

Dr. Sue Johnson speaks on her new book, The Hold Me Tight Workbook. Dr. Johnson shares tools for couples to strengthen bonds and deepen intimacy.  Dr. Sue Johnson is a leading innovator in the fields of couple therapy and adult attachment. She is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy (EFT), which has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 30 years of peer-reviewed clinical research. She has received numerous awards acknowledging her development of EFT, including the APA’s “Family Psychologist of the Year” in 2016 and the Order of Canada in 2017.

Join Banyen Books for an illuminating panel discussion with Dennis McKenna, Belinda Eriacho, Stephen Gray, and Christopher Bache on 'How Psychedelics Can Help Save the World: Visionary and Indigenous Voices Speak Out'.  

Carmen Spagnola, Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and trauma recovery practitioner, shares recipes and rituals for the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Carmen's work cross-pollinates themes of attachment, animism, myth and justice, supported by extensive training, certification, supervision and mentorship. Each month, she leads dozens of classes and somatic practice sessions in her membership community, The Numinous Network. Carmen has led workshops in Canada, the US, Sweden and Finland, and hosted The Numinous Podcast since 2014.

David Fenton shares lessons learned as one of the world's leading progressive media activists.  David Fenton has been the driving force behind some of the most important and history-making campaigns of the last 50 years. In his extraordinary career as a visionary activist, he has learned first-hand what to do—and not to do—to propel progressive causes into the public eye and create real, impactful, lasting change. In his new book The Activist's Media Handbook, Fenton provides an essential toolkit for today’s activists: how to tell your story, captivate audiences, and inspire them to join the cause.

Join host and cocreator of PBS’s 'Journey of the Universe' for a fresh look at how the rich collision between science and spirituality has influenced contemporary consciousness. Brian Swimme will be discussing his new book 'Cosmogenesis: An Unveiling of the Expanding Universe'.  Dr. Swimme is the author of 'The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos' and 'The Universe is a Green Dragon'. He is co-author of 'The Universe Story', which is the result of a ten year collaboration with cultural historian, Thomas Berry. Dr. Swimme is also the creator of three educational video series: Canticle to the Cosmos, The Earth’s Imagination, and The Powers of the Universe. Most recently he co-wrote and hosted the 60 minute film Journey of the Universe, broadcast on PBS television stations nationwide.