A Nourished Life: Essential Reads to Deepen Mind, Body, and Spirit
Nourishment is more than just food; it is the careful tending of body, mind, and spirit. While daily habits ~ mindful eating, reflection, and connection ~ play a vital role, books can offer additional guidance, inspiration, and practical tools for cultivating a deeply nourished life. Whether you are seeking spiritual growth, emotional resilience, or a greater sense of well-being, the following resources provide rich insight into how we can nourish ourselves holistically.
Soul Feast by Marjorie J. Thompson
This book explores the many ways spiritual practices nourish the soul. Thompson blends theological insight with practical guidance, helping readers recognize how daily actions, relationships, and intentional pauses can sustain their inner life. Soul Feast is ideal for anyone looking to connect ordinary habits ~ like meals, rest, and reflection ~ with spiritual well-being.
First released in 1995, this spiritual classic continues to be a best-seller, as thousands each year accept Marjorie Thompson's invitation to the Christian spiritual life.
Offering a framework for understanding the spiritual disciplines and instruction for developing and nurturing those practices, Soul Feast continues to be a favorite for individual reflection and group study. Many new additions, including a new chapter on keeping the Sabbath, make this newly revised edition of Soul Feast a must-have.
Why it matters: It reminds us that nourishment is holistic, involving body, mind, and spirit in equal measure, and that spiritual resilience grows from everyday practices.
Landmarks: An Ignatian Journey by Margaret Silf
A book of Landmarks for the heart's journey
Contains exercises and suggestions for prayer and reflection for groups and individuals
'Margaret Silf is one of the most talented spiritual writers, and her Landmarks will become a classic.' - Margaret Hebblethwaite
Landmarks help us to find ourselves when we think we are lost. When we don't know where to begin, they give us a starting point. When we think we know where we are, they give us the confidence to keep going.
And if we think we have arrived, they remind us that there is always something more, somewhere beyond ... This is a book of Landmarks for the heart's journey.
Written out of the author's own prayer and lived experience, and inspired by her practical explorations of the insights of St Ignatius Loyola, it opens up questions which concern us all: -
How can we recognize God's ceaseless action in our lives and begin to discern his will? -
What does 'fallenness' mean for us today? -
How can we live true to ourselves and make decisions in freedom?
How do we penetrate our deepest desires and become free of the lesser attachments that obstruct them?
Big questions - but as Margaret Silf shows, there are clues to be discovered in every moment and situation: at home, at work, in the garden, in the market, in the bath! Landmarks will help us discover and deepen our individual journeys. Written for both groups and individuals, it is illustrated with drawings and diagrams, and contains exercises and suggestions for prayer and reflection. Be warned, however. Landmarks are not for armchair pilgrims. They are for People of the Way.
Why it matters: Landmarks encourages reflection on how ordinary moments ~ conversations, meals, nature, or silence ~ feed the soul and shape our spiritual identity.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery.
The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors.
A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.
Why it matters: Nourishment is not only about sustenance but also about growth, expression, and the freedom to explore one’s inner world.
An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
In this highly acclaimed and lyrical modern classic, bestselling author Barbara Brown Taylor reveals the countless ways we can discover divine depths in the small things we do and see every day. While people will often go to extraordinary lengths in search of a 'spiritual experience', she shows that the stuff of our everyday lives is a holy ground where we can encounter God at every turn. For her, as for Jacob in the Genesis story, even barren, empty deserts can become "the house of God and the gate of heaven", places where a ladder of angels connects heaven to earth and earth to heaven.
An Altar in the World reveals concrete ways to discover the sacred in such ordinary occurrences as hanging out the washing, doing the supermarket shop, feeding an animal, or losing our way. It will transform our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in, and renew our sense of wonder at the extraordinary gift of life.
Why it matters: It expands the concept of nourishment beyond the physical, showing how attentiveness and presence feed the soul.
Bringing It All Together
These books provide both inspiration and practical guidance for anyone looking to nurture the whole self. They remind us that nourishment is not a luxury—it is essential for thriving in mind, body, and spirit. Incorporating their insights can transform daily routines, deepen spiritual practice, and help us find meaning and restoration in ordinary moments.
If you are ready to take your journey further, consider exploring the Habits for the Spirit course, which offers structured guidance for cultivating nourishment, or join The Deeper Well, a membership that combines practices, community support, and resources to sustain a fully nourished life.
Note: The links provided are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. It’s a simple way to support this work while discovering resources that truly nurture the spirit.