Maybe it started after a loss. Maybe after becoming a mom and staring at this tiny new person thinking, where did you come from? Or maybe you just picked up Journey of Souls one night and couldn’t stop reading. However you got here, welcome. You’re in very good company.
After our reading list and podcast list, so many of you asked for something deeper: books and shows for when you’re exploring the big questions. Who am I, really? Where do we go? Are the people I’ve lost still with me somehow? What’s the point of all this?
So here it is: thirteen books and five podcasts for the spiritually curious, from Michael Newton’s soul journeys to gentle reads on presence and peace. Each one comes with a note on why we love it, who it’s best for and one small thing to try. We’re not here to tell you what to believe. We’re here to hand you some beautiful places to start, and a few friends to talk them through with.
Why so many of us start asking
Spiritual curiosity rarely shows up on a calm, ordinary Tuesday. For most of us, it arrives in the big moments of life, the ones that crack us open a little.
- Becoming a mother. Holding a newborn can feel like touching something bigger than yourself. Many women say pregnancy and early motherhood made them wonder about souls for the very first time.
- Losing someone. Grief makes the questions urgent. Where did they go? Can they hear me? Will I see them again?
- A divorce or big transition. When the life you planned falls apart, it’s natural to ask what it was all for, and what comes next.
- A health scare. Facing your own mortality, or a loved one’s, has a way of rearranging your priorities fast.
- Midlife, burnout or a quiet sense that something is missing. Sometimes nothing dramatic happens at all. You just start wanting more meaning.
Whatever your reason, there’s nothing silly about it. People have been asking these questions for as long as there have been people. Books and podcasts are simply a modern way of sitting around the fire and talking about them.
And interestingly, researchers have started paying attention too. Columbia University psychologist Lisa Miller, whose book is on this list, has spent much of her career studying how spirituality relates to mental health. Her work suggests that a sense of connection to something larger can be an important part of well-being for many people. It’s not the whole story, and it’s not a replacement for mental health care, but it’s a reminder that your inner life matters.
How we picked
The world of spiritual books is huge and, honestly, a little wild. We kept this list focused on books and shows that:
- Are widely loved and easy to find, on Amazon, at your library or on Spotify.
- Welcome you no matter what you believe, whether you’re religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, agnostic or just curious.
- Leave you feeling more peaceful, not more fearful or confused.
- Don’t require you to buy anything else to get the benefit, like expensive courses or products.
- Fit real life. Most have short chapters or episodes you can enjoy during nap time, on a walk or before bed.
A quick, honest note: many of these books describe experiences that science can’t prove or disprove, like past lives, the afterlife or messages from loved ones. We share them because they’ve brought comfort, meaning and great conversations to so many women, not because we’re claiming they’re literally true. You get to decide what resonates. Taking what helps and leaving the rest is a perfectly good spiritual practice.
Quick picks
- “I loved Journey of Souls. What next?” Destiny of Souls, then Many Lives, Many Masters.
- “I’m grieving and want comfort.” Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson.
- “My mind won’t stop.” The Untethered Soul, and the Michael Singer podcast on walks.
- “I’m so hard on myself.” Radical Acceptance or Dying to Be Me.
- “I want to feel present with my kids.” The Power of Now.
- “I’m a skeptic, but curious.” The Awakened Brain, or On Being.
- “My life just fell apart.” The Seat of the Soul or The Surrender Experiment.
- “I want to start meditating.” Tara Brach’s guided meditations.
Soul journeys and the afterlife
Where Michael Newton fans should start. Books about life between lives, past lives and near-death experiences, told through real people’s stories.
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Journey of Souls
Michael Newton · 1994
The book that started it for so many of us. Michael Newton was a hypnotherapist who said that while guiding clients through regression, some began describing a place between lives: a spirit world with guides, soul groups and a sense of purpose for each life. The book shares those case sessions one by one. Whether you read it as literal truth, a beautiful possibility or a window into the human imagination, it’s impossible to put down.
Best for: Anyone who has ever wondered “why am I here?” and “where did they go?”
Try this: Read one case a night instead of bingeing it. Jot down which ideas feel comforting and which don’t sit right with you.
Find it on Amazon -
Destiny of Souls
Michael Newton · 2000
Newton’s follow-up goes deeper into the same ideas, with more case stories about soul groups, spirit guides, how souls might choose their lives and how loved ones stay connected. If Journey of Souls left you wanting more, this is the natural next step.
Best for: Readers who finished Journey of Souls and immediately wanted the sequel.
Try this: Skip around. It’s organized by theme, so start with the chapter that speaks to your season.
Find it on Amazon -
Many Lives, Many Masters
Brian Weiss · 1988
A traditionally trained psychiatrist describes how a patient under hypnosis began recalling what seemed to be past lives, and how it changed his own beliefs. It reads almost like a memoir, and it’s one of the most beloved books in this whole genre.
Best for: Skeptics who are curious and want a story told by someone who started out skeptical too.
Try this: Notice how the author’s view changes over the book. Ask yourself what would change your mind, in either direction.
Find it on Amazon -
Dying to Be Me
Anita Moorjani · 2012
Anita Moorjani describes a near-death experience during late-stage cancer and what she says she learned on the other side: mostly about fear, self-worth and loving yourself fully. Many women say the message about self-love is what stays with them, more than the experience itself.
Best for: Recovering people-pleasers and anyone who has spent years trying to be “enough.”
Try this: Underline every line about self-worth. Come back to them on hard days.
Find it on Amazon -
Proof of Heaven
Eben Alexander · 2012
A neurosurgeon’s account of a near-death experience during a week-long coma. It became a huge bestseller and also drew real criticism and debate, which makes it a great one to read with a friend and talk through.
Best for: Analytical minds who want to hear from someone with a science background.
Try this: Read a review or two from skeptics afterward. Holding both views at once is part of the fun.
Find it on Amazon
Signs and staying connected to loved ones
For when you’re missing someone and want to believe love doesn’t end. Gentle, comforting reads for grief.
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Signs
Laura Lynne Jackson · 2019
Psychic medium and former teacher Laura Lynne Jackson writes about the idea that loved ones and the universe send us signs: numbers, songs, animals, coincidences that feel too perfect. It’s warm and gentle, and many grieving readers find it deeply comforting.
Best for: Anyone missing someone and looking for a sense that love continues.
Try this: Choose a sign of your own, then simply notice. Write down what you see, without needing it to prove anything.
Pairs with our post on life after loss.
Find it on Amazon -
The Light Between Us
Laura Lynne Jackson · 2015
Her first book, part memoir and part exploration of how she came to believe we’re all connected, in this life and beyond it. Softer and more personal than Signs.
Best for: Readers who loved Signs, or who want to understand the person behind it.
Try this: Pair each chapter with a few minutes of quiet. It’s a slow, reflective read.
Find it on Amazon
Presence, peace and awakening
Less about the afterlife and more about this life: quieting your mind, letting go and coming home to yourself.
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The Untethered Soul
Michael A. Singer · 2007
If Journey of Souls is about where we go, this one is about who we are right now. Singer invites you to notice the voice in your head, and to realize you’re the one listening to it, not the voice itself. Simple, life-changing and very rereadable.
Best for: Overthinkers and anyone who feels stuck in her own head.
Try this: Next time your inner voice starts narrating, just say (silently), “I hear you.” Notice the space that creates.
Find it on Amazon -
The Surrender Experiment
Michael A. Singer · 2015
Singer’s memoir about what happened when he decided to stop forcing his life and say yes to what showed up. It’s a surprisingly gripping story, from a cabin in the woods to running a large company.
Best for: Type-A planners who are tired of white-knuckling everything.
Try this: Pick one small thing this week to stop controlling. See what happens.
Find it on Amazon -
The Power of Now
Eckhart Tolle · 1997
A modern classic about living in the present moment instead of reliving the past or worrying about the future. It can feel dense at first, so read it slowly. A few pages can shift a whole day.
Best for: Worriers and anyone whose mind is always five steps ahead.
Try this: Read one short section, then go on a walk without your phone and practice what it says.
Find it on Amazon -
The Seat of the Soul
Gary Zukav · 1989
A big-picture book about the soul, intention and what Zukav calls “authentic power,” which is power that comes from within rather than from control. Oprah has called it one of her favorite books, and it’s easy to see why.
Best for: Women in a big life transition asking what really matters.
Try this: Before a hard conversation, ask yourself: “What’s my intention here?”
Pairs with our post on starting over.
Find it on Amazon -
Radical Acceptance
Tara Brach · 2003
Psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach blends Buddhist wisdom with Western psychology to help you meet yourself, and your life, with kindness instead of judgment. One of the gentlest books on this list.
Best for: Anyone with a harsh inner critic, especially new moms.
Try this: Try her simple RAIN practice (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) the next time a big feeling shows up.
Pairs with our post on boundaries for new moms.
Find it on Amazon
Where science meets spirit
For the curious skeptic who wants to explore her spiritual side with research in hand.
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The Awakened Brain
Lisa Miller · 2021
Columbia University psychologist Lisa Miller shares her research on spirituality and mental health, along with her own personal story. It’s the perfect book if you want to explore your spiritual side and still keep one foot in science.
Best for: Curious skeptics, science lovers and anyone who wants permission to take her inner life seriously.
Try this: Notice the moments you feel connected to something bigger, like in nature, with your kids or in music. Write them down.
Find it on Amazon
Podcasts for your spiritual walk
Some of these ideas land differently when you hear them out loud, on a quiet walk or in the dark before sleep. These five shows pair beautifully with the books above.
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The Michael Singer Podcast
Podcast · Hosted by Michael A. Singer
The author of The Untethered Soul in his own voice. Short talks on letting go, inner freedom and handling life’s ups and downs, from the publisher Sounds True.
Best for: Readers who loved The Untethered Soul and want more of it on their walks.
Where to start: Pick any episode title that matches your mood. Most are short enough for one walk.
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Tara Brach
Podcast · Hosted by Tara Brach
Weekly talks and guided meditations from the author of Radical Acceptance. Her voice is so calm that the meditations make a lovely wind-down before sleep.
Best for: Anxious minds, harsh inner critics and anyone who wants to start meditating.
Where to start: Start with a guided meditation, not a talk. Fifteen minutes before bed is perfect.
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Oprah’s Super Soul
Podcast · Hosted by Oprah Winfrey
Oprah’s long-running conversations with spiritual teachers, authors and thinkers, including several authors on this list. A huge archive to explore, plus short “Super Soul Sparks” episodes.
Best for: Anyone who wants to sample lots of spiritual voices before choosing a book.
Where to start: Search the archive for an author on this list, like Gary Zukav or Eckhart Tolle.
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On Being with Krista Tippett
Podcast · Hosted by Krista Tippett
Thoughtful, unhurried conversations about the big questions: faith, meaning, science, poetry and how to live. It’s less “woo” and more wonder, and it welcomes every belief (or none).
Best for: Deep thinkers and women who like their spirituality with a side of poetry and science.
Where to start: Pick a guest whose name you recognize, then let the conversation surprise you. Released in seasons, so dig into the archive between them.
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Dear Gabby
Podcast · Hosted by Gabby Bernstein
Also on our podcast list. Gabby’s weekly show mixes real-time coaching, meditations and conversations about trust, fear and manifesting. A lovely bridge between self-help and spirituality.
Best for: Fans of The Universe Has Your Back and anyone new to spiritual listening.
Where to start: Look for an episode with a guided meditation at the end.
A reading and listening path
Not sure where to begin? Here’s a simple path that moves from curious to deep, mixing books and podcasts so it never feels like homework.
- Start with a story. Read Journey of Souls or Many Lives, Many Masters. Stories are the easiest way into big ideas.
- Hear it out loud. Take an Oprah’s Super Soul or On Being episode on a walk to hear different voices and beliefs.
- Bring it into today. Read The Untethered Soul or The Power of Now to turn big questions into daily practice.
- Add a practice. Try one of Tara Brach’s guided meditations a few times a week.
- Balance it with science. Read The Awakened Brain to see what research says about spirituality and well-being.
- Talk about it. Bring your favorite to a circle, walk club or friend. Ideas grow when they’re shared.
There’s no rush. Some women take a year to work through this list. Some read one book and feel complete. Your spiritual life isn’t a race or a reading challenge.
How to explore with an open mind (and your feet on the ground)
Exploring your spiritual side can be beautiful, healing and fun. It can also bring up a lot, especially if you’re grieving or going through something hard. A few things we’ve learned along the way:
If you’re curious about regression or hypnosis
Many readers finish Journey of Souls and want to try a past-life or “life between lives” session themselves. If you do, go in with eyes open. Hypnosis is a real tool used by licensed clinicians for things like stress and habits, but research on memory shows it doesn’t reliably uncover accurate memories. Studies from psychologists who research hypnosis have found it can make people feel more confident in memories that aren’t accurate. That doesn’t mean a session can’t feel meaningful. It just means it’s wise to treat what comes up as something to reflect on, not hard fact.
- Choose a practitioner carefully. Ask about their training, how they work and what a session costs, and read reviews.
- Be wary of pressure. Big package deals, fear-based messages or claims that only they can “fix” you are red flags.
- Regression isn’t therapy. If you’re working through trauma, depression or anxiety, a licensed therapist is the right place to start.
If you’re grieving and drawn to mediums or signs
Wanting to feel close to someone you’ve lost is one of the most human things there is. Books like Signs can be a gentle comfort. If you decide to see a medium, protect your heart and your wallet: set a budget, never feel pressured to book again and walk away from anyone who tells you something frightening or asks for more money to “fix” it. And if grief is making it hard to get through the day, please reach out to a grief counselor or your doctor too. Our post on life after loss has more on finding support.
Notice how it makes you feel
- Good signs: You feel more peaceful, more loving, less afraid and more connected to the people in your life.
- Worth pausing: You feel anxious, obsessed, isolated or like you need to spend more and more to feel okay.
If you’re struggling. Spiritual exploration can bring up big feelings. If you’re feeling hopeless, having thoughts of not wanting to be here or struggling after a loss or a new baby, please talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 anytime to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and new and expecting moms can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262. You don’t have to sort through this alone.
A week of soul journaling
Reading about the big questions is wonderful. Writing about them is where they become yours. Grab a notebook and try one prompt a day for a week. Five minutes is plenty.
- MondayWhat first made you curious about the big questions? When did it start?
- TuesdayWhen have you felt connected to something bigger than yourself? Describe it in detail.
- WednesdayIf your life had a lesson to teach you, what do you think it might be?
- ThursdayWrite a letter to someone you’ve lost, or to a younger version of yourself.
- FridayWhat do you believe right now? What are you still unsure about? Both are okay.
- SaturdayTake a walk without your phone. Afterward, write down anything you noticed.
- SundayWhat’s one small way you want to live more in line with what matters most to you?
Pair the prompts with whatever you’re reading. After a chapter of Journey of Souls, Wednesday’s prompt hits differently. After The Untethered Soul, try Friday’s.
And don’t forget your body. Many spiritual traditions include movement, like walking, yoga or simply breathing outside. A slow walk with one of the podcasts above is a lovely way to let a big idea settle. If you work with one of our coaches, they can help you build those walks into your week, so caring for your body and your inner life go hand in hand.
Start a soul book club
These books are so much better when you can talk about them. A soul book club is a small group of friends who read the same book (or listen to the same episode) and gather to share what came up. No experts, no right answers.
- Gather three to six curious friends. Your walk club, your circle or a few women from your group chat.
- Pick one book or episode. Journey of Souls is a perfect first choice. Everyone has an opinion.
- Set a gentle pace. A few chapters a week, or one episode a week.
- Meet somewhere cozy. A living room, a video call or a slow walk with coffee.
- Agree on one ground rule. Every belief is welcome, including “I don’t know” and “I don’t buy it.”
Questions to get the conversation going
- Which idea comforted you most? Which one made you uncomfortable?
- Did anything change how you think about someone you’ve lost?
- If this book were true, what would you do differently tomorrow?
- And if it isn’t literally true, what can you still take from it?
- What’s one thing you want to remember from this book a year from now?
Your turn
You don’t need all the answers to start asking the questions. Pick one book, one podcast or one journal prompt, and see where it leads you.
Spiritual exploration isn’t about becoming a different person. For most of us, it’s about coming home to who we already are, with a little more peace, a little less fear and a lot more love for the people around us.
What’s on your spiritual reading list? Tell us when you fill out the form, bring it to your circle or recommend it on your next walk. We’ll keep adding community favorites.
And if a book or podcast inspires you to make a change, whether that’s slowing down, moving more, setting a boundary or reconnecting with your people, our coaches and community are here to walk beside you. Read more about how coaching and community work together.
Sources
- The Newton Institute: Michael Newton and Life Between Lives
- Ohio State University via ScienceDaily: Hypnosis may give false confidence in inaccurate memories
- Ohio State University: Despite warnings, people may form false memories during hypnosis
- Kirkus Reviews: The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
- HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
- Spotify: The Michael Singer Podcast
- Spotify: Tara Brach
- Spotify: Oprah’s Super Soul
- Spotify: On Being with Krista Tippett
- Spotify: Dear Gabby
Book and show descriptions are our own summaries. Many describe spiritual beliefs and experiences that science hasn’t proven. This article is for general information and isn’t medical or mental health advice.
- Spirituality
- Journey of Souls
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Tell us a little about where you are right now, and what you’re reading. We’ll reply within two business days with circles, walk clubs and coaching that fit your season.
Questions
Good questions.
What is Journey of Souls about?
Journey of Souls (1994) by hypnotherapist Michael Newton shares case sessions in which clients under hypnosis described a spirit world between lives, including guides, soul groups and life purpose. It’s a spiritual book, not scientific proof.
What should I read after Journey of Souls?
Destiny of Souls, Newton’s follow-up, is the natural next step. Many readers then enjoy Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss and Dying to Be Me by Anita Moorjani.
Are past-life regression memories real?
Research on hypnosis shows it doesn’t reliably recover accurate memories and can make people more confident in memories that aren’t accurate. Many people still find sessions meaningful, so it’s best to treat what comes up as something to reflect on rather than fact.
What are good spiritual podcasts?
Try The Michael Singer Podcast, Tara Brach’s talks and meditations, Oprah’s Super Soul, On Being with Krista Tippett and Dear Gabby with Gabby Bernstein.
What’s a good spiritual book for grief?
Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson is a gentle, comforting read for many grieving people. If grief is making it hard to get through the day, please also reach out to a grief counselor or your doctor.
Is there science behind spirituality and well-being?
Columbia University psychologist Lisa Miller has researched the link between spirituality and mental health, and shares that work in The Awakened Brain (2021). Spirituality can be part of well-being, but it isn’t a replacement for mental health care.
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