Science demands we look at the world through a rational lens, and religion asks us to rely on faith, but most of us fall somewhere in between. We want to engage with our soul and connect to something larger than ourselves in a way that honors both our head and our heart. With love and compassion for the human journey, Soulwork offers a thoughtful approach to navigating the nebulous world of personal spiritual development. Using plenty of real-life examples, this book can help you;
•Understand the life-changing benefits of doing your Soulwork
•Connect with your own energy and that of the Universe
•Tackle common barriers to working with unseen guidance
•Determine if the Universe is trying to tell you something (vs. just your imagination)
•Find your Soulwork, heal your core wounds, and bring your gifts into the world.
Whether your spirituality is independent of a faith tradition or aligns with a current religious framework, Soulwork presents a process to help you get out of your own way to manifest your most fulfilling and meaningful life.
Assessment:
Idea: The author presents an appealing, broadly applicable esoteric world concept with enough exercises and examples to begin using her ideas, in a loving and relatable style independent of specific religious ideas. Some concepts, like that of Trickster’s influence in our lives, are well worked out, but others--such as how Guides work--are much more vague in their presentation.
Prose: Ideas proceed in an organized fashion from theory to practice, and concepts are explicitly explained and easy to understand. The tone is moderately personal, so that the reader feels smoothly in conversation with the author, and her honesty about her level of authority gives a sense of peer more than guru. Exercises feel a bit bland and could use more appealing formatting.
Originality: This particular formulation of the common concepts of being in relationship with the Universe by getting out of its way and looking for signs in order to heal soul-level wounds feels unique. The strong deep dive into the Trickster concept and its connection to the process of breaking old patterns gives a fresh spin. The author’s clarity in giving credit to her specific influences makes it easy to see where her own experience-based ideas extend from previous work.
Date Submitted: October 04, 2021
Both skeptics and believers will appreciate the clarity of Radcliffe’s writing, as she makes the complexities of spiritualism inviting and even addresses prankish questions like “Why don’t you [manifest] a million dollars?” Whether recounting her painful divorce or career hiccups, she painstakingly outlines how Soulwork has boosted her “resilience for the unexpected events that threaten to upend our lives” and empowered her to discover and resolve the roots of her dilemmas. Radcliffe goes into great detail about her mystical experiences, triggered by fasting, meditation, and “direct sunlight exposure,” but she does so in a relatable way that encourages readers to follow her steps for emotional recovery and manifestation of inner “bliss.”
Despite some dense material and obscure concepts, Radcliffe demystifies spiritual evolution, offering readers advice crafted to end unhealthy patterns and realign their relationship with the Universe. Individualized exercises reinforce her teachings and break down the different stages involved in Soulwork–such as making committed promises to the Universe and using music to sway emotions– to demonstrate the connection between our inner states and outer environments. Above all, Radcliffe insists that the process of spiritual transformation is always ongoing, but “when we’re willing to take on our Soulwork, the Universe is always in our corner.”
Takeaway: An inviting study of spiritual transformation for readers open to conscious effort and mystical experiences.
Great for fans of: Kavitha M. Chinnaiyan’s Shakti Rising, Anodea Judith’s Eastern Body Western Mind, Lyanda Lynn Haupt’s Rooted.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
A Love Reading "Indie Book We Love" (review to be formally published in concert with book's publication on 9/30)
A personal account of the learning, healing and working your way to a more meaningful life, ‘Soulwork’ by Elizabeth Radcliffe contemplates how personal development, whether that’s connected to a faith or religion or not, can help you to get the most out of life.
The book is well-written and broken up into clear and easy to digest sections with exercises and other tools that offer real-world applications to help with your learning. As it mentions in the synopsis, this book allows those who prefer to focus more on the scientific or rational and those who have faith or religion close to their hearts, to learn more about themselves and what they have to offer. Whether you see it as connection with your soul, or perhaps just developing a greater understanding of yourself in order to feel more comfortable in your own skin, this book has plenty to offer.
I liked the personal account of the author’s own Soulwork and development. I found this perspective was an easy way to explore all the teachings of this book without being daunted by them. The writing has a very approachable style and I felt her enthusiasm as I read. A great introduction to meditation, spiritual and personal development.
Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite
Soulwork: Connecting with the Universe and your Spiritual Path to Find your True Purpose in Life, by Elizabeth Radcliffe, is an inspiring and informative self-help book to assist you in developing your spiritual well-being and maximizing your potential. Religion and science often clash on what reality is. Is it something that takes faith to understand or sheer facts? The author thinks the truth is something of both. Most people feel the need to question their existence--who are we, where do we come from, where are we going? For those who believe in the spiritual side of things (or even if you don't), this author can help guide you to a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you through a process she calls Soulwork.
Just like a doctor or therapist asks patients and clients to do exercises and work at home to improve themselves, Radcliffe asks readers to be open-minded and engage in thought patterns that can benefit their mind, body, and especially the soul. The head/heart connection is accurate, and most people would like to have them in a closer relationship. Yes, spiritual wellbeing can be improved upon, and I like how the author explains more. She shows you how with examples, exercises, and prompts for deeper examination. If you've ever felt the need to be more at one with yourself and the spiritual realm or dig deeper into who you are as a person, this guide may be a great and powerful tool. I also like that Radcliffe doesn't ask you to give up your own established beliefs, if you have them, to learn from her book. Some terms may sound new to you: unseen spirit guides, the Universe, energy, Beginner's Mind, Tai Chi fist, Emotional Release, to name a few.
This spiritual journey uses Soulwork to heal old soul wounds and allows your gifts to shine. Soulwork will help remove the barriers that you may have erected. Once these barriers are gone, you can live a fuller life. You'll read how music affects your soul, how your energy is like the sun, and how guardian angels work in your life. My favorite concept is to recognize and embrace "love yous in disguise," which means caring gestures that you may label as a potential negative, like lecturing by parents. And the opposite, "love mes in disguise," which are the times you may act out negatively but are seeking love and validation underneath. You may or may not agree with every point in the book, and the author doesn't ask you to. For a fresh perspective on your soul and how to have a stronger relationship with the Universe, consider diving into Soulwork: Connecting with the Universe and your Spiritual Path to Find your True Purpose in Life by Elizabeth Radcliffe.
