I am including some of my favorite authors and books that
have helped my own spiritual growth and development over the years. I will also include books about health and
alternative health therapies that I have found helpful. I will be changing this page on a regular
basis so be sure to check back again soon.
I am delighted to share with you just a few of my favorite
authors:
In a walk down memory lane, these are a few
of my favorite authors who gave me guidance during my spiritual search:
Ken Keyes, Jr.
– “Handbook to Higher Consciousness” was one of the earliest books I read
in my search for understanding and spiritual growth and it is still a winner.
Ralph Waldo Trine
– “In Tune With the Infinite” is an oldie but goodie – consider it a
classic in explaining basic metaphysics.
Gerald Jammpolsky
– has a number of wonderful, growth-inspiring books out.
Emmet Fox –
author of several wonderful, books explaining the hows and whys of basic
metaphysics and the spiritual path.
Ram Dass –
author of a number of books
about
spirituality and aging.
His classic “Be Here Now” is as true today as it was when I read it
many years ago – and as funny.
Father John Powell – his books are transforming.
Matthew Fox – new, exciting ideas about spiritually.
Deepak Chopra – a man who is able to take very difficult
spiritual concepts and explain them in every day language.
Joan Borysenko – she explains, she inspires and she
motivates people to change their lives and pursue their inner growth.
Kahlil Gibran – his masterpiece “The Prophet” is all anyone
would need as a guide.
Nancy's
book recommendations:
I would like to say that I just
re-read the book I am recommending, but somehow I missed it the first and second
time it was printed. It was my loss. Recently a good friend, shocked
that I had not read said book, gave me her personal copy and said "Read it
and enjoy." The book is Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift From the
Sea" and I took it with me on a recent retreat and did as instructed --
Read it and enjoyed it.
The book is small but full of
insights into what being a woman is, the life stages of a woman's life and
relationships. One of my favorite quotes about love is "When each
partner loves so completely that he has forgotten to ask himself whether or not
he is loved in return; when he only knows that he loves and is moving to its
music -- then, and then only, are two people able to dance perfectly in tune to
the same rhythm."
Most of all, it is about our evolving consciousness as
humans. As I read it, I could see myself in the various stages and
most of all where I find myself today. The author clearly pinpoints
the journey of womanhood. As an older woman myself, I
took note of her positive and uplifting view of the mature years and what they
could be, if we choose to continue our individual growth. I can gladly
recommend this book as one that can be read and re-read as we move through the
life cycle.
Usually
I recommend books that are spiritually uplifting and
informative or health- or aging-oriented. This time I
would like to recommend a book on business I just finished
reading that is inspiring and funny and very down to
earth. Paul Newman and A. E. Hotchner's
"Shameless Exploitation in Pursuit of the Common
Good". This is the story of the origin and
development of Newman's Own Food Products company and how
not following what has always been done can lead to
success. It shows that intention triumphs and doing
for others has its own reward.
There
is no doubt in my mind that the book is a genuine reflection
of two very genuine people who have heart, compassion and
generosity in abundance. The story of how against all
odds, Newman's Own grew into its own niche and how the
contributions to charitable organizations have expanded out
to touch the lives of so many leaves one with a "life
is good" feeling. As a person who had become
disenchanted with the over-chemicalization of our food
(especially salad dressing), I can remember being thrilled
to discover Newman's Own salad dressing which is natural and
good tasting. Now that I know the story behind the
product, I am even more excited about this food company.
To
read the letters from the children who have attended the
Hole in the Wall Gang Camps brings tears to one's eyes
easily and a lump in one's throat, but also a very happy
feeling. The laid-back writing and touches of humor
make this book a keeper - something to put away after
reading and to go back to when the world seems to be going
to H..l! We all need reminders that we are God's
expressions in the world and the actions of one or two can
make an incredible difference in the lives of many.
For any of you who are
caregivers, I have the perfect book to give you some good
ideas for survival and also to help you release some of your
emotions about your situation. It is "Elder Rage
or Take My Father.....Please" by Jacqueline Marcell.
After reading Jackie's story, you will either be relieved
that your situation is not as bad as hers was or you will
identify with her and know that you are not alone in what
you are going through.
In relating her
experiences of caregiving for her father and mother, Jackie
brings you into their story intimately as she honestly and
openly shares their dysfunction and the family
history. She shows how child abuse can be transferred from generation to generation and impact many lives into the
future and how it can come out in behaviors of a person with
dementia.
Jackie's father was
diagnosed with multi-infarct vascular dementia with
Alzheimer's Disease as a secondary disease process.
Her mother had the same diagnosis but reacted to it quite
differently. While her father would fly into rages
regularly, her mother remained passive and sweet. One
of the difficulties with caregiving is getting past the
denial state and into one of action. Jackie made real
progress once she was able to hook up with the Alzheimer's
Foundation and benefit from their resources and get her
parents into good adult day care. Up until then, she
found herself in one crisis state after another and many
complications that were frustrating and expensive. Her
section on hindsight is worth the price of the book.
Jackie also has an
extensive resource list in the back of the book which would
be extremely helpful to anyone dealing with a parent or
other relative with dementia. Caregiving is a
tremendous undertaking and one that most people run into at
some time in their life. Reading this book will give
you some insights and also some inspiration that love can
overcome the stress of caregiving.
A
book that I have read several times and continue to refer to
for inspiration and motivation is Eknath Easwaran's
"Dialogue with Death". It is much more about
life than death. Eknath writes about the spiritual
psychology found in the Katha Upanishad and presents a
difficult subject with humor and compassion. There is
so much wisdom that is available from the East and the
Upanishads have been a guide to living for Hindus for
centuries. He takes ancient thought and teaching and
fuses it with current understanding and the blend is very
readable. He presents wonderful stories to illustrate
ideas about life and living it to the fullest in the
spiritual sense. Having said the following, I find
myself reluctant to put it back on the shelf without
re-reading it once again.
Another
book I would like to recommend at this
time is “The Seat of the Soul” by Gary Zukav.
Gary fully explores the process of evolution that we are all engaged in
which is that of moving from being a 5-sense physical being to becoming a
multi-sensory, fully developed spiritual Being.
He explains the discoveries of quantum physics step by step so that the
reader can have time to digest and absorb these complex ideas.
He details our human evolution to date and urges us to make changes in
our lives and our world without being an alarmist. Mr. Zukav places the current spirituality revolution in a
unique perspective and gives an impetus to any reader to hasten their inner
journey. It is a book that can be
read over and over. In fact, I find
that scanning it again was not enough and I will have to re-read it before I can
re-shelve it.
One
book I would like to recommend
is “Legacy of
the Heart” by Wayne Muller. The
subtitle is “The spiritual advantages of a painful childhood” which is what
caught my eye. I didn’t know t
here were
any. However, much to my surprise and
delight, I found much good food for thought.
It helped me re-frame my childhood in a more positive way and gave me
some insights into why I do or think what I do. It also gave me a measure of how much I had overcome and how much
growth I had achieved. I was able to
more fully enter into the practice of forgiveness and let go of a lot of old
baggage. If you were able to see my
personal copy, you would see a lot of highlighting as much of what Wayne wrote
was so pertinent. I believe you would
have a similar experience if you had a difficult childhood to overcome. As Wayne addresses the various methods of
abuse that children experience, he explains what the effect might have been on
you as you were trying to survive. At
the end of each chapter, he has included an exercise and a meditation to help
you resolve any related issues.
“Legacy” is a book that can be read and re-read as you gain
understanding and go on with your life.
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