Recommended Reads
Bittersweet - Susan Cain
This book captures the inexplicable, unexplainable, hauntingly beautiful, and exquisite force that is bittersweet or melancholia.
Susan’s research explains that bittersweetness isn’t just a momentary feeling or event, but rather a quiet force, a way of being, and a storied tradition that has been examined and celebrated by philosophers, poets, mystics, artists, and psychologists for millennia.
“This melancholic direction, which I call the ‘bittersweet’, a tendency to states of longing, poignancy, and sorrow; an acute awareness of passing time; and a curiously piercing joy at the beauty of the world. The bittersweet is also about the recognition that light and dark, birth and death - bitter and sweet - are forever paired.”
For those that feel overwhelmingly moved by the beauty of the world while being overwhelmingly aware of the suffering at the same time.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Francis Weller
‘The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Word of Grief’ is a book that cracks you right open. A wise, comforting, and sincere companion through the experience of grief and loss. It speaks to the power of holding reverence for our grief and that when it brings us to our knees (and it will), we are inexplicably close to the fertile places that deepen and transform our soul.
Weller highlights that tending to grief through community and ritual (as we have for ages) in a ‘flatline culture’ is of great importance.
“Our broken hearts have the potential to open us to a wider sense of identity, one capable of seeing through the partitions that have segregated self from the world.” - Francis Weller
How to Know a Person - David Brooks
How to Know a Person presents a powerful, research-backed case for the importance of deep connection in an increasingly disconnected world. David Brooks explores the science and art of truly seeing and understanding others, drawing from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy to reveal how human relationships shape our well-being, identity, and sense of meaning. Through stories and studies, he demonstrates that relational health is not just an emotional luxury—it is a biological and social necessity, influencing everything from our mental resilience to our physical health.
“To be truly known is one of the great privileges of being human. It is through our relationships that we come alive, that we grow, and that we find purpose.” — David Brooks
For those who believe that the deepest work we do is not in solitude, but in the sacred, everyday act of knowing and being known.
The Places That Scare You - Pema Chödrön
‘The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times’ is an invitation into the raw, tender, and courageous work of opening our hearts to life as it is. Pema Chödrön guides us through the landscapes of fear, uncertainty, and discomfort—not as obstacles to be avoided, but as doorways to deeper wisdom and compassion. With clarity and warmth, she offers a path rooted in Buddhist teachings, reminding us that true freedom is found not in resisting pain but in meeting it with presence, kindness, and an undefended heart.
“This is the path we take in cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. Here, the places that scare us become the places we learn to love.” – Pema Chödrön
For those who long to soften into life’s uncertainties, to embrace both joy and sorrow with equal reverence, and to walk the world with an open, courageous heart.
When Things Fall Apart - Pema Chödrön
‘When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times’ by Pema Chödrön invites us to embrace the chaos and uncertainty of life with courage and compassion. Drawing from Buddhist principles, Chödrön provides a roadmap for transforming personal suffering into a pathway for growth. She teaches that when our world feels like it's falling apart, it is an opportunity to deepen our awareness, open our hearts, and let go of the fear that holds us back. Rather than avoiding pain, she encourages us to step into it fully, trusting that through vulnerability and acceptance, we can find freedom and peace.
“Letting go gives us the freedom to be who we truly are, without trying to fix anything or change anything. We simply allow ourselves to be.” — Pema Chödrön
For those navigating life’s most difficult moments, this book offers a profound invitation to surrender to the present and transform suffering into wisdom, resilience, and true inner peace.
The Light Between Us - Laura Lynne Jackson
‘The Light Between Us’ by Laura Lynne Jackson takes readers on a transformative journey into the realm of the afterlife, blending personal anecdotes and psychic phenomena to reveal the deep connections between the living and the deceased. As a renowned psychic medium, Jackson shares stories from her work helping people reconnect with their loved ones beyond death, offering proof of the enduring bond between souls. Her insights challenge our conventional understanding of life and death, reminding us that love transcends time and space.
“Our loved ones never leave us. They continue to surround us with love, guiding us even from the other side.” — Laura Lynne Jackson
For those seeking comfort, hope, and a deeper understanding of the unbreakable threads that connect us across dimensions—a powerful exploration of the light that endures between us, both in life and beyond.
Waking the Tiger - Peter Levine
Waking the Tiger is a groundbreaking work by Peter Levine, one of the founders of the field of somatic experiencing, which offers a revolutionary understanding of trauma and its effects on the body. Levine’s approach focuses on how trauma is stored in the body and how, through mindful attention to physical sensations, we can release the deeply held stress and tension caused by past events. This book illuminates how healing happens when we reconnect with our body's natural ability to process and transform traumatic experiences.
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.” — Peter Levine
For those ready to explore the transformative power of somatic healing—an invitation to awaken the body’s wisdom and release the emotional and physical hold of trauma.
Many Lives, Many Masters - Brian Weiss
‘Many Lives, Many Masters’ is a profound exploration of the soul’s journey beyond a single lifetime. Through the lens of Dr. Brian Weiss’s groundbreaking work in past-life regression therapy, this book unveils a world where healing, wisdom, and transformation arise from giving life to our past. Blending psychology with the mystical, Weiss offers a compelling testament to the continuity of the soul and the lessons that follow us across lifetimes.
“As we move through different lives, we are constantly learning. The soul does not die; it carries forward its wisdom, its unfinished lessons, and its capacity to love.” — Dr. Brian Weiss
For those who sense that their longings, fears, and connections stretch beyond the boundaries of this life - a book that opens the door to the timeless nature of being.