Copyright Darlene McPeek, 2011
Enlightenment:
An Annotated Bibliographic Guide for Seekers
Darlene McPeek
In the beginning:
Life starts out pretty simple. We are born and then, we die. In the middle, there are times when we wonder about life. This might be before, during or after a crisis or it may not, depending on the individual person’s situation. We ask questions.
Some of the questions we ask:
Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? Why is there suffering and pain? Is there a reason for this madness called life? Am I a pawn on a chessboard or does my life have a purpose? Is this the only life? Or, are there multiple lives? What are the Akashic Records and how do I learn to read them? What does this have to do with karma, or the karmic wheel? Can we stop creating karma? What are runes and are they limited to use by those of Celtic ancestry? What about the Earth school? Is there life on other planets and stars? How to we heal ourselves and others? How can we speak with those who do not speak our human language, such as trees and plants, crystals, our guardian angels and guides, family and friends who have passed on, beings on others stars and even the sun? What constitutes life and consciousness? How does consciousness affect healing? What about co-creation? What does December 21, 2012 mean, as a date? What is the Mayan prophecy and how does it affect me? What is the tribe of the Rainbow and how is it connected with the Hopi? Who is White Buffalo Calf Woman? How do I connect to my higher self? What is the twin flame concept and how does it differ from the soul mate concept? How does a person ascend, other than the way Jesus did? How does Ascension compare to Enlightenment? What about parallel lives? Can I meet my other selves? How many other dimensions are there? What is the third dimension and what does it mean that Earth is moving into the fifth dimension? How does the body change from carbon to crystalline? Who are the starseeds, indigos, crystals and rainbows and how can I tell whether I am one? What are the stellar codes? How can my light body be activated by the use of sacred sounds? Is there such a thing as Hell and Heaven? What happens to my body when I die? What is channeling? How can I learn to channel? What are some ways to begin to learn meditation? What is pranayama breathing and how can I learn it? What about Acupressure, Reflexology and Aryuvedic medicine? What types of eating habits/dietary changes can assist me on my spiritual journey? Does Father God have a connection to Shiva? How can I connect the dots between Hindu, Buddhism, Muslim, Christianity and other faiths? What can I do to bring humanity together and make peace between peoples of differing faiths? How can I help others on their enlightenment path? How can I change my current reality?
Finding the answers and asking more questions:
We can answer the questions and more, with the assistance of spiritual teachers, who help us to teach ourselves. We, although we do not realize it, are intimately connected with the all, the one, the Great Spirit, and can tap into that infinite knowledge of which we are a part, having been born into a human body, but not really being limited by this body, if we so choose. We can access the knowledge of ourselves, origins, and true natures by learning more about who we really are. The questions continue, as we learn to find our own answers.
Reflections:
The joys we encounter can be few or endless, depending on our viewpoint and expectations. How do we begin the trek towards understanding and what is it that needs understanding? How do we begin? First, understand yourself and then, you can understand others, realizing that in others, we see ourselves. When someone is sad, we empathize and feel sadness on their behalf. We also share the joy of others. This is part of being human. All is in the moment. Each moment passes so quickly, in a blink of an eye, connecting in endless passages of thought, light and being. In each moment is a lifetime, a dream, a reality. We walk towards the water and swim across the pond, feeling the cool water as we paddle across it, our feathers a bit oily to keep us afloat. It is a different experience being a mallard duck. Well, in one moment, we can feel what that is, imagining, but also feeling and seeing through the eyes of another life, whether it be animal, vegetable, mineral or tree. It is in this empathy or thought process that we are able to be more than we are, more than just this one life.
Ancient Teachers:
In ancient times, spiritual mystic practices were taught under the auspices of religious practices, such as Buddhism, Sufiism, Hindiusm, and Christianity, in the Rosicrucian Order and the Essenes, and the Jewish mystical Kabbalah. Individuals have experienced spiritual mysticism inside traditional religious organizations, such as the Catholic faith, in the case of Saint Teresa of Avila and others.
Modern Teachers:
Currently, as student seekers, we are able to receive insights about consciousness from many sources and no longer have the need to enter a monastery or convent to do so. There are an abundance of books available for the seeker, many of which are available online free of charge. Others are available for a small donation via the writer’s website, via Amazon.com, or on the shelf of the local library. Either way, there is nothing to lose by embarking on this journey towards enlightenment and learning more about you. There are teachers who receive their guidance via the spiritual planes and those who receive their guidance via traditional, ancient teachings, as referred to above. It is up to you as the seeker to decide from where you will receive your guidance, depending on what resonates with you, individually.
Some of the modern teachers include: The Thirteen Grandmothers, Deepak Chopra, Liane Legey and Christopher Buck of Humanity Healing Network, OSHO, Sanaya Roman, Amorah Quan Yin, Linda Howe, Lynn V. Andrews, Doreen Virtue, Brian L. Weiss, Carolyn Myss, Wayne Dyer, Bruce Lipton, among others.
Conclusion:
The purpose of this bibliography is to give those who are just starting on their paths, as well as others, a reference tool with which to offer guidance as to sources on various issues relevant to enlightenment in the modern day. This is only a beginning. Many of the authors noted here have written other notable books and can be consulted further via their websites, which may be found by conducting a search via the traditional channels on the internet. Most seekers will be over the age of majority. However, there are exceptions to the rule. As there are references to spiritual and tantric sexuality in the annotated bibliography, this bibliography is most appropriate for those over the age of eighteen. Many blessings to you on your life journey here on Earth and I pray that you will you find the information you seek.
Works Cited
Commins, S. & Linscott, R. (Eds.) (1947). Man and Spirit: The Speculative Philosophers. (Vol.
2). New York: Random House.
Corgo, L. (2011). From Suffering to Spiritual Ecstasy: Simple Intergration Techniques for
Sacred Embodiment. Expect Miracles. Retrieved from http://www.thinkwithyourheart.net/
Essenia Foundation (2010). The Essenes and the Essene Way of Life. Retrieved from
Harvey, A. (1996). The Essential Mystics: The Soul’s Journey into Truth. Castle Books: New
Jersey.
Howe, L. (2009). How to Read the Akashic Records: Accessing the Archive of the Soul and its
Journey. Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True.
Hubbard, E. (1943). Little Journeys to the Homes of Great Philosophers. New York: World
Publishing Company.
Jones, S. (2010). An Invitation to the Dance: The Awakening of the Extended Human Family.
Essex, UK: Little Star Publishing.
Kane, A. & Kane, S. (1999). Working on Yourself Doesn’t Work. New York: Ask Productions,
Inc.
Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism, retrieved from http://www.jewfaq.org/kabbalah.htm.
Lindgren, E. L. (2008). Sensual Encounters: Monastic Women and Spirituality in Medieval
Germany. New York: Columbia University Press.
Myss, C. (2009). Defy Gravity: Healing Beyond the Bounds of Reason. Hay House.
Osho (1997). (S. Bharati & M. Sudha, Eds.). The Inner Journey. India: The Rebel Publishing
House Pvt. Ltd.
Praagh, J. V. (2009). What the Dead Can Teach Us about Life: Unfinished Business. New York:
Harper One.
Roman, S. (1989). Spiritual Growth: Being Your Higher Self. Tiburon, California: H J Kramer
Inc.
Rosicrucian Order AMORC. Retrieved from http://www.rosicrucian.org/home.html
Roys, R. L. (1933). The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Retrieved from http://www.sacred- texts.com/nam/maya/cbc/index.htm
Runes, D. (1955). A Treasury of Philosophy. New York: Grolier.
Satori, J. The Sound of Light. Retrieved from http://www.thesoundoflight.com/index.php?id=7
Schlitz, M., Amorak T. & Micozzi M. (2005). Consciousness & Healing: Integral Approaches to
Mind-Body Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
Schopenhauer, A. (1970). Essays and Aphorisms. Great Britain: Penguin Group.
Teresa of Avila, St. (1921). The Interior Castle or The Mansions. London: Thomas Baker.
Walker, B. (1988). The Woman’s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects. New York: Harper
One.
Wild, L. D. (2008). The Runes Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning the Wisdom of the
Staves. New York: Metro Books.
Zukav, G. (1989). The Seat of the Soul. New York: Fireside Books.
An Annotated Bibliographic Guide for Seekers
Andrews, L. (1986). Star Woman: We Are Made from Stars and to the Stars We Must Return.
New York: Warner Books.
This book details a shamanistic journey made by Lynn to the wilderness of Canada, where she joins two American Indian medicine women, and becomes the confident of Twin Dreams, a shape shifter, and tames a ghost horse, Arion, along with her own weaknesses. In the course of reading this book, the audience learns shamanistic ways of being, as well as the value of visions and dreams. There are lessons gained in the area of Native American rituals as to thanking the land and animal spirits that are highly beneficial to those who hunt, fish, farm and/or live off the land, among others. For a person who is of Native American descent of who has an interest in becoming closer to the Great Spirit, this book is a natural addition one’s personal library.
Franchezzo. (1901) (A. Farnese, Transcriber). A Wanderer in the Spirit Lands. Chicago: The
Progressive Thinker Publishing House.
This jewel of a book details the experience of a soul upon passing from this Earth. The journey includes the soul’s growth and healing, from being chained to its grave, to being freed and traveling to a home in the heavens, where the soul progressively clears itself of its worldly deeds by assisting others on the Earth and in the afterlife. The interesting thing about this book is that the soul gives information that there is more than one school in the afterlife. For example, sometimes a soul might choose multiple lives while other souls, such as this one, choose one life with the learning being in the afterlife, in addition to the Earth school. All in all, each soul finds its way to enlightenment in its own time, according to its free will.
Howe, L. (2009). How to Read the Akashic Records: Accessing the Archive of the Soul and its
Journey. Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True.
In this important work, Linda Howe details the steps towards learning to read one’s own Akashic records, with the assistance of loved ones who have passed over and one’s own intuitive guides, during the course of prayer. It is a useful book for one’s own growth, but also can be used for the assistance of others, as the student can become a reader themselves over the course of time.
Joshi, V. (2006). Self-Development Through Six Steps to Awareness. Cleveland: Yax Te Books.
This book discusses the six steps to awareness, which includes the basics of spirituality, key ideas from Buddhism and Hinduism, issues of humanness, how to lose the ego and become love, and preparations for spiritual growth. Included in the book are also various Osho active meditation techniques, such as the dynamic meditation, Mandala, Kundalini, Nataraj, Sufi Whirling, among others.
Osho (2002). Sex Matters: From Sex to Superconsciousness. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin.
Osho shares insights into sex and spirituality in this book. He speaks of reaching a state of samahdi, which is no mind, in sex, similar to that state of meditation where there is no mind, but only conscious being and love. There is an interesting idea of celibacy as a prison of sexual thoughts, whereas the only way to gain samadhi is via the opposite activity. It is only after many lives of activity that one can achieve samadhi.
Petschek, J. (1981). The Silver Bird: A Tale for Those Who Dream. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts.
Joyce Petschek’s first book is worth buying and is a treasure for those who value dreams as a tool of enlightment. The story is of a little girl who travels in her dreams to faraway places and meets the different spirits, which correspond to the chakras in the body. Her travels take her as far away as the Akashic Book of Records and Atlantis. She heals herself during the course of her journey by experiencing each emotional level and learning from it, clearing herself in the process.
Prabhupada, A. C. B. S. (1972). The Perfection of Yoga. Los Angeles: The Bhaktivedanta Book
Trust.
In this tiny book, the reader learns Yoga from a master, his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prahbupada, the founder of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, who introduces yoga in its various guises, such as yoga as devotion, meditation, body and mind control, and as freedom from duality and designation.
Quan Yin, A. (1997). The Pleiadian Tantric Workbook: Awakening Your Divine Ba. Rochester,
Vermont: Bear & Company.
In this delightful book, Amorah Quan Yin details the steps to further healing and clearing, including the use of roses for forgiveness, healing the feminine and masculine split, cellular clearing, and dolphin tantra.
Quan Yin, A. (1996). The Pleiadian Workbook: Awakening Your Divine Ka. Rochester,
Vermont: Bear & Company.
Amorah Quan Yin gives valuable information regarding starting on the spiritual path to knowledge of one’s higher self and soul family in this book. She includes information about clearing, grounding, healing oneself and others via dolphin brain re-patterning, and aligning with oneness, among other things. Included are channeled messages from Ra, the spokesperson for the Pleiadians.
Roman, S. & Packer, D. (1987). Opening to Channel: How to Connect with your Guide. Tiburon,
California: H J Kramer Inc.
Sanaya Roman channels Orin in this book, who gives instructions to the reader as to how to channel. There are meditations and teaching as to channeling one’s higher self and guides/angels, communication with trees and plants, crystals and other entities. It is a must for any spiritual library.
Vora, D. (1999). Health in Your Hands: Acupressure/Reflexology and other Natural Therapies.
India: Navneet Publications (I) Limited.
Devendra Vora’s book is a gift to humanity, as he gives access to information that us much needed, such as control of the elements of the body via use of the pranayama-mudras, which has to do with meditation and breathing techniques, along with numerous other healing methods involving brain bio-electricity, acupressure, reflexology, the basics of Aryuveda, and chromatherapy, which uses the sun as a healing mechanism.
Wild, L. D. (2008). The Runes Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Learning the Wisdom of the
Staves. New York: Metro Books.
Wild’s book gives basic information about the meaning of the traditional Rune world, structure and quests, along with information about each rune, its meaning and various ways to use it in meditation and daily life. It is a valuable book for those who are of any background and wish to learn more about this ancient tradition.
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