The Seasonal Soul: A Mystic's Guide to Inner Transformation

by Lauren Aletta

Spiritual teacher Lauren Aletta takes readers through metaphorical "seasons" of personal growth and illuminates the ways your springs, summers, autumns, and winters provide opportunities for insight, healing, transformation, and rejuvenation. Brimming with mystical practices and hundreds of evocative illustrations, The Seasonal Soul is an enchanting guide to self-discovery.

• Enriching practices and advice, including self-care rituals, crystal and chakra guides, and journaling exercises
• Eye-catching, shimmery package with black dyed edges

Fans of Everyday Magic , Crystals , and The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck and Guidebook will love this book.

This book is ideal
• Modern mystics
• Spiritually curious
• Anyone on a path of self-discovery

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help, New Age, Magick, Occult, Paganism

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the content of this book is a bit too simplified, I am giving it an extra star because the design and illustrations are stunning.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

This year I happily re-read The Seasonal Soul, and I know it's a book I will keep returning to. The workbook format makes it very accessible and I know many readers will be putting post-its and notes in it, for those really helpful exercises that need revisiting, just like I've done.

I hope that Lauren Aletta will keep writing books for us because she is an incredible source when it comes to energy and intuitive soul work. She is the fresh voice that is needed today when many spiritual books just keep on regurgitating the same old tired phrases. Lauren never serves you "this is the way it is. Period". - she always offers her perspective and then encourages you to find your own authentic one. Just like every good teacher should! This book takes you on a journey to get to know your own soul and it's something all of us can benefit from.

[Lauren Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author uses the seasons as a metaphor for the natural cycles of personal growth and spiritual development we experience throughout our lives. From the back cover:

Winter: A time to heal, characterized by low energy and feeling lost or uninspired.
Spring: A time of rejuvenation, characterized by bursts of creativity and a lust for new adventures.
Summer: A time of action, characterized by confidence, high energy, and productivity.
Autumn: A time of reflection, characterized by feeling unfulfilled and lethargic.

Lauren Aletta leads the reader through these seasons of the soul, offering beautiful illustrations, poetry, prompts and tools for introspection, insight, and healing such as crystals, meditations, writing prompts, and energy work. Some of these concepts are not new, but they are presented in a way that is refreshing and creative. She also offers some new perspectives such as: working with your "soul team," similar to inner child work, parts work, or Internal Family Systems; considering your "life pillars" and how they may shift over time in terms of importance.

As an avid reader of spiritual and personal growth books I found this to be an enjoyable read with tools I can use as I go through life's transitions. As an artist, I appreciate the detailed, heartfelt illustrations that frame the book and provide inspiration.

[Amy in the Desert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Misleading. Not ACTUALLY about the seasons, but times of personal transformation

[Angy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In terms of organization and design, this is certainly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, maintaining its lovely aesthetic from beginning to end. I also appreciate the consistency when it comes to sticking to the topic, comparing the cycles that one goes through in life regarding depression and change to the four seasons of autumn, winter, spring, summer. I find that metaphor useful, but also too simplistic when it comes to discussing inner transformation. Overall, this book had some good prompts and a bit of helpful advice, but I don't think it ever really dug deep into anything. I like the elements of magick that were included such as chakra and crystal healing, but they were rather simplified. The Seasonal Soul can be found in a lot of metaphysical stores, but I don't think it's a particularly witchy book, more so a glorified self-help book. Still, I think it is valuable and I will be giving my copy to some non-witch friends of mine.

[Megan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was as stunning and beautiful as it was insightful and illuminating. We all go through natural cycles, and often are experiencing cycles within cycles in various parts of our lives.

Lauren Aletta outlines each of these seasonal cycles, and what we might expect within each. You may very well find yourself nodding along while reading this one--recognizing familiar sensations and patterns you have already experienced within your life.

Please pick up a physical copy of this book! The artwork is simply stunning, and this is one you'll want to reference for many years to come.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

ended up questioning myself pretty often through the book: What is she talking about?! 🤔
The author keeps on stating things through the book. Instead suggesting.. Might be u feel so and so, may be it feels like such and such..

Instead it's all about statements:

Winter chapter: "a threatening, stalking, yet elusive shadow follows you everywhere u go", "money fear. Love fear. Friendship fear.", "a struggle is at hand", "you have almost lost control", "winter is not without its dangers"... Etc etc etc

So I keep on reading and wondering - what is she talking about 🤷‍♀️🤔

Winter is cozy. Winter is nice and comfy. It's time to slow down, to go with the slow pace, to turn inwards, to nurture the soul, to listen more, to talk less, to heal more to move less. Gain more, spend less. Observe, contemplate, look back at your last year, look forward - new year is coming, new beginnings r awaiting in spring. Nurture your soul, listen to your body and its needs. Do journaling and go within. Awaken, call sometimes for your inner child to come up "on surface" by enjoying white snow, skiing and skating, making snowman, running around with your kids or dog, taking pictures with your family n friends.. then come home take hot shower enjoy warm sweet tea with lemon and take quick nap.

Spend long dark cold evenings with some book which will help u to feel yourself, to understand and open up some new layers of your soul. Do journaling, analyzing, bringing memories... There are so many ways of enjoying winter and reaching out to psychological aspects of its deep contemplative vibes....
....and yet I read things like "Life deconstruction is the most extreme and dramatic version of winter", "don't forget to reach out to a friend or a therapist...",
".. Now u have reached a breaking point. There's barely a day or moment that goes by where u don't notice fear lurking under the surface"...

... Didn't get much of it
... Confusing

[Dodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first discovered Lauren Aletta through her indie deck. Unfortunately the deck was out of my price range so I got her book instead. It’s a thick book but reads at a good pace and there are many black and white line drawings that gives it a journal feel to it. The season soul makes a correction between person lifespan with the seasons. Also to recognize that different aspects of your life will be in different seasons, some will flow easier then others. Through out the seasons there are different exercises to help you to get unstuck. The exercises are a combination of some traditional western concepts like working with your inner child and then more esoteric tarot concepts like working with chakras.

Overall I liked the book. There were some exercises I liked more then others. At the back of the book there is an appendix of all of the chakra, crystals and oils I found helpful.

[Courtney Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into a book store seeking some material for practical witchcraft and left with this totally unrelated book because... I mean LOOK AT IT. The illustrations in this book are stunning. Just one flip through it’s pages had me hooked, not to mention the beautiful tidbits on self care rituals. I can see this being a great coffee table book for it’s visual aesthetic as well as a pick me up on a bad or low energy day.

[Dakota · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a tendency to think that I am much more in resistance to seasonal shifts than I actually am... but I suppose most of the populace IS, in fact very resistant to said seasonal shifts, so that can be forgiven. Otherwise, this book is great! It has seasonal activities, meditations, crystals, chakra work, and so much more!

[Juli Anna]

I like the idea behind this book and seasonality is a very important concept to me in all aspects of my life. But this book felt a little bit to gimmicky to me and I thought it could have been a third the length. I doubt I will be finishing this one at any point in the future.

[Becky Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this and will keep for my personal collection to read again.

[Cass Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my go-to for everytime I transition into a new season in my life. Great re-read with gorgeous artwork.

[Nicki Berens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. So beautiful, so insightful. I will definitely be re-reading it.