Recommended Books
This is a short list of some my favorite books on who we are, why we are here, and how it all works.
Emergence, The Shift from Ego to Essence by Barbara Marx Hubbard, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2001. Based on her own journey of evolving and coming to age as a "Universal Human", this book outlines the journey we are all being called to take. The journey from a personality of "local selves" to the awareness of our full nature as essential spiritual beings.
The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii A'nandamurti Colorado: A'nanda Ma'rga Publications, 1981. The grand yogic view based on the work of an extraordinary teacher. Clearly and conscisely written. Covers, cosmology, the layers of human structure, the foundations of society and the human endevor, the spiritual path and practices.
The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi London: Shambala, 1972. Simple, profound, and beautiful discussion of life and the spiritual path.
The Miracles of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh, Massachusetts: Beacon Press, 1987. A sweet discourse on the Buddhist practise of mindfulness. How to transform your life by paying attention.
You Are the Answer by Michael J. Tamura, Colorado: Star of Peace Publishing, 2002. A great book on who we are and why we are here. The best thing in print about intuitive energetic healing work, including essential basic meditations.
Theories of the Chakras by Hiroshi Motoyama, Illinois: Quest Books, 1981. A broad compilation of descriptions of the chakras, based on yogic and psychic sources, and the author's personal experience with their awakening. Comparison of the theory of chakras and nadis with that of the meridians of Chinese medicine. Some experimental results based on measurements of the meridianal fields, and those in front of the chakras.
Infinite Mind: The Science of Human Vibrations by Valerie V. Hunt, Malibu Publishing, 1989. Ground breaking research correlating the physical and metaphysical aspects of healing work. [Caution, I find some of the "science" discussion to be a bit muddled. The rest is great though.]
Ears of the Angels by Deena Zalkind Spear, Hay House, 2002. A great book about the journey of the author from the physical to the energetic aspects of life as a violin tuner and evolving healer. Using energy to tune the chakras of violins and humans, she walks across the boundary between matter and spirit.
The Hathor Material by Tom Kenyon and Virginia Essene, California: Spiritual Education Endeavors, 1996. A wonderful book about the Hathors and the use of sound for healing and spiritual growth. Includes pratical information about how to use these ideas in your life.
The Mind of the Cells by Satprem, Paris: Institut de Recherches Evolutives, 1992. A fascinating presentation of a meditative path that reaches the Divine by going down into the physical, rather than up out of it.
Yoga and Psycotherapy by Swami Rama, Rudolph Baccentine, and Swami Ajaya, Illinois: Himalayan Institute, 1976. A discussion of the yogic levels of mind with a particular focus on the practices that can be used to balance them. A major discussion of the parallels and differences between eastern and western psychology. Examples of the application of yogic practices to help mentally disturbed people.
Monsters and Magical Sticks by Stephen Heller and Terry Steele, New Falcon Publications, Arizona: 1991. A really good discussion of `hypnosis', both as a state in which we live much of our lives, and as techniques for resolving pictures, patterns, old energy etc.
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter Levine, with Ann Frederick Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1997. A fabulous book discussing the interaction of the physiological and psychological aspects of the human mind leading to trauma. Discussion of how we can become stuck and how our "felt sense" can lead us home again.
Thought as a System by David Bohm, New York: Routledge, 1992. A great discussion of the nature of thought and how we perceive the world. Including the effects of the physical substrate of emotions and thought, and the resistance of cultural paridyms to change.
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, New York: Bantam Books, 1995. Discussion of the emotional aspects of interpersonal relationships and their role in business and personal growth. Making the case for emotional training both as children and adults. Based on a survey of the field.
Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins, California: Hay House, 1995. A quantification of the levels of human experience based on muscle testing. A presentation of the difference between "spiritual" and "mundane" power.
Molecules of Emotion by Candace B. Pert, New York: Touchstone, 1997. A thorough look at the biochemistry of emotions, thought, etc. The physical underpinnings of the psychic and psychological worlds. One of the main sources for the movie "What the bleep do we know?".
The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, Santa Rosa CA: Mountain of Love/Elite Books, 2005. A facinating book about how our DNA is a library of options, but what we are depends on our environment and the choices of our cell boundaries. The science underpinning how our beliefs manifest physically in our bodies.
The Body Electric by Robert O. Becker and Gary Selden New York: Quill, 1985. A presentation of the author's researches into the electromagnetical nature of the human body. This is a comprehensive work, suggesting great potential for the use of currents and magnetic fields for healing.
Wholeness and the Implicate Order by David Bohm, New York: Ark Paperbacks, 1980. A discussion of the way physical "reality" manifests out of spirit.
The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav, New York: Bantam New Age, 1979. The classic presentation of modern physics from the point of view of eastern philosphy. Very readible and well balanced between the two.
The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1999. A readible and generally accessible overview of the most recent conception of how the universe works from the physical science side. This stuff is a long, long way from Newton and billiard balls.