The cultural shifts of the 1960s and ’70s raised interest in books that speak to the intersection of mind, body, and spirit to a new level, and those books now form a capacious category that includes topics such as occult and esoterica, meditation and mindfulness, alternative health, and yoga. And if the books look familiar, there’s a reason for that, according to Michael Kerber, president of Red Wheel/Weiser. “There is always nothing new in New Age,” he says, using the older term for the category. “Over half of the BookScan New Age bestseller list is made up of titles published more than five years ago, and 14 of the 40 authors on the list had books—in some cases the same book—on the list 10 years ago. To me that means they are topics that resonate across generations and can’t be dismissed as fringe or even counterculture.”

The classics are important, but finding new voices to tackle evergreen subjects in relevant ways is crucial, says Joel Fotinos, publisher of Penguin Random’s TarcherPerigee imprint: “While the MBS topics tend to be timeless, it is the voices who teach or write within those areas that make the ideas new and fresh—writers and teachers who take the classic ideas and reframe them for our new generation.”

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Weiser Books—launched in 1957 by Samuel Weiser from his venerable occult/esoterica bookstore in New York City—was a pioneer in MBS. Red Wheel acquired the press in 2000, and, to mark Weiser’s 60th anniversary, this September RedWheel/Weiser is publishing a facsimile hardcover of its 1969 edition of Aleister Crowley’s occult classic The Book of Thoth, still one of the publisher’s top-selling titles.

At the core of RWW’s publishing program are books on divination—using ancient methods to predict the future—and among RWW’s forthcoming titles is The Lunar Gospel: The Complete Guide to Your Astrological Moon by Cal Garrison (Apr. 2018). Palmistry, another ancient divination method, is represented by Talk to the Hand: An Insider’s Guide to Palmistry by Vernon Mahabal (2018); the publisher calls it a reference and resource guide.

Llewellyn also has a number of titles on divination, including books like Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Divination: Your Definitive Source for Learning Predictive & Prophetic Techniques (Dec.). Author Richard Webster surveys various methods of divination across cultures and over time—not only astrology and palmistry, but also numerology, pendulums, runes, and Tarot (see sidebar).

Llewellyn has several new books on using dreams to predict the future and gain self-awareness, including Llewellyn’s Little Book of Dreams by Michael Lennox (Sept.) and The Awakened Dreamer: How to Remember & Interpret Your Dreams by Kala Ambrose (Llewellyn, Dec.). Other titles on the subject are Mysterious Realities: A Dream Archeologist’s Tales from the Imaginal Realm by Robert Moss (New World Library, June 2018) and The Transformational Power of Dreaming: Discovering the Wishes of the Soul by Stephen Larsen and Tom Verner (Inner Traditions, Aug.).

People have long sought guidance through spiritualism—belief systems centering around communing with the dead—and Messages from a Wonderful Afterlife: Signs Loved Ones Send from Beyond (Llewellyn, Aug.) by psychic medium Kristy Robinett tells stories of those who have received messages from the other side. From RWW’s Hampton Roads imprint comes The After Death Chronicles: True Stories of Comfort, Guidance, and Wisdom from Beyond the Veil (Oct.), in which author Annie Mattingley writes about being contacted by her dead daughter. She discovered that many others have had similar experiences; the book includes more than 80 accounts of people who have received messages from deceased loved ones.

A pair of titles aim to help readers tap into their own psychic abilities. In Real Magic (Harmony, Apr. 2018), Dean Radin—scientist and bestselling author of The Conscious Universe—provides attention-training exercises to develop the focus necessary to see the unseen. Angels as unseen spiritual guides and helpers are a common subject in MBS, and in March 2018 Sterling adds to that canon with Little Bit of Angels by Elaine Clayton, a how-to on asking angelic guides for wisdom and intervention.

Practicing older forms of magic to meet modern needs is another favorite topic in the MBS category. Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, and Norse Magic by Diana L. Paxson (RWW, Sept.) should get a bump from current interest in all things Viking, according to Kerber. Also from RWW is Old Style Conjure: Hoodoo, Rootwork, and Folk Magic by Starr Casas (Sept.), which looks at the forms of magic that grew out of slave culture and offers rituals, spells, and home recipes. Llewellyn has The Magickal Family: Pagan Living in Harmony with Nature by Monica Crosson (Llewellyn, Oct.), a guide for families who want to practice magic and need tips, ideas, and kid-friendly projects.

Two other books look at the cultural impact of practicing magic. Occulture: The Unseen Forces That Drive Culture Forward by Carl Abrahamsson, with foreword by Gary Lachman (Inner Traditions, Mar. 2018), explores the cultural role played by magic and occultism. In Dark Star Rising: Magick and Power in the Age of Trump (TarcherPerigee, May 2018), Gary Lachman writes that esoteric practices and magic are enjoying a revival among “alt-right” nationalists and pose dangers to society. (A founding member of the rock group Blondie, Lachman was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.)

Some MBS readers find alternative explanations for the origins of the Earth more compelling than those of contemporary history and science. Inner Traditions publishes many books on the subject, including Cosmic Womb: The Seeding of Planet Earth by Chandra Wickramasinghe and Robert Bauval (Dec.), which expands on astronomer Fred Hoyle’s theory that comets brought the building blocks of life to Earth. Ervin Laszlo, another scientist, speculates about origins in The Intelligence of the Cosmos: Why Are We Here? New Answers from the Frontiers of Science (Inner Traditions, Oct.; with a foreword by Jane Goodall). Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Laszlo argues for a new paradigm in science recognizing that the world is an interconnected, coherent whole that was formed by cosmic intelligence.

Fifty years ago, in Chariots of the Gods, Erich von Däniken presented the ancient astronauts theory of human origins—that Earth was visited and civilized by extraterrestrials, who prehistoric peoples called “gods.” The theory stirred controversy and the book, originally published by Putnam, has sold more than 30 million copies to date. Von Däniken’s newest, The Gods Never Left Us (New Page, Nov.), expands on that theory and contends that recent advancements in biotechnology, astrophysics, and artificial intelligence support his original claim. Berkley will publish a mass market edition of Chariots of the Gods in 2018.

Enlightened Healing

New World Library celebrates its 40th anniversary this September, and associate publisher Munro Magruder agrees that, when it comes to MBS books, “the old is always becoming new again.” He points to The Luminous Life: How the Science of Light Unblocks the Art of Living by Jacob Israel Liberman (New World Library, Feb. 2018), whose first book, Light: Medicine of the Future (Inner Traditions) was a seminal work in the early ’90s; Magruder says there is renewed interest in light therapy.

Inner Traditions weighs in on the subject with Light Therapies: A Complete Guide to the Healing Power of Light by Anadi Martel (May 2018), with a foreword by Jacob Liberman. Martel—a physicist and electronics designer who has consulted for Imax, Cirque du Soleil, and the Metropolitan Opera—explores the historic, scientific, and spiritual aspects of light and its role in energy medicine.

On a related topic is Energetic First Aid: Healing is in Your Hands by Cristina Smith (Sudoku Wisdom, Mar. 2018), which urges readers to find their own healing power through 10 energy medicine techniques.

New World Library’s 7 Days to Chakra Healing: Harness Your Energy for Health, Peace, and Bliss by Michelle Fondin (Apr. 2018) aims to teach readers how to read chakras, the energy centers of the body in ayurvedic medicine. Auras—the energy fields surrounding people, animals, and places—also can be read for insights and healing, as Cassandra Eason describes in Little Bit of Auras (Sterling, May 2018).

Crystals are in the healing toolbox too, with books such as Crystal Magic: Mineral Wisdom for Pagans & Wiccas by Sandra Kynes (Llewellyn, Oct.) and Crystal Healing for the Heart: Gemstone Therapy for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being by Nicholas Pearson (Inner Traditions, Sept.) teaching readers how to use them.

Body and Soul

Alternative health is the largest subcategory in MBS, with each season bringing an array of books addressing practices intended to foster both physical and emotional well-being. Perhaps the most familiar of these practices is yoga, and in Yoga Mind (North Star Way, Feb. 2018) Suzan Colon offers not just a series of poses but a way to use yoga spiritually, as a philosophy as well as a physical discipline. Yoga Rising: 30 Empowering Stories from Yoga Renegades for Every Body by Melanie Klein (Llewellyn, Jan. 2018) collects personal essays by participants in the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, an organization that urges using yoga to build community and change destructive attitudes toward the body. Kabalah Yoga: Embodying the Hidden Power of the Sacred Hebrew Letters by Audi Gozlan (New Harbinger, Jan. 2018) fuses yoga practice with the Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah. Also from New Harbinger is The Yoga-CBT Workbook for Anxiety: Total Relief for Mind and Body by Julie Greiner-Ferris and Manjit Kaur Khalsa (Sept.), which combines kundalini yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy as an anti-anxiety strategy.

Other body-centered practices include The Thompson Method of Bodywork: Structural Alignment, Core Strength, and Emotional Release (Healing Arts, Jan. 2018). Mother-daughter authors Cathy Thompson and Tara Thompson Lewis drew on Zen shiatsu, Rolfing, yoga, and gestalt psychotherapy to develop the method, which addresses physical pain that emotional factors worsen. Emily A. Francis writes that muscles are the repository of emotions, and in The Body Heals Itself: How Deeper Awareness of Your Muscles and Their Emotional Connection Can Help You Heal (Llewellyn, Dec.), she asserts it is possible to tap the body’s healing power by understanding the mind-body connection and activating muscles on an emotional level.

Self-Discovery and Relationships

Most of us struggle with relationships from time to time, and a number of books approach healing through an interpersonal lens. In Undivided Love: A Guide to Awakened Relating (New Harbinger, July 2018), Lynn Marie Lumiere, a clinical psychotherapist who incorporates spiritual wisdom in the practice of psychotherapy, aims to help readers deal with the frustration, conflict, and disappointment that come with being close to another person through a process that she calls “awakened relating.”

The theme of compassion runs through books such as Deep Listening: A Healing Practice to Calm Your Body, Clear Your Mind, and Open Your Heart by Jillian Pranksy (Rodale, Oct.)—which promotes mindfulness, deep relaxation, and compassionate listening as ways to health and happiness—and The Echo Of Kindness by Kelli Harding (North Star Way, Aug. 2018).

It is said that loving others is impossible without self-love, and The Self-Love Experiment: 15 Principles for Becoming More Kind, Compassionate, and Accepting of Yourself by Shannon Kaiser (TarcherPerigee, Aug.) tackles the belief that sacrificing to put others first is the more spiritual way and pursuing one’s own dreams is selfish. Kaiser takes readers through her own personal experiment in removing fear and guilt to love oneself and others more fully. Freedom from Self-Defeating Thoughts: The Sacred Return to Presence by Gail Brenner (New Harbinger, June 2018) addresses the damage done by beliefs that we are inadequate and alone. Brenner, a psychologist, offers four guiding principles and five core practices based in spiritual wisdom to help readers correct false beliefs and find acceptance and peace.

TarcherPerigee has three other books that focus on fear and how to use it for personal growth. My Friend Fear (Jan. 2018) is by author and illustrator Meera Lee Patel, who writes that fear brings opportunities for change and self-discovery. Thriving Through Uncertainty: Moving Beyond the Fear of the Unknown and Making Change Work for You by Tama Kieves (Jan. 2018) offers a similar message—that uncertainty and change reveal ways to overcome obstacles and move forward. Meditation teacher Dean Sluyter urges readers to Fear Less: Living Beyond Fear, Anger, and Addictions with Natural Meditation by (Mar. 2018) through meditation practice. Nic Higham also deals with fear in Living the Life That You Are: Finding Wholeness When You Feel Lost, Isolated, and Afraid (New Harbinger, July 2018).

Perhaps the greatest of all fears is dealt with in How to Get to Heaven (Without Really Dying): Wisdom from a Near Death Survivor by Robert Kopecky (Llewellyn, Mar. 2018), who survived three near-death experiences and came back with the essential lesson that you don’t have to die to go to heaven—heaven can be found in life by learning to make choices that lead to joy and fulfillment and by cultivating perspective, presence, and purpose.

Neurosurgeon Eben Alexander wrote about his own near-death experience in two bestselling books, Proof of Heaven and The Map of Heaven. In his new book, Living in a Mindful Universe: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Heart of Consciousness (Rodale, Oct.), Alexander and his coauthor, Karen Newell, also write that it isn’t necessary to have a near-death experience to find a higher consciousness and connect with the divine.

Demonstrating the breadth of MBS, simple living books have been a focus for publishers like TarcherPerigee since long before Marie Kondo tidied up. In Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Much More (TarcherPerigee, Dec.) Courtney Carver promotes minimalism as a path to mental and spiritual health. Two Christian publishers also have books on the subject, with Everyday Natural: Living a Pure and Simple Life is Not as Complicated as You Think by Jacqueline Ritz (Charisma, Sept.) and The Healthy Living Handbook: Simple, Everyday Habits for Your Body, Mind and Spirit (Chosen, Dec.).

Meditation and Mindfulness

There are always a plethora of books on meditation and mindfulness. One forthcoming book covers a form of meditation that arose in the 1960s and still claims many enthusiastic practitioners: Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation by Bob Roth (S&S, Feb. 2018) has been blurbed by such TM acolytes as Mario Batali, Lena Dunham, Arianna Huffington, and Oprah Winfrey. Books on other forms of meditation include The Heartfulness Way: Relaxation, Meditation, and Connection on the Path to Spiritual Transformation by Kamlesh D. Patel (aka Daaji) and Joshua Pollock (New Harbinger, May 2018) and The Wheel of Awareness by professor of psychiatry Daniel J. Siegel (TarcherPerigee, Aug. 2018), who has developed a practice called Mindsight that combines meditation with insights from science and medicine.

Although some publishers say the topic of mindfulness is on the verge of being overpublished, there are still plenty of books on the subject. A seminal author on the topic is Jon Kabat-Zinn, whose 2005 classic Coming to Our Senses is being repackaged by Hachette as four shorter books in Mindfulness (Volumes 1–4) for release in March 2018. New and forthcoming books include one that crosses categories: A Still Quiet Place for Athletes: Mindfulness Skills for Achieving Peak Performance and Finding Flow in Sports and Life by Amy Saltzman (New Harbinger, Mar. 2018) offers practical skills to help athletes become self-aware and deal with injuries and relationships with teammates and coaches.

Two books discuss mindfulness from a Christian perspective: Right Here Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness by Amy Oden (Abingdon, Aug.) and Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality: Making Space for God by Tim Stead (Westminster John Knox, Aug.).

Teach Me to Live

Many readers of MBS books are looking for guidance from trusted teachers, and such authors are a big part of New Harbinger’s publishing program. Aware of Being Aware (New Harbinger, Oct.) brings to a broader readership the teachings of author Rupert Spira, who is admired by Deepak Chopra. In a blurb, Chopra writes, “I’ve gained deeper understanding listening to Rupert Spira than I have from any other exponent of modern spirituality.” White Fire: Spiritual Insights and Teachings of Advaita Zen Master Mooji (New Harbinger, Aug.) collects the essential teachings of Mooji, whose followers number in the hundreds of thousands. Also by Mooji is The Mala of God (New Harbinger, Aug.), a book of prayers and blessings.

Neale Donald Walsch’s Conversations with God trilogy became a cultural phenomenon when it was originally published in the late 1990s, and The Wisdom of the Universe: Essential Truths from the Beloved Conversations with God Trilogy (coauthored by Sherr Robertson) offers selections from those teachings (TarcherPerigee, Sept.). A Mind at Home with Itself, the latest from popular teacher Byron Katie (with Stephen Mitchell), will be released by HarperOne in September. In March 2018 HarperOne will publish Your Holiness, a recently discovered unpublished work by the spiritual teacher and author Debbie Ford (1955-2013), who wrote of her struggle with cancer.

In Heal Yourself—Heal the World by Deborah King (Beyond Words, Oct.), the spiritual leader and bestselling author of Be Your Own Shaman teaches her LifeForce energy healing method of spiritual and emotional growth. In The Three Questions (HarperElixir, May 2018), Don Miguel Ruiz, author of the bestselling The Four Agreements, adds to his teachings on ancient Toltec wisdom; the book is coauthored by Barbara Emrys. In Unbinding: The Grace Beyond Self (Wisdom, Oct.), Kathleen Dowling Singh (The Grace in Dying) draws on Buddhism to offer aspiring mystics contemplative exercises that are accessible to anyone.

NWL’s Magruder notes that MBS authors have a wider reach than ever: “Today the deliverer of the message is as important as the message, and with social media, webinars, online courses, YouTube channels, e-newsletters, podcasts, and many other ways to reach people, the platforms for these teachers are getting more diverse. It’s an exciting time for MBS publishing, as there are now so many ways to reach people who want and need these ideas.”

There are plenty of books for MBS readers to choose from, but RWW’s Kerber says that, because there are fewer New Age specialty stores and shrinking shelf space in general-interest stores, “the unmet need is on the retail side. Readers of MBS titles today are looking for community and connections, especially in urban environments.” Of the remaining few specialized outlets, he points to stores like Catlands in Brooklyn, Goddess Isis Bookstore outside of Denver, and Mythic Journey in L.A. “These are stores that are serious about connecting with their audience by offering a wide selection of books and by maintaining a robust calendar of events and workshops.” Kerber adds, “I know that a general trade store has limited space for MBS titles, but why can’t they host a Tarot night or goddess workshop once in a while? We would absolutely support that.”

Talk to the Animals

Animals as spiritual guides and companions have long been a favorite subject for New World Library, and this November it will release The Spiritual Nature of Animals: A Country Vet Explores the Wisdom, Compassion, and Souls of Animals by Karlene Stange. Stange writes that her work as a rural vet helped her find her anima, or true inner self in Jungian psychology. She interprets humans’ love for animals through the lenses of spiritual traditions and practices, both Eastern and Western.

All-white animals are sacred to many indigenous cultures, and in White Spirit Animals: Prophets of Change (Inner Traditions, Oct.), J. Zohara Meyerhoff Hieronimus writes about the white spirit animals that are important to various cultures and traditions—white buffalo (North America), white lion, white elephant (both India, Asia), white wolf, and white bear (Canada)—and explains how to use shamanic dreaming and telepathy to communicate with these four-legged spiritual teachers.

In Tails from the Afterlife: Stories of Signs, Messages, and Inspiration from your Animal Companions (Llewellyn, Mar. 2018), Kristy Robinett writes that the unconditional love between people and their pets continues into the afterlife. Robinett describes signs, symbols, and messages sent by animals to their grieving owners.

In Norbert’s Little Lessons for a Big Life (North Star Way, Nov.), Julie Steines tells how her three-pound registered therapy dog has built a global audience of 1.2 million followers who call themselves the Norberthood. For the past seven years, Steines and Norbert have volunteered at hospitals, nursing homes, school fund-raisers, and homeless shelters, bringing the tiny mixed-breed dog’s brand of comfort and encouragement to those who need it.

For a book about a mythical animal, there is The Wisdom of Unicorns by Joules Taylor, illus. by Danielle Noel (Clarkson Potter, Nov.), which offers inspiring quotes, mantras, and illustrations in the style of late ’80s surrealist pop art. Noel writes that the fascination with unicorns reflects a love of the unattainable and alluring.

The Word Search Animal: Yoga for the Brain by Cristina Smith, Rick Smith, and Lauren McCall (Sudoku Wisdom, May 2018) is a title in the Word Search series of puzzle books that provide “a meditation for self-realization,” according to the publisher; once a puzzle is completed, a hidden message is revealed. This volume reveals messages from animals that are relayed through animal communicator Lauren McCall.

The Wisdom of First Peoples

A yearning for lost ways and forgotten wisdom animates readers’ interest in the spirituality of indigenous peoples. Among the books offered by MBS publishers to meet this interest is The Four Sacred Gifts by Anita L. Sanchez (Enliven, Sept.). In her book, Sanchez collects wisdom from indigenous elders worldwide, who pass down four essential tools that modern readers can use to find their true purposes, heal from past trauma, and inspire and lead others. Sanchez is a speaker and consultant who guides seekers into the Amazon rainforest.

The Healing Power of Smudging: Cleansing Rituals to Purify Your Home, Attract Positive Energy and Bring Peace into Your Life by Rodika Tchi (Ulysses, Jan. 2018) features full-color photographs of the Native American practice of burning sage and other herbs as a sacred ritual intended to clear negative energy. Tchi is a feng shui and smudging practitioner based in Vancouver.

Other titles include Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca by Richard Louis Miller (Llewellyn, Nov.). Many indigenous peoples have employed entheogens, mind-altering psychotropics used in religious ceremonies, to achieve higher states of consciousness, a practice being adopted by some modern spiritual seekers. Miller traces the history of scientific research on these substances: he examines research on the indigenous use and therapeutic properties of ayahuasca (which has become trendy in recent years), the use of psilocybin to calm the fears of the terminally ill and dying, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD.

In Indigenous Healing Psychology: Honoring the Wisdom of the First Peoples (Inner Traditions, Dec.), author Richard Katz, a Harvard graduate, shares the psychological and spiritual wisdom of indigenous cultures. As an ethnopsychologist working with indigenous groups—the Ju/’hoansi of the Kalahari Desert, native Fijians, the Lakota people of the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, and Cree and Anishnabe First Nations people from Saskatchewan—Katz observed and participated in the ceremonies and daily practices that reflect their belief in the interconnectedness of all beings.

The author of Spirit Clans: Native Wisdom for Personal Power and Guidance (Hampton Roads, May 2018), David Carson, was raised in Oklahoma’s Indian country and was schooled in shamanic practices by his Choctaw mother and aunts. These indigenous healers believe everything in nature—people, animals, rocks, trees—is alive and has a spirit, and he describes 75 spirit clans—spiritual mothers and fathers and sources of the primordial self—that can be discovered through dreams, visions, and meditation, allowing modern seekers to tap into their elemental power.

It’s in the (Tarot) Cards

What began as a card game in the 15th century has evolved into one of the most popular modes of divination: tarot, which uses a special card deck with symbolic illustrations. Practitioners believe the cards can predict the future and provide insights for those receiving a tarot “reading.” Several MBS publishers offer new and forthcoming book–card deck combinations.

Red Wheel/Weiser

Tarot has historically been an area of emphasis for Red Wheel/Weiser, which is now producing book–card deck packages through its new distribution partnership with Rockpool Publishing in Australia. Upcoming releases include:

Aboriginal Goddess Chakra Oracle by Mel Brown (Sept.) has a deck in which each card features a god, goddess, faery, or angel that connects to one of the seven chakras.

Aboriginal Dreamtime Oracle by Mel Brown (Sept.) is inspired by aboriginal spirituality.

Aboriginal Spirit Oracle by Mel Brown (Sept.) features cards representing the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the soul.

Chakra Reading Cards: Ancient Wisdom to Balance and Heal by Rachelle Charman (Rockpool, dist. by RWW, Sept.) incorporates the seven main chakra systems (energy centers in the body), as well as the soul star and earth star chakras.

Chinese Fortune Reading Cards by Sharina Star (Rockpool, dist. by RWW, Sept.), is based on ancient Chinese teachings and philosophies. Each card features a feng shui tip or a wish for luck in business or other life endeavors.

Cosmic Reading Cards: Activation Cards for the Soul by Nari Anastarsia (Rockpool, dist. by RWW, Sept.) features messages from sages and teachers to foster growth, clarity and direction.

Madame Pamita’s Magical Tarot: Using the Cards to Make Your Dreams Come True by Madame Pamita, illus. by Andi Todaro (Mar. 2018) provides step-by-step instructions for using tarot not only to predict the future, but to create it.

Other Publishers

The Fountain Tarot: Illustrated Deck and Guidebook by Jason Gruhl, Jonathan Saiz, and Andi Todaro (Roost, Oct.), is intended to nurture creativity and aid in self-discovery. (It was originally self-published through a Kickstarter campaign; Roost will release an updated version.)

Kawaii Tarot (Sterling, Mar. 2018), designed and developed by Diana Lopez, is an entry-level deck, guidebook, and app suitable for a broad range of people, including both experienced tarot collectors and beginners.

The Sibyls Oraculum: Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa by Tayannah Lee Mcquillar, illus. by Katelan V. Foisy (Inner Traditions, May 2018), draws on both African and tarot traditions to pay homage to the Libyan Sibyls, African founding mothers of the sibylline oracular traditions, with illustrations reminiscent of first-century Libyan mosaics.

The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook by Kim Krans (HarperElixir, Mar. 2018) is inspired by real and mythical animals and designed for self-discovery; it is packaged in a keepsake box. Krans is author of the bestseller The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook.

More Books on Favorite Mind-Body-Spirit Topics

The Psychic Next Door

Awaken Clairvoyant Energy by Cyndi Dale (Llewellyn, Mar. 2018) is a step-by-step guide to activating innate clairvoyant talents, outlining six clairvoyant styles and providing clear instructions for tapping into energetic abilities to gain personal insights, spiritual revelations, and glimpses into the past or future.

Discovering the Healer Within: Use Chakras and Intuition to Clear Negativity and Release Pain by Anysia Marcell Kiel (Llewellyn, Aug.) familiarizes readers with healing mediums who teach how to alleviate illnesses and ailments through clearing karmic imprints, communicating with loved ones in spirit, aligning with one’s soul path, and other techniques and practices.

Keys to Perception: A Practical Guide to Psychic Development by Ivo Dominguez Jr. (RWW, Sept.) provides methods, rituals, and systems for enhancing psychic abilities, including chanting and working with crystals, chakras, oils, herbs, and potions.

Working Magic

Italian Folk Magic: Rue’s Kitchen Witchery by Mary-Grace Fahrun (RWW, May 2018) is a guide to Italian witchcraft, exploring its magical, folkloric, and healing traditions with an emphasis on the practical.

The Magical Art of Crafting Charm Bags: 100 Mystical Formulas for Success, Love, Wealth, and Well-being by Elhoim Leafar (RWW, Oct.) describes how to make what might be the most popular style of amulet or talisman in the world today, offering more than 100 magical formulas.

Santa Muerte: The History, Rituals, and Magic of Our Lady of the Holy Death by Tracey Rollin (RWW, Oct.) focuses on the female personification of death and matron saint of the marginalized, offering a ritual guide to working with this Mexican folk saint.

Growing the Spirit

Boundless Awareness: A Heart-Centered Approach to Spiritual Awakening by Michael A. Rodriguez (New Harbinger, Apr. 2018) uses principles of nonduality to encourage direct experience of the self to achieve loving, boundless awareness and freedom from suffering.

Five Lessons: A Master Class by Neville (TarcherPerigee, Feb. 2018), with a bonus chapter by Mitch Horowitz, is a new edition of five classic lessons delivered by mystic Neville Goddard (1905–1972), whose esoteric teachings are being rediscovered today.

Shakti Rising: Embracing Shadow and Light on the Goddess Path to Wholeness by Kavitha M. Chinnaiyan (New Harbinger, Oct.) offers insights from the Mahavidyas, the ten wisdom goddesses who represent the interconnected darkness and light within all of us, and how that wisdom can be applied to daily life to foster self-love and acceptance.

Waking Up in 5D: A Practical Guide to Multidimensional Transformation by Maureen J. St. Germain (Inner Traditions, Sept.) focuses on transitioning from the polarized awareness of the Third Dimension to the higher vibrations and abilities of the Fifth Dimension, where all is harmonious, loving, and blissful.

When Spirit Leaps: Understanding and Supporting the Process of Spiritual Awakening by Bonnie L. Greenwell, with a foreword by Adyashanti (New Harbinger, June 2018), explores how spiritual awakening occurs across all traditions, offering companionship and practical solutions to readers’ challenges on their own spiritual paths.

Meditate and Be Mindful

The Art of Stopping Time: Practical Mindfulness for Busy People by Pedram Shojai (Rodale, Oct.) walks readers through a 100-day gong, the Chinese practice of designating an amount of time each day to perform a specific task, which helps train the mind, instill new habits, and transform one’s relationship with time.

Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love by Stephan Bodian (New Harbinger, Sept.) applies familiar mindfulness practices to the quest for spiritual awakening and finding the love, compassion, health, and happiness they seek.

Breathing Love: Meditation in Action by Jennie Lee (Llewellyn, Jan. 2018) explores love through meditation practices, affirmations, and mindful actions to open the heart.

To Your Health

Calm Clarity: How to Use Science to Rewire Your Brain for Greater Health, Happiness, and Productivity by Due Quach (TarcherPerigee, May 2018) draws on the latest scientific research and ancient philosophy to explain how thoughts and feelings are caused by neural networks firing in our brains, and how thought patterns can be broken.

The Heart of Wellness: Bridging Western and Eastern Medicine to Transform Your Relationship with Habits, Lifestyle, and Health by Kavitha Chinnaiyan (Llewellyn, Jan. 2018) shows how Eastern and Western medical practices can work together to maximize health and wellness.

An Herbalist’s Guide to Formulary: The Art and Science of Creating Effective Herbal Remedies by Holly Bellebuono (Llewellyn, Nov.) explores the ancient art of formulary with an award-winning herbalist and instructs on the creation of herbal medicines for acute and chronic conditions.

Total Life Cleanse: A 28-Day Program to Detoxify and Nourish the Body, Mind, and Soul by Jonathan Glass (Healing Arts, Jan. 2018) combines the ancient wisdom of yoga, ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine with naturopathic principles and contemporary nutritional science to alleviate the harmful effects of the modern lifestyle.