It should be no surprise that we love higher consciousness ‘reads’ — you know, books that fall into the philosophical, esoteric and spiritual realm, but without the dogma. Here are some titles and decks that we’re in the process of reviewing. Be sure to check out our Spiritual Read sections for other suggestions and we’ll continue to update this list with recommendations and why we do.
How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain
This fascinating read on the new science of transformation by Dr. Andrew Newberg and Mark Robert Waldman will have you on the edge of your seats. It’s one of those “we don’t know what we don’t know” kinda moments as you dive into their research.
From brain-scan studies on Brazilian psychic mediums, Sufi mystics, Buddhist meditators, Franciscan nuns, Pentecostals, folks from secular spirituality rules and more, they have discovered (and now report about) the specific mechanisms connected to enlightenment and all that it means.
How does meditation affect the brain? How does silence and sitting still affect the brain? Just BEING?
The study is based on more than two thousand people. This book is far from a ‘woo woo’ read as this duo author team talk about the real implications of enlightenment and what it can do for your life, such as breaking bad habits, addictions, improving your creativity, reducing your anxiety and stress, enhancing your happiness and joy and so much more.
Storytelling is part of this great read and it will resonate with “God” believers, pagans and eastern traditions — anyone who believes and taps into a Higher Consciousness.
They cover things like the Human Awareness, Channeling, Opening and Expanding the Heart, Oneness and Unity of all that there is, intention and how to magnify what you learn, and develop into as a being who embraces light and more awareness.
Find this read over on Amazon.
On Mary Magdalene
Who was she anyway? Her name is coming up more and more for a reason and not only are we seeing more books about this Disciple of all Disciples but people are questioning the real story of the bible and the disciples. Her role was more important than it appeared in the gospels and several books are attempting to set the record straight.
Mary Magdalene Revealed
Meggan Watterson’s Mary Magdalene Revealed is actually a Wall Street Journal bestseller, which is a hard thing to accomplish when you’re weaving in religion and Christianity into the mix.
What’s great about the Mary Magdalene books that are cropping up is that they’re more focused on the feminine side to the story and perhaps a new and fresh look at what Christianity could be with new insights and knowledge.
Like many others who are stepping forward to explain Magdalene’s true role over 2,000 years ago, Watterson explores how this insight and knowledge can help us reclaim the divine feminine and the radical presence of love around and within us. This is not just important for our own internal power but also for the world as a whole — this is the piece that will heal the Earth if we incorporate it in a balanced way.
You see, the Gospel of Mary Magdalene reveals a very different love story from the one we all learned growing up, especially those born before 1990. How fascinating is that Watterson is a Harvard-trained theologian and her training and wisdom is what eloquently leads us verse by verse through Mary‘s gospel to illuminate the powerful teachings.
How many of you in the western world who have grown up to believe that we are sinners? That there’s only one God and he’s outside us, above and beyond us and that “he’s” even a fearing God. Catholicism and Christian religions have brought many of us through that harsh path, creating guilt upon guilt and wound after wound.
Through the eyes of Magdalene, we are not sinful and are not to feel ashamed or unworthy for being human. We are all here having a unique experience in a human body and with that comes ego and it also comes what we refer to as ‘flaws’, but in a loving Christianity or Spirituality for those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious — there is a limitless soul and all acts are divine.
When we go inward, we can let go of our ego which hangs onto the fears and the external mask that we often all hide behind in our daily lives. When living a real heart-centered life, the infinite wisdom of our High Self begins to not just speak, but lead the way. In this incredible book, we see that Mary‘s wisdom was about a divine love and living from that place — a love that never ends and a love that transforms everything, including the Universe.
Find this over on Amazon.
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
This fascinating book just arrived on our doorstep so we haven’t finished it yet, but let’s just say WOW so far. It’s the first complete English-language translation of the original Coptic Gospel of Mary, with line-by-line commentary.
We love how much this book points to what we have found Magdalene‘s message to be through our own channeling experiences — it’s about balancing the divine feminine with the divine masculine and only in that balance can be truly heal ourselves and the planet.
The Gospel doesn’t say that per se but what it does show is the eminence of the divine feminine in Christian thought and sadly left out of dominant reading and teaching for over 2,000 years.
This beautiful and profound translation offers a new perspective on the life of one of the most controversial figures in the Western spiritual tradition.
There has been so much controversy and debate about her life and this gospel translation hones in on who she was and her true role — the commentary provides insights and wisdom that has been buried for so long.
She was also more known at the time as Miriam of Magdala — even apostle John said she was the founder of Christianity because she was the first witness to the Resurrection of Jeshua.
Of course we all know, in most theological studies, she has been depicted as a reformed prostitute, the redeemed sinner who exemplifies Christ‘s mercy. More light is shed from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene as well as from the gospels of Philip, Thomas, Peter, and Bartholomew, which is said to be the collection of what have come to be known as the Gnostic gospels and yes, these were rejected by the early Christian church.
Orthodox theologian Jean-Yves Leloup’s translation convey some pretty powerful and unique teachings that emphasize the eminence of the divine feminine and an abiding love of nature over the dualistic and ascetic interpretations of Christianity presented elsewhere. We love that this message aligns with our own finding and discoveries, which is that the sacred feminine in the Western spiritual tradition is alive and here to stay, to provide a new way forward and a new way to think about faith and spirituality.
Find this read over on Amazon.
On Shamanism
The Heart of the Shaman
We have seen Alberto Villoldo speak before at SAND, a conference we attend every year. Be sure to see our videos from 2019 and from 2018. The Heart of the Shaman by Villoldo includes stories and practices from the Luminous Warrior.
What we love about the approach to this book is that Villodo uses epic stories of old, dreams, ancient rites, rituals and even history to teach about the power of Shamanism at its core and how we can step into our own power by getting closer to the Earth and understanding who we truly are.
He even covers time travel and the power of dreaming to get you into Higher States of Consciousness and Awareness, including tapping into your Higher Self‘s calling and visions.
The author also includes the practices of medicine women and men of the Andes and the Amazon, whose wisdom radically changed his worldview. He also explores something he refers to as the ‘sacred dream‘ which is an ephemeral and powerful vision that can guide us to our purpose and show us our higher place and role in the Universe. The practices he shares allows you to tap into your own sacred dreams as well.
The book is all about focus, purpose, vision and contribution. As a luminous warrior, you learn about the deeper things that really matter — and how to get there with conviction and courage from within.
Ever have dreams that haunt you? We all have. He talks about how to break free from these nightmares that haunt us in our ‘sleeping state‘ dreams as well as when we are awake. They have to do with the things that bring us a perceived fear in our lives: love, death and safety — they’re interconnected in so many ways.
When we can break free from these fears, we only have a choice to live from a place of fearlessness and love. Transforming how we handle these emotions transforms life itself and this not only shifts how you view yourself, but how you show up in the world and how you interact with everyone around you.
Find it on Amazon.
Shamanism Made Easy
This simple to read book is a great guide to tap into the internal force that we each have inside of us. Christa MacKannon outlines ways to heal using shamanism and ancient practices as well as how to find fulfillment and connection in your every day life.
Through learning about Shamanism at its core and some of the basic principles, you can undergo your own transformation by using some of the practices and suggestions in the book.
She even covers the beautiful and profound ritual of dance as a tool for healing, awakening, freedom and inner journeying. Inner journeying is a big part of the Shaman‘s way as are dreams — you can tap into and access your Higher Self (and all that this means) by trusting in your higher calling and your soul’s purpose. Ever hear the great quote that says “just trust yourself and you will truly know how to live?”
It’s a bit like that taking the Shaman‘s Journey. There really is no guru — it’s all inside of you but each of us can access that heartfelt journey and go into ourselves to not just find our own truth, but live it.
We are huge fans of altars and they’re an integral part of all pagan rituals and belief systems — in Shintoism, there’s an equivalent although it’s not quite the same as what we think of an altar in the west. Shamans have their own, but you can create one that works for you even if its a hybrid. Altars are reminders of who you are and that we are all spirit first.
We find that having an altar and creating these sacred spaces spurs ceremony and other rituals — they help us to go deep within. When you do, you’ll be met with your Higher Self and able to hear your Soul speak — why are you here? What’s your purpose? Through sacred journeying, you can connect with spirit helpers and ancestors as well and learn from their ancient wisdom.
Find it on Amazon.
The Course in Miracles Experiment
If you’ve been on a spiritual journey for awhile, chances are you’ve read (and perhaps even studied) the Course in Miracles. What I found when I first read it however was that it was tough to read, largely because it felt like a manual or even a text book. While it has some profound wisdom and life changing lessons, this heaviness and denseness makes it hard for many to embrace.
Author Pam Grout wanted to change that and so she just released a new book (out in January 2020), that is a bit of a modern-day rewrite of the 365-lesson workbook-the text at the heart of the Course. Unlike the original, it’s much easier to plough through and most importantly, understand and embrace. You could call it user-friendly and accessible, for accessibility is the key to getting people to get their heads around any concept or idea.
Grout includes daily lessons with titles like “The Home Depot of Spiritual Practices” and “Transcending the Chatty Asshat in My Head“ which also adds humor to the writing as well.
The language she uses will also make it easier for millennials to accept as well. For example, other fun titles include: Old Beliefs are Goin’ Down, What the Holy Bigwigs Failed to Mention, Rewriting the Laws that Run my Life, Today I Choose to be Free, Let the Universe Haggle with the Details, Joy is my Mission, Source is my CEO and more.
Also included are great quotes by many spiritual masters and teachers — and other philosophical greats. We love this one by Jack Kerouac — “in our true blissful essence, everything is alright forever and forever and forever.
Or simple but accurate and powerful: Man is what he believes by Anton Chekhov. Also simplified are the lessons. For example, she writes: “Lesson 19 in the Course of Miracles, asks us to question everything — three times today, we’re asked to stop and remember cause and effect are never separate.”
“Cause and effect are never separate.”
She adds: “we sincerely ask that all lines of leftover, outmoded, no longer working code be eliminated until we see nothing but our new miracle plan.” Bravo — we love it.
Find this newly released read on Amazon.
Attunement
Marisa Moris has created a beautiful guide to align with your Source energy and become what she refers to as your Creator Self and manifest a life you truly love. We love the phrase Creator Self because it really is our life to create, not someone else‘s life. When will we stop giving over the keys and decision making to someone else?
Simply put, you learn from Marisa’s so called bevy of guides. The author also shares the story of her spiritual awakening and the steps that have led her to her present abilities.
In the book, we learn that we all have these inherent beautiful gifts and this book really aligns you to those internal gifts — we all have them but fear and uncertainty also get in the way of allowing us to step in our higher power and purpose. Belief systems have a way to creating obstacles as well.
We love the simplicity of the book — she offers simple exercises readers can do to attune themselves to the highest universal energies. These exercises include things that are easy to process and create a routine for, even if you start out small.
While many of us may have a hard time meditating, it doesn’t mean you can’t start with sitting for five minutes a day and just BE still. She also covers important things like grounding, which everyone can use from time-to-time.
The attunement piece is all around the heart — she refers to it as Heart Space Attunement. Other techniques and suggestions she includes for the reader is an energy-clearing Soul Bath, the Snow Globe visualization technique, astral and mental body visualizations, creativity and creation and more. It’s about getting back to your soul’s calling of course, by tapping into what we all know to be true — our High Self’s words of wisdom that get buried in our daily routines because of busy-ness, stressful overworked lives and digital consumption to name a few. It’s a lovely read and makes a great gift for someone who either lives from the heart or yearns to do so.
You can grab it over on Amazon.
Qabalah Made Easy
How many of us have ever read the Qabalah? Even if its your faith, you may not have read it just as many Christian-based religious followers have not all read the Bible. David Wells makes the Qabalah easy to process and digest for those who of us who have dared to go there, fearing it won’t be easy to understand or get our heads around.
Like all mystical belief systems, it’s about the Inner Journey and way — getting to your Higher Self. The Qabalah is no different. Wells talks about the power of the Tree of Life (which you so often see now in poems, posters and even jewelry), which is the central organizational system of the Qabalah. Many of us may not have known that and yet may have a Tree of Life somewhere in our home.
The Tree of Life contains ten interconnected spheres and is often considered to be a map of the universe and the psyche, the order of the creation of the cosmos, and a path to spiritual illumination. As such, Wells also outlines in this fascinating but digestible read the ten Sephiroth (spheres) of the tree and actually what they mean and why they matter.
Think of it as an introductory book that breaks down the Tree of Life into an easy to follow path, and shows how to use it effectively in our lives. In the explanation of the tree and the spheres, you dive into the meaning of each of them, as well as a ritual and a meditation for each sphere. Fascinating right?
There are also Gods, Archangels, crystals, and magical tools connected to each sphere and you even learn how to work with them to assist with your own journey within and spiritual calling.
You also learn how to set up a personal temple and create your own magical symbol — sacred systems and sacred geometry are so powerful once you start diving deeper into their meaning and how you can tap into their power and energy. Also included in this exciting read is how to chant the Qabalistic prayer to draw down the Archangels for protection and beyond.
Grab it over on Amazon.
The Universe Always Has a Plan
This is a short but wonderful read by Matt Kahn (see his oracle deck suggestion below). He walks you through ten different golden rules, which include things like: anyone who blames you isn’t happy, hardships can be fast-tracked through thankfulness, feeling better helps everyone heal, projecting your anger drains you of energy and more. His personality of humor is also woven into the threads of the book.
Matt also shares energetically-encoded mantras and exercises that will enable you to jump start your spiritual growth and access deeper levels of inspiration, ease, freedom, and joy.
Those of you new to Matt Kahn’s work, he is the best-selling author of Whatever Arises, Love That and Everything is Here to Help You. Kahn is also a spiritual teacher and highly attuned empathic healer who invites people to embrace the idea that the “Love Revolution That Begins with You.”
He also has some amusing videos online that are worth exploring — given its size and the fact that it is a quick and easy read, it makes for a great gift for both men and women.
You can grab this great read over on Amazon.
Oracle Decks
The Goddess Power Oracle by Colette Baron-Reid
Who doesn’t love Goddesses? We have them everywhere including our meditation room. We love how Goddesses depict their archetypal essence, which exists in everyone regardless of culture or belief systems. This deck is all about the feminine aspect of the Universe which is rising to restore balance in the world. She asks: who could we become if we knew how to reclaim our true power? The deck includes interpretations of 52 Goddesses from cultures all over the world. Find it on Amazon.
The Crystal Spirits Oracle by Colette Baron–Reid
Also by Baron–Reid is this beautifully displayed (art by Jena Della Grottaglia) Crystal Spirits Oracle, which includes 58 crystals, each selected for their healing powers and ability to help you channel divine guidance from the Universe. Every crystal can assist in your daily life from clearing and relaxation to stabilizing energy. The deck has ‘messages’ if you like from the crystals in order to better connect and live a life filled with purpose, wellness and joy. Find it on Amazon.
The Healing Mantra Deck by Matt Kahn
Mantras are really great to help you go within and to feel empowered — think of them as doses of vibrational medicine delivered into your energy field through the power of your voice. Says Matt, mantras are the language of unity consciousness; where the one speaking its wisdom and the one receiving its power are seen to be the same. Included in the deck are 52 channeled mantras that have been encoded with healing energy, to realign your mind, body, heart, and soul. Find it on Amazon.
Also, be sure to watch our SAND videos from 2018 and from 2019.