"Most of us will have many friends throughout our lifetimes—friends of all shapes, sizes, and callings. Many of these are wonderful, meaningful friendships. Some are difficult. But some magic few of these are connections that have gone right to our soul. These five or seven or ten friendships have been powerful keys to determining who we have become and who we will become. . . . These are the people I call Soul Friends." As the Senior Scholar-in-Residence for over 25 years at the renowned Kripalu Center, Stephen Cope has spent decades investigating—and writing about—the integration of body, mind, and spirit and the rich complexity of our relationships with others, and with ourselves. Perhaps the central truth that arises from his work is this: human beings are universally wired for one thing—vital connection with one another.Soul Friends invites us on a compelling journey into the connectivity of the human psyche, the study of which has fascinated scholars, philosophers, and thinkers for centuries. Cope seamlessly blends science, scholarship, and storytelling, drawing on his own life as well as the histories of famous figures—from Eleanor Roosevelt to Charles Darwin to Queen Victoria—whose formative relationships shed light on the nature of friendship itself. In his exploration, he distills human connection into six distinct yet interconnected mechanisms: containment, twinship, adversity, mirroring, identification, and conscious partnership. Then he invites us to reflect on how these forms of connection appear in our own lives, helping us work toward a fuller understanding of "who we have become and who we will become."Without a doubt, the journey to our most fulfilled selves requires us to look within. But in order to truly thrive, we must make the most of who we are in relation to one another as well. Unsparingly honest, deeply wise, and irresistibly readable, Soul Friends gives us a map to find our way. "Soul Friends grabbed me from the very first sentence. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to devour it in one sitting. Not only is it beautifully written in a way that nourishes the soul, it is also historically fascinating. You don’t want to miss this one." — Christiane Northrup, M.D., New York Times best-selling author of Goddesses Never Age and Making Life Easy "Stephen Cope’s Soul Friends is destined to be a classic. It is a beautiful and moving examination of the rich possibilities of deep friendship that are right under our noses—possibilities which we all too seldom see or mine fully. Cope makes us want to risk making real, intentional human connections—and makes us long to celebrate them, and to allow them to transform us into fully-conscious and fully-alive human beings." — Geneen Roth, New York Times best-selling author of Women, Food and God and Lost and Found "Lovingly crafted, deep, richly engaging, and wise, Soul Friends is a beautiful work. It will inspire your friendships, expand your understanding, and uplift your heart." — Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart "For centuries, writers interested in the soul have reflected on friendship as the foundation of all love. Stephen Cope’s contribution is penetrating, subtle, and beautiful. He tells his own extended stories and those of remarkable people who have found meaning in friendship. He sorts out what it means to be a friend and presents his rich imagination of it in the fluent language of a novelist. A very special book." — Thomas Moore, New York Times best-selling author of Care of the Soul "With Soul Friends, Stephen Cope offers a fresh and powerful way to deepen our connection to those who support us in being who we truly are. He skillfully guides us to better understand and enjoy the rich tapestry of our lives. Soul Friends is sure to remain an important resource for people for many years to come." — Sharon Salzberg, New York Times best-selling author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness "I’ve been waiting for this book! There are a plethora of books—from memoirs to self-help—for people navigating the mysterious minefield of romantic relationship, but few that offer insight into friendship. And for me, the friends I have from childhood on have colored my life with just as much brightness and darkness as lovers and husbands. With honesty, humor, and wisdom, Stephen Cope uses his own friendships, and the ‘soul friendships’ between people known and unknown, to explore the sometimes difficult and always powerful landscape of love between friends. Reading the book has reawakened memories of my own soul friendships across a lifetime, and has enriched the friendships that fill my life today. Thank you, Stephen." — Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder, Omega Institute; author of Marrow and the New York Times bestseller Broken Open "Soul Friends is written for those who want to deepen their journey into authentic, conscious loving. In this brilliant and utterly engaging book, Stephen Cope invites us into a fascinating and life-changing inqui