Monterey — Nanette V. Hucknall’s newest book has a real history—one that jump-started the award-winning author and teacher’s entire career and mission more than five decades ago. Hucknall was in her early 30s when, during one of the first classes with her spiritual teacher, the cover of “Zarathustra’s Journey” came to her as a vision while meditating. Her initial reaction of confusion (she had been an art director in New York City for many years) gave way to acceptance when her teacher explained: “You’re supposed to be a writer in this lifetime, and this is a book that you’re going to write later on.”
Hucknall, who studied philosophy in her 20s, had read Nietzsche’s book “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” and was familiar with the ancient prophet, whose given name was Zoroaster and was believed to have lived between 650 and 1500 B.C.E., during which time he founded Zoroastrianism which, along with Hinduism, are the oldest known religions.
“[This book] is about the journey of the Higher Self—first as the student, and then as the teacher—both of which I had to go through myself,” explains Hucknall of the seemingly inverse process that allowed her to pen “Zarathustra’s Journey: An Inspirational, Thought-Provoking Journey of Spiritual Realization” (September 2023, Inner Journey Publishing), a novel in two parts that follows Swiss Professor Anton Bauer on a path to discover his true self. “It’s a really interesting journey [complete with] all the doubts and fears, hope and creativity [the protagonist experiences along the way],” says Hucknall of her first foray into fiction, one based on a firm belief that, in order to grow spiritually, an individual must really work on their psychological problems.
“It’s a real novel in terms of what [the protagonist] has to go through as a person,” Hucknall explains, in a nod to Anton who is content with the life he has built as an intellectual and writer. He has everything he would need to live a happy and fulfilled life—within the material realm that is. But mysterious forces set him on a new path. Through romance, disappointment, loss, and no shortage of strange phenomena, Anton finally gains a better understanding of himself—his true self. Part Two is about Zarathustra and his journey into the everyday world and the challenges of teaching people spiritual concepts.
“He’s been living eight years in the mountains all by himself as an ascetic—and enjoying it tremendously—so he has to now come down and face having to deal with people and teach what he knows,” Hucknall explains, underscoring that in these profound lectures are lessons and practical exercises that the reader can do.
Hucknall weaves her 40-year-long study of yoga, which, she is quick to point out, “means union with a source, or union with God, so it’s more philosophy than exercise”; work as a psychotherapist; and definitive knowledge of Higher Self Yoga into a stunning epic that entertains and enlightens through compelling storytelling and thought-provoking spiritual guidance. On the heels of nine works of nonfiction that combine spiritual study and psychology and provide a path to harnessing the individual’s ultimate higher power, this novel seems more timely than ever.
“We still have cultures that are just hating each other … [and] it seems to be getting worse and worse … but I somehow think it has to get worse before it gets better,” Hucknall says of a pattern when it comes to catastrophes such as war, the terrorist attacks of September 11, and earthquakes. “When terrible things happen, everybody seems to pitch in and want to help … and there are people crusading against what’s happening in this country [and around the world] … but it’s not enough yet,” she says, pointing to an old saying from the East, that civilization is going to be entering a New Age.
“In order to make that transition, a lot of major upheaval has to [transpire in order for] the population to [become] so up in arms about what’s happening that they start to work together and do something,” says Hucknall, whose own connection to her Higher Self—which is all individual and most certainly teachable—likely allows for this perspective.
The next chapter for Hucknall, who will turn 90 in January, is likely rooted in the telling of her own story via memoir, a genre in which she has not yet dabbled. Meanwhile, she has a pair of books awaiting publication and she is regularly called upon to participate in podcasts.
“To me, the final book of the Higher Self is this novel,” explains Hucknall, adding: “[While] the other books touch on the Higher Self back to me, this is the major final book I was supposed to write.”
NOTE: Nanette V. Hucknall is a recognized authority on relationships, healing psychological wounds, overcoming obstacles, and self-empowerment. She is an award-winning author, teacher, trained psychotherapist, career counselor, and painter. Through her books, classes, lectures, and retreats on the teachings of the Higher Self, she has deepened the lives of hundreds of spiritual practitioners in their work to align with the higher consciousness.
