Book Club

I stumbled upon this gem in a Spanish bookstore—one of my favorite places to find unique titles. Laura Imai Messina’s WA: La vía Japonesa a la armonía is an exquisite reflection on the Japanese way of life, where beauty, harmony, civility, and moderation prevail. As someone deeply connected to Japanese culture, this book has been an absolute treasure for me.

The concept of wa—harmony—is explored through 72 carefully chosen Japanese words. Each word serves as a doorway into the heart of Japanese traditions, values, and philosophies. Messina’s prose unravels the profound meanings behind these words, painting a picture of a way of life deeply rooted in balance and unity.

What’s especially beautiful is how the book is structured around the four seasons, with each season exploring a set of words that embody the essence of that time of year. It’s a perfect reflection of the Japanese reverence for nature and the cyclical…

I absolutely loved this book. It’s such a simple, step-by-step guide to creating conscious relationships, and it offers a framework that’s both practical and deeply rooted in psychology. I’ve read a lot about romantic relationships—partly because of my passion for understanding love and partly because I’m currently working on my Vita Major for Relationship Coaching—and this book has become one of my all-time favorites.

What makes it so special is how well-structured it is. The authors base their approach on Imago Therapy, which focuses on the unconscious patterns we develop in childhood and how they shape our adult relationships. It’s an eye-opener to see how much our early experiences influence how we love and communicate as adults. The book is filled with actionable exercises and tools that help couples identify their patterns and work toward healthier, more fulfilling connections.

One concept that really stood out to me from this book is…

I really loved this book.

It felt like sitting down with a friend and having a fun, meaningful, honest conversation—light at times, but also deliciously deep.

As I was reading it, I kept reflecting on my own relationship with creativity, and especially on the environment I grew up in. I come from a very creative family, and not just in a casual sense, but in a very real, almost overwhelming way. My great-grandfather was a published writer, and my great-uncle was also a prolific writer who received one of the highest recognitions in Spain for his lifetime work. My uncle, Alberto Vázquez-Figueroa, is one of the most widely read authors in the Spanish-speaking world, with more than one hundred published novels, many of which have been adapted into films. My brother is an internationally recognized plastic artist whose work lives in some of the most important art collections in the world…