Novels with spiritual themes that inspire us are golden. After reading “Love Eternal… One More Time”, try these great reads, leading us to a “Magenta Nation” by increasing our individual mindfulness:

1. Anything by or about Edgar Cayce, a simple, deeply spiritual family man who was able to channel thousands of readings for people seeking help with their health, family life, and life purpose. Especially insightful are Sidney Kirkpatrick’s biography “Edgar Cayce: An American Prophet” and “Contemporary Cayce” by Kevin Todeshi. The “Search for God” study group program supports individual groups across the world seeking to grow spiritually. For more information on Edgar Cayce, see the A.R.E’s website.
2. “Tryst”, by Elswyth Thane. A wonderful story I read as a child about a young woman in pre-World War II England who doesn’t quite fit in. Living in a ramshackle old English house (aren’t they all?) she is strangely attracted to the room where one of the sons of the house had lived. Then the news arrives that he has died. They’ve never met, but can they be soulmates?
3. “Green Darkness”, by Anya Seton. One of the first novels I ever read about reincarnation. Two young lovers struggle to work out their relationships amid the growing understanding of a past life together.
4. Books by Gary Tillery—I found these books through my alumnae magazine; turns out the author and I went to the same university. He’s written three fascinating books on the spiritual life of rock stars – John Lennon (“The Cynical Idealist: A Spiritual Biography of John Lennon”), George Harrison (“Working Class Mystic: A Spiritual Biography of George Harrison”), and Elvis Presley (The Seeker King: A Spiritual Biography of Elvis Presley”). His research and insights into these charismatic legends add an entirely new dimension to our appreciation of their genius and their characters.
5. “Boo” by Neil Smith. A young shooting victim in the afterlife who must construct the facts about his death. It’s a very realistic – and heart-breaking – depiction of what life as a teenager can be like today.
6. “Born to Live,” by Gladys T. McGarey, M.D. and any books by Dr. Gladys, who was my doctor, my boss and my mentor, one of the most compassionate, skilled and inspiring physicians and human beings ever, and a founder of holistic medicine.
7. “Ghost,” by Bruce Joel Rubin. Ok, so it’s really a movie and a play, but the story is all about spirit and love between life on earth, and life beyond. I also loved Rubin’s “Jacob’s Ladder,” another dramatic story with a metaphysical theme that was a movie with Tim Robbins.
8. “When Dreams May Come,” by Richard Matheson. This novel about a deceased doctor’s attempts to connect with his wife in the afterlife, was made into a lavishly beautiful film with Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding and Audrey Hepburn.
9. Books by Brian Weiss, M.D. who pioneered healing through exploring past lives during hypnosis, and Raymond Moody, M.D. who did the pioneering research on near death research.