Venus Rising

Film & BooksIssue: Sagittarius 09

Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants

This witty, accessible, and concise book will raise the mindfulness of the most stressed out person in mere seconds. Wild Chickens and Petty Tyrants by Arnold Kozak, is unlike other meditation books. Though I read the book from cover to cover, I appreciate knowing that I can return to any section and read it out-of-order. Like a word-of-the-day calendar, the organization of this book speaks in quick tidbits becoming the “mindful metaphor” of the moment.

Dr. Kozak’s metaphors are relatable and understandable. His style of writing is straightforward and quick. His definitions for mindfulness make sense in an increasingly cluttered emotional and cultural climate. His explanation for what it means to achieve and how to go about accomplishing mindfulness is tangible. My favorite is:

Mindfulness is to the mind what a spam blocker is to your inbox.  By practicing mindfulness, you become familiar and intimate with the functioning of your mind. By doing so, you can quickly recognize “junk thoughts” when they occur, disentangle yourself from them, and minimize clutter.

Each metaphor reminds the reader that mindfulness is an evolving state; it is a matter of learning to cope with the interruptions that enter into one’s thinking process. Mindfulness is not a static event; rather it is an approach to organizing emotions, reactions, and feelings. I appreciate that Dr. Kozak never writes about ‘when you achieve mindfulness’ rather he presents metaphors that remind you to step back, breathe, and process. He encourages you to be yourself, and to be aware of how the external factors of our world may cloud that sense of self.

One does not have to be in touch with their spirituality or have experience with yoga or Buddhism to benefit from these metaphors. It is an appropriate gift for friends or family members that may never dare to think beyond the confines of their stress. This book is a breath of fresh air, a sigh of relief, and a pleasant chuckle all in one.