It’s all about finding the right book at the right time. I have said it before, but it is taking on a life of its own; every time I get to the end of a book, I am a little more open, a little further along my path and a little deeper into my journey. These recommended books combine philosophy, ancient wisdom, spirituality, meditation, health and well-being. It’s an incredible reading list and I wanted to share it with you. If you are looking for a read that will open your mind and your heart, this is the reading list for you:
- Ceremony - Brianna Weist
- The Courage To Be Disliked - Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga
- The Courage To Be Happy - Ichiro Kishimi, Fumitake Koga
- 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think- Brianna Weist
- The Body Keeps Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk
- I May Be Wrong -Björn Natthiko Lindeblad
- Emptiness Dancing - Adyashanti
- The Untethered Soul - Michael Alan Singer
- The Mountain is You - Brianna Weist
As my reading continues, I will keep sharing; some I will write blogs about, and others need to be consumed in their entirety. For example, The Body Keeps The Score has no shortcuts; you need to drink it all in, one deliciously eye-opening page at a time.
The Untethered Soul was a gift. I read it in conjunction with Emptiness dancing; they accidentally wove into one another effortlessly. This book was the most beautiful gift, it takes the reader on a journey of spirituality in a modern and personal way. Michale A Singer leaves space for you in the chapters to pave your own path, to understanding all things at your own pace. To find your inner self with curiosity and compassion. I found the Untethered Soul accessible and humbling.
Emptiness Dancing is a collection of talks and can be read in such a way that you read it gradually along with other similar formats, like 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think. Every piece within these books can be read on its own, and stands on its own. The story that comes from these books is in its direction, its collection of lessons and viewpoints that build in you more gradually. Each piece layering on the one before, subtly opening your mind.
The Mountain is You is one that I finished this morning. As with all of Brianna’s incredibly insightful words, I feel warmed and seen by her, although I do not know her. Every paragraph is as if it was written for me, and when you read it, you too will feel it. Imagine you’re sitting opposite Brianna as she sees deeply into your soul and gives you some beautiful and compassionate instructions to set yourself free. Her words are rich and wise without a morsel of preaching or condescension. Every word feels like it was delicately selected with love for each reader. Brianna has quickly become one of my favourite authors. She touches a part of each of us through her experience and vulnerability. I often use her books to end Yoga and Meditation classes, her words soothe each ear in a gentle and loving way.
If you are looking for a story with ups and downs, I May Be Wrong is for you, Bjorn takes you on his story through 17 years of being a forest monk and his return to life beyond the monastery. His story humanises the ideas that we each have about monks while offering insight into the true sacrifices and lifestyle inside the walls of tradition and history. Bjorn’s story is magical, sad and hopeful. His most profound lessons are easy to understand in a non-monastery lifestyle and offer a perspective of someone who demonstrates the power of stillness.
The Courage To Be Disliked and The Courage To Be Happy are philosophical ventures into what it is to be human, beyond the people pleasing and pretending. It uses a conversational format to argue both sides of various ideologies. It explores life lies, responsibility and getting out of your own way. A young man interviews a philosopher with a passion for Adlerian psychology theory to explore the social needs of humanity. The young man continues to fight and misinterpret the ideas, demonstrating how often we take things literally instead of looking for meaning in the lessons and how those lessons can be interpreted individually.
The Untethered Soul and the Mountain is You have been the most powerful for me, and if you are in a place where you need to be open to the potential inside yourself, these might be the selection for you. If you are earlier on in your exploration of Body and Mind or are looking for something that starts to make you feel open daily, I would recommend Ceremony; you can read a page each day and let the meaning wash over you, like an affirmation.
No matter which book lights you up, there is something to be said for the art of reading, the stilling of ones body for long enough to read something that is not on a screen. It has been a vital part of my slowing down and I hope you too find some much needed stillness as the mind opens with every page turn.
There are so many incredible resources out there, and if you want to recommend some to me, I would be delighted to receive them. I’m always looking for the next book. Send me an email info@wordsandcontemplations or a message on Instagram @wordsandcontemplations
