KIRKUS Review of Living from the Soul:
“A dense, thorough guide that alternates philosophical musings with concrete suggestions.”
Read the complete review on Kirkus site.
“If you are looking for a deeper connection to your soul, you will find an abundance of inviting open doorways to explore in Living from the Soul. Dr. Lavretsky, a distinguished integrative psychiatrist, generously shares a vast range of healing and spiritual practices from her decades of scholarly research, study of wisdom traditions, and personal experience. This transformative journey will ground you in deeper purpose, soul connection and authentic living.
—Elissa Epel, PhD
Professor, UCSF, author of The Stress Prescription
“Professor Helen Lavretsky is a distinguished clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist at UCLA, one who understands deeply what makes life ultimately worth living — the spirituality born of purpose and meaning, of love for others and for oneself. Living from the Soul provides a remarkable journey into the convergence of contemporary brain science and well-being. It does so at multiple levels of brain networks and functioning, as these affect and are affected by spiritual practices, such as yoga, prayer, stillness, and contemplation. The book is rich with easy to understand observational and experimental data, portrayed with illustrations from the Lavretsky laboratory. This is a book of great moment, addressing the need to harmonize, to re-integrate humanism within medical science. As such it is a gift to clinicians, patients, care givers, medical scientists, social scientists, cultural anthropologists, and general readers — anyone seeking to awaken fully to the beauty and joy of being alive in the midst of manifold uncertainties.”
—Charles F. Reynolds III MD
Distinguished emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and UPMC Endowed Professor in Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Recipient, Pardes Humanitarian Prize in Mental Health (2016), Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
“This book masterfully weaves neuroscience, psychiatry, and spirituality into a hopeful vision of advanced human development. Grounded in research yet rich with wisdom, it shows how awakening, or living from the soul, affects the brain, mental health, and spiritual purpose. It is both intellectually illuminating and deeply nourishing for anyone longing to integrate science, spirit, and lived experience.”
—Connie Zweig
author, The Inner Work of Age and Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path
“Living from the Soul is a rare and timely book that thoughtfully bridges ancient spiritual wisdom with modern neuroscience. Drawing on years of clinical and s scientific scholarship, Helen Lavretsky demonstrates that spiritual awakening—often viewed as ineffable—can be understood as a measurable, transformative brain-based process. With clarity, compassion, and rigor, she offers an integrative framework linking inner experience to healing, meaning, and resilience. This book will resonate with clinicians, researchers, and all seekers interested in an evidence-informed understanding of human flourishing.”
—Dilip V. Jeste, MD
Director, Global Research Network on Social Determinants of Mental Health and Exposomics
President-Elect, World Federation for Psychotherapy
Editor-in-Chief, International Psychogeriatrics
”Living From the Soul by Dr. Lavretsky is a must read for anyone aspiring to succeed in their spiritual quest and thirst for higher consciousness. A crowning achievement by a true leader in the field of spirituality and health.”
—Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
President/Medical Director, Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation
Prevention Editor, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
“Living from the Soul: the neuroscience of spiritual awakening, takes the reader through a unique journey based in neuroscience and Asian philosophy, to understand the Soul and how it evolves. Helen Lavretsky MD, a conventionally trained professor of psychiatry, brings her years of valuable, neuroscience research on aging and yoga to the topic. As the reader understands the Soul’s evolution, they can grow in acceptance and self-efficacy to meet life’s challenges and even face death unfazed.
An empowering read!”
—Dr. Shirley Telles, PhD, MBBS, MPhil, is a research advisor at the Patanjali Research Foundation in Haridwar, India (Neuroscience)
“A luminous weaving of neuroscience and spirit, this book offers not just a theory, but a living pathway home. By grounding profound spiritual insights in rigorous scientific observation — from fMRI studies to epigenetic changes — it masterfully rebuilds the bridge between the soul and modern psychiatry. The author’s unique perspective, born from both clinical expertise and deep personal awakening. reframes trauma, resilience, and healing as sacred journeys of consciousness. This is more than a guide; it is an invitation to remember who you are, to reclaim your voice as a creator, and to live from that place of sovereign inner light. A timely, courageous, and deeply healing work for anyone ready to move beyond the symptom management into soul-level transformation”
—Anna Yousim, MD
Author “Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life”
Clinical Assistant Professor, Yale University, School of Medicine
Co-Founder, Yale Mental Health and Spirituality Center
Chief Medical Officer, Conscious Health
“We live in a world dominated by materialistic life goals, which are well known to be ultimately unsatisfying with respect achieving a gratifying life purpose and meaning and quality of life. About a quarter of the US population are known to have engaged in contemplative mind-body practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, tai chi, breathwork, etc., and this prevalence is growing. Although initial reasons for practice are focused on fitness, stress, wellness and therapy, many regular practitioners begin to experience contemplative transcendental states of consciousness that lead to an increase in their experience of overall spirituality. Spirituality then becomes a strong and important reason for continuing practice. This book is by a leading neuroscientist, mind-body medicine researcher, UCLA professor and psychiatrist who has herself engaged deeply in these practices. She shares suggested practices and discusses practical issues and challenges and also provides a wealth of comprehensive and detailed information on the psychophysiology, neuroscience, psychology and philosophy of spirituality and transcendental states, and the importance of these for achieving true happiness and a fulfilling and rewarding life.”
—Sat Bir S. Khalsa, Ph.D.
Corresponding Member of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Director of Research, Kundalini Research Institute
Editor in Chief, International Journal of Yoga Therapy of the International Association of Yoga Therapists
Editor, The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care
“Inspiring, informative, and timely, Living from the Soul explores multi-cultural healing systems, soul connection, global consciousness, mind-body medicine, neuroscience and genomics. Using many pathways to recover from trauma, Kundalini crisis, and cancer, Dr. Lavretsky’s intuition led her to spiritual awakening and health. Balancing scientific evidence and hypotheses, with critical attention to potential adverse effects, she presents a menu of treatment choices from forest bathing to neuromodulation, allowing each person to choose what feels right.”
—Patricia L. Gerbarg, MD, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, New York Medical College and Richard P. Brown, MD,Associate Professor in Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Co-authors of The Healing Power of the Breath
“Our world is in desperate need of a soul-based approach to our collective happiness and wellbeing. In this brave combination of her own soul’s map and guidance for those who are craving to build their own individualized plan for the Soul to be front and center, Dr Helen Lavretsky invites each of us to prioritize the illumination of our own Soul to fulfill our life’s purpose. Filled with both science and soul, Living from the Soul is chock full of guidance and purpose. It is a rare clinician who has the resolve to put her truth front and center for the rest of us. Living from the Soul will guide clinicians and patients alike to seek the soul in their practices- from medicine to meditation, and the mindfulness of everyday life.”
—Stacey Simmons, PhD, LMFT
Author of The Queen’s Path: A Revolutionary Guide to Women’s Empowerment and Sovereignty and Mushroom Pharmacy: A Practical Guide to Psychedelic Mushrooms
