My sister gave me “Daily Guidance from your Angels by Doreen Virtue and my sister- in- law gave me “I really needed this today” by Hoda Kotb . I also enjoyed The four agreements. A lot of recent reading and studying is abut addiction but will be taking notes on all these wonderful suggestions.
My favorite spiritual book is probably Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. I consider it something very special.
Other favorites include: Buddhadasa Bhikku, Alan Watts, Bhante Guranatana. I also owe a lot to Ram Dass for Be Here Now which guided me from psychedelic exploration into something a bit more meaningful.
Primarily those of Fr. Richard Rohr, especially Falling Upward, the first one that I encountered. He has been such a powerful influence in my life and that of my husband. We are regular followers.
Others here have mentioned some of my other favorites: Eckhart Tolle, Tara Brach, Marianne Williamson, the Dalai Lama, so many wonderful gems.
When you are in the winter of life, the list of books is endless. I recognize many that have been listed here but there have been many more that came into my life at just the right time. Three books that I cherish and have been on my bookshelf for over 50 years and I still refer to often are “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, “One Minute Wisdom” by Anthony de Mello and “The Magic Monastery” by Theophane the Monk.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Kama
These books have pulled me out of dark places in various times in my life and helped me gain some perspective. I re-read them whenever I hit a rough patch and need to get back on track..
Some of the books on Buddhist practice and yoga that are still on my shelf:
It’s Easier Than You Think, by Sylvia Boorstein
Nothing Special: Living Zen, by Charlotte Joko Beck
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life, by Judith Lasater
More recently, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation, by angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod, and Jasmine Syedullah
I have others lined up waiting for me to get to them. This was an invitation to revisit my bookshelves and also to add books to that waiting lineup as I read your responses.
Less obviously spiritual books:
I can’t list the titles, but reading science fiction and fantasy by authors who celebrate human differences has definitely shaped who I am and how I approach the world. Ursula K. LeGuin’s works were some of my earliest favorites. I found Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Reaper much later in life; they would now top the list and I wish I’d read them much earlier.
Poetry is part of my morning practice, with many books read and many more waiting for me.
Currently, the Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller, numerous books by Joyce Rupp, and many more authors. All time favorites Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Prince. “It is only with the heart that one sees rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Thank you all for your support as I travel to be with family, gathering to celebrate my nephew’s life; unashamed to name his suicide.
when my Mother passed away, her best friend for many many years suggested I buy “The Fall of Freddie the leaf” for my children but I found so much comfort in this children’s book for myself so I thought I would mention it.
I am so sorry for you, Carla.
This sorrow seems infinite.
I pray for your nephew, for his family, for you.
May Infinite Grace be with you all, warmly looking at your sorrow
May Infinite Grace surround your nephew with love.
Blessings to you and your family. May you all feel his presence during this time of sorrow. May he be at peace as well. Prayers for all of you as you celebrate his life.
I am so sorry for you and your family for tragically having lost your dear nephew. Please know I am with you also like so many of this blessed community. May all His Love be with you and all of your family, including your nephew lovingly being in your hearts forever. A warm embrace, if I may.
More recently Kristi Nelson’s Wake Up Grateful. Many, many years ago, Gina Cerminara books on Edgar Cayce/Karma (Many Mansions, The World Within, Many Lives, Many Loves) definitely shaped my spiritual practice along with some other Wiccan/Pagan books. (Pauline Campanelli – Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life, Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions) Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft)
There are so many! You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan… just to name a few 🙂
As so many of you have shared, your list of inspiration and learning from books is long. That is true for me as well. Thank you each for what you have shared. I know I will be adding some of those to my list of books to explore.
Currently my inspiration is coming from “Essentials” by David Whyte. Fifteen poems I have laid over many circumstances in my life for solace and direction.
A book which currently inspires my spiritual practice a lot and might be about to be shaping it is the Surangama Sutra, highly appreciated and introduced by a dear friend and discussed with some of our group. It is all about clearing our wrong perception of truth, brought to understanding and possible awareness through a dialog between the Buddha and Ananda about this theme and to enlighten the true mind from all angles to extinct the wrong perception of body, speech and mind (consciousness) of the “I”, who in once has established the relative truth and forgot about the true Self. Of recent, there is no book to be added to that one, while in the mean time, deep thanks for this are with the ones who wrote and translated it and with the group and the one who suggested to work on that one.
Good morning, Friends. Books … they have strongly helped to make my life what it is. Some of the majors: The Art of Pilgrimage (Phil Cousineau), Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer), By Parker Palmer: On the Brink of Everything, Let your Life Speak, & A Hidden Wholeness, Little Women, A Year with Rilke, Essential Writings (Thomas Merton), Etty Hillesum – An Interrupted Life, An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor, Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen, John O’Donohue – everything he wrote before his death.
One of the Poetry Apothecary books by William Steghart is never far from my side, they offer wise words of comfort perfect for stimulating reflection and bringing perspective to how you may be feeling or the situation you are in, these books really are medicinal. I was given the first one by a friend for my birthday about four years ago and have bought myself another because they have been so helpful in times of need. They are curated anthologies of poems individually chosen as prescriptions for various “ills” such as Love, loss, heartbreak, motivation, mental and emotional wellbeing. I choose a fitting prescription and read the poem through once and then I will read it slowly and thoughtfully another two or three times and sit and reflect upon it and its relevance to my situation and what I can take from it in terms of wisdom and then read it a final time to really let it sink in.
I’ll look for these. The description reminds me a bit of John O’Donohue’s Blessings.
Recent poetry anthologies that I’ve loved–
Edited by James Crews, who is a wonderful poet himself
The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy
How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope
Healing the Divide: Poems of Kindness and Connection
Edited by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby Wilson:
Poetry of Presence
Poetry of Presence II
Phyllis’s site AYearOfBeingHere.com is a collection of mindfulness poems posted every day for 3 years that has led me to many wonderful poets.
Too many books to count. Each one made me think in new ways. But the most recent one that made me say, “Wow,” page after page was Kathleen Singh’s “The Grace in Aging.”
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My sister gave me “Daily Guidance from your Angels by Doreen Virtue and my sister- in- law gave me “I really needed this today” by Hoda Kotb . I also enjoyed The four agreements. A lot of recent reading and studying is abut addiction but will be taking notes on all these wonderful suggestions.
My favorite spiritual book is probably Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. I consider it something very special.
Other favorites include: Buddhadasa Bhikku, Alan Watts, Bhante Guranatana. I also owe a lot to Ram Dass for Be Here Now which guided me from psychedelic exploration into something a bit more meaningful.
Primarily those of Fr. Richard Rohr, especially Falling Upward, the first one that I encountered. He has been such a powerful influence in my life and that of my husband. We are regular followers.
Others here have mentioned some of my other favorites: Eckhart Tolle, Tara Brach, Marianne Williamson, the Dalai Lama, so many wonderful gems.
When you are in the winter of life, the list of books is endless. I recognize many that have been listed here but there have been many more that came into my life at just the right time. Three books that I cherish and have been on my bookshelf for over 50 years and I still refer to often are “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran, “One Minute Wisdom” by Anthony de Mello and “The Magic Monastery” by Theophane the Monk.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Kama
These books have pulled me out of dark places in various times in my life and helped me gain some perspective. I re-read them whenever I hit a rough patch and need to get back on track..
More obviously spiritual books:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Some of the books on Buddhist practice and yoga that are still on my shelf:
It’s Easier Than You Think, by Sylvia Boorstein
Nothing Special: Living Zen, by Charlotte Joko Beck
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life, by Judith Lasater
More recently, Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation, by angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod, and Jasmine Syedullah
I have others lined up waiting for me to get to them. This was an invitation to revisit my bookshelves and also to add books to that waiting lineup as I read your responses.
Less obviously spiritual books:
I can’t list the titles, but reading science fiction and fantasy by authors who celebrate human differences has definitely shaped who I am and how I approach the world. Ursula K. LeGuin’s works were some of my earliest favorites. I found Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Reaper much later in life; they would now top the list and I wish I’d read them much earlier.
Poetry is part of my morning practice, with many books read and many more waiting for me.
Wow! A lot if interesting books.
Currently, the Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller, numerous books by Joyce Rupp, and many more authors. All time favorites Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Prince. “It is only with the heart that one sees rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
Thank you all for your support as I travel to be with family, gathering to celebrate my nephew’s life; unashamed to name his suicide.
when my Mother passed away, her best friend for many many years suggested I buy “The Fall of Freddie the leaf” for my children but I found so much comfort in this children’s book for myself so I thought I would mention it.
I am so sorry for you, Carla.
This sorrow seems infinite.
I pray for your nephew, for his family, for you.
May Infinite Grace be with you all, warmly looking at your sorrow
May Infinite Grace surround your nephew with love.
Blessings to you and your family. May you all feel his presence during this time of sorrow. May he be at peace as well. Prayers for all of you as you celebrate his life.
I’m so very sorry to hear that Carla, that must be unbelievably sad and painful for you and your family. Sending you all my deepest condolences. xx
I am so sorry for you and your family for tragically having lost your dear nephew. Please know I am with you also like so many of this blessed community. May all His Love be with you and all of your family, including your nephew lovingly being in your hearts forever. A warm embrace, if I may.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Your warm embrace was received and is reciprocated. 😌🤗
More recently Kristi Nelson’s Wake Up Grateful. Many, many years ago, Gina Cerminara books on Edgar Cayce/Karma (Many Mansions, The World Within, Many Lives, Many Loves) definitely shaped my spiritual practice along with some other Wiccan/Pagan books. (Pauline Campanelli – Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life, Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions) Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft)
There are so many! You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay. Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan… just to name a few 🙂
As so many of you have shared, your list of inspiration and learning from books is long. That is true for me as well. Thank you each for what you have shared. I know I will be adding some of those to my list of books to explore.
Currently my inspiration is coming from “Essentials” by David Whyte. Fifteen poems I have laid over many circumstances in my life for solace and direction.
Poetry is central to my morning routine. I’ve loved some of David Whyte’s that I’ve encountered along the way–I’ll look for this.
A book which currently inspires my spiritual practice a lot and might be about to be shaping it is the Surangama Sutra, highly appreciated and introduced by a dear friend and discussed with some of our group. It is all about clearing our wrong perception of truth, brought to understanding and possible awareness through a dialog between the Buddha and Ananda about this theme and to enlighten the true mind from all angles to extinct the wrong perception of body, speech and mind (consciousness) of the “I”, who in once has established the relative truth and forgot about the true Self. Of recent, there is no book to be added to that one, while in the mean time, deep thanks for this are with the ones who wrote and translated it and with the group and the one who suggested to work on that one.
Good morning, Friends. Books … they have strongly helped to make my life what it is. Some of the majors: The Art of Pilgrimage (Phil Cousineau), Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer), By Parker Palmer: On the Brink of Everything, Let your Life Speak, & A Hidden Wholeness, Little Women, A Year with Rilke, Essential Writings (Thomas Merton), Etty Hillesum – An Interrupted Life, An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor, Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen, John O’Donohue – everything he wrote before his death.
One of the Poetry Apothecary books by William Steghart is never far from my side, they offer wise words of comfort perfect for stimulating reflection and bringing perspective to how you may be feeling or the situation you are in, these books really are medicinal. I was given the first one by a friend for my birthday about four years ago and have bought myself another because they have been so helpful in times of need. They are curated anthologies of poems individually chosen as prescriptions for various “ills” such as Love, loss, heartbreak, motivation, mental and emotional wellbeing. I choose a fitting prescription and read the poem through once and then I will read it slowly and thoughtfully another two or three times and sit and reflect upon it and its relevance to my situation and what I can take from it in terms of wisdom and then read it a final time to really let it sink in.
I’ll look for these. The description reminds me a bit of John O’Donohue’s Blessings.
Recent poetry anthologies that I’ve loved–
Edited by James Crews, who is a wonderful poet himself
The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy
How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope
Healing the Divide: Poems of Kindness and Connection
Edited by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby Wilson:
Poetry of Presence
Poetry of Presence II
Phyllis’s site AYearOfBeingHere.com is a collection of mindfulness poems posted every day for 3 years that has led me to many wonderful poets.
I will check that website out, thank you Barb.
Too many books to count. Each one made me think in new ways. But the most recent one that made me say, “Wow,” page after page was Kathleen Singh’s “The Grace in Aging.”
Thank you for the recomendation! I just ordered it after reading your comment and the reviews as well.
There’s been so many books that have
helped me and given me direction.
One the comes to mind is “When things
fall apart” by Pema Chodron.