These are the books and authors that have changed my life and shaped me as a human being. They have either led to incredibly deep insight, shown me what’s possible or simply MOVED me in a big way. There are so, so, so many other books I have read, but these are the ones that I’d happily recommend again and again. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts!
In order of discovery:
Harry Potter Series
Harry was 11 when I was 11. Nuff said. 😉 I remember it so well. I was sick on the couch (this happened a lot – headaches), and my dad put Harry Potter 1 in my hand. He had bought it at the airport and basically read the WHOLE book on his flight. He told me: read it. Give it time. You’ll like it. He had NO idea how right he was. I’ve read each book about 7 or 8 times (HUGE NERD, I KNOW!) and it’s my reference book for life: friendship, love, and even energy. (Honestly, magic is like energy medicine, it’s not even funny).
“Sophie’s World” by Jostein Gaarder
What a magical ride through philosophy. It weaves in mystery with philosophy and makes philosophy fun to learn about. If you’re curious to understand life even a little bit, you’ve gotta read this book.
Purchase it here: Sophie’s World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy
“Sacred Contracts” – Caroline Myss
My mom had this book lying around and one day, as I was feeling particularly lost at 19, I picked it up. It fully opened my eyes to a spirituality that was alive, made sense, empowering and non “old-man-in-the-sky-worshipping”. There is so much that I took away from this book. Mainly: Before we’re born, we make contracts about what we’re wanting to explore on our journey on Earth.
Purchase it here: Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential
“The Artist’s Way” – Julia Cameron
To be truly honest, this was a hugely impactful book, but I didn’t finish it. It’s on my bucket list.
If you’re wanting to live a more creative life, this is for you. I recommend you get a friend to do it with you for accountability purposes. My biggest take away are the morning pages. 3 pages of whatever comes through your head – first thing in the morning. It’s effective for SO much.
Purchase it here: The Artist’s Way
Anything by Paulo Coelho
Everything isn’t the title. For a long time, I devoured any of his books. The Alchemist, Brida, The Witch of Portobello… To be truly honest with you, I don’t remember any particular story lines. What I do remember is the sense of deep spirituality that emanates from all of his writing. He put me in touch with spirituality before I even knew what spirituality was.
Purchase them here: The Alchemist
“Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
This book is amazing because it was first published in 1937. It outlines 13 principles to a wealthy mindset and to this day, they are absolutely relevant. If you’re into manifesting anything for yourself, whether it’s money or anything else, this is an absolutely foundational read that will equip you with everything you need to know.
Purchase it here: Think and Grow Rich
“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown
I don’t remember any other book changing my life MORE than this book did.
I’m so grateful to Brené Brown for both her research and her willingness to teach it to people like me. The research is around vulnerability, shame and the core belief of “I’m not good enough”. She has 10 guideposts to living a wholehearted (or happily imperfect) life that were a major game changer for me. I put them up on the wall behind my desk and worked on them daily for a good 6 months. Each guidepost had an aspect to cultivate and an aspect to let go of. If you read one book on this list, make it this one.
Purchase it here: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
“Eastern Body, Western Mind” by Anodea Judith
This is a big read, but if you want to know more about chakras, what they really are, how they develop, how they impact your life, this is for you. It’s complete, grounded & helpful. For me, reading this book helped me tie all my experiential knowledge together.
Purchase it here: Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self
“Language of Emotions” by Karla McLaren
After “The gifts of imperfection”, this was the single most impactful book of my life. The truth is, for a long time my emotions were simply mystifying. I believed that I wasn’t allowed to be smart about them and manage them and that instead I had to just feel feel feel (well after I believed I had to stuff them out of sight, out of mind!). This incredible reference book allowed me to truly understand how emotions work and what the wisdom in each one is. If you have trouble with your emotions, read a few chapters of this book.
Purchase it here: The Language of Emotions: What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You
“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield
If you’re being called by something right now (art, career change, relationship change…) and you’re experiencing resistance, read this. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but it somehow manages to help you kick that resistance in the teeth. It has a more masculine approach to creativity and it’s been oh-so-healing for my generally more feminine way of life. Basically? If it’s worth doing, you’ll encounter resistance. Get over it. Do it anyway.
Purchase it here: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
“Mind over Medicine” by Lissa Rankin
Dr. Lissa Rankin dives into what’s wrong with the structures of modern day medicine and goes on a sparkling healing journey. She emerges with insight that has the power to change billions of lives: A person’s health needs to take into account their WHOLE health. People get sick because of a lack of fulfilment. We all have an “inner pilot light” that can gear us towards health. This is what we all need to tap into. Brilliant book that makes a simple point: Listen to yourself.
Purchase it here: Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself
“Tapping into Wealth” by Margaret M Lynch
I’ve read a lot about our relationship with money. As a small business owner, this is indispensable. Margaret M Lynch’s approach was absolutely awesome. In this book, you dig in deep to all the aspects of your relationship with money. Even better? It gives you the tools & EFT tapping scripts to unprogram the conditioning that no longer serves you.
Purchase it here: Tapping Into Wealth: How Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Can Help You Clear the Path to Making More Money
“The Biology of Belief” by Bruce Lipton
“Bruce Lipton, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit”. Enough said. In this book, he illustrates how our beliefs affect us all the way down in to our cells. If you’re into science, check this one out.
Purchase it here: The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, & Miracles
“The Desire Map” by Danielle Laporte
This book asks an insanely powerful question: “How do you want to feel?”. Instead of running around creating to do lists and accomplishment tasks for ourselves that will ultimately not make us feel anything that substantial, why not ask ourselves “how do I want to feel today?” and build our goals from there. Revolutionary.
Purchase it here: The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul
“Playing Big” by Tara Mohr
I couldn’t STOP recommending this book to people while I was reading it. It opened my eyes wide like saucers to see all the ways we sabotage ourselves INTERNALLY (especially as women).
Purchase it here: Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message
“Power vs Force” – David R. Hawkins,
Call me weird for being an energy therapist and not getting this, but I didn’t truly get the concept of “raising your vibration” until I read this book. This year. Gulp. Anywyay, it’s amazing and really illustrates the power of your vibration and taking responsibility for it.
Purchase it here: Power vs. Force
“The Power of Now” – Eckhart Tolle
I don’t even know what to say. It’s deep. It puts you in a place of pure presence. Read it.
Purchase it here: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
I have the biggest crush on Liz Gilbert. It just makes me feel happy to know that she’s alive and doing the work that she does. This book is an ode to creativity and a BIG FAT PERMISSION SLIP to be creative in our lives.
Purchase it here: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
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