The Soul Searcher's Handbook: A Modern Girl's Guide to the New Age World

by Emma Mildon

From healing crystals and meditation to aromatherapy and numerology, this fun and fresh beginner’s guide to everything body-mind-spirit defines New Age practices for anyone embarking on a spiritual journey.

What type of crystal should I put in my car for a road trip? Should I Feng Shui the apps on my phone? In this illuminating introduction for the modern-day witchy soul searcher, Emma Mildon shines light on everything your parents didn’t teach you about New Age practices with the air of a knowledgeable and witty best friend.

With something for every type of spiritual seeker, The Soul Searcher’s Handbook offers easy tips, tricks, and how-tos for incorporating everything from dreamology and astrology to mysticism and alternative healing into your daily practices. Your one-stop shop for all things magical and enlightening—handy, accessible, entertaining, and packed with all the wisdom you need.

So embrace the goddess within, dig your toes into the sacred soil of Mother Earth, and open your soul to your full potential. Regardless of what you’re seeking, The Soul Searcher’s Handbook is your number one guide to awakening a more fulfilled and soulful you.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, New Age, Reference, Health, Personal Growth

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

Hi, I'm Emma. 

An Author, Columnist, self-confessed geek, and Mother.

Coffee is one of my gods. I am spiritual. An ex-back packer. Have a jarring sarcastic dry-wit, and like to write about anything self-discovery. 

I have been lucky enough to work with the Simon and Schuster Publishing, New York team on two non-fiction books. And am now trying my hand at Indie Publishing fiction books. You know, because the world's a bit of a dick right now and everyone could use some book escapism. Me included. 
​
Some personal stuff people find interesting about me...
I am a born and breed New Zealander. I'm adopted. My mother died when I was age 15 of Cancer which changed the course of my life. I studied Creative Writing and International Business in Toronto, Canada. I've traveled most of the globe while back-packing. I'm a no BS, women-of-my-word, get-shit-done kinda gal aka a write-a-holic. Hence, the coffee.


Check out her latest read, Stitched.
Check out latest book tease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzQnj...

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not really what I expected. The writing was a bit cheesy and simplistic. While I get she was trying to make spirituality accessible to everyone, it was a bit too simplistic. This would be a good book for someone who had never tried any spiritual practice, but not really what I was looking for. After reading the beginning, just skimmed through the long list of things to try.

[Felicite Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a skeptic. I am skeptical of people, the news, cats, pseudoscience, etc. I picked this book up because, well, why not? 2018 has not been kind to me at all, so maybe I do need to do some soul searching (figuratively. I'm atheist; souls don't exist, though I wish they did).

That being said, this book is great. Emma Mildon does readers justice by including a "woo-woo" scale (Pseudoscience is often called "woo" or "woo science") and an "Explore it" scale. I really liked this because the subject seems less preachy when accompanied by a scale that includes the author's honesty on the topic.

So, this book is broken down into three parts: Healthy Body (my favorite), Awakened Mind (not my favorite but interesting and fun); and Vibrant spirit (I skimmed).

Many, many subjects are explored in this book. I mean, she covers a lot of material. I was mostly interested in holistic practices because it includes chiropractors and massage therapists among others. I, a skeptic, love my chiropractor and massage therapist. My counselor is a naturopath. I've considered acupuncture (my gynocologist even suggested it). Meditation and yoga are my goals for this year. I REALLY liked how she included yoga poses and their benefits. What I didn't like was the section at the end of part one titled "Combating physical illness with spiritual care." The spiritual meaning behind acne is "dislike for one's self image, not seeing you individual beauty" and you can combat it with a healing affirmation "I love and accept me for me." If only that would cure acne. I'm pretty sure my hormones are going bonkers and my face is facing the consequences (hah! see what I did there?)

I believe in science and modern medicine (to a point), but I see nothing wrong in wearing crystals for their "healing properties" or huffing essential oils because really, what's so wrong with these things? As long as you see a doctor and get real help, who cares if you also use crystals to calm your mind or essential oils to settle an upset stomach. I personally love things that smell appealing. Will I use essential oils instead of medication? Hell naw.

I wear rings with stones and gems because I love symbolism, even if that symbolism is total bullshit. I love meaning behind things. I find them fun and worth exploring. I love interpreting dreams, meditating with incense, and finding my center when I'm stressed. I also see a psychiatrist for anxiety, a counselor for anxiety management, a chiropractor for back pain and a massage therapist and physical therapist for tight pelvic floor muscles.

Anyway, I checked this book out from the library but am buying my own copy for the section on yoga, meditation, and crystals/gems (because, you know, Steven Universe).

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, dear. I should have paid attention to the statement that the author is writing for her generation. I guess now I have to assume that her generation is the spiritual form of Valley Girls. I was so looking forward to reading this handbook, and am so disappointed by the simplistic content and silly, unreflective writing. This book could have been written referring only to the author's beloved Google. If she travelled and met with spiritual teachers as she said, there's nothing in here to suggest that she learned much of anything about herself or about spiritual practices.
There are two things about this book that I did enjoy. The woo-woo and explore-it scales are a great idea. And there are several excellent charts, such as the one on page 45 that discusses chakras, their location, emotional issues connected to them, and crystals that will help to resolve the issues.

[kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This is more of a reference it when you need it book than a sit down and read which is what I was looking for.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second time picking this up. This time I read it backwards. And skimmed it. It was better backwards and skimmed.

[Lidia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. I didn't know what to expect because some reviews weren't very promising. But Emma's writing saves the day. I love her writing and humor. Some of the things in the book I was already familiar with, so I think this toolbook or guide is perfect for beginners. :)

[Meg Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky enough to review a copy and really enjoyed the book. Loved the festival section, and ended up fueling me to Soul Search and take a trip I never would have gone on otherwise! I definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys yoga, is spirituality open, and wanting to learn more about what has life to over. Awesome read.

[Erin O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to reading this book when it is released.....amazing author that is full of spiritual wisdom :)

[Sierra · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's a bit insulting that she says she's writing to my generation. I've met a ton of young people who are way more intuitive and gifted than her writing suggests. The fact that she calls spiritual practices "woo woos" grinds my gears like no other.

She said she wrote the book because she googled "how to be spiritual" and got no answers. This book is clearly not the answer. A better google search (or even Pinterest) would give better info than this book without the annoying valley girl language.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is just starting my spiritual journey (at 31 years old) I felt this was a good starter book. It is not SO in depth that I found myself lost or unable to follow the basic points made but had a good bit of information so I could decide what I wanted to focus on next in my soul searching and what could be later on down the road. Its got a very basic rundown of various new age and spiritual topics. I found it extremely helpful.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book if you are interested in Yoga, Aromatherapy, Tarot and all the good stuff! The book is really well and funny written! It is easy to understand and perfect for beginners! Emma Mildon covers a lot of spiritual topics, so you can dive deeper into every topic you felt interested after this book! It is the second time I read it and I always get back to it! ♡
Emma Mildon is just awesome! ♡

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book honestly spoke to me on so many levels. It was just the thing I needed at the time when I started reading. A book about embracing love and listening to your soul, I think it's something everyone could benefit from! A great book to help focus and center me and a great way to start the new year!

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seemed promising but was a bit too scattered. I understand the author wanted to cover all manner of metaphysical topics but the overview approach might've resulted in her biting off more than she could chew. Still, enjoyable in parts.

[Yogini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny, practical take on Spirituality 101. A must read for all Yogis.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so very much! I read other reviews that said that each topic wasn't covered in depth, but I think that has something to do with the wide range of topics that were explored. The author discussed new age practices (including, but not limited to) crystals, feng shui, yoga, meditation, astrology, numerology, past life regression, and aromatherapy. I looked at this book as a jumping off point. It informs you on the basics, and you need to explore what interests you. The author's writing style was casual and funny. My only complaint, is that I wish she would have shared more of her personal experiences. Definitely worth a read though, and a book I will come back to, I'm sure. Remember, to approach it with an open mind :)

[Kaylee Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read about all of the different facets of spirituality and alternative ideas. While some may not agree with all of the topics Emma brought about, I thought it was nice to have a list of all of the different options available to me. I knew there were things that I had wanted to try but the whole topic seemed overwhelming to me and I never dived in. This book helped simplify new things I could try and gave me a list of where to start. It was a good book that anyone looking to give their spirit or soul ease and rest should definitely pick up!

[Allysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

You obviously need to be open-minded about the "woo-woo" to pick up this book and give it a chance. It inspired me to learn more about crystals, numerology, and chakras, but more importantly it was a nice reminder that the universe is full of forces we may not understand so it's ok if we don't feel like we have it all figured out. I'm glad I bought a copy so I can keep it as a reference for new ideas when I'm feeling stuck.

[Riane Kandia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to the endless ways that we can open our minds to spirituality. I really appreciated how the sections were broken up, and that it allows you to continue to have a curiosity about a topic. This book has been a gateway to the different paths of spirituality that now I am intrigued to learn more about. Definitely would recommend if you want an introduction to spirituality and how to incorporate in your everyday life!

[Camila Bousquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very much a “choose your own adventure” book.

It delves into a myriad of soul searching practices, offers a somewhat unbiased rating and opinion, and encourages you to dive deeper into what speaks to you.

Definitely a book you want to highlight as you go so you can see what speaks to you.

I’ve only started exploring some practices and have made a select few part of my daily routine.

Looking forward to referring back to this book as I go!

[Sara Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just liked this book okay. It was clearly written for the “Instagram influencer” crowd in that it was just easily digestible bites of ideas without much substance; not that this is a bad thing- indeed, giving tiny bits of big ideas is a great way to introduce things to curious people. I was just hoping for a little more. But the writing was approachable, the writing style was friendly, and I would definitely give this book to someone just starting out in their explorations of the “woo”.

[Nicole Plumridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun way to be introduced to the broad topic of spirituality. It is full of insights and fascinating stories. I truly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in starting a spiritual journey. It covers a wide variety of different spiritual rituals and holistic practices. The author writes in a funny, lighthearted way which makes you feel as if you are having a conversation with an old friend.

[Mellissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing style was overly conversational (flippant at times) and when it is combined with such a high level overview of all things new-age it's just not ... well, it's just not my cup of tea. I didn't understand the point of her rating system, especially after reading her intro - try it for yourself message. Happy I borrowed this from the library.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been "reading" this book for basically 2 years... couldn't make it past the first few chapters. I'm sure there's some good information in there, but there's something about the way that it's written that I don't connect with. If you're looking for details on crystals and other westernized healing methods, dive right in! Good reference for that type of stuff.

[Codie O’Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There were some really interesting chapters but I wish that there was even more information in it. I liked in some chapters how she refers to her experiences and what she did but I feel like not every chapter needed this. Other than this I think it was a great read and would definitely recommend anyone to read it.

[Stephy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Soul Searcher's Handbook" is as the tittle says a handbook of sorts for people trying to navigate this new spirituality concepts that have been prompting into out lives and from which many times we do not know nothing about it.

As I have commented on some of my previous reviews I have been trying to connect with my soul or spirituality much more. I think it is an importan part of life I have never payed attention to, since being a rational mind as myself religion has never click with me, and lets be honest in this country we are just starting to open to new ways of spirituality cause somehow people see as normal to believe in unknown unheard god, but if you belive in the universe, karma, herbs, crystals or anything else you are nuts (crazy huh!). Therefore, I just wanted a hit of those things and dive in into what I think resonates with me the most. This was exactly that, from yoga, to aromatherapy, to crystals, everything in one place. 

You guessed it, I loved this book. It met its purpose perfectly gave me hints into things I want to dive in and things into what I am sure I do not feel like trying. The book was also really useful in the way it was set it up, since the author made scales as if it was something she would recommend trying or not so much, as well as, how "crazy" "woo-woo" was it. The only negative thing I found was that there were things that interested me that the author did not explore as much, however it was more than complete, no one can try everything. 

If you do not know what your soul id searching for aim for this book to help you find some interesting things about practices maybe you have not even think about.

[Poetic Diva504 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book includes lots of insights on knowledge of self and self-love. Insights are practical, and categorized based on belief systems and moral philosophy. I gave it 3 stars because I do not agree with some things in this book. I'd rather not debate religion or philosophy because subjects like those are personal and individualized.

[Whitney Pittsenbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second time going through this book. The first was at the very beginning of an awakening and this was the life preserver in my sea of craziness. I picked it up again and am delving deeper. I really enjoy this book it touches on everything a little bit. And in real life format, not unreachable hippy stuff.

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was the equivalent of butter sandwich made with soggy white wonder bread and margarine spread. Soulless and without hardly any shred of substance. The language was so dumbed-down and hokey. I get that the author was trying to make the spiritual less “woo-woo” and more accessible, but it really turned me off.