The Soul of the Helper

Reviewed by: Shahama Rafeek, Leicester, UK

Published by: Templeton Press, West Conshohocken, PA, 2022, 244pp. ISBN: 9781599475912.

Holly Oxhandler’s The Soul of the Helper is an uplifting and refreshing addition to the conversation on mental health, wellbeing and spirituality. The book is sectioned into three main parts, initially focusing on the sacred correlation between wellbeing and spirituality, then shifting into a detailed, seven-stage guide on how to internalise the divine gifts of empathy, benevolence and humanity, while ‘helpers’ engage in the servitude of others. Throughout the book, Oxhandler emphasises the importance of reclaiming the stillness in every soul and using it to reconnect with the ‘sacred spark’ that can be found, as she believes, in every human. The concluding section reconstructs the framework of care, and calls the reader to perceive that they cannot be fully present in the service of others if they let their personal resources run dry.

Oxhandler focuses on a range of individuals, from those who serve as baristas in a coffee shop, to those who have made it their life’s mission to help others. She addresses and uplifts each of these people without any distinction, in her introduction: “The way you care for others is holy, sacred work… regardless of whether you see it, you are birthing beauty, love, goodness and wholeness into the world. As a fellow human being, parent, teacher, loved one and helper – thank you” (pp. 3–4). This statement is significant, in that it arguably reveals Oxhandler’s motivation behind serving others – faith. As well as this, there is a wholesome endeavour to establish inherent value for all human beings that help and serve with sincerity. This is a common thread in the fabric of Oxhandler’s work and is presented to the reader in combination with a strong emphasis on self-growth, healing, and mindful presence of the healer. The current discourse will touch on the three main sections of the book – Spirituality and Mental Health, and The Journey of Seeking the Sacred – with particular focus on the approaches and methods put forward by Oxhandler, to ‘seeking the sacred’, and whether they are applicable to helpers inclined towards Islamic teachings and principles.