cover image Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective & Higher Purpose

Spiritual Rebel: A Positively Addictive Guide to Finding Deeper Perspective & Higher Purpose

Sarah Bowen. Monkfish, $16.95 trade paper (244p) ISBN 978-1-948626-04-0

Bowen (Void Is Detached), a multifaith educator, borrows from many different religions, cultures, and entertainment franchises in this lighthearted program for connecting to the spiritual in everyday life. Asking readers to “rebel” against spiritual strictures, Bowen draws heavily from the lessons of Taoism, Buddhism, and Christianity, but also from Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Matrix in an effort to help readers in “cultivating spiritual moments” through meditation, “amazing” (pausing to relish nature), listening to music, and even yawning. Bowen’s style is breezy and leans lightly on established tradition. She does, however, design specific lessons for some Buddhist practices such as breathwork and loving-kindness. Each exercise finishes with a list of additional resources, such as apps, classes, podcasts, and suggestions for further reading. Though Bowen oversells her rebelliousness in what’s a fairly traditional collection of mindfulness-centered suggestions, readers searching for meaning and connection will find her exercises easy to follow. This is a low-pressure entry point for any spiritual seeker unconcerned about distinctions between religious traditions. [em](June) [/em]