HEAL YOUR MIND, REWIRE YOUR BRAIN: APPLYING THE EXCITING NEW SCIENCE OF BRAIN SYNCHRONY FOR CREATIVITY, PEACE AND PRESENCE

Lind-Kyle P, ISBN 1604150564, 263 pages; New York, NY: Midpoint Trade Books, Inc; 2009.

This book combines an interesting blend of Eastern/New Age mysticism and meditation techniques with the growing scientific understanding of "neuroplasticity" to propose new ways of maintaining and expanding brain/mind function and holistic healing.

Lind-Kyle begins by providing understandable explanations of basic neuroanatomy and development, followed by a discussion of mind/brain interaction. Drawing on her extensive experience with meditation, the author makes the case that science's developing knowledge of the brain's ability to "rewire" itself in healing can be enhanced through greater self-awareness and meditation techniques.

The book is divided into 2 parts. Part 1 deals with the history of how the brain evolved to its present design and discusses training methods to interface optimally with the environment to develop diverse new capabilities. Part 2 provides mental training tools to rewire the neural networks and affect functioning, discusses meditation practices and mind tools corresponding to the 4 major brain waves and their neurotransmitters, and explains daily training programs.

There is considerable discussion throughout part 2 of the use of the Enneagram as a means of self-discovery to help enhance the meditation experience. Each of these 4 chapters outlines 1 of the 4 major brain waves, how they contribute to normal brain and body function, and how excesses or deficiencies can be improved with meditation technique. Lind-Kyle includes many examples of the 4 mental tools (intention, attention, receptivity, and awareness) from her practice of teaching meditation to illustrate her points.

Readers who are looking for ways to achieve healing, creativity, and peace may be intrigued by this book, but it is not a quick, self-help manual. The pleasant, narrative style is amenable to slow, reflective, and thoughtful reading rather than techniques being presented as quick, concise, or canned solutions.