Customer Reviews

A Book of Angels

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2 star:		(1)
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I believe we have more than one epiphany in our lives, and this book was at the center of one of my greatest. I was given a burden which I believe is one of the heaviest God asks any of His children to carry, and this book helped set me on a spiritual path which ultimately saved my life and my sanity. This is not an easy or sweet look at God's messengers. It explores angels in history, in literature, in religions and throughout most cultures. I grew up in a religion which was very narrow and which didn't place emphasis on angels except as they ministered to great people. This book changed my mind and opened whole new doors and avenues for exploration. I've been on that journey of encouragement and hope for four years now, and because of it, I see traditional theology differently and MORE POSITIVELY. I believe the writing of this book was inspired and I can't thank Ms. Burnham enough for giving me this stepping stone. I've had many unexpected and beautiful experiences in the midst of a grief so profound it's at times physically painful, and this is one of the books which helped me accept those experiences and know that reality is much more than the confines of the world we see.

I bought this book several years ago, just after my beloved grandmother died. I was heartbroken, and on the way to her funeral saw this book (and another on angels) in the airport bookstore. I bought it on impulse, and found it to be the perfect thing to read on the way to her funeral.

The book is filled with stories of encounters with angels, stories that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, stories that made me weep, stories that made me realize that despite death, all really was right in the world, and that we were always surrounded by those who loved us, guarded us, protected us, even if we couldn't see them. This book brought comfort to me in a time of great sorrow, and I'll always be glad I bought it.

A BOOK OF ANGELS is my favorite source of information on the subject of angels, because it contains the most dazzling array of myths and stories about angels one could ever hope to find in one book. I am equally delighted with its thrilling personal accounts of the way human poets, mystics and saints (such as Blake, Dante, Dostoyevski, Goethe, Milton, Poe, Rilke, Shakespeare and Swedenborg) have interacted with angels throughout history. Beautiful illustrations and quotes appear on almost every page, such as this lovely one from Saint Augustine, "Every visible thing in this world is put in the charge of an angel."

Author Sophy Burnham did not grow up believing in angels or miracles, yet when she was a young adult, she watched an angel save her life. "I saw him the way you see the words on this page: the colors, the magnificent leap of my heart on seeing him -- HOME! cried my soul as he scooped me out of the path of death."

Whether you talk to angels every day, or wonder whether it's possible that they could exist, A BOOK OF ANGELS is certain to become your favorite book for exploring the angelic realms!

Having purchased and read this several years ago, I was delighted to meet Ms.Burnham when she approached our balloon during a hot air balloon rally. I mentioned to her that I had often fallen asleep clutching her book. She said Thank you, I understand exactly what you are saying. If you buy only one book on this subject, make sure that it is this one! Her writing style is clear and easy to understand. Very straightforward and ironically, "down to earth". A feeling of warmth like that of a friendly hug flows through the pages of this book. I purchased this book at a time when I was searching for comfort from a hectic world and found that within the pages of Ms. Burnham's work

_I have read this book through at least three times since its first publication. It isn't the most scholarly, and it certainly isn't the most dogmatic, of angelic studies. What it is, is an honest, sincere exploration of the miraculous and mysterious in life. The author surveys reports of the angelic from all times and cultures. Like all true mystics her motivation came from a desire to understand her own personal experiences. It is for this reason that I identify with it also.

_Some people will roll their eyes and automatically dismiss any discussion of angels. These are those types that have hardened their hearts out of excessive and exclusive materialism and rationalism. However, according to Platonic principle, like attracts like. Those who resonate with hardness and darkness shall attract the like, while those who resonate with harmony, beauty, mercy (the Good) will attract the Universal Soul. Angels are the servants and messengers of this Universal Soul.

_On a more mundane note, this is an extremely well designed and illustrated book (as should be all books touching on spiritual matters.) The illustrations by Gustave Dore' and William Blake are especially powerful.

This is an exceptionally interesting book in that it portraits real-life stories of incidences where angels have manifested for the benefit of mankind. I used this book in a study session and my students, all being adult "seniors", eagerly shared reflections of personal experiences with angels, but never appreciating the marvelous occurrences until engaging the book. While the bible cautions against the worship of angels, it is without prohibtion in acknowledging angels' presence, purpose and practice: to minister to man.

I had previously read The Ecstatic Journey which I enjoyed so very much. I went on to buy "The Book of Angels" which I loved for so many reasons, It was a joy to read, I loved the way Sophy Burnham covered both the positive and negative aspects of Life's insights. There was nothing that I didn't know already, but rather like being with an old mate, going over a well loved journey. I loved the quotations in both books, most I knew, but was delighted to see them fit so well into both books. I have also purchased The Book of Angels for friends whom I know will love settling down for a good read.

A Book of Angels is a very inspiring and comforting book. I loved it so
much that I sent the book to my sister to read and keep.

I've read this book and i think it is a wonderfully written book. I love the last part of the book, which is letters from people that have 'met' or 'seen' angels.

This book (i read the norwegian translation) where full of esoteric faults. (The directions of the archangels and so on...Gabriel is traditionally said to be the ruler of the direction west, associated with the moon, NOT north + there are some astrological inaccurancies etc.)

In addition i find the overall style (if i dare say..)typical american..."Readers Digest" kind of style. There is also (still in the norwegian translation) repetition of statements and sentences, which seems to come from mistakes in printing.

Apart from that, the subject is interesting, and some of the stories are moving.

There are other books on the topic which are more precise and better, depending on what kind of read you really want. I recommend two books coming to mind; (english holistic teacher) William Bloom`s "Working with angels, fairies and nature spirits" and also the bulgarian mystic Aivanhov`s "Angels and other mysteries from the tree of life". Bloom`s book details into great practicalities about meeting/sensing fairies, your guardian angel and other subliminal beings. Really nice! Aivanhovs book is more of a detailed study of angels and their orders from a mystical cabbalistic/christian tradition.

Burnhams, and most other books on angels, easily get somewhat "dualistic" in style. "Powers of good" and "dark powers"..this might be exciting or depressing , depending on the reader. But such qualities are only true on an relative level. In "the Absolute" there is no good or evil, everything just is....
So if you are "longing for great insights and the truth", i recommend you check the subject of non-duality.