Some of the books that catalysed the most profound shifts in my understanding.
The Ascent of Humanity
Charles Eisenstein
This book details humanity’s journey of separation from Edenic connection with the natural world, to the modern, industrialised world of high technology and alienation, a journey that might seem like a horrible accident, but which Charles Eisenstein suggests was a necessary phase with worthwhile lessons and gifts. Eisenstein charts the depths of separation humanity has journeyed to, the age of reunion that looms ahead with the integration of separation’s gifts, and the growing ‘convergence of crises’ that is birthing the transition to a more beautiful world.
Return to the Brain of Eden
Tony Wright & Graham Gynn
This book explores the intersection of humanity’s evolutionary history and diet. It puts forth the thesis that, firstly, the human species evolved on a diet primarily composed of tropical fruit, which would have been in season all-year-round in the embryonic jungles humanity evolved in, and secondly, that this high-fruit diet directly caused the rapid increase in brain size experienced by Homo sapiens between 2 million and 700,000 years ago, and humanity’s associated awakening in consciousness.
Mucusless Diet Healing System
Prof. Arnold Ehret, Prof. Spira
Arnold Ehret was a pioneering German naturopath who taught that mucus and the foods responsible for its overproduction within the body are the major cause of inflammation and hence much disease long-suffered by mankind. In this reprinted edition, Prof. Spira clarifies Ehret’s teachings with annotated notes, revealing the healing power of fruits to reverse mucus build-up, inflammation, and disease, alkalising the body and restoring the individual to greater levels of vitality.
Climate: A New Story
Charles Eisenstein
In his latest instalment, Charles Eisenstein does what he does best: offering a deep, expansive, and refreshing perspective on pressing issues of our time, completely reframing the narrative while re-minding the reader of understandings they always “knew” within, but perhaps didn’t have words for. This time, Charles delivers his treatment to Climate Change, balancing the carbon narrative with oft-neglected, deeper, ecological considerations, as well as contrasting climate alarmism’s inadvertently demoralising message of “survival” vs. “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.”
The Detox Miracle Sourcebook
Robert Morse, N.D.
Dr. Robert Morse is a titan of naturopathic medicine, and also its pioneer in many respects, bringing the importance of the great lymphatic system to the fore in its role as the body’s sewer system, eliminating waste from cells. Morse’s teachings are incredibly simple yet powerful – we have two main fluids in the body: blood (kitchen) and lymph (sewer system). Likewise, there are two sides to chemistry: acid (corrodes) and alkaline (soothes, heals). Foods that leave an acid-ash (and mucus) hit are the source of most all inflammation and disease. Thesis: eat a predominantly alkaline (fruit and veg) diet to reverse disease and thrive.
Power vs Force
David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.
The magnum opus of Dr. David Hawkins, in which he reveals the ‘map of consciousness’ – an outcome of years of spiritual research by way of applied kinesiological muscle testing. Charting the main levels of human consciousness, ascending by level of Power, Hawkins outlines their qualities and effects, and how to transcend each level. Additionally, Hawkins delineates between ‘Power’, which is of God, and ‘force’, which lacks Power, and is of the ego. The book is a spiritual tour-de-force (et Pouvoir) that illuminates the straight path to Truth.
Letting Go
David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D.
Continuing Hawkins’ contributions to the field of spiritual research, ‘Letting Go’ clarifies the practice of transcending negative energies and force-based levels of consciousness to reach higher, more Power-full states of being. Society teaches us various, limited means for dealing with challenging emotional states, namely: suppression, repression, projection, and expression. ‘Letting Go’ is proposed as an effective alternative that can be practiced at any time, made habitual, and which undoes stress and negativity while catalysing ongoing spiritual growth.
The Kybalion
The 'Three Initiates'
“Death is not real, even in the Relative sense — it is but Birth to a new life — and You shall go on, and on, and on, to higher and still higher planes of life, for aeons upon aeons of time. The Universe is your home, and you shall explore its farthest recesses before the end of Time.”
This book is one of the deeper ones on the list, in that it explores universal laws of life and the workings of reality through ‘seven Hermetic axioms’, for example, the famous “As above, so below” axiom. Internalising this book’s wisdom will increase intuition, strengthen pattern recognition, and enhance your map of reality.
King, Warrior, Magician, Lover
Robert Moore & Douglas Gillette
Inspired by Jungian psychology, this seminal work explores the fundamental, metaphysical archetypes that govern the psyche of all men and the masculine principle itself: the King, the Warrior, the Magician, and the Lover. Each archetype has a holistic expression (life-affirming) and a shadow side, either active or passive (both life-inimical). The book posits that for a man to enter into wholeness and full maturation, it is essential he balance and actualise these archetypes to their fullest extent in his life.
The Lord of the Rings
J. R. R. Tolkien
The only ‘fictional’ entry on the list, I adore the LOTR not only for its wonderful, truthful narrative, but for its potent symbolism and highly moralising, pro-Western and Christian themes. I believe it is only through the grace of God that the works were translated into the faithful film trilogy before anti-Western forces, the very evil the series symbolically skewers, took greater hold of the global film industry. A gift to ‘Men of the West’ and all mankind thereby, this work forms, in my view, an inexhaustible wellspring of love, hope, and redemption.
Go Free: A Guide to Aligning with the Archetype of Westernkind
Jason Köhne (YouTube: 'No White Guilt')
The Coiled Serpent: A Philosophy of Conservation and Transmutation of Reproductive Energy
C. J. Van Vliet
First published in 1939, and a seminal work on sexual transmutation, this book is experiencing a resurgence in readership. With clear prose, the author outlines the more profound benefits of sexual continence, not only for the individual but for society-at-large, connecting the rise and fall of whole civilisations with the respective use or abuse of the sexual function. Perhaps most crucially, the book underlines a societal return to sexual continence as being vital to humanity’s ongoing, collective, spiritual evolution.
Practice of Brahmacharya
Swami Sivananda
Brahmacharya derives from two Sanskrit words: ‘Brahma’ meaning “one’s own Self” (capital ‘S’) or “Ultimate Reality”, and ‘charya’ meaning “conduct” or “path” or “moving towards”. Brahmacharya is therefore a useful concept to describe sexual abstinence or regulation practiced to move closer to union with God in one’s everyday experiencing of life. In ‘Practice of Brahmacharya’, Sivananda Saraswati, a former Hindu spiritual teacher of India, lucidly propounds the benefits of Brahmacharya, how to practice it, and what its practice entails for men, youth, and society-at-large.
A Course in Miracles
Helen Schucman
Helen Schucman claims the book came to her word-by-word through ‘inner dictation’ from Christ. The book is divided into a body of text which provides context, and a workbook with 365 exercises (1 for every day of the year) designed to induce a permanent, life-altering shift in awareness for the reader. Dr. David Hawkins calibrated the textbook at 550 and the workbook at 600, both indicating a high degree of Truth and Power. The book is unique in its psychological clarification of spiritual concepts and its emphasis on forgiving others and self as key to salvation.
The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (AKA the 'Lamsa Bible')
George Lamsa
Out of love for humanity, God sent His “only begotten Son”, the Christ, who as Jesus lived as a perfect example and offered up His life to reclaim the soul of man from the world and provide a path to salvation. Dr. David Hawkins calibrated the New Testament of the Lamsa Aramaic translation (excl. ‘Revelations’ (70), which = falsehood) at 880, signifying incredible Truth and Power. Except for ‘Genesis’ (660), ‘Psalms’ (650), and ‘Proverbs’ (350), the Old Testament is best avoided (wrathful, vindictive ‘Yahweh’; revenge and punishment; tribal favouritism… all = < 200).