From scripture to meditative practices and philosophical questions, the word spirituality has taken on many meanings over the years. Regardless, whether we are looking for guidance in a god-figure or asking questions introspectively, many turn to spirituality for a chance to find purpose and a sense of fulfilment within their lives.
However, spiritual journeys do not look the same for everyone. Some of us are raised in a religious community that feels fitting from the very beginning while others realize that a different belief system may fit their values better. Similarly, some people go from having no sense of spirituality in early life to developing their own unique set of beliefs as they age. This mixture of self-help books and memoirs may provide you with some insight into just how complex — or simple — spirituality journeys can be. Hopefully, it will also encourage you to continue forward even if you have not found that perfect set of beliefs yet.
The Butterfly Mosque by G. Willow Wilson
The Butterfly Mosque
by G. Willow Wilson
G. Willow Wilson grew up as an American girl in an atheist family in Denver, CO. With little knowledge of religion or spirituality of any kind, Wilson attended college at Boston University, where she would first truly encounter Islam. Although it was her Islamic Studies course that piqued her interest in the religion, it was an illness she faced later on that prompted her conversion.
Wilson outlines many different aspects of her spiritual journey in her memoir, The Butterfly Mosque. From meeting her Egyptian husband during college to addressing her newfound faith with her atheist parents and navigating the post 9/11 world as a Muslim-American, she spares no detail in the triumphs and tribulations presented to her during this time. Wilson writes, “religion was taboo in my family, and Islam was taboo in my society — these pressures are not easily shaken off, and I sometimes felt as guilty as if I had committed a crime.” Despite this, she put faith in her newfound spirituality and eventually found herself helping others in Cairo.
The Café on the Edge of the World: A Story About the Meaning of Life by John Strelecky
The Café on the Edge of the World: A Story About the Meaning of Life
by John Strelecky
While a life devoted to religion is increasingly hard to find among the younger generations, the idea of spirituality has not completely disappeared. Instead, these ideas, often forming from a variety of different beliefs, come together under the umbrella of New Age Religion, a concept highlighted in John Strelecky’s The Café on the Edge of the World: A Story About the Meaning of Life.
John is in a hurry when he stops at a small café seemingly located in the middle of nowhere. Although his intention is to grab a quick bite to eat and carry on with his road trip, he finds himself staring at the three questions printed on the menu: Why are you here? Do you fear death? Are you fulfilled? With these questions in mind, along with the conversations he had with fellow diners, John continues on his trip. However, this time the drive is less about his original destination and more about his newfound way of viewing the world around him.
You Are Designed to Be Successful by Freddie Floyd Jr.
You Are Designed to Be Successful
by Freddie Floyd Jr.
In You Are Designed to Be Successful, author Freddie Floyd Jr. offers an inherently Christian view to bettering one’s life. In the first section of his self-help book, he introduces his readers to God and allows them to understand why His presence is so important to their lives, even if it is not necessarily visible. By allowing readers to understand God’s power, Floyd hopes they will be encouraged to create an open dialogue with God and amongst each other.
As the story goes on, Floyd shows how accepting God’s words will have a lasting effect on one’s life and allow them to change for the better. He describes how once we let go of what we think and begin to see life from the perspective God wants us to have, it will be much easier to see our blessings. For those looking for a more direct approach to the process outlined by Floyd, he also includes a step-by-step section at the end of his book that outlines everything necessary to make these changes. To learn more about Floyd’s self-help book, read BookTrib’s review here.
All Who Go Do Not Return: A Memoir by Shulem Deen
All Who Go Do Not Return: A Memoir
by Shulem Deen
Shulem Deen was raised in one of the most insular Hasidic sects in the United States. From a very young age, he was told that asking questions was dangerous, and therefore knew very little about the outside world and just how different his community was. It was not until he was already married — at the young age of eighteen — and a father of many children that he first acted on his curiosity. The small, harmless step of tuning into a radio for the first time quickly led him to discover the Internet, where he asked others about their religious beliefs as his faith gradually unraveled.
Deen was aware that his loss in faith could result in him being ostracized from the community, and possibly his family, but he also knew it could present him with new life opportunities. All Who Go Do Not Return shows that, while someone’s spiritual journey may appear transgressive, this change in belief can still open one’s paths to new possibilities and the chance at a happier life.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now
by Eckhart Tolle
Spiritual journeys do not necessarily have to take place in the form of religion. They can also be found in philosophical and enlightenment practices. Eckhart Tolle hones in on past Enlightenment ideas in The Power of Now and shows readers that the key to fulfillment is to rework the way we think. He begins by explaining that, in many of our lives, the main enemy is our own mind. It is often our negative thoughts that cause us pain rather than obstacles we are facing in the external world. Tolle argues that by learning to silence these thoughts and live fully in the present, we will be able to achieve our deepest self.
The concept of spirituality is introduced in what Tolle refers to as our “Being,” which he describes as “the eternal, ever-present One Life beyond the myriad forms of life that are subject to birth and death.” Tolle believes our “Being” is indestructible, and once we become aware of it, we become free of our mind and are able to experience the power of now.
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
by Todd Burpo
Todd Burpo’s Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back depicts a spiritual journey taken by one family following their son’s close call with death. Colton Burpo was four years old when he woke up from emergency surgery and recounted his trip to Heaven. Rather than remembering the sterile walls of the hospital, Colton has memories of angels singing to him.
While Colton’s parents, and nearly everyone else who heard the story, was skeptical of what the young boy was describing, they began to realize the accuracy of his memories. Colton recalled meeting family members who passed before his birth, biblical characters such as Jesus and “really, really big” God, and how Jesus called Todd — Colton’s father — to become a pastor. While Colton had some exposure to religion throughout his early childhood, it was not nearly enough for the four-year-old to construct such a stereotypical image of Heaven. Following his stay at the hospital, Colton and his family embark on an inspirational journey together led by their newfound confidence in their spirituality.
Hollywood to the Himalayas by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
Hollywood to the Himalayas
by Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati thought she was successfully navigating her way through early adult life. She had achieved her goal of graduating from Stanford with a PhD, but she was still ignoring an eating disorder and the lasting effects of childhood trauma. Around the same time, her husband was trying to convince her to travel with him to India, and while she agreed simply to appease him, she would later credit this trip with beginning her spiritual journey.
Hollywood to the Himalayas outlines a remarkable story of a woman discovering her spirituality, growing a connection with her guru and developing a renewed confidence with herself. While she first falls in love with the food in India, Sadhvi also begins to find love in numerous other simple pleasures. Now, one of the preeminent female spiritual speakers in the world, Sadhvi recounts her journey with wit and offers help to anyone just beginning their spiritual journey, regardless of their background.
