YOUR SOUL'S COMPASS: WHAT IS SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

By Joan Borysenko

Book Overview

Drawing on spiritual wisdom from sacred texts across a variety of religious traditions, this is an "elegant, simple, and practical guide to get in touch with your higher self" (Deepak Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success)

Why am I here? What does a life worth living look like? What is the higher intelligence trying to express through me?

In this time of global change and uncertainty, of spiritual indirection, Americans are asking these age-old questions with renewed curiosity. There's a thirst for meaning and purpose--a dawning realization that happiness isn't a commodity that can be bought with a gold card. Fulfillment and joy arise naturally from creative and compassionate action--from the understanding that all life is interconnected and guided by a higher intelligence. Our personal choices make a difference, and when they are spiritually inspired even the smallest action serves a larger whole.

Sacred texts ranging from the Torah to the New Testament, the Tao Te Ching to the Buddhist scriptures, the Vedantas to the Koran, speak of making life-enhancing choices where a force greater than the individual flows through us and informs our thoughts and actions. In this book we'll focus on the three classic aspects of living such a spiritually guided life: (1) alignment: maintaining a direct and personal connection to the Source of our Being; (2) discernment: distinguishing the movement of Spirit in our lives from our own wants, fears and social conditioning; and (3) action: making our best, most inspired contribution to the evolution of life.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401907776
• ISBN13: 9781401907778
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Hay House
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A Divine Guide

For more than 20 years, I have been greatly intrigued by the concept of divine guidance, and how spiritual discernment can help us live more effortless and fulfilling lives. This book, "Your Soul's Compass," is a great expansion on the principles that I teach in my own book on this topic. Tuning into divine wisdom is a very subtle art, and "Your Soul's Compass" presents an extremely thorough study of this subject by calling on the expertise of spiritual sages around the world, from Buddhists and Quakers to Jewish mystics and Sufis. I highly recommend this thoughtful work. Steven Lane Taylor, author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide For Living Life In The Divine Flow

Excellent resource if you want to change directions

Your Soul's Compass is one of those rare books that causes one to think. Unlike some many self-help books that say you can can change your life in so many steps, Joan and Gordon use an informal group of Sages across many traditions as a sounding board. The result is a solid cross cultural understanding of finding ones soul. The Sages, Joan, and Gordon, provide practical time tested ideas for finding spiritual guidance which will result in positive changes in your life. I have read many books on soul work but this is by far the most accessible in terms of language and substance. Still do not skim or try to read this book in one setting. Read and pause between chapters even paragraphs. This book has kept me thinking for a few weeks. As a former pastor I encourage anyone who is seeking to connect to God but uncomfortable with traditional expressions of religion to buy Your Soul's Compass. Frank The Soulcoach

A Masterpiece!

WOW! This is the best spiritually oriented book I have ever read. For the spiritual seeker, its like being led to a banquet overflowing with gems from prominent religious figures, sages, and mystics. You are never told what you should believe (unlike many books of this nature), but instead are invited to partake of what resonates with you. The authors bypass the superficialities of the different faiths and focus instead on the core belief of all religions. The result is an interfaith dialogue that should be read by all religious leaders who claim a monopoly on the truth.

LIFE'S ANSWERS

This book provides the spiritual answers many search for but never find. The book doesn't hammer you over the head with these answers, it rather gently leads you to them. This book changed my life by injecting a strong dose of spirituality into it. It slowly leads you into a place of serene calmness, relaxation, well being and supreme confidence. By the time you're finished with this book you will feel a compassionate kindness for the world and a calm acceptance of who you are. I probably got more out of this book than any book I've read in the past five years. "Your Soul's Compass" was the most spiritual of the books I've read in a while. I also recently finished the FUNNIEST book I've read in years. "Race You To The Fountain of Youth", which simultaneously made me shriek with laughter while infusing me with the deeper meaning of accepting who I am. Race You to the Fountain of Youth: I'm Not Dead Yet (But parts of me are going fast) "Your Soul's Compass" is a must read for those seeking spiritual fulfillment.

In the company of the Sages

If you have ever asked yourself the title question - "What is Spiritual Guidance?" (Or some variation thereof) I don't believe there is anywhere else that you will find so diverse yet concise an answer; and not just one answer! Borysenko and Dveirin have compiled the answers, from a host of today's foremost spiritual leaders, to twelve pointed questions about the nature of guidance and how we choose to participate with guidance as a compass for our lives. Leaders speaking from a wide variety of wisdom traditions give the reader in-depth look at how they view their relationships with Spirit. The reader feels as if she has been sitting at the feet of the teachers and learning directly from their experiences. Such wisdom imparted is wisdom gained! As a Spiritual Director, my first thought in the opening chapters of this book was "What an amazing gift!" I am feeling this way still. I'm thrilled at the idea of passing on the book to many people. Just as so many of us have - friends, colleagues, directees and potential directees struggle with the concept of Spiritual Guidance. While I can certainly speak from my own experience and while there are many aids and resources that I can direct them to, none present so broad a scope as this amazing book; an encapsulation that gives the seeker a firm foundation. The authors take this question to an even deeper level speaking from their own experiential learnings as well as from those of the sages interviewed. The title might more aptly ask "What is PERSONAL Spiritual Guidance?" A question, I believe, that is being asked by so many today as we, collectively, seek communion with the Source of our Being in a time of global uncertainty. "Whether you view God or consiousness as personal or impersonal......guidance itself is intensely personal." (Page 26) As a Spiritual seeker I have found in this book a mainstay of the very grounding that my own formation process was steeped in, much from which my own learning came. Much that is extremely worthwhile, in my opinion, to get into the hands of anyone sitting with questions regarding their own relationship with guidance! As Reverend Dr. Ruth Ragovin has said in her praise for the book - "It makes a significant contribution by launching the first real interfaith dialogue on identifying what spiritual guidance is and perceiving the potential it has in helping the world in its evolution toward greater compassion." I certainly could not put this any more eloquently, nor could I agree any more that it is exactly the wisdom needed for today's world!