This fascinating new book by Tony Butcher is a delightful story of one man’s spiritual awakening. tbfcATripBeyondImagination_smButcher was working as a headmaster in Surrey when an ‘inner calling’ drew him to travel to India – Earth’s spiritual centre – where he embarked on an incredible and life-changing journey of self-discovery. [He was in his seventies at the time – what an inspiration!] A Trip Beyond Imagination is a travelogue of his adventures as he delves deeper and deeper into transcendental meditation, unlocking the true path to peace, happiness and inner contentment lacking from his daily life. As Butcher says: “What is called happiness in this world are like small breaks in drudgery, such as love at first sight, a holiday and any kind of pleasant surprise. These are just like small breaks in the cloud on a very gloomy day and soon disappear. Real happiness comes from within. And it resonates outwards through you into relative life.” The author describes his journey travelling around India, staying in Ashrams and meeting with gurus, and how this journey of self-discovery gave him a sense of purpose and meaning on earth. Many pages are devoted to the great power of transcendental meditation (TM), and how it uses a mantra to help a person go deep into their being, giving their mind and body a period of complete rest. Whether or not this is your cup of tea, it sounds like a welcome tonic in today’s frantic, immediate world. The book, then, will appeal to those who enjoy bold adventure stories. But it also promises to aid anyone who is considering their own journey of self-discovery and self-fulfilment. Packed full of information and titbits on India, it will also captivate anyone interested in this vast, eclectic country. A Trip Beyond Imagination is described as a travel book. But, in many ways, it also falls into the self-help genre. It is, then, a unique blend of spiritual guide, memoir and travelogue that will delight anyone interested in yoga, spirituality, meditation and self-development. Well worth reading. A Trip Beyond Imagination by Tony Butcher is out now on Kindle only, priced at £2.26.