| Many people believe that new age books are | | | | esoteric books. The various philosophy books |
| different from spiritual books, even though | | | | available today, which are scriptures handed |
| there are so many books available that are | | | | down over many centuries that are the core |
| described as new age spiritual books. If we | | | | beliefs of the world's many religions, also |
| look at the terms new age and spiritual, we | | | | have strong similarities in the original |
| find similarities, where spiritual refers to | | | | message, although the interpretation of these |
| soul or spirit and new age has been described | | | | books over the ages has led to contrasting |
| as 'of or relating to spiritual and | | | | viewpoints. Considering the strife that such |
| consciousness raising movements'. New age | | | | opposing views of philosophy books over the |
| books encompass health, medicine, philosophy, | | | | ages has caused, perhaps this new age of |
| religion and the occult. And yet, the term | | | | parapsychology, with its metaphysical, |
| new age was only coined in recent decades, | | | | esoteric and spiritual messages and books |
| mainly from the 1970's. So that begs the | | | | will help break down these old belief systems |
| question - is there such a thing as a New | | | | that have divided humanity for so long, |
| Age? Many so-called new age books (and | | | | particularly when unified under the more |
| spiritual books) that have been written over | | | | acceptable catch-phrase of Mind Body Spirit. |
| these past few decades are emphatic that we | | | | The proliferation of self improvement books |
| are indeed in a new age spiritual era that is | | | | alone has brought a spiritual awareness to |
| NEW in every aspect to what has come before. | | | | thousands, if not millions, who seek to grow |
| However, researching older spiritual books | | | | through better knowing themselves. Old |
| and philosophy books shows that humankind has | | | | philosophy books are being rewritten in more |
| passed through eras of high enlightenment | | | | spiritual new age terminology and marketed |
| before - inspirational times of metaphysical | | | | under various terms, not only new age and |
| and spiritual awareness that equals or | | | | spiritual, but also metaphysical books, |
| surpasses our current times. So is this | | | | esoteric books, new age parapsychology, |
| perhaps not a new age as such, but simply a | | | | inspirational books, self improvement and |
| remembering of metaphysical, esoteric, | | | | even philosophy books. An increasing number |
| inspirational parapsychology and spiritual | | | | of these books are being grouped, on websites |
| powers that all of us possess but have | | | | and also in physical bookstores, under the |
| temporarily forgotten. If this be the case, | | | | Mind Body Spirit label. The overriding |
| then perhaps a more apt term would be Mind | | | | influence of these books is inspirational, |
| Body Spirit. Which brings us to another | | | | encouraging readers to delve deeper into |
| so-called new age term ... parapsychology. | | | | themselves to discover their true spiritual |
| New age parapsychology is the study of | | | | nature and it is encouraging to see so many |
| paranormal phenomena and the term | | | | spiritual new age parapsychology (Mind Body |
| parapsychology comes from the Greek para | | | | Spirit) books coming out in increasing |
| 'beside, beyond' and psychology, derived from | | | | numbers each year. Two such books are listed |
| the Greek psyche 'soul, mind'. So, here we | | | | on although many readers place them into |
| are back to the spiritual again or, as | | | | various categories. They are a mixture of |
| mentioned above, Mind Body Spirit. And yet, | | | | metaphysical, spiritual, esoteric and self |
| some people still insist that spiritual | | | | improvement books, even though they are based |
| books, new age books and new age | | | | in a sci-fi theme. Above all, they are |
| parapsychology are totally separate themes. | | | | inspirational, told from the viewpoint of an |
| Perhaps that's why more and more people are | | | | extra-terrestrial race of Beings who are |
| coining the phrase Mind Body Spirit in an | | | | concerned about the direction we are taking. |
| attempt to mold these various terms into a | | | | Regardless of the various viewpoints, they |
| more unified category. If we look more | | | | will easily fall into the more generalized |
| closely at the core messages in the various | | | | Mind Body Spirit category and, overall, the |
| spiritual books, new age books, metaphysical, | | | | feedback from readers has been fantastic, |
| esoteric, parapsychology, philosophy and even | | | | many of them describing the books as |
| self improvement books, we often find | | | | 'inspirational and thought provoking'. As one |
| similarities that are sometimes veiled in | | | | reader wrote ''The story slowly engulfed me, |
| different terms that could all be better | | | | drew me in until I was on my own journey. It |
| described as Mind Body Spirit. Yes, even | | | | opened my mind, enticing me to read more. I |
| philosophy books, which are essentially the | | | | ask, is this just a novel or a key to our |
| belief or system of beliefs accepted as an | | | | future...?' |
| authoritative account by a group or | | | | |
| philosophy school, have similarities to each | | | | With the same birthday as Mark Twain, |
| other and also to the more recent spiritual | | | | Gau-Ghan's stories will entertain & |
| new age parapsychology and metaphysical | | | | enlighten. |