This week, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my own evolution through one of my favorite portals: reading. In this end-of-year solo episode, I walk you through all 26 books I read in 2025. These are the ones that cracked me open, challenged my assumptions, expanded my worldview, and quietly shaped the way I’ve shown up on the podcast, in my work, and in my life this year. Rather than sharing a quick top-five list, I take you on the full chronological journey, because the order matters. When you hear these books in the sequence I read them, you’ll notice the threads of curiosity, deconstruction, healing, and spiritual expansion that guided me month by month.
From faith and deconstruction, to ancestral wisdom, to the divine feminine, to creativity, to the witch wound, to energy work, to nature, to body literacy, these books formed a kind of breadcrumb trail for me — each one helping me ask bigger questions, soften old assumptions, and step deeper into the Wild & Waking journey we’ve been walking together. Some I devoured. Some I wrestled with. A few I didn’t finish. And all of them, in one way or another, became teachers in my own unraveling, remembering, reclamation, and rise.
Whether you want to expand your 2026 reading list, reflect on your own year of inner growth, or simply follow along with the journey behind the journey, this episode is a deep, thoughtful companion. And if any book sparks something for you, trust that. Pick it up, explore it, and see where it leads. The books that call to us often arrive right on time.
The full list, with links, photos, descriptions, and author podcast episodes, is available HERE so you can revisit any title or conversation that catches your attention.
In this episode, I explore:
- A full breakdown of all 26 books I read in 2025 and how each one shaped my personal growth, spiritual awakening, and inner transformation
- The reading themes that defined my year: deconstruction, spiritual healing, feminine power, ancestral wisdom, and embodied self-trust
- How books on Christian nationalism, faith deconstruction, and religious trauma supported my journey into a more authentic, expansive spirituality
- Titles that introduced me to ancestral healing, Indigenous wisdom, earth-based spirituality, and reconnecting with the cycles of nature
- Books exploring the divine feminine, goddess history, the witch wound, and women’s empowerment across history and mythology
- My honest reviews of astrology books, lunar cycle guides, moon-phase practices, and beginner resources on energy healing, Reiki, chakras, and auras
- Parenting and nervous system resources that helped me understand emotional regulation, generational patterns, and conscious parenting
- Nature-focused books on ecological consciousness, reciprocity, forest science, and our spiritual connection to the land
- Creativity and artistry titles that supported my writing process, mindset, and the shift from consumption to creation
- The books I didn’t finish, why I stepped away, and how I decide what’s aligned for my season
- My top five book recommendations of 2025 and who they’re ideal for (faith deconstruction, divine feminine, ancestral wisdom, midlife reinvention, spiritual identity work)
- How my 2025 reading list influenced the Wild & Waking podcast, The Coven, my coaching, and the wider conversations we shared this year
- An invitation to reflect on your own 2025 reading journey, personal evolution, and the topics you want to explore in 2026
Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss the latest episode!
Connect with Emily:
- Website: www.EmilyReuschel.com
- Instagram: @emilyreuschel
- Facebook: Emily Reuschel
- LinkedIn: Emily Reuschel
- Join my Book Insiders List: Sign up here!
Resources and Links:
- Get the complete 2025 book list and guide here
- Sign up here to get the inside scoop to my book writing journey!
- Book me as a speaker for your next event - email inquiries to emilyreuschel@gmail.com or schedule a call here
- Wild & Waking – Produced by Jill Carr Podcasting | Learn More