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Between Will and Abandonment: Independent Spiritual Practice
More and more people claim to be religiously unaffiliated or spiritually independent. They describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” (often referred to as the “nones”). The “nones” now make up 26% of the American population. William James noted that a spiritual desire often seems to arise on its own, out of nowhere, from an unknown source. Perhaps this is why a majority of the “nones” describe themselves as spiritual but not religious.
Are you one of them? Are you an independent spirit, searching for spiritual energy not dependent on religious institutions?
While people who do not claim membership in an organized religious institution are obviously unaffiliated, others may be independent as well. It is possible that those who cherish an affiliation with Church, Synagogue, or Mosque can at the same time be spiritually independent in a very real sense.
When you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
When you go into your inner room to pray in secret, does not your affiliation with every institution drop away for that moment? Are you not independent, free? Your Father, the Creator, sees in secret through a pure and unaffiliated lens.
Each of us, in our most secret, inner room, stands before God naked and humble as the Publican who prayed in the rear of the synagogue, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”
This book is for anyone who seeks personal spiritual growth and a more natural religion. It is a step-by-step guide, leading to the development of a personal and independent spiritual practice. It takes the form of a Florilegium, a collection of passages drawn from the spiritual books of the world’s great traditions. Literally “a gathering of flowers,” this Florilegium is a spiritual nursery from which each reader can create a unique garden. It grows out of Robert Letters’ personal notebook, developed over the years as he created his own practice. He
Whenever I wrote “you” in my notebook, I was speaking to myself. And in this book, I still speak to myself, as I try to do better, to improve my imperfect independent practice.
But now I also speak to you, whoever you are, who might have picked up this small notebook. After all, I suspect there is not much difference between us.
Here’s what people are saying about Letters’ newest
“Uplifting guide to cultivating spiritual awakening outside of organized religion.”
-Booklife
“Whether readers are lifelong churchgoers or agnostics, Letters’ devotion to self-improvement, his humility and clear, lean writing will convince them to go deeper in the search for spiritual truth.
-BlueInk Starred Review
“What stands out, and what I think most readers will appreciate, is the book’s practicality. Letters doesn’t just theorize but provides ethical guidelines and actionable steps. While deeply philosophical, it never feels detached from the realities of modern life, making this a great addition to the cannon of enlightenment. Very highly recommended.”
-Asher Syed
“Whether you are unaffiliated or are looking for greater depth within your religion’s ligurgy and worship practices, there is something here for you.”
-Kimberlee J.
Are you one of them? Are you an independent spirit, searching for spiritual energy not dependent on religious institutions?
While people who do not claim membership in an organized religious institution are obviously unaffiliated, others may be independent as well. It is possible that those who cherish an affiliation with Church, Synagogue, or Mosque can at the same time be spiritually independent in a very real sense.
When you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6
When you go into your inner room to pray in secret, does not your affiliation with every institution drop away for that moment? Are you not independent, free? Your Father, the Creator, sees in secret through a pure and unaffiliated lens.
Each of us, in our most secret, inner room, stands before God naked and humble as the Publican who prayed in the rear of the synagogue, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”
This book is for anyone who seeks personal spiritual growth and a more natural religion. It is a step-by-step guide, leading to the development of a personal and independent spiritual practice. It takes the form of a Florilegium, a collection of passages drawn from the spiritual books of the world’s great traditions. Literally “a gathering of flowers,” this Florilegium is a spiritual nursery from which each reader can create a unique garden. It grows out of Robert Letters’ personal notebook, developed over the years as he created his own practice. He
Whenever I wrote “you” in my notebook, I was speaking to myself. And in this book, I still speak to myself, as I try to do better, to improve my imperfect independent practice.
But now I also speak to you, whoever you are, who might have picked up this small notebook. After all, I suspect there is not much difference between us.
Here’s what people are saying about Letters’ newest
“Uplifting guide to cultivating spiritual awakening outside of organized religion.”
-Booklife
“Whether readers are lifelong churchgoers or agnostics, Letters’ devotion to self-improvement, his humility and clear, lean writing will convince them to go deeper in the search for spiritual truth.
-BlueInk Starred Review
“What stands out, and what I think most readers will appreciate, is the book’s practicality. Letters doesn’t just theorize but provides ethical guidelines and actionable steps. While deeply philosophical, it never feels detached from the realities of modern life, making this a great addition to the cannon of enlightenment. Very highly recommended.”
-Asher Syed
“Whether you are unaffiliated or are looking for greater depth within your religion’s ligurgy and worship practices, there is something here for you.”
-Kimberlee J.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2024
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Robert Letters
10 books3 followersRobert Letters is an American author, educator, poet, artist, and songwriter.
His most recent book, Between Will and Abandonment: Independent Spiritual Practice is a must read for anyone who considers themselves religiously unaffiliated and spiritually independent. He draws on spiritual texts and masters from different faiths, laying out methods of daily spiritual practices that have been transformative in his own life with the hope that they will be for the reader as well.
Letters is also the author of nine volumes of Poetry: Dry Grass, Choking the Moon; talking with you in the dark; Recipe for Garum; and Help Keep Out: Volumes 1 – 5 (Paucus Publishing Company).
Dry Grass, released in June 2024, is a collection of English language tanka. It uses the 31 syllable Japanese form to explore a range of emotional experiences. Passion, memory, mystery, and many other discoveries await you as you dive into these poems.
Choking the Moon is a collection of American haiku and senryu. The collection is true to the traditional Japanese form, yet pushes English language haiku and senryu into new and unexplored territory.
In talking with you in the dark, a haunting collection of lyrics that first appeared on social media, Letters presents four sequences of conversation. But these conversations are curiously one-sided, and the reader must decide who is speaking, and who, if anyone, is listening. Each short poem is an independent work, but also an integrated component in a set of mysterious patterns.
Recipe for Garum, awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2020 Brockman-Campbell Book Awards, contains poems that embody the pungent quality of garum in three sections: a lyrical series that examines domestic life; a long narrative poem, "Canal;" and a sequence of short poems, mostly haiku and tanka, that chronicles a year of household life.
The five volumes of Help Keep Out document the daily posting of a short poem on the social media platform, Twitter. This daily practice continued for more than five years, and Help Keep Out: Volumes 1 - 5 contain the full series of the project. The poems are predominantly informed by Asian forms – haiku, senryu, tanka and sijo.
Letters’ CD Make Me Believe (Hondo Mesa Records) was released in 2015.
His most recent book, Between Will and Abandonment: Independent Spiritual Practice is a must read for anyone who considers themselves religiously unaffiliated and spiritually independent. He draws on spiritual texts and masters from different faiths, laying out methods of daily spiritual practices that have been transformative in his own life with the hope that they will be for the reader as well.
Letters is also the author of nine volumes of Poetry: Dry Grass, Choking the Moon; talking with you in the dark; Recipe for Garum; and Help Keep Out: Volumes 1 – 5 (Paucus Publishing Company).
Dry Grass, released in June 2024, is a collection of English language tanka. It uses the 31 syllable Japanese form to explore a range of emotional experiences. Passion, memory, mystery, and many other discoveries await you as you dive into these poems.
Choking the Moon is a collection of American haiku and senryu. The collection is true to the traditional Japanese form, yet pushes English language haiku and senryu into new and unexplored territory.
In talking with you in the dark, a haunting collection of lyrics that first appeared on social media, Letters presents four sequences of conversation. But these conversations are curiously one-sided, and the reader must decide who is speaking, and who, if anyone, is listening. Each short poem is an independent work, but also an integrated component in a set of mysterious patterns.
Recipe for Garum, awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2020 Brockman-Campbell Book Awards, contains poems that embody the pungent quality of garum in three sections: a lyrical series that examines domestic life; a long narrative poem, "Canal;" and a sequence of short poems, mostly haiku and tanka, that chronicles a year of household life.
The five volumes of Help Keep Out document the daily posting of a short poem on the social media platform, Twitter. This daily practice continued for more than five years, and Help Keep Out: Volumes 1 - 5 contain the full series of the project. The poems are predominantly informed by Asian forms – haiku, senryu, tanka and sijo.
Letters’ CD Make Me Believe (Hondo Mesa Records) was released in 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 14, 2025
Between Will and Abandonment can be like the in-between of fixed and chaos in my working life -A current you step into, living and doing, being in the moment, free of rigid rules with your spirit engaged while being aware of the Greater flowing through you.
This is a practical, profound helping hand to living a spiritual life in the daily grind.
"sanctify your work"
This is a practical, profound helping hand to living a spiritual life in the daily grind.
"sanctify your work"
December 14, 2025
Between Will and Abandonment Independent Spiritual Practice is a thoughtful and deeply reflective guide for readers seeking spiritual meaning beyond rigid structures. Robert Letters speaks directly to the growing population of spiritually independent individuals with humility clarity and quiet wisdom. Rather than rejecting tradition the book honors insights drawn from many spiritual paths while encouraging readers to cultivate a personal inner practice grounded in sincerity and self examination.
What makes this book especially powerful is its practicality and honesty. Written in the form of a Florilegium it feels intimate almost like reading a private notebook shared in trust. Letters does not present himself as an authority but as a fellow seeker striving to do better each day. The step by step approach ethical guidance and carefully chosen passages make this book both accessible and profound offering readers the freedom to build a spiritual practice that is authentic disciplined and deeply personal.
What makes this book especially powerful is its practicality and honesty. Written in the form of a Florilegium it feels intimate almost like reading a private notebook shared in trust. Letters does not present himself as an authority but as a fellow seeker striving to do better each day. The step by step approach ethical guidance and carefully chosen passages make this book both accessible and profound offering readers the freedom to build a spiritual practice that is authentic disciplined and deeply personal.
December 17, 2025
Between Will and Abandonment is a thoughtful, quietly powerful guide for anyone seeking an authentic spiritual life beyond rigid institutional boundaries. Robert Letters writes with humility, clarity, and rare emotional honesty, offering readers a path that honors both independence and reverence. Rather than prescribing belief, the book gently invites reflection, encouraging readers to cultivate a personal spiritual practice grounded in inward attention, ethical awareness, and lived experience.
What truly sets this work apart is its practicality. Through the Florilegium format, Letters creates a spiritual space that feels both ancient and refreshingly modern, one that respects the wisdom of global traditions while empowering readers to shape a practice uniquely their own. The tone is intimate and sincere, making the book feel less like instruction and more like a companion for those navigating the tension between will, surrender, doubt, and faith. This is a meaningful and enduring contribution to contemporary spiritual literature.
What truly sets this work apart is its practicality. Through the Florilegium format, Letters creates a spiritual space that feels both ancient and refreshingly modern, one that respects the wisdom of global traditions while empowering readers to shape a practice uniquely their own. The tone is intimate and sincere, making the book feel less like instruction and more like a companion for those navigating the tension between will, surrender, doubt, and faith. This is a meaningful and enduring contribution to contemporary spiritual literature.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews