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The Instruction: Living the Life Your Soul Intended
Have you ever sensed that your life has a deeper, more meaningful purpose—but don't know what it is? If so, you're not alone. To help you and the millions like you, psychic Ainslie MacLeod's spirit guides have given him a systematic approach to uncovering who you really are—and the life your soul has planned for. They call it The Instruction.
Now, for the first time, this unique teaching is offered as a step-by-step program for realizing personal fulfillment. The Instruction will take you through 10 "doorways" to unveil the life plan your soul created before you were even born, including:
Your Soul Age: Determining how it shapes your beliefs and behaviors Your Soul Type: Are you a Hunter? Thinker? Creator? What your Soul Type reveals about your true self Your Powers: Connecting fully and permanently with your spirit guides to create your destiny Your Talents: Using your past lives to enhance the presentBy taking you on a journey beyond this plane, Ainslie MacLeod uses a groundbreaking system to help you unlock the secrets of your soul's purpose, and illuminate the path of your life with The Instruction.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2007
499 people are currently reading
1253 people want to read
About the author
Ainslie MacLeod
17 books55 followersFor over two decades, past-life psychic, spiritual teacher, and author Ainslie MacLeod has helped thousands of old souls discover their life purpose and overcome the fears and blocks keeping them from living it. But Ainslie wasn’t always psychic. A lifelong skeptic, everything changed the day he encountered his deceased uncle in a bookstore in Hawaii. That life-changing experience led him to connect with elevated spirit guides, who revealed his mission: to illuminate the life plan of others and guide them toward meaning and fulfillment.
Since then, Ainslie has written three acclaimed books – The Instruction, The Transformation, and the bestselling Old Soul’s Guidebook – and has been interviewed by Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and other luminaries. Through books, workshops, retreats, and private sessions, he acts as a bridge between this world and the spiritual realm, helping seekers discover who they are, why they’re here, and how to live in alignment with their soul’s purpose.
Since then, Ainslie has written three acclaimed books – The Instruction, The Transformation, and the bestselling Old Soul’s Guidebook – and has been interviewed by Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, and other luminaries. Through books, workshops, retreats, and private sessions, he acts as a bridge between this world and the spiritual realm, helping seekers discover who they are, why they’re here, and how to live in alignment with their soul’s purpose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 29, 2008
I love this book. It speaks directly to the soul's evolution and what to expect at each point in this evolution. It also discusses the different challenges we face, the talents we possess, and the desires we have - what really makes our life our own. I found this book very refreshing and reassuring. A great read for anyone interested in existentialism.
October 7, 2008
this is a neat book. some may find it a bit out there, but I found it informative.
July 19, 2019
To anyone who experienced profound unhappiness in childhood, this book is illuminating. It teaches us why to meet people 'where they are' and reveals to us ideas about the reasons we are here and what we are meant to remember about our true selves. Particularly helpful in learning how to release judgment.
April 7, 2008
The basic claim of this book I think is that many people have lost touch with their Soul, and therefore their life's purpose. Apparently informed by his own spirit guides, the author lays out 10 of everything (is it really that neat?): soul levels (how old or at what stage your soul might be), soul types, missions, etc. I don't take this stuff literally, but it seems valuable in how it can create greater appreciation for what you and everyone else are trying to do here. For example, whereas I might hear "dilletante" as a put-down, more appreciation grows from seeing instead a Soul on a mission of Exploration.
So anything that tends to help you understand other people and yourself better and to increase the potential for coherence and seamlessness in your life strikes me as a worthwhile read.
So anything that tends to help you understand other people and yourself better and to increase the potential for coherence and seamlessness in your life strikes me as a worthwhile read.
April 2, 2013
Unbelievable book! In fact I was so taken with the content that I made an appointment with the author! Don't miss this one if you're interested in what your soul purpose is here in this lifetime.
January 8, 2019
I've been waiting to read this book since it came up in my Amazon recommendations a while back. When I finally got my hands on it, I dove into it pretty quickly. It's a fast read, and provides some new ways of looking at one's life. I have to say, though, that it's not entirely original. Some concepts (especially things like the soul level/age and types/roles) have been explored before in such philosophies as the Michael teachings. However, here the author breaks everything down into easy-to-read sections and offers simple meditations so the reader can get the most out of each step in the Instruction.
I have to say, though, that I found some of the author's views on free will to be somewhat contradictory. He believes that we have free will... and yet, we are supposed to be following our soul's plan. I question how "free" we really are if our life falls apart when we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing. To me, that suggests a fair amount of determinism. He seems to go to great lengths to say that abuse is not chosen... and yet if a soul chooses to be born to a set of parents who have abused all their previous children, it is not choosing abuse on some level? Does the soul expect that they will somehow be spared when the others weren't? I find it difficult to believe that our souls are that naive. Also, the author's views on disability (disabilities from birth are planned, disabilities from accidents -- because accidents are just accidents -- are not planned) contradicts other books I've read on soul challenges and life plans. For all the author's talk of seeing past "the Illusion", I would have expected a little more of that when it came to these issues.
All in all, it's a nice little book that may help you learn more about yourself. And if you can look past the author's contradictory beliefs and seemingly meaningless anecdotes (what does the appendix have to do with anything?), you'll probably get even more out of it.
I have to say, though, that I found some of the author's views on free will to be somewhat contradictory. He believes that we have free will... and yet, we are supposed to be following our soul's plan. I question how "free" we really are if our life falls apart when we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing. To me, that suggests a fair amount of determinism. He seems to go to great lengths to say that abuse is not chosen... and yet if a soul chooses to be born to a set of parents who have abused all their previous children, it is not choosing abuse on some level? Does the soul expect that they will somehow be spared when the others weren't? I find it difficult to believe that our souls are that naive. Also, the author's views on disability (disabilities from birth are planned, disabilities from accidents -- because accidents are just accidents -- are not planned) contradicts other books I've read on soul challenges and life plans. For all the author's talk of seeing past "the Illusion", I would have expected a little more of that when it came to these issues.
All in all, it's a nice little book that may help you learn more about yourself. And if you can look past the author's contradictory beliefs and seemingly meaningless anecdotes (what does the appendix have to do with anything?), you'll probably get even more out of it.
April 19, 2019
This book explores themes that are a bit otherworldly and perhaps unbelieveable for some. However, I feel this book is well-suited for those deeply introspective, intuitive, or spirtual. I really opened myself to the content and spent considerable time reflecting on all the topics as they pertain to me and others I know. I found the experience deeply insightful and gratifying.
February 18, 2009
my friend said this guy sounded crazy. i think most people are crazy.
August 1, 2018
Got tired of it half way through.
Read
September 8, 2020<3 love love love <3 my soul needed this <3
June 7, 2012
I was hoping for more of a philosophical discussion of souls and reincarnation. Instead, this book is what is says it is: an instruction on "how to creat a happier and more purposeful life by finding out who you are and why you're here."
I don't care why I'm here and I can't imagine being happier or more purposeful. If you enjoy the self-help genre, this would be a good book. If you could benefit by rebalancing your life, this would be a good book to read and think about.
A basic premise in this book is distrubing to me: by exploring and understanding the "soul world" we can find the answers to all of life's mysteries and thereby enhance our experience of life. I'm really not so sure I want to answer all of life's mysteries. Those are the cinema of our existence in my opinion.
I don't care why I'm here and I can't imagine being happier or more purposeful. If you enjoy the self-help genre, this would be a good book. If you could benefit by rebalancing your life, this would be a good book to read and think about.
A basic premise in this book is distrubing to me: by exploring and understanding the "soul world" we can find the answers to all of life's mysteries and thereby enhance our experience of life. I'm really not so sure I want to answer all of life's mysteries. Those are the cinema of our existence in my opinion.
December 20, 2008
This book firstly is about reincarnation and I don't believe in that but I listened to an interview with the author and what he was talking about sounded interesting. What happened is he instantly stopped talking about reincarnation and talked about life and who you are and how to correct things in your life.
I think you can improve your life by working with this book chapter by chapter and it will take lots of time. So I read through the book and plan on picking it up later when I have the time or even look at it chapter by chapter and work with it.
I think you can improve your life by working with this book chapter by chapter and it will take lots of time. So I read through the book and plan on picking it up later when I have the time or even look at it chapter by chapter and work with it.
October 2, 2008
This book is intended to help us find who we really are and the life planned for our soul.
This is going to be tough going for me, because I don't think I have reached a level of understanding to make a lot of sense out of it. That's ok because that's another message, but I'm going to try again later. In the author's interview with Oprah, he made it seem very easy and clear and she got it, which gives me hope because we discovered some of the same books 20 years ago.
This is going to be tough going for me, because I don't think I have reached a level of understanding to make a lot of sense out of it. That's ok because that's another message, but I'm going to try again later. In the author's interview with Oprah, he made it seem very easy and clear and she got it, which gives me hope because we discovered some of the same books 20 years ago.
April 25, 2009
Interesting. But the format of lists....& more lists wasn't especially helpful. Gave it the feel of reading a long Wikipedia entry, or an extensive menu in a Mexican restaurant: 10 pages of 'beans, meat, cheese' & 'cheese, beans' & 'meat,beans'.
June 20, 2008
Bad new age stuff.
April 14, 2009
If you're interested in reincarnation, this talks about the ages of spirits and more. FASCINATING! Life-changing.
January 23, 2010
We all know our life is full of challenges, but knowing what those challenges mean to us long term is a gift no one has ever offered before. This is a must read!
February 20, 2023
Some will think this book is out there..and it kind of is but if you read it with an open heart & an open mind you will find it interesting. I loved it.
June 30, 2020
I am a skeptic when it comes to spiritual and supernatural beliefs; however, I struggle with the idea of living in a world that has no magic in it. Serendipity is the smoke bomb of otherworldly fireworks. I've tried reading twice since purchasing it and finally succeeded in finally completing a start-to-finish reading 10 years later. I leave this book without much change in my overall outlook of spirit guides, reincarnation, and any idea of afterlife. Was also hoping that reading something so 'not-my-brand' might provoke some musical creativity for my songwriting and lyrical perspective; but still blocked...
Part of my difficulty with the book was that you had to take the author at his word. That his spirit guides saved him from a potentially tragic end, and lead him to a more rewarding life far from his home. If there is any sort of acknowledgement of balance among good and evil (not necessarily binary, but as a spectrum); what are the odds that spirit guides may consist of the natures of both angels and demons? Why must they always be truthful? Does the soul's mission negate the concept of freewill?
The other element that I struggled with was the idea of everything breaking down into 10's. Have to admit the round number there is emotionally satisfying, but some of these ideas have a little overlap or leave a bit of a gap to hit the mark (the section on phobias comes to mind).
I consider myself fortunate enough to have figured out much of my 'placements' on the various spectrums without having to go through the spirit guide exercises. Not knocking the value of meditation, but almost everybody can get a feel for the criteria that relates to them and the attributes that do not. Though buying into any of it means buying into all of it, in terms of the argument, and it would be equally valid for someone not liking my critique to claim I'm in avoidance of this life's (true) mission; even if I felt different resonances after reviewing the options.
Conservative people will have a far different experience reading this book than progressive people might. Political values have a strong effect on determining one's soul age (level), soul purpose, and soul mission. I liked the semantic play of difficult people with lower soul levels working out remedial issues, rather than calling out beliefs, values, and behaviors that could be considered miserly, bigoted, or just ignorant. I appreciate the attempt to help us consider other factors that might make the individuals. Though everyone is viewing through different lenses...
Overall, I invited some cognitive dissonance into my space with each paragraph read; but have to say I appreciated it. It challenged some of my thoughts and beliefs, and had me trying to understand where this was taking me and why. I do have some reservations about making a general recommendation for the book, unless the reader can maintain a 'When in Rome' kind of attitude, and accept that this is one author's philosophy and method; and functions better as a jumping off point to deeper discussion than as an actual guide to determine and follow your soul's mission.
Part of my difficulty with the book was that you had to take the author at his word. That his spirit guides saved him from a potentially tragic end, and lead him to a more rewarding life far from his home. If there is any sort of acknowledgement of balance among good and evil (not necessarily binary, but as a spectrum); what are the odds that spirit guides may consist of the natures of both angels and demons? Why must they always be truthful? Does the soul's mission negate the concept of freewill?
The other element that I struggled with was the idea of everything breaking down into 10's. Have to admit the round number there is emotionally satisfying, but some of these ideas have a little overlap or leave a bit of a gap to hit the mark (the section on phobias comes to mind).
I consider myself fortunate enough to have figured out much of my 'placements' on the various spectrums without having to go through the spirit guide exercises. Not knocking the value of meditation, but almost everybody can get a feel for the criteria that relates to them and the attributes that do not. Though buying into any of it means buying into all of it, in terms of the argument, and it would be equally valid for someone not liking my critique to claim I'm in avoidance of this life's (true) mission; even if I felt different resonances after reviewing the options.
Conservative people will have a far different experience reading this book than progressive people might. Political values have a strong effect on determining one's soul age (level), soul purpose, and soul mission. I liked the semantic play of difficult people with lower soul levels working out remedial issues, rather than calling out beliefs, values, and behaviors that could be considered miserly, bigoted, or just ignorant. I appreciate the attempt to help us consider other factors that might make the individuals. Though everyone is viewing through different lenses...
Overall, I invited some cognitive dissonance into my space with each paragraph read; but have to say I appreciated it. It challenged some of my thoughts and beliefs, and had me trying to understand where this was taking me and why. I do have some reservations about making a general recommendation for the book, unless the reader can maintain a 'When in Rome' kind of attitude, and accept that this is one author's philosophy and method; and functions better as a jumping off point to deeper discussion than as an actual guide to determine and follow your soul's mission.
August 30, 2021
Ainslie MacLeod is a "famous" psychic who specializes in the impact our past-lives have on our current life, as we (hopefully) aspire to fulfill our soul's purpose. This book will absolutely thrill the Thinkers in the crowd, with a very systematic yet accessible format for conveying virtually all the major influences that affect our journey as human begins on earth. If you are a lover of words and the meanings behind them and have deep curiosity on how these words can help you navigate who your unique self is, in your unique life plan, then this is the book for you.
A very high-level summary follows, but understand that there is a much deeper level of understanding underneath this chapter headings.
Part 1: Direction
1 The Door to Consciousness
2 The Door to Perception
3 The Door to Acceptance
4 The Door to Achievement
Part 2: Empowerment
5 The Door to Recovery
6 The Door to Balance
7 The Door to Transformation
8 The Door to Wisdom
Part 3: Fulfillment
9 The Door to Creativity
10 The Door to Spirituality
11 The Door to Enlightenment
12 The Door to Happiness (Manifesting your destiny)
A very high-level summary follows, but understand that there is a much deeper level of understanding underneath this chapter headings.
Part 1: Direction
1 The Door to Consciousness
2 The Door to Perception
3 The Door to Acceptance
4 The Door to Achievement
Part 2: Empowerment
5 The Door to Recovery
6 The Door to Balance
7 The Door to Transformation
8 The Door to Wisdom
Part 3: Fulfillment
9 The Door to Creativity
10 The Door to Spirituality
11 The Door to Enlightenment
12 The Door to Happiness (Manifesting your destiny)
December 16, 2022
I read half of the book and skimmed the rest
Book was recommended by a friend. It is a little woo woo for me but I am learning to be more open minded.
It is an easy read. I think that it didn’t do much for me because it is basically a mish-mosh of MBTI, enneagram and the graves model. I have already explored these concepts so I didn’t really want or need a new framework by an author who claims to be a psychic who gleaned all this information from his spirit guides.
Maybe he is a psychic and maybe there are spirit guides
Mine have already introduced me to the graves model, MBTI, and the enneagram. Not sure they needed to bring me to this guy’s model as well.
If however, you are passing time in this world feeling a lack of clarity of self, purpose and direction. This book will step by step help you think about yourself and your purpose. I do think that it could be a powerful book for some
Book was recommended by a friend. It is a little woo woo for me but I am learning to be more open minded.
It is an easy read. I think that it didn’t do much for me because it is basically a mish-mosh of MBTI, enneagram and the graves model. I have already explored these concepts so I didn’t really want or need a new framework by an author who claims to be a psychic who gleaned all this information from his spirit guides.
Maybe he is a psychic and maybe there are spirit guides
Mine have already introduced me to the graves model, MBTI, and the enneagram. Not sure they needed to bring me to this guy’s model as well.
If however, you are passing time in this world feeling a lack of clarity of self, purpose and direction. This book will step by step help you think about yourself and your purpose. I do think that it could be a powerful book for some
November 22, 2019
There is a quote, late in the book, that succinctly captures what The Instruction was written to offer:
“A ship at sea needs a compass and a good set of charts if it’s going to reach its destination. All you need is your life plan and the ability to follow it.”
This is precisely what MacLeod sets out to provide with a set of frameworks and a syntax for exploring, understanding, and defining your life in the context of spirituality. While I’m not the foremost expert in, nor believer of, the full bore of astral plains and the spirit world, I do find great value in exploring these concepts and the language around them to better understand and embrace the people and the world around me.
In that respect, The Instruction succeeds: it’s an interesting and easy read that inspires introspection and may just help you understand those around you a bit better.
“A ship at sea needs a compass and a good set of charts if it’s going to reach its destination. All you need is your life plan and the ability to follow it.”
This is precisely what MacLeod sets out to provide with a set of frameworks and a syntax for exploring, understanding, and defining your life in the context of spirituality. While I’m not the foremost expert in, nor believer of, the full bore of astral plains and the spirit world, I do find great value in exploring these concepts and the language around them to better understand and embrace the people and the world around me.
In that respect, The Instruction succeeds: it’s an interesting and easy read that inspires introspection and may just help you understand those around you a bit better.
September 28, 2020
A wonderful exploration into your soul's plan beginning with how old your essence is. The topics of self inquiry are thoughtful in the book and include: The source of your beliefs, Purpose, Healing Past Damage, Avoiding False Goals, Overcoming the Enemy Within, Understanding through Experience, Drawing on Your Abilities of the past, Connecting with the Soul World, Acting from the Soul, and the Life Your soul intended.
Each chapter divides itself into categories that you may fall with descriptions to help identify yourself. Once you identify yourself in the chapter, no help is provided by the author accept a way to connect with your higher sources and discuss the issue further.
Which makes this a nice resource for spiritual counselors and hypnotherapists to design sessions around, to help lead a healing conversation and assist in the souls connection to a higher intelligence.
Each chapter divides itself into categories that you may fall with descriptions to help identify yourself. Once you identify yourself in the chapter, no help is provided by the author accept a way to connect with your higher sources and discuss the issue further.
Which makes this a nice resource for spiritual counselors and hypnotherapists to design sessions around, to help lead a healing conversation and assist in the souls connection to a higher intelligence.
January 2, 2022
I am a fan of Ainslie’s work and this book does a great job giving one an overview of a souls many characteristics. It definitely took me a while to get through and it’s the kind of book I regret getting from the library because I wish I could keep as a resource forever.
This book is packed with information and many working parts, and therefore took me a long time to read, integrate and make sense of. I really hope this book finds me again, possibly in a 2nd hand store so I can refer to it when need be.
Full of information. Written conversationally. And a resource for life!
This book is packed with information and many working parts, and therefore took me a long time to read, integrate and make sense of. I really hope this book finds me again, possibly in a 2nd hand store so I can refer to it when need be.
Full of information. Written conversationally. And a resource for life!
January 26, 2024
This is a very spiritual book, meaning it will tap into your view of the other world that we do not see. It is more of a guide on how to use this knowledge and power to guide your present life to be the best you can be. Simple lessons and views to yourself and the spiritual world that is all guided in goodness and truth and not to scare or frighten you. More of another view of how to life your life better and grow.
June 12, 2021
If this book has come to you then you are a very open minded person spiritually, and have a desire to grow your soul. The concept of soul ages and soul paths and spirit guides just makes a great deal of sense to me personally. I really love the explanation and format this book follows, and came to me right when I needed it.
December 7, 2021
This book is about commutating with your spirit guides, past lives and your soul’s path. I found it interesting. The author explores soul types, the age of the soul and the soul purpose among many other theories. Also the book is a practical guide if you would like to talk to your guides. The author has step by step instructions on how to do that.
June 7, 2022
This book is easy to read, and it's plenty of examples and experiences where you can identify. You can connect with yourself and find the best purpose in your life, provably remember or be more conscious about some experiences in other lifes, and becoming and living the life your soul intended.
It's a good book to understand better yourself and people's behaviour.
It's a good book to understand better yourself and people's behaviour.
December 23, 2023
I believe in the concept of people as spirits having a human experience. Ainslie Macleod’s book imposed structure and provided a direction/purpose for this belief. I resonated with the idea of our need to find out the purpose of our life and living in accordance with that. This concept supersedes religion and is founded on a belief of all souls as connected to each other.
July 2, 2024
This is a book that I am going to purchase. There are many activities and journal ideas that I would like to follow up on. One's religious beliefs may play a factor in how the book is received by the reader. I found it spellbinding in the information about life's purpose, soul progression, past lives, and how I can understand my life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews