Awakening to the Spirit Within: Eight Paths

Book excerpt: The premise of Awakening to the Spirit Within is that all beings are connected by a spiritual energy which forms the essence of who they truly are. Eight paths, which facilitate an awakening to this essence, are explored: Native American Spirituality, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Kabbalah, Jesus and the Christ Within, Sufism, and The New Thought Movement. Practice exercises and references are also included. This book highlights some of the unique gifts which various spiritual traditions have to offer our world. In addition, it explores the mystical threads of connection which underlie them. Like the title suggests, it also gives ways of listening to guidance from within. The author includes messages from her own inner guidance in an effort to illustrate how this may occur. Her openness provides more warmth and intimacy than is usually found in such a book. In these uncertain times, there has been an upsurge of interest in books related to spirituality, religion, and mysticism. People are looking for ways to heal, rather than destroy, our planet. That is why this book, and others like it, are so timely and important in moving us closer to our shared goal of creating a more peaceful and harmonious world.