A Guide for the Advanced Soul is a small pocket book compiled by Australian author Susan Hayward and first published in 1984. It gathers hundreds of quotations — spanning spiritual traditions, philosophers, poets, and mystics — into a single volume meant to be opened at random when the reader needs guidance.
The practice is simple: hold a question in mind, open the book to any page, and read what appears. This ancient form of divination — sometimes called bibliomancy — has been used with sacred texts for centuries. Hayward's contribution was to make the practice contemporary, secular, and accessible, drawing on voices from Rumi and Lao Tzu to Emerson and Krishnamurti.
Over four decades later, A Guide for the Advanced Soul remains widely loved. Readers return to it during transitions, decisions, grief, and moments of doubt. Its enduring appeal isn't in the answers it gives, but in the pause it invites — a small ritual of stopping, asking, and listening.
Susan Hayward went on to compile companion volumes including Bag of Jewels and Begin It Now, each following the same open-at-random format.
Soul Insight is inspired by that pocket-book practice. Instead of a physical book, you draw an insight from a curated library of reflective quotes, each chosen to meet you where you are. The intention is the same: a moment of stillness, a question held gently, and a line of text that helps you see a little more clearly.
If Hayward's book speaks to you, we recommend keeping a physical copy nearby. Soul Insight is a companion, not a replacement — a way to bring the same ritual into the rhythms of daily life on your phone.
Draw your own insight
Hold a question in mind and open Soul Insight for a quote chosen just for you.
Begin a reading