Books published by Woodsmoke Press

How is it to live on this gorgeous planet, knowing about the terrible damage we have caused her and are still causing her? These letters begin with the author's rude awakening to our current ecological and climate emergency. They journey through the ups and downs of activism (with a few arrests along the way) and touch on the themes of grief, fear and anger, the majesty of the natural world, and the challenges of system change. They return again and again to an acknowledgement of (and forgiveness of) our all too human frailties. This book doesn't flinch from the reality of the crisis facing us, and it will also bring you hope and consolation. It will encourage you to enjoy the planet's rich offerings while we can, and to find ways of expressing your gratitude. These letters, with their mix of the mundane and the extraordinary, are love letters. They are filled with blackbird song, the melting ice-caps, extreme weather, cups of tea, oceans choked with plastic and happy dogs. Maybe they will inspire you to deepen your own relationship with our precious earth."Dear Earth..."

We all take refuge in something. How can we take refuge in something reliable?'Coming Home' explores refuge in Pureland Buddhism through stories of everyday life. Meet the temple cats and bunnies, and hear about being silly at the dinner table. Read about Satya's relationship tangles, her fondness of praise, and her chocolate addiction. Hear about where she finds joy, and where you can find it too.Along the way you will learn about Pureland Buddhism: our simple and accessible practice, and our realistic approach to living a good life. You will be given suggestions for how you can find refuge, how you can avoid common pitfalls, and what you can do when the going gets tough. You will feel the relief of seeing that you are an ordinary, foolish being, and that you are accepted just as you are.This book is accessible both to experienced Buddhists and to those who know nothing of Buddhism. It will help you to find your own refuges, regardless of your faith. Refuge brings us healing and happiness. It helps us to handle change, to stop blaming others and to become kinder. As we learn to lean into refuge, however we make sense of it, we will find ourselves coming home. Satya Robyn is a priest with the Order of Amida Buddha and she runs the Amida Mandala temple with her husband Kaspa. She is also a psychotherapist in private practice, working mainly with Internal Family Systems. Her books include 'What Helps: Sixty Slogans to Live By' and she co-authored an introduction to Pureland Buddhism with Kaspa, 'Just As You Are: Buddhism for Foolish Beings'. She enjoys growing vegetables, walking on the Malvern hills, watching trashy detective series, eating vegan brownies and hanging out with the temple bunnies.