A Way Without Words: A Guide for Spiritually Emerging Adults

I read this book in the early 90s when my own "way without words" was emerging. Sinetar's insights and encouragement enabled me to recognize and to honor my own "spiritual intelligence," a process which continues to this day with a blended practice of silence, journaling and creative writing, meditation, yoga, sacred reading and gardening. "Adulthood" and "wholeness" have beome one reality in my life, thanks to this book (and so many others); I definitely recommend it, and the reading of it together with another wise book from Marsha Sinetar: "Ordinary People as Monks and Mystics."

This is a great book, especially for those who are dealing with the inner loneliness that seems to come while walking a spiritual path. It's also about the contradiction of loving where you are on that path even though it's hard. A Way Without Words is a term which refers to the fragility of the spoken language in describing the feelings and issues brought on by befriending your spiritual side, and also the difficulties of sharing these ensuing feelings and new personal realities with other people. Even so, it's not about isolating, but feeling whole within oneself to be a happy and peaceful contributer in the world. The book is intelligent and literate enough to appeal to the head, yet its power lies in the effect it has on the heart part of our consciousness. There is a series of nice journaling or group study exercises in the back.