Flourishing Kin

From Indigenous scholar Yuria Celidwen comes a first-of-its-kind book about our aspiration for sustainable, collective flourishing through Indigenous wisdom, traditions, and practices that bridge Indigenous and Western knowledges and ways.

How do we cultivate happiness? When facing the monumental challenges of our world, we often end up disconnecting in order to focus on our mental health. Dr. Yuria Celidwen explains this focus on our own state of mind alone is precisely why so many of us struggle to flourish. “What’s been overlooked is the Indigenous perspective of relationality,” she says. “It is the understanding that happiness is only possible in community, when we cultivate our relationships toward all kin, from human to more-than-human, and to our living Earth.”

Dr. Celidwen’s research shows the tremendous benefit of integrating Indigenous approaches into our approach to well-being, while recognizing the gains made by Western positive psychology, mindfulness, and neuroscience. In Flourishing Kin, she identifies seven key principles found in Indigenous cultures worldwide that embrace virtue, ethical living, and spirituality. Each principle—Kin Relationality, Body Seed, Senshine, Heartfelt Wisdom, Ecological Belonging, Collective Well-Being, and Reemergence—is a seed to flourishing kin, and reveals how we can overcome isolation and climate anxiety, nourish healthy relationships with our communities and environment, and build strong foundations of well-being that elevate our life choices for the benefit of our whole planet.

Sustainable collective flourishing goes beyond optimism or resilience. Offering opportunities for exploration, reflection, and personalized insight, here you’ll find shared storytelling, cultural tradition, and other forms of enhanced contemplative practice like ritual, music, movement, and art to support your journey. Through poetic expression and authentic truth telling, Dr. Celidwen invites us to experience a path to fulfillment that allows us to meet the world in all its complexity with reverence and joyous commitment to participate in the flourishing of all living beings.

IIt is no exaggeration to state that this work profoundly touched me. For those seeking insight into thriving both individually and within a community, this book is a must-read. Approach it with an open heart and embrace the scholarship and knowledge it imparts. I would suggest it for DEI practitioners, scholars of Indigenous cultures, mindfulness practitioners, among others.

n Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Wisdom for Collective Well-Being, Dr. Yuria Celidwen presents a profound and timely reimagining of mental wellness, integrating Indigenous wisdom into the modern conversation on flourishing. Through seven core principles rooted in Indigenous worldviews, the book calls for a shift away from the individualistic, often commodified focus of Western mental health paradigms. Instead, Dr. Celidwen emphasizes collective well-being, interdependence, and spiritual connection, challenging readers to embrace an "eco-identity" over the Western ego-centered approach.

Dr. Celidwen’s deep dive into Indigenous cosmovisions is illuminating. The text is rich with academic rigor, making it feel at times like a dissertation. However, the scholarly tone is balanced by the inclusion of meditative practices and reflective prompts that invite readers into a shared experience of introspection and ecological kinship. These exercises help bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering a way for readers to embody the teachings rather than merely intellectualize them.

I appreciated the book’s critique of the Western mindfulness movement. Dr. Celidwen skillfully articulates how contemporary contemplative sciences have become insular, serving primarily privileged, Western audiences while neglecting the ethical, relational foundations of the traditions they borrow from. This disconnect, she argues, perpetuates cognitive imperialism and fails to acknowledge the ongoing harm caused by colonial systems. Her call for decolonizing methodologies in both academia and contemplative practices is a powerful reminder of the value and validity of diverse ways of knowing.

The concept of collective flourishing, central to Indigenous approaches, offers a compelling alternative to the Western pursuit of individual happiness. By highlighting the importance of relationships—both human and ecological—Dr. Celidwen extends the definition of well-being beyond personal satisfaction to include a deep reverence for nature and communal responsibility. Her reflections on compassion, not as a hierarchical benefactor-beneficiary model but as a reciprocal, transformative act, stand out as a particularly resonant message in these divisive times.

While Flourishing Kin is an enlightening read, its academic prose may present a challenge for readers seeking a more accessible narrative. Yet, for those willing to engage with its depth, the book offers a transformative vision of well-being that is both grounded in ancient wisdom and urgently relevant to contemporary challenges. The text is an invitation to participate in the co-creation of a new story—one of reciprocity, ecological stewardship, and shared flourishing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.