8 Books on Spirituality to Read This Winter

The end of the year calls us to reflect. As the holidays come to a close and the deepest part of winter descends, the dark and the cold draw us inward. “The time of the rolling year” as Dickens called it, is a season for contemplation and renewal.

If you would like to spend January as I do, curled under a quilt with a stack of good books on spirituality, I’m offering here, in no particular order, several that can get you through to spring. I hope you find in them illumination and insight.

1. An Unknown World: Notes on the Meaning of the Earth by Jacob Needleman.

The Earth is a living being, the meaning of human life is tied inextricably to the function of the human species—and that function is to serve the living Earth. These are the premises upon which Jacob Needleman’s remarkable book are based. 

Of the dozens and dozens of books on spirituality that I read each year, few are truly original or unique. Needleman’s is both. In An Unknown World, he  explores what the Earth needs from us (far beyond our faltering attempts not to destroy it.) “Every human…is meant to play an essential role in the very evolution of the Earth,” he writes.

An Unknown World: Notes on the Meaning of the Earth delves into the power and limitations of science; the nature of the Sacred; the meanings of the world’s religions; and the very purpose of human existence. Amazingly, Needleman does all this in simple, clear prose that is a joy to read.

2. Spirit Walking: A Course in Shamanic Power by Evelyn Rysdyk

Evelyn Rysdyk is a shamanic healer and teacher whose works on shamanism are thoughtful, well written, and informative. “Not simply a spiritual path, the ancient technology of shamanism can help you to thrive in the face of both everyday and extraordinary life challenges, and support you to experience deep feelings of connection that nurture confidence and enduring feelings of wellbeing,” writes Rysdyk.

Spirit Walking: A Course in Shamanic Power is largely free of the mumbo-jumbo that sometimes muddies works on shamanism. You don’t have to believe that all matter is conscious to find Spirit Walking interesting—or to learn from it. But if you do, you will find a sure guide along the shamanic path, complete with poetry, illustrations, and exercises. Approached with an open mind and a sense of adventure, this book can stimulate, excite, and entertain. 

3. Zen Prayers for Repairing Your Life by Tai Sheridan  

Zen prayers are not petitions to God. They do not ask for anything. They do not plead for forgiveness. They do not extol, beg, or promise. They are simple, clear statements based on the assumption that everything we need is within ourselves. “I open to living for the benefit of all life and to working diligently to bring harmony to everyone” goes the beginning of the “Prayer for Benefiting Life.” It is only one of over 40 Zen prayers offered in this perfect little book by poet and Zen priest Tai Sheridan.

4. A Glimpse of Light: The Basics of the Wisdom of Kabbalah by Michael Laitman

Kabbalah is a mystical and esoteric school of thought that originated in Judaism and was later transformed into Christian and New Age adaptations. It seeks to define the relationship between an unchanging and eternal Source and its finite, created manifestation in the observable universe.  

I know little about Kabbalah, so I cannot attest to the accuracy or thoroughness of Michael Laitman’s book. In fact, one of my motivations for reading A Glimpse of Light was to learn more about this ancient tradition. What I can say is that Laitman’s book is clear, readable, and interesting, and it seemed to me, a rank beginner, to be an excellent introduction to this ancient and highly complex system.

I was eager to read about the true origins of Kabbalah in the Judaic tradition, rather than its later adaptations in other spiritual paths, and Laitman, founder of the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute, seemed to be the perfect source to go to. Despite the mystical focus of Kabbalah, Laitman brings the tradition to bear on everyday questions of work, relationships, family, and daily life that make the text not merely intriguing but useful.

5. The Soul of All Living Creatures: What Animals Can Teach Us About Being Human by Vint Virga.

As a vegan and animal advocate, I have long believed that the human relationship with animals has become distorted and broken. Vint Virga’s The Soul of All Living Creatures goes a long way to repairing our connection with the beings who share the Earth with us.

A veterinarian, expert on animal behavior, and advocate for nurturing the human-animal bond, Virga explores what we can learn from animals about mindfulness, integrity, forgiveness, and presence. “When we embrace animals’ perspectives, we can learn how to walk better attuned to those around us,” he writes. “Opening ourselves to our animal nature, we can transcend our human experience and live in greater appreciation of our world.”

6. 30 Days of Meditation: Fun Meditation Techniques for Beginners by Inbar Shahar.

I don’t generally think of meditation as “fun.” For me, it’s the complicated and incomprehensible practice I have been stumbling through in fits and starts for decades. In other words, I experience it like most people do.

Still, I found Inbar Shahar‘s little book a nice addition to my library. The techniques it describes are easy, varied, and progressive. You can go through this book day by day for 30 days, then pick what worked best for you and focus on it—or simply start over for another 30-day cycle. Each meditation technique is accompanied by a nice quotation and an explanation of what you can expect to experience. And despite the title, it is a book that even advanced meditators will find useful.

7. Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye

“Buddhism isn’t just about meditating. It’s about rolling up your sleeves to relieve some of the suffering in the world.” This is the premise of Timber Hawkeye’s book Buddhist Boot Camp. It was the jarring juxtaposition of “Buddhist” and “boot camp” that first caught my eye when I saw this book. But it was Hawkeye’s focus on real action in the world that kept me reading.

Oddly, Hawkeye begins his book with the statement that “boot camp is an ideal training method for this generation’s short attention span.” He doesn’t explain what “this generation” means, but his statement immediately made me feel he wasn’t writing for me. I’m assuming he means so-called Millenials who are often vilified as not being able to focus for longer than 45 seconds. It also made me think that starting your book by insulting your audience’s ability to think isn’t promising.

But once I got beyond that initial stumble, I found the book engaging and useful as it covered such topics as personal responsibility, healthy relationships, the dangers of reading too much into scripture, and living with simplicity. As just one example, the little chapter, “Careers are Overrated” was particularly enlightening and spot on.

8. The Synchronicity Key: The Hidden Intelligence Guiding the Universe and You by David Wilcock

I’m going to be frank here. There is a lot of material in this book that I don’t believe, and a lot more that I have doubts about. Whenever people throw around the word “proof,” I start feeling antsy, especially when they’re drawing on astrology and pseudo-parallels between ancient Rome and the modern U.S.

That said, David Wilcock‘s book is intriguing and thought provoking and if you’re like me and just love casting off your assumptions and diving in despite your doubts and disagreements, then this is an enchanting—and perhaps even enlightening—read.