Book Review: Vines of the Mind
Visionary Poetry and Short Prose
How can you describe poetry, when the purpose of poetry is to express that which goes beyond words? I’ll try anyway.
Vines of the Mind by Paulie VonEdwærd-Benjamin is a collection of inspired, visionary poetry and short prose. This is an extensive set of writing, which the author has organized into four Maps that show how the pieces in each section are connected with each other and with that section’s theme. Each Map has its own table of contents which is a sort of poem all on its own, with carefully chosen words that kick up vivid mental images and paint a picture of the writing to come.
The Map framework reminds me of mind maps, perhaps a more deeply spiritual version of the ones so many of us use for brainstorming. The book’s structure also reminds me of the idea of all of existence being an interconnected web.
Within each Map, the poems, short essays, and prose dialogues explore subjects that are at once ordinary and profound. Although the language differs, the overall vibe reminds me substantially of writers like Rumi and Kahlil Gibran: exploring what is and what can be from the point of view of the infinite-ness of all existence and our interweaving within it, our own combined smallness and vastness. Ordinary reality viewed through the lens of extraordinary vision.
Reading the book feels like a ritual.
Sit with these writings a while and see what kind of meaning they might create for you.
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About Laura Perry
I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm also the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series (release date 26 August 2025). I’m also an avid gardener and living history demonstrator.
Thank you so much, Laura! You continue to inspire.