Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies: A Poetic Memoir of Spiritual Materialism

by Sean Phoenix Russell

Great for readers who enjoy the poetic introspection of Yung Pueblo, the spiritual musings of Ram Dass, the timeless wisdom of Alan Watts and the raw self-inquiry of Rupi Kaur, love, light & other beautiful lies is a journey through transformation—woven in verse, memory, and the flickering light of truth.

This is not just a book of poetry—it’s a reckoning, a surrender, and a quiet revolution. It speaks to the ones who have burned through identities, walked the tightrope between spiritual materialism and genuine awakening, and found themselves standing in the ashes of everything they once believed—only to realize the fire was never the enemy.

Through rhythmic reflection and sharp, unfiltered honesty, this collection moves through ego deaths and rebirths, the unraveling of false selves, the longing for connection, and the raw, unpolished beauty of simply being. It doesn’t seek to tell you what is true but invites you into the space where truth reveals itself—between the lines, in the pauses, in the moments where you recognize yourself.

This is for the seekers, the wanderers, the ones who have loved and lost themselves, only to find something even deeper in the process. If you’ve ever questioned your path, your purpose, or the stories you tell yourself—this book is a quiet hand on your shoulder, reminding

You are always exactly where you are meant to be.

Genres: Poetry

166 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

Reviews

[Ricardo Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw Poetry as Beautiful as It Is

I borrowed this book thanks to my Kindle Unlimited subscription, and I read it between my phone and tablet using the Kindle app.

Reading this book while I was on a two-hour flight felt like being punched in the face with raw honesty. Raw is also the poetry of the author, as you’ll notice, not a fan of capital letters or traditional poem structures, but it doesn’t matter at all, because it works perfectly to deliver the message the author wants to convey. And that is the most important thing in any book.

Like a rollercoaster of emotions, every poem transports you into the author’s life in a memoir-like style. Across three different sections, the author moves through various stages of his life. I was especially amazed by the last section, Architect of Enlightenment, and how powerful and bright its message becomes.

A two-hour flight that flew by thanks to this poetry book, I hope you enjoy it as much.

[Leeza Baric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational Poet - a Spectacular Experience!

How do I find the words for this review after reading such a beautiful book of poetry? It’s not only the imagery evoked through such powerful metaphors but it’s the ideas and sentiments expressed so vividly. It’s a journey into everything leaving you with positivity and hope. It’s a book of love. I’ll be following this writer. Highly Recommended 🌷

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Russell’s Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies is a poetic memoir that gently unravels a decade-long spiritual journey with raw honesty, lyrical introspection, and a good dose of humility. It's a collection of reflections, poems, and emotional snapshots that chart the evolution of a seeker from the bright-eyed idealism of early awakening to the weary, tender wisdom of a man who’s stared down his own illusions and kept walking. The book moves in reverse chronology, starting with recent revelations and working its way back through the darkest nights and earliest stirrings of transformation.

What I loved most is how deeply human this book is. It doesn’t put enlightenment on a pedestal or try to sell transcendence as a shiny object. In “new age,” Russell pokes fun at his own spiritual ego, saying, “an all-loving divine form of a human, blessing the world with a radiant and unique light you were so proud to hold.” I’ve definitely been there, thinking I’m above the mess when I’m just knee-deep in a more glittery version of it. The humility with which he revisits his younger self made me feel less alone in my own mess.

The writing is honest, graceful, and gut-punching when it wants to be. It’s not showy. It’s not trying to be clever. It just is. “Everything becomes a crust,” he writes in “where we meet,” talking about how even the most sacred routines can become cages. There’s something really beautiful about how he holds space for contradiction. You can feel his former self trying so hard to be perfect, and current him just... breathing through the cracks. That contrast is where the magic lives. Poems like “growing up” and “written in blood” pulled me in with their clarity and they didn’t try to dress up the pain, but they didn’t wallow in it either. They just told the truth.

And then there are these moments, scattered all over, where he really opens the door and lets you into the most awkward, neurotic, precious parts of the journey. Like in “cheeseburger with a side of epiphany,” where he watches people grilling meat and realizes his judgment is really just loneliness in disguise. This one felt really relatable. These aren't poems trying to impress you. They’re more like conversations you have at 3 a.m. when no one’s pretending anymore.

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies isn’t just about spirituality. It’s about being alive. Messy, contradictory, beautiful life. I’d recommend this to anyone who’s ever gotten lost in their own reflection, anyone who’s tried to meditate their way out of being human, or anyone who’s looking for a reminder that awakening is not a straight line, it’s a spiral, a stumble, a dance.

[Avira N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell’s latest work is a tender excavation of identity, ego, and the illusions that unravel in the wake of spiritual seeking. The first section, "Reflecting," is rooted in self-awareness and the quiet unraveling of early spiritual misconceptions. In “cultured,” he describes his past self as one who “found the way. / the way. / and, of course, it was the best way.” In the standout poem “trying so hard,” he writes: “i have conquered mountains/ of inner turmoil./ emotions no longer rule my being./ i am beyond the tribulations/ of flesh and bone.” 

The second section, "The Dark Night of the Soul," is where the collection deepens—emotionally, spiritually, and narratively. He captures the essence of the “dark night” in a poem of the same name: “i thought the addictions were gone./ the small self, the low vibrations—/ shouldn't they have disappeared?” In “written in blood,” a medical diagnosis forces him to reckon with how he has neglected his body in pursuit of soul-care. He writes, “perhaps it was time to burn the treasured loot / of my once-cherished home." 

The final section, "Architect of Enlightenment," shifts again. Here, the voice is gentler, more integrated. In “this is it,” Russell writes: “freedom lies/ within the silence of the heart,/  and the absence of the ego.” The book ends not with declarations, but with invitations. The closing poems reflect a commitment to community and presence rather than perfection. In a genre often filled with certainties and prescriptive wisdom, the book stands out for its humility. Flawed, questioning, beautiful, and becoming.

[litandcoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Structured as a lyrical, often nonlinear exploration of self, Russell’s compelling work moves between poetry, philosophical musing, confessional narrative, and spiritual reflection. Divided into three parts, the book blends journal, mantra, and confession, charting one man’s long reckoning with ego, illusion, and the trappings of performative spirituality. Russell’s subject is himself, specifically the self caught in the exhausting loop of self-improvement. In pieces like “cultured” and “accumulation of spiritual materials,” he skewers his own past posturing: the curated identity, the moral superiority, the hunger for purity.

“veil of tears” captures the somber, almost apocalyptic stillness that often accompanies deep emotional reckoning. In “sweat lodge," Russell turns to ritual and earth-based tradition as a metaphor for resurrection after spiritual collapse. “walk in truth” offers a grounded reminder of inner safety and the futility of chasing solace outside ourselves. Russell occasionally slips into vague mysticism (“trust the synchronicity”), and yet even at its most self-serious, the work retains an undercurrent of humility. In the end, the book doesn’t aim to resolve. It’s not a manual, but a mirror: one held up with enough clarity and self-compassion to remind us that no one’s really got it figured out. A soulful journey through spiritual unraveling and renewal.

[Caroline Hurry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some poetry books whisper. Others shout. Sean Russell’s Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies leans in, eyebrow raised, and asks: “Are you sure that mantra is still working for you?”
This is poetry for the cracked-open, the spiritually skeptical, the ones who have burned sage, said the affirmations, and still felt lost. For me, Russell’s voice resonates with self-inquiry.
The poem Be Free (Motivation) is a standout - a raw inner monologue turned rallying cry. In a few spare lines, Russell invites us to “question everything,” to see the value in “negative lessons,” and to remember that expansion always matters. He captures the tension between awakening and ego, illusion and embodiment with unfiltered reflections that feel lived-in.
Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies is a reckoning and a reminder that behind every filtered quote card lies a beating heart trying to believe it. The poems unravel the curated quest for perfection, revealing that our flaws, doubts, and unfinished thoughts are often where truth resides.
Russell invites us in, then turns on the light, letting us squint, blink, and adjust to seeing ourselves more clearly. This book offers presence. And in a world overdosing on positivity, that’s radical..

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book leads off with quotes by two men (Ram Dass and Alan Watts) who beautifully set the tone by heralding a personal call to truth and reminding us that people can change who they are in an instant.

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies by Sean Russell offers touching insights into the author’s “own becoming,” with poetry that ranges from an epiphany gleaned through others making cheeseburgers to the lies of materialism. The crafting of the book was a gradual process and ultimately became a way for Russell to laugh at himself with abandon, and I think he hopes readers will do likewise. “We are all telling the same story,” he writes in the intro.

I’m still not used to the way nothing is capitalized in the book, probably a way for Russell to show readers that he doesn’t take himself too, too seriously, and that we shouldn’t either (him or ourselves). His prose is easy to follow (as poetry goes) and covers the spectrum of life at the start in poems such as “Growing Up,” “Drifting,” “Wavering,” “Returning,” and “Choosing.”

Section II is titled “The Dark Night of the Soul,” and then things become lighter in Section III, “Architect of Enlightenment.”

Overall, there is a lot here to reflect on and ponder.

[Vicky Peplow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thought-Provoking and Soul-Stirring Journey

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies by Sean P. Russell is a refreshingly raw and self-aware poetic memoir that cuts through the polished illusions of spiritual materialism. With sharp insight and lyrical vulnerability, Russell explores what it means to fall for the seductive mask of “wokeness,” only to be humbled by truth and ego’s quiet collapse.

The poems are both reflective and disarming, allowing readers to confront their own spiritual pretenses. My personal favorites—“dying” and “leaving”—stood out as deeply moving, honest pieces that linger long after the page is turned. These poems felt like whispers of surrender, the kind that call you home to yourself.

That said, I was a bit puzzled by the absence of capital letters throughout. While this may have been an intentional stylistic choice, it occasionally disrupted the reading flow. Additionally, the formatting could’ve been cleaner, especially for such emotionally resonant material.

Despite these small critiques, this is a stunning collection for seekers and skeptics alike. Honest, vulnerable, and deeply human.

[Carmel Audsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author states ‘this book happened to write itself’ in reference to the scattered reflections and musings he penned over a decade. He invites the reader to do as he did, and sit with life as it unfolds. This collection of fresh and contemplative poems holds up a mirror to what it means to be human, with all its joys, aspirations, failures and foibles. It is very much about the art of being in the moment, growing as an individual, and not worrying too much about the future for it is something that cannot be grasped. I found many of the poems to be insightful and thought-provoking, but the poem entitled ‘the stages of life’ really resonated with me. If you are open to the concept that we chose this life before we were born on earth, and that we are all playing the parts we chose, then this poem will reaffirm and uplift you and allow ‘the beauty of such a blessing’. Too often poets try to reach such lofty heights with language, that the messages are lost. This is a nice collection of light poetry that could be easily understood by even the novice reader.

[Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies explores the highs and lows of “spiritual materialism” through minimalistic, fragmented poetry. This collection's sparse punctuation and short lines gesture toward depth, while the reverse chronology traces a journey from “enlightenment” back to early spiritual searching.

The work exudes undeniable authenticity and reflects a lifetime spent seeking truth and meaning—marked by highs and lows—and the realization that deeper answers don’t lie in drugs, travel, or fleeting pleasures. Having found those paths wanting, the poetic voice expands upon a more grounded state of enlightenment, offering hard-won insights.

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies reads as much like a personal diary as a polished poetic work. Pain and joy are palpable, and at times the writing genuinely touches the soul. A few poems stand out as literary gems, though much of the collection is weighed down by material that reveals as much naïveté as insight.

While critiquing the ego’s role in spiritual pursuits, the work’s insights are sometimes obscured by vague generalizations and repetitive phrasing. But this is well worth the read -- 3.5 stars.

[Nathan Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell writes in quick pulses of image and confession. The language is plain enough to invite anyone in, yet there’s a musical undercurrent, with unexpected turns of phrase, small jokes that land precisely where the ego likes to hide.

What I appreciated most is the book’s gentle honesty. These poems don’t try to bulldoze the reader into enlightenment or wallow in cynicism. Instead, Russell stands in that awkward middle space where awareness and ego wrestle, and he lets us watch the match with kindness and a wink. A few pieces skim the surface where I wished they’d plunge deeper, but even those lighter moments serve as breathers before the next quiet jab at my own spiritual vanity.

If you’ve ever caught yourself reciting an affirmation while doom‑scrolling or posting a sunset photo captioned “just present,” this collection might feel like a friend tapping your shoulder and reminding you to look up. It won’t hand you a map, yet it left me walking a little slower, listening a little closer, and laughing at my own beautiful lies.

[sureshot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed “what else is there to do?” It didn’t have a poem feel to it. It was deep, though, and it reflected a common experience of everyone, why helping the reader think of that experience in a new way. “Growing Up,” had a similar impact. It made something that’s sad seem better by thinking about it in a new way. “Too long,” came across as clever, if not mean. For me, it was something that inspired a wicked grin. “New Age,” was similar. It was the kind of thing to read, think on, and let way on you. I particularly enjoyed “Woke,” which is the kind of thing you’ll want to reread a few times. This book is loaded with these deep writings. Overall, I don’t know if this is poetry, but that doesn’t matter much. I felt like the author was looking inside me or maybe just seeing the human experience with a unique perspective that can provide benefits to us all. It was a very existential read, and I highly recommend it.

[James Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Book That Tells the Truth

I just finished the book called Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies that was written by Sean Russell. This book really made me think. It’s not just poems—it’s like holding up a mirror to the parts of life we try to hide. The author talks about how we sometimes pretend to be okay by saying nice things or buying crystals, even when we’re hurting inside.

The poems are honest, simple, and sometimes a little sad, but in a good way. They made me feel like I wasn’t alone in asking big questions or feeling confused on the inside. Some poems are deep and powerful, while others feel gentle and calming.

Even if I didn’t agree with everything, I liked how the writer spoke from the heart. He didn’t try to sound perfect. He just told the truth the way he saw it.

This book is for anyone who’s tried to “stay positive” but still felt lost. I think a lot of people will like it.

[Curious Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Light and Other Beautiful Lies is an intriguing collection of free verse poetry and prose. 

The title alone suggests a bleak outlook, and the poems are indeed, often bleak. Overall the book gives me a sense the author is observing life's journey and is now facing a possibility that journey is ending--something we may all face many times, in different ways. The later poetry is more hopeful in nature, but for the most part, still reflects ambiguity. Many of the images seem to have a deeply personal meaning, open to the reader's interpretation. 

I sometimes felt as if the author was looking around a corner, cautiously poking emotions and insights, retreating occasionally into an instructional/cautionary tone. In other poems, emotions are painful and screamingly intimate. On occasion the poetry reads like an essay, broken into short lines, or is simply prose. I particularly enjoyed 'across the land.'

While my personal outlook was in conflict with many parts of Love, Light and Other Beautiful Lies, I recommend the collection for anyone wanting to examine a range of emotions from someone else's point of view. 

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies blends poetry, reflection, and storytelling into something that feels very different from the usual “spiritual” book. Sean Russell doesn’t present himself as a guru with all the answers—he talks openly about ego, disillusionment, and the contradictions in chasing enlightenment. The writing moves between short, poetic bursts and longer, more conversational passages, which keeps it interesting and gives space for the ideas to sink in.

One of the strengths is how self-aware it is. There are moments where the author points out the traps of spiritual materialism—how people (including himself) can turn growth into a status symbol—and it’s done with a mix of humor and humility. The flow isn’t perfectly linear, but that actually suits the subject matter, making it feel more like an authentic stream of thoughts than a rehearsed lecture. It’s the kind of book that makes you pause every few pages, not because it’s dense, but because it’s honest.

[Lyndi Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the poems in Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies: A Poetic Memoir of Spiritual Materialism, by Sean P. Russell, to hold a lot of meaning. I needed to linger over the words, phrases, and messages to take them in and allow their truths to speak to me. A couple of my favorite lines are. “Let us feel the laughter between the worlds where our hearts live. Let us meet there” and “this path is made of sand and stars.”

I found the narrator’s perspective in the poems insightful. The idea of spiritual materialism was new to me and I learned more about it in the reading of the poems. I particularly enjoyed the premise of not being lost but instead of becoming. I highly recommend this book of poems to those who would like to explore the various aspects of truth presented, ponder what is important for finding peace and joy and for loving self so that they can love others.

[Eddie Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read.

We got a lot of poems of consumerism, growth, and critiques of the world. It does feel like a personal journey too, but I think the strongest are the ones critiquing consumerism. However, there are a lot of lines that caught me that I want to mention:

“Why walk around/ playing God in drag” - this made me both laugh and think and those are some of the best lines. As a queer person who loves drag I never would’ve thought of this analogy.

The entire poem entitled “the one” - was incredibly relatable

And the first half of “neurotic” was, unfortunately, relatable but in the best way possible

All hit me right in the heart. It is very good, and I felt like it really hit me. I enjoyed it and none of it felt like it was just trying to be deep, it was just meaningful.

[Jacobus Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

As a 40-year-old woman with a deep interest in spirituality, this poetry collection touched me on a very personal level. The poems are both grounding and liberating, inviting me to reflect honestly on my own spiritual journey without judgment or pretension. I love how the author blends sharp, thought-provoking lines with moments of gentle humor, making even deep truths feel approachable. Each page feels like a mirror and a guide at the same time, helping me let go of illusions and embrace authenticity. A beautifully honest and inspiring read for anyone walking the path of self-discovery.

[Laurie Bowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love, Light & Other Beautiful Lies" by Sean P. Russell is a poetic memoir that explores modern spiritual seeking, encouraging genuine introspection and reflection on the illusions faced in self-discovery.