freedom a field guide

Freedom: A Field Guide

By Laurie McCauley

Freedom:
A Field Guide

By Laurie McCauley

A not-so-linear journey to your own inner compass

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Explore the Guide

Step inside the guide with a hand-picked sample – a chapter excerpt, a poem, a field guide rule, and sometimes an audio reflection or podcast. Read, listen, and get a feel for how the guidance comes to life.

  • Loops & Ruts

    I created this drawing right after a meditation on December 29, 2024. For months, I’ve resisted sharing it, half convinced I’d find a better way to make it self-explanatory or artistically bold. At one point, I darkened the smaller corner sketches and enlarged the wheels and ruts for clarity. Then I realized—maybe it doesn’t need more polish.

  • “This book brilliantly, humorously, and wisely navigates so many mind labyrinths we build for ourselves”

    I would recommend this book to anyone who isn’t a skimmer in life—who is a bit freaked out or overwhelmed by existence, yet loves a good chat with people, especially strangers, to reinforce that there is goodness in the world and a reason for being. That we rub elbows at odd times with essential people we may never see again, but whose impact will last a lifetime. That our upbringing doesn’t have to poison the rest of our lives. That we have always had what we are seeking. This book brilliantly, humorously, and wisely navigates so many mind labyrinths we build for ourselves without even realizing it, and provides easy passage out. It’s a delightful, inspiring visit—one that can be carried with you and enjoyed over and over.

    L. Miller

  • “There’s a beautiful balance of clarity, compassion, and practicality through‐out”

    Reading Laurie’s book felt less like consuming information and more like witnessing something being created—like a painting slowly emerging, brushed in rainbows under a quiet moon. There’s a beautiful balance of clarity, compassion, and practicality through‐out, inviting reflection without pressure. Rather than telling the reader what to think, it opens a space where insight can settle naturally and meaningful shifts can begin. It’s a gift from one vulnerable heart to another, if you’re willing to receive her wisdom and share her desire for freedom of mind.

    L. Frederickson

  • “Laurie shakes us out of the branches of our own tree”

    Laurie shakes us out of the branches of our own tree so we can see our life’s hidden roots—adding humor, art, and poetry along the way. She shares her journey and distills life’s essence into a grounded, clear, and deeply engaging read.

    D. O’Foughlu

    PhD, RPA

  • “Every chapter is like a door opening to a new idea, thought, process, or memory.”

    A book like no other I have ever read. Every chapter is like a door opening to a new idea, thought, process, or memory. I can open the book anywhere and—POOF—I find myself immersed in a story that demands my attention, makes me smile, and makes me think. My favorite chapter? Silence Please!, because I really need to remember that! It’s like taking a journey inside my head and heart to learn how to be free and content. This book will be my constant companion for many years.

    P. Butler

  • “It contains wisdom born of experience”

    Whether a seeker or a cynic, or somewhere in between, this book has insights that will resonate at some level for everyone. It contains wisdom born of experience—irreverent at times, funny often, never preachy—all wrapped up in a clear, approachable writing style.

    L. Kalvaitis

Freedom: A Field Guide is a collection of trail notes, missteps, markers, and reminders from someone who wandered widely, got a little lost on purpose, and eventually learned to trust the compass I’d been carrying the whole time.

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