An Ever-Evolving List of Excellent Books for Reference, Learning and Enjoyment
Categories:
Yoga -✦- Spiritual Philosophy -✦- Tarot -✦- Healing -✦- Crystals
Wellbeing & Bodymind -✦- Witchcraft & Magic
Recommended Reading
It's difficult to categorise these books effectively because the practices all intertwine
but I've done my best and arranged them in a way that makes sense to me!
Yoga
The Bhagavad Gita
translated by Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press 2007
ISBN: 978-158638-019-9
A wonderful translation and commentary on this essential yoga text. The Gita is an exploration of the human condition and struggle for meaning and self-mastery through the story of Arjuna's conversations with Krishna on the eve of a great battle. This is an ancient text and one of the first which details the practice of yoga as a pathway to spiritual enlightenment.
The Upanishads
translated by Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press 2007
ISBN: 978-1-58638-021-2
The word Upanishads means "to sit down near", inspired by the action of sitting at the feet of an illumined teacher to receive their wisdom and divine insights. The Upanishads delve into the many facets of human consciousness and spirituality and these translations and commentaries demonstrate the timeless relevance of this wisdom, even to this day.
The Yamas & Niyamas - Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice
by Deborah Adele
On-Word Bound Books 2009
ISBN: 978-097447064-1
The Yamas and Niyamas are the ethical practices and the first and second limbs of the 8 fold path of yoga as set out by Patanjali in the yoga sutras (see below). This book explores the practices in detail one by one and offers practical suggestions how they may be applied to daily life. A thoughtful guide and insightful interpretation of these ancient ideas, it takes an accessible approach to applying them to skilful living.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
translation & commentary
by Sri Swami Satchidananda
Integral Yoga Publications 2012
ISBN: 987-1-938477-07-2
The Yoga Sutras provide us with a step by step manual in the achievement of yoga. Meant as a vehicle for the verbal transmission of this ancient knowledge, these teachings are mysterious, intentionally vague and cannot readily be accepted by themselves, without the aid of enlightened commentary. Satchidananda's interpretation is worldly and deeply compassionate, making this a wonderful version of the Sutras for beginners and experienced aspirants on a yogic path.
Yoga & the Dark Night of the Soul
by Simon Haas
Veda Wisdom Books 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9575185-2-0
This beautifully gentle and compassionate book, subtitled "The Soul's Journey to Sacred Love," is a wonderful mixture of story, insight and teaching based on Haas' own life experience and his deep observation of his world. Drawing much inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita (see above), this book gives a fresh perspective on these teachings and will invite you to fall in love with The Gita all over again.
Surya Namaskara
by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Yoga Publications Trust 2015
ISBN: 978-81-85787-35-0
Any yoga practitioner will know that Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutations) is much more than just a sequence of arbitrary movements and postures. This book dives deep into the full practice of Surya Namaskara including mantras, drishti and chakras and a whole host of other information about the origins and progression of the practice. It's a really interesting read!
Insight Yoga
by Sarah Powers
Shambala Publications Inc 2008
ISBN: 978-1-59030-598-0
In this book, the acclaimed Sarah Powers shares her unique approach to yoga, Insight Yoga. Combining elements of Yin and Yang postures and sequences with knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, meditation and mindfulness practices, she gives a comprehensive and inspiring path to all-round wellness through physical movement and stillness. This book is packed with images and instructions and explanations of the theories she draws from. This is a book I come back to all the time!
Hatha Yoga
For Teachers and Practitioners
by Ram Jain & Kalyani Hauswirth-Jain
Lotus Publishing 2022
ISBN: 978-90-827056-1-4
As it says on the cover, it really is a comprehensive manual on how to approach Hatha Yoga - giving the basis of Yoga as a tradition, its origins and philosphies, its practical applications and overall benefits. It goes on to outline how to enter a practice and ideas on sequencing and structure.
Additionally, this book gives the most in-depth encyclopaedia of postures that I've ever seen in any text!
Healing Mantras
by Thomas Ashley-Farrand
Ballantine Wellspring Books 1999
ISBN: 978-0-345-43170-7
Sound is a powerful and ancient healing tool - mantras and chants, used with intention, have a huge range of powers and benefits, many of which are explored in this book. "Using sound affirmations for Personal Power, Creativity and Healing"... Ashley-Farrand explains how and why mantras work and how to use them. He details each word and its application, translates and offers easy to follow phoentic instructions for correct pronunciation.
Yoga Meditation
by Gregor Maehle
Kaivalya Publications 2013
ISBN: 978-0-9775126-3-8
Gregor Maehle is a highly respected and deeply knowledgable mind in the world of yoga and this book is an invaluable instruction manual in the concept of yoga as an ancient science. Maehler's poetic approach to explaining the principles and practices of yoga, from the physical, through the mental and into the spiritual dimensions of the system is comprehensive and detailed but also easy to understand and a joy to absorb.
Spiritual Philosophy
Peace is Every Step
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Rider Publishing 1995
ISBN: 978-0-712-67406-5
Thich Nhat Hanh (or "Thay" as he was affectionately known the world over), was a gentle teacher and powerful advocate for peace throughout the world. His teachings and profoundly beautiful words touch the very heart of humanity. In this book, he offers us his wisdom through stories, meditations, exercises and commentaries. He shows us how we can achieve inner peace and presence through living meditation.
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
Thorsons/HarperCollins 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7225-3293-5
This is just a beautiful book. Coelho has the most poetic way of writing that fills the reader with a profound sense of meaning and depth of feeling. This story could be about any of us who are seeking "more" or that sacred "something" that we just cannot name. It's the story of a simple shepherd boy, his adventures and how ultimately, he comes back to himself.
Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
Penguin Classics 2008
ISBN: 978-0-141-18957-4
As Siddhartha goes through the various stages of his spiritual journey in this story, we are carried along with him and shown, with the subtle but powerful wisdom Hesse's storytelling magic, just how foolish and inevitable is the human condition but how infinitely redeemable we can be. This is a classic text for good reason, a story told with grace and simplicity and certainly one each of us can relate to in some form.
Conditions of Love: The Philosophy of Intimacy
by John Armstrong
Penguin Books 2003
ISBN: 978-0-140-29471-2
This book taught me some things; helped me create new ideas around the concept of intimacy, love, sexuality, emotion and connection. The text takes evidence from philosophy, biology, literature, nature, visual art and music and weaves a graceful and poetic, complicated and simple narrative about the role of perception, imagination and the subtle play of energies between people.
Tarot
Tarot
by Tina Gong
Dorling Kindersley Ltd 2020
ISBN: 978-0-2414-3323-2
This is an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to learn the art of Tarot. Containing an overview of the history & uses of Tarot, comprehensive analysis of every card, exercises to get the most from your pulls and thinking points to guide you deeper into the way the cards speak to you as an individual, it's my favourite book for reference. As a physical book, it is lovely in its layout, general appearance and feel in the hand.
The Essential Book of Tarot
by Alice Ekrek
Arcturus Publishing Ltd 2021
ISBN: 978-1-83857-527-4
This book gives clear and concise meanings of the system of Tarot cartomancy. It's a great reference book and its small size means it's portable too. Plenty of colour pictures. Great for beginners, it goes into enough depth to make it useful but nothing too overwhelming!
Healing
Neals Yard Remedies
Neals Yard Remedies
Dorling Kindersley Ltd 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4053-6818-6
A great reference book for the identification and use of herbs and plants. Giving details of the plants, their benefits and uses as well as recipes and blends you can try yourself at home. Very comprehensive and full of amazing knowledge.
Wellbeing & Bodymind
The Body Keeps the Score
by Bessel van der Kolk
Penguin/Random House 2015
ISBN: 978-0-141-97861-1
A widely-applauded text on the effects of stress and trauma on the human body. This book uses case studies and stories to convey the findings of the author. It is a deep and intense read but a must if you are searching for knowledge and understanding of the mind. It offers a unique perspective having been compiled from the decades of academic study by the author and his associates.
When the Body Says No
by Gabor Maté
Vermillion/Penguin/Random House 2019
ISBN: 978-1-78504-222-5
Gabor Maté is a leading voice in psychology, child development and the physical effects of mental illness. This book provides impressive insights into the hidden cost of stress on the physical body, exploring the link between stress and disease, offering transformative understanding of how disease and illness are the body's way of alerting us to deeper, unseen issues.
Witchcraft & Magic
Lunar Living
by Kirsty Gallagher
Yellow Kite 2020
ISBN: 978-1-529-39820-5
This book is a wonderful resource for anyone starting out on a path of understanding how the lunar cycles can affect us and our environment. It gives useful insights on using the cycles of the moon to help us live a fulfilled life and create space for us to lean into our full potential. Including exercises and journaling ideas to make the most of this ancient understanding, this book helped me learn a lot about this fascinating way of living.