Customer Reviews

Growing Your Inner Light: A Guide to Independent Spiritual Practice

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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
[...]