The best books for spiritual awakening, personal transformation, & good novels to read for spiritually oriented folks

Why am I passionate about this?

My passion for spiritual books is a result of my meditation and the love I have for the Divine. I feel that my life has been touched by the grace of the Infinite. My books are from this communion I feel. I have an extensive history of journeys to India to see my guru, being a clinical psychologist, developing and teaching Yoga Teacher Trainings and Yoga Therapy Trainings, being an ordained yogic minister, or Acharya, and of many years of meditation, but all of that is only the outer trappings. The real inspiration for my writings is the Infinite Self, the Divine Beloved in which all that is abides.


I wrote...

Living Love the Yoga of Yama & Niyama: Timeless Teachings for Transformation and Awakening

By Maetreyii Ma Nolan,

Book cover of Living Love the Yoga of Yama & Niyama: Timeless Teachings for Transformation and Awakening

What is my book about?

Blending yoga’s ancient ethical practices with modern psychological insight, Living Love helps you to improve your relationship with yourself and the world around you and access the unitary wholeness of being, leading to greater happiness, mental balance, and spiritual depth. A profoundly moving book, with deep spiritual and psychological insight, it delves into the first two limbs of yoga given in Patanjali’s classic Yoga Sutras. Living Love is a spiritual guidebook that can bring these foundational practices of yoga alive in your life, helping you to: live in integrity; have compassion for yourself and others; develop habits and behaviors that will support your well-being; and lead a value-based life for spiritual awakening.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

Maetreyii Ma Nolan Why did I love this book?

This book answers many questions regarding the process of awakening and living as a True Nature.

It addresses everyday situations and questions that all of us ask ourselves or have to meet in our daily lives. Michael keeps it simple and creates a sense of easeful understanding of what our True Self is and how we can live more from being and less from doing.  

He also gives numerous life examples, sometimes funny, and keeps it honest and practical. I found it to be a great reminder for myself on my own path of awakening.

I would recommend it to anyone who has the desire to discover more of who they truly are as well as one who has been on the journey but would like to be reminded.

By Michael A. Singer,

Why should I read it?

16 authors picked The Untethered Soul as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Who are you? When you start to explore this question, you find out how elusive it really is. Are you a physical body? A collection of experiences and memories? A partner to relationships? Each time you consider aspects of yourself, you realize that there is much more to you than any of these can define. In this book, spiritual teacher Michael Singer explores the question of who we are and arrives at the conclusion that our identity is to be found in our consciousness, the fact of our ability to observe ourselves and the world around us. By tapping into…


Book cover of The Riddlemaster of Hed

Maetreyii Ma Nolan Why did I love this book?

This trilogy, in the fantasy novels genre, goes into the quest to discover mystical answers in story form.

What is outstanding about these books, and all of McKillip’s writings, is her amazing ability to use words in a poetic and visually expressive fashion. When she describes something, like shapeshifting, for example, you actually see and feel the experience due to her fluency with descriptive imagery.

These books are archetypal to the hero’s journey and the search for the Divine Guide. I have read them over and over. There is something powerful and deep about them.

By Patricia A. McKillip,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Riddlemaster of Hed as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Long ago, the wizards had vanished from the world, and all knowledge was left hidden in riddles. Morgon, prince of the simple farmers of Hed, proved himself a master of such riddles when he staked his life to win a crown from the dead Lord of Aum.
But now ancient, evil forces were threatening him. Shape changers began replacing friends until no man could be trusted. So Morgon was forced to flee to hostile kingdoms, seeking the High One who ruled from mysterious Erlenstar Mountain.
Beside him went Deth, the High One's Harper. Ahead lay strange encounters and terrifying adventures.…


Book cover of Self-Enquiry

Maetreyii Ma Nolan Why did I love this book?

Ramana is a truly great spiritual teacher, known to many people and the teacher of many teachers in the Non-Dual Lineage.

I find his teachings truly inspiring and to the point, always bringing us back to the nature of the Self. He reminds us that nothing is outside of the Self and that all true self-inquiry leads you back again and again to the infinite, immortal Self of all beings.

I read a few pages at a time and my mind slides into bliss. These are real teachings.

By Sri Ramana Maharshi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Self-Enquiry as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Vichara Sangraham is the earliest recording of Maharshi's teachings. It has its origins in slips of paper upon which the Maharshi wrote answers to questions put to Him by Gambhiram Seshayya (Gambhiram Seshiar) during 1900 to 1902, when Sri Ramana was dwelling in Virupaksha Cave on holy Arunachala. The present work in prose consists of forty questions and answers covering the entire range of spiritual disciplines required for the gaining of release (moksha).


Book cover of The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

Maetreyii Ma Nolan Why did I love this book?

This was one of the many books I read early on about how to live in the present moment.

I always felt Eckhart’s style of writing about a topic that has been written about by many authors, is easy to understand and apply in my life. 

Although it isn’t similar to my book, in regards to yoga philosophy, it still addresses the key points to living a happy and fulfilled life that the Yoga Sutras point to.

I feel this book is timeless and always inspirational and it has been a great reminder for me when I need to remember who I truly am and let go of my old small self.

By Eckhart Tolle,

Why should I read it?

23 authors picked The Power of Now as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

**CHOSEN BY OPRAH AS ONE OF HER 'BOOKS THAT HELP ME THROUGH'**

The international bestselling spiritual book, now with a new look for its 20th anniversary. Eckhart Tolle demonstrates how to live a healthier, happier, mindful life by living in the present moment.

************

'I keep Eckhart's book at my bedside. I think it's essential spiritual teaching. It's one of the most valuable books I've ever read.' Oprah Winfrey

To make the journey into The Power of Now we will need to leave our analytical mind and its false created self, the ego, behind. Although the journey is challenging, Eckhart…


Book cover of The Science of Yoga

Maetreyii Ma Nolan Why did I love this book?

This is my favorite version of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Often called the father of yoga, in the yoga sutras, Patanjali lays out the eightfold path of Yoga and goes into detail about how to work with our minds to move from ignorance to self-realization. Most versions of the Yoga Sutras also have commentary by the author on each sutra.

I have found that, except for a few ideas about celibacy, Taimni is very insightful, and many of his commentaries have brought my mind into states of bliss and Divine absorption.

These sutras are powerful readings and a direct scriptural source of Truth and Wisdom.

By I. K. Taimni,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Science of Yoga as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Commentary on Patanjali's sutras. Updated edition.


You might also like...

Lightning Strike Blues

By Gayleen Froese,

Book cover of Lightning Strike Blues

Gayleen Froese Author Of Lightning Strike Blues

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Communications officer Singer-songwriter Fan of all animals Role-playing geek Nature photographer

Gayleen's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

One summer night in a small prairie city, 18-year-old Gabriel Reece accidentally outs himself to his redneck brother Colin, flees on his motorcycle, and gets struck by lightning on his way out of town.

He’s strangely fine, walking away from his melted pile of bike without a scratch. There’s no time to consider his new inhuman durability before his brother disappears and his childhood home burns down. He’s become popular, too—local cops and a weird private eye are after him, wanting to know if his brother is behind a recent murder.

Answers might be in the ashes of the house where Gabe and Colin grew up, if Gabe and his friends can stay alive and out of jail long enough to find them.

Lightning Strike Blues

By Gayleen Froese,

What is this book about?

On Friday, Gabriel Reece gets struck by lightning while riding his motorcycle.

It's not the worst thing that happens to him that week.

Gabe walks away from a smoldering pile of metal without a scratch-or any clothes, which seem to have been vaporized. And that's weird, but he's more worried about the sudden disappearance of his brother, Colin, who ditched town the second Gabe accidentally outed himself as gay.

Gabe tries to sift through fragmented memories of his crummy childhood for clues to his sudden invincibility, but he barely has time to think before people around town start turning up…


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