The Warrior Heart Practice: A Simple Process to Transform Confusion into Clarity and Pain into Peace

by HeatherAsh Amara

“This book is a reflection of a warrior putting into practice all that she has learned, the moment when knowledge turns into wisdom, in order to heal a heart that is not afraid to love.”
— Don Miguel Ruiz Jr, author of The Mastery of Self & The Five Levels of Attachment

In this continuation of the Warrior Goddess path, author HeatherAsh Amara shares a revolutionary new method to help you reconnect with your sense of authenticity and power.

Too often we allow old narratives—about past failures, broken relationships, or damaging experiences—to define us, depleting our joy, limiting our passion, and whispering the poisonous lie that we are not enough.

The Warrior Heart Practice is a revolutionary new method that will help you reevaluate those well-worn narratives and shift your thinking and intentions in a new, empowered way. Based on the four divisions of the heart, the practice leads you forward through the four chambers of experience—Feeling, Story, Truth, Intent—gently questioning your own assumptions along the way, and then back through the chambers in the reverse, so that you emerge armed with a clear understanding of your situation and a new sense of purpose and power.

For those who have loved and lived Warrior Goddess Training and readers who are searching for a new freedom, The Warrior Heart Practice offers an inner revolution and a new path towards freedom.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Spirituality

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Amara has spent the last three decades weaving together earth-based wisdom, mindfulness, and practical strategies for creative, courageous, and compassionate individual and community change. She is the author of 9 books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training series and The Seven Secrets of Happy and Healthy Relationships with don Miguel Ruiz Jr.

Her newest book, Wild, Willing, and Wise: An Interactive Guide for When to Paddle, When to Rest, and When to Jump Naked into the River of Life will be released July 30th through St. Martin's Essentials.

When she’s home, HeatherAsh plants her feet in New Mexico but as a lifelong nomad, she spends most of her time traveling, teaching, and writing in cafes around the world.

Reviews

[Mama Cass aka Bookhugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes, things plop in your lap when the universe decides, hey, YOU need this. Now. ? This was one of those. Through NetGalley, I was able to receive an ARC of The Warrior Heart Practice. If you know me at all, you know I have been through all kinds of hell as a kid and have paid for it in my adult life. I work hard at the idea of "Rise above Your Raising" and believe wholeheartedly in the connection of body, mind and soul. As an adult I have worked on my PTSD trauma using a fantastic therapist who specializes in PTSD using EMDR methods. I have graduated from a top notch massage school, learned Trauma Touch Therapy and have my own massage business. What I'm trying to say is that I am doing well.

Now, the universe plopped this book down in my lap and wow, what an amazing life-changing book! If you want to get through your emotions, this is the one to read. Four chambers in the heart: Feeling (What am I feeling?), Story (What is the story I am telling myself?), Truth (What is true?), and Intent (What is my intent for this situation?). Based on Totec Wisdom, referring The Four Agreements, adding with the teaching of Big Soul and Little Soul and how to learn what is true and what to create and how, by moving through each chamber. Mind-blowing book and I encourage reading it. Fantastic author, fantastic writing. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this opportunity.

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational, insightful, motivating, heartfelt.

The Warrior Heart Practice is an invaluable book to own so far it's helping me in numerous ways of improving my life. The book follows the Toltec teachings of the big and little soul with four chambers, feelings, story, truth, intent. It's simple, easy to follow, and easy to read. I liked how the author Heatherash Amara thoroughly explains her background and what led her to this type of teaching.

The author has additional helpful details on her website including how to get certified in the Warrior Heart Practice and spiritual getaways that center on these teachings.

In the beginning I thought the process seemed too easy and didn't make sense but by the time I reached chapter 3, everything made sense. Beautiful book that helps a persons soul to become more connected with the self, environment, and others.

[Bookgypsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've struggled with depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD most of my life. This book is very informative and a great resource for learning to process the effects of pain. Its well written and easy to understand and put into practice.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents an effective framework for processing virtually anything in your life. I'll use this as a tool well into the future, so giving it 5 stars for impact.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a GR Giveaway.

When I first started reading this, I was having a bit of trouble with visualizing the four chambers and the idea of moving through them. However, as a processed what I was reading, it I realized that allowing yourself to feel your feelings (without judgement) and to really think about the stories that you tell yourself is actually a really good practice to have. So in the midst of all the little soul/big soul stuff I struggled with, the essence of this book is simple-- What do I feel? What have I told myself? What is the truth? What do I want? So many times people get stuck on the stories and inner voice and jump to conclusions or false beliefs, which they hold onto throughout their entire lives. The Warrior Heart Practice could help with that.

I really liked the end, when the author spoke about the 3 attentions and spiritual smugness. That resonated with me, as I know I have been there (when I was younger, I was very judgemental-- I was idealistic and I thought other people just didn't care enough about the world. Sometimes I still struggle a bit with this, if I am being honest. I have loved ones who are currently very smug in their beliefs and also very unhappy with themselves and the world around them, and the anger they radiate gets in the way of the good message they are trying to send.

I thought the outline of steps for using the practice with kids was well-written, and agree that it is super important that children are allowed to feel and recognize all of their emotions. I also love the idea of teaching kids to state a truth about the story rather than focusing on the feelings and conclusions that their mind has created. As a teacher and parent, I would love to be able to pass this skill on to the children I know.

I simply read the book and did not actually try any of the practices, but as I go over them more in my mind I may attempt to sit with my feelings and use some of the practices outlined.

[Naomi Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warrior Heart Practice has transformed my life in such profound ways! I’m still processing the magnitude of change I’ve experienced within. It is a practice I use multiple times a day to catch the story before it has time to gather momentum and steal away my dreams.

As a survivor of complex traumas, I’ve had numerous long standing stories around why painful things had happened to me. These stories negatively impacted my life in how I communicated with myself and the world around me. Many times it happened on a subconscious level, some moments lasting seconds while others lasting hours, possibly even days depending on the depth of the wounded story.

The life changing moment happened when I walked myself from the story chamber (I will be victimized again and there’s nothing I can do about it – cue deep feelings of hopelessness) and into the truth chamber (The world isn’t always safe, period.). In that moment, the many attachments to the story like chains holding me down fell away. I was no longer burdened by the script I had written for myself. I was able to see that my suffering stemmed from my deep attachment to the story and although compelling and dramatic, it was just that – a story.

I had used that story as a safety mechanism for years but in actuality it didn’t make me safe. It kept me stuck in a space that fed off of victimhood and kept me separated from others therefore becoming the antithesis of what I’ve always wanted – trust & belonging.

I have a hard copy and kindle version of this book and have already purchased 10 for my mom, sister, coworkers and close friends. I trust the accounts of life changing transformations will continue as this book and the Warrior Heart Practice spreads.

[Telisha Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warrior Heart Practice was the book that I didn't know I needed to read, until I did. As a survivor, spiritual seeker and human committed to healing + self-development I have tried many practices over the years, yet in all it's practicality the Warrior Heart practice has been one of the most profound and impactful.

HeatherAsh Amara is incredibly impactful at making ancient wisdom relevant in our modern times. She is a vivid story teller and gets to the heart of issues in this book with ease and grace. The vulnerability with which she shares her (and others) personal journey with the practice is powerful medicine.

This book provides a big picture map and a practical tool that can be used immediately to begin the journey of allowing for emotional release and inner spaciousness. Using this practice has allowed me to begin to let go of a lifetime (if not generations) of repressed emotions, layers of trauma, old stories and unhealthy agreements. I am noticing an increase in creativity, calmness in my day to day living no matter the external conditions and more intimacy with my self and other beings. I finally feel empowered and capable in beginning to release much childhood trauma and am finding immense gratitude in this life I get to live.

This is the book that needed to be birthed in these times by this creatrix. It is a gift to all humans.

[Tiffany Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warrior Heart Practice is a wonderful read. While the book itself is a quick read once you start to do the practices and the work through each chamber of the warrior heart you will teansform yourself and how you see the world. You will be more at peace. I came across this book at just the right time. It is exactly what I needed. Each of the chapters goes over a chamber, the feeling chamber, the story, the truth chamber, and finally the intent chamber. There are practices for each chamber and how to put it to use in your life. I would recommend this book if you want to live a more peaceful life and one that is from the heart.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

[Louise Foerster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through The Warrior Heart Practice, HeatherAsh Amara provides gentle, powerful guidance and insight into living a life filled with vitality, joy, and self-awareness. Her warm, authoritative words felt like sharing a cup of tea with a dear friend, sharing joys and sorrows and ups and downs and receiving compassionate listening as well as smart, actionable advice. I knew nothing about Toltec wisdom until this book and admire how Amara has taken years of practice including triumphs and fails and offered a practical, reality-based approach that connects heart, body, mind, and spirit. A terrific, transformational read!

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.

This is well-written and engaging read, and is definitely to be savored and put to use, rather then zipping through it. The author writes with emotion, but also sensibleness when it comes to helping yourself. The stories from other people were interesting and emotional, and helpful, because, unfortunately, there are so many ways people are hurt, but can still heal. This is a great workbook to go through.

[Cal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like divine intervention for me. I won a copy of the book and it took me a bit to really give it a chance. A page here, a page there and then I realized this book was just what I needed to help me through a traumatic time in my life! I was stuck in a rut mentally and this book has given me a new outlook on life! This is a very inspiring way to move past the times in life we tend to get hung up on. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone!

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won the ARC of this book from a goodreads giveaway.

This is an excellent book to pick up if you really want to be able to work through your emotions, get to the root of your feelings, and to release them. I absolutely love the idea of the four chambers - Feeling (What am I feeling?), Story (What is the story I am telling myself?), Truth (What is true?), and Intent (What is my intent for this situation?). This will be a practice that I incorporate into my life regularly.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great source/ wonderful teacher to help one with the illnesses and disorders of the recent century. It is good "Practice". A great book to keep and use for future reference to fight back at our afflictions and troubled heart.

[Bobbi Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of wisdom

[Sharon S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow in two days. 💖💖💖 Loved it.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Essentials for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I confess. When I got through the introduction and chapter 1 I thought that perhaps I might abandon the book. Not because it was poorly written but because I wasn't sure I needed to read any more. It seemed like all I would be getting out of the book was contained in that first bit. But I decided to keep reading, just to see how Amara unpacked the material she was sharing. I'm glad I stuck with it. I really resonated with her warrior heart practices. It's one of those books that I am done reading, for now. But I am clearly not done with it. I will be revisiting this book and the wisdom in it.

What HeatherAsh shares just makes so much sense on both emotional and physical levels. Part of my hesitation in continuing past the first chapter was the woo-woo heavy material. I'm not against woo-woo at all but it felt almost like a little too much. However, either I adjusted to it or she lightened up on it (or a combination of both) because during the rest of the book it didn't seem all that heavy on the woo-woo. :)

Amara shares how to travel (figuratively of course) through four chambers when a situation or a habit or whatever is distressing and clearly unhealthy. Feeling, Story, Truth, and Intent. Her unpacking of each chamber and the purpose of going through each contains practical and intentional wisdom. She isn't dry in her reasoning but very warm and relational. It didn't feel foreign to me, these travels, but then again I have been in therapy off and on for the majority of my life so perhaps that is why I am quite comfortable sitting in discomfort to arrive at a healthier mindset. For some who haven't experienced therapy and/or many chances to feel their feelings this practice could be very uncomfortable at first.

Regardless of the terminology Amara uses, the astute observance of what all humans experience in emotional distress or unsettling circumstances is spot on. You can call it whatever you want but we all experience feeling, stories about people and feelings, what those stories and feelings tell us is true, and what we choose to do because of the previous three. The decision we need, and I believe it is a literal need, to make is are the stories and truth accurate, or are they masquerading as accurate when they are far from reality? HeatherAsh and her warrior heart practice walk us through determining reality. It's really very good.

[Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won an advanced copy of The Warrior Heart Practice via a Goodreads giveaway under the premise that I would read it and offer my honest opinion.

My honest opinion is that this book is terrible, if only because it doesn’t meet my standards as far as self-help or psychological help -however you want to call it. I may be responding harshly, but I honestly felt that this book was nonsense meant to tap into the growing number of people with self-esteem issues or attachment issues to buy and earn money from. I’m way too young to be saying this, but it read like hippy nonsense to me. I have a degree in psychology. To me, the only people who could possibly respond positively to this book are people suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder or others with a history of dysfunctional interpersonal relationships. And even then, I’m not sure how helpful this book would be for them.

I see that others have given this book 5 stars, so this just may not be my cup of tea. I am a more pragmatic person though. I guess I prefer a more Dr. Jordan Peterson type style than this. The author of this book has no psychology background that I can see and appears to rely heavily on shamanism and other such occultism, per the About Author section at the back of the book. And it is VERY obvious by the way the book is written. This is not what I thought the book was when I entered the contest to win a copy. I was under the impression that it read more like a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) book. I sure was wrong. Sorry to leave such a terrible review, but I promised to be honest. This kind of book may help a certain small subgroup of people working through therapy, but as a side, private thing. This is not professional work.

[Lorena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a lot to love about this book. HeatherAsh Amara is a kind, compassionate teacher. I really like her Warrior Heart process, which is simple but potentially very powerful. I think it could be helpful for almost anyone, especially since she provides guidance in the appendix for those with special needs: children, those who have been traumatized, those with mental illness (or in relationship with someone who has a mental illness), and those with a chronic physical illness.

The author explains her process clearly and provides plenty of anecdotes that aid understanding. I appreciated the variety of exercises to facilitate the Warrior Heart practice. You can also download a free PDF copy of her Warrior Heart Practice Sheet from her website (no signup required).

There were only a couple of things I wasn’t crazy about. One was the explanation of the Little Soul and Big Soul in the first chapter—that was a bit difficult for me to relate to. The other was her discussion of the three attentions, which relies on her Little Soul/Big Soul model. Otherwise, I found the book easy to understand and relate to.

In addition to the guidance for those with special needs, the appendix includes a glossary of terms, information about emotions, and resources for working with mental illness or trauma. I also enjoyed the quotes sprinkled throughout the text.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in emotional healing and living intentionally.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

[Jess Macallan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed Ms. Amara's writing, and The Warrior Heart Practice is another empowering addition to her work. This practice centers around she calls the four chambers--Feeling, Story, Truth, and Intent. She takes you through each chamber with stories, questions, exercises, and compassion. Each section is designed to help readers understand what's holding them back, what's truth vs. story, and dig deep to determine what they truly want. She recommends reading the book in its entirety, then circling back to the exercises as needed.

The exercises are simple yet powerful options to help readers get closer to clearing the emotional or energetic baggage that might prevent them from moving forward in life and relationships. I appreciate that she acknowledges the need for readers who've been traumatized to work with the right professional and possibly take a different path with the exercises. The exercises won't be easy, but they're designed to work for everyone--she even includes a section for teaching children and teens.

I'm happy I started 2020 with this book, and recommend it for anyone who wants to take a heart-focused journey to reconnect with their inner self.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read another of HeatherAsh Amaras books just before reading this one, and I watched her online videos as well. that said, this book does a fine job as a stand alone. I might suggest you have some recognition of the book The Four Agreements or some knowledge of Toltic wisdom before you best appreciate this brief volume, but it is not necessary.
Using her own personal, at times, raw and painful experiences, as well as those of others who shared with her, Ms. Amara illustrates the four chambers of The Warrior`s Heart ( similar to rooms or areas of understanding) and how this process involves moving from one to another.
It is a healing process, a growth process and a process of discovery.
Everyone who reads this book will get something different from it but overall it helps each reader, especially those who do the exercises, to find clarity and move forward in reconnecting with the larger picture and a greater Universal force.

I am grateful to the author, Net Galley and St. Martin`s Press for my copy to read. I purchased my own copy of the author`s previous book. This review is my own opinion.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I was attracted to the book because it sounded like a way to find clarity and peace. I was right. The book shows a way to combat the muddy rivers of our mind. I read the whole book without doing the exercises but thinking of what I wanted to use it on. Now I will start the process. In thinking about some smaller issues as I was reading, I have already gained clarity on those. This gives me confidence it will work on bigger ones. I have two people that I think will like this book too so I will share it with them.

[Reading For Funs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received The Warrior Heart Practice: A Simple Process to Transform Confusion into Clarity and Pain into Peace through a Goodreads Giveaway.

The Warrior Heart Practice was a beautiful book that helped me in extraordinarily simple ways. I might not adopt all of its teachings, but it did offer me a new way to look at life. I suffer from extreme anxiety with accompanying panic attacks, but this book helped to calm me down when things get tough. I'll always appreciate this book for that reason.

[Michelle Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Warrior Heart Practice by HeatherAsh Amara is a story about four aspects of each situation in our lives:
- Feeling (What am I feeling?)
- Story (What is the story I am telling myself?)
- Truth (What is true?)
- Intent (What is my intent for this situation?)

This practice can be incorporated into everyday life. It has helping me to improving my life. I have found additional information on the author’s website.

[Jennifer]

This book was extremely helpful! I am still working on my PTSD and anxiety and this book gave me steps to take to change my way of thinking and feeling. Each chamber is discussed one at a time. And as you finish with the first chamber you then move on the next.
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression and/or PTSD, this book is for you!

[Tara Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Warrior Heart Practice is a fantastic book! Heather Ash Amara provides a clear path towards untangling stories from emotion to help get more clear about what is true and what we want to create. I have worked through the process multiple times now, to help get clarify on different challenges I have faced, and it has helped me immensely each time. I can't recommend this book enough.

[Jenny Whetzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The process written in this book makes sense to me, yet it doesn't. I will have to re-read this again at a different time. I noticed I had a difficult time staying present while reading this. I'm just not feeling this book, which surprises me considering I like the authors other books and was excited for this to come out.

[Franchesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple practice based on the four chambered structure of the human heart. Starting with the feeling chamber, where you sit with your feelings and learn to accept them without judgment, and moving through the story as you have been telling it to yourself, the truth chamber where the story is broken down to facts alone (without adding in feelings or story) getting to the heart of what is real in the situation, and then moving on to the intent chamber, defining how you wish to go about further handling your situation. After you have thoroughly explored each chamber, taking this new knowledge and insight, we go backward through each of the chambers to get an even clearer view of the entire picture. Full of helpful techniques and ideas to help you through the process, and examples of every day situations through stories of others who have learned and use the Warrior Heart Practice. A great method for learning how to take a step back and observe your situation, whatever it may be, from a different perspective and gain clarity moving forward.

This review is of an ARC I won in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Warrior Heaty Practice is simply written and easy to understand and will help those who need to transform pain into peace.
The author breaks things down about the ideology of the practice and then the different components. These then work together to make the Warrior Heart Practice. It is concise and well written.
As a self-help book, this wasn’t particularly helpful for me. My issues ae being handled by a different system. But I was glad to read about this and learn the practice. I can definitely see how this can help me transform confusion into clarity.

I received an ARC through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

[Maurynne Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reworked version of the 4 Agreements made more complex for the yoga set. If you’re a child of privilege, you’ll relate to the examples and personal stories. If you’ve done any spiritual investigation and work on your own, you don’t need this book. If you’re still a seeker and dabbler, you’ll find some kind of inspiration.