BOOKS

by Stephanie Noble

“Stephanie Noble’s poems sing, whisper, and wink from the heart of a meditator’s journey. With vivid imagery, candor, and wisdom, Invitation to Insight honors both the quirky humanity and the glimmering mystery of the dharma path.”

—Anne Cushman, author of The Mama Sutra: A Story of Love, Loss, and the Path of Motherhood and Enlightenment for Idiots: A Novel

“Stephanie Noble’s strikingly honest poems focus a steady compassionate light on our ordinary days, with their requisite to-do lists, check-out lines, and imaginary getaway cars. Her poetic meditations reveal the humor, wisdom, and grace that can enter us when we let go and Let Them All Come In.”
~ Prartho Sereno, Marin County poet laureate emerita, author of Starfall in the Temple, Indian Rope Trick, and 3 other poetry collections.

From silence, words arise that guide us. No matter the tradition, it has always been so. Poems from spacious stillness resonate with our own wisdom, inspiring us. The poems in this book arose from days spent on silent meditation retreats and solitary walks in nature, listening, looking, and allowing the words to come. They are offered as an invitation to insight.

Asking In Reviews on Amazon

A simple, profound gift to oneself
“Although a short book, Asking In is not to be read through cover to cover in one sitting. The six questions provide a beautifully-crafted guide for you to gain insight into your life’s journey. In its simplicity, you can find clarity deep wisdom, and an understanding of one’s self. It can be used daily to find your truth, ease, peace, and path. Stephanie provides the tools and it’s up to you to take it where you will. As Stephanie so aptly and succinctly states this book “is a rewarding healthy habit of a lifetime”. For me, it has revealed much that’s right in front of me that I don’t often see. It’s like cleaning the windshield to see more clearly and the comfort that brings. As simple and terrific as that.”

Wonderful guide to inner journeying
“This book helped me learn more about myself and understand more clearly which of my values benefit my life and which ones do not. Self-reflection can sometimes be a hollow exercise, but this book brings a richness and depth to the practice of inner journeying that creates new experiences and insights each time I read it. I especially like the note-taking spaces because it demonstrates my growth and changes in a visible way.”

Bought six for my friends who are open to learning
“I really enjoyed the insights Ms. Noble presents in her book. It definitely gave me ways to be more mindful in my pursuit of understanding about myself and the world. I ordered five more copies to send to my family and friends because I think it is an important topic.”

A powerful guide for self-exploration!
“Asking In is a powerful, inspiring guide to self-exploration. I particularly appreciate its format that allows space for personal commentary on each question. I expect it is a book I will be reading over and over at different times in my life as the need arises.”

Helpful in stressful times
“Clear, inviting questions to open your heart and mind. Well written and helpful in stressful times and calm times, too.”

An important book
“You can use this inspiring book as a workbook to investigate beneath the surface of everyday situations and feelings. I love how clear and well-organized it is and how each chapter includes episodes from Stephanie’s life elucidating the inquiry she is inviting us to pierce. Can’t afford a therapist? This book is the next best thing. It’s short but dense with helpful ideas and, yes, really essential questions to guide our exploration.”

A succinct exploration guided by wisdom and compassion

“There are certainly thousands of books out there now on some combination of personal suffering, Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation. So many books, so little time—even in a pandemic, it seems. For me, Stephanie’s “Asking In” fills a unique niche in the genre. First, it’s succinct at 127 pages. She doesn’t beat around the bush with the historical or philosophical trappings of Buddhism; those can be fascinating, and she clearly knows those fields, but that’s not what this little book is about. It’s not a how-to-meditate guidebook, although there is a chapter at the end about getting started. Instead, this book is a pragmatic and compassionate guide to feeling better in your daily life, in your relationships, and in the social fabric of our world.

“Stephanie Noble’s six questions—refined, she writes, through many years of self-inquiry, meditation practice, and teaching meditation—are aimed at “any situation or quandary we may be in, and they prompt answers that free us to live joyfully with a sense of meaning and purpose.” They’re not one-off questions but are designed to be used again and again as our days bring new challenges (which they will never stop doing as long as we live!). One I know I’ll use a lot is question #2: “What am I afraid of?” Stephanie explores the roots of fear, the collateral damage it causes in our relationships and creativity, and the well-being that arises from investigating and befriending our fears with kindness.

“Asking In is kind of a workbook, actually, as there is space to write down your responses to the questions. I could see her turning this into a bona fide workbook, in a format with even more space to write. Also, a table of contents and index might make those return dives into the questions easier.

“Although Stephanie Noble isn’t a psychologist, for me at least, her insights have offered more “Aha!” moments than those of most of the (many) therapists I’ve spent money on over the years. She has an intuitive grasp of the human heart. In the chapter devoted to the question, “What are my gifts?,” Stephanie observes: “When we quiet down our busy lives and give our spacious attention to this moment, we may become aware of a quiet voice of infinite loving-kindness and wisdom. It has no sense of urgency. It never dictates. It simply offers guidance in the form of options.” With these words, Stephanie is actually describing her own compassionate and wise approach in this book.

(Not convinced? You can read more reviews on Amazon!)