Waite, A. E.; Smith, Pamela Colman. The Rider Waite Tarot Deck.  US Games Systems Inc., 1971.  Great deck for beginning Tarot readers.  Many new decks do not follow the same Kabbalah-oriented structure as this deck.  While they may be great as intuitive divining tools, for beginners, this standard deck offers a more structured place to start.

Gray, Eden.  The Complete Guide to the Tarot.  Bantam; New edition, 1982. The best companion to learning the Hermetic and Kabbalic symbolism of Tarot with the Rider-Waite deck.

Jocelyn, John.  Meditations on the Signs of the Zodiac. Steiner Books, 2006.  Uses astrological symbolism to envision a Christ-centered zodiac—one in which each of the signs relate to an aspect of the New Testament.

Three Initiates.  The Kybalion: the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece.  Originally Published 1912; Dodo Press, 2009.  A great overview of Seven Hermetic Principles.  Note:  The entire published Kybalion can be found at http://sacred-texts.com/eso/kyb/index.htm

Hand Clow, Barbara. Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between the Inner and Outer Planets. Llewellyn Publications; 2 Revised edition, 2002.  Chiron, the planetoid between Saturn and Uranus discovered in 1977 and Wounded Healer archetype, is here to help us transition from our Saturnian material-world view and Newtonian physics to Uranian quantum understanding and spirituality that embraces the Christ-center within ourselves and others.  Barbara’s book explains the significance of Chiron generally, as well as its meaning in the signs and houses of our own personal birth charts.  I like Barbara’s integration of Jungian psychology (re: archetypes, self-actualization, Christ-consciousness) in her interpretations.

Alchemy and Personal Transformation:

Tolle, Eckhart.  A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Penguin; Reprint edition, 2008.  One of the best straightforward, non-judgmental tools I’ve found to identify, recognize and deconstruct our own personal egoic impulses.
 

Myss, Caroline.  Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential.  Hay House, 2003. As fun as it was for me to apply some basic astrological/archetypal concepts to my spiritual development, I have to say that this book was a very helpful tool in recognizing and understanding some profound underlying constructs in my personal make up that I would not have seen otherwise.  This was worth the time to explore. 

Hauck, Dennis William.  The Emerald Tablet: Alchemy for Personal Transformation. Penguin Compass, 1999.  I’m still working through this but find the detailed information on alchemy fascinating, along with its useful application for personal transformation.  Create and watch the principles of alchemy unfold in your own life!

Summer Rain, Mary. 20,000 Dreams.  Thunder Bay Press, 2006.  For those who use dream interpretation for personal reflection and analysis, Mary Summer Rain is considered The Source to go to for understanding dream symbolism.  This volume is exhaustive in its scope and clear in its explanations.  A wonderful and useful tool.

Energy Healing Modalities and New Science:

Pearl, Dr. Eric.  The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself.  Hay House, 2003.  Dr. Pearl describes his journey of discovering the energy of The Reconnection (it took over 50 people entering into a trancelike state on his chiropractic table, saying the same exact six phrases, before he accepted that something was “going on”) and how easily accessible it is to all.

Simmons, Robert; Ahsian, Naisha.  The Book of Stones: Who They Are & What They Teach.  North Atlantic Books; Revised edition, 2007.  My favorite volume on stones and crystals, with beautiful photographs (essential when I was “downloading” images of stones I’d never seen in my meditations), scientific properties, metaphysical effects on the physical, emotional and spiritual planes, history, lore and affirmations.  An invaluable resource for anyone working with stones.

Melody.  Love is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals - The Reference Book Describing the Metaphysical Properties of the Mineral Kingdom.  Earth Love Pub House; Updated, 3rd edition (January 1, 1995).  I’d probably agree with the assessment that this is “THE most comprehensive volume addressing the metaphysical properties of the mineral kingdom,” as Melody has included over 900 stones and their variants (e.g., 30 kinds of Agate).  The only drawback for me what that it does not contain photos.  Her newest volume, Love is in the Earth: The Crystal & Mineral Encyclopedia--The LIITE Fantastic, The Last Testament (pub. 2008) does contain photographs, updated information and new minerals but is a bigger investment, costing more and weighing in at 9 ¼ pounds!

McTaggart, Lynne.  The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe.  Harper Paperbacks; Updated edition, 2008.  Lynne, a scientific researcher, looked within the scientific community for the unifying concept of the universe, or Zero Point Field, that reconciles mind with matter, Newtonian with quantum physics and science with religion.  If not strong on actual evidence (many have challenged this book), it’s a great read that provokes an interesting new view of one’s world.

Laszlo, Ervin.  Science and the Akashic Field.  Inner Traditions; 2nd edition, 2007.  Laszlo, a professor of philosophy, systems theory and futures studies is the recipient of four honorary Ph.D.s, many awards and distinctions and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.  “In a visionary way based on profound knowledge of modern science, Laszlo creates a genuine architecture of human and cosmic evolution. He provides the bridge between all the different puzzle-stones of science and unifies them in a most remarkable and bold ‘integral theory of everything.’”  (Fritz-Albert Popp, Ph.D., director of the International Institute of Biophysics and editor of Recent Advances in Biophoton Research)

Spirituality General and Other 

Hoeller, Stephan A.  Jung and the Lost Gospels: Insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library.  Quest Books. 1989.  Gnosis is generally defined as a direct personal knowing of and connection with the Divine.  Using Jung’s depth psychology, Hoeller finds similarities between the documents left by the Essenes and early Gnostics, currently regarded as the pre-cursors and deliverers of respectively, Jesus’ unredacted message.  Jung personally experienced Gnostic material as an unfolding within his own psyche, then was able to obtain Nag Hammadi codices for further study.  Studying Jung, and reading the Sophia myth in this book particularly, was what ultimately led me to begin my search for The Other/The Shadow, and to understand and begin to embrace the Feminine Divine.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo.  Essays and Poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Barnes and Noble Classics. 2004.  Emerson’s Transcendentalist views, so eloquently delivered, parallel our present understanding of Gnosticism.  His writings figured strongly in my own spiritual development, as inspiring as they were at a critical point in my life.  He speaks of the beauty of nature, the innate divinity in humanity and our highest ideals in a way that provokes the songs of angels.  Truly one of this country’s most gifted philosophers, writers and orators.

Boucher, Sandy.  Discovering Kuan Yin: Buddhist Goddess of Compassion.  Beacon Press, 1999.  Kuan Yin’s name means “One who heeds the sorrows of the world”.  She is typically shown sitting on a lotus of enlightenment, pouring compassion from a jar onto human consciousness below.  I came across this book in my explorations of the Feminine Divine.  It contains great material to help us access Her compassion for ourselves, as well as chants, rituals and meditations for devotional practice.  A therapist friend of mine wants to incorporate this book into her children’s religious education classes.  Wonderful material for our planet today.

Webster, Richard.  Spirit Guides & Angel Guardians: Contact Your Invisible Helpers.  Llewellyn Publications, 17^th printing 2007.  If for no other reason than to recognize that at least some of the voices in your head are actually those of Guides and Angels, this book is a must read.  I’d never have thought it even only three years ago; but now, having embraced my guide, my High Self Committee and the legions of other-dimensional beings at work in the service of love and enlightenment, I can only wonder at what took me so long.  We are known and loved by others in ethereal realms.  Accept their love and their guidance in deep appreciation.  This book provides great information on recognizing and working with your own guides and angels.

Shapiro, Robert; Rapkin, Julie. Awakening to the Plant Kingdom.  Cassandra Press, 1991.  Channeled material through professional trance channel Robert Shapiro from plants encouraging us to experience and appreciate the unity and harmony of all of nature, including humankind.  Reading this easily digestible 125-page work was an eye- and heart-opening experience for me that increased my connection with, and confirmed my intuitive gleanings about our plant friends a thousand-fold.  Learn as plants like Bamboo, Corn, Rice and many others share their Universal origins, their distinctive communication styles and special healing properties.  I wish everyone would read this book!