Top 10 self-help books for beginning (or continuing) your spiritual path
Posted by Goddess Leonie on April 16th, 2009. Filed under: Joyful Goddess Life, Review Goddess.Hola gorgeous Goddesses!
Recently my mama came to visit. Since her spiritual awakening six months ago, it’s amazing to see just how my mama’s life has changed. She’s always been beautiful, passionate, inspiring, creative & amazing – but walking her spiritual path has made her more peaceful, calm, happier and powerful. It’s like another rainbow coloured light is shining in her now.
A big part of her awakening & journey has been books. Along the way, my love & I have been recommending her the must-read books for the beginning (and continuing) of her spiritual journey. And because I’m such a rabid-book-recommender-and-lover, I thought it would be gorgeous to share our list with you.
1. The Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield
When I was 17, I was at a boarding school. One of my closest friends was the boarding headmistress. One day, after one of our long talks about philosophy, life, love and spirit, she said: “I’m going to give you a book. It changed my life, and it will change yours too.” That book was The Celestine Prophecy.
When I first started reading it, I didn’t understand *why* it was so important. I thought it was just an adventure story. And then the story unfolded. And things started making sense. And my whole world shifted a little after reading it. I realised other people were thinking the same as I was. Synchronicity started happening, awakening started happening. And I began living The Celestine Prophecy, learning the insights one by one.
It’s a profound book – and was a catalyst for me to understand and become open about my spirituality.
2. Way of the Peaceful Warrior – Dan Millman
I read this book only a couple of years after The Celestine Prophecy. Like The Prophecy, The Way is written as an adventure novel. It’s the story of an overachiever (which I just don’t connect with at all… *cough cough*) who gets a wake up call. But those kind of wake up calls that wake you up, in the way you were meant to be.
I gave this book to my dad in law as a gift, and he really adored it too. It’s one of those rare kinds of books that both gods and goddesses can really relate to and connect with.
4. The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
This little book is a guidebook for living. In terms of practical spirituality, this would be the best book I’ve ever read. It works on the principle that all you need to do is make four agreements with your own beautiful self.
When I first read this book, all I could think was:
This is it. If I don’t ever read another spiritual book in my life, that would be fine. This is all I’m going to need.
It’s one of those books I keep on coming back to.
My love is very choosy when it comes to wisdom. He also has the four agreements printed out and hanging beside his bed. That’s how much he listens to it.
It is simple wisdom – simple wisdom really is the best.
5. You can heal your life – Louise Hay
If you need healing with a shot of positivity, Louise Hay’s wildly popular You can heal your life is it. I always, ALWAYS recommend getting the full colour gift version. It heals with colour *and* words – and as you can probably guess from the state of this website, colour is important to me.
I find myself nibbling on this book, and reading it when I need it. It’s the manual for healing physical ailments through positive thinking, and it’s just all round wonderful.
Last year, me and my dear friend Sone had a spontaneous adventure and met Louise Hay at the Australian premiere of the You can heal your life movie. Louise is now in her eighties – and she is a living light of her work. After meeting her I became even more enamoured with her work. Holy amaze-me.
6. Succulent Wild Woman – SARK
Oh helloooo! Every single woman on this planet needs to read a SARK book. Men too, but women first.
If you haven’t read a SARK book yet, you need to go out and get one.right.now. They will change your life. They are rainbow and radiant and lush and loving and a huge, crazy, beautiful blessing. The.Best.
Succulent Wild Woman is where I recommend people start, but really, any SARK book is stunningly delicious and it’s like trying to pick which miracle is bigger.
She’s also just started running her first online SARK experiences – check out her 30 day Transformation Experience.
7. Earth Angels- Doreen Virtue
This book is tiny. And a whole lot of Ah-ha! for the right people. If you’ve ever wanted to know what kind of earth angel you are, this is the book for you.
It was a whole lot of Ah-ha! for me. It might be for you too.
For me, it gave me a framework to look at my own gifts, and also re-understand my hard bits. They all have their reasons for being there, and Earth Angels gave me a whole lot of insight for me into why they are there and how to work with them.
Love, love, love it.
8. I need your love – is that true? – Byron Katie
When I travelled around India for a month with my love & my family, I carried two books. I can’t remember what the other one was, because the Byron Katie book was all I read. And re-read. And thumbed over again & again.
If you are in mental suffering over anything, Byron Katie is the woman to turn to. Her Work is clear, concise, easy and immensely powerful. Check out some of her videos to see what I mean!
9. Women who run with the wolves – Clarissa Pinkola Estes
I have a confession to make. I am up to page 26 in Women Who Run With The Wolves. It has taken me years to get there. And those 26 pages were enough for this book to become one of my top ten books.
It’s crazy wild woman powerful and holy dinger energy shifting.
I count this book as being one of my “life’s journeying books” – in the right time, in the right place, I’ll read more. All I need right now is those 26 pages.
10. Zen to Done (ebook) – Leo Babauta
Yup, I’ve talked about Zen to Done before. It’s still one of my favourites. It’s not just about getting things done. It’s about making things simple, and doing your big work passionately, happily & easily. Adore.
Got books to add to this list?
Let me know in the Comments Circle. I just adore having books recommended to me!
Big book-smelling hugs,
_____
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April 16th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Awesome Leonie!
This is a really helpful list – I think I was asking you for book recommendations just last week too!
I picked up Succulent Wild Woman many, many years ago. I was browsing some book shop or other and once I saw that colour splashed cover I knew I had to have it. It still lives in my ‘special collection’ of favourite books I like to keep close by my working desk
Rebecca Leigh | Smart Fresh Writing’s last blog post..Talking about mindful entrepreneurship – where to start?
April 16th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I think we’re missing number 3 here, and I’m curious what it is!
About half of the books on your list were eye openers for me too. I have the same experience with “Women who run with the wolves”, having only read the first 2 chapters, knowing I’ll read on when the time is right.
Another book that still touches my soul, no matter how often I read it, is Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’. I love the idea that everybody has a treasure waiting for them, you just need to follow the signs (or your heart).
April 16th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
sweet, i love all of those.
my most powerful books have been those written by the people in the past, it feels like they were setting the stage for the big growth we’re seeing now… like thomas troward, ernest holmes.
and paul ferrini, epecially the christ mind series. those books are sure not for everyone but they carry a special kind of magic and power to transform.
andrea’s last blog post..the fleeting nature of feelings
April 16th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
goddess-girl – LOVE your book choices, love you too – mwwooaahh x
April 17th, 2009 at 2:32 am
great choices!!
“Succulent Wild Women” is definitely on my top ten for this topic. I’d also add “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron, “Wherever You Go, There You Are” by Jon Kabbat Zinn, Anything by Pema Chodron, “The Book of Awakening” by Mark Nepo, “The Red Book” by Sera Beak, oh, I could go on and on! Perhaps I’ll post a list at some point.
Leah – Creative Every Day’s last blog post..Drinking up Color Online and Offline
April 17th, 2009 at 3:32 am
I love “Earth Angels”. It makes a lot of sense and once again showed me my connection to mermaids. There is also a second part with two or three more earth angel types.
What are you? An angel?
Yemoonyah’s last blog post..21 Blogs To Follow If You Want To Sell Art Online
April 17th, 2009 at 7:58 am
OMG Leonie I just have to say I haven’t finished “Women Who Run with the Wolves” yet either! And I have been reading it for *years*, seriously. I think the thing is, I don’t *want* to finish it. I want it to always be there, with another story to tell. So rich.
Will have to check out some of the others, thanks sweetie!!!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:31 am
@Goddess Bec ~ I adoooore book recommending. Best.evaaaa.
Glad this was so helpful sweetie! You ROCK!
@Goddess Lucy ~ I just pissed myself laughing. OMG! What IS the third book? Considering three is one of my favourite numbers, how on earth did I miss it? I’ll have to muse on this further. Thank you so much for letting me know. The Alchemist *is* completely wonderful, isn’t it? The illustrated version is spectacular too. hee hee hee. I think I just like books that sing to me visually too!
@Goddess Andrea ~ Oh fantastic! Thank you so much for those recommendations… I will check them out possum! Hurrah!
@Goddess Lisa ~ The feeling is a hundred percent mutual
@Goddess Leah ~ Oh my goshness! What fabulous recommendations… love love love! I will definitely check those out!
I’m a big fan of TAW too!
@Goddess Yemoonyah ~ Ahhh! A fellow mermaid goddess! I can definitely see that in you
I’m a Mystic MerAngel {combination of Wise One, mermaid & angel} And you’re right about “Realms of the Earth Angels” – that was a great companion book, especially about combination angels 
@Goddess Eileen ~ That is hilarious! Meeee tooooooo
We should join a Facebook group and call it “We love Women Who Run With The Wolves & haven’t finished reading it”. Catchy name, no? 
hee hee hee
Goddess Leonie’s last blog post..Top 10 self-help books for beginning (or continuing) your spiritual path
April 17th, 2009 at 8:51 am
That’s an awesome list. The only thing i’d add is “I can do anything, if only i knew what it was”
kazari’s last blog post..Clearing out and cleaning up
April 17th, 2009 at 10:54 am
such a great list!!! I adore many of those books and loved seeing how they inspire others too!!!
like Leah, I also lovelovelove and highly recommend the Red Book by Sera Beak. Awakening to the Sacred by Lama Surya Das and Conversations with God by Neal Donald Walsh.
brandi’s last blog post..confessions of a joy rebel
April 17th, 2009 at 11:35 am
You listed half of my favorites already. Any book by Sonia Choquette and Dr. Judith Orloff. They both write books I come back to again and again.
Shell’s last blog post..The Sky and poems
April 17th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
One of my favourite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. A fictional tale with a lot of truth in it. Its lovely.
Pherenike’s last blog post..Make Things
April 17th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
@Goddess Kazari ~ hello lovely! ooooh, excellent addition… I love Barbara Sher’s stuff!
@Goddess Brandi ~ My honey is completely in love with the Neale too
@Goddess Shell ~ I will have to check those two out! Thank you for the recommendation
@Goddess Pherenike ~ I totally heart that book too! Thank you for sharing
April 17th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Hi Leonie,
Whenever I travel, I always travel with a Byron Katie book. Maybe because travelling is stressful (is that true?!
Love your blog.
Anna
Anna Conlan ~ Healing and Insight’s last blog post..Risks and Divine Harassment
April 18th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Such a powerful, full bodied, steam ahead list! WOW!
ps You could add the footnote of that other SARK book, you know, this one — http://www.goddessguidebook.com/in-sarks-book/ –
Barbara Martin @Reptitude’s last blog post..Exercise Improves Creativity
April 19th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Thanks for the list. I listened to You can heal your life Louise Hay on audio book a month or so ago. Really amazing stuff. My favorite part is when she makes the analogy about us being like a 3 year old toddler. We don’t need to be so hard on ourselves.
I’ve not yet had a chance to read any of Byron Katie’s books, but I have done The Work, and it has been so, so helpful in getting through personal frustration and disappointment.
Thx again!
Deveena’s last blog post..Secret weapon you can carry around -better than a gun
April 29th, 2009 at 5:36 am
I am excited to check out some of the books you have listed. I can’t believe Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now isn’t on your top ten. I guess it isn’t geared specifically towards Goodesses, but I found it to be terribly enlightening. Extremly empowering and uplifting. The book explians how to live your most peaceful life. I felt my mind made burdens shrink as I read his words. That was a year or more ago though and I haven’t found a book that good since. Thanks for the suggestions!
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 am
I love your list — I am going to put “You Can Heal your Life” on reserve at the library as soon as I’m done here. I think there’s a lot of spirituality in “Liquid Mirror,” by Kelly LaSha. It’s potent, yet very simple and straightforward. And she breaks up broad spiritual concepts into very understandable terms. She also has all kinds of tools and steps to take to get where you want to go, such as her 5 steps to wholeness. Just another suggestion!
May 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 am
The Prophet!!! Kahlil Gibran One of the best ever books to open to random pages and gobble up all the wisdom found therein
I love this list!!