My Reading List May-Dec 2021
Earlier in 2021, I shared a list of the books I read thus far in the year. This was inspired by a 2019 post on the 10 Books That Changed My Life.
I love when people share what books they read and what they got out of them. Based on the feedback, it sounded like you do as well.
Since it's the holidays, I included a gift idea for each book.
Mark this email to come back to when you're perusing for a new read.
In order read…(May-Present)
After The Ecstacy The Laundry by Jack Kornfield
I started this book on audio in 2015, but it wasn't the right time. After I found a used copy in San Francisco, I decided to give it another shot. It was the spiritual boost I needed. Jack is one of the wisest teachers of our time. What I loved about this book was hearing the spiritual experiences of elder teachers. It was a reminder that, to our dismay, the high states don't last. Life ultimately brings us back down to the ground, and we have to integrate our experiences back into life. Hence— after the ecstasy, the laundry!
Quotes/Notes
"The Call to the Journey is like a half formed poem, waiting for completion."
Themes of the Spiritual Journey:
The need to face death.
Requirement of forgiveness
The finding of energy and courage
Seeking of Truth
"Where we already are is the path and the goal."
"Gaining enlightenment is an accident. Spiritual practice makes us accident prone."
Gift Idea: Someone who you know has had a spiritual experience is having a tough time with integration
The Overstory by Richard Powers
WOW, ok, I don't read much fiction. Only after hearing enough people comment on a fiction book do I give it a shot. It's not just hype, this one delivers. Although it's a shortlist, this is the best fiction book I've read. (Included hits are A Man called Ove and Ready Player One) I found the first stories slow to get into. However, by the middle, something sparked. It seems like a book of short stories about people and trees. You'll see this marvelous interconnection through them all. It made me look at the natural work in a new way.
Gift Idea: Nature lovers, but really anyone who likes to read but hasn't read this.
The Posture of Meditation by Will Johnson
This is a short book on gaining an understanding of the embodiment of a sitting meditation posture. It can be a little dry on its content. As a meditation guide, I found more practical applications; however, I think it's helpful for anyone who meditates.
Gift Idea: Anyone who wants to go deeper in their meditation practice.
The Wisdom Pattern by Richard Rohr
This year has humbled me in more ways than one. After injuring my knee in June, my work has been around descent and looking at darkness as a catalyst for growth. Richard, a teacher I read and discuss much, encapsulates this transformative journey of order, disorder, and reorder. For those new to Richard's work, I recommend signing up for his daily reflections via cac.org or reading his book, Universal Christ an influential and potentially provocative read on the transcendent nature of Christ beyond Jesus.
Quotes/Notes
"The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better."
"If we don't transform our pain, we will transmit it."
Do not be afraid shows up 365 times in the bible.
"You add suffering to the world as much when you take offense as when you give offense."
"Those who can endure great doubt are those who rise to great faith."
Gift Idea: A person who feels something isn't right with what they learned about religion.
Eye of The Heart by Cynthia Bourgeault
Like Richard, Cynthia is another Nondual Christian contemplative and mystic. I learned the practice of centering of prayer from her beautiful book, The Heart of Centering Prayer. Eye of The Heart exemplifies her esoteric teachings and experiences. It will stretch the imagination, which is just is what you hope for as you enter, in her words, "The Imaginal Realm."
Quotes/Notes
"How you get there is where you'll arrive." (Sit with that one a bit)
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
"No conscious work is ever wasted."
"Grace can become a place you come from, not a thing that happens to you."
"As your being increases, your receptivity to higher meaning increases."
Gift Idea: The friend who enjoys some woo-woo. Also views on synchronicity.
Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley
I found this book at my parent's house and decided to give it a go. Huxley, a contemplative philosopher himself, shares his experience of a mescaline trip and while on a mescaline trip. You can sense the spiritual nature of this experience—the intense presence in which he recounts looking at the curves of his pants for an hour. He certainly has done a great service to the psychedelic community telling in such detail. Our culture gave these compounds a bad rep after the 60's, but with all kinds of promising research on their psychiatric healing effects, they are in a renaissance. Huxley is for sure a pioneer.
Gift Idea: The Psychonaut friend
Living Presence by Kabir Helminski
I LOVED THIS BOOK. There is such depth of wisdom in its' pages. It was like the balm that I didn't know I needed. I took so many notes. I haven't felt this connected to a spiritual book in a long while. Many of these books say the same thing, but this one hit differently. It may just be the transmission of this teacher coming through in his writing.
Quotes/Notes
"We needn't be pessimistic, The Creative Power at the heart of life will ultimately find it's most appropriate expression."
"We are knee deep in a river searching for water."
"Listening to thoughts is different than commenting on them."
"If we ever become transformed human beings, it is because we have learned to love at will."
"Every human being carries the seed of the essence that is meant to be actualized. This essence has no limits. Limits are imposed only by the condition of the vehicle that carries it."
"Our preoccupation with fear is the greatest obstacle standing in the way of the abundant life we might know."
Gift Idea: Yourself. ;)
No Boundaries by Ken Wilber
Ken can be a little heady for me at times, however, when western and eastern teachers quote him, you know there's something there. He's certainly one of the great spiritual philosophers and researchers of modern time, bridging the gap between eastern and western religion, psychology, and therapies. His integral theory applies to so many areas of development. This book offered one of the best descriptions of shadow I've read. I've since dove more into his work, like his Sounds True conversation with Tami Simon, Kosmic Consciousness.
Quotes/Notes
"The word water won't satisfy your thirst." (Why it's futile to talk about God)
"The mystics say, believe nothing on blind faith, accept no authority but that of your own understanding and experience."
"If you feel you intensely dislike someone, be aware of the side of you that likes the person…...You will start to see that most battles between you and other people are really battles between you and your projected opposites….You will find that people and events don't cause you to be upset but are merely occasions for you to upset yourself."
Gift Idea: The Spiritual seeker who is more of a left-brain thinker
Breath by James Nestor
One of the best books I've read this year. Some books change the way you think, others change the way you act. This did both. A new habit I started because of this book was to tape my mouth shut when I sleep. It has transferred my sleep quality and opened my nasal passageways. Now you can save the money and take that advice, but there's something about investing and reading a book that actually propels us to change. Being immersed in breathwork the past 6-months, this was a must-read. I learned so much about this thing we are always doing.
Gift Idea: The Science person who could use and introduction into more esoteric experiences.
Breathing Underwater by Richard Rohr
No it's not a diving sequel to the fore-mentioned Breath. A dear soul gifted this book to me after I discussed Richard in a newsletter. This book talks about the spirituality of a 12-step program. While I'm sober, I've never attended AA. However, it fascinates me, as it is arguably the most significant (and successful) spiritual and transformative group of all time. If addiction to a substance isn't your thing, don't let that turn you away. The 12-steps are a practice for all: learning to admit our faults, make amends, and let go thinking we are in control. In addition, this book has profound insights relating biblical verses to the Big Book's teachings.
Gift Idea: Someone in AA or is facing challenges and needs some guidance.
Quotes/Notes
"All mature spirituality is about letting go. Spiritual life has much more to do with subtraction than addition."
"Authentic spirituality is emptying the mind and filling the heart at the same time."
"All or nothing is dualistic thinking."
"To fully understand is always to stand under and let things have their way with you."
The Art of Letting Go by Richard Rohr (Audible)
Can you tell I like Richard? This book is about living the wisdom of Saint Francis. Long before I had any real spiritual curiosity, I chose Francis as my confirmation name. Since then, I have come to cultivate an intimate relationship with him and consider him a guiding light. I repeat the prayer of Saint Francis daily and have a figurine of him on my meditation altar.
Gift Idea: Someone who seems to be gripping to life too tightly.
Quotes/Notes
"The False self says prayers, The True self doesn't say a prayer, it Is A Prayer."
"Letting go of what seems like nothing opens up the doorway to everything."
"You can't be grateful with your mind, you must be grateful with your whole being."
"The mind doesn't want Truth, it wants control."
"You are complete being on the path to realizing your wholeness, not an in-complete being who needs to fix and fill in your problems."
How to Live by Derek Sivers (Mp3)
Listen, read, consume ALL of what Derek has to say. He is unique, thoughtful, and one of my favorite humans to learn from. If you're unfamiliar with him, check out this video he narrated on leadership lessons from a dancing guy. Then listen to this podcast interview with Tim Ferriss. Derek wrote three books over the past two years. He made $200,000 the first week and then donated all to charity, which he also did with the 20 million he got for selling his company, CD Baby. Intriguing? He defines going your own unique way. How to Live, along with Hell Yeah or No and Your Music and Your People are well worth your time. PS. I listen to Derek's audio because he's such a good orator.
Gift Idea: Someone who appreciates unique, quirky, and inspiring.
The Human Shadow and What Stories Do We Need by Robert Bly (Audible)
Last week we lost a beautiful pioneer in integrated spirituality and the men's work movement. RIP to Robert Bly, his iconic Iron John is a book every man should read. He's a needed voice in a world of adult-boys desperate for initiation. Inspired by the likes of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung, Maria Ranier Rilke, Bly, was a true gift of the Spirit. He died last week at 94, and no doubt his work and legacy will live on for a long time.
Gift Idea: Someone curious about shadow work, and the deeper meanings of fairy tales.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks (Audible)
This is my second time listening to this book. Gay has a tremendous narrating voice, and delves into some potent topics in personal transformation. What sticks out with Gay is the Upper Limit problem we all have—the glass ceiling we construct that causes us to self-sabotage when we hit a certain level of success. This book helped me come up with the mantra "It Can Keep Getting Better" which is the last day of my course, Develop Unshakable Confidence.
Also important to take from Gay is learning to live in our Zone of Genius. I've let myself sway in different areas, but the more I find myself creating meditations and coaching, life moves. After the re-listen, I decided to listen to his book, Your Genius Zone. I found it basic and wouldn't recommend it. Also, he doesn't narrate it, which is a loss.
Gift Idea: Someone pursuing Life-Coaching.