Transformation Soup: Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect

by SARK

The author of Change Your Life Without Getting Out of Bed and the best-selling Succulent Wild Woman presents an offbeat, entertaining guide to the healing process that provides inspirational directions on how to discover true healing along one's personal journey to wellness. Original.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Art, Inspirational, Psychology, Spirituality, Health

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2000

About the author

SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) is an American author and illustrator of self-help books. Five of her sixteen books have been national bestsellers, and she has sold more than two million copies of her books.

Reviews

[Emma M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did provide me with some "A-ha" moments, but overall it just felt so scattered and kind of hard to follow.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it and hated it.

I'm going through a lot of transformation right now, and there were parts of this book that hit all my buttons... parts that were inspiring and uplifting... and parts that just didn't do anything for me.

I'd recommend it, and don't doubt that it was good timing for me to read this, but not my favorite SARK book by a long shot.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is very creative and artistic, and has been through intense therapy due to being molested as a child Yet she has created such a unique style in her books, this is the first of several I intend to read, and so thank my artistic daughter is also reading them and gave me one to start. Each page is a delight with colorful drawings, even the writing is sometimes in color, and by her own printing, not typed or done on keyboard. It is full of thoughts of life, putting yourself first, gratitude, making mistakes and ok to be imperfect, trying new things and ok to be afraid. I found every page was wonderfully written. She also includes stories of people she met who were involved in her healing.

[Diana Lampe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my dear SARK, your books are so lovely and wonder-full! SARK's books are written in a fun, whimsical font that looks like personal handwriting and are full of watercolor painting and drawings made by the author. She allows herself to be wonderfully imperfect, and it is a joy to watch her share that. This book focused on healing, the toll it takes on us, how messy it is, and how freeing it can be when we allow ourselves time and space to heal. Honestly, I think the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 is because it did not wow me as much as her book "Succulent Wild Woman", which is one of my favorite books of all time.

[Keisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, Goodreads, there is 197 pages!!

Next, wow!!! I need these words, stories & secrets from SARK more then I realized.. again.
Now, I may have an addiction, but I'm going to start another SARK book now. ✨️

Healing is a beautiful & scary process and should not be looked at otherwise.

[Eli Poteet · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have read an armload of SARK works, this title just fell into my lap. i think this is less of a self help guide and more like the unedited cliff notes of an artists memoir; unfortunately some aspects didnt age well.

[Zsaffryn Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original and cute, a terrific bowl of healing soup on a rainy day.

[Shannon Schroeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for this first time at 18, and I loved it! Good for the soul stuff.

[Zulmara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformation Soup: Healing for the Splendidly Imperfect

“I am indelibly connected to everyone else.” Sark…what a perfect statement for the healing heart, soul, spirit, and body. We are all connected and we are all in this “transformation soup” together, as imperfect as it may be.

This book is a wonderful book no matter where you are in your life. Healing from a broken relationship, stuck in your art, drifting to no where, having a mid-life crisis, dealing with someone else’s mid-life crisis or enjoying a wonderful love filled relationship, thriving in your art, and getting along with mom. It is filled with truisms, ideas, and ways to pamper your muse, take care of yourself and love yourself, while helping others to love themselves and focus on all that is good/bad in your life. It helps us to hold onto the ambiguities and embrace our paradoxes as being our unique way of living and loving in this world.

We all need to heal and that healing is imperfect, will always be and needs to be. However, in the healing process comes the realization that we are all we need to be, we are all we ever have to be, we are enough as we are…and there is no guilt, no remorse, no unlived experience…there just is who we are. The ideas in the book for healing help to pamper your muse and take care of yourself as well. Be it a night out with the girls, a good book, a box of chocolate and some good wine, a massage, a Pilates class, or a wonderful yoga teacher, we need to care for ourselves, love ourselves, and be ourselves first and foremost…so we can be there for the other loves in our life.

As SARK so aptly puts it, "we are all swirling in the soup together" and that "whatever healing work we each do contributes to the healing of all of us."

[T.H. Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love SARK -- her conversational style of writing is wonderful... like sitting in a coffee shop with a good friend and shooting the bull. Her words are very inspirational and empowering. The first book of hers I read was Succulent Wild Woman and I adored that book -- wanted to sleep with it underneath my pillow every night. So, the bar was set pretty high after that. I enjoyed her Transformation Soup book but not nearly as much as Succulent Wild Woman. She has many books published and I will definitely be reading more of her work. Please do give her a try -- you will not be disappointed. Reading SARK is like getting a big, warm hug from a dear friend. Who can't use more of those?

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sark is a goddess. I've read a bunch of her books, and I enjoy her easygoing, lighthearted, artsy style. I think this is so far my favorite Sark book. This is a good thing for anyone who is going through a stressful or rough patch. It's full of recommendations for other books and services, fleshed out with brief colorful explanations and personal anecdotes, a great place for anyone interested in exploring self healing or inner growth.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glancing at Sark books one day in a bookstore I passed them up judging them and finding the drawings too junvenille. Over a year later I found this in one of my favorite used bookstores and actually took the time to look. It came home with me and it was just what I needed at the time. A great book that introduced me to a fantastic author. I would buy this for any friend going through a hard time with self esteem, abuse, or depression.

[Anne]

I hang out with SARK once in awhile, usually when I'm sick in bed and/or trying to motivate myself to take up journaling again. As with most things, a comment, quote, image that I didn't notice before may speak to me in a new way. She's certainly one of the most visually cheerful self-help writers I've read.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so different than anything I've ever read. This was suggested to me by a freind/co-worker, who received the suggestion from her psychologist. Lots of fun points and exercises. A really uplifting book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, feel good inspirational book. If you've never read Sark I strongly recommend her for any woman in a healing journey. She is full of hope and human-ness. Her books are colorful, artistic, and just plain fun.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read ... I first read it in the summer of 2001.

It's a good reminder to not dwell on things, let them go and move on and experience life.

"If people would tell the truth about what they are truly willing to do, there would be room for all of us to help each other in many more ways." SARK

[Amber]

Every woman should read this book. I am such a big fan of Sark and her ability to buoy others up by sharing her own experiences and feelings so that we realize we truly are all connected. I am terribly grateful to have read her work and hold her close to my heart.

[Kerry Ford Morancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book by SARK rocks!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

SARK has a purple car and a purple cape and purple shoes, which make her the single most magical person I know, besides myself.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read everything you can written by SARK!

[Bette]

this bookstarted me painting my first mural....I then met Sark and had the book signed.She loved the thought I painted because of her book.Still painting today!

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource for self-healing.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading all of these books in college, my junior year and loving them. They are very colorful and uplifting if I remember correctly! Great example of a creative journal. :)

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like SARK because she is to the point, and different from the ordinary.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and inspiring.

[Molly Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sark is good to read over and over...really gets the creative juices flowing. Love everything by her.

[Laura Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give yourself a weekend off and read this book to self heal.

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

SARK is an amazing soul. Get to know her.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites of hers. As there are so many reasons to transform one's life, many did not hit home with me. Still a fun read though.

[Maureen Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the colour, energy, child-likeness, honesty, creativity and inspiration that this book provides!