Growing Your Inner Light: A Guide to Independent Spiritual Practice [Paperback]

Lara Owen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 3, 2009

A comprehensive guide for creating a daily spiritual practice, Growing Your Inner Light gives specific advice on developing a unique spiritual path that fits exactly who you are, and what you hope to grow into as a spiritual being. Author Lara Owen clearly shows how a personalized practice can open the doors to living fully with integrity and to feeling connected with the surrounding world.

For readers yearning for a sense of inner peace, and a direct experience of spiritual meaning and connection, Growing Your Inner Light is a groundbreaking, transformative journey through thirteen phases of your growth, including: developing intuition; creating sacred spaces and altars; understanding your dreams; exploring the importance of retreats, meditation, and rituals.

Growing Your Inner Light gives readers the freedom to integrate from different traditions -- and develop new ones -- in order to create their own spiritual tradition. One former student of Lara's program shared that she feels "less like a spiritual tourist and more like a pilgrim." Spiritual development is a natural part of being human, and a vital way to expand the intensity of your inner light throughout your life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lara Owen's Growing Your Inner Light is a beautifully written and inspiring spiritual guide for those of an independent heart and mind. You will find it full of helpful jewels and practical wisdom, whether you are experienced or new to spirituality, and whatever your tradition or belief system." -- William Bloom, PhD, author of Soulution: The Holistic Manifesto and founder of the Foundation for Holistic Spirituality

About the Author

Lara Owen grew up in England and has traveled the world to study with traditional Chinese doctors, Native American and Mexican shamans, Tibetan lamas, Swiss and American psychologists, and many other teachers. She has worked as a doctor of Chinese medicine and as a psychotherapist, and now consults on personal and spiritual development with individuals and institutions. She is the author of several books including the acclaimed Her Blood is Gold.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words; Original edition (November 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582702438
• ISBN-13: 978-1582702438
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lara Owen grew up in England and has traveled the world to study with traditional Chinese doctors, Native American and Mexican shamans, Tibetan lamas, Swiss and American psychologists, and many other teachers. She has worked as a doctor of Chinese medicine, a psychotherapist and an astrologer.

As well as writing books and two blogs (laraowen.com and planetaryenergies.net) Lara gives talks and workshops, and works as a mentor and consultant with individuals and organizations.

She lived in the US for many years, then in France, and now lives in an 18th century farmhouse near the sea in Dorset, UK.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely and sensible, December 31, 2009

By 

April E. Kent (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Your Inner Light: A Guide to Independent Spiritual Practice (Paperback)

From the fire and brimstone services of my Midwestern childhood church to the breathless affirmations favored in New Age circles, I've never felt completely at home in communal spiritual observances, preferring the spiritual solitude of simple, silent ritual. I was delighted to read Lara Owen's lovely and sensible book, which encourages individual spiritual practice not as a "lesser" path to spiritual growth, but a natural and soulful way of communing with spirit - whether as a complement or as an alternative to formal religion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, February 24, 2010

By 

Ms. Jocelyn Chaplin (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Your Inner Light: A Guide to Independent Spiritual Practice (Paperback)

Lara Owen's book is a most refreshing read for those of us on independent spiritual paths. She takes from many traditions with respect and wisdom, but creates a very down to earth distillation of them all. Lara definitely does not dilute them, but extracts their simple and clear essences. She honors our individuality while sharing possible pitfalls such as arrogance and self doubt. Anyone who doubts the validity of the independent path should read this book and be convinced. It shows how to be both a free spirit and disciplined and committed at the same time.

I found the chapters on clearing a sacred space and making an alter practically helpful. And I also liked her concept of integration described in the last chapter as a realistic and meaningful goal. I recommend this book not only for seekers of a spiritual path but for finders too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Create your own spiritual tradition, June 2, 2010

By 

New Connexion Journal (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Your Inner Light: A Guide to Independent Spiritual Practice (Paperback)

In Growing Your Inner Light, Lara Owen "gives readers the freedom to integrate from different traditions -- and develop new ones -- in order to create their own spiritual tradition." Owen does not suggest that you leave your current beliefs behind, but gives you the tools in a step-by-step process to enhance your inner light. This guide is packed with so much valuable information that you could feel overwhelmed, but Owen asks that you spend a month on each of the 13 lessons covered in the book. It's well worth the time to develop your giving spirit. As Owen says, "Nothing really counts until we give it back. We don't know fully that we have integrated anything until the urge to share it comes over us, and we give freely of ourselves, fully entering the stream of life."

-- Vicki Burr, New Connexion Journal
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