Fiction & Metaphor

• Michael Ende – The Neverending Story: The power of names, imagination, and processes of self-becoming. Symbolism: Bastian flying on Falkor—courage, trust, and freedom.

• Michael Ende – Momo: Time, attention, and mindfulness. Symbolism: The Hour-Lilies carrying Momo—lightness and the presence of the moment.

• Michael Ende – Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver & Jim Button and the Wild 13: The metamorphosis of the dragon Mrs. Grindtooth into the Golden Dragon of Wisdom.

Psychology & Self-Knowledge

• Stefanie Stahl – The Child in You Must Find a Home: Recognizing old belief systems, developing self-acceptance, and emotional freedom.

• Erika Chopich & Margaret Paul – Healing Your Aloneness: Working with belief systems, inner wounds, and healing the self.

• Jorge Bucay – Let Me Tell You a Story: Stories full of wisdom for reflecting on one’s own life.

• Jorge Bucay – The Three Questions: Existential alignment: Who am I? Where am I going? With whom?

• Connirae Andreas – Coming to Wholeness: Using the Wholeness Work® method for personal transformation. Integration of feelings and acceptance of totality.

• Byron Katie – Loving What Is & I Need Your Love – Is That True?: The four questions for dissolving stressful thoughts (The Work™). Questioning dependencies, gaining inner freedom.

  • Note: The book „Die Sorgenwaschanlage“ (The Worry Carwash) is the literary implementation of this model and its further development, Egolysis™. Available at Amazon, for example.

Body, Nervous System & Integration

• Bessel van der Kolk – The Body Keeps the Score: The storage of trauma within the body structure.

• Stephen W. Porges – The Polyvagal Theory: Regulation of safety and connection through the nervous system.

• B.K.S. Iyengar – Light on Life: Physical discipline as a path to inner wholeness.

• Hofmann / Kamal et al.: Scientific foundations on Compassion Meditation, empathy, and the Default Mode Network (rumination).

Spiritual Paths & Awakening

• Eckhart Tolle – A New Earth: Recognizing and transcending ego structures. Self-knowledge must be rooted in Being.

• Jed McKenna – Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing: Radical self-knowledge and the process of „Autolysis.“

• Jack Kornfield – After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: Integrating spiritual insights into human life.

• Adyashanti – The End of Your World: The dissolution of old worldviews through awakening.

• Shunryu Suzuki – Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: The attitude of „not-knowing“ and radical openness.

• Rick Fields – Chop Wood, Carry Water: Living spirituality in ordinary everyday life.

• Bernadette Roberts – The Experience of No-Self: Experiential reports beyond personal identity.

  • Note: The book „Nirvana. Bitte klingeln.“ (Nirvana. Please ring the bell.) is the literary implementation of integrating spiritual awakening in novel form. Available at Amazon, for example.

Concepts & Deepening

• Belief Systems: There are approximately 10 basic patterns of negative belief systems regarding self-worth. Positive statements can also point to the ego but are usually more finely woven.

• Egolysis™: A personal extension of „The Work™,“ developed to make the ego visible and promote spiritual awakening.

• Dark Night of the Soul: A spiritual maturation process in which old certainties and ego structures are dissolved.

• Spiritual Bypassing (John Welwood): Using spiritual practices to avoid unpleasant feelings or psychological issues.