Hi Libby,
Thank you for sharing your story – it’s always interesting to me how our souls guide us from the inside through our outer experiences. Because the journey of the soul (which is what we call spirituality) is to ultimately learn about our true authentic self (self-realization) and become free (Nirvana in Buddhist language).

I like Deepak Chopra’s quote about religion versus spirituality: “Religion is belief in someone else’s experience. Spirituality is having your own experience.” There are Buddhists who are strictly religious and simply follow rituals; and there are Christians who are entirely spiritual who learn from their own inner experiences.

I love that you’ve used your outer experiences to start listening to your inner voice, your soul’s voice. It’s a strong, insistent voice isn’t it – and it’s leading you to your inner life.

I’ve read the Power of Now and loved it as well, although I like the layout of the New Earth (both by Eckhart Tolle, who’s not Buddhist but spiritual). And Deepak Chopra is another writer whose books you might enjoy. And if you’re interested in this line of thought, check out my website, see if it speaks to you: http://www.nestintheforest.com/

These types of conversations makes me come alive 🙂 So feel free to ask any more questions you have!
Namaste, Saiisha