More and more people claim to be religiously unaffiliated or spiritually independent. They describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” (often referred to as the “nones”). The “nones” now make up 26% of the American population. William James noted that a spiritual desire often seems to arise on its own, out of nowhere, from an unknown source. Perhaps this is why a majority of the “nones” describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. Are you one of them? Are you an independent spirit, searching for spiritual energy not dependent on religious institutions? While people who do not claim membership in an organized religious institution are obviously unaffiliated, others may be independent as well. It is possible that those who cherish an affiliation with Church, Synagogue, or Mosque can at the same time be spiritually independent in a very real sense. When you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 When you go into your inner room to pray in secret, does not your affiliation with every institution drop away for that moment? Are you not independent, free? Your Father, the Creator, sees in secret through a pure and unaffiliated lens. Each of us, in our most secret, inner room, stands before God naked and humble as the Publican who prayed in the rear of the synagogue, “ Lord, have mercy on me a sinner .” This book is for anyone who seeks personal spiritual growth and a more natural religion. It is a step-by-step guide, leading to the development of a personal and independent spiritual practice. It takes the form of a Florilegium , a collection of passages drawn from the spiritual books of the world’s great traditions. Literally “a gathering of flowers,” this Florilegium is a spiritual nursery from which each reader can create a unique garden. It grows out of Robert Letters’ personal notebook, developed over the years as he created his own practice. He writes: Whenever I wrote “you” in my notebook, I was speaking to myself. And in this book, I still speak to myself, as I try to do better, to improve my imperfect independent practice. But now I also speak to you, whoever you are, who might have picked up this small notebook. After all, I suspect there is not much difference between us. Here’s what people are saying about Letters’ newest work: “Uplifting guide to cultivating spiritual awakening outside of organized religion.” -Booklife “Whether readers are lifelong churchgoers or agnostics, Letters’ devotion to self-improvement, his humility and clear, lean writing will convince them to go deeper in the search for spiritual truth. -BlueInk Starred Review “What stands out, and what I think most readers will appreciate, is the book’s practicality. Letters doesn’t just theorize but provides ethical guidelines and actionable steps. While deeply philosophical, it never feels detached from the realities of modern life, making this a great addition to the cannon of enlightenment. Very highly recommended.” -Asher Syed “Whether you are unaffiliated or are looking for greater depth within your religion’s ligurgy and worship practices, there is something here for you.” -Kimberlee J. Benart His writings, gathered from intense personal meditations and studies, are intimate and uplifting, allowing those readers invested in growing closer to a higher power outside of religious institutions the space and knowledge to embark on their own inspired journey. -Booklife In this thought-provoking volume, an educator of independent, self-directed learning shares his years-long spiritual journey, undertaken outside of traditional religious practice, drawing on a wide variety of texts. ...valuable practical advice on how to build a practice of reading, praying, sanctifying everyday activity, and discovering one's own ethical principles and living by them. -BlueInk Starred Review Robert Letters's succinct chapters make this work easily digestible for even the busiest individuals, while its structure, including four dimensions for daily practice and five foundational principles, inspires spiritual action. -Courtnee Turner Hoyle ...a solid foundation for those wishing to pursue their path free of the dogma of formal religion. -Leonard Smuts Between Will and Abandonment by Robert Letters is a thoughtful and incredibly comprehensive guide that takes conventional views of spirituality many steps further by virtue of underscoring responsibility and the necessity of inner work. -Asher Syed He combines an academic's ability to synthesize many sources with personal insights and encouragement. -C.R. Hurst Just as athletes and musicians become better through practice, we can refine our characters through spiritual practice. -Kimberlee J. Benart