Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home Paperback – Illustrated, December 19, 2017

This is a magical and supportive book for those of us searching for longing and drawn to our inner realms. Love how it is written. Expressed and explained beautifully.

I have been following Toko-Pa for years, and anxiously awaited the arrival of this book. I expected greatness! But nothing could have prepared me for the deeply compassionate, soulful, embodied journey through the psyche and straight to the heart that ‘Belonging’ is. Toko-pa weaves a poetic exploration through the depths of ancestral lineage to conception, birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and age that holds no prisoners. She offers a garden of delights for reclamation of any and all lost parts of our soul that may have been discarded along the way in Life, and graces every misstep and lost moment with the innate power we each possess to create the life we deserve and desire. She breathes Life into the lifeless and brings light into the darkness with a richness and gentleness like nothing I’ve read before. And believe me, I read a lot.This is a MUST READ for anyone who finds themselves longing for a deeper, more authentic and purposeful life. She never tells the reader what to do... she gently coaxes the reader to examine their deep inner longing and not only recognize its true value, but muster the courage to pursue it with trust, faith and the inexhaustible power of limitless possibilities to “Be the Champion of Your Right to Be Here.”

I read another review state “if there was an edible version, I’d eat it”. And I could not possibly resonate more with this! This book is an absolute gem, and touches the reader to the depths of their soul. I’ve hugged this book in tears, grieved with its exposure of my wounds, taken long, thoughtful pauses to chew the dense and profound content, and laughed incredulously as Toko-Pa’s words weave a wondrous picture for the unseen, unknown, unacknowledged until now. I was engulfed in inspiration and awe as I drank each page down and I often felt as if the book was somehow written just for me. And with this, I felt a profound sense of hope. Because it was not written for me, and if these words are impacting so many, then here is absolute proof that my people are out there yet. I will be buying multiple copies to give to friends and family and want to say thank you a million times to Toko-Pa Turner for writing such a magnificent piece of art. 🙏🏼

A must read for anyone who feels a sense of separation from our ancestral song. The book nurtures on all levels, intellectually, emotionally, psychologically, and most of all spiritually. I believe that Belonging belongs in everyone’s home and should be read slowly and repeatedly. This is my second time around after first reading it in the winter of 2019. A soul friend from Portugal, whom I had met while working on ships, recommended the book, and I didn’t hesitate. This book will remain a shrine to our friendship. Toko-pa’s words feel inspired and channeled. They were meant to come through her. Thank you for penning a book that weaves a living bridge from honoring the past bringing forth the wisdom gained to a future humanity steeped in communion with self, community, and nature.

I have read so many books by brilliant authors on the topics of human connection and creation of a meaningful life- from both a psychological and a spiritual point of view. I first found Toko-pa when a dear friend sent me her poem "I Want to Be Alive With You", and have followed her ever since. I am a scientist and a dreamworker myself. I bought her book because I relate so readily to her blog posts... this book is exemplary. I can't say enough about it. I knew it would be good, but I actually am a bit floored to find it so deliciously profound and lucid, it exceeds all expectations. It's like all the things I already feel that I have stuck inside me found a beautiful and articulate voice and are laid out in front of me to ponder with holy curiosity. It is not a fast read. I had to take it in slowly, savoring it. It is deep and complex, but her anecdotes are sprinkled throughout, grounding it and driving the points home. Toko-pa is what my circle calls "tapped-in"... a bridge that can span the gap between the medicine and the sick, this book delivers. Such a beautiful and personal piece of art that I will reread and recommend to my friends.

This book is of the soul. It is just outstanding and I find it very difficult to put it down. I have a habit of highlighting what really touches me, inspires me, and awes me when I read. As a result there is highlighting on every page of this book. The author is a word-magician. She is an extremely talented writer, creative - and as she looks deeply into the real meaning of words, she also weaves sentences that are truly a work of art. Second, her own story which she shares early on is riveting and the reader knows that she draws on her own experience. It focuses on archetypes, dream work, truth, philosophy, literature and more. As I read, I can feel the insights I experience healing and inspiring me as they also motivate me to continue on a journey I began many years ago. It is affirming to truth that resides deep within, to my own knowingness. I know I will read it again a d maybe even again. Thank you, Toko-pa for this gem so current, so needed right now in our world. I know I will be sharing this book with friends as gifts….

The writer has a way of speaking from the heart and saying things that resonante with anyone who has ever felt like an "outsider" in society for any reason. A terrific book for self-improvement.